Titans: Resistance #23

I think that the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery and mystery.
Luis Barragan

To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil.
Pearl Bailey

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“Why on Earth would you cage him so?!” For the first time, Terra was openly hostile towards Deriven. She cared little for the argument of magic against science—to her this was a meaningless semantic debate—but that such a creature would be imprisoned stoked her passions, of the cause she had been fighting for since the day she left the Imperial Palace behind.

“For his own safety,” Deriven replied, not surprised at the question. “The pain and rage in his soul is difficult to contain.”

“We have done what we can for him.” It was Changeling who spoke, his eyes sad. “Unlike Crow, his inner demons haunt him in a much more literal and physical way.”

“You said that he is a devil himself?” Robin prompted, stepping between Terra and Deriven.

“Physically speaking, yes. As you can see, he is devilish in appearance. His skin burns to the touch, he can breathe fire, and has some strength. His mind is human, but the monstrous psychology of the outer darkness often torments him. Lillith, the Omen-speaker,” here Deriven nodded to the red robed girl, “Is charged with containing him.”

“If he's so out of control,” Ravager said, “Then how can he be of any use to us?”

Robin was still holding Terra back, who was staring holes in Deriven.

“That is part of Lillith's task,” Deriven answered, staring calmly back at Terra. “He can be controlled, but it takes concentration and energy. He is a good person at heart, but it is a great struggle for him.” He paused. “We are trying to help him,” he added pointedly.

Robin was still holding Terra back, but knew that if she wanted to, she could have just used her powers to attack Deriven from where she stood. “I will watch how you treat him,” she said at length, “Very carefully.”

“Good. I knew you were a caring person from your aura.” Deriven turned away, treating the matter as settled. “Can we release him, Lillith? The time draws near. Either he can help us now, or not at all.”

“Your assistance would be appreciated,” Lillith said simply. She turned to the prison and gestured, and it faded.

Kid Devil fell to the ground, screaming, thrashing and roaring.

“Shhhhhh.” Lillith knelt before him. “Calm....focus....”

He opened his eyes—which glowed gold--and moaned softly. “Lillith...what?”

“Stay with me. You have been freed to help fight the darkness. You'd like that, wouldn't you?”

He nodded slowly.

“We need you to contain your rage until it is time to unleash it against our enemies,” Deriven said. The words were cold, but the tone was warm...almost kind. Certainly there was sadness there.

Terra stepped closer. “You want to be free of your demons, don't you?”

Kid Devil looked at her uncertainly, then nodded.

“I....cannot promise that. But you can help to free others, at least. That is something, isn't it?”

“Y-yes.....who are you?”

She smiled, “I am called Terra. I too fight for freedom.”

Ravager snorted. Terra shot a glare back at her; their friendship was being strained by these circumstances. Argent defused the situation by stepping forward.

“I know what it is like to be enslaved,” she said to the hulking form.

As Argent and Lillith continued to soothe the metaphorical savage beast, Terra stomped over to Ravager. “What's wrong with you?”

“Me? Nothing. What's wrong with you, being so sentimental?”

Terra sighed and shook her head. “We're not all as hard-hearted as you, Rose.”

Ravager smiled, but there was no humor in it. “Nothing wrong with sentiment, Tara. But you've gotta hide it better, guard it better. There's a time for mawkish sweetness. Now isn't it.”

Terra felt her anger fade, and she sadly shook her head. “Nothing mawkish about compassion, Rose. And I would think that you, of all people, would appreciate that it was tactically useful here.”

“Then let the wizard and this Lillith chick take care of it. You’re a field commander; you're better than that.”

“Better?” Terra was truly puzzled now.

“Can we save the philosophical debate for later?” Robin put in.

Terra sighed. “I thought we were friends,” she said.

“We are,” Ravager said. “That's why I'm trying to make sure you don't let your guard down.”

Terra frowned.

“And here I thought you and me were supposed to be the ones that always fought,” Anarky joked.

“I know, “Robin said. “That's what's bothering me.”

“The girls will pull through, if we survive,” Anarky said.

“I'm sure they will,” Robin sighed. “My worry is what the problem is.”



They led Kid Devil and Lillith back into Deriven's main sanctum.

“Who's next on your list?” Lantern asked.

“You mentioned a caveman and a herald of rifts,” Robin prompted.

“Yes....the caveman first, I think. Even Supergirl would not be surprised to learn that certain evolutionary offshoots of humanity survived, albeit in small numbers.” Deriven turned to look at the Kryptonian.

Supergirl shrugged. “I had not the chance to study that possibility, but it seems reasonable enough.”

Deriven nodded. “When your world became enamored with science above all things, these aboriginals were more than forced to flee—they were physically displaced."

“What do you mean?” Argent raised both eyebrows.

“I mean, they are so wrapped up in shamanistic and naturalistic beliefs that the collective technocratic beliefs of humans forcibly expelled them from your reality. They found themselves in the more magical realms against their own wills...and from what I understand the displacement was quite unpleasant. Not a few of them died in the process.”

Deriven looked at Supergirl, but this time she made no protest. She simply stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.

“So, where are they now?” Terra prompted.

“It will require another portal trip,” Deriven said. He turned to Lillith with unspoken question.

“I will stay with him,” She said, crouching down beside Kid Devil. “Nothing will occur.”

Ravager wanted to say, and if something does, the LOTR wanna be's will take care of it, but that might have set Terra off again.

They Titans, Changeling and Crow followed Deriven to the portal once more.



The Titans, still not properly used to dimensional travel, stumbled around after they exited the portal. They were on a grassy plain that vanished into mist.

“This realm was created for the cavemen?” Lantern asked uncertainly.

Deriven shook his head. “It was always here, their belief created it. It was just that, once the modern world became what it is, they had to live here. Earth was closed to them.”

Supergirl shook her head but said nothing.

“This place.....” Terra walked around slowly in a circle, eyes wide, “The power of the Earth...it's here....it's truly here...I've never felt anything like it. Even the Elven realm wasn't like this.”

Changeling smiled sadly.

“The old ways are strong here.” Deriven agreed, taking a deep breath himself.

Green Lantern and Argent couldn't feel it was Terra or Deriven could, but they could smell the pureness of the air, feel the vibrancy of natural life.

Anarky, Robin and Ravager merely felt slightly bemused.

Terra actually burst out laughing as a woolly mammoth came out of the fog, snuffled around a moment, and chose a patch of grass on which to feed.

“Yes, somewhat amusing.” Deriven agreed. “But let's not make too much noise, unless you want to battle the wildlife here.

Terra shot him a look, but nodded.

Deriven, not surprisingly, knew exactly where to go. He led them to a cave in a white rock wall.

“Gnarrk?” he called. “Gnarrk, are you in there?”

To the Titans' surprise, the words he spoke were understandable to their ears, only with a strange, high pitched musical inflection.

A weary old woman in animal skins came to the opening. Her head was misshapen and her eyes, while bright, were distant and strange. “Gnarrk is not here yet, o great spell-walker. He is on the hunt. Wait for his return?”

“Yes,” Deriven agreed, “We will.”

Fortunately they did not have to wait very long. A large, burly man with tan skin and shaggy brown-black hair came out of the fog about forty minutes later, dragging a dead dear behind him.

“Not a good hunt,” he grunted in those same musical tones, albeit of a lower pitch, “Only one deer. Not enough to feed the family.” He started when he saw Deriven. “Great spell-walker,” he gave a sort of slight bow while inclining his massive, misshaped head. “What brings you to my home?”

“The time has come my friend. These others,” Deriven gestured to the Titans, Changeling and Crow, “Will aid us in the battle against the Great Darkness. And there are more still to come.”

Gnarrk nodded slowly. “I will fight for you. But...my family....”

“Yes, I heard,” Deriven smiled. “Several animals will fall too the arrows of your kin this day. I shall see to it myself. I would encourage berries to grow for your womenfolk to find, but that would take longer.”

“Berries not as good as meat anyhow,” Gnarrk said.

“Pah!” the cavewoman snorted.

Gnarrk grimaced but did not argue the point. “You have our gratitude, o great spellwalker.” He looked at the others. “Strange folk you bring....but powerful I am sure,” he added hurriedly.

Terra smiled thinly. Even Supergirl's lip twitched a bit at that.



“Hey Supergirl,” Anarky said. “Something I've been meaning to ask you, and no, not about the magic versus science thing, either. I've been wondering about it for a while now, actually.”

“There is no magic versus science, there is only science. Having said that, what is your question?”

“Since you're like, an alien and all that, why do you look like us?”

Supergirl smiled. “As opposed to the aliens Deriven calls the Elves, you mean? There are many bipedal species that resemble yours in the Galaxy. There are also many that are the stuff of your nightmares...and many things in between. But if you wish to see how alien I am....” she leaned over. “Look into my eyes. Look closely.”

Anarky peered through his mask into her eyes at close range. They had always seemed blue, but up close the irises were purple shot through with amber and silver, and the pupils were subtly almond shaped.

He started backwards, discomfited.

Supergirl gave him a calm neutral expression. “There is also the matter of my body temperature compared to yours, the spefic placement of my organs, my control over bodily functions, many other things.”

“Umm.....great. Thanks.”

Supergirl frowned at him, shrugged, and moved on.

Anarky wished he hadn't asked.



They stumbled through the portal back to Deriven's realm, and then through it again into a different realm once more. Argent struggled not to throw up.

The Herald, it turned out, was eager to return to Earth, however temporarily. He had already done so on a couple occasions.

His name was Manwe, and he and his people had been African in the days of old. They had long been allies of the Elven Seelie court in their battles against the Unseelie, and while they had never specifically fought the denizens of the Outer Darkness, they had always been agreeable to the idea.

He lived in an ornate gold and amber tower with his family. Out in the fields beyond, zebra ran and whinnied. Terra was even more impressed than she had been with Gnarrk's realm. That worthy was only mildly interested. Apparently he and the Herald had met before, but not on Manwe's home ground.

The sky here was a golden, shimmering thing with silver clouds.

The Herald and the forerunners had always been important to Deriven and the other Aspects of Fate before him; with their horn they could, for short periods of time, travel to Earth. They could not have stayed long; the technocratic nature of Earth prevented it. But with the Titans breaking the Empire's absolute stronghold over human perspectives, they could go there longer, just as now Deriven could open direct portals to Earth.

Manwe's costume as the Herald was ritualized and ornate. Blue with purple writing all over it, it looked even more like ceremonial robes than Deriven's own garb.

He held a long wooden horn, glazed with what might have been tree sap....or it might night. Deriven probably knew, but he wasn't telling.

“Of course I will help, Aspect of Fate,” Manwe said. “The time has finally come for a reckoning, of sorts.”

“The realms are changing, and hopefully for the better,” Deriven agreed. He turned to the others. “Because of the Herald's ability to open his own rifts between worlds, we can now make an easier trip to Earth than I had originally planned, to recruit an additional champion for our cause. He will be new, and untested, but he will be most useful. He paused, as though expecting their approval.

“I hope he is not a victim of torture as Kid Devil is,” Terra said warningly.

“Only the burden of responsibility that you yourself are familiar with,” Deriven answered.

Ravager shrugged. “So long as he can kick ass.”

“He will be new and untried, but power he certainly has,” Deriven answered. “Or will have. You will see him bear the mantle of power for the first time.” He focused on Green Lantern. “His forbears were never part of the old Society of Justice that you know from your teacher, but they undoubtedly told tales of their exploits in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.”

Green Lantern's eyes went wide. “The champion of....”

Deriven smiled. “Yes.”

“What's he on about, greenie?” Ravager asked.

“Greenie?!?” Anarky burst out laughing.

Argent shook her head.

Green Lantern ignored them all. “There was a tale of an old hero...one of the first....then another succeeded him....they were never part of the Society, either one, both were gone before it began, but part of the reason the society was formed was because of them....”

Terra started. “Oh, wait, wait, and wait....I think I must know this story.....a new champion of the old magic’s....of course that would fit with what Deriven is saying!”

Supergirl sighed and shook her head.

Anarky nudged Robin. “You have any idea what they're talking about?”

Robin shook his head. “Not a clue.”

“Come with me, and you shall see,” Manwe smiled. Deriven whispered something in his ear. The Herald nodded, and blew his horn.

A long, sonorous note sounded. Slowly, the air in front of the party split and opened, revealing a wavering, wobbling image of green hills and old stone temples that reminded everyone except Supergirl and Gnarrk of Stonehenge.

Manwe's mother kissed him on the cheek once, and then he went through, the rest of the party followed him.



“I will say,” Argent said, “The ride was much smoother this time.”

“Where are we now?” Terra asked, looking around.

“Ireland,” Deriven said. “And yes, back in Markovian-occupied territory. If not for your team's actions earlier, we would not be able to come here now.”

Terra immediately whipped her head around nervously.

“Relax, we are far from any patrol. Indeed, without the ability to seem innocuous, our hosts would not have been able to survive this long.”

“I thought your so called magic was expelled from the Earth,” Supergirl said.

“No, I said certain mystics and others were expelled from Earth because their belief systems were so different from those of the Markovian Technocracy,” Deriven corrected. “But it has been hard going, of that you can be certain.”

They stepped within a ring of stones and were met by a white-haired old druid, hobbling along with the aid of a staff.

“Deriven!” the old man said in a high, cracked, ringing voice. “Ye come to us in the flesh at last, after all the years of listening to each other's thoughts!”

“Yes, old friend. The champion of the Druids will once again stand tall. Is the boy ready?”

The old man sighed. “As any young man ever is for such responsibility. It has been over a hundred years....” he took a deep breath. “Every action we have taken since the last champion was too old to continue in the role has been geared to this moment. Three viable candidates lived and died never having the chance to use the power because of the Markovians......yes; he is as ready as we can make him.”

“Let us meet him then.” the old druid led the party on, and the followed. Even Supergirl was intrigued.

“Is this boy to become another great shaman?” Gnarrk asked in his musical voice.

“More of a mighty warrior of magic,” Deriven answered.

“Unh, that would be good. More hunters to destroy the evil,” Gnarrk nodded approvingly.

“I know the story of their legacy,” Manwe said, nodding. “There will be no disappointment in his ability.”

“Now you've got me curious,” Supergirl admitted.

Within the circle was a winding path that led to a small stone hut. Within sat a boy of about twelve, reading a text in what the Titans assumed was Gaelic.

The old man knelt over the boy and spoke in that language. He sat up straight and blinked, shivered, and the nodded.

He turned to the others and bowed. “I am not worthy,” he murmured in stilted English. Terra was impressed; while she had been able to speak some English phrases at that age, her accent had been thicker. English was the last language she had mastered enough to speak it smoothly before leaving Markovia.

“You are worthy,” the old man answered. “You have been trained for this moment.”

“Believe in yourself,” Terra said, kneeling down and touching his hand.

The little boy looked at the elder, who nodded and smiled a gap-toothed smile.

“Move back,” Deriven muttered.

Without arguing—though Ravager snickered and Supergirl raised an eyebrow—the Titans moved outside. The old man, too. Everyone stood around the hut in a rough circle.

The boy held one hand high and began to recite, in his stilted English:

“The Wisdom of Minerva
The Strength of Morrigan
The Stamina of Noders
The Power of Dadga
The Courage of The Wild Boar
The Speed of Caber.....”

He drew back his breath and shouted...

“EMRYS MYRIDDIN!”
There was a flash of light, and Captain Marvel was born.




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