|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:02:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:03:58 GMT -5
DC2 Challenge
Week #11: "The Center Cannot Hold"
Written by Jay McIntyre
Cover by Craig Cermak
Edited by David Charlton |
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:16:08 GMT -5
“...We need more of the necrolite if we’re going to survive what's coming.” Another said in a toneless drone.
“Exactly.” The projection got larger, and parts of the mountain became highlighted with red. “We traced the largest amounts of the energy here. This is why, as of right now, I’m giving the order to converge on Challenger’s Mountain: to take it for ourselves!”
The other HIVE agents nodded. "We should pull our Gotham agent out, while we're at it. The Catwoman has obviously failed."
The leader nodded. "We will need him, and all of our agents, for the attack on Challengers Mountain. Contact him immediately; give him his new orders."
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:16:38 GMT -5
Gotham....
The HIVE agent listened to his earpiece and nodded. "As you command." He cut the link. "Glad to be out of this rat trap of a city...."
BONK.
He fell, quite unconscious. Catwoman hadn't wanted to use the Child of Bast in such a way, but had she used her cat o' nine tails, he might have stayed conscious long enough to alert his superiors in some fashion, and she didn't want them after her, thank you so very much.
After her most recent run in with Batman, she had made a point to keep some rope on her person; she used it now to tie the HIVE agent up for the cops to find. She had wanted to leave a note for Batman, hadn't she? What better note than an actual perp?
"And now," she sighed, picking up the briefcase, "It's time for this kitty to take the money and run."
So she did, lightning crashing overhead. No longer holding the black diamond, she was free from it's influence, but she could still feel it's hateful echoes in her head and heart. They disquieted her more than somewhat.
Catwoman had had enough fun for one night.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:17:15 GMT -5
A secret location....
Shadowspawn.
The thing that had once been Bane went rampaging through the forest, setting off the mantraps he himself had once laid, surviving their effects as though they were nothing.
Shadowspawn.
It knew it must rend, tear and destroy, but it knew not where.
Shadowspawn.
But that was all right. The consciousness on the moon that guided it knew exactly where to send it.
Shadowspawn!
The Rocket Reds roared past overhead. The Shadowspawn barely noticed. It felt it's kin, the Shadowstorm, locked in a great conflict on the Moon. It could not go to assist it's brother, not yet. It had work to do here, first.
Shadowspawn!
Bane had been the curse of humanity. The Shadowspawn was the curse of all life, everywhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:17:41 GMT -5
Somewhere in the United Kingdom....
"Mother," Klarion said irritably.
"Yes, my child," she said, golden mask turning towards him.
"What are we waiting for?"
It was impossible to tell her expression behind that mask, but a smile was in her voice. "For the opportune moment. The Great Darkness on the Moon hopes to rule all. While it weaves it's webs, we shall wait for the greatest moment of distraction and chaos....and then, strike."
"Seizing its power for ourselves!" Klarion exclaimed.
"Not its power, child," Morgaine Le Fay corrected him primly. "Its power would seek to control us. But its position, its plan, oh yes. Those we may suborn for ourselves."
Klarion smiled with far too many teeth.
"Now come," she directed, and led him on into the darkness.
"Yes, mother."
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:18:05 GMT -5
The Moon.....
Power Girl slammed into the Shadowstorm before he could make good on his threat to "end" her.
Her fists connected with his chest, sending him flying once more across the lunar wasteland. The light streak on his face was joined by two round white blotches on his chest.
Was she somehow knocking the darkness off of him? And what would happen if she did? Was it the source of his power?
She flew in....only to find his hand around her throat.
"Oh no you don't," he said, and squeezed.
She couldn't breathe.....
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:18:36 GMT -5
Gotham city limits....
Merlyn had trailed the thug back to his boss. It had taken great restraint not to strike, but if he did he would not get the information he needed.
The information that would lead to his vengeance.
His patience had been rewarded. Three of the League of Assassins had come to the boss's office, here on the city limits of Gotham. Merlyn's new abilities enabled him to hear what was going on in the room with perfect clarity. Above him and around him, the storm continued, save for a single break in the clouds that let the full moon shine through. He knew that it was enhancing his abilities, but he no longer really cared. Already his mind was merging with the darkness within him.
"You are fools to bring us here," the leader, a woman with blood-red hair, said. "Our Master has no time for such foolishness."
"My guy says this freak is lookin for you," the boss countered, a minor mobster of no real importance. He knew it, and more importantly, the League members knew it. "Some crazy archer. Said he wanted revenge, or something."
"An archer?" the redhead's manner shifted abruptly. "Merlyn?"
The mob boss opened his mouth to answer, but a bolt of purple energy smashed through the window and exploded in a burst of violet light that knocked everyone off their feet.
Within seconds, Merlyn had leapt through the broken window, into the room.
"Yes," he said. "Me."
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:19:08 GMT -5
"The Gotham operative never reported in, sir," one of the HIVE council members reported.
The leader hissed in anger, but nodded. "For fifty-two years the HIVE has existed, slowly building our strength and power. We have been frustrated before, but never like this. Today we shall triumph utterly. How goes the mobilization?"
"Fourteen armored tanks are in position," another council member reported. "The battle copters are being fueled. The foot soldiers are ready, the berserkers armed, the snipers prepared. Our other bases report similar stages of readiness, though of course far from completion. The first wave will be ready within the hour."
There were four different "orders" within the HIVE; scarlet, maroon, violet, and black. Each had more to do with region than authority, but it was here amongst the scarlet that the supreme leader of the HIVE governed. At least currently.
"I want four waves," the leader said. "Challengers Mountain will be well defended. We shall not lose again."
"As you command," the council member bowed.
"We shall not lose again," the leader repeated to himself. "The necrolite is the key to our victory."
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:19:42 GMT -5
Abruptly, Power Girl stopped trying to breathe. She simply drew one hand back, and concentrated on her power, her strength, her anger.
And delivered an open handed slap to his face.
WHAKK.
It should have broken his jaw. But it didn't. It did a fine job, however, of freeing her throat from his grasp and sending him flying once more, into a low lunar mountain.
It also knocked more of the dark sludge off his face, revealing light beneath.
Power Girl didn't give him a second. She leapt on him and delivered more devastating blows. Four, five, six....
For the first time, the Shadowstorm felt...not fear....but certainly concern. It was just possible that she would do enough damage to him to free his host. That would not do. That would not do at all. Already he could feel Ronnie Raymond's consciousness struggling against him. He might even be able to contact the professor soon.
But he had managed to hold on to the black diamond she had brought. That was good. She was using her anger to fight him, and that was even better.
He blasted her with both his own power and that of the diamond, and she staggered back. Not enough to knock her out, but enough to make her dazed and confused.
Long enough for him to leap over to her, and drop the diamond down into the...opening...in her costume.
She screamed in rage and knocked him back, so angry that she didn't bother to pull the diamond out. As he had anticipated. She was too angry to think, now...seduced by her own rage.
Even if she did now beat him, by the time she did, she herself would turn. And then he would use that body to regain control of this one.
But why even lose control of one body? He wanted them both; he wanted them all. He wanted the Universe.
He blasted her again, and slipped back, feigning fear. She charged on, screaming.
So close now, so close.....soon she would tip over into darkness.
Then the Great Eclipse would be unstoppable.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on May 25, 2007 22:20:08 GMT -5
To Be Continued!
|
|
|
|
Post by mockingbird on Jul 28, 2011 13:07:30 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
|
|
