LJ presents: The End of All Things
Yes, I know LJ promised there'd be no cliffhangers. The guy who punches the keys, however, made no such guarantees. Moo hoo hah hah hah.
Honestly: I didn't intend to chop things in half, but Sunday was a huge day for us. By the time 11pm rolled around, it was all I could do to hit "post entry" on what I'd written and crawl into bed. Now, refreshed and creative once more, I can write down the rest of the awesome game we played last Thursday night - one that, appropriately, serves as...
LJ presents:
THE END OF ALL THINGS
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
"How many gnats must I brush aside before this world accepts its fate?"
Unicron's triumphant roar left Optimus Prime at a loss for words. As he fought his way back to his feet, the Autobot leader also wrestled with his flagging hopes. He, Ratchet and the Justice League had thrown themselves at the Chaos Bringer to no avail. Captain America and Iron Man had tried - over the mocking laughter of the corrupted Bucky - and failed. Not even the Green Lantern Corps, summoned by John Stewart's ring, had been able to faze the monstrous being. "If Earth should fall," Optimus breathed, "what chance has the universe?"
He heard, overhead, the whine of a high-powered jet engine. It was soon joined by the rumbling of tank treads and the stomping of massive feet. With a cry of "transform and destroy", Megatron, the Decepticons and the super-villains joined the fracas! Cybertronian firepower, Red Lantern energy, ghostly blasts and Ice Giant fury combined with the heroes' own abilities. Pained for the first time, Unicron dropped J'onn J'onzz and Thanos, then slashed at the newcomers with his clawed hands. Megatron made his way across to Optimus.
"I'm surprised," the Autobot said. "Not by Doom and his followers, but by your presence here."
"You shouldn't be," Megatron sneered. "I've no love for the disgusting inhabitants of this world, but the fact remains the planet itself is a bountiful source of energy. I mean to possess it, Prime, one way or the other - and my plans do not include Earth becoming a snack for a boogyman from the dawn of time!"
Optimus and Megatron attacked together, united in purpose. The sight boosted the spirits of the heroes and spurred the villains into a greater frenzy. They received more help from above - Han Solo brought the Millennium Falcon in on an attack run, lancing the towering invader with non-stop turbolaser fire. Soon, Unicron was being assailed on all sides - but his ancient, dense armour repelled every blast. Howling with rage, the Chaos Bringer loosed a torrent of missiles and eye-blasts that razed the battlefield and knocked many of the combatants unconscious. He then plucked the Falcon from mid-air and body-slammed it onto the hospital and police station.
"The time is now," Megatron crowed. "Devastator - crush him!"
Before Unicron could turn his head, the giant Decepticon had launched itself at him. Only barely intelligent, Devastator nonetheless had destructive power to spare. He dug his shovel-shaved hands into Unicron's torso, tearing free massive chunks of metal and circuitry. The Chaos Bringer responded in kind, attempting to pull Devastator's arms from their sockets. The gestalt activated the vortex grinder in its chest, trying to pull Unicron stomach-first into its grinding, mashing interior.
"You have overplayed your hand, brute," Unicron said coolly. He opened his own chest, revealing a mega-missile launcher. The giant projectile fired, rode the vortex right into Devastator's chest chavity and detonated, reducing the Decepticon to rubble.
Optimus watched, mouth agape. Megatron spat angrily. "Don't just stand there, Prime, do something," he barked. "Unicron, according to the Fallen, wants to wipe out all life in the universe - just like Thanos! My master says the only thing capable of stopping Unicron is the Matrix of Leadership. So what are you waiting for?"
"You don't understand," Optimus said quietly. "The Matrix speaks to me, Megatron, all the time. Because of its wisdom, I know our sacred life-force is not enough to stop Unicron. The alliance with Thanos, and exposure to his Infinity Gauntlet, has changed the Chaos Bringer on a fundamental level. The Matrix isn't enough. Not anymore."
They were interrupted by a thunderous crash. Unicron had stomped through Stark Tower. "There," he declared, "I've almost destroyed the city!"
"Unicron, no," screamed an unfamiliar voice. Optimus was shocked to see Thanos, barely conscious, reaching out to the Chaos Bringer with his de-gloved hand. "Don't do it! Not until I've rescued my Gauntlet from the debris!"
"Partner!" Unicon boomed. "I do not need you anymore! No one can stop me!"
Megatron snarled again and transformed into his tank mode. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself," he growled. "Are you coming, Prime?" But Optimus wasn't listening. His keen optics were focused on a distant piece of rubble. In one smooth motion he transformed, raced across to it, pulled a handbrake turn and drove off at top speed, out of the city and toward the mountains. "Coward!" Megatron yelled at his retreating form. "The last of the Primes is as useless as his dead brothers!"
The Decepticon leader attacked once more, throwing all he had at Unicron. The collosus merely swatted him to one side. "Your prattling has annoyed me the most, little one," he boomed, stooping down to pick Megatron up. "I shall devour you before I set to work consuming this wretched planet."
A laser blast bounced off the centre of Unicron's skull. Optimus had fired at him, from atop a distant mountain, to get his attention. "You have one last chance to withdraw, Chaos Bringer," the Autobot commander yelled. He held the Matrix aloft. "Refuse, and I will have no choice but to destroy you with this."
Unicron laughed. "Foolish, puny Prime. That little bauble is no threat to me."
"Look closer," Optimus said. Unicron did... and gasped. Optimus had recovered the Infinity Gauntlet from the debris, then fused its six gemstones into the Matrix's silver handles. "I've levelled the playing field, Unicron - now, I light our darkest hour!"
Optimus Prime opened the Matrix of Leadership and activated the Infinity Gems... and transformed in a way never before seen. He doubled in size, then tripled, then grew larger again. His armour thickened and his hand warped into a giant Matrix-powered blaster. Blue flames erupted from all over his body, and his optics pulsed with the power of energon. The Matrix, the very essence of Primus, fused to his broad chest and made Optimus its living extension. He had become the mightiest Transformer ever.
"You've used up your last chance," he said... and charged.
The Power Gem fuelled Optimus, making him both invulnerable and invincible. Thanks to the Space Gem, he was everywhere at once. Due to the Time Gem, he accelerated his attacks while slowing down Unicron's response-time. The Soul Gem sapped Unicron's will, while the Mind Gem addled his ancient processor with constant psychic barrages. The Reality Gem warped the world around the combatants, keeping the heroes and villains safe from Optimus' apocalyptic blows. And, with every inch of his frame charged with Matrix Energy, the Autobot leader was a walking, talking, fighting toxin to the Chaos Bringer. Unicron never stood a chance.
As soon as his opponent fell, Optimus released his grip on the gems and returned to his normal form. He knew the gems were too powerful, too dangerous, for any one being to wield. He also knew using them to restore Super Hero City, or to dispose of Unicron, could have unforseen consequences. He kept them tightly in his hand... all save one.
"Cap," he called, tossing the Reality Gem to his friend. "You know what to do."
"Uh oh," Bucky gulped. He took off on his motorcycle as fast as he could manage. Cap leaped into an overturned police car, which Optimus then lifted and threw like a javelin. The vehicle soared through the air and came down on top of the fleeing former sidekick.
As Bucky tried to free himself, Cap held out the yellow stone. "Reality Gem," he ordered, "this is my wish: make Bucky himself again... let him be good again... but let him still be alive, in this time, instead of being dead in the past!"
The Reality Gem is, arguably, the most powerful of all six stones. It grants the wishes of its owner, even if those desires are impossible or in direct contradiction of physical laws. In the wrong hands it can wreak untold havoc... but in the hands of a hero, it only ever results in a happy ending. A yellow haze descended over Bucky and, a moment later, he was back to his old self! Apologising profusely for his horrible actions, he climbed out of the wreckage and gave Cap a huge hug. "Good to have you back, partner," Cap replied, returning the embrace.
The day had been saved, but the cost was high. Super Hero City had been completedly destroyed, and many of the heroes required urgent medical/mechanical attention. Some problems were more easily solved than others. Thor, Red Skull, Silver Surfer and the Green Lanterns combined their powers...
... to melt down, disintegrate and atomise Unicron's body. Never again would he pose a threat to the universe. Thanos wailed, mourning the loss of his partner, but he had problems of his own...
... because there was a Sciencell waiting for him on Oa. "This poozer's too darn dangerous for your Arkham Asylum, even without his glove thingie," Kilowog declared. "Ya better let us take care of him. Galactic bad guys are run-of-the-mill for our jail."
Thor took custody of the Infinity Gauntlet and the six gems. "My father, Odin, has many dangerous weapons in his treasure room," he explained. "There be no safer place for such a hideous device in all the Nine Realms."
The Mayor was dejected. "I guess we're done," he said sadly. "Given our problems with the government, there's no way I'll be given the money to rebuild Super Hero City. All the people who live here will have to find new homes in other cities. Batman'll go back to Gotham, Superman to Metropolis, the Avengers to New York, the Autobots to Detroit..." he let out a deep sigh. "I'm going to miss this place."
"You won't have to," Batman interrupted. "I happen to know Bruce Wayne is very interested in keeping Super Hero City on the map as a beacon for hope in the world. He's going to donate $1 million to get things up and running again."
"What a coincidence," Iron Man said. "Stark Industries was going to donate two million dollars to the relief effort."
Batman scowled. "What I meant to say was Bruce Wayne had pledged three million dollars."
"Stark will give four," Iron Man responded tersely.
"Five," Batman growled.
"Six!" Iron Man yelled.
Bucky, still recovering from his ordeal, watched the battle of the billionaires in disbelief. "What kind of world am I in now?" he wondered aloud.
"The best kind, old pal," Cap said, throwing an arm around his partner. "And that's why we're going to rebuild it better than ever."
-----NEVER THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
Honestly: I didn't intend to chop things in half, but Sunday was a huge day for us. By the time 11pm rolled around, it was all I could do to hit "post entry" on what I'd written and crawl into bed. Now, refreshed and creative once more, I can write down the rest of the awesome game we played last Thursday night - one that, appropriately, serves as...
LJ presents:
THE END OF ALL THINGS
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
"How many gnats must I brush aside before this world accepts its fate?"
Unicron's triumphant roar left Optimus Prime at a loss for words. As he fought his way back to his feet, the Autobot leader also wrestled with his flagging hopes. He, Ratchet and the Justice League had thrown themselves at the Chaos Bringer to no avail. Captain America and Iron Man had tried - over the mocking laughter of the corrupted Bucky - and failed. Not even the Green Lantern Corps, summoned by John Stewart's ring, had been able to faze the monstrous being. "If Earth should fall," Optimus breathed, "what chance has the universe?"
He heard, overhead, the whine of a high-powered jet engine. It was soon joined by the rumbling of tank treads and the stomping of massive feet. With a cry of "transform and destroy", Megatron, the Decepticons and the super-villains joined the fracas! Cybertronian firepower, Red Lantern energy, ghostly blasts and Ice Giant fury combined with the heroes' own abilities. Pained for the first time, Unicron dropped J'onn J'onzz and Thanos, then slashed at the newcomers with his clawed hands. Megatron made his way across to Optimus.
"I'm surprised," the Autobot said. "Not by Doom and his followers, but by your presence here."
"You shouldn't be," Megatron sneered. "I've no love for the disgusting inhabitants of this world, but the fact remains the planet itself is a bountiful source of energy. I mean to possess it, Prime, one way or the other - and my plans do not include Earth becoming a snack for a boogyman from the dawn of time!"
Optimus and Megatron attacked together, united in purpose. The sight boosted the spirits of the heroes and spurred the villains into a greater frenzy. They received more help from above - Han Solo brought the Millennium Falcon in on an attack run, lancing the towering invader with non-stop turbolaser fire. Soon, Unicron was being assailed on all sides - but his ancient, dense armour repelled every blast. Howling with rage, the Chaos Bringer loosed a torrent of missiles and eye-blasts that razed the battlefield and knocked many of the combatants unconscious. He then plucked the Falcon from mid-air and body-slammed it onto the hospital and police station.
"The time is now," Megatron crowed. "Devastator - crush him!"
Before Unicron could turn his head, the giant Decepticon had launched itself at him. Only barely intelligent, Devastator nonetheless had destructive power to spare. He dug his shovel-shaved hands into Unicron's torso, tearing free massive chunks of metal and circuitry. The Chaos Bringer responded in kind, attempting to pull Devastator's arms from their sockets. The gestalt activated the vortex grinder in its chest, trying to pull Unicron stomach-first into its grinding, mashing interior.
"You have overplayed your hand, brute," Unicron said coolly. He opened his own chest, revealing a mega-missile launcher. The giant projectile fired, rode the vortex right into Devastator's chest chavity and detonated, reducing the Decepticon to rubble.
Optimus watched, mouth agape. Megatron spat angrily. "Don't just stand there, Prime, do something," he barked. "Unicron, according to the Fallen, wants to wipe out all life in the universe - just like Thanos! My master says the only thing capable of stopping Unicron is the Matrix of Leadership. So what are you waiting for?"
"You don't understand," Optimus said quietly. "The Matrix speaks to me, Megatron, all the time. Because of its wisdom, I know our sacred life-force is not enough to stop Unicron. The alliance with Thanos, and exposure to his Infinity Gauntlet, has changed the Chaos Bringer on a fundamental level. The Matrix isn't enough. Not anymore."
They were interrupted by a thunderous crash. Unicron had stomped through Stark Tower. "There," he declared, "I've almost destroyed the city!"
"Unicron, no," screamed an unfamiliar voice. Optimus was shocked to see Thanos, barely conscious, reaching out to the Chaos Bringer with his de-gloved hand. "Don't do it! Not until I've rescued my Gauntlet from the debris!"
"Partner!" Unicon boomed. "I do not need you anymore! No one can stop me!"
Megatron snarled again and transformed into his tank mode. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself," he growled. "Are you coming, Prime?" But Optimus wasn't listening. His keen optics were focused on a distant piece of rubble. In one smooth motion he transformed, raced across to it, pulled a handbrake turn and drove off at top speed, out of the city and toward the mountains. "Coward!" Megatron yelled at his retreating form. "The last of the Primes is as useless as his dead brothers!"
The Decepticon leader attacked once more, throwing all he had at Unicron. The collosus merely swatted him to one side. "Your prattling has annoyed me the most, little one," he boomed, stooping down to pick Megatron up. "I shall devour you before I set to work consuming this wretched planet."
A laser blast bounced off the centre of Unicron's skull. Optimus had fired at him, from atop a distant mountain, to get his attention. "You have one last chance to withdraw, Chaos Bringer," the Autobot commander yelled. He held the Matrix aloft. "Refuse, and I will have no choice but to destroy you with this."
Unicron laughed. "Foolish, puny Prime. That little bauble is no threat to me."
"Look closer," Optimus said. Unicron did... and gasped. Optimus had recovered the Infinity Gauntlet from the debris, then fused its six gemstones into the Matrix's silver handles. "I've levelled the playing field, Unicron - now, I light our darkest hour!"
Optimus Prime opened the Matrix of Leadership and activated the Infinity Gems... and transformed in a way never before seen. He doubled in size, then tripled, then grew larger again. His armour thickened and his hand warped into a giant Matrix-powered blaster. Blue flames erupted from all over his body, and his optics pulsed with the power of energon. The Matrix, the very essence of Primus, fused to his broad chest and made Optimus its living extension. He had become the mightiest Transformer ever.
"You've used up your last chance," he said... and charged.
The Power Gem fuelled Optimus, making him both invulnerable and invincible. Thanks to the Space Gem, he was everywhere at once. Due to the Time Gem, he accelerated his attacks while slowing down Unicron's response-time. The Soul Gem sapped Unicron's will, while the Mind Gem addled his ancient processor with constant psychic barrages. The Reality Gem warped the world around the combatants, keeping the heroes and villains safe from Optimus' apocalyptic blows. And, with every inch of his frame charged with Matrix Energy, the Autobot leader was a walking, talking, fighting toxin to the Chaos Bringer. Unicron never stood a chance.
As soon as his opponent fell, Optimus released his grip on the gems and returned to his normal form. He knew the gems were too powerful, too dangerous, for any one being to wield. He also knew using them to restore Super Hero City, or to dispose of Unicron, could have unforseen consequences. He kept them tightly in his hand... all save one.
"Cap," he called, tossing the Reality Gem to his friend. "You know what to do."
"Uh oh," Bucky gulped. He took off on his motorcycle as fast as he could manage. Cap leaped into an overturned police car, which Optimus then lifted and threw like a javelin. The vehicle soared through the air and came down on top of the fleeing former sidekick.
As Bucky tried to free himself, Cap held out the yellow stone. "Reality Gem," he ordered, "this is my wish: make Bucky himself again... let him be good again... but let him still be alive, in this time, instead of being dead in the past!"
The Reality Gem is, arguably, the most powerful of all six stones. It grants the wishes of its owner, even if those desires are impossible or in direct contradiction of physical laws. In the wrong hands it can wreak untold havoc... but in the hands of a hero, it only ever results in a happy ending. A yellow haze descended over Bucky and, a moment later, he was back to his old self! Apologising profusely for his horrible actions, he climbed out of the wreckage and gave Cap a huge hug. "Good to have you back, partner," Cap replied, returning the embrace.
The day had been saved, but the cost was high. Super Hero City had been completedly destroyed, and many of the heroes required urgent medical/mechanical attention. Some problems were more easily solved than others. Thor, Red Skull, Silver Surfer and the Green Lanterns combined their powers...
... to melt down, disintegrate and atomise Unicron's body. Never again would he pose a threat to the universe. Thanos wailed, mourning the loss of his partner, but he had problems of his own...
... because there was a Sciencell waiting for him on Oa. "This poozer's too darn dangerous for your Arkham Asylum, even without his glove thingie," Kilowog declared. "Ya better let us take care of him. Galactic bad guys are run-of-the-mill for our jail."
Thor took custody of the Infinity Gauntlet and the six gems. "My father, Odin, has many dangerous weapons in his treasure room," he explained. "There be no safer place for such a hideous device in all the Nine Realms."
The Mayor was dejected. "I guess we're done," he said sadly. "Given our problems with the government, there's no way I'll be given the money to rebuild Super Hero City. All the people who live here will have to find new homes in other cities. Batman'll go back to Gotham, Superman to Metropolis, the Avengers to New York, the Autobots to Detroit..." he let out a deep sigh. "I'm going to miss this place."
"You won't have to," Batman interrupted. "I happen to know Bruce Wayne is very interested in keeping Super Hero City on the map as a beacon for hope in the world. He's going to donate $1 million to get things up and running again."
"What a coincidence," Iron Man said. "Stark Industries was going to donate two million dollars to the relief effort."
Batman scowled. "What I meant to say was Bruce Wayne had pledged three million dollars."
"Stark will give four," Iron Man responded tersely.
"Five," Batman growled.
"Six!" Iron Man yelled.
Bucky, still recovering from his ordeal, watched the battle of the billionaires in disbelief. "What kind of world am I in now?" he wondered aloud.
"The best kind, old pal," Cap said, throwing an arm around his partner. "And that's why we're going to rebuild it better than ever."
-----NEVER THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF