Post by lawrenceliberty on Jun 9, 2017 18:09:00 GMT
Booster Gold: The Once and Future Hero!
By lawrenceliberty
Discover the true origin of Booster Gold!
1
Superman placed one hand on Los Lane’s shoulder as the woman once known as “Superman’s Girl Friend” wiped a tear from one eye. They were no longer a couple but they cared for each other deeply as friends who had shared far too much to let the end of a romance spell the end of their platonic bond.
They were united by more than memories this day as they stood together at the Metropolis Cemetery and gazed down at a grave. They were united by their grief over the death of a man who had proven to be a real hero.
“Ryan Chase may have loved the spotlight but he gave his life for the best of reasons. He was trying to protect other innocent people from a super powered killer. I feel as if I’m to blame. After all, Ultra Man is essentially a warped alternate Earth version of me!” thought Superman.
Lois Lane had felt affection for the Hero for Hire called Cannonball but she had never truly had the kind of romantic feelings that he had developed for her during their adventures.
“Poor Ryan was never able to compete with Superman where my feelings were concerned but he sure tried to be the best hero he could be in every other way! Did he die trying to impress me?” she thought.
Superman frowned as he glanced around the nearly empty cemetery. Earlier in the day a well-orchestrated service had been held for the public hero and high ranking government officials had made their presence known. After all, he had once prevented an assassination attempt on the U.S. president himself!
Now, the Man of Steel and the Girl Reporter were alone. They had agreed to come after the real service had ended out of a desire to show their respect for the private individual they had known in contrast to the colorful TV hero.
For a man who lived his life before television cameras as a costumed hero turned media star Ryan “Cannonball” Chase had not drawn many mourners to his funeral service who were close friends. The former circus performer’s former friends were nomadic and had not stayed in touch. The friends he had made as a TV star were apparently fickle as well.
A tall, gaunt man with a thin dark mustache and graying hair stood nearby lost in his own grief.
Ed Hamilton had once been the armored Colonel Future; however, he had given up that role and his advanced armor to Ryan Chase years before and it was that armor that had enabled the circus performer to transition from the jetpack wearing daredevil the Human Cannonball to the super powered Cannonball. Hamilton probably blamed himself for Chase’s death as well.
As Lois thanked Superman for his support and walked slowly toward her car, Hamilton gestured to the Man of Steel.
“Superman, I didn’t want to say anything while Miss Lane was here but we need to talk.” he said.
Superman nodded and said, “Ed, you looked lost in your own thoughts when you first walked up. I took it to be a sign of grief like my own but I take it there was something more behind your distraction!”
He knew Hamilton once had brief pre-cognitive flashes but that old ability had faded long ago or so he believed.
“Superman, I had a good relationship with Ryan. You knew that since I gave him my old armor. Well, what you couldn’t have known was I didn’t tell him everything about it. I retained some diagnostic links to the suit and used data recorded during his use of the armor for my continual research. I figured it was a small perk if you will, for giving him my greatest invention. The data indicated something rather odd. Chase resonated with chronal energy. It was as if he had been a frequent time traveler and that simply wasn’t the case. I never did learn the reason for that. It may be too late now!”
Superman looked at the head of NASA’s secret Future Planning Division and said, “I know a bit about his background but nothing in it indicated that he was anything but a skilled athlete with a love for excitement and the spotlight. He was an orphan who grew up in the circus.”
Hamilton said, “I was wondering if you might be willing to look at the data I gathered and perhaps see what you can make of it. If my failure to discover what it all meant contributed to his death, I won’t forgive myself! I was too proud to ask for help!”
Superman said, “Don’t second guess yourself. I’ll do what I can. In fact my super vision already allows me to detect a trail of chronal energy. I may be able to follow it from this grave site to its source! I’ll be in touch!”
He flew off at super speed and frowned in concentration. His body became a blur as he entered the time stream and rocketed forward into the far future.
“Once I was attacked by some heroes drawn from various eras of history. I was able to track them down just like I’m now able to see and follow the energy trail leaving from Ryan’s grave. That former trail led me to the JLA’s old foe the Lord of Time but based on where this energy seems to be leading me I’d say I’m about to encounter an even older foe!” he thought as he flew down through the time stream and emerged above a futuristic citadel in the year 11, 970.
“No effort has been made to disguise this trail. I assume the creator of the energy trail is either prepared for guests or is oddly careless and if I am right about the identity of the mystery man, I’d say it might be a combination of the two!” he thought.
He dropped through an open portal after scanning the structure with his enhanced vision.
Superman confronted a bearded man in a black and gold jumpsuit.
“Xotar! I figured you were behind this. This was roughly your home era when last we fought!” he said.
Xotar smiled coldly and said, “As you thought a moment ago, I made no effort to hide from you. I wanted you to come and I’d hoped you would have brought your costumed friends. I want all of you to share in a most final defeat!”
Superman said, “I see you still have your telepathy and all the other weapons you’ve plundered from various eras. None of those powers helped you when you tried to eliminate the Justice League before nor will they do you any good now!”
Xotar said, “I’ve changed since I left this time to come to your primitive century where I tried to determine which weapon would best destroy you. Time has changed me as much as I have changed time!”
Superman approached the confident criminal and saw a lovely woman with long platinum blonde hair and a pale white gown emerge from a side room.
“Superman, this is my aide Lorna. She is here to witness my triumph. It has been… a long time in the making….if you’ll excuse the expression!”
Superman said, “So, what are we waiting for? Bring out the giant robots or the death rays so I can end this. What did you do to Ryan Chase? Why was he was saturated with chronal energy from your equipment?”
Even as he studied the scene, Superman tried to recall where he had seen the lovely blonde before. She looked familiar to him but something kept him from recalling her identity. Since he had a super memory he knew something odd had blocked or suppressed this memory.
Xotar said, “ I don’t need any other weapons. Superman, you can’t touch me or my base. I’ve already trapped you slightly out of sync with normal time. Oh, I know, you’ll try to match the correct vibration and use your vast powers to stop me but even you can’t do so for some time! I’m constantly changing the vibrations that have locked you in place!”
Superman realized his predicament when he tried to touch a nearby table. His hand passed right though the otherwise solid structure.
“You know me better than I thought. I will find a way to free myself. We both know that!” he said.
Xotar laughed and said, “Yes, yes, of course you will unless you die first!”
He said, “After I escaped from the police following my last defeat at your hands, I decided to destroy you and your JLA friends by planting a living weapon- a human time bomb in your midst! You called me the Weapon Master and what better way to earn that title than by devising the ultimate weapon!”
He gestured to where a glowing portal suddenly opened to reveal a handsome blond man in a gold and blue costume who stood next to a hovering machine of some type whose small monitor screen flickered with a vivid red light.
“Booster Gold? I know him. He was with the Conglomerate , that briefly lived group of heroes that tried to rival the League! What’s his connection with you or Ryan Chase?” asked Superman as he studied the clearly dazed hero.
Xotar said, “Booster Gold was Michael Jon Carter, a disgraced athlete from the 25th century. He took equipment from the Space Museum and travelled back in time to become a hero called Booster Gold. He saved the life of the U.S. President, joined your League and became a legendary champion!”
Superman said, “You’ve got your history wrong again. He may be from the future but he is no Leaguer!”
Xotar said, “Ah, but history showed me that he was supposed to be. I diverted him during his trip to your era. He never reached your time. I sent him off through time to another Earth. You see, I have access to a possible future where all Earths merged into one. It makes it very easy to reach any of your multi-versal earths from that lofty vantage point! I manipulated various events and sent his mother and sister over at a later time to cover my tracks from a snooping Time Cop based on that parallel Earth!”
Booster said, “Seeing you and this place brings it all back to me! I came from Earth 1’s future 2465 where I worked as a janitor at the Science Museum. I didn’t like the work but it was the best I could do. I’d been a star athlete until some bad choices involving gambling cost me everything. I deserved to lose my chances. I shamed my mother and sister. I let myself down too but it didn’t help me like my work any better.”
Xotar grinned and said, “But even though all you had left was a college nickname Booster and some wistful feelings about what might have been, you did find ways to pass the time! You studied all about the age of heroes and the careers of 20th century costumed champions! It made you want to be one of them! It fed your ambition and your ego and admittedly your sincere desire to do something meaningful with your life. It also made you the perfect pawn except for the fact that you were stubborn and despite your gambling past, you were not corruptible!”
Booster said, “ I read about Superman, Green Lantern, and other Justice League members! Superman, you have to believe me, I wanted to be like you. I wanted to be a hero… and to regain some sense of self-worth!”
Xotar said, “You were perfect as the model for my own would be hero. I sent you and your mother and sister and your robotic ally Skeets to Earth 4. I had to dull your memories of E-1 and insert you into an appropriate era on that Earth. You became a janitor at the Museum of Space Adventures where you enacted your plan. You took the Time Yacht of Hap Holliday to 1986. I planted some Earth 1 gear there so you could use it as well. You took a force field belt and flight ring that I shifted from an Earth 1 exhibit to an Earth 4 one. This created a real mystery back on Earth 1. You became a corporate crusader and were eventually reunited with your mother and sister since I’d sent them over too to cover my actions from a Time Cop on that world. He detected your theft of the Time Yacht. I fooled him as well!”
Booster said, “ You messed with my memories of Earth 1 and my mind when you dumped me on that other world! Why did you bring me back now?”
Xotar said, “I didn’t bring you back. I never wanted you to return to your home planet. I created a chronal duplicate of you and sent him back to take your place in the history of Earth 1. He was merely a reflection of you and was easily dominated. I planned to have him do all you were meant to do and then have him destroy the League upon gaining their trust but after he reached your time, something severed my connection with him. It was all I could do to anchor this chronal energy being by linking him to Ryan “Cannonball” Chase a native of that era who shared some of his traits and seemed destined to do some of the same things you were supposed to do. He also became a so-called “corporate crusader.”
Booster smirked and said, “Cannonball? Clearly, he never had a focus group. That name is pretty lame! But you say this pawn of yours was some kind of double for me? That means whatever he did, he did it with style and class!”
Xotar said, “You are trying to distract me by spouting shallow banter. I know you have the heart of a hero but you can’t stop me! You are not worth my time or attention! A stasis field will contain you as well!”
The little robot dropped inert to the ground as Booster was caught in a trap.
Xotar continued, “This unforeseen barrier cut me off from control of my chronal duplicate. I managed to keep him in your era by linking him to Chase but I was helpless to stop him from joining this Conglomerate instead of the League. History itself tried to right itself by having so many of Gold’s exploits occur with other participants. Your Superwoman for example saved the President’s life instead of Gold. On another occasion Cannonball did so as well. A villain known as Terra Man joined your league under the guise of the Futurian and though he did not betray you, he was meant to do so by his masters who somehow followed out my plan while I was unable to act. They conceived the idea for the plan as if history itself was a force trying to right itself. And yet this barrier kept me helpless! It was a…!”he hesitated.
“An iron curtain of time?” suggested the smiling blonde.
“Nicely put, dear, but don’t interrupt the men while they are talking!” said Xotar.
She lowered her eyes demurely but smiled wickedly. Clearly, she knew more than she was letting on and Xotar was too arrogant to realize it. Superman mused, “She may be playing some game all her own!”
Xotar said, “The barrier finally evaporated in some way and I was ready to strike when Chase died! My chronal duplicate had failed me too. He was disgraced and later redeemed himself but nothing he did served my cause. I admit that I lost control of him for some reason. He vanished from existence and the real Booster Gold was ripped from Earth 4 to my base here on Earth 1!”
Booster said, “I’m not sure I understand what’s happened but I made good friends on Earth 4 and I have family there!”
Xotar said, “Too bad. I plan to use you as I originally intended once I wipe out Superman. Isn’t that how your primitive criminals used to talk? Wipe out!”
A black energy sphere appeared in mid air and hovered before the captive Superman.
“This is a sphere of time nullification. Once it covers you Superman, you will cease to exist. Your great deeds will have occurred but no one will have any memory that you performed them! What better defeat than to be erased from all historical records! I shall be the man who destroyed the legend of Superman!”
While an oblivious Xotar gloated, the slinky blonde casually flipped a control that released Booster Gold then she raced out of the citadel.
As the black sphere dropped toward Superman, Booster yelled and tackled Xotar!
The two men fell into the sphere as energy erupted through the room and Superman broke free!
The blonde woman had indeed vanished but three newcomers raced inside and took immediate action!
Superman recognized them all. They were three of his allies from the 30th Century’s Legion of Super Heroes: Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, and Chameleon Boy.
Brainiac 5, a brilliant, green skinned scientist, rushed forward and activated controls on his gold belt sending an energy field into the rapidly closing black sphere into which the two men had vanished.
“I have them but I fear this nullification energy will have drastically altered time!” he said.
As the multi-powered Ultra Boy and shape-shifting Chameleon Boy helped Superman regain his balance, a stunned Booster Gold and Xotar emerged from the field.
“You fellows got here just in time! I was almost free but I was seconds too late!” said Superman.
Cham said, “Superman is never too late! We know. We’ve watched the history holos!”
Ultra Boy said, “The guy in gold is wearing a Legion flight ring. It vanished along with the rest of his gear from the Science Museum back in the 25th century. It had been a great unsolved mystery but Brainy was always working on it in his spare time. It was kind of a chronal cold case!”
Cham said, “Even he could never solve it until suddenly his computer detected the specific energy given off by the stolen gear and the ring itself. It led us right here!”
Superman said, “I suspect that occurred the second Booster here was returned to his proper Earth. Before that time, you could not trace the ring. He and it were literally not in this universe only a chronal duplicate which must not have triggered your own probes!”
Brainiac 5 said, “Fascinating. We have never known how the ring ended up as part of a Space Museum exhibit some four hundred years before our own time and creation of the Legion. I knew such a ring had been part of the collection and had mysteriously vanished but that was only because of careful analysis of holos of the museum’s entire collection and a determination of what had vanished on that curious night! I assure you there had been no trail to follow until a short time ago when a beacon appeared through time itself!”
Superman said, “Xotar’s female ally may have alerted you. She had her own agenda. I saw her free Booster. How are they? Booster is a real hero. He tried to save me at great cost to himself!”
“He will be fine but both men were exposed to the so called nullification energies long enough that their respective histories will soon be altered from all recorded or recalled memory!” said Brainiac 5.
Booster groaned. “So nobody will remember me? Will the folks I saved have died? Will the crooks I caught be free?”
“No! History was not changed only memory of your part in it has been altered. After we leave here, none of us will recall your previous career as a hero. As for Xotar, only his most recent actions have been erased. His earlier villainy shall remain a matter of memory and record!” said the scientist.
Booster said, “So my fans will think some other jerk did all the things I did? Well, at least I saved Superman. That’s what counts. No one should ever forget a legend like him!”
Superman said, “I owe you a great debt. Is there nothing we can do to help him?”
Ultra Boy said, “I can take this creep to the police of this era for one thing!”
He flew off with the dazed Xotar. Superman scanned the area but there was no sign of the enigmatic blonde.
Superman nodded and said, “I suppose we’ve solved the mystery of why Cannonball did have something of a similar career to your own and why he had chronal energy in his body. It was meant as a means of linking the chronal duplicate of you to my era!”
Booster said, “What about my mother and my sister? I have friends on Earth 4. Won’t they remember me? I can go back and make them know me!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I fear such actions would cause additional damage to history. You were irradiated with the null time energy and I hate to speculate what would happen if that energy was compounded by travel from one Earth to another as well as from one era to another! They will all remember you. Xotar’s energies could not change what occurred on Earth 4. Of course, people there will wonder what happened to you unless some way we could contrive to bring your mother and sister here!”
Booster said, “I can’t risk hurting my family or friends. I guess I’m a man without a home!”
Superman said, “I know that feeling. I wish I could help you.”
Brainiac 5 calmly adjusted the fallen robot that had accompanied Booster out of the stasis chamber upon his first arrival to Xotar’s citadel.
“This robot is yours. I made a slight upgrade!” he said.
He also leaned closer to Booster Gold and said, “I have also solved the riddle of the flight ring. It appears to be one of my own. I want you to keep it. In some way, it ended up in the past and became part of the Space Museum’s exhibits of unknown origin. You found it in your original era in the 25th century before taking it and the energy suit and force field belt in your quest to journey back to become a 20th century hero. “
Booster nodded slowly as he touched the small hovering robot.
“Skeets! Am I glad to see you up and about! I may need you more than ever!” he said.
Skeets said, “Booster, I fear much of what we once knew about history is no longer valid. Perhaps, we should return to the 25th century! Otherwise, you will be doubly helpless in a strange era!”
Cham said, “We could give you a lift. You might say it is on our way!”
Superman shook hands with Booster and said, “I didn’t know you very well during your time in my era. I suppose I thought you were a bit of a conceited glory hog. I was wrong. You are a real hero!”
Booster grinned and said, “Endorsed by Superman no less! That would look good on a resume!”
As Ultra Boy joined them, they exited the citadel.
Superman flew back into the time stream and gradually his memory of Booster Gold faded. The Conglomerate had existed. He remembered the group but neither he nor anyone else recalled Booster Gold had ever been a part of it. Perhaps, some ancestor or hero with a similar power, name, or background would emerge to fill his forgotten role as time retroactively corrected itself.
After the Legion, dropped the remaining duo back in the year 2465 Booster Gold and Skeets dejectedly paced the grounds of the Space Museum.
Booster frowned as he looked down at his costume. He had forgotten his now erased past.
“I ‘m going to get fired! Why am I wearing this stuff? I recognize it from the Museum and all those stories we’ve been reading about the age of heroes!” he said with a gasp.
Skeets said, “Booster, my memory circuits were altered by Brainiac 5. I retain a detail record of the events of your life that had been forgotten. Allow me to refresh your memory!”
After a hurried conversation with the little robot, Booster grinned.
“Well, if I did it once, I can do it again! I’ll go back to the 1980’s and do a better job of becoming the idol of millions than any crummy duplicate could have done!” he declared.
A weird craft materialized before them. It was a time sphere.
A blond man in a green suit climbed out.
“My name is Rip Hunter. You and I have a lot of work to do!” he said.
Booster said, “Huh? Are you some kind of Time Cop?”
Rip smiled and said, “You could say that. Then, again, so are you or you will be! You’ll also be one of the twentieth century’s most famous super heroes! I guess you could say today begins your second chance at life! And don’t worry about your family, I’ve got plans for them too! You came from a heroic background. ”
Booster smiled broadly and he and Skeets climbed into the time machine!
“Show biz is full of second acts!” he thought.
Elsewhen: the blonde woman calling herself Lorna smiled and said, “I thwarted Xotar’s ambitions and enabled the legend of Booster Gold to begin anew without any interference. I will need the Corporate Crusader if I am to emerge as the victor in the upcoming Time Wars!” she said.
2
1988
The so-called “beautiful people” were on full display as the Moldacian Film Festival with its special tribute to its beloved ruler Princess Portia (formerly American actress Julie Madison) opened to a gleaming crowd of Hollywood royalty and real European royalty! Princess Portia’s popularity was not limited to her adopted country. She was possibly the most photographed woman in the world and her combination of sheer glamor and a charitable nature endeared the beautiful woman to millions around the globe. She was often referred to as “The People’s Princess!” Now, as her husband the handsome Prince Jon led her down a red carpet toward the pavilion that housed the theaters and exhibits that had been devoted to her Hollywood films like “Dread Castle.”
As media representatives from around the world waited for their turn to interview the actress turned monarch, five dark clad men broke through the crowd and began to fire oddly shaped guns!
Princess Portia’s personal bodyguards were overwhelmed by the skill and ruthlessness of the attackers!
As screams rang out and people scattered for some form of cover, a man in a colorful blue and gold costume swooped down from above and smiled broadly as he expertly aimed his wrist bands and released bursts of energy that shattered two of the gunmen’s weapons before they could react to his sudden appeared.
“Now that’s what I call gun control!” he said as he drew the fire of the other three assassins and dodged their blasts as he rose higher and away from the innocents below.
“I guess you boys didn’t like “Dread Castle” huh? That’s no reason to perforate the Princess!” he quipped.
He dropped down and punched the closest gunman in the chin. The dark hooded killer collapsed and he casually scooped him up and hurled him into the reaming two attackers.
“Got to love the way this suit boosts my strength! Pun intended!” he thought.
He slammed into the fallen assassins and smiled as the media crews drew closer and he bowed low.
“No need to thank me. Any sensational super hero would do the same although few would have the rugged good looks and natural charisma of the one and only Booster Gold!” he said.
“Booster. We need you now!” said an electronic voice in his ear. Skeets was in constant communication with him via the sensors in the gold mask, he wore.
“As much as I hate to leave my newly adoring public, I need to wrap things up before anyone gets hurt!” he thought.
Booster flew up and on a balcony attached to the palace itself where he found several fallen security guards and came upon a startling scene.
Princess Portia was cowering before a final hooded gunman. This man wore a slightly different colored costume and carried himself with such arrogance that it was clear he was the leader of the assassins.
Skeets hovered nearby and Booster noticed the little robot’s sensors were broadcasting the scene to the network feeds below. The world was watching the tense standoff.
The almost courtly assassin said, “I am known as Kingslayer. I have been paid to eliminate the People’s Princess! I will gladly kill you for free!”
Booster said, “Don’t do me any favors, pal!”
He charged at the killer even as Kingslayer opened fire on Princess Portia.
To Kingslayer’s chagrin, the energy blasts bounced harmlessly off a force field that enveloped her!
Booster connected with a stinging punch that knocked the startled killer cold.
“Are you hurt?” asked Booster as he took Princess Portia by the hand after she switched off the force field belt he had given her earlier.
She shook her head and said, “No, thanks to you! Thank goodness you knew Kingslayer was going to make such an attempt on my life. Even with your precautions, he managed to switch some of his own men for my trusted guards!”
Booster said, “My pal Skeets here has his sources!”
He retrieved the belt and bowed low as he kissed her hand.
“If you put me on a Moldacian stamp, this is my better side!” he said as he gestured to his right.
The next day the global media could talk of nothing except the new hero Booster Gold and his dramatic rescue of the most popular woman in the world. He remained by Princess Portia’s side along with the real Prince Jon for the rest of the festival.
In a matter of hours, Booster Gold had become a media darling and he relished every moment of it.
Privately, as he and Skeets conferred with the mysterious time traveler Rip Hunter, he listened closely to the earnest blond scientist’s instructions.
“You are perfectly suited to help me police time so to speak and to correct various attempts by others to alter history for their own gains. By helping you regain your lost fame, I hope to accomplish two things: to correct the changes Xotar made to your proper role in history and to create the image of a “show biz super hero” for you so no one will suspect that you are also doing so much to protect time itself!”
Booster nodded and said, “I get some attention and wealth and also serve a higher if secret purpose. I’d say I could not ask for more except for my family!”
Rip led Booster into another room of his rural home where Booster was greeted joyfully by a mature but attractive woman and a pretty blonde teen.
They embraced and as Booster smiled at his mother and sister, Rip added, “I picked them up. I can’t cross between worlds but I followed the process Xotar described to you. I went to a possible future where all Earths are emerged and then came back to Earth 4 for Ellen and Michelle! I didn’t dare risk your joining me on the trip over since Xotar claimed your altered chronal energies could disrupt Earth 4’s history should you ever return! I also didn’t make contact with your friends. I could not risk it. I fear they will just wonder what became of you!”
Booster said, “I’m going miss Ted and Monica and the rest but with my family here and my rightful place restored, I sure got nothing to complain about!”
The End
By lawrenceliberty
Discover the true origin of Booster Gold!
1
Superman placed one hand on Los Lane’s shoulder as the woman once known as “Superman’s Girl Friend” wiped a tear from one eye. They were no longer a couple but they cared for each other deeply as friends who had shared far too much to let the end of a romance spell the end of their platonic bond.
They were united by more than memories this day as they stood together at the Metropolis Cemetery and gazed down at a grave. They were united by their grief over the death of a man who had proven to be a real hero.
“Ryan Chase may have loved the spotlight but he gave his life for the best of reasons. He was trying to protect other innocent people from a super powered killer. I feel as if I’m to blame. After all, Ultra Man is essentially a warped alternate Earth version of me!” thought Superman.
Lois Lane had felt affection for the Hero for Hire called Cannonball but she had never truly had the kind of romantic feelings that he had developed for her during their adventures.
“Poor Ryan was never able to compete with Superman where my feelings were concerned but he sure tried to be the best hero he could be in every other way! Did he die trying to impress me?” she thought.
Superman frowned as he glanced around the nearly empty cemetery. Earlier in the day a well-orchestrated service had been held for the public hero and high ranking government officials had made their presence known. After all, he had once prevented an assassination attempt on the U.S. president himself!
Now, the Man of Steel and the Girl Reporter were alone. They had agreed to come after the real service had ended out of a desire to show their respect for the private individual they had known in contrast to the colorful TV hero.
For a man who lived his life before television cameras as a costumed hero turned media star Ryan “Cannonball” Chase had not drawn many mourners to his funeral service who were close friends. The former circus performer’s former friends were nomadic and had not stayed in touch. The friends he had made as a TV star were apparently fickle as well.
A tall, gaunt man with a thin dark mustache and graying hair stood nearby lost in his own grief.
Ed Hamilton had once been the armored Colonel Future; however, he had given up that role and his advanced armor to Ryan Chase years before and it was that armor that had enabled the circus performer to transition from the jetpack wearing daredevil the Human Cannonball to the super powered Cannonball. Hamilton probably blamed himself for Chase’s death as well.
As Lois thanked Superman for his support and walked slowly toward her car, Hamilton gestured to the Man of Steel.
“Superman, I didn’t want to say anything while Miss Lane was here but we need to talk.” he said.
Superman nodded and said, “Ed, you looked lost in your own thoughts when you first walked up. I took it to be a sign of grief like my own but I take it there was something more behind your distraction!”
He knew Hamilton once had brief pre-cognitive flashes but that old ability had faded long ago or so he believed.
“Superman, I had a good relationship with Ryan. You knew that since I gave him my old armor. Well, what you couldn’t have known was I didn’t tell him everything about it. I retained some diagnostic links to the suit and used data recorded during his use of the armor for my continual research. I figured it was a small perk if you will, for giving him my greatest invention. The data indicated something rather odd. Chase resonated with chronal energy. It was as if he had been a frequent time traveler and that simply wasn’t the case. I never did learn the reason for that. It may be too late now!”
Superman looked at the head of NASA’s secret Future Planning Division and said, “I know a bit about his background but nothing in it indicated that he was anything but a skilled athlete with a love for excitement and the spotlight. He was an orphan who grew up in the circus.”
Hamilton said, “I was wondering if you might be willing to look at the data I gathered and perhaps see what you can make of it. If my failure to discover what it all meant contributed to his death, I won’t forgive myself! I was too proud to ask for help!”
Superman said, “Don’t second guess yourself. I’ll do what I can. In fact my super vision already allows me to detect a trail of chronal energy. I may be able to follow it from this grave site to its source! I’ll be in touch!”
He flew off at super speed and frowned in concentration. His body became a blur as he entered the time stream and rocketed forward into the far future.
“Once I was attacked by some heroes drawn from various eras of history. I was able to track them down just like I’m now able to see and follow the energy trail leaving from Ryan’s grave. That former trail led me to the JLA’s old foe the Lord of Time but based on where this energy seems to be leading me I’d say I’m about to encounter an even older foe!” he thought as he flew down through the time stream and emerged above a futuristic citadel in the year 11, 970.
“No effort has been made to disguise this trail. I assume the creator of the energy trail is either prepared for guests or is oddly careless and if I am right about the identity of the mystery man, I’d say it might be a combination of the two!” he thought.
He dropped through an open portal after scanning the structure with his enhanced vision.
Superman confronted a bearded man in a black and gold jumpsuit.
“Xotar! I figured you were behind this. This was roughly your home era when last we fought!” he said.
Xotar smiled coldly and said, “As you thought a moment ago, I made no effort to hide from you. I wanted you to come and I’d hoped you would have brought your costumed friends. I want all of you to share in a most final defeat!”
Superman said, “I see you still have your telepathy and all the other weapons you’ve plundered from various eras. None of those powers helped you when you tried to eliminate the Justice League before nor will they do you any good now!”
Xotar said, “I’ve changed since I left this time to come to your primitive century where I tried to determine which weapon would best destroy you. Time has changed me as much as I have changed time!”
Superman approached the confident criminal and saw a lovely woman with long platinum blonde hair and a pale white gown emerge from a side room.
“Superman, this is my aide Lorna. She is here to witness my triumph. It has been… a long time in the making….if you’ll excuse the expression!”
Superman said, “So, what are we waiting for? Bring out the giant robots or the death rays so I can end this. What did you do to Ryan Chase? Why was he was saturated with chronal energy from your equipment?”
Even as he studied the scene, Superman tried to recall where he had seen the lovely blonde before. She looked familiar to him but something kept him from recalling her identity. Since he had a super memory he knew something odd had blocked or suppressed this memory.
Xotar said, “ I don’t need any other weapons. Superman, you can’t touch me or my base. I’ve already trapped you slightly out of sync with normal time. Oh, I know, you’ll try to match the correct vibration and use your vast powers to stop me but even you can’t do so for some time! I’m constantly changing the vibrations that have locked you in place!”
Superman realized his predicament when he tried to touch a nearby table. His hand passed right though the otherwise solid structure.
“You know me better than I thought. I will find a way to free myself. We both know that!” he said.
Xotar laughed and said, “Yes, yes, of course you will unless you die first!”
He said, “After I escaped from the police following my last defeat at your hands, I decided to destroy you and your JLA friends by planting a living weapon- a human time bomb in your midst! You called me the Weapon Master and what better way to earn that title than by devising the ultimate weapon!”
He gestured to where a glowing portal suddenly opened to reveal a handsome blond man in a gold and blue costume who stood next to a hovering machine of some type whose small monitor screen flickered with a vivid red light.
“Booster Gold? I know him. He was with the Conglomerate , that briefly lived group of heroes that tried to rival the League! What’s his connection with you or Ryan Chase?” asked Superman as he studied the clearly dazed hero.
Xotar said, “Booster Gold was Michael Jon Carter, a disgraced athlete from the 25th century. He took equipment from the Space Museum and travelled back in time to become a hero called Booster Gold. He saved the life of the U.S. President, joined your League and became a legendary champion!”
Superman said, “You’ve got your history wrong again. He may be from the future but he is no Leaguer!”
Xotar said, “Ah, but history showed me that he was supposed to be. I diverted him during his trip to your era. He never reached your time. I sent him off through time to another Earth. You see, I have access to a possible future where all Earths merged into one. It makes it very easy to reach any of your multi-versal earths from that lofty vantage point! I manipulated various events and sent his mother and sister over at a later time to cover my tracks from a snooping Time Cop based on that parallel Earth!”
Booster said, “Seeing you and this place brings it all back to me! I came from Earth 1’s future 2465 where I worked as a janitor at the Science Museum. I didn’t like the work but it was the best I could do. I’d been a star athlete until some bad choices involving gambling cost me everything. I deserved to lose my chances. I shamed my mother and sister. I let myself down too but it didn’t help me like my work any better.”
Xotar grinned and said, “But even though all you had left was a college nickname Booster and some wistful feelings about what might have been, you did find ways to pass the time! You studied all about the age of heroes and the careers of 20th century costumed champions! It made you want to be one of them! It fed your ambition and your ego and admittedly your sincere desire to do something meaningful with your life. It also made you the perfect pawn except for the fact that you were stubborn and despite your gambling past, you were not corruptible!”
Booster said, “ I read about Superman, Green Lantern, and other Justice League members! Superman, you have to believe me, I wanted to be like you. I wanted to be a hero… and to regain some sense of self-worth!”
Xotar said, “You were perfect as the model for my own would be hero. I sent you and your mother and sister and your robotic ally Skeets to Earth 4. I had to dull your memories of E-1 and insert you into an appropriate era on that Earth. You became a janitor at the Museum of Space Adventures where you enacted your plan. You took the Time Yacht of Hap Holliday to 1986. I planted some Earth 1 gear there so you could use it as well. You took a force field belt and flight ring that I shifted from an Earth 1 exhibit to an Earth 4 one. This created a real mystery back on Earth 1. You became a corporate crusader and were eventually reunited with your mother and sister since I’d sent them over too to cover my actions from a Time Cop on that world. He detected your theft of the Time Yacht. I fooled him as well!”
Booster said, “ You messed with my memories of Earth 1 and my mind when you dumped me on that other world! Why did you bring me back now?”
Xotar said, “I didn’t bring you back. I never wanted you to return to your home planet. I created a chronal duplicate of you and sent him back to take your place in the history of Earth 1. He was merely a reflection of you and was easily dominated. I planned to have him do all you were meant to do and then have him destroy the League upon gaining their trust but after he reached your time, something severed my connection with him. It was all I could do to anchor this chronal energy being by linking him to Ryan “Cannonball” Chase a native of that era who shared some of his traits and seemed destined to do some of the same things you were supposed to do. He also became a so-called “corporate crusader.”
Booster smirked and said, “Cannonball? Clearly, he never had a focus group. That name is pretty lame! But you say this pawn of yours was some kind of double for me? That means whatever he did, he did it with style and class!”
Xotar said, “You are trying to distract me by spouting shallow banter. I know you have the heart of a hero but you can’t stop me! You are not worth my time or attention! A stasis field will contain you as well!”
The little robot dropped inert to the ground as Booster was caught in a trap.
Xotar continued, “This unforeseen barrier cut me off from control of my chronal duplicate. I managed to keep him in your era by linking him to Chase but I was helpless to stop him from joining this Conglomerate instead of the League. History itself tried to right itself by having so many of Gold’s exploits occur with other participants. Your Superwoman for example saved the President’s life instead of Gold. On another occasion Cannonball did so as well. A villain known as Terra Man joined your league under the guise of the Futurian and though he did not betray you, he was meant to do so by his masters who somehow followed out my plan while I was unable to act. They conceived the idea for the plan as if history itself was a force trying to right itself. And yet this barrier kept me helpless! It was a…!”he hesitated.
“An iron curtain of time?” suggested the smiling blonde.
“Nicely put, dear, but don’t interrupt the men while they are talking!” said Xotar.
She lowered her eyes demurely but smiled wickedly. Clearly, she knew more than she was letting on and Xotar was too arrogant to realize it. Superman mused, “She may be playing some game all her own!”
Xotar said, “The barrier finally evaporated in some way and I was ready to strike when Chase died! My chronal duplicate had failed me too. He was disgraced and later redeemed himself but nothing he did served my cause. I admit that I lost control of him for some reason. He vanished from existence and the real Booster Gold was ripped from Earth 4 to my base here on Earth 1!”
Booster said, “I’m not sure I understand what’s happened but I made good friends on Earth 4 and I have family there!”
Xotar said, “Too bad. I plan to use you as I originally intended once I wipe out Superman. Isn’t that how your primitive criminals used to talk? Wipe out!”
A black energy sphere appeared in mid air and hovered before the captive Superman.
“This is a sphere of time nullification. Once it covers you Superman, you will cease to exist. Your great deeds will have occurred but no one will have any memory that you performed them! What better defeat than to be erased from all historical records! I shall be the man who destroyed the legend of Superman!”
While an oblivious Xotar gloated, the slinky blonde casually flipped a control that released Booster Gold then she raced out of the citadel.
As the black sphere dropped toward Superman, Booster yelled and tackled Xotar!
The two men fell into the sphere as energy erupted through the room and Superman broke free!
The blonde woman had indeed vanished but three newcomers raced inside and took immediate action!
Superman recognized them all. They were three of his allies from the 30th Century’s Legion of Super Heroes: Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, and Chameleon Boy.
Brainiac 5, a brilliant, green skinned scientist, rushed forward and activated controls on his gold belt sending an energy field into the rapidly closing black sphere into which the two men had vanished.
“I have them but I fear this nullification energy will have drastically altered time!” he said.
As the multi-powered Ultra Boy and shape-shifting Chameleon Boy helped Superman regain his balance, a stunned Booster Gold and Xotar emerged from the field.
“You fellows got here just in time! I was almost free but I was seconds too late!” said Superman.
Cham said, “Superman is never too late! We know. We’ve watched the history holos!”
Ultra Boy said, “The guy in gold is wearing a Legion flight ring. It vanished along with the rest of his gear from the Science Museum back in the 25th century. It had been a great unsolved mystery but Brainy was always working on it in his spare time. It was kind of a chronal cold case!”
Cham said, “Even he could never solve it until suddenly his computer detected the specific energy given off by the stolen gear and the ring itself. It led us right here!”
Superman said, “I suspect that occurred the second Booster here was returned to his proper Earth. Before that time, you could not trace the ring. He and it were literally not in this universe only a chronal duplicate which must not have triggered your own probes!”
Brainiac 5 said, “Fascinating. We have never known how the ring ended up as part of a Space Museum exhibit some four hundred years before our own time and creation of the Legion. I knew such a ring had been part of the collection and had mysteriously vanished but that was only because of careful analysis of holos of the museum’s entire collection and a determination of what had vanished on that curious night! I assure you there had been no trail to follow until a short time ago when a beacon appeared through time itself!”
Superman said, “Xotar’s female ally may have alerted you. She had her own agenda. I saw her free Booster. How are they? Booster is a real hero. He tried to save me at great cost to himself!”
“He will be fine but both men were exposed to the so called nullification energies long enough that their respective histories will soon be altered from all recorded or recalled memory!” said Brainiac 5.
Booster groaned. “So nobody will remember me? Will the folks I saved have died? Will the crooks I caught be free?”
“No! History was not changed only memory of your part in it has been altered. After we leave here, none of us will recall your previous career as a hero. As for Xotar, only his most recent actions have been erased. His earlier villainy shall remain a matter of memory and record!” said the scientist.
Booster said, “So my fans will think some other jerk did all the things I did? Well, at least I saved Superman. That’s what counts. No one should ever forget a legend like him!”
Superman said, “I owe you a great debt. Is there nothing we can do to help him?”
Ultra Boy said, “I can take this creep to the police of this era for one thing!”
He flew off with the dazed Xotar. Superman scanned the area but there was no sign of the enigmatic blonde.
Superman nodded and said, “I suppose we’ve solved the mystery of why Cannonball did have something of a similar career to your own and why he had chronal energy in his body. It was meant as a means of linking the chronal duplicate of you to my era!”
Booster said, “What about my mother and my sister? I have friends on Earth 4. Won’t they remember me? I can go back and make them know me!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I fear such actions would cause additional damage to history. You were irradiated with the null time energy and I hate to speculate what would happen if that energy was compounded by travel from one Earth to another as well as from one era to another! They will all remember you. Xotar’s energies could not change what occurred on Earth 4. Of course, people there will wonder what happened to you unless some way we could contrive to bring your mother and sister here!”
Booster said, “I can’t risk hurting my family or friends. I guess I’m a man without a home!”
Superman said, “I know that feeling. I wish I could help you.”
Brainiac 5 calmly adjusted the fallen robot that had accompanied Booster out of the stasis chamber upon his first arrival to Xotar’s citadel.
“This robot is yours. I made a slight upgrade!” he said.
He also leaned closer to Booster Gold and said, “I have also solved the riddle of the flight ring. It appears to be one of my own. I want you to keep it. In some way, it ended up in the past and became part of the Space Museum’s exhibits of unknown origin. You found it in your original era in the 25th century before taking it and the energy suit and force field belt in your quest to journey back to become a 20th century hero. “
Booster nodded slowly as he touched the small hovering robot.
“Skeets! Am I glad to see you up and about! I may need you more than ever!” he said.
Skeets said, “Booster, I fear much of what we once knew about history is no longer valid. Perhaps, we should return to the 25th century! Otherwise, you will be doubly helpless in a strange era!”
Cham said, “We could give you a lift. You might say it is on our way!”
Superman shook hands with Booster and said, “I didn’t know you very well during your time in my era. I suppose I thought you were a bit of a conceited glory hog. I was wrong. You are a real hero!”
Booster grinned and said, “Endorsed by Superman no less! That would look good on a resume!”
As Ultra Boy joined them, they exited the citadel.
Superman flew back into the time stream and gradually his memory of Booster Gold faded. The Conglomerate had existed. He remembered the group but neither he nor anyone else recalled Booster Gold had ever been a part of it. Perhaps, some ancestor or hero with a similar power, name, or background would emerge to fill his forgotten role as time retroactively corrected itself.
After the Legion, dropped the remaining duo back in the year 2465 Booster Gold and Skeets dejectedly paced the grounds of the Space Museum.
Booster frowned as he looked down at his costume. He had forgotten his now erased past.
“I ‘m going to get fired! Why am I wearing this stuff? I recognize it from the Museum and all those stories we’ve been reading about the age of heroes!” he said with a gasp.
Skeets said, “Booster, my memory circuits were altered by Brainiac 5. I retain a detail record of the events of your life that had been forgotten. Allow me to refresh your memory!”
After a hurried conversation with the little robot, Booster grinned.
“Well, if I did it once, I can do it again! I’ll go back to the 1980’s and do a better job of becoming the idol of millions than any crummy duplicate could have done!” he declared.
A weird craft materialized before them. It was a time sphere.
A blond man in a green suit climbed out.
“My name is Rip Hunter. You and I have a lot of work to do!” he said.
Booster said, “Huh? Are you some kind of Time Cop?”
Rip smiled and said, “You could say that. Then, again, so are you or you will be! You’ll also be one of the twentieth century’s most famous super heroes! I guess you could say today begins your second chance at life! And don’t worry about your family, I’ve got plans for them too! You came from a heroic background. ”
Booster smiled broadly and he and Skeets climbed into the time machine!
“Show biz is full of second acts!” he thought.
Elsewhen: the blonde woman calling herself Lorna smiled and said, “I thwarted Xotar’s ambitions and enabled the legend of Booster Gold to begin anew without any interference. I will need the Corporate Crusader if I am to emerge as the victor in the upcoming Time Wars!” she said.
2
1988
The so-called “beautiful people” were on full display as the Moldacian Film Festival with its special tribute to its beloved ruler Princess Portia (formerly American actress Julie Madison) opened to a gleaming crowd of Hollywood royalty and real European royalty! Princess Portia’s popularity was not limited to her adopted country. She was possibly the most photographed woman in the world and her combination of sheer glamor and a charitable nature endeared the beautiful woman to millions around the globe. She was often referred to as “The People’s Princess!” Now, as her husband the handsome Prince Jon led her down a red carpet toward the pavilion that housed the theaters and exhibits that had been devoted to her Hollywood films like “Dread Castle.”
As media representatives from around the world waited for their turn to interview the actress turned monarch, five dark clad men broke through the crowd and began to fire oddly shaped guns!
Princess Portia’s personal bodyguards were overwhelmed by the skill and ruthlessness of the attackers!
As screams rang out and people scattered for some form of cover, a man in a colorful blue and gold costume swooped down from above and smiled broadly as he expertly aimed his wrist bands and released bursts of energy that shattered two of the gunmen’s weapons before they could react to his sudden appeared.
“Now that’s what I call gun control!” he said as he drew the fire of the other three assassins and dodged their blasts as he rose higher and away from the innocents below.
“I guess you boys didn’t like “Dread Castle” huh? That’s no reason to perforate the Princess!” he quipped.
He dropped down and punched the closest gunman in the chin. The dark hooded killer collapsed and he casually scooped him up and hurled him into the reaming two attackers.
“Got to love the way this suit boosts my strength! Pun intended!” he thought.
He slammed into the fallen assassins and smiled as the media crews drew closer and he bowed low.
“No need to thank me. Any sensational super hero would do the same although few would have the rugged good looks and natural charisma of the one and only Booster Gold!” he said.
“Booster. We need you now!” said an electronic voice in his ear. Skeets was in constant communication with him via the sensors in the gold mask, he wore.
“As much as I hate to leave my newly adoring public, I need to wrap things up before anyone gets hurt!” he thought.
Booster flew up and on a balcony attached to the palace itself where he found several fallen security guards and came upon a startling scene.
Princess Portia was cowering before a final hooded gunman. This man wore a slightly different colored costume and carried himself with such arrogance that it was clear he was the leader of the assassins.
Skeets hovered nearby and Booster noticed the little robot’s sensors were broadcasting the scene to the network feeds below. The world was watching the tense standoff.
The almost courtly assassin said, “I am known as Kingslayer. I have been paid to eliminate the People’s Princess! I will gladly kill you for free!”
Booster said, “Don’t do me any favors, pal!”
He charged at the killer even as Kingslayer opened fire on Princess Portia.
To Kingslayer’s chagrin, the energy blasts bounced harmlessly off a force field that enveloped her!
Booster connected with a stinging punch that knocked the startled killer cold.
“Are you hurt?” asked Booster as he took Princess Portia by the hand after she switched off the force field belt he had given her earlier.
She shook her head and said, “No, thanks to you! Thank goodness you knew Kingslayer was going to make such an attempt on my life. Even with your precautions, he managed to switch some of his own men for my trusted guards!”
Booster said, “My pal Skeets here has his sources!”
He retrieved the belt and bowed low as he kissed her hand.
“If you put me on a Moldacian stamp, this is my better side!” he said as he gestured to his right.
The next day the global media could talk of nothing except the new hero Booster Gold and his dramatic rescue of the most popular woman in the world. He remained by Princess Portia’s side along with the real Prince Jon for the rest of the festival.
In a matter of hours, Booster Gold had become a media darling and he relished every moment of it.
Privately, as he and Skeets conferred with the mysterious time traveler Rip Hunter, he listened closely to the earnest blond scientist’s instructions.
“You are perfectly suited to help me police time so to speak and to correct various attempts by others to alter history for their own gains. By helping you regain your lost fame, I hope to accomplish two things: to correct the changes Xotar made to your proper role in history and to create the image of a “show biz super hero” for you so no one will suspect that you are also doing so much to protect time itself!”
Booster nodded and said, “I get some attention and wealth and also serve a higher if secret purpose. I’d say I could not ask for more except for my family!”
Rip led Booster into another room of his rural home where Booster was greeted joyfully by a mature but attractive woman and a pretty blonde teen.
They embraced and as Booster smiled at his mother and sister, Rip added, “I picked them up. I can’t cross between worlds but I followed the process Xotar described to you. I went to a possible future where all Earths are emerged and then came back to Earth 4 for Ellen and Michelle! I didn’t dare risk your joining me on the trip over since Xotar claimed your altered chronal energies could disrupt Earth 4’s history should you ever return! I also didn’t make contact with your friends. I could not risk it. I fear they will just wonder what became of you!”
Booster said, “I’m going miss Ted and Monica and the rest but with my family here and my rightful place restored, I sure got nothing to complain about!”
The End