J.S.A.: A Legend's End #3

[Dark Knight of Steel]

J.S.A.: A Legend’s End #3

Writer: Scott D. L. Kruger
Editor: Daniel Dyer

October 27th, 1945, Austria

Adolf Hitler, despotic madman, murderer of millions… evil incarnate.

<" You have one last opportunity to surrender your amulet & helmet, Fate. Or suffer the fate of your friends!"> Hitler demanded (Editors note: translated from German). He held the spear of destiny in one hand, with the ring of Rasputin in the other.

Dr. Fate, mystic vessel of Nabu, Lord of Order and ancient wizard from the 3rd dynasty of Egypt… The last hero of the famed Justice Society of America left standing.

"Your fate is sealed insect!" Dr Fate declared the air around him thick with energy. The Ancient Egyptian symbol for life and magical protection, known as the Ankh, enveloped Fate as he launched a beam of energy toward Hitler.

Hitler stood steadfast, holding the broadsword, blocking the blast.

<"American fool… did you think I wasn’t prepared to fight you?"> Hitler scoffed. <"Even your Lords of Order are no match for me! I am the Woden… I have defeated the Gods that walk this Earth… And with that amulet, I will purge the Earth of the impure!">

Hitler swung the thrust the sword again towards Fate, who jumped back defensively. The sword could break his magical barriers. If Fate attempted to use a weapon against the madman, the Ring of Rasputin would protect him from harm. The ring, however, would not protect him from magic. Fate needed to get the sword away from him!

Every offensive Dr. Fate used was blocked; every defense he attempted was useless. The madman had the upper hand.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Jay Garrick, the Flash, fastest man alive… and leader of the Justice Society of America.

The Flash slowly opened his eyes… he had the worst nightmare. An army of undead Nazi monsters had ambushed them… Libby was gone. He slowly raised up on his elbow, and realized he wasn’t in his comfy bed at home in Keystone.

The sound of a small explosion shook the remaining cobwebs from his mind. About 3 yards away Dr Fate was battling Hitler, and as far as he could tell, Fate was losing. He tried to move, but found that he couldn’t. The barrier he hit was more effective than just knocking him cold. For some reason he couldn’t move his legs… it felt as though they were encased in concrete. He had feeling in them, so he knew he wasn’t permanently paralyzed.

He moved his hand in front of his face as fast as he could without attracting attention to himself. The world around him slowed as his eyes focused in on his hand. His speed was intact… He really hated magic.

Dr, Fate was in trouble… he had to do something. He looked around for anything he could use to help… he then caught site of something silver just a few feet past his reach. His helmet. He began to slowly drag himself toward it.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Dr. Fate was exhausted. Every attack had been parried, every defense shattered. Though he was loath to admit it… Hitler had him beat. He would die before he would concede.

Hitler swung his broadsword wide, again clipping Fate in the helmet. The helmet cracked shards of it falling at his feet. Fate stumbled backward, falling over the body of a fallen comrade.

<"You are no match for me hero!"> Hitler declared, lifting his sword for the kill.

Suddenly, a flash of silver and gold shot out of the darkness shattering Hitler’s wrist. He dropped the sword, screaming in agony.

Dr. Fate glanced to his left and saw the Flash give him a quick salute. With a nod, Fate launched himself at Hitler. But Hitler turned at the last second and plunged the Spear of Destiny into Dr. Fates amulet.

The spear broke the amulet in half and tore through Fate’s flesh and bone. The force of Fate’s attack drove the wooden end of the spear back into Hitler, piercing his chest and impaling his heart.

"No!" The Flash yelled in horror at the sight of his dying friend.

With his last ounce of strength, Fate lurched the spear from his chest and drove it deeper into his enemy.

"You are… finished," Fate spat as Hitler drew in his last breath.

Fate removed his helmet; his pale bloodied face wrought with pain. He dropped to his knees. A surge of light filled the bunker, emanating from Fate’s broken amulet, then faded. The amulet fell from around his neck, the two halves landing upright on the floor before him. A second burst of energy emanated from it upon impact and in the blink of an eye… everything was gone.

Except for the dying body of Kent Nelson. He fell backward on the concrete floor of the bunker, coughing up blood upon impact. His uniform, the helmet, the broken amulet… gone. His friends… even Hitler’s body… gone. The artifacts that lined the walls had vanished as well…

"… Na *cough*… Nabu…”

Nothing remained except for the lone hero, dying on a concrete floor of an Austrian bunker.

"…Inza…"

The body of Kent Nelson was never recovered.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Chapter 3: A Legend Reborn!

Egypt, The Valley of the Kings, 1985.

Hector Hall knelt on the sandy Egyptian desert floor; the dying body of Lyta Trevor trembled in his arms. Above him, stood a small army of black clad tomb raiders lead by Anthony Haston, the curator of the Great Museum of Egypt. Someone Hector thought of as a friend, or at least someone he shared a common interest with. Never would he have imagined the British gentleman capable of such evil… such madness.

"My son…?" Hector Hall spat at Anthony Haston, "Are you insane? I have no son! Why would you do this?" Hector looked down into Lyta’s eyes.

"It’s quite simple, really." Haston said as he placed the smoking gun back in it’s holster. "You will die, so that I may live. And to break this never ending cycle… I will destroy Nabu’s tomb."

"What the Hell are you talking about? Please let our medic get his bag, so he can treat her…" Hector pleaded.

"Oh, no… I don’t think so Professor Hall." Haston laughed. "No… I’m going to tell you a little story. One that I assure you is quite true and very entertaining. Oh, and you’ll like this one too… it’s about your loving parents! Isn’t that splendid?"

Lyta coughed and blood trickled down from her lip.

"Damn you Haston!"

"Indeed! Damn me! Ha!" Haston began, "I am already damned… because of the blood that runs through your veins. It all began very near here… in fact. I was a priest, by the name of Hath-Set… And your father… rather, your father’s soul… was the mighty Pharaoh Khufu!"

"Your insane!" Hector spat.

"Really?" Haston pulled his pistol again and shot Hector in the leg.

Hector screamed in agony, but still held tight to Lyta refusing to let her fall into the sand. Hector’s assistant, Khepri, raced to Hector’s side, but a single bullet from Haston’s gun silenced him forever.

"No!" Hector screamed again, "You animal!"

"Now, where was I?" Haston continued holstering his pistol again, "Oh yes! I murdered the accursed Khufu & his wife Chay-ara (your mother, I might add) on the night of their wedding. He cursed me with his dying breath that he would find a way to avenge their murders, if it took lifetimes. And that fool Nabu saw to it that the curse would last. Now here’s the amusing part! Your parents’ souls have been reincarnated throughout the centuries… over & over again. And each time, I am there. Oh yes! We play this mad dance until one of us dies at the others hand. The last time I saw your parents… 1944. Your parents… were masked adventurers! Hawkman & Hawkgirl…"

"What?" Hector bit through his pain.

"Yes, your parents were the mighty winged avengers… Hawkman & Hawkgirl. And damned Nabu… He had joined them again as well… as he always does. You see Nabu was more than just a wizard, or shaman… he was, I’m sorry, is a Lord of Order. His rebirth always proceeds that of your parents." Haston paused a moment to bask in the glory of what he had accomplished. "Your child will be the reincarnated spirit of Khufu. Surprise! The son becomes the father… kind of creepy, if you think about it."

"Please Haston… you can take me… do whatever you want. Let the girl live."

"Oh no, Hector… She’s as much a part of this as you are." He smiled proudly. "Oh yes, this little girl here… full of fury… she’s forever linked to you. And there is so much more to her than meets the eye." He knelt down and ran his finger through Lyta’s hair.

"Don’t touch her!" Hector spat.

"Indeed?" Haston slammed his fist into Hector’s wounded leg. "I don’t believe you are in the position to bark orders are you now?"

"NNYYAARRGGHH!"

"Guards, get them up on their feet. Take them into the temple." Haston ordered.

Hector rose, lifting Lyta as well, straining every muscle in his body as pain from his wounded leg shot through him. "You will not touch her." He said defiantly.

"Very good then… Off we go." Haston said happily.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

The tomb of Nabu was sealed tight. The darkened entrance had sealed when Hector and Lyta exited it earlier in the day. Haston strode toward the wall the entrance had been on.

"Yes!" He shouted jubilantly, "Open it."

"It will only…" Hector strained as he leaned up against a wall, "it will only… open for us."

"Right! I almost forgot!" Quickly Haston turned to one of his guards, <"Leave us, and give me the satchel… and your rifle!"> he ordered in Egyptian. His crony thug complied, handing over the requested items.

With almost a skip in his step Haston strode back over to where Hector stood, holding Lyta.

"You forget… I am part of this little dance of death as well." Haston smiled, "Please proceed."

Hector walked to the wall and placed his hand upon the wall. The Egyptian Hieroglyph appeared. He then placed Lyta’s hand on the wall beside his and the wall again surged to life.

"Hang on, honey… I promise I won’t let you die." Hector whispered to Lyta.

The wall’s movement ceased, the doorway was open.

"Shall we then?" Haston said cheerfully.

They walked through the long corridor, the torchlight again leading the way.

Haston stared in awe at the temple of Nabu, looking all around. The gray walls, the ceiling of stars, the seemingly endless stairways. Finally, he would end this endless circle of death & rebirth… and finally, he would emerge the victor!

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Hector walked up the stone steps in the center of the temple floor and dropped to his knees before the statue of Nabu.

"Oh, that’s quite far enough, Professor Hall," Haston said, removing the satchel from his shoulder. He set the satchel on the ground and opened it. He looked mischievously to Hector and spoke again. "This satchel contains enough C4 to topple Big Ben… You and miss Trevor will die, your child will never be born and the temple of Nabu will be destroyed. The circle will be broken, and I will be free!"

Hector looked down into Lyta’s eyes. She was fading fast and there was nothing he could do.

"That is not true, Hector Hall… you and Hippolyta Trevor must accept your destiny." A female’s voice spoke in Hector’s head. "Fate brought you two here, at this moment, to fulfill your destiny. Embrace order… embrace your Fate… become one."

A warm sensation overcame Hector, and instinctually he knew what had to be done. He gently set Lyta down on the stone floor of the platform and reached into his pocket for the broken amulet.

"Have you any last words?" Haston gleefully asked.

"Just one kiss…" Hector said over his shoulder at Haston.

"How sweet…" Haston mocked.

Hector placed half of the amulet in Lyta’s hand and held the other in his own. He gripped her hand with his, the amulets touched. He bent forward and kissed her softly on the forehead.

A flash of blinding light filled the temple and a warm yellow light enveloped Hector & Lyta.

"No!" Haston shouted, his euphoria quickly melting away with the realization of what he had brought to pass. He fired his AK47 at the light on the platform. The bullets passed through the light, striking the wall on the far end of the temple.

The yellow light formed a giant Ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life.

"Hath-Set… It has been far too long," a voice permeated the walls.

"No!" Haston turned and ran for the exit. The wall writhed back to life, the stones shifting until the doorway was closed again. Haston pounded his fists on the wall.

"How does it feel, knowing that you are helpless?"

"Go ahead Nabu!" Haston screamed at the intense light. "Do your worst… you can’t kill me… the child of Hector & Lyta will die at my hands!"

Dr. Fate stepped out of the light. The golden helm and amulet of Nabu restored. The deep blues of the uniform a stark contrast to the bright yellow & gleaming gold. Egyptian gauntlets encircled his forearms, and a plate of gold covered his breast.

With a wave of his hand Fate sent Haston sailing across the temple, slamming him into the far wall.

"You are right… your life is not ours to claim."

"Set me free then!" Haston demanded.

"That we will not do. You are condemned to spend your life where you will do no one harm!"

"Wait… that’s not how it works!" Haston shouted, panic sounding in his voice. "The curse…"

"You truly are a fool, Hath-Set. Even if you were to kill your nemesis before his birth. His soul mate, Chay-ara, would return and finish you. The curse is eternal and cannot be broken. You reap what you sew."

"Nooooooo!" Another wave of Fate’s hand and Haston disappeared in a flash of brilliant light!

Dr. Fate wrapped his cape around his body and vanished from the temple in a puff of golden smoke.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Above, surrounded by the black clad tomb raiders, Hector’s archaeology team sat on the desert floor, fearing for their lives. The lifeless body of Khepri kept the workers in check, fearing they would share the same fate.

A light breeze began to kick up, softly licking at their clothes. As the breeze began to increase, sand started to pelt the captors.

<"LOOK!"> one of them shouted after looking over his shoulder.

<"By Allah! It is everywhere!"> another gasped.

An enormous sandstorm had suddenly surrounded the entire encampment. In every direction sand & stone swirled through the air. There was nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. The armed assailants joined their captives in the center of their circle and began to pray for their lives.

The sandstorm stopped advancing less than 15 feet from the crowd. As if from the eye of a hurricane, looking outward, they watched the fury of the sandstorm. None dared move closer to it.

Suddenly, the sandstorm parted, like Moses parting the Red Sea; there hovered Dr. Fate, just above the sand. His arms folded across his chest, golden helm gleaming in the moonlight, he floated there silently glaring at the black clad marauders.

"Your master is gone. Leave this valley and never return, or suffer our wrath!" Fate commanded.

The leader of the group, aimed his AK47 at Dr. Fate in response, but recoiled as his rifle transmuted into a snake. The other men dropped their weapons as well, as theirs also transformed. The wall of sand that surrounded them opened on the far end allowing the men in black to retreat. They ran into the desert, refusing to look back.

As the last of them disappeared from site, the wall of sand fell, yet Fate remained, hovering before the cowering workers.

"You have nothing to fear from us, people of Egypt. You are free to return to your homes. But do not search for this temple again, for you will not find it!"

"What of Dr. Hall and Ms. Trevor?" a young man stepped forward, his accent thick, his cheeks stained with tears.

"They are safe, son of Khepri." With a wave of his hand, and a silent incantation the body of Khepri lifted up from the sand and was placed gently upon the bed of a pickup truck several yards away. "We mourn for your loss, he was a good man. Honor him with your life."

With a twirl of yellow cape and a puff of smoke, Dr. Fate disappeared.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Dr. Fate stood on the raised platform in the tomb of Nabu, staring upward into the tower. The tower of Fate. Though its anchor was Nabu’s tomb in Egypt, it existed outside the normal plain of reality. Residing wherever Fate was needed most.

"Please come, Hector Hall heard you earlier, it was your voice that made him…" Fate paused in mid sentence as an elderly woman appeared on a staircase leading to the ground level.

She walked gracefully… a woman from another time.

"Inza Nelson." Fate bowed his head toward her.

"Nabu. Set them free… it is time." Inza said.

"I will, but your husband is not with them."

"I know. His fire burned out many years ago. He died alone. Slowly. Painfully. Set them free, please…" she paused, choking back a tear. "The world will need them more now than ever."

"Agreed… darkness lies in the future of mankind. Their light will help usher a new age."

Fate levitated high above the raised platform. His cape outstretched as if pulled on its corners from unseen hands. The light from thousands of stars at the apex of the tower glimmered off his helmet. Fate held his arms out, and raised his helmet upward again towards the galaxy spiraling high above.

Inza stood below, remembering her husband and how he could perform miracles like the ones she witnessed. She watched as Fates body was replaced with light… she watched as the ankh appeared behind him. A tear streaked down her cheek as forms began to take shape within the light.

Fate slowly glided toward the stone floor, stopping just a few feet above.

The Flash stepped out from the light, his helmet in his hands. Followed by Wildcat, the Atom and Black Canary. Johnny Thunder stepped out, shielding his eyes from the light as Hourman slowly walked from behind carrying the body of Mr. Terrific.

The Flash immediately turned toward Hourman, "Rex, Terry…?"

"He’s gone, Jay." Hourman replied, his eyes cast downward. The group went silent mourning the loss of their fallen comrade.

"Doc?" the Atom spoke first, breaking the silence. "Is that you? Ya look a bit funny."

"Where are we?" Black Canary spoke next.

"You’re in Fate’s tower," Inza responded.

"Inza? What happened to you?" Jay asked fearing what her answer may be.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Behind a statue of Horus in the tomb of Nabu a slimy skeletal creature seemingly made of tar hid in fear.

Where once a heart of ice beat, now only the wooden shard of a spear lay. Once he was a great & terrible leader. Once he had a name... one he did not remember. All he felt was hate. He once had a purpose; he once had a destiny.

He is Wotan.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

One year later…

Most thought Jay would have taken the news of their time displacement worse than the others would, but the steadfast leader of the Justice Society was stronger than that. He said a silent farewell to Joan after he learned she remarried. She had found happiness and moved on with her life. It saddened him, but there was nothing he could do. To reappear in her life after forty years, looking as he did back then, would be unfair.

Johnny Thunder had moved to Florida to care for his dying father. His father was too far gone to realize his son had returned and his mother had passed shortly after Johnny’s disappearance.

Dinah Drake moved to Star City opening a flower shop. She soon met a man named Larry Lance and after a short, yet torrid affair, the two were married. She would give birth to a daughter she would also name Dinah.

Ted Grant moved to Gotham, opening his own boxing center. He trained the best & brightest… and secretly prowled the streets at night ‘beating the tar outta them punks that had it comin’. One of his students with the brightest futures was a very young girl named Selina Kyle.

Rex Tyler, being the most impulsive member of the Society, went back to his old life. His company still existed, and was run by a corporate conglomerate. He had claimed to be his own illegitimate child. His tact notwithstanding.

Al Pratt disappeared. He took the situation their predicament worse than the others. His family was gone. He believed he had no one.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Jay Garrick sat in the waiting room, alongside Rex. Ted paced the floor as if it were his wife in labor.

"Teddy… knock it off, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor!" Rex shouted.

"I can’t help it… you know the girl… not an ounce of fat on her body… she gained what, 2 pounds during her pregnancy??? Back in our day, a woman got nice & round when they were preggers!" Ted exclaimed. "All I’m sayin’ is that she’s in no condition to be giving birth!"

"Just relax, will you?" Jay said with a smile. He leaned his chair back on two legs, closing his eyes.

The door to the waiting room swung open causing him to jerk upright.

"Has it happened yet?" Dinah & Larry lance came running in. Her pregnant belly proceeded her.

"See, now that’s a woman!" Ted said with a grin.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, ‘Wildcat’," Dinah said grimacing.

"Careful Ted, she could neuter you…" Jay replied leaning his chair back against the wall.

Just as Dinah’s rear touched the seat the waiting room door flew open again! Jay nearly fell completely backward, but caught himself at the last second.

Hector stood in the doorway in hospital scrubs. His hair tucked up into a cap, and a mask covering his mouth. He slowly and dramatically pulled down on the mask, revealing an emotionless face.

"Well son?" Jay asked, his heart in his throat.

Hector looked down at the floor and everyone took a deep breath…

"IT’S A BOY!" Hector shouted.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Ted, Jay, Dinah, Larry, Rex and Hector stood just behind the window looking into the nursery. The nurses inside tended to the babies.

"That him?" Ted asked as a nurse came in with a baby wrapped in a pink blanket.

"Only if I want him to grow up with issues, Ted," Hector replied, "Wait! There he is!"

The members of the Justice Society gathered closer together, pressing hands and faces against the glass trying to get a better look at the baby.

"Look at him! He’s got his mothers eyes!" Jay said in a cute voice.

"Luckily! Look at that grip! He’s got my muscles!" Ted replied in an equally cute voice.

Hector backed away from the glass for a moment to observe the scene. Family. For the first time in years Hector had a family again. His son would grow up with more Uncles’ & Aunt’s than any normal child should have. But he knew better. His son would be far from normal.

Carter Hall would carry on a great legacy.

Hawkman would rise again.

The End...For Now.

[Dark Knight of Steel]

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