Twilight of the Supermen
The cold and chilling winds around America's capital reflected the mood of the heroes involved. They were gathered around Washington's monument, a spire that was brightly lit as black helicopters fluttered through the air. The United States was on its highest level of alert and it was well known to everyone that it would soon be under siege by beings that possessed power enough to level the world.
At the base of the spire was two seperate groups of individuals. The two groups were a collection of what the United States soldiery around them called 'costumed freaks' or 'Metaman Menaces.' Nevertheless, there were only a few of them that did not gladly welcome their aid in the coming struggle.
The first of these groups was a bastion of older super heroes. The great goddess Athena, armored in golden steel that had been forged by her brother Hepheteus, she wielded a sword that held the power to slice even immortals. Beside her was such luminaries as Samson the Judge of Biblical Times, Isis the Incredible, and Captain Aeon. They were a few super heroes that had not lost faith that freedom was worth fighting for.
Across from them was a younger group of individuals, though most were at least in their mid-twenties. The second Black Wing was wearing the costume of his predecessor and looking almost but not quite as formidable as his namesake. Beside him was the beautiful Angel Girl, possessed of nearly as much power as her older brother Divinos, and the darkly mysterious Red Queen. The second group was larger than the first but lacked both their experience and raw power. They were the offspring of older heroes and those few idealists that still held to the beliefs that a super hero was meant to serve the populous rather than rule it.
"How many does that make so far?" The second Black Wing did not bother disguising his young and untested sounding voice. Alexander Timons had more experience than many of the older heroes, though. He had been trained since practical birth by the first Black Wing. As his resolute sidekick, Dawn Wing, he'd faced every evil imaginable. Still, this would be the greatest test of his life.
Athena looked towards him with her cold gray eyes. "We number some less than fifty. More than a third of us have powers. Only ten of us are in the category of Alpha-Class Metamen."
Black Wing nodded grimly at those figures. They were actually larger than he'd expected given how unforgiving the past decade had been to super heroes. He then asked. "Do we have any numbers on the Psychotic Seven's forces?"
The Psychotic Seven were the root of this conflict. Numbering seven of the most famous of heroes in the world, they had launched a surprise attack on the United States. Aquarius the King of Atlantis had defeated the United States' fleets. The gravity bending Jack Union III had crushed air reprisal. The Red Leopard had used advanced Nestorian technology to cripple the United States military's communication. Ramses the Second had brought a vast host of Egyptian themed warriors from the future. The radioactive Manhatten Project had threatened nuclear retalliation if other nations intervened. Finally, the psychic Jane Union had used her powers to convince several high ranking Generals to stand down.
"Over four hundred," Athena gave a grim but cool answer. "They have rallied the vigilantes from dozens of cities across America. They have also emptied the various super powered wings of most of America's prisons. Those that they do not kill, they recruit to their cause. More than half of them have powers. At least fifty of the Alpha-class of Metaman."
"I see," The new Black Wing sighed. There was little they could do against such a force. "Is there any sign of Divinos?"
Divinos was the greatest of all super heroes. A strange visitor from another galaxy, Divinos was stronger than all other super humans on Earth. Even Athena, a genuine Greek Goddess, could not match his power. Even more than his physical might, his appearance alone would send many of their enemies scurrying back to their holes.
"No," Athena shook her head. "We fight without him."
"So be i...." Black Wing was about to grim a grim ascent when his eardrums practically burst at the sound of a gigantic crash of thunder.
"HAIL BRETHREN!" The voice spoke loudly as rain poured down and carried a black haired figure on buffeting winds. Lightning flashed above them and a cheer went up from both groups. It was not Divinos, but it was a figure that all of them welcomed the sight of. Ymir, the Half-Jotun.
Athena walked over and embraced the demigod. "It's good to see you, old friend."
"And you, Lady!" The atomic powered Viking had updated his attire a bit from the original archaic chainmail he'd once wore. Now he had his hair in a ponytail and an earring of all things, an incongruous mixture of styles. "I bring word from Jotunheim and have come to fight by your side!"
Black Wing smiled at the figure. He knew that his exaggerated theatrical speech was entirely an affection. Miles Westlake, the true identity of Ymir, was a Canadian atomic physicist rather than a genuine son of Asgard. Finally, the black cowled hero said "May I ask what this news is?"
Ymir's face took on a serious cast as he finished hugging perhaps his fourth or fifth super hero. "The Jotuns have mounted an attack upon the Asgard and cannot withdraw their forces to assist thee."
"Dammit," The second Black Wing growled at this news. The giants had been friends of the Earth's people since the Patriots had saved their Queen from a forced marriage to the god Phol.
Ymir then slapped Black Wing II acoss the back, sending him spiralling downwards. "Take heart, for this act also prevents Thunaer from calling on reinforcements to aid his cause. Old debts are not easily forgotten in Jotunheim either. Fenrir the Mighty King of all Werewolves will join us with his brother Garm. My old friend, Loge the God of Illusion and Fire, has promised to confuse their armies while we battle. It will not defeat them but may save many soldiers of America from death."
Athena gave him a kiss on the cheek. "That is good news."
Black Wing shook his head in defeat. "We'll not be able to defeat them with this host, though."
"Undoubtedly not," Ymir seemed almost too pleased. "Death awaits us on this battle field. But can you imagine a more worthier cause?"
The Red Queen answered this rhetorical question with a statement on the minds of many. "If I must meet my end, I would have preferred it to be against those who were not former friends."
The Psychotic Seven had all once been Patriots. Many of their associates had been super heroes that had fought and bled with those who'd agreed to fight beside Athena or Black Wing II. In some cases, marriages had been broken up or sibling had set against sibling.
The Psychotic Seven had promised that the United States' citizenry would not be harmed. They had argued that Democracy had failed the American people and that an age of super powered beings required an age of super powered leaders. They had promised that the new age would offer super powers to all and advanced technology to fix all of the world's problems. All that was required was that everyone bend their knee to beings who believed themselves above the human race.
"I have heard such rhetoric as they have given," Athena answered grimly. "From dictators like Julius Caesar and Mussolini. A person who wields power with arrogance can never be a friend to the common people. They can only be a tyrant."
Black Wing II took a moment to gaze across the Washington D.C. landscape. Knowing that it would soon be littered with corpses and epic battle that the world had not seen since the days that giants like Ymir's kindred had walked the Earth. "Even so, I can understand it. We did not become super heroes to maintain the status quo but to change the world for the better."
"Death Mask III, The Iron Khan, both Count Reichs, and a host of other villains menace the world every year. Few people remember Tezaticopla the Rain God Champion of Mexico or Rent-A-Cop the robotic guardsman. They died upon the fields of battle, defending the world from the evil of monsters like the late Blood Wing...." Ymir spit at the very mention of the monster's name. "Yet, super heroes are expected to hold a higher standard in battle. To obey the law and to never take a life."
Black Wing II scoffed at Ymir's words, despite the fact that so many of the older heroes agreed with them. Despite being far younger, the former side kick said "I have killed in battle and do not regret doing so. I've slain both alien invaders and contributed to the death of human foes that have been trying to take my life or the lives of innocent. I do not set about to do so, but mercy is not always possible when faced with foes that lack it."
Athena frowned at this statement. It was too much like the justifications that had been given by the Psychotic Seven when they were still the Justicars. "Mercy is sometimes all that seperates us from the beings that we fight."
"There is a difference between being a warrior and an executioner," Ymir of all people intervened. "And a difference between an executioner and being a murderer. Divinos left the planet Earth because he deliberately took a mortal life in order to save the entire planet. While it is good to admire his idealism, such excessive guilt has brought us to this place every bit as much as the Psychotic Seven's bloodlust."
"HOW DARE Y..." Athena started to say. Criticizing Divinos was something that she would not tolerate, despite the truth of Ymir's words. Many super heroes had retired in part because they had been expected to become grim and darker with the world's changing climate. The fact that the two had been lovers in the past only added to it.
Ymir raised a hand as if to apologize. "There are no easy answers to questions of morality, even amongst those that can fly. The 1940s, what the papers call the Golden Age, it was permissable for heroes to kill in war and battle. In the 1980s, the Silver Age where you and I began our careers, heroes were considered monsters if they broke an arm. In the 1990s, what they're already referring to as the Iron Age, blood spills like water. Often without rhyme or reason."
"Who knows what the next millenium will bring, is that what you are saying?" The Goddess of Wisdom said calmly. Her temperment once more even.
"Aiye," Ymir said calmly. Ignoring the fact that such a word was from the British Isles rather than the faux Norseland that he claimed to be from. Ymir knew genuine Norweigan gods and creatures of ancient myth, excluding super heroes like Athena, but his whole persona was manufactured. Rather badly as well.
"Unless we win this battle, there will be no future for super humans...." Black Wing II stared down at the ground. His genius was unparalleled amongst human beings. Alex had discovered cures for several types of cancer as well as how to revitalize cropland in Africa. Arguably, he did far more good as a scientist than he did as a super hero. "The super villains of the world will retaliate. The Psychotic Seven will strike back. The world will eventually be nothing but a smoking cinder."
"Then let us make our end, an end to be proud of! They shall not have the power to reign over the country if we strike with all our might and retreat not!" Ymir raised up his hammer joyfully.
"So be..." Black Wing II was about to give his silent agreement before another explosion rocked the skies. All of the heroes went to alertness, as they assumed this thunder clap was not the familiar Ymir. Instead, they believed it to be a sign of their enemies' assault.
Instead, both groups of super heroes fell silent. A figure of gold and white descended from the Heavens. From his back trailed a bright yellow cape that seemed to wrap around him like a halo.
There were many heroes present at the Second Battle of Washington D.C. There were many legends. Individuals whose names would live forever in the annals of history. There was only one being, though, who caused them all to be silent in awe. Divinos had returned.
Well, all except for one.
Ymir looked up the Golden Guardsman and said simply. "Where the Hell have you been?"
