The following I've written is based in part on something that's been on the
back of my mind (and something that's probably been on the minds of
die-hard
comic book fans like you for several decades). Hope you like it.
Oh, yeah -- the following below is being posted for entertainment
purposes only, in accordance with the newsgroup rules.
-- John Lavernoich
c/o jlavernoich@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.angelfire.com/ct2/jlav
P.S.: After you're done reading this, why not pay a visit to my web site
by
clicking on the Internet link above?
*****
MEETING WITH A DEVIL
By
John Lavernoich
Inspired by the DC Comics
limited series MILLENNIUM
By Steve
Englehart,
Joe Staton & Ian Gibson
(Writer's note: The following story takes place between the events
chronicled in MILLENNIUM#7-8 [Mid-to-late Nov. 1987].)
Several years ago: The Manhunter androids were already destroyed,
partly
as a result of Superman and Green Lantern Hal Jordan eliminating the
Highmaster, which powered all of the androids -- their dreams of not only
disrupting the Millennium project, but eventual conquest of the universe
self-destructed, just like the androids themselves.
The Manhunter androids were once a force of good serving on behalf of
their creators, the Guardians of the Universe, many centuries ago -- until
something went wrong with their electronic mechanisms, causing the
androids
to turn against not only their creators, but the very universe that they
were sworn to protect. After a failed attempt to conquer the planet Oa --
the Guardians' home base -- the rebellious Manhunters were stripped of
their
powers by their creators. After that, the Manhunters made long-range
plans
to exact their revenge on the Guardians, plans that would go through
various
refinements over the course of the next three billion years, as they
secretly operated on various planets throughout the universe, including
Earth -- where the androids would recruit Dan Richards, Paul Kirk, and
Mark
Shaw to become sleeper agents during the past sixty-plus years; in later
years, Richards and Shaw would learn of the Manhunters' true intentions,
as
would members of the original Justice League of America, who also learned
of
their connection to the Guardians.
The Manhunters had hoped to ruin the Guardians of the Universe's
Millennium project, not only to get their revenge on their creators, but
also to become the self-proclaimed rulers of the universe. Despite the
fact
that the Manhunters came in possession of Harbinger's written record of
the
History of the Universe, which revealed the Earth's eventual role in the
universe's future a thousand years from now -- despite the fact that the
Manhunters attempted to destroy Earth's super-heroes via friends,
colleagues, and loved ones who were either sleeper agents, humanoid
androids, or unsuspecting pawns -- despite everything, the Manhunters,
driven by both revenge and self-deluded dreams of absolute power, failed.
All hopes of the Manhunters' goals to eliminate their enemies and
subjugate
the universe that they once protected was gone.
Yet, there were several questions that even the Guardians of the
Universe
failed to answer -- mainly because, despite their intelligence and wisdom,
they didn't have all the answers. Among the unanswered questions was the
one that had baffled the universe for many centuries: What really caused
the
Manhunters to turn against not only their creators, but the galaxy that
they
were sworn to protect?
Not even the Manhunters knew the answer to that question -- in fact,
for
many centuries, it was rumored that only God, who created the universe,
knew
the true reasons behind the Manhunters rebelling against both the
Guardians
and the galaxy. But that rumor was, in reality, false -- only because
nobody in the entire universe was aware of it, and for several reasons,
all
of them rooted in ages-old hatred and revenge.
*****
Outside, it was a clear night, as a full moon and countless stars
illuminated the night sky. Inside a supposedly abandoned factory building
in Los Angeles, CA, its largest room was dominated by the Grand Temple
(one
of the few secret bases that still existed on Earth -- and one of the few
that was still, for better or worse, intact), where the Manhunters
gathered
to plan their warped dreams of conquest -- there was complete silence
inside
this dark and ominous temple, and for good reason. Not a single creature
was
stirring inside the Grand Temple at the present time, including human
intruders -- but then, those intruders who actually succeeded in entering
the temple -- human or otherwise -- would never leave here alive. The
Manhunter androids and their human sleeper agents had hoped to come back
here to celebrate their eliminating not only Earth's super heroes, but the
six remaining humans who were selected by the Guardians of the Universe to
become super-beings who were destined to help inspire and lead their home
planet into a new Golden Age -- but that would never happen.
At this point, a human sleeper agent clad in the blue-and-red-colored
armor of the Manhunters entered the Grand Temple -- a little puzzled, a
little confused. Fenton Wexler was recruited to join the Manhunters'
Earth-based cult six years ago -- like Mark Shaw and so many other human
sleeper agents, Wexler's body was trained to absolute physical perfection,
while his mind absorbed the information he gained from the Manhunters'
warped teachings in both the art of deception and operating secretly in
order to avoid being detected by the outside world. Yet, Wexler didn't
participate in many of the Manhunters' secret operations since he became a
sleeper agent, partly because both the Earth and the rest of the universe
learned the truth about the Manhunters only a few years ago, which would
force many of them into hiding. Wexler wasn't even summoned to the Grand
Temple to take part in the Manhunters' plan to disrupt the Guardians of
the
Universe's Millennium project, probably for reasons known only to them and
their android cult leader, the Grandmaster.
Still, Wexler -- clad in both the armor and blue-colored face mask that
hid his true identity -- felt that he had to come here in order to aid the
rest of the Earth-based Manhunter androids and the other human sleeper
agents in their already-doomed mission. Wexler was unaware of what had
just
happened to not only the Manhunter androids, but also the majority of the
human sleeper agents -- but then, Wexler should consider himself lucky
enough to avoid getting captured by Earth's s super-heroes. But Wexler's
luck was about to run out -- he just didn't know it yet.
"Manhunters?", yelled Wexler, praying that he wasn't the only one alone
inside the Grand Temple, "Grandmaster?" In truth, Wexler wasn't alone --
for he was being watched by a mysterious person who stood in a corner of
the
Grand Temple, his features hidden by the shadows that had once served the
Earth-based Manhunter androids very well. The mysterious person had been
inside the Grand Temple, several hours before Wexler entered -- and had
kept
his presence a secret from anyone who might stumble in here. In point of
fact, the mysterious person knew far more about the Manhunters than even
the
androids themselves -- including their final fate at the hands of Earth's
super-heroes; using that particular knowledge to his advantage, there was
no
reason for him to keep his presence a secret any longer.
"Manhunters?", yelled Wexler, "Grand .?"
"They're gone," said the mysterious figure, who walked several steps
forward, while his facial features remained hidden, "And, I'm happy to
say -- for good."
"W-W-Who said that?"
"They call me the Powerbroker, Fenton Wexler -- you are Wexler, aren't
you?" At this point, Wexler pointed his energy baton -- the same one used
by not only all the Manhunter androids, but also their human sleeper
agents -- directly at the Powerbroker, who knew more about his opponent
than
even Wexler himself. Of course, to Wexler, that information was
irrelevant -- what mattered to him at the present time was the fact that
the
Powerbroker had just invaded the Manhunters' Grand Temple without being
detected by its technologically-advanced security system.
"I'm a Manhunter," said Wexler furiously, "And you've made the greatest
error of your life, simply by invading our chamber."
"Your technology, however advanced it may be, is no match for my
superior
intelligence," said the Powerbroker, "But then, you asses never had any
kind
of vision -- even when you humiliated me and left me for dead centuries
ago."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"So you don't know the reasons why I despise not only the Manhunters,
but
also the Guardians of the Universe and the Green Lantern Corps -- but
then,
when I secretly altered the Manhunters' programming centuries ago, I also
erased any knowledge of them cru****ng my plans for interplanetary
conquest,
in order to insure that they wouldn't get in my way. Sort of like, as you
call it, leveling the playing field -- but on a grand scale that would
dwarf
even your petty accomplishments."
"I still don't know what you're talking about!"
"And if I have my way, you won't live to warn anyone about my
existence -- or reveal the fact that I turned the Manhunters against the
entire universe, simply because they and the Guardians meddled in my
affairs. Yes, Wexler -- I'm responsible for the Manhunters being who they
are today, or at least who they were until they were destroyed mere hours
ago."
"Y-Y-You .!"
"Lie? No, Wexler -- what I'm saying is the gospel truth, unlike the
lies
that the Manhunters taught you. But then, I know far more about the
complexities of evil and deception than you can ever hope to learn and/or
understand -- an advantage that'll serve me well when I finally take over
the universe!"
"Too bad you've forgotten something that's become our personal mantra
--
namely, the fact that no man escapes the Manhunters!" But before Wexler
could fire his energy baton at the Powerbroker, the latter removed a
metallic disc from his jacket pocket and hurled it straight at his
would-be
attacker. Within seconds, the metallic disc attached itself to the front
of Wexler's armor -- then exploded; seconds later, the contents of the
explosive disc caused Wexler's armor to disintegrate into nothing,
revealing
the Manhunter sleeper agent in just his t-****rt, blue jeans, and socks.
"And you're about to learn that nobody stands in my way," said the
Powerbroker, as a seven-foot muscular being -- one of the criminal's
henchmen -- who was masked and clad in black from head-to-toe materialized
from out of nowhere and stood behind Wexler, "Even a foolish ass like
you!"
Within seconds, the Powerbroker's henchmen grabbed Wexler by his arms and
held them so tight that he couldn't break free, even as the Powerbroker
approached his captive.
"In a few minutes, you'll be dead," said the Powerbroker, "But before
that happens -- you're about to see my true visage -- the last image that
you'll ever see alive."
"W-W-When the Manhunters find my .!", said Wexler, with a hint of fear
in
his voice.
"The Manhunters are gone -- just like the Guardians of the Universe and
the Green Lantern Corps will soon be extinct! Never will they -- or
anyone
else -- will stand between me and absolute power! And in case you need
further proof that I mean what I say .!" Wexler watched as the
Powerbroker
morphed into a being that he had never seen before -- a being who was
completely alien, even to those living on Earth -- and a being who was
about
to become Wexler's
executioner. Once the transformation was complete, the Powerbroker's
right
hand clutched Wexler's throat instantly, while the henchman who assisted
his
master reacted with a sense of sadistic pleasure that equaled that of the
Powerbroker. Then, the Powerbroker, possessing the strength of over a
dozen
men, squeezed Wexler's throat with his right hand so hard, that it broke
the
Manhunter sleeper agent's neck bone instantly, thus killing him within
mere
seconds. Once Wexler was dead, the Powerbroker's henchmen let go of him,
as
his now-lifeless body fell face down on the floor.
"The fool," said the Powerbroker, as he morphed back into his previous
form, "He idolized and served a band of pathetic androids who saw
themselves
as gods -- he should have known better than to wor****p a so-called cult
that
's not only better off dead, but also out of my hair forever."
"What now, master?", asked the Powerbroker's henchmen in a gravelly
voice.
"Leave the fool where he is -- then activate and attach the digital
time
bombs to all four walls of the Grand Temple. After you activate the final
time bomb, we'll take our leave -- by the time the bombs have done their
job, the building that houses the Grand Temple will already be burning to
the ground. And when the authorities arrive on the scene -- and they
will,
believe me -- there'll be little left to connect not only the building to
the Manhunters, but also its utter destruction to us." Within seconds,
the
Powerbroker's henchmen attached four digital time bombs -- all the size of
a
pocket calculator -- to the four adjoining walls of the Manhunters' Grand
Temple. Then, the Powerbroker used a remote control unit to activate the
small but extremely powerful time bombs before throwing the unit itself on
the floor -- all four time bombs would go off in just two minutes, enough
time for the Powerbroker and his henchmen to leave not only the Grand
Temple, but also the building that housed it.
*****
Two minutes later: By the time the Powerbroker and his henchman had
taken
their leave, the digital time bombs exploded, resulting in a fire that
ravaged the building that housed the Manhunters' Grand Temple. By the
time
the firemen arrived on the scene to put out the fire a half-hour later,
there wasn't much left of the building to save -- and no proof that the
Manhunters had once operated there. But then, there was also no proof
that
the Powerbroker had caused the fire that destroyed the building -- the
fire
had destroyed the remote control unit that helped activate the time bombs,
rendering it beyond all repair. As for Wexler's corpse, the intense
flames
and heat resulting from the fire had already cremated it, reducing it to
ashes. The reasons for both the explosion and subsequent fire that it
caused would remain a mystery, not only to the firemen who put out the
fire,
but also the police who attempted to solve said mystery without much
success -- which is exactly how the Powerbroker wanted it.
Meanwhile, the private jet carrying the Powerbroker and his henchman
was
flying 35,000 feet above the ground -- the Powerbroker was, in a sadistic
way, proud of what he had just done; he knew that the authorities wouldn't
connect him with both the explosion and fire that destroyed the building
that secretly housed the Manhunters' Grand Temple -- but then, most of the
world was unaware of the Powerbroker's existence, a fact that he used to
his
advantage.
So much for the Manhunters, thought the Powerbroker, as he sipped a
glass
of Corsican brandy, And as for their successors, the Green Lantern Corps
--
it won't be long before they suffer their final downfall! After all, they
don't know their moronic leaders' greatest secret -- and probably never
will -- even after they decide Sinestro's final fate! The Powerbroker
already knew of the consequences that would eventually arise from either
an
Oan or a Green Lantern killing a native of the planet Korugar -- including
the ruthless alien criminal (and one-time Green Lantern) known as
Sinestro,
whose wave of terror had already destroyed countless planets. The
Powerbroker also predicted -- very correctly -- that, given the horrific
scale of Sinestro's crimes against the universe, the Green Lantern Corps
would eventually end up killing him with their power rings, thus leading
to
the end of the Corps itself.
And the Powerbroker smiled -- for he knew that once the Green Lantern
Corps were finished, another obstacle to his plans would vanish, bringing
him one step closer to ruling the universe. But though the Powerbroker
was
a brilliant and sadistic criminal mastermind, he was hardly infallible, as
several incidents would soon prove him wrong -- including the Green
Lantern
Corps eventually learning the one secret that the Guardians of the
Universe
had kept from them for centuries.
The Powerbroker was also wrong about something else, a miscalculation
born of not only ego and arrogance, but also overconfidence and hindsight:
There were still many super-heroes throughout the universe -- including
Earth -- who still posed a major threat to the Powerbroker and his ilk.
It
was true that self-proclaimed demigods like the Powerbroker might triumph
now and then -- but in the end, their dreams of absolute power in all its
perverse forms would ultimately prove to be their downfall, at the hands
of
not only every super-hero in existence, but also the very universe that
they
've sworn to protect, and who owed them an eternal debt of gratitude that
will certainly never be repaid.
Dedicated to the memories of JIM APARO & IRV NOVICK -- J.L.
The characters mentioned in this story are the respective trademarks and
properties of DC Comics ©2005
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