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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:27:35 GMT -5
 Titans:The Resistance #2 Wriiten By: Arcalian Cover By: Raya, Ramon, and Artteach Edited By: Tony Clifton |
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:29:09 GMT -5
Oa is a strange place.
A cold alien planet under an indescribable sun, so unlike Earth, and so distant. I am uncomfortable here.
So is Alan, though he does not admit it. While he was not originally a member of the Corps, they offered to help him, and he accepted. In truth, what choice was there? Hal Jordan died with Sinestro, the two of them destroying each other. And Uncle Guy.....Uncle Guy was killed by the Markovians.
There was no way they could've taken him out when he was charged up. But he was recharging his ring, and in that moment a Monrovian bomb was dropped on the little Australian town he was visiting. He was dead instantly.
There was no way they could've beaten a Green Lantern on even footing. I know this. Rage burns within me. Both Alan and the Guardians warn me to control and focus my anger, so that I control it, rather than the reverse. And I know that they are right. But it is hard sometimes, so hard....
After Jordan and Uncle Guy died, Alan, the Corps came looking for Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern of Earth. He went with the two alien Green Lanterns that came, and they brought him here, to Oa. It appears his own ring was that of a Green Lantern lost on Earth thousands of years ago, which, bereft of it's own energy, absorbed magic that was used on this Earth to charge itself. Recharging this long-lost ring with power from the Central Battery, Alan joined the Corps, accepted their code, and learned their ways. He and a Guardian came back to Earth together, found me, brought me back here to train.
Like Uncle Guy, I know no fear. Like him, I feel the fire of rage within me. But Alan was pleased by my College Education, and the Guardians like to talk about my "greater intellectual focus". It does not matter. I will fill the shoes of my Uncle and of Hal Jordan. I will be a worthy student of Alan's teachings. I will earn the name Green Lantern.
Officially, the Guardians do not interfere with local politics. Such was the corruption of Sinestro. And while certainly I and Alan agree not to set ourselves up as rulers, the Markovians nevertheless must be fought. The world must be freed.
Now my training is complete. As Alan and I approach the system, we shall divide our duties; Alan shall join his old friends, who call themselves the "Justice Society", in Europe, trying to undermine Markovian rule from within. I will take the battle to the frontlines. I will face the Markovian enemy and show them the power and fury of a Green Lantern.
My name is Eric Gardner. I am the newest Green Lantern of Earth. And I shall make my predecessors, living and dead, proud of me.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:29:38 GMT -5
Alan Scott and Eric Gardner re-entered the solar system, twin comets of brilliant emerald green.
They looked at one another once, then nodded, understanding deeper than words running between them. Alan shot on ahead, and Eric approached more slowly.
He was passing the orbit of Saturn when he noticed something. To his astonishment, an alien craft was entering the Solar System, slowing down from what must have been a faster than light drive. It blurred into reality just beyond Saturn's rings. He did not recognize it from his teachings, but when he asked his ring to identify it, it identified the craft as Kryptonian.
Puzzled but wary—the Kryptonians were known as a proud race of isolationist scientists, or so the Guardians had told him—Eric followed the ship in.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:29:55 GMT -5
“Hello," Terra said softly. "I am--"
"You're a Markovian," Robin snapped, readying his quarterstaff for battle. "Only the Imperial family has such earth-control powers."
"I cannot deny my heritage," Terra admitted sadly. "But I am an exile and rebel who has come to--"
"Spare me your lies!" Robin shouted, and attacked.
Realistically, he knew he was no threat to a Markovian metahuman in hand-to-hand combat. Their fine-tuned control of Elemental powers was legendary; a thousand horror stories from the battlefields of the Great War told him enough to know he would never defeat her. But if she was here, now, then the Markovian invasion had already begun. They were doomed, all hope was lost, and his career as Robin had ended before it began. He would do the best he could, by going down fighting.
His quarterstaff whistled towards her head, and a chunk of rock blocked him effortlessly. He aimed a kick from the other side, and she blocked again. Gritting his teeth, he dropped his quarterstaff and leapt onto her rock. She blinked in astonishment, and he was almost as surprised as she was; it had worked! He took her down in a flying tackle.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:32:34 GMT -5
She landed on her back, and the air whiffed out of her. He pinned her arms and glared at her.
She raised one eyebrow. "You win," she said. "Now what are you going to do?"
Robin was suddenly acutely aware that he was on top of her. Whatever else might be said of this snooty Markovian overlord, she was nevertheless an attractive young girl and he was in a position that was more than slightly suggestive.
Red faced with embarrassment, he stood up and stepped back. "I don't know," he admitted. "There's not a prison that could hold you. You let me take you down." It was not a question.
She nodded. "Can I get up?"
He spread his hands. She got up and rubbed the back of her head. "There's no invasion force backing me up, as you can see," she said.
He looked around. "I suppose not. So why are you here then, if you're not taking over?"
She sighed. "It is as I told you. I am an exile and renegade from my own people. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I am here to fight my own family and redeem the Markovian name. I will do whatever I can to help you."
He blinked, nonplussed. "I don't believe that a Markovian spy would use such an unlikely cover story, anyway. Or send one of the Imperial family on such a high-profile mission, without assistance."
"True enough," she agreed. She could tell he didn't really believe her. She wasn't really surprised. But obviously he was willing to talk, and that was a start. She hadn't dared hope for more. Certainly not to find a well-trained costumed vigilante, either. If she could convince him, he would be the first she could recruit to fight her family. "Can we talk about this somewhere....less exposed?" she asked.
Robin looked around. The street was relatively deserted, but sooner or later someone would notice them. "All right," he said. "Come with me."
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:34:27 GMT -5
The Kryptonian ship slowly entered the inner portions of the Solar System. It was a small craft, little more than a shuttle, equipped with enough supplies for the interstellar journey. It had a crew of one; the pilot, Kai-Al.
Kai had always been interested in this little planet, ever since she had left the birthing creche. Twenty years ago, a planetary catastrophe had been narrowly averted by their scientists, after they were warned by one of the astronomers of the House of El that their planet would be absorbed by their Sun. That scientist had believed, incorrectly, that they had to evacuate the world. But the ruling council, heeding his warning, had used their largest rockets, and several magnetic booster drives, to adjust the planet's orbit safely outward enough to avoid destruction, but not out of habitable range of their star. The world was a little colder as a result, but still capable of supporting life.
The somewhat embarrassed astronomer of the House of El had been praised for saving the planet, even if he had not found the ideal solution. Without him, it was pointed out; they would have all been destroyed.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:36:01 GMT -5
The House of Al was distantly related to the House of El, and the young student Kai had once been was fascinated by a particular piece of datum; had all else failed, the House of El would've sent the son of that astronomer in a life support pod to this system, Sol. Kai had often wondered why. The alleged datum about what a Kryptonian physiology would experience under the rays of the yellow star of this system were also intriguing, to say the least.
As she approached the third planet, the one the House of El's researches had indicated was inhabited by a humanoid species not unlike their own—at least in purely physical terms—Kai felt the warming golden rays of the Sun flow through her black Kryptonian garb and into her skin. Her eyes widened; it was true; the radiation of the golden star was increasing her strength and endurance! She was both fascinated and excited.
The Earth itself hove into view, a blue world with green and brown landmasses, and a white, sparkling cap atop it. To Kai-Al, it looked like nothing so much as a sweet desert dish. She was even more astonished when she read her instruments; the blue portions of the globe were water! Granted, heavily salted water, but water all the same! The House of El had been right about that, as well!
Kai-Al began to wonder if all the rumors were true. Could she survive the void of space, this close to the golden star? Could she even...fly?
Only one way to find out.....
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:37:02 GMT -5
If she was wrong, she was dead. But then, one of the things that had long separated her from her kin was her relentless curiosity. It was not enough to know; she wanted to experience the information, feel it, and become it.
That was part of what led her to leave Krypton. That was part of what led her here.
Closing her eyes and holding her breath, she opened her cockpit.
The air whooshed out and the alarms sounded....then faded as there was no longer any air to hear them in.
She could not breathe the vacuum, she knew that instinctively, yet she also felt none of the pain or other symptoms of decompression, of exposure to the void.
She opened her eyes. She could see clearly. With each passing second, she felt the golden star of this system making her stronger.
She stepped out of the cockpit and floated on....yes. She could feel it; directing her own travel, not being tugged this way or that by gravity or stellar winds.
True flight.
She floated down towards the planet, smiling, eyes alive with curiosity and intelligence.
She didn't notice the green streak behind her, following her down at a discreet distance.
Eric's eyes, too, were wide. With anger, and wariness. Down they went, one after the other, into the atmosphere.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:37:59 GMT -5
“This your base?" Terra was nonplussed.
They were deep in a subway tunnel, down a side access corridor. They stood under a dim yellow emergency light. Except for the occasional passing train, all was silent.
"No, my base is far from here. I'm not about to take you there so soon." This was not strictly true, Robin would love nothing better than to take her back to Gotham and have Bruce and Dick interrogate her. But this was not a full scale invasion, not yet anyway. Clearly she was some kind of spy, but Robin was not sure exactly what kind. He would have to talk to her, get her past her shields until she let something critical slip. Information he could use to prevent the invasion, when it came. His mentors would not be satisfied with anything less. Assess the situation first, they had drilled into him. Know everything you can about the situation. Information is the difference between life and death.
And to begin, he would have to play along with whatever her cover story was, at least for now. "So, since you plan to fight your family, how do you hope to achieve this?"
"By alerting the world and recruiting others to stand against my mother."
"The world needs no alerting to the Markovian threat," he snorted.
"But they have not united against my mother. This is essential," she insisted. "You know full well that no individual country can stand against the Markovian military machine as it is today."
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:38:31 GMT -5
"They've been negotiating for years without success. This, you know full well," he countered. "Wait a moment, you said 'my mother'. Are you then in direct line of succession to the throne?"
"I am Princess Tara," she admitted sadly.
Robin's legs almost gave out from under him. "Crown Princess Tara?" He was having difficulty breathing. "You're the next Empress! What possible motivation could you have for betraying your own future?"
"Knowledge of history....and a conscience."'
Robin shook his head. "I don't believe it. If you truly believe as you say, then you would wait to ascend to the Throne, and try to reform the system from within. A much more feasible plan than what you're attempting now."
Terra sighed. "Both my uncle, Count Garon, and my cousin Princess Ilya, had such thoughts. That is how both met with their...accidents."
Robin froze, chilled to the bone. "You mean to say that the Empress--"
Terra nodded. "Ilya was mother's doing. Garon was killed by my grandfather before he passed the crown on to my mother. That is how the family has gone, down the years."
Robin stared at her, unable to say anything more.
"That is why I chose the path I have," she went on. "Of course, now I am marked for death also."
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:40:26 GMT -5
Robin shook his head, mind racing. He still didn't believe that she was truly a dissident, but the details of her family....yes, entirely believable. For a lie to work it must be shrouded in truth, that was another lesson he had been taught. A lie must be so convincing that the truth can hide in its shadow. Yet, he still had to play along. "Your idea is not practical. Not the first part, anyway. Warning is not enough. Recruiting others to stand against your mother....yes, that is possible. We are not the only costumed individuals in the world, after all. But you must take the fight back to your own people. Make a stand against your own war machine."
Terra did not waste time protesting it was not 'her' war machine, not any more. "We will need more than just the two of us," she said. "But yes, I will fight my own people. I have already. I had to, just to get here."
Robin had not expected her to agree so readily. Clearly she was clever and devious, befitting her family. "We will have to recruit others. Just don't expect me to give you any names." And of course, he wouldn't. But, he realized with a chill, she thought that eventually he would slip up—as he was waiting for her to do. A dangerous game of mental chess, this was.
Terra nodded. "We should begin tonight, then. It is too early to sleep, anyway."
"What, you expect to find someone just by going out and about, tonight?"
"I found you," she pointed out.
"Yeah, okay." He laughed reluctantly. "Just don't be surprised if we don't find anyone tonight."
"Have to start somewhere," she replied
He shook his head in wonderment. "Let's go then."
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:41:23 GMT -5
Back in Markovia, it was late. Very late indeed. But Arianna, known more formally as Empress Petra, was used to late hours.
And one's own daughter and heir betraying the entire Empire was certainly sufficient cause for a late night session.
She sat on her golden throne, wearing flowing orange and black tresses, wearing the gold and silver crown of the Empire, glaring at her inner council of advisors, one by one, with a foreboding expression.
"It is confirmed, your Majesty," said General Petrovitch, the supreme commander of the armies. "She fled into the Mediterranean and from there across the Atlantic. We surmise that the United States was her destination."
Petra made a dismissive gesture. "I reasoned out that much myself."
"Yes, your Majesty," the General said, bowing. "What are your orders?"
"My foolish daughter's rash actions have accelerated our invasion timetable. Begin the necessary preparations."
The General bowed again and strode off.
"Empress," said Chamberlain Rokoshnev. "What will you have our forces do with the Princess, once we capture her?"
"Capture?" Petra repeated. "She will not be captured. She will be killed."
There was a stifled gasp amongst the advisors. Well they knew the bloody vengeance the Markov family brought down upon those who opposed the official Imperial line, but this was the Crown Princess that was being discussed.
"She is.....very popular, your Highness," the Chamberlain said. It was as close to a disagreement with the Empress as he dared to get. "At least with our own people. Even some of the conquered folk admire her."
"I know that well. But she betrayed their trust, and mine. She made her choice." Petra sighed. "I do regret it, of course. To lose my own heir, child of mine own body. And it is partially my fault. I should never have let her bury her head in those romantic old history books as a young girl." She shrugged elegantly. "But what's done is done. She made her choice, and she will die for it. None may oppose the Markovian will. Not even members of the Markov family. You are all dismissed. Have Prince Brion sent to me."
The Chamberlain and the rest of her court bowed low and scuttled away, like the insects they were. As they scattered, a single tear trickled down the Empress' cheek. She wiped it away. It did hurt her, inside, to order the death—the murder—of her own child and heir. But as much as it might hurt her, she would do what was necessary. For herself, for the Markovian way. For the future of the world that Markovia must rule.
Even so, she cursed herself inwardly for her weakness.
Prince Brion came and knelt before her. "You sent for me, mother?"
"Rise, my son. You know what has occurred; your sister has betrayed us."
Brion hung his head. "Yes, mother. I should have stopped her leaving."
Petra made a dismissive gesture with one hand. "It would not have stopped the treachery that had already taken root in her heart. But against such chances are contingencies laid. Prince Brion, you are now Crown Prince Brion. You are my heir, and shall be the next Emperor."
Brion's eyes were emotionless as he bowed before her. "Thank you, mother. I am grateful."
"As you should be," she said primly. "Tomorrow you will begin tutoring with the Chamberlain and Imperial Scholar Brego on what you must know, and what you need to do, to one day succeed me. Your sister failed me. Do not repeat her mistake."
"I shall not, mother," Brion promised.
"Good. You may go."
He bowed and left. The Empress rubbed her temples as a headache began to build in her mind, like a storm.
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:41:46 GMT -5
Kai-Al was flying low over the coast of one of the smaller continents. She could see bright lights from cities in the darkness.
This world was a fascinating place. Already she had seen many things that fascinated her. Such a dynamic, breathing world! And so many people! The entire Kryptonian population was less than five million; she was sure there was many times that here. Oh, to be certain a savage and backwards planet, but such energy could be found in such people. Such primal power and purpose!
The resemblance between these people and Kryptonians was startling; she supposed that was another reason that the astronomer of the House of El would have sent his son here. But for all their superficial similarities, they were not the same, not the same at all. She must remember that. They lacked higher minds.
Her musings were interrupted by a brilliant green light behind her. She turned and saw a young, red-haired main in a mostly black costume, though of course not nearly as ornate as her own. He lacked her distinctive headgear, for one thing, and the garment clung far too tightly to his frame. A green cape billowed out behind. A green aura surrounded him. But on his chest was a symbol she recognized, albeit distantly.
"The Green Lantern Corps has a presence here? How fascinating. Are you in fact a native of this planet?"
"I am," he said. To Eric, this alien woman was disconcerting, to say the least. Her blue eyes were very distant. He could not discern a hair color, as only her face was exposed by the black costume she wore. The rest of her head was covered in spikes that flowered into flat discs. A strange, stylized silver s-shape was the break in the funereal coloring of her body suit, though there were many layers and hanging fabrics.
"What does a Kryptonian want with Earth? Your kinds hardly ever leave your own planet.” He watched her warily.
"Earth? Is that what you call it? How quaint." She sniffed. "In any case, I was curious about this planet and came to see for myself, based on the records in our archives. I might well ask, in my turn, what your Oan masters would want here."
"If you know anything about the Guardians," Eric countered, not liking her tone at all, "Then you know the safety of the galaxy is their primary concern. Why should Earth be any different?"
"Spoken like a true soldier," Kai-El said disdainfully. "Do not disrupt my researches, Lantern, and I in turn shall not disrupt whatever security measures you feel necessary to take."
"Until you give me a proper explanation of what you're doing here, my 'security measures' may include stopping you," he warned. "Now tell me your true purpose here. Have the Kryptonians decided not to be so passive?"
"I have answered your question as much as I need," she answered. "Now do not delay me further." She turned and began to fly away.
Instantly he trapped her in a ball of green light. "You are under arrest. Do not attempt to resist."
"How DARE you!" she shouted, and punched the green globe, hard. To his astonishment, it shattered.
But now he was truly angry, and flew right at her.
Her eyes widened. "Oh my..."
He slammed into her, knocking her back. Furious, she glared at him, and was shocked to realize that beams of red light were erupting from her eyes, straight at him.
Frantically, Eric put a shield up, and the heat rays burned against it. It held, though it took some strong focus of his will and his anger to block her power.
She blinked and the rays stopped. Now her own anger blossomed in turn, the cold frustration of a scientist interrupted in the midst of an important experiment. This time she flew at him.
But he was all too happy to reply in kind. Kryptonian and Green Lantern charged each other in fury.....
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Post by chris on Jan 2, 2007 20:42:15 GMT -5
TO BE CONTINUED...
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