Post by redsycorax on Sept 19, 2020 3:04:54 GMT
Earth-69 might seem like an almost utopian world to some- although probably not compared to Earth-68, where a largely peaceful French socialist revolution in May 1968 led to breakneck accelerated technological transformation and the attainment of a Singularity and ascendance into higher dimensions of reality in its 2020. With Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy in power in 1968 after President Richard Nixon was assassinated in 1964 when he visited Dallas, the Vietnam War ended in a negotiated withdrawal for the United States and South Vietnam still survived as a separate state well into the next century. RFK decided to compete with the USSR through the acceleration of the space race, leading humanity to follow its Apollo programme with the crewed exploration of Mars and during the nineties, the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. By 2019, the United Nations Collaborative Space Agency sent a NAFAL starship to explore Alpha and Proxima Centauri.
In a world largely at peace, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman married Lois Lane, Selina Kyle and Steve Trevor and had children of their own during the seventies. Twenty years later, Dick Grayson became Batman II on the retirement of Bruce Wayne, while his daughter Helena became Robin II. Thirty years later, Superman I and Lois Lane retired to Rokyn, leaving his cousin Superwoman and Superman II to safeguard Earth-69 from intruders. Other divergences happened- Harvey Dent was cured after painstaking advanced cosmetic surgery repaired the scarred side of his face, Oswald Cobblepot became senile and was housed in a psychogeriatric ward in Arkham Asylum. The Riddler reformed. The Joker was shot and killed by the Gotham City Police Department. Barbara Gordon never became Batgirl II here, preferring her career as a Democratic Party Congresswoman in Washington DC. Much to his surprise, most of the Flash's Rogues Gallery also reformed- Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, The Trickster, The Top and Captain Boomerang all joined the Justice Nexus of America in later years. When Steve Trevor passed away, Wonder Woman returned to Paradise Island, and her daughter Fury inherited her mother's legendary mantle. Not all the changes were benevolent- Sinestro and the Weaponers of Qward killed Hal Jordan, Roy Harper died of a heroin overdose and civil war erupted in Atlantis between Posiedonis and Tritonis. Oliver Queen died of cancer and his daughter Thea took over as Green Arrow II.
+++
Connor Kent waved to Helena Wayne as the Batship touched down at its secret landing place and a familiar pattern of electromagnetic interference concealed it.
"Robin."
"Connor. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I seem to be immune to kryptonite now. I'm not sure what caused it, and Brainiac 6 told me no-one had discovered a cure for its mutagenic or radioactive poisoning effects on Kryptonians. I was hoping Rick could help."
"He's not home yet- late board meeting at the Wayne Foundation. Anyway, Connor, you're half-Kryptonian. Perhaps you inherited Lois' invulnerability to it instead of Clark's susceptibility. So, are you going to attend the Crisis Day commemorations in Washington next week?"
Connor sighed: "Probably in civvies, given my role as a WGBS.Com stringer. Dad and mom probably won't be able to make it from Rokyn- New Rao is engaging in some fairly major flare activity and Dad took a leading role in producing pyro-ceramic orbital mirrors to deflect the heat and radiation away from the planet. Unfortunately, that means near-Rokyn interplanetary space is impassable. So what about your folks?"
Helena shook her head: "Dad's too frail to get down from Clavius these days and Mom has to nurse him full time. On the bright side, Joan said Barry and Iris will probably make it, and so will Kyle and Donna. As for Thea, I think it's too soon after Oliver. She feels Star City is her priority right now. You remember what it was like when you and I started adult surveillance and apprehension after our parents retired?"
"Sure. Any news from Atlantis?"
"Not good. Clea is steadily advancing and Poseidonis is almost surrounded. Unless Arthur lets the 'surface world' intervene, Clea will become the supreme authority in Atlantis, with all the consequences that might entail."
From above, a call came: "Hola, my friends!"
"Delia! Hi! We were just talking about Atlantis."
Delia Trevor sighed: "I wish mother had permanently imprisoned that wretch. There's no way Themiscyra is going to recognise Clea's alleged authority over the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. Added to which, Clea will probably cut up rough over our humanitarian assistance to Poseidonis. All we can probably do is to insure that Arthur, Mera and their family are granted asylum elsewhere."
Connor nodded: "As much as Aunt Kara and I would like to help, our hands are tied. Clea has made it perfectly clear that she would regard any 'surface dweller' intrusion as an act of war. Although we came perilously close to it when Tritonis tried and executed Lori Lemaris and Ronal for 'treasonous broadcast content.' Dad took it hard."
"Unfortunately, Atlantis and Themiscyra are at a stalemate when it comes to strategic arms limitation talks. Either civilisation has advanced combat technology at their disposal, but if they used them, the Earth would be scarred for generations, if not uninhabitable altogether."
NEW KRYPTONOPOLIS, ROKYN:
Arm in arm, Kal-El and Lois Kal-El strode across the plaza of the newly built city. With Lois' physiology altered by the metahuman enhancement serum that had given her superpowers under a yellow sun, she could also live on Rokyn with no complications, discomfort or pain, even if the planet's gravitational pull was several times that of Earth. Lois noticed her husband looked pensive and distant: "It's Lori, isn't it? Oh, Kal. There was nothing you could have done. Don't do this to yourself."
"I honestly thought things were going to improve on Earth, Lois. First, the election of President Kennedy, then those massive cuts to nuclear arms under the SALT treaties, and the civil rights legislation. I didn't think Atlantis would prove to be the problem."
"Clea is a ruthless dictator with pretensions to absolute monarchy. Unfortunately, Tritonis is a sovereign state now and there's little anyone can do to avoid its ascendancy in the Atlantean Civil War- except help funnel Arthur, Mera and other refugees from Poseidonis offworld to the Vellair waterworld sanctuary."
"She was the first woman I ever really loved before I fell for you, Lois. Vital, intelligent, cosmopolitan, principled- no wonder Clea saw her as a threat. The other matter is, will she be satisfied with claiming Poseidonis alone?"
THEMISCYRA:
Queen Diana of Themiscyra sat back, gazing at the empty consorts throne next to her, where her husband Steve had sat alongside her for many decades past. Gone now, like her late mother Queen Hippolyta, Paula von Gunther, the Cheetah and all those others from the past. She drew her robes of office around her and with an effort, monitored the intelligence reports from the Amazon realm's undersats, cruising throughout the Atlantic and relaying grim news about the civil war that convulsed the ancient continent of Atlantis in the fathoms below. It took all her effort to not intervene in the tragedy unfolding several miles underneath the Amazon island- the deaths of Garth and Tula, Mera's miscarriage, the numerous assassination attempts on Arthur himself. She thought mournfully to herself, How I long for the days before mother died, when I could undertake action openly against monsters like Clea...
UNITED NATIONS:
"Wayne Enterprises does not condone Queen Clea's recent actions. Fortunately, as chief executive of Businesses for Social and International Responsibility, we have succeeded in convincing many of the more principled commercial interests in Europe, North and South America and Africa not to enter any supply transactions with Tritonis until and unless it calls off its violent expansionism against Poseidonis and its collateral covert operations." Dick Grayson, President of Wayne Enterprises said as he held a press conference outside the building.
Connor Kent called from the crowd: "Mr Grayson, what is your response to President MacCain's 'constructive engagement' announcement last week?"
"It is immoral and unethical to traffick with tyrants, Mr Kent. As your own great Metropolitan newspaper has stated so eloquently and so many times over the years."
Connor grinned at his metahuman colleague and Dick waved back. Suddenly, though, he caught movement within the crowd. He nodded to Kyle Rayner, observing the event from above:
"Get down! Now!" Green Lantern's power ring produced a loudspeaker as Connor ran off to change into his Superman outfit and Dick was escorted by his security agency inside. However, the figure in question was not hapless or disorganised. As the crowd parted, Lady Shiva stood, tall and arrogant:
"Stand down, Shiva. You do not get to play mercenary for Clea's tyranny today" Superman II said, arms crossed, floating metres above the scowling figure.
"Who said she was my employer this time?"
"Because I can see Atlantean weaponry within your caches."
Shiva laughed: "Like the gold kryptonite you can also plainly observe. And the personal force screen that your friend Batman over there cannot use his own weaponry against. And it also bears yellow colouration, so your Green Lantern is also incapable of intervention."
"Ahem. Haven't you forgotten someone?" A blonde Amazon strode forward, her sword ready at her side:
"Curse you, Amazon! Why are you here?"
"Because, Shiva, we were tipped off that the League of Assassins was going to send someone out to do a hit against Dick Grayson and you've never been able to beat either my mother or I in combat."
Lady Shiva drew out her pistol and opened fire against Fury, but the immemorial game of bullets and bracelets was waged once more as Wonder Woman's daughter closed the distance. Shiva's exoskeleton came into play, but Fury had fought her too many times not to be able to pinpoint her weaknesses. Before Delia Trevor could end the moment's combat, however, Shiva pressed her teleport medallion and the League of Assassins retrieved the seething, infuriated figure, her mission unfulfilled.
Once the crowd dispersed, the four heroes renewed their acquaintances:
"Hey, Kyle! Good to see you back."
Green Lantern nodded: "Thanks, Connor. Yeah, our war against the Darkstars came to an end at last and most of the Corps is on their homeworlds on leave. Unfortunately, my guess is that it won't last all that long and I'll probably be heading back into space."
"What's wrong with us, guys? Why can't we assemble something like our parents had?"
"Civilian jobs and families, Del. And, in Kyle's case, he has the whole of Galactic Sector 2813 to patrol. And some of our parent's generation have gotten older, passed away or become incapable of rigorous physical crimefighting." Superman II said.
"How's Diana dealing with Steve's death, Delia?" Batman asked.
"She's thrown herself into her duties, Dick. I've only ever seen her like this once before- when my grandmother Queen Hippolyta was slain by Hercules and she had to retire as Wonder Woman and take over Themiscyra in her stead. And let's face it, there are fewer of us in the field now. How's Bruce?"
"I don't think he's going to leave L-5 again, Del. It may be only a matter of months now."
"Damn it, if only he'd accepted Dad's offer of longevity therapy on Rokyn."
Batman sighed: "It's going to happen to all of us eventually. We'll end up losing our parents and mentors but carry on in their stead."
There was a brief pulse from his holographier:
"Selina? Is it Bruce-"
The former Catwoman's eyes were red with tears: "You haven't heard? Or seen it? It's Poseidonis, Dick. It's finally fallen. And Clea...oh god. I can't go on..." As Selina Wayne averted her face, a crimson splattered figure held a recognisable head above her laughing, convulsing body. Clea of Tritonis resembled a primeval war chieftain, malevolently waving Arthur Curry's decapitated head above her before she impaled it on a spike. In the sudden silence, Delia looked away as Connor's hand closed over a railing and slowly but surely, Superman II crushed it apart in frustration and grief. Green Lantern fled the scene, taking out his frustration on a loose swarm of incoming meteorites through his own tears. Only Batman held his nerve and watched the gory spectacle until its very end.
THEMISCYRA:
As a bloodied, war-wearied Mera staggered ashore, Diana was there to embrace her:
"Mera. I'm so sorry about what happened to Arthur. You are safe here. Themiscyra grants sanctuary to all women who are oppressed and victimised. Is there anything that I can do?"
"Thank you, Diana. I need time to recover, but... have you heard of the Helmet of Nabu?"
Immediately, Diana paled: "Do not ask this of me, my sister."
"We both know the strength of that artefact. Superboy I managed to overpower Burt Belker when he was possessed by the Helm and detached it from him, flinging it into space."
"We also both know Clea won't stop at the conquest of Poseidonis and Arthur's murder, Diana. You've faced Clea before. You know what a ruthless, tyrannical barbarian she is."
"All too well, my friend. I remember the bodies of the men that she gathered for her own decadent sport, having enslaved them and thrown them into gladitorial conflict when she took over Tritonis. I remember the massacre of the people of Venturia. She murdered Octavia, daughter of Aeras, queen of Venturia, and then took over Skartaris. Which she used to launch her second coup in Tritonis and its blitzkrieg against Poseidonis and your other Atlantean city allies."
"She won't be stopped any other way, Diana. We know this. If she isn't halted now, she will declare war on the surface world and make maritime travel impossible unless they kowtow to her demands."
"Mera, I am sorry that I took my eyes off her. I underestimated her brutality and ruthlessness. But what you are contemplating... the Helm of Nabu is a vessel of the Lords of Chaos. They will give you the power to best Clea, perhaps, but what then? It will subjugate your personality, enslave you and turn you into a twisted, corrupted version of yourself."
"I'm willing to take that risk, Diana. If the worst happens, then kill me. I have nothing to live for now, anyway, with my Arthur perished."
"Give me some time to consider this, my sister. What you are asking..."
"Diana, if you need to discuss this with the JNA, you have my full permission to do so."
JUSTICE NEXUS SANCTUM:
"The problem is, Mera is absolutely right. Damn it, I should have confiscated the Trident of Poseidon from her decades ago. As matters stand now, Clea could use the trident to wreak international havoc. She might decide to declare the Atlantic off-limits to all 'surface world' vessels. Hera help me, I had no idea that she was capable of something this disciplined and dark." Queen Diana said on their holographier link.
From Rokyn, Kal-El nodded: "It doesn't do to underestimate one's enemies, Diana. What about Washington, London, Paris and Moscow? How are they reacting?"
"Not good, I'm afraid, Dad. President McCain has threatened nuclear retaliation against Atlantis if Clea moves actively against any USN surface vessels or submarines. Prime Minister Corbyn and President Holland have responded similarly. Premier Navalny has warned Atlantis to keep its activities restricted to the Atlantic Ocean and not break out of its frame of reference. Moreover, the President has little conception of the actual strength of the Trident. It has control over ocean water, climatic conditions and marine plants and animals."
"Ah. Might be able to help there. I could give her a partial run for her money when it came to protecting at least the east coast of the United States." Weather Wizard volunteered.
"And I could get us into her palace using reflective technology" Mirror Master offered.
"What do we do once we're there?" Batman II pointed out.
"Take down Clea. She's murdered one of our own in cold blood and she's a murderous tyrant. The time for complacency is past. She's a deadly threat." Delia interjected.
"Then it's settled. Mera? Mera...? Hecate help us... she's already gone after the Helmet of Nabu."
KUIPER BELT:
An hour later, the Amazon invisible plane drew level with one of the nondescript transplutonian minor planets in the solar system's Kuiper Belt, further than most superbeings other than the JNA and its predecessors had penetrated. With an onboard spacesuit, Mera stepped out from its airlock, now within literal reach of the glittering sapphire Helmet of Nabu, tumbling in orbit around Mors-Somnus, a binary object only slightly less distance from the Sun. Abruptly, there was a green flare:
"Kyle. Don't try to stop me."
"To be honest, Mera, I only wanted to talk. More than some of the others, I know what you must be going through right now. My partner Alexandria was murdered and dismembered too. I'm so sorry about Arthur."
Mera relented: "Thank you for your empathy, Kyle. One question- if it were possible for you to avenge yourself against Major Disaster for Alexandria's brutal, depraved murder, would you do so?"
"Man...that's a hard question. I wasn't given this power ring to act as a weapon of vengeance so in conscience, I couldn't use it against him unless he were a clear and present danger to someone else. Don't think I haven't been tempted, though."
"There are certainly parallels and I won't belittle your degree of suffering and the tragedy of losing Alexandria. But Kyle...in my case, it isn't just Arthur's death, it's Clea's tyranny and the Trident of Poseidon, a talisman of the Greek Gods. Misused, it could bring global calamity."
"Then let the JNA join you. You don't have to do this alone. Mera...what if you die as well?"
"I have nothing left to live for."
"I used to think that. I committed my life to the Corps after Alex was murdered."
"In my case, my responsibilities are greater. I am still Queen of Atlantis. I refuse to see my people suffer under that woman's savagery and brutality, cannon fodder in her insane vendetta against the surface world."
"But that version of the Helmet of Nabu... it will corrupt you. You may become a greater threat than Clea."
"I have a contingency plan for that. And now, forgive me for this." Mera threw a golden energy net over Kyle before he could get clear of it. His rang crackled with his willpower as he tried to escape, but he was powerless, only able to watch as Mera reached the Helmet of Nabu, lifted it over her heard and brought it down like a crown at a dark ceremony of coronation. Almost at once, golden insignia and uniform spread over her body as the eyelets of the Helmet glowed searching white. Wordlessly, and discarding her now-useless spacesuit, the former Mera, now Doctor Chaos, began to accelerate toward the almost invisible blue dot of Earth.
EARTH ORBIT:
"We can't let this happen. Fury? Kara? Connor? You need to get out there and stop her somehow."
"On our way, Dick."
"Will we be able to stop her, Batman?"
"I honestly don't know, Barry. It's a question of intent and motive. Mera isn't a monster, but the Helmet of Nabu fused with her and she's lost her husband. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been tempted to take this step, but she's grieving for Arthur and enraged at what Clea is doing to Atlantis. It's pushed her over the edge."
"Did the Helmet cause this somehow?" Fury asked as she telepathically summoned the Invisible Jet back toward Earth.
"No. Dad's beating himself up because he didn't dispose of it more securely."
"Yes, like mother is doing so over leaving Clea's ambition uncountered while she took on the responsibilities of ruling Themiscyra."
"That's unfair to Diana, Delia. No-one could have foreseen this magnitude of event."
"I just hope we can end this out here, Connor. Kara? You've been quiet."
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I don't think it will end well." By now, a sharp blue pinpoint of light was faintly visible in the distance. Within the Helm of Nabu, Mera winced as she fought the Helmet of Nabu for dominance. She knew it was trying to manipulate her, but her rage and desire for vengeance blinded her to the further threat that it might pose when and if she fought Clea and when and if she triumphed.
"Fury, Superwoman and Superman, stand down. You are my friends. I have no wish to hurt or impair you, but Clea is a clear and present danger to our world and she needs to be stopped now by any means necessary."
"Mera? Please. We are your friends. We will join you. We will take down Clea together."
"Kara, Connor. You are vulnerable to magic. Clea will use the Trident of Poseidon against you. She will use it to kill you. She doesn't have the inhibitions and sense of responsibility with all the power at her command. Delia, you are not so impaired. You don't have the experience to take on Clea alone. However, you can stave off her Atlantean mindslave army. Their combat status will be impaired by the mind control she has to exert over them. It reduces their autonomy and ability to independently take account of battlefield conditions, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and tactics."
"And the others?" Doctor Chaos gestured. Suddenly, something materialised high above them. It had tentacles, height, width, length and several further troubling dimensions. They were chaos deities, and they had to be fought. Superman and Superwoman separated, flying toward their new nemeses to forestall any further threat from them. Doctor Chaos continued downward as Fury gave pursuit.
ATLANTIS:
There was a time when one would have laughed at the emerald and jade encrusted armour that Clea wore. However, given what she had just done, no-one saw the joke any longer. Inwardly, she exulted. Her old enemy, Wonder Woman, was retired now and her fledgeling daughter would be no match for her. Moreover, she had raided her share of derelict submarine wrecks from the Cold War era and now possessed repurposed nuclear missiles, ready to fire them at hostile surface nations if they defied her. She was so intent on her own arrogant presupposition of absolute victory that she failed to notice the rapidly accelerating blue pinpoint until it was too late and it barreled into her. As she saw the red hair underneath the Helmet, she hissed:
"You! By what right do you do this?"
"Tyrannicide, wretch. You have conquered the land I governed and exploit its inhabitants for your own pretension to absolute power."
"It is not pretension. You overestimate yourself, sorceress. I have the mighty trident of Neptune Kyvernitis Thalassas at my disposal. Against it, you cannot prevail."
"Wrong, tyrant. It cannot prevail against the Helmet of Nabu. I am no longer Mera of Atlantis. I am Doctor Chaos, bringer of turmoil and rebellion. And I will."
Stressed metal rang out against its answering shield as sorcerous energies crackled and soured the air and water while Doctor Chaos fought Clea. However, the ancient despot was unprepared for the dark magick thrown toward her and some of Doctor Chaos' eldritch assaults got through her trident play. Ultimately, bloody and wounded, Clea staggered and fell, nevermore to rise. From the Helmet of Nabu, twin diamond glares of light shone. The Justice Nexus assembled before their former ally.
"My friends. My dear, dear friends. I am now a fusion, two beings... Mera of Atlantis and Doctor Chaos...fused into an artificial yet impregnable being. Well, almost. I provide it with my life force while it feeds on my rage and anger at what was done, and tempts me with almost limitless power. Oh, this is so damned difficult. I am fighting Doctor Chaos every step of the way."
Kyle swallowed: "Mera, you don't have to do this. Use your rage, your will, your anger against it. Reject it. Tear it from you."
"I cannot. It is more than human and there is only one solution. Kill me. Kill me, and you sever the Helmet from its human host. Otherwise, Doctor Chaos will take over completely and it will use me to take over this world and countless others. I will not blame you for what must be done, but yet, it must be done. I knew the risks when I supped from this poisoned chalice. I take responsibility for asking this from you now. Very soon, Mera will be lost forever and Doctor Chaos alone will rule inside this malignant Helmet. I sacrifice myself knowing that I have ended the existence of a malevolence against humanity and know it had to be done. I can only just feel myself. Do it, my friends."
"Mera, no!!!"
But it was too late. Involuntarily, heat vision, green lantern light, searing unshielded translight velocity and other radiation and energies converged on Doctor Chaos, who screamed once and convulsed as the energies built within her, leaving a blackened, crisped corpse in their wake. Taking the opportunity while the Helm was weakened by the trauma of its separation from its recently deceased host, Superwoman shone the Phantom Zone Projector at it. It was banished to an obscure corner of the carceral dimension, beyond the reach of even the Kryptonian criminals within the other-dimensional prison.
Later, when the grieving Justice Nexus debated what had happened, they came to realise that Mera had planned this. They hadn't realised or guessed beforehand that she knew exactly what needed to be done. Mera could not remain Doctor Chaos and also herself- only one of them could survive and the other must yield or be obliterated. She took preventative steps to insure that Doctor Chaos could not triumph after she had overpowered Clea. Weakened by the intensive combat against the tyrant, though, Doctor Chaos could now be destroyed by the Justice Nexus, even if she had to seize control of their abilities to secure her end. And thus had it unfolded.
EPILOGUE:
On thirtieth century Earth, you can still see the kilometres-high sculpture if you cross the Atlantic. Discernable across its base, one can plainly read the legend in many languages past and present: MERA OF ATLANTIS: LIBERATOR AND PEACEBRINGER. For her sacrifice was not in vain and while Atlantis seethed in turmoil during the power vacuum and the deaths of its monarch and usurper both, it was a civilisation that has endured for millennia. Little by little, harmony and sanity returned to the timelost land below the Atlantic Ocean. The Justice Nexus fought more menaces to its world and members retired to raise families, died in the line of duty, took government office and prospered.
As the aeons passed, the Helmet of Nabu festered in resentment and anger that its ploy had been uncovered and frustrated. But trapped in this void, it could not corrupt or manipulate sapient beings to its will or obliterate their personalities or beings to feed its desire for absolute power and control over others.
THE END
In a world largely at peace, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman married Lois Lane, Selina Kyle and Steve Trevor and had children of their own during the seventies. Twenty years later, Dick Grayson became Batman II on the retirement of Bruce Wayne, while his daughter Helena became Robin II. Thirty years later, Superman I and Lois Lane retired to Rokyn, leaving his cousin Superwoman and Superman II to safeguard Earth-69 from intruders. Other divergences happened- Harvey Dent was cured after painstaking advanced cosmetic surgery repaired the scarred side of his face, Oswald Cobblepot became senile and was housed in a psychogeriatric ward in Arkham Asylum. The Riddler reformed. The Joker was shot and killed by the Gotham City Police Department. Barbara Gordon never became Batgirl II here, preferring her career as a Democratic Party Congresswoman in Washington DC. Much to his surprise, most of the Flash's Rogues Gallery also reformed- Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, The Trickster, The Top and Captain Boomerang all joined the Justice Nexus of America in later years. When Steve Trevor passed away, Wonder Woman returned to Paradise Island, and her daughter Fury inherited her mother's legendary mantle. Not all the changes were benevolent- Sinestro and the Weaponers of Qward killed Hal Jordan, Roy Harper died of a heroin overdose and civil war erupted in Atlantis between Posiedonis and Tritonis. Oliver Queen died of cancer and his daughter Thea took over as Green Arrow II.
+++
Connor Kent waved to Helena Wayne as the Batship touched down at its secret landing place and a familiar pattern of electromagnetic interference concealed it.
"Robin."
"Connor. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I seem to be immune to kryptonite now. I'm not sure what caused it, and Brainiac 6 told me no-one had discovered a cure for its mutagenic or radioactive poisoning effects on Kryptonians. I was hoping Rick could help."
"He's not home yet- late board meeting at the Wayne Foundation. Anyway, Connor, you're half-Kryptonian. Perhaps you inherited Lois' invulnerability to it instead of Clark's susceptibility. So, are you going to attend the Crisis Day commemorations in Washington next week?"
Connor sighed: "Probably in civvies, given my role as a WGBS.Com stringer. Dad and mom probably won't be able to make it from Rokyn- New Rao is engaging in some fairly major flare activity and Dad took a leading role in producing pyro-ceramic orbital mirrors to deflect the heat and radiation away from the planet. Unfortunately, that means near-Rokyn interplanetary space is impassable. So what about your folks?"
Helena shook her head: "Dad's too frail to get down from Clavius these days and Mom has to nurse him full time. On the bright side, Joan said Barry and Iris will probably make it, and so will Kyle and Donna. As for Thea, I think it's too soon after Oliver. She feels Star City is her priority right now. You remember what it was like when you and I started adult surveillance and apprehension after our parents retired?"
"Sure. Any news from Atlantis?"
"Not good. Clea is steadily advancing and Poseidonis is almost surrounded. Unless Arthur lets the 'surface world' intervene, Clea will become the supreme authority in Atlantis, with all the consequences that might entail."
From above, a call came: "Hola, my friends!"
"Delia! Hi! We were just talking about Atlantis."
Delia Trevor sighed: "I wish mother had permanently imprisoned that wretch. There's no way Themiscyra is going to recognise Clea's alleged authority over the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. Added to which, Clea will probably cut up rough over our humanitarian assistance to Poseidonis. All we can probably do is to insure that Arthur, Mera and their family are granted asylum elsewhere."
Connor nodded: "As much as Aunt Kara and I would like to help, our hands are tied. Clea has made it perfectly clear that she would regard any 'surface dweller' intrusion as an act of war. Although we came perilously close to it when Tritonis tried and executed Lori Lemaris and Ronal for 'treasonous broadcast content.' Dad took it hard."
"Unfortunately, Atlantis and Themiscyra are at a stalemate when it comes to strategic arms limitation talks. Either civilisation has advanced combat technology at their disposal, but if they used them, the Earth would be scarred for generations, if not uninhabitable altogether."
NEW KRYPTONOPOLIS, ROKYN:
Arm in arm, Kal-El and Lois Kal-El strode across the plaza of the newly built city. With Lois' physiology altered by the metahuman enhancement serum that had given her superpowers under a yellow sun, she could also live on Rokyn with no complications, discomfort or pain, even if the planet's gravitational pull was several times that of Earth. Lois noticed her husband looked pensive and distant: "It's Lori, isn't it? Oh, Kal. There was nothing you could have done. Don't do this to yourself."
"I honestly thought things were going to improve on Earth, Lois. First, the election of President Kennedy, then those massive cuts to nuclear arms under the SALT treaties, and the civil rights legislation. I didn't think Atlantis would prove to be the problem."
"Clea is a ruthless dictator with pretensions to absolute monarchy. Unfortunately, Tritonis is a sovereign state now and there's little anyone can do to avoid its ascendancy in the Atlantean Civil War- except help funnel Arthur, Mera and other refugees from Poseidonis offworld to the Vellair waterworld sanctuary."
"She was the first woman I ever really loved before I fell for you, Lois. Vital, intelligent, cosmopolitan, principled- no wonder Clea saw her as a threat. The other matter is, will she be satisfied with claiming Poseidonis alone?"
THEMISCYRA:
Queen Diana of Themiscyra sat back, gazing at the empty consorts throne next to her, where her husband Steve had sat alongside her for many decades past. Gone now, like her late mother Queen Hippolyta, Paula von Gunther, the Cheetah and all those others from the past. She drew her robes of office around her and with an effort, monitored the intelligence reports from the Amazon realm's undersats, cruising throughout the Atlantic and relaying grim news about the civil war that convulsed the ancient continent of Atlantis in the fathoms below. It took all her effort to not intervene in the tragedy unfolding several miles underneath the Amazon island- the deaths of Garth and Tula, Mera's miscarriage, the numerous assassination attempts on Arthur himself. She thought mournfully to herself, How I long for the days before mother died, when I could undertake action openly against monsters like Clea...
UNITED NATIONS:
"Wayne Enterprises does not condone Queen Clea's recent actions. Fortunately, as chief executive of Businesses for Social and International Responsibility, we have succeeded in convincing many of the more principled commercial interests in Europe, North and South America and Africa not to enter any supply transactions with Tritonis until and unless it calls off its violent expansionism against Poseidonis and its collateral covert operations." Dick Grayson, President of Wayne Enterprises said as he held a press conference outside the building.
Connor Kent called from the crowd: "Mr Grayson, what is your response to President MacCain's 'constructive engagement' announcement last week?"
"It is immoral and unethical to traffick with tyrants, Mr Kent. As your own great Metropolitan newspaper has stated so eloquently and so many times over the years."
Connor grinned at his metahuman colleague and Dick waved back. Suddenly, though, he caught movement within the crowd. He nodded to Kyle Rayner, observing the event from above:
"Get down! Now!" Green Lantern's power ring produced a loudspeaker as Connor ran off to change into his Superman outfit and Dick was escorted by his security agency inside. However, the figure in question was not hapless or disorganised. As the crowd parted, Lady Shiva stood, tall and arrogant:
"Stand down, Shiva. You do not get to play mercenary for Clea's tyranny today" Superman II said, arms crossed, floating metres above the scowling figure.
"Who said she was my employer this time?"
"Because I can see Atlantean weaponry within your caches."
Shiva laughed: "Like the gold kryptonite you can also plainly observe. And the personal force screen that your friend Batman over there cannot use his own weaponry against. And it also bears yellow colouration, so your Green Lantern is also incapable of intervention."
"Ahem. Haven't you forgotten someone?" A blonde Amazon strode forward, her sword ready at her side:
"Curse you, Amazon! Why are you here?"
"Because, Shiva, we were tipped off that the League of Assassins was going to send someone out to do a hit against Dick Grayson and you've never been able to beat either my mother or I in combat."
Lady Shiva drew out her pistol and opened fire against Fury, but the immemorial game of bullets and bracelets was waged once more as Wonder Woman's daughter closed the distance. Shiva's exoskeleton came into play, but Fury had fought her too many times not to be able to pinpoint her weaknesses. Before Delia Trevor could end the moment's combat, however, Shiva pressed her teleport medallion and the League of Assassins retrieved the seething, infuriated figure, her mission unfulfilled.
Once the crowd dispersed, the four heroes renewed their acquaintances:
"Hey, Kyle! Good to see you back."
Green Lantern nodded: "Thanks, Connor. Yeah, our war against the Darkstars came to an end at last and most of the Corps is on their homeworlds on leave. Unfortunately, my guess is that it won't last all that long and I'll probably be heading back into space."
"What's wrong with us, guys? Why can't we assemble something like our parents had?"
"Civilian jobs and families, Del. And, in Kyle's case, he has the whole of Galactic Sector 2813 to patrol. And some of our parent's generation have gotten older, passed away or become incapable of rigorous physical crimefighting." Superman II said.
"How's Diana dealing with Steve's death, Delia?" Batman asked.
"She's thrown herself into her duties, Dick. I've only ever seen her like this once before- when my grandmother Queen Hippolyta was slain by Hercules and she had to retire as Wonder Woman and take over Themiscyra in her stead. And let's face it, there are fewer of us in the field now. How's Bruce?"
"I don't think he's going to leave L-5 again, Del. It may be only a matter of months now."
"Damn it, if only he'd accepted Dad's offer of longevity therapy on Rokyn."
Batman sighed: "It's going to happen to all of us eventually. We'll end up losing our parents and mentors but carry on in their stead."
There was a brief pulse from his holographier:
"Selina? Is it Bruce-"
The former Catwoman's eyes were red with tears: "You haven't heard? Or seen it? It's Poseidonis, Dick. It's finally fallen. And Clea...oh god. I can't go on..." As Selina Wayne averted her face, a crimson splattered figure held a recognisable head above her laughing, convulsing body. Clea of Tritonis resembled a primeval war chieftain, malevolently waving Arthur Curry's decapitated head above her before she impaled it on a spike. In the sudden silence, Delia looked away as Connor's hand closed over a railing and slowly but surely, Superman II crushed it apart in frustration and grief. Green Lantern fled the scene, taking out his frustration on a loose swarm of incoming meteorites through his own tears. Only Batman held his nerve and watched the gory spectacle until its very end.
THEMISCYRA:
As a bloodied, war-wearied Mera staggered ashore, Diana was there to embrace her:
"Mera. I'm so sorry about what happened to Arthur. You are safe here. Themiscyra grants sanctuary to all women who are oppressed and victimised. Is there anything that I can do?"
"Thank you, Diana. I need time to recover, but... have you heard of the Helmet of Nabu?"
Immediately, Diana paled: "Do not ask this of me, my sister."
"We both know the strength of that artefact. Superboy I managed to overpower Burt Belker when he was possessed by the Helm and detached it from him, flinging it into space."
"We also both know Clea won't stop at the conquest of Poseidonis and Arthur's murder, Diana. You've faced Clea before. You know what a ruthless, tyrannical barbarian she is."
"All too well, my friend. I remember the bodies of the men that she gathered for her own decadent sport, having enslaved them and thrown them into gladitorial conflict when she took over Tritonis. I remember the massacre of the people of Venturia. She murdered Octavia, daughter of Aeras, queen of Venturia, and then took over Skartaris. Which she used to launch her second coup in Tritonis and its blitzkrieg against Poseidonis and your other Atlantean city allies."
"She won't be stopped any other way, Diana. We know this. If she isn't halted now, she will declare war on the surface world and make maritime travel impossible unless they kowtow to her demands."
"Mera, I am sorry that I took my eyes off her. I underestimated her brutality and ruthlessness. But what you are contemplating... the Helm of Nabu is a vessel of the Lords of Chaos. They will give you the power to best Clea, perhaps, but what then? It will subjugate your personality, enslave you and turn you into a twisted, corrupted version of yourself."
"I'm willing to take that risk, Diana. If the worst happens, then kill me. I have nothing to live for now, anyway, with my Arthur perished."
"Give me some time to consider this, my sister. What you are asking..."
"Diana, if you need to discuss this with the JNA, you have my full permission to do so."
JUSTICE NEXUS SANCTUM:
"The problem is, Mera is absolutely right. Damn it, I should have confiscated the Trident of Poseidon from her decades ago. As matters stand now, Clea could use the trident to wreak international havoc. She might decide to declare the Atlantic off-limits to all 'surface world' vessels. Hera help me, I had no idea that she was capable of something this disciplined and dark." Queen Diana said on their holographier link.
From Rokyn, Kal-El nodded: "It doesn't do to underestimate one's enemies, Diana. What about Washington, London, Paris and Moscow? How are they reacting?"
"Not good, I'm afraid, Dad. President McCain has threatened nuclear retaliation against Atlantis if Clea moves actively against any USN surface vessels or submarines. Prime Minister Corbyn and President Holland have responded similarly. Premier Navalny has warned Atlantis to keep its activities restricted to the Atlantic Ocean and not break out of its frame of reference. Moreover, the President has little conception of the actual strength of the Trident. It has control over ocean water, climatic conditions and marine plants and animals."
"Ah. Might be able to help there. I could give her a partial run for her money when it came to protecting at least the east coast of the United States." Weather Wizard volunteered.
"And I could get us into her palace using reflective technology" Mirror Master offered.
"What do we do once we're there?" Batman II pointed out.
"Take down Clea. She's murdered one of our own in cold blood and she's a murderous tyrant. The time for complacency is past. She's a deadly threat." Delia interjected.
"Then it's settled. Mera? Mera...? Hecate help us... she's already gone after the Helmet of Nabu."
KUIPER BELT:
An hour later, the Amazon invisible plane drew level with one of the nondescript transplutonian minor planets in the solar system's Kuiper Belt, further than most superbeings other than the JNA and its predecessors had penetrated. With an onboard spacesuit, Mera stepped out from its airlock, now within literal reach of the glittering sapphire Helmet of Nabu, tumbling in orbit around Mors-Somnus, a binary object only slightly less distance from the Sun. Abruptly, there was a green flare:
"Kyle. Don't try to stop me."
"To be honest, Mera, I only wanted to talk. More than some of the others, I know what you must be going through right now. My partner Alexandria was murdered and dismembered too. I'm so sorry about Arthur."
Mera relented: "Thank you for your empathy, Kyle. One question- if it were possible for you to avenge yourself against Major Disaster for Alexandria's brutal, depraved murder, would you do so?"
"Man...that's a hard question. I wasn't given this power ring to act as a weapon of vengeance so in conscience, I couldn't use it against him unless he were a clear and present danger to someone else. Don't think I haven't been tempted, though."
"There are certainly parallels and I won't belittle your degree of suffering and the tragedy of losing Alexandria. But Kyle...in my case, it isn't just Arthur's death, it's Clea's tyranny and the Trident of Poseidon, a talisman of the Greek Gods. Misused, it could bring global calamity."
"Then let the JNA join you. You don't have to do this alone. Mera...what if you die as well?"
"I have nothing left to live for."
"I used to think that. I committed my life to the Corps after Alex was murdered."
"In my case, my responsibilities are greater. I am still Queen of Atlantis. I refuse to see my people suffer under that woman's savagery and brutality, cannon fodder in her insane vendetta against the surface world."
"But that version of the Helmet of Nabu... it will corrupt you. You may become a greater threat than Clea."
"I have a contingency plan for that. And now, forgive me for this." Mera threw a golden energy net over Kyle before he could get clear of it. His rang crackled with his willpower as he tried to escape, but he was powerless, only able to watch as Mera reached the Helmet of Nabu, lifted it over her heard and brought it down like a crown at a dark ceremony of coronation. Almost at once, golden insignia and uniform spread over her body as the eyelets of the Helmet glowed searching white. Wordlessly, and discarding her now-useless spacesuit, the former Mera, now Doctor Chaos, began to accelerate toward the almost invisible blue dot of Earth.
EARTH ORBIT:
"We can't let this happen. Fury? Kara? Connor? You need to get out there and stop her somehow."
"On our way, Dick."
"Will we be able to stop her, Batman?"
"I honestly don't know, Barry. It's a question of intent and motive. Mera isn't a monster, but the Helmet of Nabu fused with her and she's lost her husband. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been tempted to take this step, but she's grieving for Arthur and enraged at what Clea is doing to Atlantis. It's pushed her over the edge."
"Did the Helmet cause this somehow?" Fury asked as she telepathically summoned the Invisible Jet back toward Earth.
"No. Dad's beating himself up because he didn't dispose of it more securely."
"Yes, like mother is doing so over leaving Clea's ambition uncountered while she took on the responsibilities of ruling Themiscyra."
"That's unfair to Diana, Delia. No-one could have foreseen this magnitude of event."
"I just hope we can end this out here, Connor. Kara? You've been quiet."
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I don't think it will end well." By now, a sharp blue pinpoint of light was faintly visible in the distance. Within the Helm of Nabu, Mera winced as she fought the Helmet of Nabu for dominance. She knew it was trying to manipulate her, but her rage and desire for vengeance blinded her to the further threat that it might pose when and if she fought Clea and when and if she triumphed.
"Fury, Superwoman and Superman, stand down. You are my friends. I have no wish to hurt or impair you, but Clea is a clear and present danger to our world and she needs to be stopped now by any means necessary."
"Mera? Please. We are your friends. We will join you. We will take down Clea together."
"Kara, Connor. You are vulnerable to magic. Clea will use the Trident of Poseidon against you. She will use it to kill you. She doesn't have the inhibitions and sense of responsibility with all the power at her command. Delia, you are not so impaired. You don't have the experience to take on Clea alone. However, you can stave off her Atlantean mindslave army. Their combat status will be impaired by the mind control she has to exert over them. It reduces their autonomy and ability to independently take account of battlefield conditions, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and tactics."
"And the others?" Doctor Chaos gestured. Suddenly, something materialised high above them. It had tentacles, height, width, length and several further troubling dimensions. They were chaos deities, and they had to be fought. Superman and Superwoman separated, flying toward their new nemeses to forestall any further threat from them. Doctor Chaos continued downward as Fury gave pursuit.
ATLANTIS:
There was a time when one would have laughed at the emerald and jade encrusted armour that Clea wore. However, given what she had just done, no-one saw the joke any longer. Inwardly, she exulted. Her old enemy, Wonder Woman, was retired now and her fledgeling daughter would be no match for her. Moreover, she had raided her share of derelict submarine wrecks from the Cold War era and now possessed repurposed nuclear missiles, ready to fire them at hostile surface nations if they defied her. She was so intent on her own arrogant presupposition of absolute victory that she failed to notice the rapidly accelerating blue pinpoint until it was too late and it barreled into her. As she saw the red hair underneath the Helmet, she hissed:
"You! By what right do you do this?"
"Tyrannicide, wretch. You have conquered the land I governed and exploit its inhabitants for your own pretension to absolute power."
"It is not pretension. You overestimate yourself, sorceress. I have the mighty trident of Neptune Kyvernitis Thalassas at my disposal. Against it, you cannot prevail."
"Wrong, tyrant. It cannot prevail against the Helmet of Nabu. I am no longer Mera of Atlantis. I am Doctor Chaos, bringer of turmoil and rebellion. And I will."
Stressed metal rang out against its answering shield as sorcerous energies crackled and soured the air and water while Doctor Chaos fought Clea. However, the ancient despot was unprepared for the dark magick thrown toward her and some of Doctor Chaos' eldritch assaults got through her trident play. Ultimately, bloody and wounded, Clea staggered and fell, nevermore to rise. From the Helmet of Nabu, twin diamond glares of light shone. The Justice Nexus assembled before their former ally.
"My friends. My dear, dear friends. I am now a fusion, two beings... Mera of Atlantis and Doctor Chaos...fused into an artificial yet impregnable being. Well, almost. I provide it with my life force while it feeds on my rage and anger at what was done, and tempts me with almost limitless power. Oh, this is so damned difficult. I am fighting Doctor Chaos every step of the way."
Kyle swallowed: "Mera, you don't have to do this. Use your rage, your will, your anger against it. Reject it. Tear it from you."
"I cannot. It is more than human and there is only one solution. Kill me. Kill me, and you sever the Helmet from its human host. Otherwise, Doctor Chaos will take over completely and it will use me to take over this world and countless others. I will not blame you for what must be done, but yet, it must be done. I knew the risks when I supped from this poisoned chalice. I take responsibility for asking this from you now. Very soon, Mera will be lost forever and Doctor Chaos alone will rule inside this malignant Helmet. I sacrifice myself knowing that I have ended the existence of a malevolence against humanity and know it had to be done. I can only just feel myself. Do it, my friends."
"Mera, no!!!"
But it was too late. Involuntarily, heat vision, green lantern light, searing unshielded translight velocity and other radiation and energies converged on Doctor Chaos, who screamed once and convulsed as the energies built within her, leaving a blackened, crisped corpse in their wake. Taking the opportunity while the Helm was weakened by the trauma of its separation from its recently deceased host, Superwoman shone the Phantom Zone Projector at it. It was banished to an obscure corner of the carceral dimension, beyond the reach of even the Kryptonian criminals within the other-dimensional prison.
Later, when the grieving Justice Nexus debated what had happened, they came to realise that Mera had planned this. They hadn't realised or guessed beforehand that she knew exactly what needed to be done. Mera could not remain Doctor Chaos and also herself- only one of them could survive and the other must yield or be obliterated. She took preventative steps to insure that Doctor Chaos could not triumph after she had overpowered Clea. Weakened by the intensive combat against the tyrant, though, Doctor Chaos could now be destroyed by the Justice Nexus, even if she had to seize control of their abilities to secure her end. And thus had it unfolded.
EPILOGUE:
On thirtieth century Earth, you can still see the kilometres-high sculpture if you cross the Atlantic. Discernable across its base, one can plainly read the legend in many languages past and present: MERA OF ATLANTIS: LIBERATOR AND PEACEBRINGER. For her sacrifice was not in vain and while Atlantis seethed in turmoil during the power vacuum and the deaths of its monarch and usurper both, it was a civilisation that has endured for millennia. Little by little, harmony and sanity returned to the timelost land below the Atlantic Ocean. The Justice Nexus fought more menaces to its world and members retired to raise families, died in the line of duty, took government office and prospered.
As the aeons passed, the Helmet of Nabu festered in resentment and anger that its ploy had been uncovered and frustrated. But trapped in this void, it could not corrupt or manipulate sapient beings to its will or obliterate their personalities or beings to feed its desire for absolute power and control over others.
THE END
