AFTER THE CRUCIBLE # 6

CRUSADER CRISIS, PART TWO

By Barry Reese

EARTH-IMPACT : OUTSIDE THE CRUSADERS COMPLEX - WASHINGTON, DC.

What is the sound of armageddon? For Jason Troy, the neophyte hero known as the Fly, the sound of armageddon could be heard in his wife's gasp of terror. He was cradling Maria in his arms, her body still shaking from the damage done to it by the Comet*, staring up into the gaping maw of madness. The skies were blood-red, with streaks of lightning cutting through the clouds like a knife through butter. He glanced over at the Shield, looking to him for answers but he saw that the patriotic hero was just as confused. Only Darkling seemed unsurprised by this -- but then, Jason knew that she had come to the Crusaders in hopes of preventing just such a thing as this.

(*See last issue.)

The Comet rocketed off as a lightning bolt struck a nearby car and set it ablaze. The hero ignored the looks of shock and horror on the faces of those he pulled from the wreckage. It would be many years before people could forgive him for what he did to Evergreen, if ever. For now, though, he had lives to save.

The Shield was of a similar inclination. "Fly, Jaguar -- I want you to help as many bystanders as possible. Get them into the Complex if need be." Without waiting for a response, Joe Higgins leapt forward into the fray.

Darkling watched with admiration -- these Crusaders were good, maybe even as good as the Crusaders of her world. But they'd have to realize that saving these few lives right now was only costing them precious time. With a sigh, she realized that she couldn't ignore what was happening in front of her either. For now, they would do whatever they could. When things were calmer, perhaps, she and the Crusaders would try to put an end to the greater problem.

She just hoped there would still be time to do so.

LIMBO, THE SPACE BETWEEN EARTH-IMPACT AND EARTH-RED CIRCLE

The Crusaders stared in disbelief at the figure lumbering towards them through the psychedelic realm of Limbo. Before them floated the K'balla spacecraft that carried the Brain Emperor and his Malevolent Legion, but even their attention was riveted to the gargantuan form of Kalathar.

"God and country..." murmured the Shield. "I haven't seen anything like that since my last battle with the Hun."

"Give yourselves up, Crusaders. It's hopeless. Your world is as good as dead..." The Brain Emperor's voice echoed from the communications console, sounding very pleased with himself.

The Comet snarled, "You're a bigger fool than our world's Brain Emperor if you think we'll run from some B-movie alien! We're the Crusaders and we never lose!" The fiery hero slammed off the communications array, silencing the Brain Emperor for the time being. He turned to his fellow Crusaders and blinked in surprise.

The Jaguar was already handing out breathing apparatus to the others. "We don't know if Limbo is breathable or not, so we better take these."

The Comet felt himself smile. "I was just about to suggest we show that monster out there how things are done on our world...."

As one, the group of heroes moved towards the hatch, confident in their abilities. Outside, in the void, the being named Kalathar waited eagerly. All was going as he'd planned....

EARTH-IMPACT : THE CRUSADERS COMPLEX - WASHINGTON, DC.

"It's all patched up. Hopefully we won't be getting any more hail the size of grapefruits!" The Fly fluttered about the repaired ceiling and nodded, pleased with his work.

"Then come back down here -- We're about to leave." The Shield stood with arms folded at the head of the meeting table. He hated this -- hated going off into the unknown with little to no plan. He was a soldier, trained in tactical warfare. Fighting battle like this made him feel all too helpless. "I wish Michael were here. He's good at improvisation."

Jaguar placed a hand on her friend's arm. "He'll be up and back in uniform soon, I'm sure. The hardest part for him is telling his wife how he got hurt."

"Maybe we should ask Josh to join us, at least. Michael probably doesn't need to be babysat."

"No, let him stay here. He's new to this -- you, Jason and myself spent years in another dimension. This won't be anything different for us."

Joe nodded, his mood brightening. He thought, not for the first time, that Jason was a lucky young man. "You're right -- let's just hope we won't be gone for eight years this time."

Darkling interrupted them by clearing her throat. "I think we should go. At the rate our universes were merging, we'll be seeing effects soo--"

"Where am I?! How did I get here?" The woman's voice startled everyone and caused the Comet to instinctively power up. A woman dressed in a variant Fly costume stood in the center of the room, looking some hazy and undefined.

The Comet glanced up at the Fly. "Friend of yours?"

"No! I've never seen her before in my life.... Hey, lady, do you know a fella named Abin? Of the Fly people?"

The woman blinked at him. "Abin? No... do you mean Turan? He's the one who gave the Fly Ring to--"

"Kim!" Darkling stepped in-between them, her expression one of excitement. "Gods, it's good to see you!"

Fly-Girl gasped. "Darkling?! But we thought you were dead..." The other-worldly heroine suddenly looked about her, as if beset by unseen enemies. "Oh, God. It's starting again. The storms. Where's Tom? Where, Darkling?!"

Darkling recoiled as Fly-Girl suddenly clutched herself in pain. "Kim... no."

Fly-Girl screamed in terror before fading away, even as Darkling reached out to hold her hand. "Kim, be strong! We're coming for you! We're coming!"

LIMBO, THE SPACE BETWEEN EARTH-IMPACT AND EARTH-RED CIRCLE

As the universes slowly merged together, the Brain Emperor felt his ultimate victory coming closer and closer. The false Comet, whom he knew to be Eterno, stood beside him. "SHOULD WE NOT AID KALATHAR? IF HE FALLS BEFORE THE UNIVERSES ARE MERGED, WHAT SHALL BECOME OF YOUR PLAN?"

The Brain Emperor smiled coldly. "Oh, there's little chance of that happening. When Kalathar told me of his plans, I knew what steps I had to take to ensure victory."

Eterno glared at him, energy radiating from behind his visor. Blessed with all the powers of the mighty Comet, he was terrifying to behold. "DO NOT TEASE ME AS YOU DO THE OTHERS. IF KALATHAR'S POWER IS SO GREAT, WHAT ROLE DOES THE MALEVOLENT LEGION HAVE TO PLAY?"

"Watch, Eterno... and learn."

Outside their ship, a battle raged.

The Jaguar, flying by means of twin jet-rockets attached to his mystic Jaguar Belt, circled Kalathar. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was growing before my very eyes....

"Foolish earthlings! I am Kalathar, first warrior of my race! I have conquered entire worlds numerous times -- and such a paltry grouping as yours will not stop me."

Kalathar swung out one of his mighty fists and connected with the Fly, who had trying to draw a bead with his Buzz Gun. The impact sent the Fly careening off into Limbo. If the Jaguar hadn't caught him, he would drifted forever in the void.

The Comet and the Shield both approached cautiously. Between them, they had more experience than any other heroes on their world. From the Nazi hordes to the enigmatic Druid, they had seen and beaten them all. The Comet pointed a finger at Kalathar. "Surrender and we'll see that you're returned to your homeworld for justice! Resist and I'll have no choice but to use lethal force!"

Beside him, the Shield frowned somewhat but held his tongue. He knew very well that the Comet had been very bloodthirsty in the early parts of his career but he'd mellowed quite a bit over the years. The stress of the current situation, however, seemed to be unhinging him.

Kalathar laughed as the Comet fired a disintegration blast at him. The beam struck him in the chest and made him stagger but he did not fall. "Fool! In my universe, my homeworld is dead. Long dead because I was trapped on Earth for decades and could not send the signal for invasion. After I was returned to my barren world by the Crusaders, I built another device to return me to Earth for vengeance. When it malfunctioned, I ended up here in Limbo -- where I learned of your world, so vulnerable and unaware. It was then that I made my plans, which are coming to fruition even now!"

The alien warrior fired twin beams of energy from his eyes, striking the Shield. He then turned towards the Comet and swiped his hand in a powerful arc. A terrific blow struck the Crusaders' founder and rendered him unconscious. He then turned towards the last remaining Crusader, the Jaguar, and laughed....

Inside the Legion's ship, the Brain Emperor began speaking to Eterno in a conspiratorial tone. "Look, Eterno, at how he utilizes his abilities. He just pulled an illusion from the Jaguar's brain, just like the Dream Demon -- and there! He's using the Eraser's power as well to attack with!"

Eterno frowned and suddenly staggered forward. "WHAT...IS...HAPPENING TO ME?!"

The Brain Emperor chuckled. "The same thing that's happening to all the other members of the Legion. He's eating you."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me. Kalathar feeds on mental energy, that's partially how the American Crusaders trapped him in the 1950s, by pinning him in the mind of a human being. But this time, Kalathar won't be stopped. He'll never run out of power in battle again...using devices implanted in each of you, he's draining your powers and your minds, growing larger as a result. And more powerful."

"WHEN..." Eterno gasped in pain. "...DID YOU IMPLANT THESE DEVICES?"

"Last night. It's K'balla technology. It was simple to use my mental powers to render you all unaware of my actions. Even you. That's the true reason I needed this ship, which you handed to me so readily."

Eterno collapsed, his body adopting the Comet's true alien form. He still lived, but not for long.

The Brain Emperor watched as Kalathar, now over fifty feet tall, strode away from the floating and unconscious Crusaders. He only had one more obstacle to overcome before the earths would merge, resulting in a new universe being formed. A universe that he would shape and mold from the dawn of time.

Using his power to propel himself into the void, the Brain Emperor hurried to join his master as he moved forward to do battle with the one being who could stop him -- the ghostly spirit of vengeance, Mr. Justice.

Darkling appeared in the void, her cloak swirling open to release the Crusaders. The Shield, the Fly, Jaguar and the Comet stared about themselves in wonder.

"How the heck did you fit us all in there?!" The Fly demanded.

"My cloak is a refined tesseract. It's actually capable of holding a lot more than just the four of you...."

The Comet cursed. "Let's save the fashion show for later, kids. Look -- there's our villain right there. Kalathar! But who's he grappling with?"

Before them, taller than the giants of myth, stood Kalathar and Mr. Justice. They traded blows that echoed throughout the mystic planes, energy swirling around them with each passing second.

Darkling put a hand to her head. "By the darkness... It's Mr. Justice -- but their battle is only pushing the universes closer together! We have to stop them."

An energy blast suddenly struck Darkling, making her fall back into the Shield's arms. "Who--?"

"Welcome, Crusaders, to the final moments of your existence." The Brain Emperor floated some distance away, a sardonic grin on his lips. "May I introduce you to your killers?" Approaching, their eyes glazed over and hollow, were the Crusaders of the Red Circle Universe. "I apologize that our first meeting must be our last, but that's the way fate works...." He closed his eyes tightly, solidifying his hold on the minds of his slaves. "Kill them, my Crusaders! Kill them!"

The Shield placed Darkling gently to the side. "Crusaders, we have to help this Mr. Justice. If that means going through these dopplegangers, let's do it."

And the battle began.

The cloaked and hooded figure watched impassively from a distance, his heart heavy. He'd seen it all before, the red skies and the destruction of worlds. The memories were almost too much to cope with. The man called Pariah steeled himself for what was to come -- for where he goes, only death follows.

NEXT ISSUE : The finale to "The Crusader Crisis!" The heroes of two worlds must do battle, with all of existence at stake! Two groups of Crusaders, Pariah, Kalathar and the Brain Emperor! Who could ask for more?

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Well, one more issue to go. For those of you who missed last issue, this is an homage to those old JLA/JSA crossovers with Mr. Justice playing the always fun role of the Spectre. I hope you guys are enjoying it, though it's hard to tell since I haven't received any letters. :-) Write me!

By the way, Pariah was a character introduced in Crisis on Infinite Earths back in 1985. He's cursed to witness disaster after disaster. Hmm. Maybe his showing up at the end of this issue is a bad thing, huh?

Be back soon.

Barry Reese