Meanwhile, in the country of Kahndaq...

[jla_extras]

The sky is initially bright and clear. The people, still talking excitedly about yesterday's ceremony, where their beloved leader awarded such a high honor to the foreigners, who must no longer be considered strangers. Their future path will be a hard one, they know, but they face it unflinchingly, their faith in Teth Adam unwavering

Comments

[black_adam]

::Amidst the cries for help and the pleas of the people, Adam rushes off towards the city walls with Al Pratt, the Atom Smasher, following close behind. Al leans his seven-story frame into the wall and Teth Adam, wielding the strength of Amon, braces the wall with enormous beams. His wisdom has spoken. They will not be able to keep this wall from falling. They can only hope that they hold out long enough for Northwind and the Feitherans to evacuate the slums before the wall collapses, killing hundreds.::

"HOLD THE WALL! HOLD THE WALL...THEY ONLY NEED A FEW MORE MOMENTS!"

::Even Teth Adam can barely be heard above the din of rainfall and thunder.::

[jla_extras]

The stones of the wall groan under the stresses of the weather, and the ground shifts under the feet of Teth Adam and the Atom Smasher. Panicked residents try to flee. A small boy slips and falls in the mud, and begins wailing for his mother.

[black_adam]

::Teth Adam pauses for a split second. He drops the beam he is carrying and summons the swiftness of Heru. The bricks of the wall begin to collapse, succumbing to structural damage and age. Seconds later, he sweeps the boy up, narrowly avoiding the falling debris. All the boy can do is scream and cry, even upon being placed down a relatively safe distance from the wall.::

"My mommy...my mommy...she's under there...MOMMY!"

::Teth Adam turns to look where the boy is pointing, seeing three story high pile of debris, the weight of which no human could survive. There is nothing to say. Only work to be done. He puts a hand on the boy's shoulder.::

"Your mommy wants you to be brave, little soldier. Be brave."

::With those empty words Teth Adam returns to work, summoning the Courage of Mehet to press on.::

[jla_extras]

The boy sniffles, almost hiccuping in the effort to choke back his tears, as the rain continues to beat against the city. The wind picks up, driving the rain at a steeper and steeper angle. The roofs of the slum buildings are the first to go, scattering like leaves before the lash of the storm, planks and tiles splintering against other buildings, falling like arrows on the crowds below.

[black_adam]

"What in the name of Osiris?!"

::Teth Adam signals and Northwind moves in, commanding his troops to aid those in need from falling debris. Occaisional screams can be heard as wood and other objects strike or imbed themselves in the panicked crowd. The Feitherons move with precision and speed, but nothing will prevent death this day.::

"Atom Smasher! We need to select several of the sturdiest structures and get these people inside, including the Palace. Their homes, schools, and libraries will not withstand this force for long. I want you to go and oversee that effort. I am the fastest amnongst us. I will patrol the city and keep in touch as you're needed."

::With that, Teth Adam leaves Atom Smasher to direct the insane masses towards the Hospital, Palace, and scant few other structures that could even possibly withstand this torrent of nature.::

[jla_extras]

The people are still frightened, but less panicked now that they are being directed by the giant Atom Smasher. They run as he shepherds them, a few stumbling and falling into the mud that seeps across even the best roads of the city.

[black_adam]

::Teth Adam struggles desperately to keep speed, praying the Stamina of Shu will not fail him. He focuses intensely, scouring the streets to be sure everyone is on their way to safety. In the distance he can see the massive form of Atom Smasher, helping keep order and get people to shelter. Occaisionally he sees one of the Feitherons helping in some fashion or another. The damage is horrific. Teth Adam wonders how many will die this day.::

[jla_extras]

Eventually the wind dies down and the rain slackens, though the sky is still sullen above the city. An old woman approaches Teth Adam, needing two canes to make her way across the mud-slickened streets. "Have we failed you, sire?" she begs him. "Is this punishment because we have not done enough for you?" Tears stream down her wrinkled cheeks. "Speak for us before the gods, I beg of you--we will do more to be worthy of you."

[black_adam]

::He descends upon the old woman, holding out his hand to her in offer of aid.::

"No, dear woman. Though it might seem we are being punished, we can only speculate at the whims of the Gods. Let us strive to be our best in the face of adversity. In this way we show them our supplication. Through sacrafice and striving, we show them our dedication. Come with me. Let me get you to a shelter. If you wish to do more, let it be time spent tending to the sick and wounded."

[jla_extras]

As she takes his hand, the clouds suddenly roll back and the sun shines down on the city again. Awed, she looks up at Teth Adam and bows her head, now weeping tears of joy. "Your power is mighty, sire," she says gratefully. "I will serve as you have asked. Thank you, sire. Long life and health to you."

[black_adam]

::Noblese Oblige. Teth Adam nods in her direction to acknowledge her statement. He flies her to the nearest shelter and sets her upon the steps. He quickly gains altitude to survey the damages and begins calculating the effort it will take to dig graves and rebuild...yet again. Powerful indeed, but not powerful enough to save the hundreds he sees lying dead in the streets."