Post by redsycorax on Mar 14, 2019 21:49:11 GMT
On many other alternate Earths, the last major human famines occurred in China, Bengal (India), Biafra, Cambodia and Ethiopia during the twentieth century. But by Earth-971's seventies, accelerated soil and salt erosion, runaway ecological damage, political corruption, totalitarianism and a period of increased solar intensity tipped that world into a devastating total famine. Even with Batman's corporate scientific collaboration, with Superman's Kryptonian technological expertise and Wonder Woman's Amazonian advanced science, the world's major food producing nations were hard pressed to meet escalated demand. As starvation increased, so did unemployment, economic inequality, epidemic disease and warfare for the world's remaining foodstuffs. The Atom retreated to a subatomic universe, traumatised by what he had seen. Aquaman and the Atlanteans responded brutally to what were perceived as infringements to their maritime sovereignty and he angrily left the Metahuman Society as a consequence. Black Canary was killed trying to prevent a food riot in Chicago, and Green Arrow joined her when a nuclear terrorist attack destroyed Star City in 1978. Barry Allen had never experienced the chemical combination accident in Central City and therefore the Flash did not exist in this world, therefore he could not assist in emergency food distribution. Hal Jordan resigned from the Green Lantern Corps and Guy Gardner and John Stewart took his place. In 1980, Jordan died in the Second American Civil War defending the frontlines of Coast City as the rural hinterland attacked it. Soon, it became obvious that this global famine would not relent. This was an Earth in profound crisis.
++
"All of these diversions. Another Apollo mission, we still haven't withdrawn from Vietnam but RFK wants to launch a 'War on Drugs," Pakistan is breaking apart... personally, I wonder why people can't see the larger picture." The Atom said, looking down at the Earth from the tranquility of the Metahuman Society of America satellite, orbiting silently 22,300 miles above Earth.
"It seems as if we're losing Superman and Batman sometimes. And Hal, training this new guy, John Stewart, as a Green Lantern. Still, it's good to have him around, don't you think, Ray?"
"These "New God" entities seem to be benevolent, but they seem to be opposed to this other set of entities, from "Apokolips." Clark seems obsessed with them, possibly because they're the first beings that he's met who are really in his own power setting, Dinah. And his friend Jimmy Olsen is connected to this new human genetic engineering concern, CADMUS. As a scientist, Dinah, I'm starting to wonder how much control we really have over science and technology. And over Clark. He must have welcomed the chemical reaction that detoxified most of the Kryptonite on Earth earlier this year, but if we have to face off against a renegade Kryptonian, then what's going to happen?"
Dinah Lance sighed and nodded: "Batman's off on a tangent these days too- what with this new quasi-criminal "League of Assassins," their leader Ras al-Ghul and his daughter Talia, it's taking up all the time that he used to spend with the MSA. I hope it ends well for either of them. Ray, have you noticed how yellow and brown areas of the world are looking? You can see it from up here, look," And they did. Areas of the planet below were indeed bereft of green growth, including large swathes of the Peoples Republic of China (due to its ongoing 'Cultural Revolution' and the disruption to its agriculture that had resulted), India's Bengal as distant "West" Pakistan fought secessionists within its eastern provinces, much to the anger and resentment of India as its civil war spilt over into India's neighbouring Bengal state, while repression still sabotaged Biafra's attempt to recover from the demise of its independence struggle from Nigeria and Cambodia and Ethiopia were similarly caught amidst the ravages of civil war, side-effects of the Vietnam War (now drawing to a close in that neighbouring nation as western combatants withdrew, leaving South Vietnam to its fate) and the rise of local tyrants and warlords like Uganda's General Idi Amin and Cambodia's murderous Pol Pot.
"We're only here to fight crime, Dinah, although humanitarian efforts lie within that jurisdiction. If those countries governments request help with food relief, then the MSA can take a hand. But unless and until that happens, we need to occupy our attention with more immediate concerns."
As it turned out, none of those nations did and millions starved and died in makeshift tin or wooden shelters, as the world shuddered to the scenes of African and Asian malnutrition, and the tragedy of small children and infants with large distended stomachs and skeletal limbs on their televisions every night. On many other worlds, the conflicts ended, and international relief efforts assuaged the guilt at the suffering and ordeal of such children. But on Earth-971, something else was happening. Unlike many other Earths, this one had never developed a large scale environmental movement that could deal with the unfolding tragedies. And here, as the Sun burnt brighter, fate took a hand.
1973:
"Come to order, please! Diana, I'd like to welcome you back officially to the Metahuman Society of America. Under the circumstances, we needed your abilities urgently, so we decided to forego those proposed 'twelve labours of yours.' Now, as we are all aware, the global food crisis needs to take precedence over everything else. The existing global food providers are overstretched and operating at maximum capacity to meet the crisis. From Cambodia, China, Uganda, Nigeria and Bangladesh, the crisis has spread to areas that have never experienced the like. Green Arrow?"
"Yeah, Supes, like the Appalachians and black inner city communities."
"You don't know that, Archer-" Hawkman remonstrated.
"Like hell I don't, Katar. I've been engaged in food deliveries in Star City's ghettos, along with Pretty Bird. Tell 'em, Dinah."
"Ollie's right. We're encountering the classic signs of malnutrition and even starvation elsewhere in the United States." Black Canary responded.
"As crime rates have declined precipitously, this has to be our first priority. Bruce is co-ordinating things through the Wayne Foundation, Supergirl and I are personally engaged in grain and other foodstuff distribution to areas that require it overseas. Diana, could Paradise Island provide similar assistance under the current circumstances?"
"Haven't you heard anything I've said?! Hal, tell 'em!"
"I'm with Ollie on this one. I've been accompanying Dinah and him across the United States on a tour across the country and some of the things we've encountered... anyway, the new alternative Green Lantern, John Stewart, and I will be assisting him on local distribution routes. It's not that I disagree with Superman and Batman about the urgency and severe need overseas, but the situation at home is becoming as much of a crisis."
"Arthur, you've been fairly silent during all this."
"I...do hear what you're saying, all of you, but Japanese and Norwegian attacks on my cetacean subjects have escalated under the current crisis. I cannot countenance any further whale and dolphin hunting under the circumstances, especially given their pivotal role in the underseas environment. Do I have your support on this?"
"They're beautiful creatures, Arthur and intelligent beings. I know I do. But..."
"There's no need to say it. Your priorities are landbased and therefore, sentient cetaceans take second place to that, so they can be massacred and killed with impunity."
"Arthur, no. I will intervene if I encounter any such malignant behaviour en route to elsewhere. So will Kal and Kara."
"I know, and I'm especially grateful that Themiscyra has taken it upon themselves to strictly police their martime boundaries and prevent any depradations carrying on there. But my first priority has to be to my oceanic subjects. Effective immediately, I am resigning from the Metahuman Society of America." He rose and walked away, leaving a stunned group of MSA members seated at their roundtable, staring at each other.
1975:
"I'd like to welcome John Stewart here as the new Green Lantern of Earth. As the rest of you may be aware, Hal Jordan has resigned from the MSA due to demands from the Guardians that he spend more time engaged in interstellar police activities. As new Mayor of Coast City, he has also resigned from the MSA. The other major issue is the international and national food crisis. I'm sorry, I should call it what it is. Famine. Green Arrow?"
"Yeah, exactly, Bruce. I don't like what's happenin' with the global situation. Thanks, Clark, for turning back that attack on Canada last month, even if it's made you persona non grata in some of the more redneck areas of the country. And to John here, for getting Arthur to help repell the Australian attempt to invade New Zealand for the same reason. Sorry that was such a baptism of fire, dude."
"It's getting worse. There's another dustbowl in Oklahoma. The world's surviving food providing nations are either facing military incursions or else rigorously defending themselves against aggression from elsewhere. Malnutrition and starvation deaths have escalated within Western Europe and the United States, as have unemployment and economic inequality as food prices have skyrocketed."
"We're short-staffed as it is. Are there no other metas who can be inducted into the Society to assist us at this point?"
"With Ray gone after the close of Ivy University and Jean Loring's death in the food riots that destroyed his home town, no, Kara, we can't. As of now, the MSA roster consists of Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Wonder Girl, Red Arrow, Zatanna and Zatara. I think we may have reached the limits of our capabilities."
"About that. Pretty Bird and I have decided to quit too. Sorry, Kara. It's just that the situation in Star City is demanding most of our time now and there's no time for anything else beyond that."
"Please, Oliver, don't do this. I know we've had our differences, but you've made a valuable contribution to the MSA."
"Thanks, Katar, but... it may be time that those of us who feel we can do the best in our own localities pull out and reorder our priorities. Not that I don't admire the efforts of those who can make a difference on a wider scale, but that's not me or Dinah anymore."
1978:
Below the Metahuman Society satellite spun a wounded and desolate planet, with brown and yellow wounds the common motif on its desolate and dying surface. It had been an horrific year. In Star City, Black Canary had tried to defend a food truck from being destroyed by a criminal hoarder gang, but she was shot repeatedly as she brought time for the convoy protectors to race to the scene. Star City itself hadn't lasted much longer as a mourning Green Arrow failed to defuse a 'dirty' nuclear device that had been installed in the metropolitan centre. In seconds, all that was left was a roiling incandescent ball of dust, debris, fire and poison that ascended to the heavens and formed the emblem of the mushroom cloud. Hal Jordan hadn't lasted much longer than that, as the first Green Lantern of Earth was shot through the heart on the frontline as Coast City's Civic Defence Force tried valiantly to protect it from starving hordes from what was once its rural hinterland, now so much desolate dust and rock. Pushed beyond endurance, Zatanna attempted a spell of location and focus: " Noitavlas dnif su pleh, esrevitlum!" Eldritch energies roiled around her, trying to frustrate her from trying to find something that could bring peace and relief to her starving, wartorn Earth. Marshalling the last of her energies, she screamed: "Eb ti tsum os!!!" She gritted her teeth and screamed, and then slumped lifeless to the ground, but her effort had brought the desired effect. Within the focal portal opened by her spell, a world of green pastures, tall buildings, birdsong, light and life began to form within it. Per Degaton stood amidst the splendour and smiled gently at the men and women of the Metahuman Society of America as their hope grew:
"Welcome, friends. Come through the portal and we can talk about your world's woes and needs and we shall see what we can do to meet your needs. You are not alone. Two other worlds, afflicted by nuclear war and epidemic disease, have also asked for our assistance. Join me, and we can establish community." And so, seduced by a deceptive figure of hope and the almost forgotten splendour of civilisation and the semblance of peace around them, the Metahuman Society of America allowed themselves to fall into a trap, motivated by compassion, hope and the burden of service- even if the motivations for doing so were deeply humane ones.
THE END
++
"All of these diversions. Another Apollo mission, we still haven't withdrawn from Vietnam but RFK wants to launch a 'War on Drugs," Pakistan is breaking apart... personally, I wonder why people can't see the larger picture." The Atom said, looking down at the Earth from the tranquility of the Metahuman Society of America satellite, orbiting silently 22,300 miles above Earth.
"It seems as if we're losing Superman and Batman sometimes. And Hal, training this new guy, John Stewart, as a Green Lantern. Still, it's good to have him around, don't you think, Ray?"
"These "New God" entities seem to be benevolent, but they seem to be opposed to this other set of entities, from "Apokolips." Clark seems obsessed with them, possibly because they're the first beings that he's met who are really in his own power setting, Dinah. And his friend Jimmy Olsen is connected to this new human genetic engineering concern, CADMUS. As a scientist, Dinah, I'm starting to wonder how much control we really have over science and technology. And over Clark. He must have welcomed the chemical reaction that detoxified most of the Kryptonite on Earth earlier this year, but if we have to face off against a renegade Kryptonian, then what's going to happen?"
Dinah Lance sighed and nodded: "Batman's off on a tangent these days too- what with this new quasi-criminal "League of Assassins," their leader Ras al-Ghul and his daughter Talia, it's taking up all the time that he used to spend with the MSA. I hope it ends well for either of them. Ray, have you noticed how yellow and brown areas of the world are looking? You can see it from up here, look," And they did. Areas of the planet below were indeed bereft of green growth, including large swathes of the Peoples Republic of China (due to its ongoing 'Cultural Revolution' and the disruption to its agriculture that had resulted), India's Bengal as distant "West" Pakistan fought secessionists within its eastern provinces, much to the anger and resentment of India as its civil war spilt over into India's neighbouring Bengal state, while repression still sabotaged Biafra's attempt to recover from the demise of its independence struggle from Nigeria and Cambodia and Ethiopia were similarly caught amidst the ravages of civil war, side-effects of the Vietnam War (now drawing to a close in that neighbouring nation as western combatants withdrew, leaving South Vietnam to its fate) and the rise of local tyrants and warlords like Uganda's General Idi Amin and Cambodia's murderous Pol Pot.
"We're only here to fight crime, Dinah, although humanitarian efforts lie within that jurisdiction. If those countries governments request help with food relief, then the MSA can take a hand. But unless and until that happens, we need to occupy our attention with more immediate concerns."
As it turned out, none of those nations did and millions starved and died in makeshift tin or wooden shelters, as the world shuddered to the scenes of African and Asian malnutrition, and the tragedy of small children and infants with large distended stomachs and skeletal limbs on their televisions every night. On many other worlds, the conflicts ended, and international relief efforts assuaged the guilt at the suffering and ordeal of such children. But on Earth-971, something else was happening. Unlike many other Earths, this one had never developed a large scale environmental movement that could deal with the unfolding tragedies. And here, as the Sun burnt brighter, fate took a hand.
1973:
"Come to order, please! Diana, I'd like to welcome you back officially to the Metahuman Society of America. Under the circumstances, we needed your abilities urgently, so we decided to forego those proposed 'twelve labours of yours.' Now, as we are all aware, the global food crisis needs to take precedence over everything else. The existing global food providers are overstretched and operating at maximum capacity to meet the crisis. From Cambodia, China, Uganda, Nigeria and Bangladesh, the crisis has spread to areas that have never experienced the like. Green Arrow?"
"Yeah, Supes, like the Appalachians and black inner city communities."
"You don't know that, Archer-" Hawkman remonstrated.
"Like hell I don't, Katar. I've been engaged in food deliveries in Star City's ghettos, along with Pretty Bird. Tell 'em, Dinah."
"Ollie's right. We're encountering the classic signs of malnutrition and even starvation elsewhere in the United States." Black Canary responded.
"As crime rates have declined precipitously, this has to be our first priority. Bruce is co-ordinating things through the Wayne Foundation, Supergirl and I are personally engaged in grain and other foodstuff distribution to areas that require it overseas. Diana, could Paradise Island provide similar assistance under the current circumstances?"
"Haven't you heard anything I've said?! Hal, tell 'em!"
"I'm with Ollie on this one. I've been accompanying Dinah and him across the United States on a tour across the country and some of the things we've encountered... anyway, the new alternative Green Lantern, John Stewart, and I will be assisting him on local distribution routes. It's not that I disagree with Superman and Batman about the urgency and severe need overseas, but the situation at home is becoming as much of a crisis."
"Arthur, you've been fairly silent during all this."
"I...do hear what you're saying, all of you, but Japanese and Norwegian attacks on my cetacean subjects have escalated under the current crisis. I cannot countenance any further whale and dolphin hunting under the circumstances, especially given their pivotal role in the underseas environment. Do I have your support on this?"
"They're beautiful creatures, Arthur and intelligent beings. I know I do. But..."
"There's no need to say it. Your priorities are landbased and therefore, sentient cetaceans take second place to that, so they can be massacred and killed with impunity."
"Arthur, no. I will intervene if I encounter any such malignant behaviour en route to elsewhere. So will Kal and Kara."
"I know, and I'm especially grateful that Themiscyra has taken it upon themselves to strictly police their martime boundaries and prevent any depradations carrying on there. But my first priority has to be to my oceanic subjects. Effective immediately, I am resigning from the Metahuman Society of America." He rose and walked away, leaving a stunned group of MSA members seated at their roundtable, staring at each other.
1975:
"I'd like to welcome John Stewart here as the new Green Lantern of Earth. As the rest of you may be aware, Hal Jordan has resigned from the MSA due to demands from the Guardians that he spend more time engaged in interstellar police activities. As new Mayor of Coast City, he has also resigned from the MSA. The other major issue is the international and national food crisis. I'm sorry, I should call it what it is. Famine. Green Arrow?"
"Yeah, exactly, Bruce. I don't like what's happenin' with the global situation. Thanks, Clark, for turning back that attack on Canada last month, even if it's made you persona non grata in some of the more redneck areas of the country. And to John here, for getting Arthur to help repell the Australian attempt to invade New Zealand for the same reason. Sorry that was such a baptism of fire, dude."
"It's getting worse. There's another dustbowl in Oklahoma. The world's surviving food providing nations are either facing military incursions or else rigorously defending themselves against aggression from elsewhere. Malnutrition and starvation deaths have escalated within Western Europe and the United States, as have unemployment and economic inequality as food prices have skyrocketed."
"We're short-staffed as it is. Are there no other metas who can be inducted into the Society to assist us at this point?"
"With Ray gone after the close of Ivy University and Jean Loring's death in the food riots that destroyed his home town, no, Kara, we can't. As of now, the MSA roster consists of Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Wonder Girl, Red Arrow, Zatanna and Zatara. I think we may have reached the limits of our capabilities."
"About that. Pretty Bird and I have decided to quit too. Sorry, Kara. It's just that the situation in Star City is demanding most of our time now and there's no time for anything else beyond that."
"Please, Oliver, don't do this. I know we've had our differences, but you've made a valuable contribution to the MSA."
"Thanks, Katar, but... it may be time that those of us who feel we can do the best in our own localities pull out and reorder our priorities. Not that I don't admire the efforts of those who can make a difference on a wider scale, but that's not me or Dinah anymore."
1978:
Below the Metahuman Society satellite spun a wounded and desolate planet, with brown and yellow wounds the common motif on its desolate and dying surface. It had been an horrific year. In Star City, Black Canary had tried to defend a food truck from being destroyed by a criminal hoarder gang, but she was shot repeatedly as she brought time for the convoy protectors to race to the scene. Star City itself hadn't lasted much longer as a mourning Green Arrow failed to defuse a 'dirty' nuclear device that had been installed in the metropolitan centre. In seconds, all that was left was a roiling incandescent ball of dust, debris, fire and poison that ascended to the heavens and formed the emblem of the mushroom cloud. Hal Jordan hadn't lasted much longer than that, as the first Green Lantern of Earth was shot through the heart on the frontline as Coast City's Civic Defence Force tried valiantly to protect it from starving hordes from what was once its rural hinterland, now so much desolate dust and rock. Pushed beyond endurance, Zatanna attempted a spell of location and focus: " Noitavlas dnif su pleh, esrevitlum!" Eldritch energies roiled around her, trying to frustrate her from trying to find something that could bring peace and relief to her starving, wartorn Earth. Marshalling the last of her energies, she screamed: "Eb ti tsum os!!!" She gritted her teeth and screamed, and then slumped lifeless to the ground, but her effort had brought the desired effect. Within the focal portal opened by her spell, a world of green pastures, tall buildings, birdsong, light and life began to form within it. Per Degaton stood amidst the splendour and smiled gently at the men and women of the Metahuman Society of America as their hope grew:
"Welcome, friends. Come through the portal and we can talk about your world's woes and needs and we shall see what we can do to meet your needs. You are not alone. Two other worlds, afflicted by nuclear war and epidemic disease, have also asked for our assistance. Join me, and we can establish community." And so, seduced by a deceptive figure of hope and the almost forgotten splendour of civilisation and the semblance of peace around them, the Metahuman Society of America allowed themselves to fall into a trap, motivated by compassion, hope and the burden of service- even if the motivations for doing so were deeply humane ones.
THE END