Chapter 11: [Business and Pleasure] - Part 3 – Galactic Gladiator
"Pleasure in the Job puts Perfection in the Work" - Aristotle
*DOOM*
Week 2 – Fight Week
3rd POV
A gladiator (Latin: gladiator, "swordsman", from gladius, "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals.
Pop Culture often depicts them as brutal fights to death for the screaming bloodthirsty masses. In truth only one in ten matches ended in death. Then Gladiators were the celebrity athletes of their era, no different than an American Football Hero or Boxing Champion. They were trained, fed, and clothed by owners who put a lot of money into their development. They had endorsement deals just like modern sport stars and some Ancient roman walls are even covered in Graffiti about them.
The Venturan Gladiator Pit is a mix of options.
Powerful and skilled servants can choose to fight against each other under rules. Those rules usually include no killing because of how expensive these Servants are. It takes a lot of money and resources to make a high-tier servant and the rich and powerful didn't become that way by wasting resources.
Servant Gladiators fighting criminals is rare. It's usually a criminal who was committed crimes against the owner of the Gladiator. If the criminal wins, he is shown mercy by the owner, if the gladiator wins, the criminal is either punished severely or he is dead. This is actually a holdover from the Venturan aristocracy who loved to gamble on the lives of criminals.
Servant Gladiators against murderous creatures from across the Galaxy is the most dangerous option. It's also the most profitable with the best prizes. These creatures range from simply vicious animals to legendary monsters of distant worlds. It's an old saying that only a True Hero or a True Monster can kill a True Monster.
A few years ago, animal rights protesters attempted to free the creatures from this "cruel blood sport", only for all of them dying at the claws and teeth of said creatures while attempting to free them. The creatures in these cages aren't kind forest creatures twisted by sentient cruelty, they are either super-predators that were threats to even their home ecosystems or horrific mutations that don't belong in nature.
"Rosch Royal. I'm here to register my Servants for the Venturan Dark Tournament."
Week Two has begun and it's time for Major Quest.
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
Servant vs Servant Doubles
Day 1 – June 25, 2012
Fight – Starfire and Blackfire vs Rubina and Saphira
3rd POV
Blackfire and Starfire dressed in Gladiator costume stand in the center of an Arena. These costumes/armor makes them look like Earth Amazons like Diana. Starfire is dressed in green/black, while Blackfire is dressed in purple/black.
There opponents are also two beautiful women. The identical twins are five-foot-seven with blue-green eyes, light tan skin, and long red hair. They are both dressed in black-and-gold gladiator armor with different color inset gemstones. One of the twins has bright red gemstones, while the other has deep blue gemstones.
"Royal Tamaranan sisters trained by the Warlords of Okaara. This is going to be interesting." says Saphira, "Our people avoid the Vega system due to those Psion freaks."
"We are not familiar with your species – Argenteusan? Doesn't it mean silvery?"
"Yes." says Rubina as her skin turns polished metallic silver. Her eyes have also turned a reddish grey, but her hair is unchanged. Her sister Saphira also transforms.
Argenteus is not the true name of the planet, it's just the closest word that is pronounceable in English. It means Silvery, which is appropriate since the planet appears silvery from orbit. This is due to its glaciers, white deserts, and gray oceans. The natives also possess the ability to generate bio-metallic armor.
"FIGHT!"
Starfire delivers a punch to Rubina's face causing her to slide back. A blow that could send a human soldier flying, but Rubina easily tanks it. Rubina's own punch does the same low amount of damage. The fully armored amazon of Argenteus matches the Tamaran in strength and durability. They begin to exchange punches at increasing speed, slowly floating into the air.
Saphira spins while forming a rod of purple plasma energy. She uses the fiery rod like staff weapon and strikes at Blackfire multip0le times. Blackfire blocks the blows with her hands and forearms. The purple plasma can't burn her Tamaran skin and disperses harmless against the orange flesh. Blackfire fires a barrage of blackbolts that knock Saphira back, but her silvery bio-armor disperse the heat and radiant energy.
Blackfire and Saphira stare at each other for a moment, then smirk. If they can't win with their energy manipulation, they'll just beat the crap out of each other.
Starfire and Rubina's fight is getting faster and faster, making this fight resemble a Dragon Ball fight before it became all about beam battles and screaming. It's actually reached the point they are starting to draw blood from each other. Suddenly, Starfire delivers blows to Rubina's stomach while detonating her starbolts. The shockwave travels through Rubina's body causing her a cough blood.
"Where did you learn that move?" coughs Rubina
"Earth. A little planet in the middle of nowhere" says Starfire as she moves forward.
"Nice place?" says Rubina delivering a kick, that Starfire catches.
"It has more lunatics than this place has gambling addicts." as she slams Rubina into the ground, then twists the silver-skinned warrior's leg into a lock. Detonating a starbolt spins her around, violently twisting Rubina's leg. Rubina can feel something tear and she knows she has lost.
Saphira and Blackfire are both blood knights, loving the thrill of the fight. The difference is Saphira trained on their home world with professional trainers and Blackfire was trained on Okarra and Earth.
Blackfire delivers a brutal combo of punches, then uses her blackbolt detonations to drive her elbow into Saphira's face. While the silver-skinned sister is dazed, Blackfire double slaps her with explosively charged hands giving her a concussion. She then twists Saphira's arm, spinning her into position for a brutal kick
Saphira hits the ground unconscious with bruises appearing as her bio-armor is reabsorbed.
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
Servant vs Beast
Day 2 – June 26, 2012
Fight – Ash Grey vs "Black Storm Lion"
A-Rank Match
1st POV
Black Storm Lion was captured during an archeological mission on a jungle. It slaughtered hundreds of people, before it was finally captured. It was then sold at Auction for 500 million. I call it Black Storm Lion because its overly long fancy name translates to "Pure Black Great Lightning Storm Maned Feline Forest King".
The massive creature in front of Ash Grey looks like an immense feline. Its immense muscular body looks like it's composed of black stone with glowing turquoise markings. It's mane and claws are composed of a sharp gold-color metal and its sharp teeth is composed of a metal that resembles polished silver. It growls as it stares at me with glowing turquoise eyes.
I dodge clear as he lunges at me at superhuman speed. The burst of speed surpasses the speed of sound and goes beyond the ability of many eyes to track. Compared to the shadows used by my grey-skinned girls, the Lion might as well be moving in slow motion.
The Lion continues to use its speed boost ability and I continue to dodge its attacks. I make it seem like I'm only barely dodging because Rorschach told me to hold things back. I can imagine he wants the best odds for his gambling and the gambling of his new acquaintances.
The next roar releases a burst of glowing blue plasma which ignites into a stream of intense flame. The alien lion just has to breathe fire as well. I let the flames hit me because dodge would demonstrate how fast I really am. As the flames stop, I rush forward barely avoid lightning bolt generated from his mane. I grab one of the lion's large fangs and snap it off, causing the beats to cry out in pain and surprise.
The massive lion releases a shockwave of turquoise energy, but I have already jumped into the air. As I land on its back, I flip off before its tail can scorpion sting me with its needle-like tip. As I land, I spin and drive the tip of the broken fang into one of glowing marks. The mark releases a burst of glowing turquoise liquid and fades, causing the Lion to shake with pain.
I follow the pattern, avoiding the blows and attacks of the massive stone lion, while stabbing the marks on its body. Each mark reacts the same releasing bursts of a strange energetic liquid and fading. When the last mark fades, the Lion's movements slow to a crawl.
In desperation, it releases a blast of cyan-green energy from its mouth, which I can't actually dodge. It smells of magic and life, and when the blast ends, I'm still standing. The ground around me has been incinerated leaving a shadow of undamaged ground behind me.
I notice the silver fang in my hand is mostly broken, reduced to a burning hot shard of metal. I toss it like a throwing dagger, using what I learned from the Bat clan. The blade sinks deep into one of the eyes of the beast. In a burst of my own speed, I deliver a blow to the metal fragment hammering it into the Lion's body. The Lion lets out a final cry as more turquoise liquid sprays from the damaged right eye, then collapses dead to the ground. The glow in its left eye fading away.
"WINNER ASHEN GREY!"
I have a question, how did something from Team Ico end up in Young Justice? That creature was like something from Shadow of the Colossus and Last Guardian.
I also wonder what odds did I get because this "Lion" was A-Rank
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
Two vs Two – Death Match
Day 3 – June 27, 2012
Fight – Raven & Jade vs Jared & Jacob
3rd POV
Raven's eyes narrow at the two men that approach her and Jade. She can sense very familiar magic emanating from them. The fact that they demanded a death match means this is very personal to them.
Jared is a tall, muscular humanoid that looks like African-American man from Earth. He has brown eyes, dark skin, and a bald head. He's dressed in a white shirt, dark pants, and combat boots. He has a very angry look on his face and looks ready to fight.
Jacob is a tall, lean athletic man that looks like a European pretty boy. He has blue eyes, light skin, and short black hair. He's wearing a form fitting pale-blue-and-white body suit. He's staring at Raven and Jade with lustful gaze.
"Do I know any of you?"
"We have never met, but we do know you, Raven."
"FIGHT!"
Jacob's hands glow red and a dome of red energy forms around them.
"An Illusion Barrier?"
Protected Spaces, Illusion Barriers, and Bounded Field are names for areas that have been magically severed from the surrounding world. People and things outside the barrier can't perceive what happens on the inside the barrier, only what the master wants them to perceive. People inside the barrier can use their magical powers to their fullest without interference of the outsiders and the world's natural laws.
"We all wanted to meet you."
Masses of swirling darkness detach themselves from Jarod and Jacob. These dark masses burst to reveal four more teenagers.
One is a tall, lean First nations (Native American) man with green eyes and long black hair reaching his shoulders. He wears a loose blue shirt and brown pants, with a red-orange jacket. He crosses his arms and sneers at the girls.
The second is a tall, very thin man with half-closed gray eyes and long flowing black hair. He's dressed like a rebellious biker, but doesn't look like he's done a day of work in his life. He doesn't even remain standing, instead sinking to the ground and crossing his legs.
The third is an obese man with brown eyes, pale skin, and a bald head. He's dressed in a large blue t-shirt, large red shorts, and sandals. He isn't focused on the fight, instead he's focused on the sounds of his rumbling stomach.
The fourth is a tall, lean man with dark eyes and buzzcut black hair. He's dressed in an expensive looking black business suit. He looks like he should be making million-dollar deals in New York instead of being in an Arena on Ventura.
"Jason, Jack, Jeffery, and James" says Jacob, "We Six half-brothers wanted to meet you, big sister."
Raven's eyes widen at the words "Big sister", as she realizes these six are the Sons of Trigon.
The six half-demons begin to transform into their demonic forms. Their skin reddens, their ears become long and pointed, their faces shift from two human eyes to four glowing eyes. The transformations are not all alike, as some continue to mutate. Jacob grows and becomes grotesquely muscular like those Kobra Venom subjects Ash told Raven about.
She guesses it's because Wrath is her father's primary sin along with pride.
"Wrath, Lust, Envy. Sloth, Gluttony, and Greed." announces Raven, indicating Jared, Jacob, Jason, Jack, Jeffery, and James in that Order." The Seven Deadly Sins of Man"
"Correct, Big Sister Pride." says Jacob/Lust, "While the spectators watch an even magical battle, the six of us get to talk to you."
"I'm listening." says Raven crossing her arms.
"We know your story. How you mother was drawn into a demon cult and was impregnated by a disguised Trigon. How your mother was whisked away to Azarath. You trained until you accidently-"
"Skip It."
"Trigon believed you would eventually fall, but he decided he needed a backup in case you resisted. The Cult continued on Earth and six more mothers were selected, reach child infused with his lesser sins. After your trip to Hell, he awoke us to corrupt you. We have other plans."
"I have a question." asks Jade
"Yes, beautiful." replies Jacob
"Raven would be 16 now, if her time in Hell hadn't given her a four-year advancement. Why do you look older than her?"
"The Sins not only grant power, but adapt us to their power and even grant us knowledge connected to them. As Lust, I gained knowledge of seduction and psychology. Wrath gained knowledge of fighting and violence. Gluttony has impressive knowledge of culture and cuisine. Greed has vast knowledge of business, economics, and mathematics."
"Envy is skilled in theft and espionage. Sloth grants knowledge of strategy, games, and traps." finishes Raven, spooking the brothers.
"How did you know?"
"I have already taken them." says Raven standing behind them. The six brothers except for James and Jack turn to see Raven in her full demon form. She has the four glowing eyes, red skin, pointed ears, and black lips, but unlike them she also has horns. This indicates she is in a different class than her little half-brothers. In the palms of her hands are two burning flames with black symbols in the center.
The perfect illusions of human Raven and human Jade dissolve. Jade in her full Oni Queen of Darkness form appears next to James. The illusion continues to fade revealing a shadow sword in her hand piercing his head. As the last of the illusion fades it reveals Jason/Envy's four red eyes have darkened in death.
"How?"
"Experience. We have been fighting for a far longer time and have fought things far stronger than you six." says Jade, her age showing in her words,
Jack/Sloth slumps over dead.
"Raargh!" screams Jared in rage, his muscles growing even larger as he tries to strike Jade with his meaty fist. To the Queen of the Shadowkahn he might as well be moving in slow motion. She slides out the way and lets Jared hit her shadow sword, the edge of the sword. The absurdly sharp blade slices clean through the fingers of the fist and stops half way through the forearm.
Jared was always an angry violent boy. When facing a problem, he would often resort to violence and with his strength he often solves the problem or make it worse. He was never one for strategy.
As the blade vanishes, Jared grabs his mutilated limb, trying to stop the spray. Five more lightning quick slashes make deep cuts and Jared finds himself falling towards the ground. One final slash severs Jared's head.
Gluttony whimpers as he stares into his big sister's fiery glowing eyes. All the arrogance he once possessed evaporated before the power before him.
Jeffery before he awoke as a half-demon was a pathetic man. He grew up a spoiled rich kid, who always got anything he wanted to eat. He was bullied because of his weight, so he stayed home and ate. When he gained demonic power, he got revenge on the bullies by setting them on fire. He didn't learn to properly use his powers.
Raven demonstrates what her fiery power can do by setting him ablaze. Normally demons are fire resistant, but the hellfire of higher tier demons can bypass their defenses. The excessive amount of fat also helps Jeffery burn as Raven collects his Sin power.
James was the grandson of businesswoman, who believed in money above everything. The man's greed was so infamous he practically pimped his daughter to clients. That is the reason she ran away and joined a cult. When James gained demonic powers he made his grandfather's business crash, then force fed the man molten gold.
James is smart enough to attempt to escape his big sister and her female lover. He's running towards the edge of the barrier and he almost reaches it, when he feels pain and can longer feel his legs. He continues to crawl towards the barrier and can almost touch it, when his arm falls off. He doesn't cry out as he knows it's pointless and he doesn't look up. Then everything goes black.
Jade steps away from the body and looks towards the last "fight."
Jacob is panicking. All of his plans have been destroyed in a manner of seconds. His mother was celebrity who in her youth only joined the Cult of Trigon to escape an defy her strict religious father. When he gained his demonic power, he thought he had hit the jackpot. Any woman – no matter how rich, powerful, religious, or bias - would become his plaything and he could ruin the careers of other actors. When he learned of Trigon and his siblings, he saw a chance to gain power.
"You planned on taking the power of your brothers when they died, so you would be strong enough to take me on."
"How?"
"You're not the only fool to come up with that idea and you won't be the last."
Jacob tries to shatter the illusion barrier, so he can escape in the confusion, but nothing happens.
"Your barrier? I took control of it. It was easy considering how weak you are compared to me." says Raven as she slowly walks closer.
"I... I have knowledge. Connections. Can... Can we make a d... deal?" Jacob stutters out as he tries to think of a solution. "Please, Big Sister."
Raven grabs him by the throat and lifts him off the ground. His body glows as the [Sin of Lust] is pulled out of Jacob's body into Raven's palm with the other five sins. Jacob reverts to his human form and Raven casually snaps his neck and drops him.
Raven absorbs the Sins into her own body and Raven's horns elongate becoming more like her father's more massive ones. The rest of her body also seems to mature, becoming older with her dark red skin having black tribal-looking markings.
"You Ok, Raven?" asks Jade, as she reverts to her human form.
"I'm fine, Jade." says Raven reverting to her human form, "I just getting a weird sensation from my father."
"Weird?"
"I sense of pride. If he was human, he would be cheering like a soccer mom."
Jade images Trigon the Terrible from Raven descriptions. Then images him as a female human dressed as a middle-class suburban mother with a Raven T-shirt. She didn't use to have such a vivid imagination for weird shit, but some of her uncle's magic powders were hallucinogenic and not completely legal.
The Illusion Barrier shatters and the crowd cheers at the slaughter on the field. There are some sounds of confusion and it takes a minute for the Judges to call the match. They quickly decide if Team A kills the original Team B, even if Team B summons more members illegally, it still counts as a Win. If anything, it proves Jade and Raven make for a lethal team.
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
One vs One
Day 4 – June 28, 2012
Fight – Plastic Man vs The Solitaire
3rd POV
Patrick "Eel" O'Brian wonders how he ended up in this mess.
Rorschach called him about spending two weeks on a gambling planet of all places. He was tempted to go, and Batman ordered him to go to keep an eye on things, but since Rorschach already knew it didn't technically count as a double-cross? Rorschach, Ash, and a collection of beautiful and dangerous women travelled to this world as well in a legit Roswell flying saucer with the interior to rival a cruise liner.
At first it was awesome because Rorschach as "Rosch Royal" never stopped winning and soon I was carting an obscene amount of Casino Tokens (which oddly enough look like Vegas Casino Poker Chips).
The supervillain dying was a little upsetting, but you shouldn't mess around with items made by a literal Devil; you don't need to be a raised by Catholic Nuns to know that fact.
The talent show was fun. Who knew Ash such a deep singing voice or that the Kitaen sisters could dance like that. He also got to meet another elastic shapeshifter – Aqualina. The pink goat-girl was very friendly to everyone and they became friends over drinks.
The Impersonation of Rosch Royal during the Pirate extermination wasn't too difficult. All he had to do was play the part of supremely confident fabulous super-rich gambler.
Now, he has to fight in a Gladiatorial Arena against someone called the Mountain.
The Solitaire turns out to be massive extraterrestrial standing 3 meters tall (9'10). He's a very muscular insect humanoid with large gold yellow eyes with black sclera, dark slate color flesh covered by black exoskeletal armor, long antenna, and short bristles on top of his head. He looks like the fusion of homo erectus and a cockroach.
"I'm the guy Rosch hired to carry the money; I didn't expect to end up in Arena." says Plastic Man starring at his opponent.
"After I defeat you, it will be my fortieth win in the Arena. The Boss said I could have anything I want." says The Solitaire, his voice distorted and electronic.
"That's nice."
"I'm going to ask for Aqualina."
"What?"
The Mountain leans in close, starring down at Plastic Man.
"I'm going to ask for Aqualina. Most females I play with don't last long, but the rubber female should last longer than most. Her body at least." says the 3-meter-tall roach man, "I noticed that you liked her, so I decided to tell you. I want you know what will happen after I win and you are left broken."
"You shouldn't say things like that, Bug. It will get you squashed."
"FIGHT!"
The Solitaire is a very dangerous opponent possessing immense durability capable of shrugging off blows from Kryptonians. He also possesses immense strength that has allowed it to easily crush most of his opponents. The Solitaire is a descendent of those earlier experiments before the creation of The Reach Scarabs.
The Solitaire was not expecting to be launched into the air by a red rubbery spring platform. Nor did he expect his opponent to turn into a giant flyswatter and strike him several times. To be fair, the Reach entertainment services don't have Looney Toons.
The Solitaire delivers brutal blows, but Plastic Man's body folds and flows around him. Pattrick needs to jump off again, when beams of energy shoot from Solitaire's transforming arms. Solitaire's entire body begins to transform, generating bio-metallic blades and directed energy weapons. He releases a barrage of beams, that cause many explosions and forms a cloud of smoke and debris particles. Solitaire walks forward, his infrared scanning for heat signatures but the ground is still hot.
"Do you really think a piece of rubber can stop a Lost Number. I am sole surviving specimen of the Reach's biotech warrior experiments. I have been alive for thousands of years. Do you really think you can win?"
"In one word – Yes!"
Plastic Man who disguised himself as the ground, moves and causes the former Reach soldier to fall. Plastic Man's body then wraps and flows around the warrior, this time avoiding being cut by the blades or covering the barrels of the energy weapons. The Solitaire opens his mouth to scream obscenities at Plastic only for plastic's fingers to flow down his mouth and into Solitaire's very organic lungs.
When Solitaire was transformed into bio-organic weapon by the scientists of the Reach, he was given many abilities. If he was exposed to poisonous gases or the vacuum of black, a face plate would close and he would breathe using an internal system. That system wasn't designed to handle a liquified Irishman pouring into the lungs. The blood oxygen levels quickly drop and soon Solitaire – the Solitary Weapon – collapses unconscious. Plastic Man then quickly gets off his opponent and makes a thumbs up for the crowd.
Plastic Man's face makes very goofy shapes when Aqualina runs/bounces up to him and kisses him.
*DOOM*
Black Card Luxury Box #1
Same Time
3rd POV
"So, we have an agreement." ask Rosch Royal in his private Black Carder box.
"Yes. I will miss my little pink dancer, but I believe she will have more fun on this Earth." says Aqualina's former master, a green-skinned well-dressed member of The Reach. "Earth appears to have a lot of potential."
"It's a young world with a lot of potential, and with my genius, that potential will be realized in full."
The Reach agent picks up case of tokens and leaves without a word. As the door closes, Rorschach turns back to the Arena.
"You don't even realize how much potential Earth has." says Rorschach, as he drinks from a water bottle, "Aqualina now has an Earth identity complete with apartment and a job with Cognito PR."
Watching Aqualina get more passionate with Patrick, causing the Irishman to look like a melting Loony Toon character, one thought thusly dominated his mind.
"Damn, I need to get myself a girlfriend..."
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
Servant vs Beast
Day 5 – June 29, 2012
Fight – Ash Grey vs Crystal Daikaijū.
Class AA+
1st POV
"Why am I fighting a Daikaijū?"
Daikaiju is a Japanese term meaning "giant strange beast" or "great strange beast". It's a refers to the immense monsters of Tokusatsu ("special filming") entertainment. Giant monsters like Godzilla, Mothra, King Kong, and Gamera.
My enemy is massive, even larger than Dragon King's ascended form. In size, it's over a hundred and fifty meters tall, but 60% of that height is neck. It's still the tallest opponent I have ever faced.
In shape, it looks like a cross between a gigantic quadruped sauropod dinosaur and a tortoise with two heads. It has thick legs, a huge torso covered by a thick spiky shell, a long tail ending in thin spikes, and two long necks ending in beaked heads like those of snapping turtles. There are spikes on its heads and going down the necks and tail. The massively thick legs are also covered in layers of protective spikes. I wonder how they control the beast, but then I notice objects resembling electrodes piercing the sides of each head.
In composition, its body is composed of a hard mixture of black rock and dark grey metallic substances with glowing blue veins and cracks. The spikes on its body are made of translucent glowing blue crystals occasionally streaked by pink-purple. These numerous crystals are extremely hot, producing high amounts of ionizing radiation and the occasional electrical discharge.
Both heads roar and release jets of super-heated plasma and radioactive particles. The multi-layered force field of Arena block both the particles and the radiation from escaping. After the battle, the shield will be compressed into a super dense baseball of debris and shot into the planet's magma.
"FIGHT"
One of the two heads of Crystal Kaiju release there breathe attacks, because of course they have breathe attacks. I'm not worried about the first atomic breath beyond its ability to push me back. The radiation, heat, and heavy particles do no damage to me, but the heat melts the ground around me making it hard to keep my footing. It's like trying to walk forward on melting butter when being pushed by the winds of the hurricane.
The other head releases its own breath attack, which is a cone of glowing green gases and particles. When it hits me, I feel something which is not a good thing. I notice my clothing and grey skin is covered in green sparkles. Those sparkles grow to become crystals stuck to my body. Those crystals continue to grow, fusing together, until I'm inside of rough spherical mass of glowing green crystal.
I can hear the announcer despite my ears being covered in over a foot of crystal (You got to love BS Kryptonian hearing). The announcer mentions the crystal kaiju (using its weird long name) creates radioactive crystals based on its opponent's physiology, encasing the target in crystals that produce the radiation that hurts the target the most.
I'm immune to radiation, so it must have defaulted to what was my worse weakness. I'm surrounded by a rough sphere of Green Kryptonite! I smile, then shatter the crystal around me. Poor kaiju, you might as well toss me into Willy Wonka's chocolate river. I grab the largest fragment of my former prison and begin to eat it.
I ignore the radioactive plasma, crystal sand blaster, and lightning attacks the kaiju hits me with over and over again. I continue to eat the radioactive crystal that tastes like gourmet chocolate to me. Some of the gamblers are laughing at my crystal eating, some making bets on how much I would consume before the kaiju tried to consume me.
I'm waiting for one of the head to devour me. I have to wait a couple minutes as I think whoever is controlling this beast made a bet. Then the left head attacks me, it's ultrahard beak opened wide to devour me. I jump at the open mouth, curling into a ball, and fly down it's throat before it can snap its beak close.
Now, that I'm no longer visible to the crowd I deploy my bone spikes. As I travel down it's esophagus (or what passes for one), I slice everything around me, but don't pierce the scales or spine. The beast's controller knows it made a mistake, but it doesn't know how big a mistake. Once I reach what passes for a stomach, I go into a frenzy tearing at everything, while holding back just enough so I don't fall out.
This creature's organs are tough, ranging from dense flesh to almost solid rock and metal. Its fluids are corrosive and hot enough to melt lead, but my bone blades pierce and cut. I try out some of my other abilities, but the creature seems to be immune to heat. I do sense something, a core of hatred and sorrow in its depths.
Inside its chest, I find as a huge glowing stone nested between its two huge hearts. I grab the stone and, in my frenzy, take a bite. Memories flood my mind, the creature's memories and memories of its home.
It's home world possessed vast amount of energy and a living spirit that protected the world. When life was born, a spirit from the flow would be born inside them. When living creatures died, there spirits would return to that flow of energy. Eventually the inhabitants of the world attempted to extract the energy of the flow for their own use. After too much energy was stolen, the planet's spirit created monsters to stop the drain. Centuries later, people from beyond the stars came and did as the people of the world did. This time the miners did not stop when the monsters appeared. Instead, they killed the planet's spirit. Two head was the last monster born.
I shake off the memories. I have had enough of the Final Fantasy/Tales plot and use my destructive energy on the Core, annihilating it and its memories. I then destroy the two hearts to end the beast's life.
*DOOM*
Outside the Body
3rd POV
The crowd watched as Ashen Grey was devoured by the Spirit-Borne Two-Headed Crystal-Beast Monster King. They then watched the creature cough up its glowing orange blood in increasing amounts. The beast started to struggle and shake as if having a seizure. Its torso bulged in places as it's roars became weaker and weaker. Finally, it collapsed releasing pitiful sounds (which Earthlings would compare to whale song). Finally, the glow of its eyes fades and the eyes close.
There is a pause. It lasts for a couple minutes.
Then, Ashen Grey explodes from Monster King's shell, shattering several of the crystal spikes in the process.
"Ashen Grey! Ashen Grey! Ashen Grey!"
The audience cheers for its champion and the champion smiles.
*DOOM*
Day 6 - June 30, 2012 – I did not compete today in the Gladiatorial Arena. I was given a day off and spent it relaxing. It will also take time to clean the arena from all the damage it has endured. I fight the champion tomorrow for the Big Prize that Rorschach had us enter this arena for. I hope it's worth all this trouble.
The champion is called 11Eyes. There was an anime called that, based on am adult visual novel. It had a bunch of teenagers with supernatural abilities fighting against monsters, black knights named after the seven sins, and a witch named Liselotte I mostly remember it for its awesome opening.
*DOOM*
Black Gladiator Pit
Servant vs Champion
Day 7 – July 1, 2012
Final Fight – 11Eyes
Class S+
1st POV
As I enter the Arena, I'm a little nervous. 11Eyes is powerful enough to destroy his opponents with only his words. Some of his opponents have died before the fight could even begin and the one who survived (because his owner forfeited) was left emotionally, psychological, and spiritual broken. 11Eyes isn't even this being's real name, it's what his opponent's shouted before collapsing. Those facts combined with the fact this creature is a shapeshifter that takes the form similar to its opponent makes me believe this thing is a humanoid abomination.
11Eyes in his human form is 30-year-old Chinese man standing 176.5 cm (5' 9.5") with dark brown eyes and short jet-black hair. The pale man is dressed in pristine black pants, shirt, suit jacket and shoes. He also wears a white priest collar and a black long coat. Around his neck is rosary, but instead of a cross or crucifix he wears the Asymmetric Star of Chaos.
"Greetings, Ash Grey the Doomsday. I am Black-Tower-of-the-Eleven-Stars, but the people of this realm call me Eleven Eyes." 11Eyes says in a guttural inhuman language that should be unpronounceable with a humanoid tongue. It starts to give me a headache at the beginning, but quickly stops.
"Greetings. I have to say you're the most unique opponent I have faced." I reply in the same language. I'm surprise I can make those sounds and it makes my tongue numb.
"My native language is not spoken. We use lights most people can't see, touch with limbs most cannot feel, and share parts of our inner selves which mortals cannot heal. Translating my language into the primitive spoken word is difficult as so much emotion and meaning is lost. When I try to create the correct words, my words destroy the mind of listener. You and your masked friend can't hear my words of my soul, but your minds don't fall to madness with my spoken words."
"So why are you fighting in a Gladiatorial Arena?"
"I need to face an opponent strong enough to shatter me. A being powerful enough to destroy me completely. The prize is something I found in the depths of space and I knew many would desire. Now, let's begin." says 11Eyes as he turns to the referee in the tower inside a sound-proof booth and nods.
"FIGHT!"
I feel a wave of unnaturalness wash over me. It reminds me of the Soul Malice I encountered in hell, only a billion times worse. The dark energy is fundamentally wrong, something that should not exist in this universe.
11Eyes raises his hand and I'm pierced by an unseen attack. My vision goes black. The attack pierces where the Larynx, Spine, Lungs, Liver, Jugular, Subclavian artery, both Kidneys, and Heart would be in a Human or Kryptonian would be. There are also two shots that go through the eyes and pierce the skull and would have destroyed the brain if I was human or Kryptonian.
Instead of dying like a normal creature, I regenerate the damage in seconds. My regeneration is getting faster and faster, improving with all of my other abilities. I can feel my body strengthening itself after healing the immense damage.
The crowd is roaring in amazement and excitement. I turn and look behind me. The attack was so powerful, there are eleven burning points in the Arena wall behind me.
I turn back and instinctively release my Abyss Roar. A brilliant white wave of destructive energy washes over 11Eyes. Within that light, matter breaks down on a molecular level. Many of the audience would compare the attack to the massive guns of warships capable of vaporizing battleships in space. When my attack stops, there is a trench in the arena, but 11Eyes is still alive.
11Eyes is severely burnt, missing an arm and damaged organs exposed. It looks worse than Victor Stone when he was caught in the lab explosion. 11Eyes doesn't show any form of pain or discomfort from his injuries. Instead, the flesh regenerates instantly, including the arm. I haven't seen regeneration that fast since I watched the Upper Moon Demons of Demon Slayer anime! The fake priest clothing also regenerates, just not as fast.
We stare at each other for a moment, then run towards each other at speeds beyond sight and sound. We are moving faster than I have ever experienced, but I'm focused on my opponent, my prey. As our fists collide, there is a huge shockwave and his flesh ripples. For a brief instant I see an image in my mind of a tower.
We continue to trade punches at increasing speeds. I never thought I would one day pull off "Rapid-Fire Fistcuffs". I don't know how many thousands of punches I'm sending out a second, but the air is distorted from the speeds they are travelling at. 11Eyes attacks are just as fast and much to my surprise, they continue to cause damage. I quickly realize he's changing his attacks every few seconds, using a different power as my body adapts to the previous one.
*DOOM*
This fight goes beyond the physical realm, I can feel the Tree of Death within me pulsate with energy. I feel something bloom within me and my mind becomes divided. While my physical body continues to attack the physical body, my other self perceives another plane of existence. I see 11Eyes's true form and understand what I'm fighting.
It's true form is monstrous being resembling an immense dark tower of pulsating flesh and otherworldly metal and stone. It must be over a thousand meters tall with a radius of over a hundred meters. Above and below the tower branches like a tree into a countless number of tendrils. Those tendrils are covered in glowing eyes and inhuman mouths. On the front of the tower of flesh are eleven eyes that glow like purple stars and pulsate with a heart's beat.
I can sense its foreign emotions. The closest comparable emotion being sheer joy.
I can see it's memories – a billion years' worth of memories of things indescribable to humans. It can see my memories – a few decades worth of mundane human life and my new life.
I do not need to look to know what is behind me. An immense tree composed of black metal that pulsates like living flesh of animals. It's something that has transcended mortal logic, but something that is connected to me on the deepest level. It was there before I awoke in Cadmus Beta and I felt it with me in the depths of hell. It is eternal and it is also me.
*DOOM*
A fierce wind blows from the impact of our blows and I'm smiling. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying this fight. I'm fighting a humanoid abomination that is hurting me over and over again, but I'm on the verge of a laughing like a manic. Is this how true blood knights feel like? Kenpachi you are a lucky bastard.
"You see my memories, 11Eyes. Do you remember these words?"
He hits me with a punch so powerful, my body forms a crater in the Arena wall. It doesn't slow me down as I jump from the hole, making it even larger. We start throwing each other around, even when in the air.
"A Hero is one who smashes through every obstacle life puts in his way."
I swing 11 Eyes around and throw him into the ground causing an explosion on impact. He bounces from the impact.
"Do you know what I speak, villain?"
I land next to him and deliver my strongest punch. As my fist collides and folds 11Eyes, there is an explosion of light and heat
"GO BEYOND! PLUS... ULTRAAAA!"
11Eyes streaks like a bullet into the air, striking the barriers surrounding the arena. The barrier generators explode as 11Eyes continues to sour, piercing the clouds and beyond.
I turn around to see 11Eyes standing behind me.
"Thank you, Ash." says 11Eyes with a joyful smile on his face. I watch as a faint purple glow spreads across his body, which then gets brighter and brighter. There is flash and 11Eyes's body disintegrates into vanishing purple particles.
On that other plane of existence, I know what is happening on some level. The immense tower of flesh also disintegrates into purple particles just as quickly as his physical body, despite the insane difference in size.
"ASHEN GREY! ASHEN GREY! ASHEN GREY!"
The crowds are cheering loudly. Fireworks are going off and metallic confetti is falling.
*DOOM*
Black Card Luxury Box #1
Same Time
3rd POV
Rosch Royal, the disguised Rorschach, can only stare in amazement. Ash Grey just pulled off the impossible, copying All Might's battle against the Nomu.
"Unbelievable..."
He gets a notification from the Gamer. The notification for completing the Gladiatorial Arena Quest is there, but there is also something New.
[Ash Grey has met the Requirements to Unlock the reveal of Hidden Ability. Hidden Ability is now revealed to Rorschach and Ash Grey]
[Eternal Soul - Users possess a soul that cannot be destroyed or take any form of damage, in addition to always existing, rendering them completely immune to all manner of spiritual alteration or destruction including their absolute versions.]
"Eternal Soul!?" yells Ash Grey over the communicators.
"Ash, you know about these powers?"
"It's a power I saw on superpowers wikia. Only Gods, Dragonborn, and the most broken Isekai characters have this ability. Rorschach, this is Heaven's Feel!"
" . . . Oh! MY! GAWWWD!"
A moment later [A Gamer's Mind] mellowed him out.
*DOOM*
Ventura Space Dock Black – 01
Orbit of Ventura
6 Hours Later
1st POV
Everyone is together and walking towards the destination. Rorschach and Me are in front with Starfire, followed by Raven, Jade, and Blackfire, and Priss, Max, and Pattrick in the rear. Aqualina is also with Pattrick as she is joining Plastic Man on Earth. Plastic is using a cartoony buff arm to pull luggage.
"Rorschach, we came to Ventura to get a new body for Silver Saucer's AI, right?"
"Yes. This is where the new ship is docked."
"I hope the new ship is worth the problems we went through. It was a fun fight, but I don't want to go around fighting cosmic horrors. The last thing we need is the Cancerverse."
"Cancerverse?" asks Starfire, looking worried.
"In another universe, a space hero tragically died of cancer and became a legacy character. In one of the darker universes, he made a deal with the many-angled ones and destroyed death. The entire universe became a corrupt cancer-ridden nightmare ruled by Lovecraftian horrors and evil heroes."
"That's horrifying."
"I have read worst. Remind me to tell you about Bat Metal or Black Pharaoh. Then again, remind me not to. You'll sleep easier."
Rounding the corner, our ultimate prize is revealed, eyes save for Rorschach's going wide.
In drydock before us is an immense space battleship, 400 meters in total length, 290 meters wide, and 160 meters high. It resembles a cross between an old-fashioned galleon and a battleship from Earth, the bow bearing a large skull and crossbones symbol like the Jolly Rogers from the same planet. Floating above it is what remains of the Silver Saucer, the vessel hollowing itself out like liquid metal into the ship below it, over 80% of the original vessel already liquidated.
"What the FUCK!"
"I know, right? It looks just like the Dreadnaught from the "Space Booty" episode of Megas XLR~" says Rorschach with a knowing grin.
"Which must have been an expy or parody." I interrupt, "That is the Arcadia! The ship of Captain Harlock!"
"Captain Harlock?" asks Plastic Man.
"He's the protagonist of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock is the archetypical Romantic hero, a space pirate with an individualist philosophy of life. He is as noble as he is taciturn, rebellious, stoically fighting against totalitarian regimes, whether they be Earth-born or alien. In his own words, he fights for no one's sake only for something deep in his heart." I quote from the Wikipedia, "Lars in Steven Universe even cosplayed as him when he became a space pirate against the Gem Empire."
Leiji Matsumoto is a well-known creator of anime and manga. Matsumoto is famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999. He was also the production supervisor for the Daft Punk Music Video movie Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.
"Where the Fuck did 11Eyes find this!?"
"Searching records." says the AI of the ship, "The ship was called [Pastoral Simplicity and Happiness]. It was designed by [Intelligent Small Mountain]. The original owner was a Captain Gray-Hair who became a pirate to rebel against his home star system's totalitarian government. A beacon of piece with the Pirate Queen Emerald. They helped the rebellion which led to the birth of a new government. The captain and crew also fought against a foreign star system that attempted to conquer their system. According to records, it's believed the Captain Grey-Hair died when he rammed his ship into doomsday ship. The ship was also believed destroyed."
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Harlock is old English for Grey Hair, usually a nickname for someone with a patch of grey hair. Tochiro Oyama means "Intelligent Small Mountain" in Japanese and is the name of Arcadia's creator and Harlock's best friend. Arcadia means 'Pastoral simplicity and happiness'. One of Harlock's comrades and cousin was Queen Emeraldes."
Everyone now has a look that says "The Universe is Messing with Us.".
"Filyss: Register the ship's name as the [Outer Haven]."
"Compliance: Ship is now officially registered as the Outer Haven."
A Metal Gear reference? I think there was a submersible called Outer Haven, but I mostly remember Big Boss' Outer Heaven ideology. I know a lot of Metal Gear lore, but I only watched other people play the games. Mostly Raiden in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
"Are they fusing together?" asks Priss as she watches the liquid metal flow into the former Arcadia.
"Correct. Silver Saucer is being broken down into Claytronic and modular components. Those will all be integrated with Outer Haven, increasing its response time and automation capability," says Rorschach, "Filyss, how far is your integration with the Outer Haven?"
"86.7% complete. Full integration will be complete in 13.3 minutes."
"This ship is massive. Don't you need a big crew?"
"It originally possessed a crew of forty-one." says the former AI of the Silver Saucer, as she steps out of the ship to greet us. She is no longer a holographic eye or pawn, but a Caucasian woman standing 170.2 centimeters (5 ft 7.0 in) with blue eyes and bob-cut blond hair, resembling a younger version of Cortana's creator, Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, but with larger breasts. Her attire consisted of a black-and-white uniform consisting of a black-and-white cap, black-and-white jacket with prominent shoulders and sleeves, white pants, and metal-tipped shoes. The insignia on her cap and jacket belong to Cognito with a militaristic re-design.
"What happened to you?" asks Rorschach, surprised at the actions of his own AI.
"You spent two weeks playing in Vectura's Casinos. In that time, I looked for possible upgrades and learned that many of the ships have physical avatars for their AI navigators. I assembled this body to act as my avatar on the Outer Haven. It a hybrid of the theorized Libertus Infiltrator and Xi Tau Chi Gynoid."
The group looks at Rorschach, who explains- "Libertus Infiltrators is an Iron Legion concept that can disguise itself as a human for black ops. The XTC Gynoid is a female robot built for medical care and entertainment purposes."
"So, a cross between a T-X and a Sex Bot?" I ask bluntly.
"I'm superior to both, Ash Grey" says the AI, emoting with her new body, "I'm fully operational and ready to serve."
"You made a sex bot?" smirks Blackfire.
"Technically speaking, I created my own body," Filyss replied. "Also, the XTC was made by a different company, I just copied the data and improved on Neo's original Infiltrator concept."
"Won't they complain?"
"They don't exist in this dimension, so Intellectual property mean very little."
Rorschach pulls out a tablet from Storage and accessed the ship's data using his connection to the AI.
[Propulsion]
Dimensional Vibration Fluid Gravity Engine x2
Particle Energy Engine
NEW
Proto-Universe Bleed Core
Rorschach Hyperdrive
Rorschach-Stark Arc Reactor.
[Equipment]
Twin Pulsar Cannon x3, Dimensional Vibration Gun x2, Gravitational Wave Missile ports x20, Space Harpoon Cannon ports x10, Torpedo tubes 16x, Heavy Depth Charges dropping port, Beak, Combat Transfer Anchor Tube, Cosmo Sensors, Sensor Jammer, Gravitational Wave Detectors, Gun Orientation Radar, Ultraviolet Sensor
NEW
Dimensional Wave Motion Explosive Compression Emitter, Repulsor cannon array, pinpoint gravity singularity emitter x6, dynamic plasma-laser emitters x 8, Doom Driver, railguns x 6, anti-proton accelerator guns x 2, wireless guided weapon pod x 8, and variable energy beam emitters.
"Planning to go to war?" I ask looking over his shoulder.
"Hope for the best, plan for the worst. I prefer being prepared."
"Dimensional Wave Motion Explosive Compression Emitter is the full name of the 'Wave-Motion Gun'. You know, the giant gun on the Space Battleship Yamato. A gun that was able to destroy Epidora, a gas giant, in a single shot from the orbit of another planet."
"I like to be very prepared." says Rorschach with a hidden grin.
[Crew]
Rorschach (Captain)
Ash Grey (2IC/Security)
F.I.L.S.S. aka "Filyss" aka "Sheila" (Science/Engineering)
Guests (8) – Koriand'r , Komand'r, Rachel Roth, Jade Chan, Priscilla Kitaen, Maximilla Kitaen, Patrick O'Brien, and Aqualina Capricorn.
Servitors – Libertus Infiltrators x 40
Rorschach turns to Aqualina. "Seriously, your full name is 'Aqualina Capricorn'?"
"My owners called me 'Tender water the goat' because of how I resemble blue water and my Caprine Physiology." says Aqualina, "My name in what I think is your Latin language is 'Aqualina Capricorn'. I like it."
I heard Aqualina when she was on the stage, so my omni-lingual power must have also liked that name. Well, Rorschach's name breaks down to German words - Röhr "reeds" and Schachen "lakeside."
I wonder how little Luke will react to his dad's new alien girlfriend. At least she can shape-shift to look like a normal human, so they can have some normal interactions in public.
Rorschach turns back to the tablet.
[Cargo]
Space Fighter "Space Wolf", Amphibious Transport Trailer, and Maintenance Drone x 20.
NEW
Luxury Hover Car x 2, High End Sports Speeder x 4, Biological Sample containers x 600, Pirate Loot, Pirate Treasure, Servant Competition Prizes, and Gambling Winnings. Misc.
"So, the hover bikes are called Speeders like in Star Wars?" I ask. Rorschach nods.
"Exactly how much did we make? I know we have a shit ton of Casino Tokens, but what are they worth?" Plastic Man asks holding up one of the tokens.
"Converted to sellable Earth resources. One Ventura Casino Token is worth roughly the same amount as a Kuwaiti Dinar or 3.3 US Dollars." answers the AI. "Pulling up Ventura Winnings."
VENTURA WINNINGS – VCT - USD
Rorschach - 210 m – 693 m
Ash Grey – 50 m – 165 m
Raven – 40 m – 132 m
Blackfire – 40 m – 132 m
Jade – 40 m – 132 m
Priss – 40 m – 132 m
Max – 40 m – 132 m
Pattrick – 40 m – 132 m
TOTAL – 500,000,000 VCT – $1,650,000,000 USD
*Thump*
"Patrick-love!?" asks Aqualina holding the unconscious elastic hero. The former thief has never had over a hundred million dollars. The entire group except for Rorschach and me are stunned by the news. We are all now multi-millionaires. This is nothing compared to the world's richest Lex Luthor or Bruce Wayne, who are billionaires with Net Worths of seventy-five billion and eighty billion respectively.
"That's a lot of money for a baggage handler." says Ash Grey.
"I gave him a small portion of mine. All the girls got over forty million Casino Tokens."
I look at Rorschach, who gave sixteen percent of winnings to Plastic Man.
"Remember this Quest wasn't about the money. I'm a Rick-level super-genius, I could get anything I want at any time I want. What I was after during this trip outside of my new badass battleship was influence," he said with a knowing smile as numerous courier robots zipped over to them.
*DOOM*
Earth's Orbit, Sol System. Sector 2814
Home - July 2, 2012
Early Morning in Gotham
"It's good to be home." I say, sitting in one of the Cognito chairs that Rorschach installed on the bridge. "So, anything important happen while we were gone."
"Scanning media for important grade-3 news." says the AI, "June 18 to July 2, 2012"
June 20, 2012 - Rheelasia. Two missiles loaded with a virulent self-replicating nano-explosive was launched at a new energy facility. Five thousand people were killed in the initial strike, followed by an addition fifty thousand in the secondary explosion. After the death of Generalissimo and President for Life Singh Manh Lee and several members of the government, Ambassador Kaizen Gamorra took control.
The screen shows footage of the devasted Rheelasia facility. The damage is odd as outside the normal damage, it looks like objects exploded from within. Nanomachine weaponry will soon join chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare in "Banned Under International Law".
"Kaizen Gamorra was a super villain in the Wildstorm universe. You don't suppose he pulled a Palpatine?" I ask Rorschach, "Created the terrorist problem so he could take over?"
"It's possible. I have been suspicious since my Sentinel Primes wiped out the Rheelasian meta-terrorist squad." says Rorschach, "Gamorra is up to something. Continue."
June 22, 2012 – Paris – A nano-weapon missile strike was launched on the city. The attack was stopped by the combined efforts of the Atom and the Engineers.
The Atom (Ray Palmer) stands in a photo in front of the destroyed Eiffel Tower. Next to him is a beautiful woman standing five-foot-six with a body of mirror polished metal with metal cables for hair. She looks like a completely nude woman only composed of metal and missing certain orifices, but her nipples are clearly outlined.
"That is not Angela Spica." I state as Atom's companion has a Golden metal body, as opposed to chrome/silver coloration of Angela Spica's Engineer.
"Apparently, Doctor Angela Spica and Doctor Serling Roquette collaborated and created the nano-active blood. They both performed full blood transfusion and gained nanomechanical powers. They debuted as the Engineers."
"How the fuck did Dr. Spica convince Dr. Roquette!?"
"Unknown."
Dr. Angela "Angie" Spica was a comic book nerd from Queens. She wanted to have superpowers and she was genius enough to make her dream come true, becoming a member of Stormwatch and the Authority. Dr. Roquette has been keeping her head down outside of the mess with weaponized utility Fog and stopping the Starrotech. The only odd thing about her is she is dating Dr. Palmer.
June 23, 2012 – Washington. Queen Maxima of Almerac arrived on Earth. After the destruction of her home world at the hands of Brainiac, the Queen came to Earth searching for the world's smartest man to be her mate. The tabloids are running "Alien Warrior Women Want Smart Men". It's believed the world's smartest man is either Rorschach or the mysterious 'Doctor Genus' behind Cognito Inc. Cognito Inc. released a statement that both are unavailable until July 2.
I start laughing loudly, showing my shark teeth in my mirth. The others look stunned at the news.
"Queen Maxima goes from a Superman stalker to Rorschach fangirl in this universe. (giggle) I'm guessing since brawn failed to stop Brainiac, she wants a husband who can match Brainiac's Twelfth-Level Intellect. Rick-Level smart certainly qualifies."
"There is something I'm worried about, and it isn't whether this nigh-invulnerable body can handle a woman that strong," Rorschach says looking warily up at his HP Bar.
"You mean there being more than one Brainiac? The Collector of Worlds in Young Justice is nerfed like most of heroes and villains."
"Hey!" weakly protests Plastic Man.
"This Earth's Flash can surpass the speed of sound. The Prime Earth's Flash can surpass the speed of light! Your Superman can lift tanks and airplanes. Prime Earth Superman can move planets! The Prime versions can also generate punches that can generate an explosive force of 10 octillion megatons."
Plastic Man's jaw hits the ground again.
"Hey, Rorschach, why don't you tell Patrick about how awesome he can be?"
"Give me a minute. Ship continue the news reports."
June 25, 2012 – Metropolis - Superman and Maxima stopped an out-of-control train. Maxima has been working as a superhero while waiting for the return of Cognito's resident geniuses. She is apparently treating it as training and her duty, since Earth will become her new home. Some of the UN are complaining about the construction of an Almeracian base on the moon.
Interestingly-enough, Maxima's "superhero costume" is identical to what she wore in Superman: The Animated Series.
"Maxima won't be leaving. This isn't just a husband hunt where she can just go home if she fails. Her home world is gone. This means Earth could be getting a lot of immigrants. They may be a dwindling race, but they are comparable to Kryptonians and Daxamites, just without the heat vison." I ramble, "FISS-class SPBs."
"FISS?" asks Priss drinking her coffee.
"SPBs" asks Max drinking her coffee.
"Super Powered Beings with levels of Flight, Invulnerability, Super Strength, and Super Speed. Also known as the exported characters and knock-offs resembling Superman."
"There are a lot of Superman clones in the multiverse?" asks Jade, feeling like she asked something stupid.
"The Superman Substitutes have a page of their own. Shazam, Icon, Martian Manhunter, Mr. Majestic, The High, and Apollo are just the local versions. DC's rival company Marvel has Sentry, Hyperion and Gladiator. There is also Supreme, Superior, Plutonian, Miracleman, Homelander, Omni-Man, etc."
Plastic Man looks floored by this revelation.
"The multiverse must be very lucky." says Patrick, weakly joking.
"Not really. Sentry has mental issues and once tore Ares the God of War is half. There are versions of Hyperion that have conquered Earth with the Squadron Supreme. Gladiator works for the Shiar Empire which has had different rulers with different agenda including a power-mad lunatic called D'Ken. Plutonian lost his mind when the stress of saving everyone broke him. Miracleman's sidekick went insane and slaughtered London. We are talking about people dismembered and skinned alive. Homelander is a psychopathic man-child that works for an evil Disney-like corporation. Omni-Man was from a race of Warrior Kryptonians that infiltrated and conquered planets like the Reach."
My inner monster purrs as I reveal the horror of the multiversal supermen.
"Shit." says Aqualina.
"Welcome to Earth. The heart of the universe's chaotic future."
Note to self, have Rorschach show Plastic Man a copy of the Injustice series, (Evil Laugh).
*DOOM*
White House
Washington, DC, Earth
July 2, 2012
11:00
"Mr. President, satellites have detected an extraterrestrial war ship in geostationary orbit around Earth." says a scientist as he places photos in front of 44th President of the United States - Barack Obama. "It appears to be over four hundred meters in length and heavily armed."
"Is that the Jolly Roger?" asks American's first African American President.
"Yes. We don't know at the moment if the ship has committed piracy, yet."
"Have they transmitted their intentions?"
"Not yet, but it doesn't seem to be making any aggressive moves..."
"I believe I can explain, Mr. President," a new voice stated, one of the Secret Service lunging at the intruder, only to fly through the hologram and collide with a chair.
"Dammit, stand down, you're aiming at a hologram," the President groaned as guns were trained on 'Rorschach'. "Honestly, can't you announce yourself a little better."
"I think the more-pressing issue is you getting better-trained security," Rorschach said looking around. "I know a guy if you want a recommendation."
"You said you could explain the giant warship?" the President asked getting back on track.
"The Outer Haven is mine. I acquired it during my trip to Planet Ventura. It's now the flagship and off-world headquarters of Cognito Inc."
"Planet Ventura?" Inquires the President Obama, his Halloween memories not including information on that planet.
"The Gambling Planet. Think Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City but super advance and floating in the sky on anti-gravity."
"You went on a two-week gambling vacation!?" asks a General in shock.
"Yes. It was very informative." says Rorschach as he pulls a present from his inventory and places it on the President's desk, a cursory poke with a pencil revealing them to be quite real, "I brought you back a few items."
As the President touches the box, it dissolves revealing the contents. One object looks like a thick black PDA tablet and a silver-gray band. The other object is a couple large seeds in a clear plastic case.
"The tablet is a Galaxy Almanac. It contains information on every space-faring race in what Humans call the Milky Way Galaxy. This includes biological facts including special abilities even if they are under special circumstances like yellow sun. It contains planet facts, culture and technology, and historical notes. It cost 60 VCT at the Gift Shop." says Rorschach, "You should have gotten this information when extraterrestrial heroes and Green Lanterns started appearing. This is first contact approved, so they can't even say humanity wasn't 'ready' for the information; there's too many aliens out in the open for it to surprise anyone anymore that aliens are real."
The government officials and scientists digest that information. While they are happy to have the information from Rorschach, they also feel insulted. It's like the heroes were treating them like kids, not telling them about what's beyond their world. This information should have been on the internet back when Bill Clinton was in office.
"What are the seeds?"
"Chocolate Fruit Tree seed. Extraterrestrial hypo-allergenic chocolate, tastes just like the gourmet earth stuff. It's completely compatible with human biology and is slightly healthier since it doesn't absorb lead or heavy metals. The tree won't produce seeds unless under specific conditions and won't cause any ecological damage. Thought they would make the place look nicer since the Sentinel Primes are intimidating more than the country's enemies."
"COMMUNISM, IS A FOUL PHILOSOPHY THAT TRICKS PEOPLE INTO GIVING UP THEIR INDIVIDUALITY AND SUBMITTING TO THE STATE, WHICH COMMANDS THEM TO WORK FOR FREE AND RELENTLESSLY ATTACK THOSE WHO DON'T SURBSCRIBE TO THEIR IDEOLOGY. IT IS AN EVIL BEYOND RECKONING!" one of the Liberty Primes bellowed out on its assigned interval.
"So, did your group win any money?" asks President Obama with a smile.
"Half a Trillion in US Dollars."
Many jaws drop at those three words. The absurdly high number shakes their minds.
"Anyway... I'm told there's an alien diplomat who wanted to see me?"
*DOOM*
*Omake*
"Queen Maxima of Almerac, greetings. I am Rorschach, representative of Cognito Inc. and acknowledged Smartest Man in the World, second only to Dr. Genus."
"Hahah! And they actually bought that?" Maxima grinned beautifully.
"Bought what?" I inquired.
"That you and 'Dr. Genus' are actually two separate people~"
"And you think we aren't?"
"Believe me, it's a more-common ploy than you'd think; though I'll admit, employing yourself as your own enforcer, gives it a refreshing new twist~ I love it!"
'Hm. Clever girl~' I muse, pulling the Rorschach mask free so I could stare her straight in the eye. "Well, since there's no need to stand on ceremony, to what do I owe the pleasure of this... visit?" I hum, since she more or less demanded a meeting in a more private setting. One where we could "exchange dialogue" in private and without interruption.
I ceded to this somewhat-reasonable request given the recent exodus from her home world, which a legitimately threatening incarnation of Brainiac had just destroyed.
While I figured what it was she wanted to "converse" with me for, I didn't want to automatically assume despite all evidence to the contrary.
"Is it not obvious~" she purred, and in answer to my inquiry, discarded her attire revealing her full glory. Even with [A Gamer's Mind], her beautiful crimson hair and shapely body were able to distract me long-enough for her to tackle me to the floor, burning out my electrical defense and ripping my clothes open.
"Smart, check~ Durable, check~ Time to test your 'Stamina', dear husband of mine~"
'All things considered... I could do worse,' I hummed as she quite plainly devoured me with her eyes, though the lip-licking was a tad much.
I also prayed that Ash wouldn't carve Died by Snu Snu on my headstone... Though understandably, not for very long~