Orion's inner sanctum was a plain, simple place, designed with no concessions to style or comfort. The windowless walls were built from tightly packed brown stones, and with the exception of a plain red chair and two torches flanking both sides of the chair, it would appear to the casual observer that the room was bereft of anything else. The casual observer would be wrong. Orion raised his Mother Box to his chest. The living computer transmitted a signal towards the sanctum's cold, smooth black marble floor, and a circular Holoter panel rose up two feet out of the ground. Lightray stood under a torch, next to the chair, where Orion was sitting. An orange burst of light exploded from the panel, and the holographic image of a young man wearing deep orange headgear and a green outfit shimmered into view. "Hail, Orion and Lightray!" the figure on the Holoter waved at them. "Director of Off-World Operations Moonrider speaking on behalf of Highfather and the Council!". At a copper round table behind Moonrider sat five distinguished members of the New Genesis government, four of which were his fellow Forever People, who along with Mark comprised the Council: Beautiful Dreamer, who lived up to her sobriquet with her close-cropped black hair and in a light red jumpsuit; Serifan, wearing his familiar black cowboy hat and orange shirt; Big Bear, dressed in brown and smiling, his long red hair unadorned; Vykin the Black, stone-faced in blue and green armour as usual. Seated at the head of the table was Takion, the golden Highfather of New Genesis. "Hail, Mark Moonrider! Hail, Council! Hail, Highfather!" Lightray waved cheerily, returning the greeting. Orion opted for a simple, subdued "It is good to see you, Council." The hints of a smile curled around Orion's lips as he noted Takion shifting almost imperceptibly in his chair in reaction to Orion's slight. Years had passed, and still Orion took umbrage at Takion- a mere Earthman turned into a New God by the Source- who in Orion's eyes was not worthy of the title Highfather. "Orion has no objections to your appointed ambassador." Lightray pointed at himself, beaming just as brightly as his name. "Congratulations, Lightray!" Beautiful Dreamer said. "Thank you for giving my friend this opportunity, Council. I'm certain that Lightray and I will be able to bring our respective governments even closer together." Orion again stared at Takion, studying his reactions. As Takion's lower lip trembled, Orion wondered if he was going to launch into another self-righteous speech about the role that New Genesis troops played in Orion's takeover of Apokolips, and how the son of Darkseid wouldn't be sitting on his father's throne if not for New Genesis, and how he had allowed hundreds of New Genesis soldiers to stay on Apokolips to carry out Orion's plans when they did not conflict with New Genesis interests...what Takion could not understand is that Orion *did* have respect for New Genesis and her troops, many of whom he had known since childhood. It was Takion who he did not respect. Orion clutched his armrests and leaned forward, peering at Takion, virtually daring the shining being to say something. And say something Takion did. "Au...au...au...AUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!" Takion screamed, falling from his chair into an unconscious heap on the floor. Mark turned his back to see his friends rise up virtually in unison and gather around Takion. He swiftly joined them. Orion leapt from his chair, his red robes rustling as he did, and Lightray walked toward the panel, both equally shocked. =============================================================== We have always looked to the stars for comfort; for light; for hope; for inspiration. But what if one of our stars turned lethal? What if instead of piece of mind, the stars offered us only death? Such is the peril that faces the... =============================================================== Takion could see nothing but whiteness. He felt as blind as he had been in his former life as Joshua Sanders. In the center of the white void, he noticed a small gilded circle. As Takion studied it, it grew larger and more immense, forming a vaguely human shape. In what would be considered seconds outside of the white void, the human shape was defined. It had a wise lined face, a beard, and held a great staff. "Izaya!" Takion gasped. The previous Highfather had appeared to Takion only once since becoming one with the Source, for a very short time two years ago when he restored the devastated Supertown. "I must be in the Source then. But why?" "I have summoned you. New Genesis faces imminent annihilation. I have been able to convince the Source to help us save our world, but it needs your assistance, for you are the only living being who is a direct conduit to the Source. You are the only living being through which the Source can directly interact with the physical world. But beware," Izaya's voice turned grim. "It will only help us once, and promises a heavy price will be paid in exchange for its' salvation. What is your choice, Takion? Destruction now, or suffering later?" Takion clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. "There is no choice, Izaya. New Genesis must be saved, no matter what the cost." Izaya nodded. "I would have made the same choice, my son. My hopes go with you." With that, the vision of the former Highfather receded, and blackness filled Takion's mind. =============================================================== "What in the cosmos is happening?!" Orion's Holoter image shouted. "I wish I knew!" Vykin responded. Slowly, silently, and crackling with energy, Takion's body floated into the sky and hovered above the Forever People. The five youths stood in a circle, gaping at Takion. Energy began to flicker and burn brighter and hotter from the Highfather's body. Big Bear instinctively slung Beautiful Dreamer and Serifan up onto his shoulders. Beautiful Dreamer yelped "Big Bear!", scolding him, and Serifan let out a bewildered "What the heck?!". "This looks like it's going to get messy..." Big Bear explained. The gentle giant turned his head and glanced at Vykin and Mark Moonrider. "Let's get out of here!" Takion's body began to convulse, burning even greater with cosmic power. "I think you're right..." Mark replied. "Scramble!" The Forever People ran from the great hall as quickly as they could. Through the holographic representation of Council hall's massive garden window, Orion and Lightray could see an inferno blazing through New Genesis's skies directly towards Supertown. The two old friends were struck silent, mortified by what appeared to be the imminent destruction of their home world. Takion began to flare so intensely that Orion and Lightray had to shield their eyes. The Highfather roared with a mighty battle cry and crashed through the window, on a collision course with the flames. And with that, the Holoter flashed orange again, and all contact with New Genesis was lost. =============================================================== "What in Darkseid's name is that?!" Lashina shouted, pointing up at the large artificial star that was firing at New Genesis. "Solaris..." Big Barda whispered again. In front of her stood her husband Scott Free, and to her side two Female Furies- the yellow skinned, green haired Mad Harriet, and wrapped in navy blue leather, Lashina- as well as four Parademons ensnared in Lashina's net-like capture lash. All of them were in Armagetto, which was bathed in soft yellow light rather than covered in the grey icy smog that usually hung over the slum, struck silent by the massive burning orb above their world. Scott Free swallowed hard, unnerved by the flames heading towards the planet he was born on. Despite his shock, Scott remained cool, calm, and collected. Although things looked grim, he had looked death in the face a million times over and laughed at it. There was nothing that could truly phase him. He rolled down his yellow sleeve and pulled his Mother Box off of the strap that held it to his arm. The little computer immediately sensed Scott's thoughts, and acted on them. =============================================================== The Holoter panel in Orion's sanctum lit up again, this time displaying Scott, his voice almost unnaturally cool and flat as he suppressed all of his feelings of hurt and sorrow over New Genesis. "Orion. New Genesis is under attack by an unknown force. Request authorization of military code 1SK-CA." Orion's face sunk as he turned and looked at Lightray. A 1SK-CA was the most extreme request an Apokoliptian military commander could make of his leader under the fledging rules and doctrines Orion had set up: to send each and every last troop into combat, barring the current rulers' personal guard and nominal police forces. However, for all he knew, New Genesis could be little more than a smoky cinder right now, and Apokolips might follow it. He had no choice but to authorize the code. Lightray nodded his support. "Can the Female Furies keep any potential civil disturbances under control?" Scott turned to Barda. "We can, but, Orion...that thing up there...it's Solaris. And what's more...it appears it has allies. It dropped out of an unidentified triangular starship." Solaris. The Tyrant Sun. The Stellar Annihilator. The Scourge of the Superman Dynasty. The rouge Mod IV Stellar Computer went by many names, but none quite conveyed it's sheer awesome, evil power and genocidal desires. Although Orion had been a member of the Justice League of America when Solaris attacked the twentieth century, he was not present during the strange, paradoxical events that led the Justice League to join with the Justice Legion A in building Solaris eight hundred and thirty three centuries before it's natural development. Still, Barda and others had recounted how close it had come to incinerating the Earth* to him. Orion knew that few threats dwarfed Solaris, and if there were another force or forces aiding it...it's powers may be near-infinite. *See the classic DC One Million Miniseries- Galactic Gregg Barda continued. "I'd like to temporarily place Lashina in charge of the Furies and brief the troops on the way out. I can call up data on Solaris from the Watchtower's computers, transmit it to our soldiers via telepathic lens, and share my own personal experiences as well." "Permission granted to requests to enact military code 1SK-CA and for Big Barda to brief the Apokoliptian Defence Force on military actions against Solaris and the unknown ship." "Thank you Orion. We won't fail you." Scott said, his image shimmering away. "I must go to the embassy. Cosmos only knows what the staff must be going through..." Lightray sounded more sombre than Orion had ever heard him sound before. Orion placed his hand on Lightray's shoulder. "Then make haste, my friend. And never lose faith in the Source." Lightray nodded. "I won't. New Genesis and Apokolips both will survive. I swear it." With those words, Lightray's body blazed into formless light and passed through the walls, intangible as a ghost. "I know they will." Orion silently agreed with Lightray as he began walking out of his sanctum and into the Palace's courtyard to address his people. =============================================================== Solar winds swept and blew through Supertown. The children, normally happy and singing, were huddled with their parents. No matter how magnificent New Genesis was, it almost certainly would not stand against the massive fire that was just beginning to stream through the atmosphere. "Stay calm...the Source shall provide." Mark Moonrider said in a soft voice as he and the Forever People took their place amongst the others gathering together in masses under the golden spires and massive statues of Supertown. On some worlds, the end might be considered a private affair, to be faced only behind closed doors with loved ones. However, on New Genesis, everyone was beloved. Everyone was cherished. Therefore, everyone had decided to gather and face the destruction of New Genesis together. "We shall endure." Mark continued. He tried to stay calm and confident, not letting the current crisis shake his faith in the Source. But in many ways, the Highfather *was* the Source, and he had apparently gone mad. If the Source was insane, what hope could it offer? Mark kept his eyes on Takion, who was little more than a bright comet hurtling wildly towards the flame now. The crowds remained silent, just as they had during his words with them. There was still hope among the people- if there wasn't, they wouldn't be the people of New Genesis- but with every microsecond that the flames raced closer, hope faded quicker. =============================================================== "Lashina, I know your heart longs to be in battle, but our ranks will be strained enough..." Barda frowned. "Say no more." Lashina waved her hand, brushing off Barda's apology. "You are simply more familiar with the enemy than I. Perhaps another time, our roles will be reversed." Barda nodded thoughtfully. "Return to the barracks. Mad Harriet, take the Parademons to the Brig. They may be a minor threat, but they must be contained nonetheless." "Who're you calling a minor threat?!" One of the brutish yellow and emerald soldiers questioned. "Yeah! You won't be calling us that for long when that Solaris thing blows you all away, just the same way it blew away New Genesis!" another taunted. Mad Harriet cackled. "You'll not be so full of bravado after you spend some time with me, boys!". Scott shot Harriet an inquisitive glance. "Harriet!" Barda's voice boomed sternly. "What have I told you about torturing prisoners?!" Harriet slinked up to the capture lash and lightly scratched her talons across it, right in front of the faces of the Parademons. "Just one?" she asked innocently. "No! Now take them away!" Barda waved her Mega Rod at Mad Harriet furiously. "And if I find these Parademons in any condition other than the one they're in now..." "Ohhhhh...all right." Harriet pouted. Lashina interrupted the exchange. "We've no time to spare...rally our troops...for both New Genesis' and Apokolips' sakes..." she said as she called up a Boom Tube and stepped through it, off to gather the Female Furies. The Tube closed with a deafening thunderclap. "Just make sure you maim someone for your dear old Mad Harriet!" The sickly jaundiced Female Fury tugged at the capture lash, pressed a button on the side of a power spiked gauntlet on her hand, and vanished along with her prisoners in a molecular beam. Barda held out her Mega-Rod. "Are you ready?" Scott grasped his wife's weapon. "As I'll ever be." "Then...to war." Big Barda said as the Mega-Rod took her and her husband on the Dimension Course to the Apokoliptian Defence Force Academy. =============================================================== "Where could they be?" Styggan asked Jena as they sat in the amphitheatre of the Academy. "It's almost thirty minutes." "Scott was very secretive about whatever he was doing..." Jena's scarlet lips turned downwards into a frown. "I hope he's all right." Styggan wanted to take her in his arms, to comfort her and make her feel safe. But he knew that here, amongst his fellow cadets, was not the right place to act upon his emotions. Instead, he focused his eyes on Trantus, the New Genesis general Scott had left behind to watch over both the veteran New Genesis and Apokoliptian soldiers and his young charges during the break period Scott had granted them all. Trantus was a large man with short silver hair, purple and red armour, and a sword sheathed in a blue scabbard hooked to his azure belt. Around his neck hung a pair of Zoomibinocs, glasses which allowed the old general eyesight greater than a hawk's. Although he had never been a particularly inspired or imaginative soldier, Trantus was unquestionably loyal and brave. Moreover, he had fought alongside Izaya during the Great Clash and survived. That fact alone made him something of a legend. Although Trantus spent the better part of the break talking animatedly with students about epic battles, reminiscing with old friends, and even making amends with some of his old Apokoliptian rivals, Styggan couldn't help but notice how the elderly soldier paused occasionally to stare fretfully at his chronometer. "I'm sure of it. He was dodging Parademons before we were even..." Styggan's words were cut short by a blaring horn. "The call!" Jena gasped. The call to battle, the signal of planetary danger. It had not sounded since the fateful day when Orion and his troops- amongst them Jena and Trantus- invaded Apokolips and destroyed Darkseid's centuries-old hold on the planet. As the signal wailed, Scott and Barda materialized on the ampitheatre's main stage. Uncertain but ready, cadets, soldiers, and officers alike rose to attention, strapped on their helmets, and waited for their orders. Scott hopped on a Holoter panel, creating a larger-than-life image of himself whose voice echoed through the assembly. "We've got a code 1SK-CA, people. New Genesis is under attack by a stellar computer in orbit around Apokolips. We're going to make an attack on it. Barda will brief you on the way! Move! Move!" Swiftly, the domed ceiling of the Defence Force Academy opened, allowing thousands of warriors to streak upwards into the cosmic void. =============================================================== After a twisting, turning walk down the hallways and corridors of his palace, Orion made his way into the courtyard to address his subjects. He expected to see scared and confused people huddled together awaiting his appearance. What he got was a full-scale riot. =============================================================== The first thing Lashina noticed as she arrived on the streets of Greyborders with Hellacia, Stompa, and Zafgie, was the sheer scale of panic that had gripped Apokolips. It was not out of fear or concern for New Genesis's safety that the Apokoliptians were rioting and turning upon each other, for although some had noticed the new star in the sky firing on the shadow planet's sister world, compassion towards anyone except their leader was still an alien concept to most on Apokolips. Nor was it even the fear that Apokolips itself might be attacked next that sparked the chaos. The reason was far more elemental than that: "The light! The light! It's horrible!" cried one man in a black robe as he clawed at his eyes. Although Lashina, Stompa, and others of Apokolips' elite had traveled to dozens of worlds with sunlight and received special training on how to psychologically cope with it, all the average Apokoliptian "Hunger Dog" had ever known was a cold grey gloom. A gloom which had been lifting in recent months partly because of Orion, but a gloom that was still present and powerful nonetheless. The concept of sunlight was beyond comprehension to the majority. Even the two younger Furies felt a small pinch of panic tug at their hearts. Training and simulations were one thing, but the reality of the situation was quite another. "With all due respect, leader, I believe there's no order to maintain here. Only our own order to impose." said Hellacia, the red-haired sorceress, as she stared at a mob of children pummeling an old man. "You're quite right." Lashina said, raising her arm up, then cracking her whip against one of the young hooligans' backs. He yelped as Lashina continued to snap the lash against him, and his compatriots joined him as Lashina began to attack them. With each whip smack, each of the them began running further and further away from their victim. "Do whatever it takes to stop this, short of using lethal force!" Stompa slammed her mustard-coloured boots on the ground, causing the earth to split and stop a fight between a burly man in blue armour and a smaller man wearing a green body suit. The two combatants reeled and began falling into the fresh crevice. "You know Lashina, sometimes ya just ain't any fun.", she complained. Zafgie, the ethereal, silent new Fury, raised her frosty blue hands and sent water streaming forth from them into the jagged crack Stompa had created, thereby softening the rioters' falls and, hopefully, giving them a chance to literally cool down. "I think you may be onto something, Zaf." Hellacia fired eldritch rays at the water and froze it, entrapping the rioters and causing the ice to expand into a great solid wall. Given the sheer number of shell-shocked citizens and the heat on Apokolips, Hellacia knew that the ice wall wouldn't last long, but she hoped it would buy the Furies a few moments to press the offensive. Hunger Dogs pounded at the wall and howled, becoming even more enraged at Hellacia's attempt to contain them. =============================================================== Big Bear cradled the weeping form of Beautiful Dreamer in his bulky arms. Serifan held his hat over his heart and cast his eyes downward. Vykin, holding the unique pyramidal Mother Box of the Forever People, threw himself into a detailed scientific analysis of the approaching firestorm. Mark Moonrider held a child in his arms and two more clutched his legs in terror. The twilight of the gods had arrived. =============================================================== Takion swam up Solaris's stream of flame, enduring pressures and pain even a New God could not. However, his mind felt no agony, and was consumed the power of the Source. With sheer determination, the Highfather swept through the Tyrant Sun's plasma shields, straight into Solaris' "heart": the stellar computer core chamber. As he burned alive, Takion held his fists together, pulled them back, and slammed both into the core. Solaris was rocked backwards, away from it's orbit and began spiraling into the depths of space. The stellar computer flickered, it's blazing attack coming to a halt. =============================================================== The people of Supertown let out a collective gasp as Solaris's inferno stopped, just miles above the city. "Highfather..." Mark whispered, stunned to be alive, yet also concerned about the source of New Genesis's salvation. He turned to a handful of Monitors and, without hesitation, ordered "The Highfather was out there! Find out what happened to him!" "At once, sir." one of the Monitors said as he and five of his fellows took to the heavens. =============================================================== Orion growled at his subjects. "Heed my words!" Much to his surprise, the skies darkened slightly, and the Hunger Dogs ceased their fighting. Orion looked up at the sky, seeing nothing but smog. Unfazed, he stared at his people and continued. "Heed my words, people of Apokolips! Our planet faces great peril." Initially, the throng of Apokoliptians stood slightly bewildered as the madness Solaris' light engendered faded. But as Orion's words sank in under the comforting darkness, they began to listen. "Do not let despair claim you! For at this very moment, the most courageous and best of your fellows, aided by soldiers from New Genesis, are on their way to destroy the cause of that peril! Be brave, my friends!" Orion raised his fists in his air as he repeated his plea. "Be brave!" Deeply inspired by Orion's words, the Apokoliptians let out a massive cheer. Orion rubbed his chin and silently mused Lightray's recent words to him- "You are the most formidable warrior the cosmos has ever seen, but you are an equally formidable statesman."- while wondering what his best friend had found at the New Genesis Embassy. =============================================================== The soldiers of Apokolips arrived at the last known location of Solaris to find...nothing. "Where is it?" Styggan asked nervously. "Where's Solaris?" "Over there, if those files Barda lensed us are accurate." Trantus nodded to a faraway part of space. "Doesn't look like it's doing much of anything right now. I'd say it's inert." Barda squinted, her strong eyes focusing on the spot Trantus indicated. "Identification of Solaris confirmed. It's definitely incapacitated." "How did it get that way?" wondered Valinus, a former Parademon. "Fan out." Scott ordered. "Patrols 2, 3, and 7 accompany Barda to Solaris. Patrols 1, 4, and 5, maintain present position with Trantus just in case Solaris is playing dead. 6, 8, and 9 follow me to investigate the ship." =============================================================== Solaris's computer core crackled and buzzed as it attempted to hold itself together. After minutes of struggling, Solaris was able to stop it's wild drift across the galaxy and effect a sufficient amount of repairs upon itself to survive. Broken, but not beaten, Solaris transmitted a message to the alien mechanoid ship it had dominated. "Command: Release all mechanoids." On the ship, in the centre of a spider web of wires, the thin humanoid co-ordinator's body danced with colour as it processed Solaris' directive. Slowly, a bewildering, bizarre battalion of mechanoids rose up and crept to the launch tubes. =============================================================== Scott, Styggan, and a few hundred others made their way towards the deep green mechanoid starship with great caution. Carefully, Scott moved slightly ahead of his fellows, feet planted firmly to his Aero Discs, and started scanning the surface of the ship for an entrance. "Any luck, sir?" Atrea, an Apokoliptian cadet, inquired as she pulled up alongside Scott on her own Aero Discs. "None. Blast it...if only..." Scott paused. "What is it sir?" Scott mutely pointed ahead of him. Red warriors, silver servitors, and the bullet-shaped golden scouts all burst out of the ship and darted directly at Scott and his troops in a colossal rainbow of destruction. As menacing as they were, what chilled Scott the most was the sight following them: a black man in a blue outfit, astride cosmic skis. He was the Black Racer, and he would not rest until death was visited upon the living...

FDC Presents Issue #21: "Salvation" Whipsmart Writing by: "Galactic" Gregg Allinson Cunningly Created by: Jack "King" Kirby Endearing Editing by: "Mighty Miry" Clay Arceneaux Tryant Sun: Josh "Crusher" Corum Pugilistic Plot Assists by and Titanic Thanks to: "Jaunty" Justin Garrett Blum Write to Welcome to issue #21 of New Gods, perhaps the only "bimonthly" title to come out four months after the last issue this side of the crazy CLIFFHANGER books. Fear not, fretting fans- your friend and humble narrator has taken a far lighter workload over the summer semester and guarantees four more issues by the end of this year (and maybe, fearless Faux-DCers, if you're really good, a frantic FOURTH WORLD GIANT SPECIAL, but I wouldn't bet the house on that one!). Before I go any further, I want to express my great generosity to two Godguys who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty since the inception of this trippy title: Jaunty Justin Garrett Blum, late of the tremendous TALES OF THE BLUE DEVIL, and Mad Mike Hintze, whose fine work is on display in the wonderful WONDER WOMAN and the joyous JUSTICE SOCIETY (which is a must-read for all Godguys and Godgals, as it features the newest nutty New God- DOCTOR FATE!). Jaunty Justin took at look at my first draft for this issue and made some stellar suggestions to make this one for the ages, and Mad Mike has been spreading the good word about New Gods on the Faux-DC list. Moreover, I want to thank you, the patient peruser of this bombastic book, for your perseverance through this horrible hiatus and your super support. Anyhow, the next issue will see the rollicking resolution of the Solaris saga! Will the Black Racer claim another victim? Will Apokolips endure? Will Solaris be defeated? Will your friend and humble narrator meet his deadline? Well, the only answer I'm giving to all of the above is "YES! You'll see New Gods #22 in mid-August if I have to chain myself to the keyboard!". The rest of them...well, you'll just have to wait. And please write! In fact, to make things a little fun...the first gushing Godguy or Godgal who can tell me the answers to the following two questions wins a prize!: 1) What specific issue of what Jack Kirby penciled series is the military code Orion authorizes for Scott a reference to? 2) Who wrote the issue of the title in question? I know what the answers are, but do you? If you do, write me at my NEW, New Gods-mail only e-mail account: orion@comicwriter.com, and give me the awesome answer! 'til August, take it easy and get plenty of sun, surf, and sand! Hope to see you all at Dragoncon and Wizard World (I'll be the guy with the redhead on his arm at Dragoncon and the guy in the Grant Morrison line every single day at Wizard World)! Au Bon Pain!, Galactic Gregg

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