I feel like all my years of fanfic writing have been preparing me for this. It is an alternate-timeline continuation of L.E.G.I.O.N. where post-issue #55 continuity gets tossed out the window. "Amber Alert", also here at Bits, was a dry run for this. Hope you enjoy the ride. And please leave a comment.
THE CAIRN-THANAGAR WAR CHAPTER 1
The L.E.G.I.O.N. cruiser swooped downward as it came in for a landing on the planet Thanagar. Below, members of the notoriously rigid Thanagarian police force stood by to receive them. If they could have eavesdropped on the conversations inside this ship, they might have been warned of the chaos their world was about to face.
“For the trillionth time, Captain Thicko, all the necessary channels have been cleared by Dox!” yelled Stealth, the orange-skinned female.
“And I still say it’s a bad idea!” insisted veteran space-hero Captain Comet. “There’s absolute zero chance of our methods meshing with those of the Thanagarians! We’re asking for trouble!”
“Asking?” chuckled the large insectoid Telepath forlornly. “More like begging, if you ask me.”
“Nobody asked ya, chrome-dome!” barked Lobo, in the pilot’s seat. “An’ anyway, trouble keeps things...interestin’!”
“Lobo, for the cosmos’ sake, try to make a smooth landing!” demanded Captain Comet.
“Ahh, yer no fun anymore!” growled Lobo. “Then again, ya never were fun before...Cap’n Vomit!”
Nonetheless, Lobo uncharacteristically complied, perhaps storing up the aggression for later. The L.E.G.I.O.N.naires exited the ship, to find themselves greeted by a Thanagarian policewoman of great poise and icy demeanor.
“Welcome to Thanagar,” she said with transparent insincerity, “I am Commander Sh’ri Valkyr, and I shall be leading the squad that is to be escorting you throughout your mission on our planet.” She paused. “Let us not fool ourselves, your organization has a bad reputation, and I must emphasize that if you live up to it, I shall make all of you regret it...painfully.”
“We’re not here to cause any problems.” said Captain Comet in his most diplomatic tones as Stealth rolled her eyes. “We just need to apprehend and interrogate some fugitives from our system who have valuable intel...”
Valkyr cut him off. “Yes, I know. Some stragglers from your recent battle against Ig’nea’s forces. Very well, we have located them already. Let us proceed to their location.”
“That legendary Thanagarian efficiency, huh?” said a smirking Stealth.
“You could learn a considerable amount from us.” replied Valkyr smugly.
“Fat chance of that.” sighed Telepath. “Can we please just get this over with?”
“Gladly.” said Valkyr. “The sooner you are all off-planet, the better.”
The lower levels of Thanagar were an urban jungle of disturbing and distressing sounds, sights, and smells. It was here that the fugitives had been located – hiding out in a dark and humid dive bar.
Yatini, Electrix, Kromar, and Charron were stoic when Valkyr and her unit entered, but couldn’t hide their surprise when the four L.E.G.I.O.N.naires followed them inside.
“L.E.G.I.O.N., here on Thanagar!” exclaimed Yatini. “How can Dox be so stupid?”
“Desperation.” replied Electrix dryly. “It does bad things to people.”
“We need a diversion so we can sneak out the back door.” commanded Yatini.
“Say no more.” responded Electrix.
And with a flick of Electrix’s wrist, all of the electric systems in the bar short-circuited, leaving everyone in the dark.
“Why exactly didn’t we bring Lydea with us?” inquired Telepath as panic and drunken aggression combined to create a free-for-all in the bar.
“Little Miss Perfect had a manicure scheduled, apparently.” sneered Stealth as she dived into the fray.
“Everybody, just shut up and fight.” snarled Lobo.
“We were prepared for such an eventuality.” said Valkyr serenely, something which the fugitives discovered when a squad of Valkyr’s Thanagarian wingmen ambushed them. Caught off-guard, the fugitives surrendered as the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires came through the back door to confront them.
“All right.” said Captain Comet. “Telepath, do your stuff so we can get back to Cairn.”
Telepath began attempting to mind-read the prisoners, in order to discover the location of Ig’nea. Both the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires and the fugitives knew that Ig’nea had programmed them all to spontaneously combust if they revealed her location of their own free will.
But Telepath was getting psionic static, and he knew it could only be coming from Yatini. “Lobo,” said Telepath, “please get her out of range.”
“Only cuz ya asked so nicely.” snickered Lobo as he led Yatini away. “C’mon, babe, let’s blow this pop stand. I can show ya a real good time...”
“I think I’d like that.” replied Yatini, stroking Lobo’s face. “In fact, I’d like nothing more than...to get into you...”
Before Lobo knew what was happening, Yatini had taken over his mind. Seconds later, just as Telepath began to make headway into mind-reading the other fugitives, Lobo approached, running and roaring insanely, disrupting Telepath’s concentration and confusing everyone else.
Lobo began spinning around his chains with the deadly hooks on them, slashing through the Thanagarian wingmen’s armor. Valkyr screamed incoherently as she responded by blasting Lobo point-blank in the chest.
“I am already aware he will heal...unfortunately.” hissed Valkyr. “But that is more than can be said for my men.” She looked Captain Comet in the eye. “I swear by the Seven Hells, L.E.G.I.O.N. shall pay for this! EVERYONE is under arrest!”
Before the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires could respond, they were divebombed ferociously by reinforcement wingmen and quickly subdued. The L.E.G.I.O.N.naires would now be joining the fugitives – except for Yatini, who had escaped in the melee – as Thanagar’s prisoners.
Vril Dox, leader of L.E.G.I.O.N., was accustomed to feeling in control of any situation he found himself in. Which was why the sheer tenaciouness of Sh’ri Valkyr was chipping away at his supercilious facade.
“Execution without trial,” he spluttered at the monitor screen on which Sh’ri Valkyr appeared, “that’s...that’s...illogical!”
“That is the way of Thanagar.” replied Valkyr. “Your associates must be made an example of.”
“You realize,” said Dox, “that you’re forcing my hand.”
“If you attempt to interfere, you shall bring the full fury of my armada upon you.” hissed Valkyr.
“Fine!” barked Dox. “They’re all expendable anyway! Dox out!”
“You didn’t really mean that, did you?” inquired Garryn Bek, Dox’s glorified lapdog, once Valkyr had faded from the monitor.
“Don’t you have better things to do that question my decisions?” was Dox’s cold response. “Like maybe checking to see if the baby needs changing?”
Bek exited, pouting, while Dox sat pensively for a few minutes before activating the public address system.
“Darkstar, Phase, Hakk, and Borbb,” he said, “report to me on the double.”
Okay, Valkyr, thought Dox, we’ll play it on your terms. Let’s find out whose bark is worse than their bite.
Meanwhile, on Thanagar, Sh’ri Valkyr sat in her office, waiting patiently for the arrival of who she was expecting.
Two wingmen entered, saluting, bringing with them Yatini.
“That is all. Dismissed.” commanded Valkyr.
The wingmen exited, leaving Valkyr alone with Yatini. “You should not have tried to escape, my dear.” purred Valkyr.
“Why not?” asked Yatini calmly. “Especially when you’ll probably just...let me go anyway...”
“Do not try your mind games with me, darling. I am shielded against telepathic invasions. And do NOT interrupt me! Now, as I was saying, you should not have tried to escape, because I have very special plans for you and your cohorts. You see, no army is greater in non-superpowered combat than that of Thanagar. However, I have long held the belief that a special force of super-powered beings would be a great boon for us, rather than a hindrance, as my superiors have long believed. What do you say to that?”
“You do realize I’m the reason Lobo attacked your men?”
“Of course I do, you silly girl. They were expendable, despite any claims I made simply to keep up appearances of Thanagarian unity. I shall keep your secret between us, and once I have conquered Cairn and turned it into my personal throneworld, you and your cohorts shall be my elite guard. What do you say to that?”
“Count us in!”
“I knew you would see things my way.” Valkyr’s eyes seemed to glow menacingly as her face broke out into a wide grin.
posted
I love the plot so far, FL. And also the speed with which things are developing. This would make for an excellent story arc, much more so given how decompressed comics are today.
Sh'ri Valkyr is an interesting villain already, and I wasn't surprised when she revealed her plans to take over Cairn - no wonder she was being so unreasonable! Uhoh, would Darkstar and the others be walking into a trap? I am a bit surprised that she was so open with Yatini, though. Lots of potential for a double-cross here.
posted
Thank you for the feedback, IB. Glad you're enjoying and, yes, I'm all about COMPRESSION! That's what I learned from my hero, L.E.G.I.O.N. scribe supreme Alan Grant.
I can't take credit for Sh'ri Valkyr, though. She was created by Andy Diggle & Pascual Ferry and showcased in their awesome 2004-2005 Adam Strange mini-series. This isn't the same Valkyr, but a different universe's Valkyr, just as this is a different universe's L.E.G.I.O.N.
Keep the comments coming, folks.
THE CAIRN-THANAGAR WAR CHAPTER 3
“What a dump.” sighed Stealth
“Too down-and-dirty for you, princess?” sneered Lobo.
“I may be rough around the edges,” replied Stealth, “but a girl’s gotta have SOME standards.”
“Please,” begged Telepath, “stop the inane bantering. I’ve got a terrible headache as it is. The longer we stay on this planet, the more I get attuned to the ugliness of the thoughts behind all this repression and conformity!”
“If we could bust outta here,” said Lobo, “I’d frag ‘em all so’s their thoughts wouldn’t bother you anymore.”
“And yet,” interjected Captain Comet, “you insist that you didn’t mean to kill those wingmen.”
“I dunno how many times I gotta tell ya, Cap’n Vomit, it was that mind-witch Yatini!”
“I’d watch my tongue if I were you.” said Yatini, who was standing outside the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires’ cell alongside Electrix, Kromar, and Charron.
“We’re offering you a choice,” said Electrix, “either you let Yatini fry your minds or I fry your bodies...extra-crispy.”
“What, you’re working for the Thanagarians now?” screamed Captain Comet.
“Well, duh!” mumbled Stealth, rolling her eyes.
“Time’s up.” said Yatini. “We’ve made your decision for you. Say goodbye to your free will.”
**********
Moments later, Lydea “Darkstar” Mallor, Phase, Amon Hakk, and Borb Borbb were forcing their way into the Thanagarian prison. Darkstar’s powerful shadow-bolts and Hakk’s mighty fists made mincemeat of the guards, while Borbb kept the nearest wingmen confused by teleporting to random locations each time they targeted him, and Phase’s intangibility made her invulnerable to any kind of attack.
Finally, Phase reached her fellow L.E.G.I.O.N.naires’ cell, only to find them already free, with the quartet of space-mercenaries unconscious.
“How...?” began Phase.
“Psionic feedback.” explained Telepath. “When Yatini tried to take over my mind, I turned her powers against her.”
“I took care ‘o the rest.” grinned Lobo.
“Fine.” said Phase. “Let’s get out of here while we still can.”
*******
Shortly, the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires and their prisoners arrived at their headquarters on Cairn. Dox received them as warmly as he could, that is to say, in a completely undemonstrative fashion.
“I trust you didn’t hold back against those damned Thanagarians?” inquired Dox.
“By all the ancestors,” exclaimed Lydea, “you know us better than that!”
“That’ll teach them.” smiled Dox. “Just one thing – why bring the prisoners here instead of just extracting the information and leaving them to rot on Thanagar?”
“Good question.” said Stealth. “I think you’ll get a kick out of the answer.”
“More like a CHARGE!” replied Electrix, zapping Dox with all the electric power she could muster.
Yatini strode confidently over to the monitor in Dox’s office, intentionally stepping on Dox’s prone, badly burnt body along the way. She contacted Sh’ri Valkyr.
“Yatini to Commander Valkyr. Operation Trojan Horse was a resounding success.” she gloated. “We put Dox’s second squad under my telepathic control en route to Cairn. Only a few more of his elite guard remain, and we’ll have them subdued shortly.”
“Excellent.” replied Valkyr. “Then all that remains is for my fleet and I to...ATTACK!”
And at Valkyr’s command, her rogue Thanagarian armada descended upon Cairn like a plague of locusts.
posted
Apologies to IB and everyone else who is following this story for the delays on Chapter 4. I promise it will be finished and posted before the end of this weekend.
The sight of hundreds of Thanagarian battle cruisers strafing the surface and thousands of wingmen shock troopers swarming the high-rises would not be quickly forgotten by the inhabitants of Cairn...at least those who survived the brutal attacks.
And what of Cairn’s resident intergalactic police force, the L.E.G.I.O.N.? With their leader, Vril Dox, out of commission, and more than half the team under the mental control of Yatini, the situation at L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters could be charitably described as fraught.
Outside, the most powerful L.E.G.I.O.N.naire, Lady Quark, was using the full extent of her nuclear powers to keep the wingmen from breaching the headquarters. Easier said that done, because for every one she vaporized, two more took its place. The ground-to-air cannons barely provided enough backup, and they had to concentrate on the battle cruisers.
Inside, the L.E.G.I.O.N.naires who still had free will fought a losing battle against their possessed teammates. First to fall, predictably, were the non-superpowered Garryn and Marij’n. Zena Moonstruk managed to temporarily blind Lobo with a flash of light, but was struck down by Lydea Mallor’s shadow bolts. Bertron Diib was helpless against Borb Borbb’s teleportation powers, just as Strata’s considerable strength was outmatched against Phase’s combination of cunning and intangibility. Yatini, watching from the sidelines, cackled at the spectacle she was orchestrating. “Shake off her control, Amon. I know you can do it.” pleaded Davroth Catto to his Khundian friend-turned-aggressor. But his words fell on deaf ears, and Amon pummeled him savagely.
Above, Thanagarian commander Sh’ri Valkyr contemplated the sordid battle scene and decided it was time for her mothership to move in and get Lady Quark out of the way.
“Lieutenant, is the particle beam cannon charged?” inquired Valkyr.
“Affirmative, commander.” replied the Lieutenant.
“Then fire upon the nuclear woman.”
This they did, and Lady Quark was stunned unconscious by the particle beam. She spiraled to the surface, the impact creating a low-level nuclear explosion which nonetheless shook the foundations of the surrounding buildings, including L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters.
“Now,” ordered Valkyr, “disable their remaining defenses and breach the headquarters!”
Valkyr’s commands were carried out with ruthless efficiency. The wingmen stormed the headquarters building, barging inside through every possible entrance and massacring the L.E.G.I.O.N. troopers inside.
The mothership came in for a landing not far from the fiery remains of L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters. Valkyr strutted out and entered the building, flanked on all sides by wingmen. She entered the main control center and activated the intergalactic address system. Her message would be transmitted all over the galaxy, translated instantly to billions of different languages.
But in any language, her message was clear and to the point: “A new era in galactic peacekeeping dawns.” she said. “Soon the entire cosmos will fall under the iron fist of Sh’ri Valkyr. But first...it is time to settle scores with my homeworld, Thanagar!”
posted
I'm really enjoying this. Seems pretty bleak for our heroes. Poor Telepath always *did* seem to screw up a lot, didn't he? And I never did like those fascist Thanagarians...
Nice to see the L.E.G.I.O.Nnaires and the R.E.C.R.U.I.T.S in a story set before the sries took a turn for the worst.
I hope Bek and Marij'n get a chance to shine!
-------------------- "are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over- an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist."
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