LJ presents: Homecoming, part two
I don't think she does it deliberately, and that's part of the reason she astounds me.
A friend once described LJ's personal canon as "falling out of the genre tree and hitting every branch on the way down". It was a compliment but also an accurate summation; there's a lot of moving parts in LJ's world. She's always stitched those pieces together in brilliant ways, exploiting both the similarities and differences of unrelated characters for maximum dramatic effect. On top of that she's woven a clear and direct continuity throughout which the characters have grown, changed, worked together, argued and reconciled. All of that history matters; each story informs and looms over the next. Like I say, I don't think that's deliberate. LJ doesn't sit down and study past installments in order to better reference them, or allude to them, in upcoming adventures. She just lives in her world and portrays the characters as she sees them. That's a fantastic achievement for anyone, let alone an 11-year-old.
You'll remember our excitement when she hit upon a predestination paradox, completely organically, without realising she'd been building to it for months. The story you're about to read... the second part of "Homecoming"... thrilled us in the same way. Because, again without realising it, LJ's scenario and choice of villain harkens back to a game we played a long, long time ago and brings everything she's done, with her world, full circle. So I'm very much in awe of my daughter right now. Please, come join me in that feeling.
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LJ presents:
HOMECOMING
PART TWO
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
“The golden age of heroism,” Mayor Kirby Granger said in his aw-shucks drawl. “They say I was responsible for it, you know.”
The underground bunker was expansive, decorated in bloody shades of red and midnight hues of black. Much of its cavernous expanse was filled by an enormous, complicated machine - a tangle of wiring stretching between metal poles, vats of bubbling liquid and flashing displays. Granger sat atop a circular pontoon in the centre of the machine. He watched on a row of video screens as the citizens of Super City, far above, resumed their daily lives after the “lockdown protocol” drill.
Peggy Rogers, better known as Shield Maiden, struggled vainly against her bonds. She and her friends - Sunburst, Torunn, Ironclad, Selena Strange and Quickdraw - had been imprisoned by Granger within custom force fields that cancelled out their special abilities. No stranger to complex machinery, Peggy had to grudgingly admire Granger’s ingenuity. The mayor had meant what he’d said: he considered Peggy and her friends the greatest threat to his scheme and had made careful plans to remove them from the equation.
No, she corrected herself. Not “Kirby Granger”. He is, and always has been, the Red Skull.
“You can knock it off with the accent, Skull,” she called. “We all know who you really are, now, thanks to your boasting. You may as well drop the charade.”
Slowly, Granger spun around in his chair. “Charade?” he tutted. “I’d thought more highly of you, Miss Rogers. It sounds to me like you haven’t quite grasped the situation.” He stood up and strolled toward her. “This is no act, no charade - this is my body,” he continued, gesturing with his hands. “I’m not about to pull off a mask, because this is my real face. I’m not about to start ranting in German, because this is my real voice. Kirby Granger is, and always has been, 100 per cent the man who the citizens of Super City duly and legitimately elected to serve as their mayor.”
He smiled. “Few people gave Zola his due,” he said wistfully, invoking the memory of Hydra’s chief scientist. “Least of all me. But his experiments in force-grown clone bodies, in mind transference, was truly ahead of its time. I know you’ve all seen the Red Skull in his cell at Arkham, silently cowering in the corner. That’s because it’s a mindless shell, capable of acting on only base, animal instinct! It has been a mindless shell for years, ever since I beamed my consciousness out of that withering, decaying form and into this custom-made, healthy, younger, true-blue red-blooded American body!”
Granger drew close to Shield Maiden’s prison and flexed his muscles theatrically. “You can’t fingerprint a ‘supervillain’ when he has different fingers, Miss Rogers. You can’t scan for a stranger’s retina eye patterns. You can’t match DNA samples from two people who share nothing save brainwaves. And that’s why this game, though very long and wearing on one’s patience, was one in which my victory was assured!”
He slapped the force field, laughed at the shower of sparks it generated and then strolled back toward the machine. “I played the long game once before,” he mused. “I gathered a cadre of like-minded conspirators and high-powered weaponry. Once upon a Christmas Eve, we came so very close to ruling the world.” Granger held his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Instead we failed and, in that failure, brought your father back to the land of the living.” He scowled. “That’s why they say ‘Red Skull caused the golden age of heroism’. I’ve had to live with that for so many years.”
Granger passed the command console, stepped over the wiring and walked to where the metal poles met. At their intersection was Batman, strapped to a steely table. The Dark Knight was furious but, like Shield Maiden and her friends, unable to free himself. “This plan will fail, just like all the others,” Batman snarled. “I’ll make sure of that, Skull. And I’ll make sure your next stint in Arkham begins in intensive care - it’s no less than you deserve for tricking the people of Super City!”
“Tricking the people,” Granger asked lightly, “or tricking you? Isn’t that what really upsets you, Batman? That I played on your weaknesses as easily as I did the citizens? Everyone wanted safety and security after Ultron-X’s ‘revolution’. They wanted it so badly, they were prepared to hand over their sickening ‘freedoms’ to get it. No one trusted the super heroes anymore. You didn’t trust them anymore, Batman - you broke with the Captain and Stark, ending the alliance that stopped my first assault. Without the Captain’s idealism to balance you, without Stark’s optimism to inspire you, you fell back on your mistrust, paranoia and desperate need for order.” He leered. “The needs of an orphan are never far from the surface… Bruce.”
Batman’s eyes widened beneath his mask.
“The benefit of distance is perspective,” Granger grinned. “And when your wife and children are Life Model Decoys, switched on and off as the campaign requires, you don’t have many people to talk to. I had a lot of time on my hands and all the reason in the world to decipher your true identity, detective, and it was well worth the effort. In many ways, you were easier to manipulate than the mindless sheep that infest this city.” He leaned in close. “You would have made a good Nazi.”
As Batman seethed, Ironclad spoke up. “So what now, Granger?” she demanded. “The New Avengers are going to come looking for us sooner or later and the gig will be up. You said you needed to take us out for your plan to work, but kidnapping us has ruined everything!”
“Quite the contrary,” Granger shook his head and resumed his place at the central control console. “I’ve been planning this for years, ever since I left Johann Schmidt’s decrepit husk behind. Originally I’d intended on making friends with Stark and the Captain as I won the election, on bending them to my will just as I’ve done Mr Wayne over there.”
“It’d never have worked,” Shield Maiden spat.
Granger ignored her. “When the time was right, I’d have transferred myself into the Captain’s body and taken Stark’s armour for myself, becoming the ultimate super power on this world. The irony was delicious. But as time passed, I realised physical power was secondary to political influence. That I’d have better success if I convinced people to let me rule them, rather than taking control by force. And of course, the schism between the heroes made the Captain and Stark useless to me, anyway. That’s when I turned my attention to Batman.”
He pressed a button on the console and the machinery whirred to life. Shield Maiden realised it was a mind transference device - the most powerful ever constructed. It would not only shift Granger/Skull’s consciousness into Batman’s body, it would also erase the Dark Knight, killing him as surely as would a bullet to the brain.
“Mayor Kirby Granger died today,” Granger declared. “He was assassinated by six rogue super-powered beings - Ironclad, Sunburst, Torunn, Selena Strange, Quickdraw and Shield Maiden. Despite his best efforts, Batman arrived too late to save his friend - and only barely survived the self-destruction of the secret base in which the rogue heroes hid for the past six months. Wanting to ensure Granger’s dream lives on, Batman will publicly unmask and, as Mayor Bruce Wayne, campaign to eradicate vigilantism. The New Avengers, shamed by their children’s actions, will support him. And soon Granger’s vision of a peaceful, ordered society… huddled safely within cities, their borders patrolled by government-loyal super beings… will become a global reality.”
He smiled triumphantly. “All thanks to the democratic election process and President Bruce Wayne. You know, ladies, I meant what I said during the election: I truly love this country.”
Alarms sounded and, with an exasperated sigh, Granger switched off the transference machine. “What is it,” he asked, forcing the sweetness back into his voice, as Commissioner Gordon’s face appeared on one of the view screens.
“Apologies for the interruption, Kirby,” Gordon began, “but we’ve a #0001 in progress.”
“I appreciate the update,” Granger said, “but isn’t that a police matter?”
Gordon’s eyes narrowed. “Not this time,” he said.
Shield Maiden craned her neck to catch sight of the viewscreen… and laughed.
Super City was in chaos. Panicked citizens ran back and forth; police officers fought to maintain their composure. Any breach of city ordnance #0001 was bad enough, but this? This was the nightmare the Granger-cowed populace had feared for months. Iron Man, Superman, Captain America and the Flash had returned!
“Just… just calm down, there,” one of the officers pleaded, hands shaking. Though he and his colleagues were highly trained, the sight of four of the most powerful super beings in existence - the four who’d “betrayed” the city to Ultron-X - was incredibly unnerving. “No one needs to do anything rash. You’ve been away for a while, you probably don’t know about the new laws. I’d… um… like you to come along quietly so we can resolve this peacefully.”
Several of the citizens applauded, nervous grins plastered on their faces.
“Stand down, solider,” Captain America barked. The officer dropped his weapon before he’d even realised what he was doing. So did his compatriots. The clapping citizens fell silent. “We’re only too aware of the laws, but that’s not why we’re here.”
“Kidnapping is a crime wherever you are,” Flash added. “Even if the kidnapper is the Mayor.”
“Kidnapping?” the officer scoffed, his voice high and squeaky with anxiety. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. And the Mayor? He’s just in lockdown!”
Superman arched an eyebrow. “Lockdown in a lead-lined bunker under the city,” he intoned, sending a chill through police and civilians alike. “What does any mayor, especially one who promotes open and transparent government, need with a bunker lined with the one element my x-ray vision can’t penetrate?”
The officer blinked. “Umm…”
Iron Man fired his boot jets and rose into the air. “I’ve had enough of this,” he snapped, switching his helmet’s speakers to their megaphone setting. “Red Skull! We know you’re out there, and that you can hear us! So consider us the electoral returns committee - we’ve gone over the ballot and decided would-be despots from the 1940s are ineligible for office!”
Beneath their feet, in the bunker, Granger fought to keep a puzzled expression on their face. “I have no idea,” he shrugged as Gordon started to speak. “No idea at all, Jim. Kidnapping? The Red Skull? It’s… well, I hate to say it but it’s crazy. A desperate stunt to get back in the community’s good graces.” He clucked his tongue. “And it’s sad, too. How the mighty have fallen…”
“Kirby,” Gordon said severely, “I can’t… won’t… order my men to fire on Captain America.”
Granger felt the bile rise in his throat. His heart hammered, veins throbbing in his temples, but he maintained his cool. “Wouldn’t dream of asking you to, Jim,” he said through gritted teeth. “That’s why I’m issuing the New Avengers with a temporary immunity from city ordnance #0001. Please place a call to Thor and sound the lockdown protocol. That’s all we can do, now.”
He closed the connection… and screamed.
Above ground, Flash watched the citizens run - in an orderly fashion - to their lockdown shelters. “Makes me sick,” he grimaced. “Red Skull has them running around like trained animals or something. Coddled.”
“It’ll be all right, Wally,” Iron Man reassured him.
“But will it?” Flash demanded. “Sure, I’m not known for my patience, but did we really have to wait six months to bring Red Skull down?”
“He’s the lawfully-elected Mayor of Super Hero City,” Captain America replied, emphasising the word Granger had deleted from the town’s name. “Going rogue, like we did when Luthor was elected president, wouldn’t have worked. The people were already angry with us…”
“ With me,” sighed Iron Man, “blame where blame’s due…”
“… so we had to wait until Skull broke the law,” Cap finished.
“I get it,” Flash nodded, “so now can we please get him?”
Superman was looking above them. “Not yet,” he said sadly. “We’ve one more obstacle.”
Flash groaned. “I was hoping we could avoid this.”
“We still might be able to,” Superman said.
“Fat chance,” Iron Man muttered under his breath.
The New Avengers surrounded their former colleagues, weapons at the ready. “Thou art not welcome here,” Thor glowered, the promise of danger in his tone, “especially while hurling such base accusations about. Leave. Now. I will not warn you a second time.”
“Then don’t warn, just listen,” Iron Man said. “Nobody’s hurling anything baseless about. The four of us have been keeping a close eye on Granger since the election and, buddy, nothing about that guy matches up. I get you wanted to mend fences but surely you’ve noticed how he’s been…”
Mjolnir carved the air and crashed, full force, into Iron Man’s faceplate. The armoured Avenger hurtled into the distance and Thor, snarling, ran after him at speed. The New Avengers exchanged a moment of shock at, as they did, Captain America acted.
“Now,” he commanded. “By the numbers, just as we planned!”
Superman flew at Silver Surfer and Hulk, grabbing them by the scruffs of their necks and dragging them north. Flash looped around Spider-Man and Dr Strange, delivering high-velocity shoulder-blocks that drove web-slinger and sorcerer to the south. Captain America stayed right where he was, shield across his left arm, and stared evenly at Hawkeye and Black Widow.
“Not your best idea, old man,” Hawkeye called, drawing three arrows from his quiver. “You might be a super soldier, you might be one of the best fighters in the world, but you can’t take Natasha and I at the same time.”
“I’m hoping I won’t have to,” Cap replied. “We’ve been through a lot together, the three of us. There was a time I didn’t trust you, and I was wrong to feel that way. Because of my lack of trust, we all very nearly died at the hands of Discord. Please Clint, Natasha, don’t make the same mistake I did. Let me show you what Granger has…”
A bullet ricocheted off Cap’s shield. He and Hawkeye turned, in disbelief, toward Black Widow. Smoke wafted from the barrel of one of her guns. “Don’t even try to compare yourself to us, Steve,” she said darkly. “We were in the right, doing what Fury needed us to do, to protect the world. You, Tony and the others? You just can’t handle the fact the world has moved on without you.”
Cap sighed. “All right, then,” he said, dropping into a fighting stance. “Oh, and Clint? There’s one more thing you ought to know.”
Hawkeye chuckled confidently and pulled back on his bow. “What’s that, Cap?”
“I’ve spent six months planning this fight,” the sentinel of liberty smiled wryly. “With that kind of lead time, I could take down an army of archers and assassins.”
It was no idle boast. Months earlier, when Cap had first seen through Granger’s deception, he and the others realised they’d eventually cross swords with the New Avengers. They had spent much of their time preparing for that inevitable confrontation - running through simulations, strategizing, figuring out how to exploit their friends’ weaknesses without exposing any of their own. They had hated it - every last moment of it - but accepted the burden, knowing it was the only way they’d get to the Red Skull and shut down whatever end game he had planned.
The training was why Flash ran circles around Spider-Man and Dr Strange. Powerful winds entangled them both in Spidey’s webbing and cut off their oxygen, stopping spells from being cast and spider-senses from working to full efficiency.
The simulations were the reason for Captain America’s uncanny ability to avoid every arrow, every punch, every kick, every bullet thrown by his erstwhile allies. He had dodged thousands of such blows, for months, in a simulator programmed with each New Avenger’s fighting style.
And it the planning was why Superman flew Hulk and Silver Surfer far from the city - to a sparse, unpopulated expanse of desert - before confronting them, face to face. Because with no innocents at risk, with no cities to damage, with no collateral damage to consider, the Man of Steel could truly cut loose. And with six months’ worth of untapped solar energy charging his cells, there was no force on earth more powerful, at that moment, than the Last Son of Krypton.
Thor had always been the wildcard in the quartet’s plans. Thor, who felt the sting of public scorn more acutely than anyone. Thor, who so desperately wanted to be considered a good leader and role model. Thor, at once the noblest of them all and the most easily fooled by a smooth-tongued manipulator’s appeal to his ego. Thor, who carried the greatest anger against Iron Man, Flash, Captain America and Superman for all that had transpired.
“Let me take him,” Iron Man had said. And, against their better judgment, the others had agreed.
As he battled the enraged thunder god high above the city, Iron Man regretted volunteering. He’d come prepared for the fight, festooning his latest armour with multiple batteries that could absorb, convert and make use of Thor’s lightning blasts. He’d installed bleeding-edge gyroscopic stabilizers to keep upright in stormy conditions. Thermal imaging and GPS synchronisations with a satellite, in orbit high above, let him keep track of his opponent through even the darkest of clouds. And yet he was already lost, dizzy, barely in control and close to overload. He imagined he could feel the extra batteries sizzling against his skin as they struggled to process the electrical expression of Thor’s fury.
“You will not take this from us, Stark,” Thor howled, appearing from out of nowhere to deliver another clubbing blow. “You and your conspirators ruined the good name we Avengers built over years! It fell to me to repair that bond of trust - to reign in the behaviour of heroes, to mould them into a team once more! Mine was a righteous path, Stark, our cause a just and noble one! And you will not cast aspersions upon my labours!”
“Pride,” Iron Man replied, coughing up blood beneath his helmet. The last blow had caused some kind of internal injury. The question was what would break first: the iron or the man? “I know how you feel, Thor, better than you understand. I felt the same way before Ultron-X came and tore all our hearts out.” He had but one chance - one last card to play - and, though it was a gamble, committed himself to it. At his command, all the energy absorbed from Thor’s attacks redirected into the armour’s boot jets.
He waited until Thor swung the hammer again and reached out, catching the god’s wrist with his hand. Before Thor could react, Iron Man drew in close and wrapped both arms around him in a bear hug. “But you know the thing about pride, big man? It goeth, as you’d say, before the fall!”
Iron Man fired his boot jets and aimed down, sending man and god hurtling toward the centre of Super Hero City. Thor cried in protests and fought to break free but they were moving too fast. At the last possible second, Iron Man shifted his grip and put Thor between himself and the ground.
“This is gonna hurt,” he winced.
The street splintered, the foundation crumbled and the bedrock shattered. Iron Man and Thor tumbled into Red Skull’s bunker, landing off to one side of his transference machine. Iron Man fell back - barely conscious, his armour offline and rebooting - while Thor ploughed a divot into the blood red floor. Groaning, stunned, incoherent, he groggily propped himself up on hands and knees and looked around.
Granger stared back, wide eyed, as did Batman and the young heroes. Thor took it all in with one long, addled glance. Blood trickled from his mouth and pooled on the floor.
“True,” Thor gasped as he locked eyes with Torunn. “All true. What fools these gods be.” And with that he collapsed, unconscious.
With a yelp of panic, Granger leaned forward and activated the machine. Power coursed through the nefarious mechanism… and suddenly arced into Granger as a red, white and blue disc soared through the air and severed essential wiring. A bolt of blue and red darted through the hole in the ceiling and freed Batman from his bonds; a red and crimson streak hurtled around the bunker and deactivated the force fields before darting toward the control console and spinning Granger - who was still jittering from the feedback - around in his seat.
When the improvised carousel finally stopped… and when Granger recovered his senses… he was greeted by a sight that had turned many an intergalactic tyrant to water.
Flash, Captain America and a somewhat-unsteady-but-still-upright Iron Man stood tall. So, too, did Superman; he was supporting a groggy but visibly furious Batman. Around them, Shield Maiden and the young heroes were stepping out from their cells. They were unarmed but no less dangerous for it - and the look in Selena Strange’s unearthly eyes made Granger feel truly afraid.
“Granger,” Batman growled.
“Is it too late to apologise?” the politician stammered - then unexpectedly doubled over in pain. He clutched at his stomach and fell to his knees, groaning in agony.
“Don’t even try to…” Flash began.
Superman cut him off. “He’s not faking it,” he said. “I can see it with my microscopic vision. His body is breaking down, cell by cell. Skin is starting to flake off, bones are beginning to liquefy. It’s like his entire physical structure is self-destructing.”
“He’s a clone,” Sunburst told her father. “He was telling us all about it! Force grown by Arnim Zola’s technology as a new body for Red Skull’s mind! That’s what he was going to do with Batman - upload himself into a better, stronger body!”
“It was only ever meant to be temporary,” Granger grunted, smirking at them through blood-stained teeth. His entire body seemed to be oozing. “A placeholder body, fragile, meant only for use until I could take over a true human form. The feedback from the machinery has ruined it!” Unbelievably he laughed, despite his pain, showing the depths of his madness. “You’ve killed me, ‘heroes’! The only way you could finally defeat me was to break your precious vow and take a life! No one will ever believe Kirby Granger and the Red Skull were one and the same - but they’ll all believe you four and your damned daughters murdered their beloved mayor!” He howled and cackled like a lunatic. “I won’t be around to see it, but I’ll die knowing I won!”
As he sank backwards onto the command console, Batman stepped forward - and drove one of the machine’s metal poles directly into the side of his head!
Granger shrieked, the heroes were stunned, yet Batman stood emotionless as the clone gurgled its last and died in front of him. The Dark Knight waited until there was absolutely no sign of life, then pulled out of the pole and cast it to one side.
“Bruce,” Superman said softly, “you…”
“Didn’t kill him,” Batman said sharply. “You know me better than that. And with your x-ray vision, you can double-check.”
There was a long, tense pause as Superman stared off into the distance… through miles of silt and bedrock… and then finally smiled. “The doctors at Arkham are calling it a miracle,” he chuckled. “For the first time in years, the Red Skull is responsive. Actually, the better word would be ‘agitated’.”
Heroes, young and old, helped one another climb out of the hole that Iron Man and Thor had created. They emerged to find themselves surrounded by the New Avengers, the police and the citizens of the city. They weren’t applauding politely - they were whooping, cheering, hollering and celebrating! There was jubilation in the streets and even chanting for the individual heroes.
“Oh, that?” Flash beamed. “That’s what happens when someone with super speed points every camera in the villain’s secret base toward the action and flips the switch on the command console from ‘receive’ to ‘transmit’. We might just have live-streamed our victory over the Red Skull to each and every person in the city.” He blew on his knuckles. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Quickdraw laughed with glee and hugged him.
Commissioner Gordon, the people and the New Avengers rushed forward to congratulate the heroes. It was not an instant fix - too many confidences had been broken, too many friendships had been strained - but it was a start. An unquestionable, and very public, display of what Superman, Iron Man, Flash and Captain America were all about. It proved that, while mistakes had been made, they had sprung from the best of intentions - and that everyone, regardless of their powers or position within the city, was capable of error.
“This is intolerable,” J Jonah Jameson snapped. “The people of this city are praising those blasted super heroes… and I can’t think of a single reason to disagree with them! Arrgh!”
And so, for the first time in many months, peace reigned within Hero Headquarters. Fathers and daughters spent time together, old allies exchanged pleasantries. Most importantly of all, Batman took a seat at the monitoring station, next to Hawkeye, and once again became part of the team.
“Your team, Tony,” Thor said quietly, placing a hand on Iron Man’s shoulder. “It always has been. I cede leadership to you, my friend.”
“That’s big of you, big man,” Tony smiled, “but it doesn’t change the fact that, months back, you were right. Me, Steve, Clark and Wally should have trusted you all with our fears. We should have clued you in on what we had planned, what we were doing. Much as it pains me to admit, we were wrong, and we didn’t deserve to be Avengers anymore.” He took Thor’s hand and shook it firmly. “We’re the past, buddy. You and the New Avengers are the present.” He glanced over Thor’s shoulder and saw Ironclad and Torunn talking. “It’s your responsibility, and right, to safeguard things until the future gets here.”
“Hate to interrupt,” Hawkeye called, “but we just got a call from Commissioner Gordon. Kang has managed to slip out of Arkham somehow and has made a beeline for the Skull’s old base. Gordon thinks he’s trying to steal parts from the crater for some kind of time machine!”
Thor and Iron Man shared a look. “We will do your legacy proud,” Thor nodded resolutely. He raced from the room and down the hallways - past Captain America, Flash and Superman - swinging Mjolnir as he ran. Hawkeye, Black Widow and Hulk fell into step alongside him. Spider-Man swung past, the Silver Surfer right behind him, and Dr Strange floated above them all. Shield Maiden and her friends ran to the window to watch as seven heroes, united in purpose, stepped out of the mansion and into the sunlight.
“Avengers Assemble!” Thor cried, and he and his team went to save the day.
-----THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
A friend once described LJ's personal canon as "falling out of the genre tree and hitting every branch on the way down". It was a compliment but also an accurate summation; there's a lot of moving parts in LJ's world. She's always stitched those pieces together in brilliant ways, exploiting both the similarities and differences of unrelated characters for maximum dramatic effect. On top of that she's woven a clear and direct continuity throughout which the characters have grown, changed, worked together, argued and reconciled. All of that history matters; each story informs and looms over the next. Like I say, I don't think that's deliberate. LJ doesn't sit down and study past installments in order to better reference them, or allude to them, in upcoming adventures. She just lives in her world and portrays the characters as she sees them. That's a fantastic achievement for anyone, let alone an 11-year-old.
You'll remember our excitement when she hit upon a predestination paradox, completely organically, without realising she'd been building to it for months. The story you're about to read... the second part of "Homecoming"... thrilled us in the same way. Because, again without realising it, LJ's scenario and choice of villain harkens back to a game we played a long, long time ago and brings everything she's done, with her world, full circle. So I'm very much in awe of my daughter right now. Please, come join me in that feeling.
----------
LJ presents:
HOMECOMING
PART TWO
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
“The golden age of heroism,” Mayor Kirby Granger said in his aw-shucks drawl. “They say I was responsible for it, you know.”
The underground bunker was expansive, decorated in bloody shades of red and midnight hues of black. Much of its cavernous expanse was filled by an enormous, complicated machine - a tangle of wiring stretching between metal poles, vats of bubbling liquid and flashing displays. Granger sat atop a circular pontoon in the centre of the machine. He watched on a row of video screens as the citizens of Super City, far above, resumed their daily lives after the “lockdown protocol” drill.
Peggy Rogers, better known as Shield Maiden, struggled vainly against her bonds. She and her friends - Sunburst, Torunn, Ironclad, Selena Strange and Quickdraw - had been imprisoned by Granger within custom force fields that cancelled out their special abilities. No stranger to complex machinery, Peggy had to grudgingly admire Granger’s ingenuity. The mayor had meant what he’d said: he considered Peggy and her friends the greatest threat to his scheme and had made careful plans to remove them from the equation.
No, she corrected herself. Not “Kirby Granger”. He is, and always has been, the Red Skull.
“You can knock it off with the accent, Skull,” she called. “We all know who you really are, now, thanks to your boasting. You may as well drop the charade.”
Slowly, Granger spun around in his chair. “Charade?” he tutted. “I’d thought more highly of you, Miss Rogers. It sounds to me like you haven’t quite grasped the situation.” He stood up and strolled toward her. “This is no act, no charade - this is my body,” he continued, gesturing with his hands. “I’m not about to pull off a mask, because this is my real face. I’m not about to start ranting in German, because this is my real voice. Kirby Granger is, and always has been, 100 per cent the man who the citizens of Super City duly and legitimately elected to serve as their mayor.”
He smiled. “Few people gave Zola his due,” he said wistfully, invoking the memory of Hydra’s chief scientist. “Least of all me. But his experiments in force-grown clone bodies, in mind transference, was truly ahead of its time. I know you’ve all seen the Red Skull in his cell at Arkham, silently cowering in the corner. That’s because it’s a mindless shell, capable of acting on only base, animal instinct! It has been a mindless shell for years, ever since I beamed my consciousness out of that withering, decaying form and into this custom-made, healthy, younger, true-blue red-blooded American body!”
Granger drew close to Shield Maiden’s prison and flexed his muscles theatrically. “You can’t fingerprint a ‘supervillain’ when he has different fingers, Miss Rogers. You can’t scan for a stranger’s retina eye patterns. You can’t match DNA samples from two people who share nothing save brainwaves. And that’s why this game, though very long and wearing on one’s patience, was one in which my victory was assured!”
He slapped the force field, laughed at the shower of sparks it generated and then strolled back toward the machine. “I played the long game once before,” he mused. “I gathered a cadre of like-minded conspirators and high-powered weaponry. Once upon a Christmas Eve, we came so very close to ruling the world.” Granger held his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Instead we failed and, in that failure, brought your father back to the land of the living.” He scowled. “That’s why they say ‘Red Skull caused the golden age of heroism’. I’ve had to live with that for so many years.”
Granger passed the command console, stepped over the wiring and walked to where the metal poles met. At their intersection was Batman, strapped to a steely table. The Dark Knight was furious but, like Shield Maiden and her friends, unable to free himself. “This plan will fail, just like all the others,” Batman snarled. “I’ll make sure of that, Skull. And I’ll make sure your next stint in Arkham begins in intensive care - it’s no less than you deserve for tricking the people of Super City!”
“Tricking the people,” Granger asked lightly, “or tricking you? Isn’t that what really upsets you, Batman? That I played on your weaknesses as easily as I did the citizens? Everyone wanted safety and security after Ultron-X’s ‘revolution’. They wanted it so badly, they were prepared to hand over their sickening ‘freedoms’ to get it. No one trusted the super heroes anymore. You didn’t trust them anymore, Batman - you broke with the Captain and Stark, ending the alliance that stopped my first assault. Without the Captain’s idealism to balance you, without Stark’s optimism to inspire you, you fell back on your mistrust, paranoia and desperate need for order.” He leered. “The needs of an orphan are never far from the surface… Bruce.”
Batman’s eyes widened beneath his mask.
“The benefit of distance is perspective,” Granger grinned. “And when your wife and children are Life Model Decoys, switched on and off as the campaign requires, you don’t have many people to talk to. I had a lot of time on my hands and all the reason in the world to decipher your true identity, detective, and it was well worth the effort. In many ways, you were easier to manipulate than the mindless sheep that infest this city.” He leaned in close. “You would have made a good Nazi.”
As Batman seethed, Ironclad spoke up. “So what now, Granger?” she demanded. “The New Avengers are going to come looking for us sooner or later and the gig will be up. You said you needed to take us out for your plan to work, but kidnapping us has ruined everything!”
“Quite the contrary,” Granger shook his head and resumed his place at the central control console. “I’ve been planning this for years, ever since I left Johann Schmidt’s decrepit husk behind. Originally I’d intended on making friends with Stark and the Captain as I won the election, on bending them to my will just as I’ve done Mr Wayne over there.”
“It’d never have worked,” Shield Maiden spat.
Granger ignored her. “When the time was right, I’d have transferred myself into the Captain’s body and taken Stark’s armour for myself, becoming the ultimate super power on this world. The irony was delicious. But as time passed, I realised physical power was secondary to political influence. That I’d have better success if I convinced people to let me rule them, rather than taking control by force. And of course, the schism between the heroes made the Captain and Stark useless to me, anyway. That’s when I turned my attention to Batman.”
He pressed a button on the console and the machinery whirred to life. Shield Maiden realised it was a mind transference device - the most powerful ever constructed. It would not only shift Granger/Skull’s consciousness into Batman’s body, it would also erase the Dark Knight, killing him as surely as would a bullet to the brain.
“Mayor Kirby Granger died today,” Granger declared. “He was assassinated by six rogue super-powered beings - Ironclad, Sunburst, Torunn, Selena Strange, Quickdraw and Shield Maiden. Despite his best efforts, Batman arrived too late to save his friend - and only barely survived the self-destruction of the secret base in which the rogue heroes hid for the past six months. Wanting to ensure Granger’s dream lives on, Batman will publicly unmask and, as Mayor Bruce Wayne, campaign to eradicate vigilantism. The New Avengers, shamed by their children’s actions, will support him. And soon Granger’s vision of a peaceful, ordered society… huddled safely within cities, their borders patrolled by government-loyal super beings… will become a global reality.”
He smiled triumphantly. “All thanks to the democratic election process and President Bruce Wayne. You know, ladies, I meant what I said during the election: I truly love this country.”
Alarms sounded and, with an exasperated sigh, Granger switched off the transference machine. “What is it,” he asked, forcing the sweetness back into his voice, as Commissioner Gordon’s face appeared on one of the view screens.
“Apologies for the interruption, Kirby,” Gordon began, “but we’ve a #0001 in progress.”
“I appreciate the update,” Granger said, “but isn’t that a police matter?”
Gordon’s eyes narrowed. “Not this time,” he said.
Shield Maiden craned her neck to catch sight of the viewscreen… and laughed.
Super City was in chaos. Panicked citizens ran back and forth; police officers fought to maintain their composure. Any breach of city ordnance #0001 was bad enough, but this? This was the nightmare the Granger-cowed populace had feared for months. Iron Man, Superman, Captain America and the Flash had returned!
“Just… just calm down, there,” one of the officers pleaded, hands shaking. Though he and his colleagues were highly trained, the sight of four of the most powerful super beings in existence - the four who’d “betrayed” the city to Ultron-X - was incredibly unnerving. “No one needs to do anything rash. You’ve been away for a while, you probably don’t know about the new laws. I’d… um… like you to come along quietly so we can resolve this peacefully.”
Several of the citizens applauded, nervous grins plastered on their faces.
“Stand down, solider,” Captain America barked. The officer dropped his weapon before he’d even realised what he was doing. So did his compatriots. The clapping citizens fell silent. “We’re only too aware of the laws, but that’s not why we’re here.”
“Kidnapping is a crime wherever you are,” Flash added. “Even if the kidnapper is the Mayor.”
“Kidnapping?” the officer scoffed, his voice high and squeaky with anxiety. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. And the Mayor? He’s just in lockdown!”
Superman arched an eyebrow. “Lockdown in a lead-lined bunker under the city,” he intoned, sending a chill through police and civilians alike. “What does any mayor, especially one who promotes open and transparent government, need with a bunker lined with the one element my x-ray vision can’t penetrate?”
The officer blinked. “Umm…”
Iron Man fired his boot jets and rose into the air. “I’ve had enough of this,” he snapped, switching his helmet’s speakers to their megaphone setting. “Red Skull! We know you’re out there, and that you can hear us! So consider us the electoral returns committee - we’ve gone over the ballot and decided would-be despots from the 1940s are ineligible for office!”
Beneath their feet, in the bunker, Granger fought to keep a puzzled expression on their face. “I have no idea,” he shrugged as Gordon started to speak. “No idea at all, Jim. Kidnapping? The Red Skull? It’s… well, I hate to say it but it’s crazy. A desperate stunt to get back in the community’s good graces.” He clucked his tongue. “And it’s sad, too. How the mighty have fallen…”
“Kirby,” Gordon said severely, “I can’t… won’t… order my men to fire on Captain America.”
Granger felt the bile rise in his throat. His heart hammered, veins throbbing in his temples, but he maintained his cool. “Wouldn’t dream of asking you to, Jim,” he said through gritted teeth. “That’s why I’m issuing the New Avengers with a temporary immunity from city ordnance #0001. Please place a call to Thor and sound the lockdown protocol. That’s all we can do, now.”
He closed the connection… and screamed.
Above ground, Flash watched the citizens run - in an orderly fashion - to their lockdown shelters. “Makes me sick,” he grimaced. “Red Skull has them running around like trained animals or something. Coddled.”
“It’ll be all right, Wally,” Iron Man reassured him.
“But will it?” Flash demanded. “Sure, I’m not known for my patience, but did we really have to wait six months to bring Red Skull down?”
“He’s the lawfully-elected Mayor of Super Hero City,” Captain America replied, emphasising the word Granger had deleted from the town’s name. “Going rogue, like we did when Luthor was elected president, wouldn’t have worked. The people were already angry with us…”
“ With me,” sighed Iron Man, “blame where blame’s due…”
“… so we had to wait until Skull broke the law,” Cap finished.
“I get it,” Flash nodded, “so now can we please get him?”
Superman was looking above them. “Not yet,” he said sadly. “We’ve one more obstacle.”
Flash groaned. “I was hoping we could avoid this.”
“We still might be able to,” Superman said.
“Fat chance,” Iron Man muttered under his breath.
The New Avengers surrounded their former colleagues, weapons at the ready. “Thou art not welcome here,” Thor glowered, the promise of danger in his tone, “especially while hurling such base accusations about. Leave. Now. I will not warn you a second time.”
“Then don’t warn, just listen,” Iron Man said. “Nobody’s hurling anything baseless about. The four of us have been keeping a close eye on Granger since the election and, buddy, nothing about that guy matches up. I get you wanted to mend fences but surely you’ve noticed how he’s been…”
Mjolnir carved the air and crashed, full force, into Iron Man’s faceplate. The armoured Avenger hurtled into the distance and Thor, snarling, ran after him at speed. The New Avengers exchanged a moment of shock at, as they did, Captain America acted.
“Now,” he commanded. “By the numbers, just as we planned!”
Superman flew at Silver Surfer and Hulk, grabbing them by the scruffs of their necks and dragging them north. Flash looped around Spider-Man and Dr Strange, delivering high-velocity shoulder-blocks that drove web-slinger and sorcerer to the south. Captain America stayed right where he was, shield across his left arm, and stared evenly at Hawkeye and Black Widow.
“Not your best idea, old man,” Hawkeye called, drawing three arrows from his quiver. “You might be a super soldier, you might be one of the best fighters in the world, but you can’t take Natasha and I at the same time.”
“I’m hoping I won’t have to,” Cap replied. “We’ve been through a lot together, the three of us. There was a time I didn’t trust you, and I was wrong to feel that way. Because of my lack of trust, we all very nearly died at the hands of Discord. Please Clint, Natasha, don’t make the same mistake I did. Let me show you what Granger has…”
A bullet ricocheted off Cap’s shield. He and Hawkeye turned, in disbelief, toward Black Widow. Smoke wafted from the barrel of one of her guns. “Don’t even try to compare yourself to us, Steve,” she said darkly. “We were in the right, doing what Fury needed us to do, to protect the world. You, Tony and the others? You just can’t handle the fact the world has moved on without you.”
Cap sighed. “All right, then,” he said, dropping into a fighting stance. “Oh, and Clint? There’s one more thing you ought to know.”
Hawkeye chuckled confidently and pulled back on his bow. “What’s that, Cap?”
“I’ve spent six months planning this fight,” the sentinel of liberty smiled wryly. “With that kind of lead time, I could take down an army of archers and assassins.”
It was no idle boast. Months earlier, when Cap had first seen through Granger’s deception, he and the others realised they’d eventually cross swords with the New Avengers. They had spent much of their time preparing for that inevitable confrontation - running through simulations, strategizing, figuring out how to exploit their friends’ weaknesses without exposing any of their own. They had hated it - every last moment of it - but accepted the burden, knowing it was the only way they’d get to the Red Skull and shut down whatever end game he had planned.
The training was why Flash ran circles around Spider-Man and Dr Strange. Powerful winds entangled them both in Spidey’s webbing and cut off their oxygen, stopping spells from being cast and spider-senses from working to full efficiency.
The simulations were the reason for Captain America’s uncanny ability to avoid every arrow, every punch, every kick, every bullet thrown by his erstwhile allies. He had dodged thousands of such blows, for months, in a simulator programmed with each New Avenger’s fighting style.
And it the planning was why Superman flew Hulk and Silver Surfer far from the city - to a sparse, unpopulated expanse of desert - before confronting them, face to face. Because with no innocents at risk, with no cities to damage, with no collateral damage to consider, the Man of Steel could truly cut loose. And with six months’ worth of untapped solar energy charging his cells, there was no force on earth more powerful, at that moment, than the Last Son of Krypton.
Thor had always been the wildcard in the quartet’s plans. Thor, who felt the sting of public scorn more acutely than anyone. Thor, who so desperately wanted to be considered a good leader and role model. Thor, at once the noblest of them all and the most easily fooled by a smooth-tongued manipulator’s appeal to his ego. Thor, who carried the greatest anger against Iron Man, Flash, Captain America and Superman for all that had transpired.
“Let me take him,” Iron Man had said. And, against their better judgment, the others had agreed.
As he battled the enraged thunder god high above the city, Iron Man regretted volunteering. He’d come prepared for the fight, festooning his latest armour with multiple batteries that could absorb, convert and make use of Thor’s lightning blasts. He’d installed bleeding-edge gyroscopic stabilizers to keep upright in stormy conditions. Thermal imaging and GPS synchronisations with a satellite, in orbit high above, let him keep track of his opponent through even the darkest of clouds. And yet he was already lost, dizzy, barely in control and close to overload. He imagined he could feel the extra batteries sizzling against his skin as they struggled to process the electrical expression of Thor’s fury.
“You will not take this from us, Stark,” Thor howled, appearing from out of nowhere to deliver another clubbing blow. “You and your conspirators ruined the good name we Avengers built over years! It fell to me to repair that bond of trust - to reign in the behaviour of heroes, to mould them into a team once more! Mine was a righteous path, Stark, our cause a just and noble one! And you will not cast aspersions upon my labours!”
“Pride,” Iron Man replied, coughing up blood beneath his helmet. The last blow had caused some kind of internal injury. The question was what would break first: the iron or the man? “I know how you feel, Thor, better than you understand. I felt the same way before Ultron-X came and tore all our hearts out.” He had but one chance - one last card to play - and, though it was a gamble, committed himself to it. At his command, all the energy absorbed from Thor’s attacks redirected into the armour’s boot jets.
He waited until Thor swung the hammer again and reached out, catching the god’s wrist with his hand. Before Thor could react, Iron Man drew in close and wrapped both arms around him in a bear hug. “But you know the thing about pride, big man? It goeth, as you’d say, before the fall!”
Iron Man fired his boot jets and aimed down, sending man and god hurtling toward the centre of Super Hero City. Thor cried in protests and fought to break free but they were moving too fast. At the last possible second, Iron Man shifted his grip and put Thor between himself and the ground.
“This is gonna hurt,” he winced.
The street splintered, the foundation crumbled and the bedrock shattered. Iron Man and Thor tumbled into Red Skull’s bunker, landing off to one side of his transference machine. Iron Man fell back - barely conscious, his armour offline and rebooting - while Thor ploughed a divot into the blood red floor. Groaning, stunned, incoherent, he groggily propped himself up on hands and knees and looked around.
Granger stared back, wide eyed, as did Batman and the young heroes. Thor took it all in with one long, addled glance. Blood trickled from his mouth and pooled on the floor.
“True,” Thor gasped as he locked eyes with Torunn. “All true. What fools these gods be.” And with that he collapsed, unconscious.
With a yelp of panic, Granger leaned forward and activated the machine. Power coursed through the nefarious mechanism… and suddenly arced into Granger as a red, white and blue disc soared through the air and severed essential wiring. A bolt of blue and red darted through the hole in the ceiling and freed Batman from his bonds; a red and crimson streak hurtled around the bunker and deactivated the force fields before darting toward the control console and spinning Granger - who was still jittering from the feedback - around in his seat.
When the improvised carousel finally stopped… and when Granger recovered his senses… he was greeted by a sight that had turned many an intergalactic tyrant to water.
Flash, Captain America and a somewhat-unsteady-but-still-upright Iron Man stood tall. So, too, did Superman; he was supporting a groggy but visibly furious Batman. Around them, Shield Maiden and the young heroes were stepping out from their cells. They were unarmed but no less dangerous for it - and the look in Selena Strange’s unearthly eyes made Granger feel truly afraid.
“Granger,” Batman growled.
“Is it too late to apologise?” the politician stammered - then unexpectedly doubled over in pain. He clutched at his stomach and fell to his knees, groaning in agony.
“Don’t even try to…” Flash began.
Superman cut him off. “He’s not faking it,” he said. “I can see it with my microscopic vision. His body is breaking down, cell by cell. Skin is starting to flake off, bones are beginning to liquefy. It’s like his entire physical structure is self-destructing.”
“He’s a clone,” Sunburst told her father. “He was telling us all about it! Force grown by Arnim Zola’s technology as a new body for Red Skull’s mind! That’s what he was going to do with Batman - upload himself into a better, stronger body!”
“It was only ever meant to be temporary,” Granger grunted, smirking at them through blood-stained teeth. His entire body seemed to be oozing. “A placeholder body, fragile, meant only for use until I could take over a true human form. The feedback from the machinery has ruined it!” Unbelievably he laughed, despite his pain, showing the depths of his madness. “You’ve killed me, ‘heroes’! The only way you could finally defeat me was to break your precious vow and take a life! No one will ever believe Kirby Granger and the Red Skull were one and the same - but they’ll all believe you four and your damned daughters murdered their beloved mayor!” He howled and cackled like a lunatic. “I won’t be around to see it, but I’ll die knowing I won!”
As he sank backwards onto the command console, Batman stepped forward - and drove one of the machine’s metal poles directly into the side of his head!
Granger shrieked, the heroes were stunned, yet Batman stood emotionless as the clone gurgled its last and died in front of him. The Dark Knight waited until there was absolutely no sign of life, then pulled out of the pole and cast it to one side.
“Bruce,” Superman said softly, “you…”
“Didn’t kill him,” Batman said sharply. “You know me better than that. And with your x-ray vision, you can double-check.”
There was a long, tense pause as Superman stared off into the distance… through miles of silt and bedrock… and then finally smiled. “The doctors at Arkham are calling it a miracle,” he chuckled. “For the first time in years, the Red Skull is responsive. Actually, the better word would be ‘agitated’.”
Heroes, young and old, helped one another climb out of the hole that Iron Man and Thor had created. They emerged to find themselves surrounded by the New Avengers, the police and the citizens of the city. They weren’t applauding politely - they were whooping, cheering, hollering and celebrating! There was jubilation in the streets and even chanting for the individual heroes.
“Oh, that?” Flash beamed. “That’s what happens when someone with super speed points every camera in the villain’s secret base toward the action and flips the switch on the command console from ‘receive’ to ‘transmit’. We might just have live-streamed our victory over the Red Skull to each and every person in the city.” He blew on his knuckles. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Quickdraw laughed with glee and hugged him.
Commissioner Gordon, the people and the New Avengers rushed forward to congratulate the heroes. It was not an instant fix - too many confidences had been broken, too many friendships had been strained - but it was a start. An unquestionable, and very public, display of what Superman, Iron Man, Flash and Captain America were all about. It proved that, while mistakes had been made, they had sprung from the best of intentions - and that everyone, regardless of their powers or position within the city, was capable of error.
“This is intolerable,” J Jonah Jameson snapped. “The people of this city are praising those blasted super heroes… and I can’t think of a single reason to disagree with them! Arrgh!”
And so, for the first time in many months, peace reigned within Hero Headquarters. Fathers and daughters spent time together, old allies exchanged pleasantries. Most importantly of all, Batman took a seat at the monitoring station, next to Hawkeye, and once again became part of the team.
“Your team, Tony,” Thor said quietly, placing a hand on Iron Man’s shoulder. “It always has been. I cede leadership to you, my friend.”
“That’s big of you, big man,” Tony smiled, “but it doesn’t change the fact that, months back, you were right. Me, Steve, Clark and Wally should have trusted you all with our fears. We should have clued you in on what we had planned, what we were doing. Much as it pains me to admit, we were wrong, and we didn’t deserve to be Avengers anymore.” He took Thor’s hand and shook it firmly. “We’re the past, buddy. You and the New Avengers are the present.” He glanced over Thor’s shoulder and saw Ironclad and Torunn talking. “It’s your responsibility, and right, to safeguard things until the future gets here.”
“Hate to interrupt,” Hawkeye called, “but we just got a call from Commissioner Gordon. Kang has managed to slip out of Arkham somehow and has made a beeline for the Skull’s old base. Gordon thinks he’s trying to steal parts from the crater for some kind of time machine!”
Thor and Iron Man shared a look. “We will do your legacy proud,” Thor nodded resolutely. He raced from the room and down the hallways - past Captain America, Flash and Superman - swinging Mjolnir as he ran. Hawkeye, Black Widow and Hulk fell into step alongside him. Spider-Man swung past, the Silver Surfer right behind him, and Dr Strange floated above them all. Shield Maiden and her friends ran to the window to watch as seven heroes, united in purpose, stepped out of the mansion and into the sunlight.
“Avengers Assemble!” Thor cried, and he and his team went to save the day.
-----THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF