Crisis Revisited

 

Chapter 1

 

By

Jake H. and

Dylan Clearbrook

 

 

APRIL 17, 2001

9:00 AM

 

 

“What in hell is going on around here?” Zal turned to his companion, Legion, and asked.

 

“Superman, I really have no idea.”

 

They had just tried to contain the damage of Mount St. Helens from blowing her remaining top off. The volcano had been dormant since its massive explosion in the early 1980’s. Then suddenly, without warning, it went active and started blowing chunks of itself all around for miles.

 

With ears that could hear a cell divide, Zal picked up the transmission from New Independence. It was Dwayne, the twin brother of the man that stood next to him. The damage reports came in from all over. There was massive flooding in the Gulf of Mexico area. Ariel and Exodus had rushed to the Mississippi Delta to contain the worst of the flooding. There had been an earthquake in the Reelfoot Lake area, where in 1817 the greatest quake ever in North America had happened. This time the quake had peaked at 9.1 on the scale and now the Mississippi River was running backwards once again.

 

The citizens of their home city had begun to panic a bit and since they were on a main tributary of the river, Fate and Syren had their hands full trying to stem the tide of water now backing up and keeping the populace calm. There was also a forest fire that had unexpectedly erupted in the New Mexico region. Even though the resident Navajo Indians had managed to extinguish the flames, there were many that had been badly wounded, so Artemis and Paradox had gone out to give the people a hand.

 

On top of all this, some idiot in the prison decided that he would attempt an escape. Even though he was recaptured before he got out of the walls, it drove the rest of the populace into frenzy. Solitare had gone in and began shutting their powers down, just in case they got anymore hostile or something else went wrong.

 

“Damn. It sounds like this is going to be one of those days Zal.”

 

The young Kryptonian shook his head and sighed. “Yeah. Whatever is going on, it seems to be getting worse. I just hope we have…” His words trailed off as he looked towards the southeast.

 

Legion immediately turned and looked in the same direction. Seeing nothing, he held up his hands in a questioning manner. “What? What are you seeing that I can’t?”

 

“Over Colorado. There was what appeared to be a meteor entering the atmosphere.” He pondered why such a directed strike wasn’t intercepted by any of his family, but dismissed it for now.

Shocked that they were still standing there and not responding, Legion’s voice gained an edge of urgency. “Well, lets go! It will cause untold damage.”

 

Holding up a hand, Zal shook his head in denial. “It will be okay. My sisters and nieces will take care of it.”

 

“Really? I thought they were trying to rest after some ordeal with Doom?”

 

Zal looked back at the volcano, which was now much calmer, but still struggling. There would be another eruption, but it would not be as violent. “With this kind of stuff going on?”

 

“Point taken.”

 

The two friends took off, their course taking them back towards home. “Come on, I think Sherri could use our help.”

 

Legion had made some recent upgrades to his thrusters, so he turned on the speed and soon they were both going at Mach three in a high atmosphere trajectory. Even at this speed, it took then 45 minutes to get back, just in time to rapidly build some barriers to stem the tide of water backing up into the river valley. Joining their forces, Fate, Legion and Superman did everything possible to help prevent the loss of life.

 

Seeing three of their heroes working diligently to save them, the people were able to put aside their fears and prepare for the worst. In the middle of it all stood Syren and the Lord of New Independence, Peter Parker.

 

“I just heard from his majesty, Sara.” Peter said as she found him directing the waterproofing of their granaries. “I don’t think we have anything to fear from Luthor right now. It seems that the Canadian coast down to Virginia has been hit with a 200 foot tall tidal wave and a freak lightning storm about the size of New York State.”

 

“Ouch. At first I thought he was the cause of all this. I wonder if this is worldwide?” Sara wondered.

 

Peter nodded his head. “I would imagine so, but what in hell is causing it?”

 

Sara was about to give her opinion on the subject when they both heard a small beep emanate from her belt. Picking up the remote communicator, Sara responded. “What is it?”

 

“We seem to be getting a hail from someone claiming to be Superman’s surrogate father.”

Sara’s eyes went wide with confusion. “I didn’t think that he…” she stopped short when Peter laid a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

“It’s okay. I know who it is. We need to get Zal here right now cause this person doesn’t call unless something major is going on.”

 

 

OTHERVERSE

 

 

At Washington D.C., Lex Luthor had just barely been able to hold everything together. After the tidal wave hit just hours ago, that freak lightning storm had begun striking at core places inside of his empire. At first he thought that this was an invasion from the self-proclaimed S.U.S.A., but reports proved otherwise. They apparently had their own problems to deal with.

 

So, in response to what information he had, Lex called a gathering of minds to the nearly completed White House. He had summoned several magic-users, some of his most powerful metas, military commanders, and spies. With a troubled frown on his now immortal face, he listened as each man or group laid down a horrifying report of a world gone mad once again.

 

“Mr. President, when it comes to world events, this is what I have.” Lex’s foreign minister had stood up to give his report. “There seems to be some type of mystical force collecting itself around southern Britain, along with something unexplainable in Egypt. Seismic activity around Japan has increased substantially, and Mauna Kea’s activity has increased 20 fold. Even though they have that shield, Latveria has not escaped damage. I would estimate 10 percent losses to their population.”

 

In an unprecedented fashion, Lex held up a hand, silencing his minister. To everyone’s surprise, he took a deep breath and slowly blew it out in a worried fashion. “Is there anything that we can do to stem the tide of destruction?”

 

Shocked by the words they had never even dreamed of hearing, the minister spoke for all present. “But Mr. President, we thought you didn’t care what happened to the rest of the world?”

 

“What good is ruling a world that can’t support life you moron!?” Lex angrily shouted. All present including Mercy, Lex’s assistant jumped at his words. No one dared to answer him. “This is one of those times I must try and preserve the peace of the world. Our enemies are not doing this, and no natural cause can do such widely varying effects. My only conclusion is that perhaps there is a dimensional disturbance going on.”

 

After a brief pause, a young man wearing a Captains insignia of the military entered the room. The ministers and the other consultants paid him little attention, but Lex himself seemed very surprised at his presence.

 

“Captain, you have a report for me?”

 

“Yes, Mr. President. Sir, project number 107-6236 at Cadmus Bravo reports that the specimen is…regenerating, Sir.”

 

“Regenerating?” Lex repeated, a smile creeping over his haggard features. He waved his had to allow the Captain to stand at ease.

 

“Yes Sir. The project coordinator estimates that full function of the specimen will be possible within 72 hours.” He sharply took the standard ‘parade rest’ stance and slightly relaxed.

 

“Excellent. Have the specimen transported to Cadmus Delta to await deployment at my command. Dismissed”

 

“Yes Sir.” The captain came to attention and saluted. Briskly turning and marching out the door, he closed it behind him, leaving the leader of the United States alone with his counselors once again.

 

“I want more detailed intelligence on this even happening in Egypt. I need to know if this is an enemy or an ally. The times are changing gentlemen, and we must take steps to prevent measures from turning against us.”

 

“Sir, should we do anything against Raines or his outposts?”

 

Lex opened an oaken box on his desk and removed a large cigar. “Unnessecary. Soon their greatest advantage will be dead, and we can run them out of the country. I have no worries about any domestic problems.” Lex lit the cigar and puffed out a few smoke rings. “Now get the hell out of here and do your jobs. I want reports within two days.”

 

He watched as his advisors exited the room, murmuring amongst themselves. When they were alone, Lex turned to Mercy. “How goes the manufacture?”

 

“The reactor is having a hard time keeping on schedule. But we do have 412 ounces of green and 63 of blue. Not including the natural pieces we have collected.”

 

“Mercy, why in hell is the reactor slowing down?”

 

“Sir, the temperature to combine the elements is taking a toll on the casing and the cooling system. They are having to replace it every other ounce.”

 

“Damn!” Lex pounded his fist on his desk in frustration. “And we don’t have nearly the amount of Xentronium it would take to shield it.” He sighed and ground his teeth. “So be it. Tell them to keep going as fast as they can. They are considered top priority.”

 

“It will be done, sir.”

 

 

OTHERVERSE

 

 

“Mom!  Rogue! Aunt Jenny!”

Kara was the first to react.  She had been seated at the kitchen table in the living quarters of the Fortress.  The sun had just risen; it’s warm rays just starting to burn through the layers of fog that rolled off the lake.

It was a morning ritual that the three women had fallen into long before coming to this…Otherverse.  The smell of fresh brewed coffee wafted through the air as the original members of the group briefly known as Triad prepared for the day ahead, discussing plans or problems or simply talking as friends.  It was a ritual that had grown to include Lar Gand and the Twins after the move to this new Probability and a ritual that the ladies had stubbornly refused to abandon after Lar’s disappearance months earlier.

Things had been quiet for some time, since Kara had traveled to Dr. Doom’s Castle to retrieve a recovering Rogue and, in the process, met the daughter of the body she wore.

That had been a hard one to work through but it had, in the process, been the one thing that had healed Kara more than anything.   By confronted Kira…. no, she called herself Valeria now…Kara, after a brief struggle within herself, had finally exorcised the last remaining tatters of memories of the Clone.   And Struggle it had been.  The impressions, not true memories at all, had tried to assert a motherly attitude towards Valeria.  An attitude that Kara had had to fight to control and an attitude that Valeria had rejected out of hand.  Valeria had stated it clearly, if somewhat harshly.  Kara was not her mother, despite the fact that she now wore the body that had given birth to her.  And even as her body and words shouted denial, Kara knew it was true.  She was NOT Valeria’s mother, any more than she was the mother of Carrie and Karen.

After returning to the States, Kara had left Rogue at the Fortress and flown straight to the monument she had erected for this worlds Kal El.  Next to it, stood an only slightly smaller monument that Zal El had built to honor his wife, the Kitty Pryde of that other Universe, and the dead of this world’s Argo City.

Using a tight beam of heat vision, she had sliced off a few strands of her hair and then buried the strands between the monuments.

“She was your daughter, not mine.”  She whispered, hoping that her words would reach beyond the veil to the spirit that had inhabited the body she now wore. “She has not grown as either you or I would probably have liked, but I can’t find any fault in her decisions. She is a grown woman and has already had to endure more than either you or I had to endure by her age. And already she has helped us.  She has finally allowed me to lay you fully to rest.  Be at peace now.  And know that your daughter, while she may not accept her Kryptonian heritage, just may just become a woman we can both be proud of!”

Afterwards, she had returned to the Fortress, and, over the next few weeks, coordinated with Buddy and the Rebels and Zal El as they strengthened their boarders against further incursions by Lex Luthor and his armies.

Now, the urgent shout ringing through the Fortress sent Kara moving at superspeed towards the main entrance.  She stopped; shocked, as Carrie and Karen struggled through the front door, Lar Gand slumped between them, and arm around each shoulder. 

While either girl had the power to easily lift and carry Lar’s weight, his size made him an awkward bundle for the smaller girls, thus making it necessary for both girls to carry him. 

Despite being the first person to answer the frantic call, Kara was not the first to reach the unconscious Daxamite.  Jenny, giving a small cry of concern, had wrapped him in a ball of green light and was moving him quickly towards the infirmary, Rogue on her heels.

“What happened?”  Kara asked the girls as she and they brought up the rear.

“Don’t know.”  Carrie frowned and shook her head. Ever since learning about his part in the battle that had cost him his eye, Aunt Jenny her unborn baby, and had nearly cost Rogue her life, neither of the twins was too enthusiastic about the Daxamite’s sudden return. “We were walking around the edge of the lake when he came blazing out of the sky.  He hit the water hard and must have been hot because there was a lot of steam.”

“He must have been in orbit.”  Kara mused. “He couldn’t have been knocked out up there and then reentered the atmosphere. The chances of him just happening to fall in our laps here are just too astronomical.  Something happened and he was able to stay conscious long enough to point himself here.”

“Kara, we need to get him to Reed Richards!”  Jenny exclaimed when she and the twins finally reached the infirmary.

“Not a good idea.” Every one started and looked.  It was not Kara that had answered but Karen.

“What do you mean?”  Rogue asked before either Jenny or Kara could round on the girl.

Karen pushed through the adults to the medi-bed upon which Jenny had laid the unconscious Daxamite and checked the connections.  She studied the readouts for a long moment.  Jenny opened her mouth to say something, subsiding when Kara laid a hand on her arm. Like everyone else, she sometimes tended to forget that the twins were not simply Kryptonians but, rather, Kryptonian Coulan half breeds.  While they had inherited the powers and abilities of Kryptonians from their mothers, they had also inherited the super intelligence of the Querl Dox, otherwise known as Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Superheroes.

Karen started to reach for a switch that would bath the medi-bed in the rays of a red sun, effectively rendering any Daxamite or Kryptonian near the bed powerless.  Her hand half poised to flick the switch, she paused.

“Daxamites, Like Kryptonians, have a super healing ability under a yellow sun.”  She said, half to herself.  She moved her hand back and looked at Kara. “I believe that is all that is keeping him alive right now.”

“What happened?”  Jenny demanded.  Despite the fact that they had been estranged since her miscarriage, Jenny could no more deny that she still loved the Daxamite than she could deny that her skin was green.

“Absolutely nothing.”  Karen answered in a distracted manner as she continued to study the readings that scrolled up the screen situated over the medi-bed. “According to these readings, he is unharmed.  Physically at least.”  She turned and looked at Jenny, knowing what was worrying the woman. “No, I don’t believe that the anti-lead serum that Reed gave him when you three rescued him from the Phantom Zone has stopped working.”  She stepped back from the bed

“I don’t think it would be wise to try to make a crossing to the other Probability with him in this condition.”  She stated. “What ever his problem is, I believe it to be mental.  He’s locked within his own mind and his body is dying.”

“Perhaps, if we can’t transfer him to the other Probability, then we should see about transferring Dr. Richards, Prof. X and Jean Grey here?”  Carrie ventured as she moved up to the other side of the bed.

Marvel Universe

Fantastic Four Headquarters

“They want what?” Reed Richards spun away from his computer terminal to look at his wife, Sue Richards.   To the rest of the world, the two were known as Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, two members of the famous Fantastic Four.

“They need you over there, Reed.”  Sue silently counted to ten. “Lar is dying and they hope you, Xavier, and Jean Grey can help him.”  Reed started to reply but she went on, overriding his protest. “I’ve checked the readings they sent, Reed.  And I think they are right.  I think moving him from that Probability to this one would be dangerous, if not fatal, for him.”

Reed thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Let me look over those readings while you contact Xavier and Jean.”  He told her.  She smiled and turned away only to turn back when he started speaking again.  “And see if you can get a hold of Dr. Strange.  He may be able to help and we may as well take the opportunity to give both Kara and Rogue check ups while we are there.”

 

OTHERVERSE

                                                  12:00pm

 

With all of the natural and unnatural events taking place, Zal had decided it was best to concentrate his and Alpha Flights efforts in saving the lives of those closest to him. He wasn’t abandoning everybody else, just making sure those who were in danger were safe. But it mattered little. By this point in the day, most of the activity around the world had been calming down, but other more unexplainable things were happening.

 

The dead had overrun what was left of Atlanta. They had somehow arisen from their eternal slumber and now walked the streets in some past shadow of their former lives. They attacked the living, consuming them for no reason that could be determined.

 

Zal was on the private transceiver linked to Ian, receiving reports of other happenings. He sat with his fingers steepled in thought as Ian laid down what he did know.

 

“Zal, whatever is happening, it IS getting worse. I can no longer detect Dr. Doom or Valeria Von Doom. There seems to be a source of magic collecting itself around a small town in England. A source which even my abilities cannot pierce.”

 

“You’re kidding.” Zal glanced away, not believing what he just said. “Sorry, I forgot you don’t kid around. That’s Kieran’s department.”

 

Somewhere in the background, they both heard Kieran mumble something about getting the job done and not how he does it. But the comment was ignored and they went on.

“Also, I have been doing some research on this disturbance in Egypt and can find only a vague description of this happening before.”

 

“Was it bad?”

 

Ian sighed, as he was unable to answer the question. “I don’t know. It seems that the records that I do have say they wanted to completely forget what had happened.”

 

“Okay, that’s bad.” Zal was hastily scribbling notes down when Kitty came into the room. She placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke into the microphone. “Um, I hate to disturb you two, but can you pardon us for a moment?”

 

“Certainly Katherine.”

 

Kitty turned to her partner and stared deeply into his eyes. She could tell that he was scared of everything happening. He had not told her that he had seen these things before, when his home universe died. But they found comfort with each other, and it kept them going.

 

“Zal, there is someone at your house wishing to speak to you alone.”

 

A worried expression crossed his already haggard gaze. “What does she look like?”

 

“She is about 40, red hair, green eyes and…” Kitty trailed off just catching what had slipped her by. “How did you know it was a she?”

 

“Because I smelled a scent like nobody else’s around you, and women have a few scents different from a man.”

 

Ian’s eyebrow raised as he heard the conversation. “Very perceptive lad,” he thought to himself. “You are quite impressive when you want to be. Definitely someone who will use his mind to reason his problems out instead of punch first and ask questions later. I believe we will make a fine pair when the time arises.”

 

Zal did recognize the description but felt he needed to meet this person. Kitty wasn’t one to drag her boyfriend into unnecessary, time consuming meetings during times of crisis. He motioned for Kitty to hold a moment and turned back to the monitor.

 

“Lord Ian, I need to go for now. I will contact you within two hours.”

 

Ian nodded. “Very well. I shall study more and speak with you then.” And the monitor went dark.

 

Several moments later, the young couple was at their house. Zal had not looked in on this person as he felt that it was a violation of someone’s privacy. But when he saw her, his jaw nearly dropped. The mystery woman turned and looked at Zal, a warm smile blessing her presence.

 

“Lana Lang.” The words rolled off of his tongue as old memories flooded back in.

 

“Well, it seems that my reputation has preceded me.” She looked the Kryptonian over carefully taking his face in her hands. “And you remind so much of Clark Kent it isn’t funny.”

 

Zal tilted his head in awe. “Clark Kent… that is Aunt Martha’s name.”

“It is also the name given to a small child from another planet. A child that would wear a similar symbol on your chest now. A boy I grew up with, loved very much, worked with, and became one of his trusted confidants.”

 

“Superman.”

 

“A name which you now hold. But how do you know who I am?”

 

“Lana, in my home universe, I came to Earth at 12 years old. Jonathon and Martha Kent took me in as a nephew to Kara Kent. Kara and you grew up together, and both became reporters. You knew mine and Kara’s secret and I even dated your niece for a while.”

 

“Well, that sums it up a bit.” Her small hands took him by the shoulders and sized up the large man. A tear rolled down her face but she maintained her smile. “But I have to ask: Why didn’t this planet have another Kryptonian come, male or female?”

 

A sudden hurt welled up in Zal’s heart as he remembered the memorial he had built last year. “You don’t want to know.” Quickly changing the subject, Zal queried his guest. “So what brought you here Lana?”

 

“What else? I was so much a part of Kal-El’s life that it spanned dimensions. I have always been the type of person that wants in the thick of things and this is where the action is.”

 

Laughing at her words, Zal could not help himself. And that attitude reminds me so much of Louis Lane. And Lois for that matter.”

 

“You knew Lois? And who is Louis?”

 

“Well, Lois was Kal-El’s wife I am told. And Louis was apparently my universes counterpart. He married my cousin, Kara. Now the question is, what will you do here?”

 

Crossing her arms, Lana got a smug look on her face. “I went and visited Martha on the farm and met the other Lois. I stayed there for some time…until Martha died last month. We both decided to come here considering you are not hiding your location or your identity from anyone. We both respected that. Clark didn’t have that kind of ability. So we made up our minds to reassemble our old lives here.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“We want to start up the newspaper here.”

 

“You’re kidding?”

 

“No.”

 

Zal did not have the words to respond. He turned to Kitty who just shrugged. “I really have no idea what to say.”

 

“You cant say anything kiddo. It is our right. Freedom of the press, remember?”

 

Zal sat down, bewildered. Kitty walked over and laid a hand on his and whispered in his ear. He looked up at his girlfriend and nodded. He went over to a painting that Paradox had done for them and shifted it to the side revealing a safe. Zal motioned to Lana and spoke into the small computer console.

 

“Open.” The safe swung open and he reached in and picked out a cloth bag. He handed it to Lana.

 

“This is all of the money that I currently have. It should be enough to get yourselves a building made, presses constructed, and whatever else you need. I am sure you will be able to find people to work for you also.”

 

Lana took the bag and hefted its weight, staring at it in her hand. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

 

Zal smiled and gave him a hug. “Its for old times sake.” He smiled and added more. “Don’t even think about refusing. Rebuilding peoples lives is what I do best.”

 

Lana shook her head and grinned. “You are definitely not like Kal-El. He would say saving lives was what he did best.”

 

“Saving lives is important. Don’t get me wrong on that. But many more have lost everything so I do what I can to give it back. Even at great personal risk.”

 

“So I have heard.” Lana turned to Kitty. “Katherine, you have a one in a billion chance with this man. Don’t let it slip like I did.”

 

Kitty’s eyes went wide and she smiled.  “Well, we are engaged…” her eyes caught his and she stifled a laugh. Zal was standing there in a pleasantly amused posture as he listened to her speak.

 

“Are you trying to tell me something Kitty?”

 

Kitty placed her arms around his waist and looked into his eyes. “I don’t know. I knew I was ready to move forward with him.”

 

Lana’s heart beat in her chest as she saw the young couple standing there. It reminded her of times she had spent with Clark at their age and those memories were very special to her. “

 

Zal glanced over at her and cleared his throat. “Sorry. I am glad you are here Lana. I think there are some things that we can teach each other that will be very helpful. But I think we are needed elsewhere so, we’re gonna go. Good Luck.”

 

 

OTHERVERSE

 

 

Thanos sat before his massive computer console, pondering the outcome of this newest crisis. He knew now that there was nothing he could do. For that matter, there was nothing his mistress, Lady Death could do either and she was one of the most powerful beings in the universe! All contact between the two dimensions would be severed and once done so, everyone in this universe would have their memory erased of any knowledge garnered since the resurrection of Kara Zor-El. However, Thanos theorized that this universe would right itself and set things back the way they were before Kara ever came here. This meant that Rouge would once more be a part of the X-Men. The Kryptonian Rogue would still be beside Kara and would never feel the difference, but an exact duplicate would reappear the moment this Crisis passed.

 

For the first time in weeks, Thanos opened the door to his lab and strolled right up to what he considered his greatest achievement. This would be the final clone of the Kryptonian Nar-Ur that he would create. Soon, all the knowledge and materials would disappear forever. At least, he would have his revenge on the ones who delayed his conquest of Earth. Thanos powered up his dimensional teleporter and set the coordinates to the dimension known as Otherverse. He lowered the stasis field surrounding the clone, and almost instantly it was gone, thrust upon a world already wrought with pain and suffering.

 

 

OTHERVERSE

 

 

The Fortress

“Rogue, it’s been a while!” Jean Grey pulled the ex Xman to her in a hug as she and the others stepped through the Probability Broach the twins had constructed in the lower levels of the Fortress.

Rouge smiled and returned the hug and then turned to her old mentor, Professor Charles Xavier.

“Professor, it’s good to see you again.” She whispered, bending to hug the wheel chair bound telepath. She felt the slightest touch of his mind and nodded slightly, giving her permission as she opened her mind to his.

“Reed, Sue, thank you for coming.”  Jenny had almost run to the two Fantastic Four members as they had stepped through.  She had not realized until just that moment exactly how much she had missed the leaders of the group of which she had, as She-Hulk, been an auxiliary member.

Kara had stepped forward, with the twins, to greet the last person to step through the Broach.

“Dr. Strange.” She smiled and hugged the sorcerer that, with Reed, had some claim to be a father to the Reborn Kara.

The greetings were short and sweet and within moments, the group, with Karen and Carrie in the lead, were making their way to the infirmary.

“I should have realized there would have been problems.”  Stephen Strange sighed as they filed in to the Med lab.

“There was no reason you should have.”  Xavier countered as his grav chair floated along side the medi-bed upon which the Daxamite lay. “All things considered, Stephen, your specialty is not mental problems.  When the two Lar Gand’s merged, there was no way you could have realized that the sudden existence of two separate sets of memories, one of which spanned over a thousand years of existence in the Phantom Zone, would cause any major problems.”

“When you put it like that, Prof. How could I have not considered it?”  Strange asked, a wry grin on his face.  The grin vanished as he, along with Reed and the Prof., studied the readings on the Medi-bed terminal.

“The twins were quite right.”  Reed muttered after a bit. “According to these readings, he is just barely hanging on.  A trip through the Broach would most likely have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.”  He was silent a few moments. “Okay, here’s how we’ll proceed.  We’ll let Charles give him a good look over.  Then we’ll decide where to go from there.”  He turned to the three adult women.  “In the meantime, I would like the five of you to get checked out by Jean, myself, and Dr. Strange.”

******

“He’s out of danger now.”  Dr. Strange announced as he and Prof. Xavier stepped into the waiting area.  Halfway through his examination, Charles had called for Strange to join him.

Jenny, who had been sitting, holding Jean Grey’s hands and trying to keep her spirit up, let out a deep breath she was not aware she had been holding.

The examinations of the five women had not taken long, each receiving a full bill of health, though the small bullet hole scars in Rogue’s otherwise blemish free body had caused some concern.

Jean had noted, with a deep feeling of relief, that Kara was far more stable and in control than she had been at any other time since her resurrection.

“What did you do?”  Kara demanded, when it seemed Jenny was too relieved to ask.

“It was not easy.”  Xavier noted. “The conflicting memories were starting to drive him insane, indeed, they HAD driven him insane, to a degree.”

“Working together, we were able to install a method for dealing with the memories.”  Strange took up the explanation.  He hesitated, looking at Xavier.

“It was necessary, in the process, to cause some merger between the two.”  Xavier continued softly, looking straight at Jenny.  “We had to put them in a linear format. So now, this Lar Gand remembers being put into the Phantom Zone, released a thousand years later by The Legion of Super Heroes, and then darkness before being awakened in Reed’s Lab.”

“Oh Dear Rao.”  Rogue whispered, unaware of the amused thoughts that passed between Jean and the Prof.

“There is little that is left within her that is Terran.” Jean sent. “She is truly Kryptonian now.  Every bit as much as Kara!”

“He will remember all that has happened.”  Xavier clarified aloud. “But from his point of view, it will have all occurred after spending all that time in the zone and then being a member of the Legion.”

“Tasmia!” Kara locked eyes with Rogue, knowing that the ex-mutant now shared her memories and knowing that she, like herself, was thinking of the love Lar had held for the Legionnaire called Shadow Lass.

“Can…can I see him?”  Jenny asked in a subdued voice.  From the look on her face, she was just as aware of what this could mean.  While Lar might retain the memories, he might not retain the feelings for her that he had had.

“He’s resting now.”  Xavier said, “But yes, you can see him.”  His chair floated out of the way as Jennifer stumbled past into the infirmary.

“He will have a memory of his love for her.” Xavier warned Kara and Rogue. “But as to whether the actual love will still remain?   Only time will tell.  But…” his look turned hard. “He will also remember some actions he took that resulted in injury to you, Rogue and Jenny.  You must not let him wallow in guilt over it.  He was no more responsible for that than you were responsible for the death of that clone!”  He had taken an example he knew would hit home with Kara.  When she had first been resurrected, she had been afraid that they had ‘killed’ the clone to make room for her spirit.

He looked around and sighed.

“I think we have done all we can.”  He said.  “It would probably be best if we head back as soon as possible.  Where is Reed?”

“In our control room.”  Kara was able to smile slightly. “He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to consult with the Kandorian scientists and my father.”

“I’m here.”  Reed’s voice sounded over the intercom.  He sounded tense and its tone brought everyone to instant alert. “I think you should all join me here.  I believe we are in the beginning of a Crisis or, in your case Kara, another Crisis!”

*****

“I’ve already alerted Zal.” Zor El’s image on the main view screen in the control room spoke. “Though I am not quite sure even we know what he or you should be watching for.”

“Let’s start at the beginning, Dad.” Kara demanded. “What are you talking about?”

“I remember what you told me about the Crisis our home universe went through, Kara.”  Zor began. “From what you said, the Anti-Monitor showed up and began destroying alternate Probabilities.  In the end, the five remaining Probabilities were merged into one single Probability.”

“That’s right.”  Kara didn’t notice that her voice was quavering or that her fists were clenching until she felt Rogue’s hand cupping one of her balled fists, forcibly inserting her fingers. “Are you trying to say the same thing may be happening here?”

“No.”  Zor shook his head.  “Quite the opposite, in fact.  We believe that this…this Otherverse…is being thrust from this continuum into another.”  The screen cleared and then sprang to life again, this time showing a blue green planet spinning in space. “Using a combination of Kryptonian technology and technology developed by Dr. Richards, we have been able to determine that the cosmos, nature, whatever, is righting itself by placing Otherverse in it’s proper place.” he paused, frowning as he considered the best way to explain it.  While he had no doubt that Reed or the twins would understand his explanation, he knew his daughter was not a scientific genius.  She could hold her own, and would, in many circles be considered exceptionally bright or even gifted.  But compared to himself and Reed Richards, she was a rank amateur.  “I can’t think of any other way to explain what other things we have noticed, other than to say that, while there are countless Probabilities, all of these Probabilities are grouped together into specific Continuums. And this process is not unique to this Otherverse.  We have identified at least one other…Probability or group of Probabilities, if you will, that are in the process of …merging with this new continuum. In effect, Otherverse and these other Probabilities will be joining or merging with countless other Probabilities to create a new Continuum.”

“Merging?”  Kara tensed. “What kind of damage or changes will that cause?”

“Very little, we are hoping.”  Reed answered before Zor could. “It’ll be like a car merging from a entrance ramp onto the highway you are already on.  You are in the left lane and the other car slips into the right lane.  You are on the same highway, but in different lanes…and in this case, there would be barriers running between the two lanes, preventing you from swerving into the other and keeping the other car out of your lane.”

“So this probability and all these other probabilities are basically slipping into a new continuum, becoming a part of it, yet still separated by dimensional barriers.”  Kara frowned at Reed and then at her father. “Now if you are through with the baby talk, perhaps will stop trying to avoid big words and get on with it.”

“Uh.”  Reed, at least, had the grace to blush appropriately while both Karen and Carrie tried their best to smother involuntary giggles and everyone else seemed to find points of interest elsewhere, like the ceiling, the floor, the walls, anywhere but towards Kara, Reed, and Zor

“Right.”  Kara straightened her shoulders. “So now we have an idea of what is going on. What, if anything, can we do about it?  Is there anything we can do to reverse the process, and is there anyway to determine the cause.”

“Perhaps a better question,” Rogue ventured, speaking up for the first time. “Would be ‘Should we do anything?’  If this is a natural event, then shouldn’t we let it run its course?”

Total silence as all eyes turned to the ex-mutant.

“She has a point.”  Reed mused, after a moment. “From what we have been able to determine, this is a natural event. The universe righting itself.”

“Settling.”  Rogue spoke again. “When you build a house, you can expect it to settle over time.  Perhaps that is what we are seeing here.”

“What if we were wrong about the Shard?”  She asked, her face lined with sudden worry. “Could it be possible that its energy was truly all that kept this continuum in existence?  By refocusing that energy and creating a new Battery, is it possible that we removed the only thing that was keeping this Continuum alive?”

“We went over that in the beginning.”  Reed started, only to have Zor cut him off.

“We weren’t wrong.”  He said. “But neither were we entirely correct.”  He took a deep breath. “And frankly, it is something we should have considered. The Shard may have been responsible for the creation of this Probability, and its energy may have been responsible for keeping it static for so long, keeping it in this Continuum.  The sudden removal of that energy may not have destroyed the Probability, but hindsight shows that we should have expected at least some reaction.   The absence of a reaction should have alerted us all to the fact that something was, indeed, out of kilter.”

“Explain that.”  Rogue demanded.

“You mentioned ‘settling’.  I think you may have been more correct than you realized.  With the removal of the Shard, this Probability is, indeed, settling.  It is coalescing, firming up.  And now it and others are being reshuffled and put where they belong.” He looked off screen and nodded to someone before turning back. “We have managed to get a look at one of the other Probabilities being shuffled into this new Continuum with Otherverse.”  His image disappeared; to be replaced by a familiar site…a blue green world spinning in a sea of blackness.

“I believe it was one of you that coined the phrase, naming this Probability Otherverse.  Well, we have labeled this new Probability Alterverse.”  The picture disappeared and Zor returned to the screen. “So far, pictures are all we can get of this…this Alterverse.  The barriers between it and us are much too strong to physically pierce and, unless I miss my guess, those barriers will remain strong for years or ages to come while the new continuum settles.  ”

“You’ve lost me.”  Sue Richards spoke up.  When Reed opened his mouth to reply, she held up a hand. “No, don’t try to explain it to me. I wouldn’t understand.  What I do understand is that we belong to this particular Continuum and that Otherverse will soon be leaving our current continuum, that is all I need to know.  What I want to know is how all this is going to effect us!”  She made a sweeping motion with her hand, indicating herself, Strange, Reed, Xavier, and Jean. “How is all this going to effect the Otherverse’s connection with our own universe? Or Linda Danvers and Lara Night’s Universe, for that matter.”

Neither Reed nor Zor answered right away.  That in itself was ominous.

“From what we are able to determine, travel between probabilities within the same sub-sector of a Continuum are fairly easy, relatively speaking.  Travel between worlds in different sub-sectors will be more difficult and travel between probabilities in different prime sectors extremely difficult. Travel between different Continuum….” He shook his head

 “Which means, I take it, “ Kara mused, looking back and forth between Reed and Zor. “that travel between this probability and yours will become more difficult.”

“Otherverse will be in a new Continuum. So travel between our probability and this will be virtually impossible.” Reed stated the obvious, ugly truth. “The barriers between our probabilities would be too thick and…”

“And perhaps this would be a good time to mention that those barriers are already firming up.”  Zor broke in. “Though I hate to suggest it, it might be wise for anyone going back to get going.  There is no way we can predict how long those barriers are going to be passable.”

There was stunned silence as everyone looked at everyone else.

“I’m staying.”  Kara announced, looking Reed in the eyes. “I belong in this probability now.  Whether in this probability or in another in the same sub-sector, I belong with Otherverse.”

“Rogue?”  Sue stepped forward, laying a hand on the ex-mutant’s arm.  Rogue smiled and shook her head.  She gave Sue a quick hug and then moved to stand beside Kara.

“We’re a team.”  She whispered, her hand reaching out to grasp one of Kara’s. “I’m staying.”

“That goes for us, as well.”  A tired sounding male voice spoke from the control room entrance.  They all turned to see Lar Gand, one arm around Jenny’s shoulder. “We heard most of what you said. This is our home now.”

“Jenny?”  Reed frowned, locking eyes with the Green woman.

“Reed, Sue.”  Jenny smiled sadly and shook her head. “Whatever happens here, I know that I can make much more a difference here, as a Green Lantern, then I ever could have back home as She-Hulk.  I’ll be staying.”

“Carrie?  Karen?”  Kara turned to the girls, her face softening. “This is something you will have to decide. I can’t make this decision for you.”  Neither girl spoke.  Instead, the simply moved closer to Kara and Rogue.

***

“Kara!  Something’s happening!”

Zor El’s voice rang through the Fortress.  It had been three days since they had seen Reed, Sue, Jean, Strange, and Xavier step through the Broach, returning to their own probability. 

The parting had been hard and more than a few tears had been shed as friends had said farewell, possibly for the final time.

Since then, life had returned to a semblance of normalcy. Jenny and Lar, both looking a bit haggard, had spent many hours talking.  Kara didn’t envy them in the slightest. Lar had been ‘cured’, true.  Yet that cure which had effectively merged his two conflicting sets of memories into one, had caused a few other problems.  Especially in the relationship between him and Jenny.  It was not his fault; nevertheless, the merger of his memories had brought to the front feelings he had not had to deal with in the beginning.  Namely his love for a woman that, if she existed at all, would not be born for over ten centuries: Umbra of the Thirtieth Century’s Legion of Super Heroes!  A group that, given the current state of events in Otherverse, might never come together at all!

Of course it couldn’t be as simple as that either.  While that love for Shadow Lass, as Kara had known her, was restored, it did nothing to negate the love the younger Lar had developed for Jennifer Walters.  It was something the two of them would have to work out between themselves.

Kara and Rogue had returned to daily patrols, stopping occasionally in New Independence, to the delight of Zal and Alpha Flight.  Kara tended not to stay there long.  It was the same of course; everywhere she or Rogue went.  For some reason, she was held in awe by almost all the inhabitants of the SUSA, even those that had not even known she existed.

“I wonder if this is how Kal felt at times.”  She had bitched to Rogue after a brief visit to one small village.

“You’re their Champion, Kara.”  Rogue had responded, completely overlooking the fact that she was held in almost the same regard.  “Kal was the first and greatest hero of your time.  Here and now, it is you.  You were the first highly visible hero to step up.  Now look around.  There are few others and yet none of them will ever be the first!”

“First hell.”  Kara mumbled. “Ian and Valeria have been her longer than we have!”

“Of course they have.  Yet Ian doesn’t advertise his activities.  He works best in the shadows, away from the limelight.  And Valeria?  She’s been under Dr. Doom’s thumb long enough that she can’t and won’t do anything with out his approval.” 

“Hmmm.”  Kara wisely kept her mouth shut on that subject. She knew Rogue was not about to toss out lessons learned about Dr. Doom over the years just because of one good deed on his part.  She still believed that there something in what Doom had done while healing her that had benefits for him.  Otherwise he would not have bothered, despite what his protégé wanted.  No, Rogue could not be counted on being unbiased when it came to anything dealing with Doom or Valeria.

They had not mentioned anything of what Zor had told them to anyone they had talked to outside the Fortress. Until they had more data, there was nothing they could do, in any case and there was no reason, they had concluded, to cause undo worry.

When Zor’s warning rang through the Fortress, the six of them were gathered in the main lounge area of the living quarters, taking it easy and relaxing.

Kara sat up straight, almost spilling Rogue onto the floor.  The two had been reclining on one of the room’s large couches; Rogue with her head in Kara’s lap, watching a video Sue had thoughtfully brought them.  The Twins sprawled on the floor with portable computers and paper, struggled through a week’s worth of homework Allura, Kara’s mother, had given them.  Lar and Jenny, off in one corner, their heads bent together, were deep in conversation.

“What’s up, Dad?”  Kara spoke to the air, knowing that the Fortress computer would pick up her words, pipe them to Zor El and then pipe his response back to the Lounge.

“We got a major problem!”  Came the instant response. “Something…some kind of Ripple is approaching Earth and whatever it passes over seemingly ceases to exist!”  There was a slight pause. “Kara, I have ordered an all hands evacuation of New Kandor. We have set emergency vehicles with two destinations. Half the population will converge on the Fortress. The other half will converge at Lord Ian’s tower.”

“I’ll contact Ian to let him know they are on their way.”  Kara nodded. “But why the split?”

“We decided not to, as the Terrans say, put all our eggs into one basket,” was the reply.  “We have to get moving, Kara.  At the speed this Ripple is moving, it will sweep over earth in less than eight hours.  It will take us at least 5 to evacuate and get everybody to their destinations.”

“Got it, Dad.  Go for it, we’ll inform Ian and get things ready at this end.”  Kara turned to Rogue. “Dear, I want you to see if you can contact Zal and give him a heads up.  Tell him I would appreciate it if he and Kitty were to visit Ian.”  As Rogue whisked off at superspeed, Kara turned to Jenny and Lar, no longer talking privately but looking her way. “Jenny, is there anyway you can contact the Guardians of Oa?”

Jenny nodded and closed her eyes for a moment.  When she opened her eyes, they were wide with…shock.

“I contacted the Oans.”  She choked.  She took a deep breath.” Only they were not the Oans I gave the Battery to!”

“What?”

“Kara, I contacted the Oans in that Universe that Zor showed us the other day…. that Alterverse!”  She shook her head. “I think it shocked them as much as it did me.  They thought I was an over powered version of something they call a Star Sapphire.” She paused. “Let’s hope that whatever happens, we don’t end up in that Alterverse.  It is not a healthy place.”

 

“I still think we should have sent you to Ian’s tower!”  Kara glared at Carrie and Karen, her countenance softening as they looked back at her.

“We wouldn’t have gone.”  Carrie had the nerve to answer honestly.

“We’re here and this is where we belong.”  Karen added.  Kara shook her head and looked around.

They were once again gathered in the lounge, this time with a large table set up to house the temporarily displaced Kandorians.  Kara sighed and pulled what appeared to be a large playing card from the breast pocket of her leather jacket.

“Ian!” She shivered.  The card, feeling cold in her hands, was more than a simply playing card.  The face of the card had been painstakingly painted to portray and exact likeness of Lord Ian.  Now, as she held the card, the face swirled and the image seemed to move, the eyes turning to lock with hers.

“Would you like me to pull you through?” Ian’s voice seemed to ring in her mind as she shook her head.

“No, I just wanted to make sure that the rest of the Kandorians were there and safe.”  She didn’t speak aloud; knowing that verbalization was unnecessary.

“They are here,” was the instant reply. “I am already tapping into the computer systems they left on the station to preserve information they have already gathered and to utilize its equipment to monitor the Passage of the Ripple.”  The image on the card paused momentarily. “Zal is here and is demanding that I pull you through, with or without your permission.”

“You try and I will cut the connection instantly.”  Kara warned, moving one hand so that she could, if necessary, cover the face of the card, effectively ending the communication. “The Kandorians had a good concept.  We can’t afford to have all our eggs in one basket.  If something happens to us, at least you and Zal will still be around to pick up the pieces, and vice versa.”

“Agreed.” Ian’s voice in her mind grudgingly replied. “I must end now.  There are some matters I must attend to before the Ripple hits.”  There was another slight pause. “Take care, Kara Zor-El.  We shall meet again.”

“You take care!”  Kara countered.  “And tell Zal…tell my brother to take care as well.  He will make a good Superman for this world!”

There were no further words, yet Kara had the impression that Ian nodded…and then the connection was broken, the card no longer cold in her hands.  Carefully she slid the card back into the breast pocket of her jacket.

“Here it comes!”  Jenny called out.  Everyone tensed, moving into closer around the large table.  As if by instinct, hands reached out to clutch hands.  Jenny threw her hands up over her head and green light spewed from her fingers, flowing out and around to form a dark green, translucent bubble around everyone.

And the Ripple passed over the Earth!

 

Follow the aftermath of the Ripple in Otherverse in Chapter 2 of Crisis Revisited

See how the Ripple affected Kara Zor-El and crew in the Multiverse in Chapter 1 of The Arrival

 

 

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2002 by Jake H. and Dylan Clearbrook

-- and may not be reprinted without permission.

-- Special thanks to the Continuum Worlds Muse and Editor: Hipkarma

-- The Continuum Worlds Concept is a joint creation of

-- Dylan Clearbrook and Eldric.  Otherverse, Dark Earth,

-- and Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes, as depicted in the

-- Continuum Worlds, are original creations of Dylan Clearbrook.

-- Alterverse and The Inheritors, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Eldric.

-- The Realm and Shadowverse, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of John P. and Jason G respectively.

-- Some characters in Continuum Worlds stories are original creations

-- of Dylan Clearbrook, Eldric, Michael Liebhart, Jake H., Jason G.,

-- Andrew Shields, Kyle M., Brian, or Jason Froikin and may not

-- be used without express permission of the respective author.

-- All DC characters are property of D.C. Comics.

-- All Marvel characters are property of Marvel Comics.