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"There was no time to test this for myself. Almost immediately, the ship's alarm sounded, and Andro rushed to the command center. ‘It's the troops on the planet. They've seen us. Prepare yourself --'
"An instant later, the ship was vaporized. I found myself floating in space. I expected to die – but I didn't. When I stopped spinning, I saw Andro fighting with one of the vessels that had attacked us. He was going at it with full abandon.
"I then found myself facing the other ship. It was firing on me with protoplasmic cannons. I didn't know if it would harm me or not, but I grabbed the cannon and – to my surprise – crushed it with my bare hands.
"The ship, however, was meant only to carry its pilot into space. Once his ship was disabled, he ejected himself and engaged me hand-to-hand. I had had some physical training back home, but he was a professional soldier. I didn't stand a chance.
"But, then, there was a crimson flash. A moment later, I found myself grappling with a burning skeleton.
"‘You killed him!' I shouted to Andro. ‘That wasn't necessary!'
"‘This is war, Lar,' my brother said. ‘It's all necessary.'
"There was nothing else to do but follow my bother's lead as he flew down into the thin atmosphere of Kurax-I and attacked an airfield. Andro was a man possessed. He destroyed warships and soldiers alike. I confined myself to obliterating unoccupied warships with my newly discovered heat vision.
"And then, my new super-hearing picked up a conversation. A commander was instructing his soldiers to fire a new weapon at us – a weapon made of a substance found in the Kurax system that could penetrate even our invulnerable skin. A substance we now know as lead.
Elaris gasped as she listened. "Oh, no."
"Before I could warn Andro," Mon continued, "it was too late. I watched as my brother flew into an ambush and was riddled with lead projectiles. I screamed. Then I swooped down and grabbed him before he fell to the ground. I flew off, carrying him. To my surprise, we were not followed. I guess they thought there was nowhere for us to go.
"I carried Andro to a desolate spot on the dark side of the planet. I had no supplies, nothing to treat his wounds. But it wouldn't have mattered. My brother was dead.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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"I lost my brother," Mon said, "just as you lost yours."
"Eltro," she said.
"It's ironic," Mon-El said. "If he hadn't saved my life, I would never have known that all of you exist. I would never have known that I have relatives on Daxam, or the terrible price you have paid for my crimes."
Estarr looked on him without sympathy. "Go on, Legionnaire," he demanded. "We want to hear more about your crimes."
The other cell leaders nodded.
"I continued to carry out my brother's mission. For several months, I waged a one-man guerilla war against our troops. You see, our planetary isolation had worked against our forces: They were unprepared for a direct assault against them. My sudden, random attacks caught them off-guard every time. I would show up at night, and obliterate another airfield. Or I would appear at dawn and destroy the command headquarters, always giving them enough time to evacuate. Andro was wrong: Not all things are necessary, not even in war. In time, some of the troops began to sympathize with my cause. They could see I was not targeting them, only their mission. Some even broke ranks and began to fight with their superiors.
"Then, one day, while eavesdropping on another command center, I picked up a conversation between a general and a visiting Senator. The Senator was most displeased.
"‘If one man can do this much damage,' he was saying, ‘then what would happen if a squadron of super-powered troops rebelled?'
The general tried to assure him that he had the situation under control, but the Senator wouldn't hear it. Finally, he issued the order that I had been waiting for, that Andro never lived to hear.
"‘The Senate has decided,' he told the general, ‘that the price of conquest is too high. Therefore, we are ordering you to withdraw from the Kurax system, immediately."
"It was over.
"I had won. Andro would have been pleased.
"I waited until most of the troops had left, then I burrowed into the last remaining airfield. Instead of warships, it contained smaller, one-man vessels used to transport Senators and other dignitaries to and from the Kurax system. I found it ironic: If I had stayed on Daxam, like my brother had wanted, I would have been a Senator by then. Instead, I was stealing a Senator's vessel. There was little opposition from the airfield's skeleton crew as I started the engine and blasted off into space. I wanted to find another system, preferably one with a red sun, to settle down. My mission was over. I never wanted to have super-powers again.
"A few months later, I landed on fabled Krypton, only to learn that it was facing destruction. A scientist who befriended me sent me to earth -- but he forgot to mention that earth had a yellow sun. If he had, I might have headed in the opposite direction."
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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As Mon-El finished his tale, he looked at each of the cell leaders. Their craggy, hardened faces betrayed little emotion. They sat quietly, contemplating.
"We heard rumors," one of them finally said, "legends. But we never knew the truth until now."
"After you left," another elder added, "the government seized your brother's property. Andro Gand was branded a traitor. Daxam law at the time stated that his family had to suffer for his crimes. His wife and children went into hiding. We, his descendants, have been suffering ever since."
"A thousand years!" Estarr bellowed at Mon-El. "A thousand years of paying for crimes we never committed!"
"But Daxam's laws have changed since then," Mon-El said. "Surely --"
"We have tried to convince the High Commissioner of that," Elaris said, "but he remains adamant: The law was broken a thousand years ago, and the guilty must be punished."
Mon-El hung his head. "Then there is only one thing to do," he said, rising. "I will turn myself in and -- "
"Don't you think you'd better ask us, first?"
The cell leaders jumped to their feet, ready for action. Mon spun around, his adrenalin pumping, but his heart soared when he saw where the voice came from.
It was Ultra Boy, accompanied by fellow Legionnaires Lightning Lad, Sun Boy, Shrinking Violet and Element Lad. They appeared, savior-like, out of the darkness of the corridor ahead of them.
"Don't look so surprised, Mon," Ultra Boy said, folding his arms like a victor. "Did you really think you could hide from my Penetra-Vision?"
"I was hoping you would not get involved," Mon-El said. "This is a private affair."
"There's no such thing as a private affair," Element Lad said, "not when you're the leader."
Elaris stepped forward, almost protectively of Mon-El. "How much have you heard?"
"Enough," Lightning Lad said. "And Eltro's diary filled us in on the rest."
"We're going to have to hold a hearing to consider these matters," Shrinking Violet added.
Ultra Boy nodded. "In the meantime, Mon – I'm sorry – you're relieved of duty as leader."
"I understand," Mon-El replied, standing still, like a man about to face execution. "I will go with you – but the Gands must go free."
"I'm sorry, we can't allow that," Lightning Lad said.
"Why not?"
"We can't violate local law," Ultra Boy answered. "You know that. These people are fugitives--"
"Fugitives!" Estarr snorted. "Fugitives from a crime committed a thousand years ago!"
"We're sorry. We --"
"I'm sorry, too, Jo." Mon-El stepped forward, threateningly. "But I can't let you to turn my family over to the High Commissioner." He prepared to go hand-to-hand with his friend, whose powers nearly equaled his own – when he had powers, that is. Mon hoped that his bluff would work, and that Jo would back down.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
"Nice try, Mon," Ultra Boy said. "But I know you don't have your powers, anymore – not even a residue, or we wouldn't have been able to sneak up on you."
So much for the bluff.
"I want to thank you, Legionnaires," came another voice from the opposite corridor – the corridor Mon and the survivors had come from, "for leading us to the criminals." Out of the darkness came a squadron of Daxamite police soldiers. "We would have found them on our own, of course," their captain was saying, "but this expedites matters. We'll take it from here."
Mon glared at Ultra Boy. He couldn't believe that any Legionnaire would betray him – certainly not Jo. From Jo's expression, he was right: Ultra Boy was just as startled by this development as anyone.
"Just a minute," Ultra Boy said, approaching the captain. "The High Commissioner himself authorized us to apprehend these people."
The captain's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "Then I suggest you file a complaint, Legionnaire. In the meantime, it's my sworn duty to administer justice. Under Daxam's laws at the time the offense of treason was committed, the guilty party and all of his family are to be put to death. Therefore," he addressed the Gands directly, "I sentence you to summary execution."
People screamed. Some attempted to plead with the soldiers, but to no avail. As the captain ordered his troops to prepare to fire, Mon-El tried to push his way to the front of the crowd. Maybe – just maybe – they would accept his sacrifice instead. No matter what happened, he would not let these people die. Not like Andro. Not again.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light – no, lightning! – and the dozen troops who formed the execution squad found their guns blasted apart in their hands.
Mon-El shot a glance back at the Legionnaires. Lightning Lad was preparing to deliver another charge in the soldiers' direction. "Enough is enough!" he shouted. "Local laws or no, the Legion will not stand idly by while you murder defenseless people!"
"Lay your weapons down," Ultra Boy ordered the rest of the soldiers. "There will be no bloodshed today."
But the captain sneered at them. "You're aiding and abetting criminals, Legionnaires. That makes you criminals! Squadron, attack!"
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Though the Legionnaires were small in number, their training, powers and experience gave them a distinct advantage over the soldiers, many of whom, Mon reckoned, had never even been away from Daxam.
Element Lad transmuted the outer layer of a nearby wall into rubber, causing it to fall on top of a few soldiers.
Shrinking Violet shrunk to the size of bullet and flew into several soldiers' faces, knocking them out with a martial arts move that only a tiny warrior could master.
Ultra Boy had activated his super-strength and was fighting soldiers hand-to-hand, tossing them around like the super-powered street tough that, at heart, he was.
Sun Boy, who stood nearest to Mon, used his heat and light powers to temporarily blind soldiers and melt their weapons.
There was no way that Mon-El – super-powers or no – was going to let his teammates fight his battles for him. He jumped the nearest soldier and began wrestling him. With his own Legion experience and training, Mon thought, he could surely handle just one green recruit. But this recruit had friends. Four of them ran to his side and quickly overwhelmed the powerless Legionnaire. While three bruisers held Mon-El at bay, a fourth planted his fist in Mon-El's stomach. He doubled over and yelped.
"Hey, Mon!" Sun Boy shouted. "I don't know if this'll work, but it's worth a try." Then Dirk Morgna , the most flamboyant Legionnaire, lit himself up like a star, bathing the vicinity in yellow sun light. The other Daxamites were not affected, Mon reasoned, since they had never left their world and become exposed to a yellow sun in the first place. But Mon had spent years living on earth – in two centuries, no less. Solar radiation still lay dormant in his body, just waiting to be reactivated -- and Sun Boy's organic powers did the trick. Slowly, Mon felt his strength returning.
"I don't know what your buddy's trying to pull," said the soldier who planted his fist in Mon-El's stomach, "but I'm going to kick your ass, Legionnaire!" He reared back and prepared to swing his fist again.
"I wouldn't --" Mon started to say. But, to no avail. The soldier again hit Mon-El in the stomach. This time, it was accompanied by the sickening sound of bones being crushed -- but not Mon-El's.
The soldier let out a blood-curdling scream as he clutched his shattered hand. An instant later, Mon-El – his strength fully restored – shrugged off the other three, sending them flying through the air.
"Thanks, Dirk!" Mon said, waving to Sun Boy, who was already busy melting part of the floor of the tunnel to entrap other soldiers.
"Don't mention it, Mon!" Sun Boy replied. "That's what buddies are for."
Mon knew that his restored powers were only temporary. But they should be enough to bring this conflict to a speedy end, he thought. He flew toward the troops who were still fighting.
"STOP!"
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
The familiar voice reverberated throughout the corridor. One of the soldiers, acting on commands only he could hear through his headset, stepped forward and activated the holographic transmitter on his helmet. "Watch and weep, Legionnaires!" he gloated, as an image was projected before them. As soon as it shimmered into focus, all present recognized the High Commissioner of Daxam.
But there was someone standing with him – Elaris.
Mon-El instinctively looked around. He hadn't noticed her leaving the melee. Did one of the soldiers kidnap her –?
"This conflict must end," the High Commissioner said in his booming voice. "I believe we have found a solution to our millennium-old dilemma."
Elaris stepped forward into clearer view. "Lar, Estarr, all the rest ... I have surrendered voluntarily to the High Commissioner. I will pay the price for the crime of treason committed by our ancestor."
"No!" Estarr shouted. He was joined by a chorus of dissent from the other Gands. Mon-El watched in disbelief. He tried to speak but choked on the words. Another innocent person would pay the price for his crimes. He could not allow that.
"Let her go!" he bellowed, flying toward the image like a bull. He landed just short of passing through it. "My name is Lar Gand. I'm the man you want. A thousand years ago, it was my brother and I who sabotaged the invasion of Kurax. I will accept whatever judgement you care to pass."
The High Commissioner looked unimpressed. "Mon-El, we know who you are. We've known for years. Had we sought retribution, we could easily have extradited you to Daxam, powers or no. But this is not about you. It goes beyond that."
Elaris looked at Mon directly. "When you said your brother was wrong about killing, you were right. When your brother -- my ancestor -- took the lives of soldiers, he committed a crime that knows no bounds, that is never forgotten by time. Entire families were destroyed when their sons, fathers, and loved ones were lost that day. Their blood is on our hands, Lar, my hands ... not yours."
Lar stared at her image. He searched for something to say – anything. But he knew it would be futile.
Shrinking Violet approached him. "You're not going to let her do it, are you? Paying for your brother's crimes makes no sense."
"It does," Mon-El said, slowly, "to a Daxamite."
The High Commissioner continued, "The warships and buildings you destroyed were mere objects. They could easily be replaced. Some might even say you acted heroically, turning our world from the path of conquest. But lives can never be replaced. As a Legionnaire, you surely know this." Mon glanced at the other Legionnaires, as they traded understanding looks. The code against killing was one of their most sacred by-laws.
"What will become of her?"
"We are not a barbaric culture, Lar Gand," the High Commissioner said. "Much has in fact changed in a thousand years. Her sentence will be lenient. I guarantee you this."
"And what about us?" said Estarr, stepping forward and throwing around his considerable weight.
"The rest of you are free to go. The Gands have nothing further to fear from the High Council." With that, his image – and that of Elaris – vanished.
The Gands stood in their places, stunned. Was it truly over?
The captain who, minutes ago, had announced his intention to execute them, now approached Mon-El with an altogether different demeanor. "My orders have changed," he said with embarrassment. "It seems that I am now to ... escort the Gands to a readjustment center, where they will be cared for until they are ready to assimilate into society."
Mon-El looked at the cell leaders, who, in turn, looked at Estarr – their new, de facto leader. "That is ... agreeable," he said in his gutteral voice.
Mon-El nodded. It truly was over. But at what a cost.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Mon-El opened his eyes as an azure finger brushed his forelocks. "Close your eyes," Tasmia said, softly. "There are no emergencies to take care of. No leadership decisions. Just relax."
Mon thought of arguing the point, but decided against it. His head was laying on her lap as she administered her own brand of spiritual healing. It felt good.
"Have you heard from Elaris?" Tasmia said.
"Yes," Mon-El said. "She's in a minimum-security facility. She said it's the most luxurious place she'd ever seen. She also said that if she'd known prison would be like that, she would have given herself up a long time ago."
"All's well that ends well," Tasmia crooned. "Still, it's too bad about the election."
"Jo won fair and square," Mon said.
"Yes," she replied, "though it's just like him to take off for Rimbor before the votes were all in. I wonder if he even knows he's leader."
"I don't know, I don't care," Mon-El said, smiling. "That's his problem now."
Suddenly, his eyes opened, and he sat up. "When I think of how I nearly blew it, with the Legion and with you ..."
"Why didn't you tell us about your past?"
Mon thought long and hard. He was not used to opening up, not even to her. But keeping closed about his past nearly cost him everything. Fortunately, the Legion was as forgiving as Tasmia. At the hearing, he was let go with a reprimand and a stern lecture that the Legion is a team and that anything that affects the leader affects all of them. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps it was time to take a chance on her, as well.
"When I was freed from the Phantom Zone," he began, "I had not had any human contact for a thousand years. A thousand years of watching people live, love and die, as if I were watching an endless series of 20th century television programs. I had no friends ... no family. It was almost like I didn't really exist.
"Every day I wake up ... and I keep expecting all of this to be a dream. I keep thinking I'll find myself back in the Phantom Zone ... forever."
"Oh, Mon," she said, hugging his back.
"There are days when I wish I had never stowed away on Andro's ship ... when I wish I had grown up to live a normal life on Daxam and died. And there are other days when I think I'm the luckiest man in the universe." He turned toward her and gently lifted her face in his hands. "And there are other days when I know it."
They kissed.
"I've tried to make the most of my second chance at life," he continued. "I thought that by serving as leader of the Legion, I'd give back to the group for giving me so much. But maybe I wasn't really cut out to be a leader. Maybe I'm too much of a loner at heart."
"So, you don't miss being leader?"
"Maybe a little."
"There's always next year."
"I know," he said, kissing her again. "In fact, I can't wait for Ultra Boy to get back from vacation and assume his duties."
"Why?"
"I'm going to ask for my gavel back."
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Thanks, Arachne! I wish I had time to develop Vi's scenes more, as well as those of the other Legionnaires on the mission, but the story would have been even longer.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
That's professional-grade writing, HWW. Well-phrased dialogue, self-contained, enlightening about Lar's melancholy. Made me loathe Daxamian "justice" -- a sign that it worked well.
My only drawback is that I never read where Eltro Gand fit into the picture with Lar, so that was lost on me. Fan fiction assumes that background, though, so it's to be expected. I'll go look it up.
From: Starhaven Consulate, City of Angels | Registered: Jul 2003
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I also appreciate your feedback, re: Eltro. I tried to summarize enough of Action Comics # 384, so that the story made sense without being weighed down, or telling some fans what they already knew. I hope it wasn't a problem for anyone else.
[ August 26, 2003, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: He Who Wanders ]
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Your story is thoroughly enjoyable HWW, as Grey said above it's a professional standard job you've accomplished here, wewll done and many thanks for sharing it with us.
From: home sweet home... unless i'm posting from work | Registered: Jul 2003
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-------------------- "Hey Jim! Get Mon out of the Zone!! And...when do we get Condo back?"
From: Paragon City on patrol | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Thanks for the feedback, Sonnie, Arachne, and Varalent. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Mon is one of my favorite characters, too, obviously.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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Hyperpath: Email this page to someone!
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