31st December 2012
21:23 GMT +2
Kahndaq's border is not as well defined as it used to be.
The Sheeda were here for resources, not to fight duels against our greatest warriors unless there was a strategic psychological advantage in doing so. With Adom, Adrianna and Amon all perfectly capable of detecting them regardless of their stealth abilities, they prioritised softer targets. Their neighbours. Refugees fled for safety, the neighbouring nations collapsed, and while some have achieved a
degree of self-governance it's pretty clear that they're taking their leads from Adom.
Point is, between the security he brings and the regreening that Adrianna brings, everyone around here likes him.
Except the giant mutant insectoids currently fighting the Kahndaqi army. They're about fifty metres tall each, and tough enough that small arms are doing nothing to their exoskeletons.
"I feel the Power of Atum. He is shielding them with his spirit.
"
"Okay.
" I generate railgun constructs and open fire, green chitin exploding wherever my shots hit home. I get a brief cheer from the soldiers I just relieved before they jog off to the next crisis point.
"Can-?
"
"Insectoids. Highfather told me about them.
Apokolips once used them to invade New Genesis."
I target the legs of one about to level an apartment block, blood erupting from the new holes in its left knee a moment later. It collapses sideways into the street with an ear-piercing screech, and I take a moment to shoot out its other leg as well.
"Get down there, see if you can interrupt their control. I'd rather they have free will than be slaves of the Anti-Life.
"
"They're
creatures of Anti-Life. It's an intrinsic part of their existence."
"Then they die, but at least they die free.
"
Not a statement I'd believe if I was less secure in my own post-mortem arrangements, but it sounds uplifting. And it should-.
"I know you don't believe that."
"But I do."
"Alright, but-.
"
And he's gone, flying towards the giant who is weakly trying to pull itself down the street towards the people firing anti-tank rockets at its head.
"Zauriel, can you fly under your own power?
"
He spreads his wings, weakly flapping to rise off my construct. "I will suffice. I will put these benighted beasts out of their misery."
He swoops off, heading north towards Cairo at speed, echoes of his song reaching us a few moments later.
"Good. Doctor-?
"
He radiates gold-white for a moment, then a wave of similarly-coloured energy shooting across the landscape.
"Doctor?
"
"There. That will fortify Teth Adom's efforts. I am-.
" He stumbles, and I have to use constructs to prop him up.
"I am afraid thet… My power is being disrupted by this… Mannheim's work.
"
"Is the white light-?
"
"No. If he were thet strong-.
"
I nod.
"We wouldn't be talking. But I don't understand why I'm not being affected.
"
"Your soul is unnatural and made for the most part of a universal force. I think thet Mannheim is using the Earth's magic to spread the Anti-Life. To effect you, he would hev to spread it in person.
"
I nod, taking a few more shots with my railguns.
"Good to know.
"
"Thet is what I think based on what I know
now. I could be wrong.
"
"I'll bear that in mind.
"
I fly us upwards, railguns continuing to fire until every insectoid in Beni Suef has fallen to the ground. I can see squads armed with rockets providing cover for demolition teams, who run closer in order to plant shaped charges on the weak points of their carapaces in order to finish them off.
"Orange Lantern to Teth Adom.
" No, no, I doubt that he's got a phone on him or the time to answer one if he did.
"Orange Lantern to Falil.
"
Who might well not have time to answer, and who might well be dead at this point, but is probably-.
"Orange Lantern? What-? What is going on? We-?"
"Apokolips is using a proxy to attack Earth. Everyone's getting low-level Anti-Life infection. Don't know where the insects are coming from.
"
I get a clear look at Shiruta, where tanks and attack planes are firing on the assaulting insects. Retarget railguns and
fire.
"Where's Adom?
"
"In his temple. It is-. It is taking all that he has-"
A highly localised lightning storm forms around an insectoid that had penetrated far into the city, the air and water inside briefly turning to plasma. It dissipates a moment later, the insectoid's head and upper shoulders having been entirely vaporised.
Nice to see that Adrianna's getting on so well with the Amulet of Isis. Didn't know it could do plasma.
"-to shield the rest of us. I was-. We were all affected when it first-. First happened. I don't know how Osiris survived-."
A monster insect emerges from the ocean and receives a craniotomy for its efforts as jets scream by.
"Can he keep it up?
"
"He… Said that he could. He has not faltered since, and does not appear to have weakened."
"And Osiris?
"
"His power comes from.. Adom. He-."
"Understood.
"
So Adrianna is pulling solo duty here. Explains why the attack is still going on. No disrespect intended, but she's nothing like as aggressive as her husband and brother and her powers don't increase her strength or resilience all that much. And she'll have to stay to keep the country safe. So what can I-?
"Can Adom speak, or does he need to focus completely?
"
"He can speak. His is monitoring our armed forces at the moment. Do you need to speak with him?"
"I need to see if he can tutor Captain Marvel to do what he's doing. I
think that the person doing this is in America. If we can free the rest of the country-.
"
"I will put you through at once."
I suspect he's going to be playing a very important part in things to come, if only by acting in his capacities of a Lord of both Order and Chaos...
