The ship spun around in a sick variation of a barrel roll. Sparks exploded out from the controls showering the small cockpit with the heated electricity.
The Martian Manhunter shielded his face and re-examined the console. It was destroyed almost beyond recognition. Kantar Ro had done a superb sabotage job. The Martian tried the emergency stop once more causing yet another burst of sparks.
The small ship continued its death spiral like a wounded bird. Phobos loomed closer and closer, the moon filling the shuttle’s view screen. The irregular shaped red satellite was mere minutes away. Soon the craft would bury itself in the surface at several dozen miles per second. As tough as he was, even the Emerald Investigator would be atomized by the resulting explosion.
“I’ve got you this time, Manhunter!” a cackling voice cheerfully boasted over the ship-to-ship communicator. “You fell for my ruse perfectly!”*
* (see last issue -jes.)
“We shall see,” Th’Ozz Tang said calmly. He checked the escape pods. Both had been ejected. He moved over to the engine controls. The emergency stop was dangling limply by a small fiber optic cable. He sighed.
“You were a good opponent while you lasted, Manhunter,” the pink skinned alien said from the safety of his personal transport. He picked up a Rannian diamond and let the glowing yellow gem roll about his hand. “But even you could not defeat my superior intellect. Not your fault really. As Martian as you were you were still part human. That was your downfall.”
Tang smiled. “I’m not dead yet,” he said into the com. The inertial dampeners were still on, the force field preventing his escape by phasing.
“Soon enough,” Kantar Ro said, grinning. He loved the way the gem became even more yellow the closer it was to his canary coloured eyes. And he had a cargo hold full of the precious rocks. They would fetch a mint on the black market. He could buy a small planetoid and a harem or Orion slave girls and retire in luxury.
Ro put down the gem and adjusted his view screen. He laughed gleefully as the ship collided with the uninhabited rock. The ship’s reactor flamed briefly as the tiny amount of oxygen in the ship was consumed then the lightless blast of force spread out across the moon - a faint ripple spreading outward. Not as devastating as it would have been on a sphere with an atmosphere, there was no real shockwave, just a scattering of debris.
Of course with no atmosphere and minimal gravity the shrapnel would rocket away from the crash forever. Ro smiled at the thought of the final remains of his hated enemy radiating gradually outward across the galaxy. Little pieces everywhere.
Ro poured himself a brandy and raised the glass. “It was fun while it lasted old foe. I almost miss you.”
“I know the feeling, old chum,” Th’Ozz said from behind. Ro spun around in shock, dropping his glass. “I feel the same way every time I lock you away.”
Ro jumped to his feet and reached for his blaster. “How?! I saw the ship crash.”
Tang raised his hand and telekinetically lifted the pink smuggler off the floor. “I wasn’t on it. I squeezed out through the garbage exhaust.”
“Curse you,” Ro muttered, straining to move his arm. It was no use against the invisible force.
“No, curse you. When was the last time you cleaned the garbage chute? I’ll reek for a week.”
Helen Tang whistled an ancient ditty while she polished the good silver ware. The Z’Orzzs were coming over later and they always expected the best.
“Hi, honey, I’m home.” A voice said behind her. She grinned and let the fork fall. Still smiling, she turned around and hopped into her husband’s arms.
“About time you got back. I was beginning to think I’d have to have you declared legally dead and find myself a nice young male concubine,” she said playfully.
Th’Ozz smiled. “You still could. There’s this nice azurette TA who’s been giving me the eye lately. I mean with you getting some action on the side…”
Helen scowled humorously and smacked her husband across the back of her head. “Oh, you’re just itching for the couch tonight. How did the rescue go?”
Th’Ozz shrugged. “It didn’t. It was just Kantar Ro crying wolf as usual.”
Helen frowned. “Kantar? I thought he was locked up on Earth after that failed theft in Neo-Tokyo*.”
* (see Martian Manhunter #9, 981 -jes.)
“Looks like he escaped again. Or something. Tarkas knows he’s done it enough before.”
Helen smiled. “Well another evil scheme would explain your new odor. But nevertheless, I am glad you are back, my husband. Have you… given any more thought to what we discussed?”
Th’Ozz smiled. “Patient as ever. I haven’t even had time to sit down yet.” He moved towards his chair and lowered himself in.
“Well?” Helen said sitting down beside him. “Evasive as ever.”
Th’Onn smile took on an edge of faint sadness. “Yes… I… you know my feelings on the subject.”
Helen nodded and lowered her head. “I know. Ever since you lost your first wife* you’ve been hesitant to think about a family. But things are different now. When I brought up having children** I thought… you might like the idea.” Helen smiled slightly, her green cheeks blushing slightly.
* (way back in issue # 9, 875, slain by the villainous Vandal Savage -jes.)
** (in issue #9, 997 -overworked jes.)
Th’Ozz leaned over and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face then leaned forward and kissed her. “I just need a little time to think about it, my wife.”
“I do love you,” she said, taking his hand into hers
“And I love you more.”
Their hands melted together slowly as they stared into each other’s eyes. Then Th’Ozz’s head snapped to the side.
“What is it?” Helen asked. “Trouble?”
“Several hundred screaming and frightened people calling for help. Emotions so strong they’re almost solid, I can see the near-panic. You know, the usual.”
Helen stood up and kissed her husband on the forehead. “I’ll tell the Z’Orzzs something. Staying late to grade term papers maybe.”
“Maybe,” Th’Ozz said as his hair sunk into his head, giving him a bald appearance while his muscles revealed themselves. “Hopefully this won’t take too long. See you soon.”
“I pray so my husband. Go save some lives.”
Th’Ozz waved as he turned invisible and flew out the roof towards the disturbance.
Helen sighed. He really needed a sidekick to do some of the grunt work.
The Forte district was normally a quiet place on Mars. Mostly businesses and heavily policed. It was also one of the cities dominated by regular human colonists and not genetic crossbreeds. The architecture hinted strongly of the third planet with the standard skyscrapers and towers. Parks with imported human flora decorated the streets. It was a beautiful city, a green oasis on the red planet. If a little overpriced from all the tourists. Normally as serene and peaceful as the vaunted parks.
Today however was different.
The explosion sent police transports flying in all directions as their makeshift barricade gave way. Another explosion tossed the officers limply through their air. Only their emergency force field belts saved them from death.
“Flee, pitiful humans. Flee before my might,” a calm voice called out, squeezing the trigger of his cannon again. The muzzle flared brightly and the side of a building exploded outward.
Protex strode forward shifting his grip on his two stolen weapons, each the size of a small bazooka. He had paid a quick trip to a military arms repository and stolen as much of a high tech arsenal a shape-shifting telepath could get away with. He was having fun.
The pale Martian took aim at another building and blasted a hole through it. He couldn’t remember the last time he had experienced such pleasure, it must have been well before his resurrection*.
* (Protex returned in Aquaman #9,999&10,000. His body was destroyed way back in Martian Manhunter #2,450! -jes.)
“Run, you human flesh-bags. Run, you pathetic pink meat sacks,” Protex said, thumbing his gun up to the medium setting and aiming at the fleeing civilians and tourists.
“Don’t you think that’s a touch of overkill?” the Martian Manhunter said dropping from the sky to land in front of the hostile invader.
“Not really,” Protex said shooting the Manhunter in the face. The blast blew the hero backwards through three buildings as the muzzle blast alone vaporized all the debris around Protex. Th’Ozz crashed through the final structure, imbedding himself into the foundation and shattering the structure.
Th’Ozz shook his head and looked up. The building teetered slightly and began to lean, the emergency force fields struggling to keep it upright. Th’Ozz leapt to his feet and braced himself against the ground heaving the building upright. He focused his mind around the tower pushing and stabilizing the towering structure. The windows exploded outward as the frame slightly warped. The people fled to the emergency escape pods or leapt out of the windows and used anti-grav belts to slow their fall.
Th’Ozz grunted and straightened. The building followed suit and the emergency field finally kicked in holding the tower in its place. The Manhunter dusted himself off.
“That was less than pleasant,” he muttered flying off towards his assailant.
Protex spun to the side and fired a few potshots at the speeding hero. “Ugh,” he grunted. “I’m out of practice with a meat body. My aim is crap.”
The Manhunter hit him at Mach 2 and drove him ten meters into the ground. Protex hefted up a ruined cannon and cracked the Manhunter across the face with the reinforced weapon. Th’Ozz’s head snapped to the side from the sudden blow and he staggered backwards. Protex hefted his makeshift club again and took a swing. The blow knocked Th’Ozz out of the crater.
Protex gently flew out of the hole and looked for his enemy. “Just a guess but from your costume I would say you are the Martian Manhunter. Strange you have not recognized me, J’Onn. Has it been that long?”
Th’Ozz stood up slowly. “J’Onn?” he asked quizzically. “You have me confused with another Manhunter.”
Protex frowned. “Ah. He is no more. A pity. I so looked forward to killing him myself. I suppose you will do.”
Th’Ozz smiled. “He’s still alive. Just on vacation. I’m subbing in for a few decades.” The Manhunter shot forward at Protex. The pale Martian went intangible and let the hero pass through. Protex’s face switched sides and his body reversed itself in a split second. His hand lashed out and caught the hero’s leg. Protex swung around and slammed Th’Ozz against the ground.
Th’Ozz’s leg became narrow and slipped between Protex’s fingers. Instantly resuming its shape, Th’Ozz kicked Protex in the head. The pale Martian staggered backwards. Th’Ozz leapt to his feet and let out a quick telekinetic blast that sent the injured foe flying into an evacuated store.
Protex jumped up and avoided another invisible force blast that tore a hole through the store. “Impressive.”
“Thank you,” the Manhunter said wiping a faint blood trail from his mouth. “Who exactly are you?”
“Protex. Last of the pale Martians.”
Th’Ozz nodded. That was what he needed to know.
Several dozen miles away the titanic volcano Nix Olympica rose far up into the sky stopping well beyond the tops of the clouds. Over five hundred kilometers in diameter and twenty tall it was two hundred km wider and twice as tall as the biggest on Earth.
And deep inside the mouth of the volcano lay The Sanctuary, secret base to the Manhunter of Mars.
Inside the shielded and cloaked structure the main computer hummed to life at the telepathic signal of its master.
~M’yri’ah~ Th’Ozz though to the AI.
~Yes?~ the artificial but living sounding telepathic voice replied.
~Access all data regarding a ‘Protex’ and ‘pale Martians’ and send it into me. Cross-reference with the original Martian Manhunter.~
Protex flew forward, spotting the Manhunter’s momentary distraction letting loose a quick blast of Martian-vision. The energy blast knocked Th’Ozz backwards giving Protex time to build up speed and strike.
The pale foe’s fist struck with enough force to shatter steel walls. Th’Ozz flew backwards grinding a long trench along the ground. Protex flew up then shot down at the stunned hero slamming both knees into his chest. The ground splintered and exploded into a heavy dust plume that choked the air. Th’Ozz rolled to the side and backhanded Protex away.
M’yri’ah finished sending the information to Th’Ozz. He wiped the gathering sweat from his brow and gathered his thoughts. ‘A dead Martian come back to life. I haven’t heard of a disembodied Martian soul since the 21st century!*’ he thought. ‘Not since the Scourge, really.’
* (see Martian Manhunter #57 -jes.)
“You are a worthy opponent,” Protex said growing replacement front teeth. “Join me and we will recreate the golden age of Mars.”
Th’Ozz shook his head. “Your time has passed, Protex. The time of fighting between the children of Sol is over.”
“It will never be over as long as the Terrans rule!” Protex spat, rushing forward. The Manhunter deflected him with a TK field. Protex phased through the ground and flew up striking Th’Ozz with an uppercut. Th’Ozz rolled with the blow and kicked Protex in the side and combo-ed with telepathic assault.
Protex gritted his teeth and forced his mental defenses to their limits blocking out the green Martian. He dived forward and clawed Th’Ozz across the face and spun around whipping his tail hard against his foe.
Th’Ozz fell backwards attempting vainly to parry the blow. Taking to the air he let loose a half dozen quick psychic blasts. Protex dodged quickly to the side like flowing quicksilver.
“There are no more pale Martians for a reason,” Th’Ozz said quickly. “There is no real difference between green and white other than philosophy. You choose to be different, to be aggressive. Don’t.”
“I have no choice,” Protex spat out flying after Th’Ozz. “I was born to rule, born to kill.”
“Then I have no choice either,” Th’Ozz said. He knew the differences between he and Protex were more than just outlook. As part human Th’Ozz had different strengths, greater psyching powers such as telekinesis. And pyrokinesis. He also lacked the psychosomatic weakness that only burdens pureblooded Martians.
Protex flew closer snarling. Th’Ozz raised his hand and the sky burned. Flame came from nowhere as mental energy sent the oxygen molecules into a frenzy. Protex’s eyes snapped open wide as the image of the fire shot through his brain. His mind became chaos in the burning and he quickly lost all control. Concentration shot. Focus gone. Protex limply fell from the sky.
Th’Ozz surrounded Protex in a ring of fire as the Manhunter flew down sadly watching his foe twitching wildly.
“For what it is worth, I am truly sorry,” he said. Protex did not respond except with a faint moan.
“I am truly sorry.”
Th’Ozz rolled his eyes. “Don’t be sorry. Just do not do it again.” he scolded the young hero.
Atlan shrugged. The pair floated in a sea of lights and colours. Stray thoughts drifted past and the occasional random concept. The Astral plane was a place for telepaths to meet without moving. As good a place as any to chew Aquaman out.
“I thought after six hundred years without a body he deserved a second chance.”
Th’Ozz smiled. “You think everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Everyone does,” Atlan chided with a grin.
“Just next time you send a hostile individual to my planet warn me. At least a few seconds in advance. They guy did tear through some Earth city too.”
“He was desperate. Looking for his flesh. It was understandable.”
“Of course it was,” Th’Ozz said. “So still up for our poker game this weekend?”
“Have I missed one yet?”
Th’Ozz smiled and broke the mental connection to Earth. He stood up and stretched working out the kinks from the battle.
“So his weakness was fire? How lame is that?” Helen said from the kitchen.
Th’Ozz shrugged. “Who would have guessed? Good thing M’yri’ah has records that old.”
Helen joined her partner in the living room with a small tray of leftovers. “Bob and F’lennin Z’Orzz were sorry to have missed you. They hoped the grading went well.”
Th’Ozz scratched a cut. “As well as could be expected. I just better get out the medi-kit unless I want to show up for class tomorrow looking like a used pińata.”
Helen sat down beside her husband. “Do you have to go to work tomorrow? Couldn’t you call in sick?”
“I’m fine. Or will be in a few hours. Why stay?” he smiled and took a large bite of the salad.
Helen just took her husband’s hand and rested it on her belly. She looked up and smiled happily.
Th’Ozz choked for a full minute.
The End...
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