Legion of Superheroes

Celeste Rockfish worked for the biggest broadcast station on Earth: the Daily Planet. She never won any awards, never got any recognitions, never made her mark. Today she plans on achieving at least one of those.

“Are you sure you really want to go through with this?” Kent Shakespeare asked her. They had been living together for more than three years now and Kent felt that he should at least say something about the situation.

“Yes,” Celeste replied, as she checked in the mirror if her lipstick was on evenly. She struggled to put up a brave face despite the fact that she could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest.

“I’m…” Kent searched for words to put what he had to say as unoffending as he could. “I’m not sure I could be there to protect you this time.”

Celeste walked towards Kent and caressed his face. She drew up as much courage as she could muster. “Someone has to do this,” she said as gloom fell on her face. “Your friends have been missing for sometime now. No one knows where they are or what happened to them.”

“Let someone else do it,” he begged her. “I don’t want to lose you too.”

“Who, Kent? I don’t know who to trust right now, and I don’t think I want to pass this burden to someone else. I have to speak my mind about the Daxamites. I know how much they have ruined Valor’s name.”

“Then I’ll be behind you,” he swore. “I’ll do what I can to keep them at bay. Just promise me, when worse comes to worse, run. Run and never look back!”

Luornu Durgo, like all her native Carggites, can split into three separate individuals, an ability which she found useful in serving her god, Valor. She kept the archives, gave tours to the occasional visitors and scheduled appointments for the church officials. She loved her job and she loved serving Valor. What she did not like was the Daxamites. She felt that their teachings were contrary to what Valor believed in. Being inside the church gave her an opportunity to observe how the Daxamites twisted Valor’s heroism to their needs. Some day, she vowed to herself, they will fall. And she prayed she would be instrumental to their downfall and that she would restore Valor’s good name.

“Luo? Are you okay there? You seemed spaced out,” Laurel Gand poked Luornu’s right shoulder.

“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking about how I could do the tour this afternoon a little differently. You know, today being a special day and all,” she replied.

“Don’t make it too different,” Laurel suggested. “You know how traditional those squaj upstairs are,” she lightly warned her friend.

“Do I ever,” Luorno replied. Soon, those squaj upstairs won’t matter anymore, she thought.

RJ Brande lost his fortune when the Daxamites established their church on Earth. He nearly depleted his resources trying to use everything in his power to get them off-planet, but to no avail. He was one of the few who saw the Daxamite for what they truly were, but nobody believed him. Now, five years later, they saw the truth in his words, but it was too late for that now. Revolution after revolution were waged but nothing was ever successful.

“If I could be bold, RJ,” Marla whispered.

“You always have been, old friend,” RJ replied in an equally hushed tone.

“I think this constitutes a poorly thought of plan,” he said under his breath. Both men were not as fit as they wish to be.

“I know, but we really have to find a way to get inside that church. The proof we are looking for is in sub-basement 3. That’s what my source inside said, anyway; he even drew a map for us.”

“I saw the map, but are you sure that this is safe?” Marla stressed.

“Yes. My insider said that this is the least used path.”

“Your insider lied,” said a voice ahead both men.

“Doyle?” RJ could hardly speak the name.

“Never expected a double cross, old man?” he replied as a wide mischievous grin crossed his face. His mind was imagining multiple ways to inflict pain on the upstart who had done nothing but spread lies about the Daxamites since they landed on Earth.

“But… why?” was all RJ could say. He was gripped with so much disbelief that his trust was so misplaced.

“I believe in the Daxamites. That’s all you need to know.”

That was the last RJ heard, as he felt something heavy hit him across his temple and the world started to spin and the darkness took him.

Querl Dox had been given the title of Brainiac. In the entire history of Colu, he would be the fifth to hold such distinction. An individual who could maintain twelve separate thoughts simultaneously, one could say that his mind was always preoccupied.

Lyle Norg, on the other hand, was just smart in his own way. He excelled on the field of quantum biophysics and he held the distinction of the only off-worlder allowed to step foot on Colu for the past Millennium.

“This will never work.” Querl’s voice was tired and irritated.

“We are just missing something,” Lyle said as he looked at his Omnicon. “Something big…but I don’t know what it is…”

“Obviously,” Querl cut him off. “Otherwise we would have this damned thing up and running. We are well delayed; the others expected us to have this done by now. Almost a year of planning and tinkering has brought us nothing but failures.”

“But the last plan we had showed promise. I don’t know what went wrong.”

“Everything. Whoever thought that this would be a good idea? Not only do we need to get one done, but we need at least several of these and not even a prototype to show!” Querl hurled his Omnicom towards the wall, where it smashed loudly on impact.

“Fire is easy, but generating this much heat and energy is another thing,” Lyle admitted, ignoring the by-now familiar blowup. “But we can’t give up. Let’s see what we missed. Maybe if we study all the prototypes we have made so far, we will be able come up with a working model.”

“We better be,” Querl reached for a new Omnicom and started typing in some commands.

“We will,” Lyle smiled a little. “You’re the Brainiac, aren’t you?”

“Hey Celeste,” Devlin O’Ryan greeted her, “ready for that Valor Day Special?” Devlin worked with Celeste on the Planet. He had been her researcher and segment writer for the length of their time working together.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” Celeste replied almost inaudibly. Her thoughts were on what would happen after they aired the Holovid Special.

“Did you like my material?” Devlin asked eager for an approval, or some praise perhaps.

“Sorry Dev. I re-wrote everything.” Celeste replied, her voice devoid of any levity.

“You’re serious, aren’t you? And I poured my heart for that piece as well!”

“Really sorry. I wanted to run the story differently.”

Celeste walked towards the chair where she used to sit a thousand times before, but for the first time she felt like she was heading for a guillotine. “You’d best go home now Dev.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, not knowing what to make out of her suggestion.

“Just go. Go somewhere safe. I’m about to broadcast and I’m asking everyone to leave the building. I want automated broadcast. We can do that, can’t we?” she asked, then added without waiting for a reply, “Good then. Get everything rolling then tell everyone to get the grife out of here.”

Unsure of what to do, Devlin did what Celeste asked of him. Later he would recall that as he did what he was asked, it felt like serving someone their last request.

Celeste waited several minutes. She just sat there, as if she was praying, in silence. She knew the routine. This was not the first time she had to do a live show on full automation. There were times when the Planet was stretched too thin that she had to do everything. She knew which button to press for the camera, for the light, and for the background preset. None of these she planned on using. Today will be words…nd the power that they possessed.

“Greetings, Galaxy!” Celeste smiled to the camera as she greeted the holo-viewers. She had been hosting her own segments and several specials like this one, but today she felt like it was her first time. Her throat would seize up at times, her breath would speed up, and she would falter mid-sentence.

“Today we celebrate the heroism of Valor. The myth, the man and the monster he’s become,” she felt her heart skip a beat as she said that last word. “Who is Valor? The seeder of worlds? That is what most culture believes, from Aarok to Zoon, and every planet in between. We accept that as a fact when it had been nothing more than a glorified mythology. Valor had been nothing more than a hero. A hero this planet once boasted. He saved, protected and preserved lives. His heroism knew no bounds. His presence was salvation.”

Celeste drew in a lungful of air before continuing with her piece, “Nothing like…like the farce that call themselves the Church of Valor, who used Valor’s name to enslave planet after planet. They use religion to conquer worlds, not to help species. Where are the heroes now? No where to be seen. We do not need their beliefs. What we need are individuals who know what Valor stood for. We need heroes.”

Before Celeste could say anything else, she felt the floor gave way. A Daxamite stared at her and a burst of heat came forth. Kent was quick to shield her. “Run!” was all he was able to yell, as he rushed headlong towards the Daxamite. Celeste swore she felt the impact as the Daxamite’s fist hit Kent’s jaw. She prayed that he would be tough enough to survive it, though common sense told her that was impossible. She started to race towards the elevator when she heard a thunder close by and a strong vibration rushed towards her that knocked her off balance.

“That’s just me, clapping 20 feet away,” another Daxamite said as he floated towards her. “Just imagine how much it would feel if I did it up close. Or maybe we should try something else,” he smiled at the idea of his own sick sadism.

“The name’s Ol-vir, by the way. Remember that as your last breath leaves you,” he introduced himself as he grabbed the metal wall and ripped it apart. He shredded the wall with his bare hands with ease, like someone would a piece of paper. Celeste was petrified from where she lay. Her mind commanded her feet to move, but her body would not respond. Ol-vir flicked a strand of metal as small as a toothpick with his forefinger and it found its target. The metal hit Celeste on the right side of her chest and exited out her back. She felt blood rush and fill her lung and she started to cough blood. Ol-vir rushed and gave her a light tap across her face. A couple of her molars rolled on her tongue which she spat out. He gave her a poke on her rib and it cracked.

“That will teach you to lie,” he said.

“You are nothing but brutes!” Celeste gasped. “I did not lie. The truth is far worse than..” Before she could finish, she could feel the Daxamite’s rough hand around her neck.

Ol-vir’s face twisted, “I could just snap your neck and halt your lying tongue.” Celeste could not feel the floor beneath her. Her feet were kicking wildly in the air as she struggled for consciousness. “But making you suffer would be more pleasurable,” he said as he dropped her back to the floor. He stepped on her left knee, breaking her kneecap. Celeste gave an airy scream, which was barely audible even to herself.

Kent looked at Celeste’s direction, forgetting the peril he was in as well. That was all the opening the other Daxamite needed. He took the opportunity of Kent’s distraction and hit him squarely on the stomach. Kent was hurled across the room from the impact. As soon as he hit the floor, he rushed the Daxamite. He wanted to finish the fight right away. Celeste needed him. He gave a silent prayer for her to be all right until he got to her.

Ol-vir knelt beside Celeste as she withered in pain. “Such a pretty face, I admit, but your eyes see differently than the rest of the world. Maybe we can do something about that,” he said as he pressed his thumb on her right eye, pushing it inwards. Ol-vir gave a deep throaty laugh as he left her broken and bleeding and made his way to where Kent and the other Daxamite were.

“This one giving you trouble still?” Ol-vir asked. “Maybe I should have taken him on instead of his dead girlfriend there. She was not much of a challenge.”

After hearing this, all the fight left Kent. He looked at where Celeste was. She was not moving and was lying in a pool of her blood. Kent dropped to his knees defeated as he accepted blow after blow from the two Daxamites. “Celeste,” he whispered as he drifted out of consciousness.

Luo looked out the window at the small crowd of worshipers who were slowly gathering. Sheep, she thought. Sheep who would believe in what a stronger will commands them to. She despised their false sense of devotion. They worshiped Valor in all the wrong ways and reasons. They let the Daxamites lead them falsely.

“I’m so excited.” Laurel clapped her hands in elation as she looked out the window and saw the same crowd.

Yeah, excited to lead the lambs to the slaughter, Luo thought then said, “I’m so happy that we are able to spread Valor’s teaching.”

“Me too! Who would believe that such a back-water planet would see Valor as we do?”

“This back-water planet is where Valor first manifested his godhood,” Luo reminded her.

“I know,” Laurel replied dreamily, like she imagined Valor at his prime. “Isn’t the yellow sun such a blessing?”

“I don’t know,” Luo replied. “We’ve always had that kind from where I’m from.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Laurel pondered. “We have a red one from where I’m from. It was the great Valor who first harnessed the powers of the yellow sun and led the way for Daxam superiority. And he never bothered to wear transuits to protect himself from lead,” she finished as she pulled a transparent fabric that clung to her body like a saran wrap.

Luo cringed at Laurel’s words but decided to shake it off. She could not give herself away. Not today. Not when the salvation of Valor’s good name was close at hand. She kept her silence, which Laurel seemed to take as a sign of her agreement.

“Do you think any more will show up?” Laurel asked, changing the subject.

“Of course; Valor is such an inspiration that his deeds touched a lot of lives,” Luo said flatly as she gave a weak smile. If any of these idiots want to keep their lives, they’d better be here, she thought. Ever since the Daxamites took control of Earth’s government some three years back, the Church of Valor had been the mandatory religion for every citizen. All other religions were banned; preaching and teaching of other beliefs were dealt with severely. Death was the only punishment for the heretics.

“I still think it’s wonderful that Earth’s populace embraced Valor’s righteousness.”

Luo wanted to bang her head against something hard. She could not stand another moment of Laurel’s naïveté. But then, she did not grow up on Daxam where a twisted version of Valor’s triumphs was widely taught.

“What made you join the service, anyway?” Luo asked Laurel all of a sudden, partly to change the subject and partly out of curiosity.

“Well, since his last name was Gand and mine was too I thought that I should carry on his work. We could be related, for all I know. Distant cousins, probably.”

Sister, you are not even close to his principles, Luo thought. She was seething with anger inside, but managed a smile. “I’m sure you are,” she assured sarcastically, but her sarcasm escaped Laurel.

“Sister Laurel,” came a voice behind her. Laurel turned around and saw Arns. She gave a bow and Luo did as well.

“Praisemaster Arns,” Laurel greeted him. Luo said nothing.

“I trust that the preparation for today’s festivities is without trouble,” he inquired.

“All is as it should be, Praisemaster,” Luo assured him.

“Very well then. If you could kindly leave us Daxamites, I wish to discuss some matters with Sister Laurel,” Arns requested Luo.

“Very well, Praisemaster,” Luo replied and started to walk away from the two. Yeah, important matters like what hair hue products you both use to achieve the same shade as hers, which reminds people of the earth vegetable called potato, Luo thought. She felt discriminated by the way he emphasized the word Daxamites.

“I don’t trust that one,” Arns admitted to Laurel when he was sure that they were off Luo’s earshot.

“Luo?” Laurel asked incredulously. “She works the hardest among the non-Daxamite staffs here.”

“All the more to be wary of her.”

“Don’t you believe that she could share the same zeal we have for Lord Valor?”

“No non-Daxamite has ever showed such devotion. I repeat, be wary of her. I want you to monitor all her activities. Under the yellow sun we have been blessed as Valor was. I want you to use them to keep an eye on her, mostly today of all days.”

Laurel was taken quite aback by this. Not only about the suspicion he had for Luorno but how he seemed blasphemous by making Valor seem like their equal. But whatever she thought she kept to herself. She would be wary. She woud be keeping a close eye, that was right. But not just on Luorno. She believed that Arns need close surveillance as well.

“We will be leaving as soon as Ol-vir returns from his ‘morning exercise’, I’m sure the three of you can oversee our non-kinsmen’s activities today. The rites on Daxam take higher priority than this back-water planet’s celebration. If we leave early, we will arrive there in two cycles,” he said with a feeling of self-importance. Laurel imagined her eyes rolling.

RJ Brande felt warm water pouring on his face as he awoke.

“Refreshing, isn’t it?” chuckled Doyle, as Brande saw Doyle’s accomplice pulled up his pants. The other two joined Doyle in laughter.

“Marla?” Brande wiped his eyes which still stung from the urine.

“Quite dead, I would say.” Doyle pulled Brande’s hair and spun his head towards the direction where Marla hung. Marla looked like a fat scarecrow. His arms hung limply from the elbows down, where two metal tubes pinned him to a wall almost crucifix-like. Another pipe was forced in the middle of his chest. His clothes were drenched in his own dried blood. Brande cried out with all his might and started to charge at Doyle, but fell down as Doyle let go of his hair. His head was still floating from the blow he got. He tried to stand up, but his knees would not cooperate.

“Since you are the trouble maker Brande, you get to choose: a quick death or a slow painful one like Marla’s?” Doyle laughed again.

“You animal!” Brande laid in an almost fetal position, trying to gather up strength, but found none.

“Animal, you say?” Doyle smiled. “A quick painful one then.” He laughed harder than before. “You have no idea how much I’ve waited for this.”

“So did we,” said a voice from the shadow. The three men spun towards where the voice came from and suddenly found their hand rising up involuntarily.

“There you go, a quick and sudden surrender, I see,” said the voice.

“Show yourselves, you cowards!” Doyle screamed, trying to put his hands down, but it would seem his arms have a mind of its own.

“I think we’re in darkness, pal,” said another voice from the darkness. “Maybe if I shed some light, all will be well,” he added, as a jolt of electricity emitted from the shadows. The trio cried as they felt a volt of electricity rush through their bodies.

“Stop playing around,” a female voice from the shadow said. “I think they need their sleep.” And with that, the three fell to the ground unconscious.

“Who are you?” Brande strained his eyes to see who saved him, then looked at Marla. “By damn!” He cried out. “I never thought this would happen.”

“It was a strong possibility of late, sir,” said the first one as the group stepped out from the shadow. “My name is Rokk Krinn. These are my team mates Imra Ardeen and Garth Ranzz.”

“Are you all right, sir?” Imra asked. “Can you stand?”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel too well. By the gods, Marla!”

“We are truly sorry for your loss sir, but we’ll do our best to prevent more of this from happening,” Garth said.

“How? You are just children? What can you possibly do against the Daxamites?” RJ tried to stand up, but felt he could not, so he settled with sitting down after all. Rokk extended a hand to RJ to help him up if he wished to do so. Brande looked at Rokk’s arms and thought about the ancient mummies, only his arms were wrapped in some sort of thin metals.

“With all due respect sir, we’re more than children,” Rokk replied. “We’re the Legion…and we’re here to save the galaxy.”

To Be Continued...

Next Issue: We meet more Legionnaires! We learn why the three Legionnaires are on Earth. What RJ and the late Marla were sniffing around the Church of Valor, and the prophecy that could spell the doom for the galaxy.

Previous Issue | Next Issue