Tales of a Marvel/DC Universe #4
"4 Into Infinity"
Story and script by Richard Gutierrez
All prominent characters TM and Copyright Marvel Entertainment Group 1998 or DC Comics Inc 1998
The Excelsior Launch pad.
A nondescript black van quietly pulls up outside the fence surrounding the Excelsior spacecraft. Reed Richards, recognized the world over as one of the most brilliant men ever to walk the Earth, Sue Luthor, wife of billionaire Lex Luthor, Donna Troy-Stark, astrologer and wife of the wheel chair ridden industrialist Tony Stark, and Hal Jordan, test pilot without equal, quickly and with the highest level of stealth, ready themselves for what they know will be the journey of a lifetime.
Hal: Reed you know I’ll do anything for you, and years of being a test pilot have earned me the rep for being "fearless" and all, but my friend, this is crazy. Sneaking into a top-level government base and stealing your rocket just to prove that you’re the man!
Sue: Hal, if you didn’t want to come, you could’ve stayed away.
Donna: You know Hal…all gloom and doom but he’d never miss a chance to do what he’s not supposed to do. (She winks at Hal)
Hal: (smiling back at Donna): That may be the case, but is this craft got the right amount of shielding? I was talking to Donna this morning…on the ride here…and since she’s one of the world’s most renown astrologers, she says that with us leaving today that we might pass through some nasty cosmic rays.
Reed: I’m well aware of the belt that she was referring to. I’ve calculated our window to where we will miss it by a 1158.12 miles.
Sue: Now if we are done with the debate, can we get on with it.
With that, the four continue to the launch pad and Reed, using his vast knowledge on any and everything is able to easily break the security codes. They enter the elevator, beginning their journey up to the cockpit of the massive space craft.
Meanwhile just outside the base perimeter, a second black van sits and 2 occupants watch.
Spymaster: (looking through binoculars) They look to be almost to the top, Luthor. How much longer till the …?!
Luthor (puffing on a cigar): I want them to take off and feel a false sense of security. Reed and my wife, Sue, have decided to go ahead with this launch probably as a means to get back at me for catching them in bed together the other day.
Spymaster: How would that get back at you?
Luthor: Simple. I’m a major backer of another project that is competing against the Excelsior. If they steal the ship and are successful in their plan to travel the great distances of space in little more than a blink of an eye, then the government will probably overlook this trespass and unimagined fortune will be theirs. I, of course, can’t let that happen.
Back aboard the elevator, Reed unlocks the outside door of the Excelsior and they enter the craft. They quickly put on their space gear and assume their fight positions. Reed has briefed Sue and the others on the preflight checklist. As a well-oiled machine they quickly get the craft ready for takeoff.
Reed (strapping Sue into her chair): Sue darling, you don’t know how long I’ve waited to have you here with me by my side. I just want you to know that if anything goes wrong…
Sue (putting her finger over his lips): Shhh, my love. Nothing will go wrong because I have faith in you and in our love. I can’t believe I was so blind for all these years. I never should have married Luthor when it was you that I loved.
The two lovers gently kiss each other on the lips. Reed pulls away and heads to his chair.
Hal (helping Donna strap in): Listen D, you know I’ve never been great with words and all…but… if we don’t…I mean…you’re very special….
Donna: I love you too. Now lean down here and kiss me.
Hal smiles slighly and kisses Donna.
Reed: Hal you’d better strap in. I’ve started the countdown.
Hal hurries to his seat as the countdown plays on the speakers inside the cockpit.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1
RUMMMMMMBBBBLLLEEEEEE!!!!!
The sound of the vehicle taking off is heard for several miles away, as the craft that has been designed to travel with it’s passengers to the far reaches of the galaxy violently shakes and begins it’s journey.
Reed: (to self) This is it…what I’ve been planning for, for over 10 years! The fact that Sue is with me makes this the happiest day of my life.
Sue (to self): We’re doing it! Reed and I are finally together and I’ll be there to share all his adventures.
Donna (to self): What am I doing here? That’s easy…Hal! Tony, I still love you but since your accident you’ve devoted all your time to the company. When Stark Enterprises was going to buy Ferris Aircraft, you sent me to scope out the company. That’s where I first heard and met Hal. He was brash and cocky but he was also full of life and gave me all the attention I could hope for. We quickly feel in love and here we are away from the prying eyes of the tabloids and press. Just Hal and me, on a great adventure!
Hal (to self): This is the SHIT!!!!
As the engines erupt with tremendous force, the crew is shaken to the brink of human endurance, but they continue to hold on and when they finally open their collective eyes…they all see a site that takes their breathes away.
Donna: The stars…they are magnificent!
Reed: I hate to break up this moment but we need to start the checklist and prepare for the hyper jump.
The crew, once again, silently and without haste, begin to prep the ship for it’s jump.
Hal: That looks to be the last of it. Is everyone ready?
Donna: Let’s do it!
Reed: Sue, if you’ll start the countdown.
Sue: 15…14…
Just then over the internal speaker system…
Luthor: Very nicely done. But it is with a sad heart that I bid you adieu.
Reed: Luthor! What are you talking about?
Sue: 13…12…11…
Luthor: Quite simply, I, and the world, will never see you four again. Once the countdown reaches 0 an explosive charge will rock your ship. Killing you all! Oh, and don’t try and stop the countdown…you can’t!
Sue: 10…he’s right…I can’t stop it!…8…7…6…Reed I love you! 5…4…3…2…
The crew of the ship says a final prayer.
Sue: 1…0…
BOOMMMMMM!!!!!!
Back on Earth…
Spymaster: We have positive detonation. We have lost the signal!
Luthor quietly finishes his cigar.
Luthor: Back home.
The black van disappears in the night.
Millions of miles away, young Johnny Storm, the newest Green Lantern, is asking himself a very familiar question for what seems like the 100th time over the past week…
Green Lantern: Where am I?
Ganthet: You are on the planet of Daxam.
Green Lantern: And I am here, because….?
Ganthet: You have been brought here to face the being that the Guardians formed the Green Lantern Corps to battle…Galactus. We have learned that the World devourer has targeted this planet for his next meal. Other GL’s are on their way, and some have already arrived. Come this way.
Johnny quietly follows the little blue man named Ganthet across the Daxam terrain.
Green Lantern: (to self): Look at this place! The buildings are so full of color and the size of them…we don’t have anything close to this on Earth. Wait till I tell Sue about this! She’ll flip!
The two beings enter the Capitol City of Daxam and make their way to the main meeting center. There several Daxamites and Green Lanterns join them.
Green Lantern: (to self) Look at all the others that wear this ring. When Ganthet first told me that I was one of many Green Lanterns, I didn’t think much of it. I felt special. Now, I look and see at least 10 – 15 others who can do the same things I do, and I lose some of that feeling. I’m starting to feel like just another Green Lantern.
Ganthet: (walking with Johnny toward the crowd of Green Lanterns) Johnny Storm of Earth let me introduce you to some of your fellow Green Lanterns…this is Cerise she is from Shaskofrugnon, Tomar Ra, Deathbird of the Shi’ar, Kilowog, and Norrin Radd of Zenn La.
Norrin: How do you do Johnny Storm of Earth?
Green Lantern: Over whelmed! I never…
BOOOMMMM!!
Just then, a loud sonic boom interrupts Johnny…
Tomar Ra: Look, everyone to the sky! It’s the Heralds!
The gathered forces look up and see 7 figures speeding down toward them. They are Terrax the Terrible, Air Walker, Fire Lord, Grayven self proclaimed son of the evil Darksied, Morg, Mongul, and the center of the group The Silver Surfer, Adam Strange of Rann.
Cerise: Unprecedented! For Galactus to assemble all his Heralds in one spot he must be either expecting trouble or very bad off.
Silver Surfer: You will offer no resistance to the mighty Galactus. You will calmly disperse your assemblage and await his arrival.
Morg: Shut up! Please, future residences of your world’s afterlife, attack and resist us. We are but 7 and you are a whole planet!
Fire Lord: I will never understand the sick joy you derive from torturing the masses.
Morg: And I will never understand why you continue to live in the past!
The two Heralds look over at the android Air Walker who’s programmed after a fellow inhabitant of Fire Lord’s home planet. The look is one full of animosity and hatred. Fire Lord looks away.
Morg: HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Terrax: That’s enough of this messing around…it’s time to make this world ready for harvest!
Kilowog: Not if we can help it, ya posser!
Kilowog uses his ring to create a giant fist and punches Terrax, knocking him to the ground.
Morg: It’s about time! I haven’t killed a GL in what 2-3 Earth days now. Let’s get it on.
Morg flies down and slices Kilowog with his huge battle-ax. The other GL’s and Heralds begin a full fledge battle to save the planet of Daxam. The Daxamites also join in.
Back on Earth, in the East-European country of Latveria, Doctor Victor Van Doom is in his laboratory trying to unlock the secrets of a mysterious meteor that he discovered in the side of his mountain.
Dr Doom (to self): Let’s see. I’ve run a cross-reference check of all the known geological surveys and none match this rocks make up. It is obviously from another place all together. I do wonder how big this rock was originally, before it entered Earth’s atmosphere. It now measures some 10 ft tall and 7 ft wide. Then there are the curious life readings from inside the meteor. Could something be encased inside, and if so, how will Dr. Doom use it for his gain?
Unnoticed by all of Dr. Doom’s hi tech equipment, a low animal like growl is emitted from something inside the meteor.
Back on Daxam, the force and ruthlessness of the Heralds attack have left many Daxamites and Green Lanterns either dead or dying.
Green Lantern: (deflecting a blast from Grayven) These guys fight like crazy people! I don’t know if I can handle this. I just got this ring and I’ve never had to use it in a battle like this before.
Deathbird (throwing up a shield above a Daxamite family before a building falls on them): Well, we don’t have time for you to be trained. Either suck it up and stop these guys or else this planet will become just another meal for Galactus …just like my homeworld.
Green Lantern: I only saw about 15 of us down below where are the other GL’s?
Sinestro: (from behind him, carrying a yellow bag made of energy) Oh I wouldn’t worry about them. They had a previous engagement and can’t make it.
With that, Sinestro opens his yellow bag and hundreds of Green Lantern rings pour out onto the ground.
Kilowog: You red skinned butcher! What didya do to the others?
Sinestro: They’ve been eliminated. In fact, you few here are all that’s left. Galactus has been planning to take Daxam down for quite sometime now, and you GL’s have been a very painful thorn in his side. So, while he sent the Surfer to scout out Daxam, he sent the rest of us on a little hunting excursion. You can see we bagged quite a few.
Tomar Ra: But how could this have happened and we not know about it?
Sinestro: Well that would be my doing. You see my yellow ring works very much like your green ones. We also know that your rings are powerless against yellow. So, I used my ring to block out any transmissions that the wearer might send out while the others…you know.
Norrin: You sick monster! No wonder the Guardians kicked you out of the Corps!
Sinestro: And why Galactus saw a very good use for me, because he knew this day would come. The destruction of all the Green Lanterns! For while you have been talking to me, my comrades have killed the rest of your ilk and, so many of the Daxamites, that they are retreating. You 5 are all that’s left of the valiant Green Lantern Corps…or should I say…Corpse!!
Johnny Storm looks around, the 8 Heralds of Galactus and only himself and 4 other Green Lantern’s Norrin Radd, Tomar Ra, Kilowog, and Deathbird surround him. The Heralds break off into 2 groups, Morg, Terrax, Grayven, and Sinistro stay behind to finish off the Green Lantern’s while The Silver Surfer, Fire Lord, Air Walker, and Mongul head off to prepare the landing zone for Galactus. Just then a green energy envelops Johnny and he disappears.
Green Lantern: What happened?
Ganthet: Johnny Storm of Earth. There is not much time. You must hurry aboard Galactus’s Ship and find the weapon called "the Ultimate Nullifier". It is the only thing that will save this planet and the lives of your remaining Corps members.
Green Lantern: How am I supposed to get aboard? And if I do, how do I know what this Ultimate thingy looks like.
Ganthet: With his Heralds distracted by his landing you’ll be able to get aboard his ship. The Ultimate Nullifier is located in the central most section of the ship and your ring will know it when you see it. Now hurry, your comrades are close to death. The entire Green Lantern Corps rides on your shoulders.
Green Lantern: Thanks for the peep talk.
Johnny Storm, the Green Lantern of Earth, begins his journey to the worldship that belongs to Galactus.
Next Issue! Green Lantern must find the Ultimate Nullifier before the Heralds of Galactus kill the rest of the Corps! What happened to Reed, Sue, Donna, and Hal? Are they Lost in Space? Will they live to Challenge the Unknown? Find out the answer in 4 short weeks! Plus, what has Dr Doom found in the meteor?
End of Issue 4.
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