Countdown. Part 8

Not human, that was for sure. Although a torn blue and white wetsuit concealed much of the creature's burly form, scaly green skin covered his face and hands, while more scales showed through the ragged tears in his garment. Webbed hands and feet disclosed his aquatic nature. A spiked coral helmet, missing its face visor, protected his skull. Purple bile trickled from the corner of his mouth. Sharpened claws extended from his fingertips. Bulging muscles suggested that the formidable merman was no pushover. Still and silent, he sprawled lifelessly upon the soaked deck. Scorch marks blackened portions of his wetsuit.

Wait a second, Mary thought as she descended toward the supine figure. I know who that is. The wisdom of Zehuti, the ancient Egyptian G.o.d of learning, informed her that the collapsed merman was none other than Slig, an evil New G.o.d from Apokolips. He was the commander of the Deep Six, a strike force of water-breathing warriors that had invaded Earth's oceans on more than one occasion. Last she'd heard, they'd given Aquaman a hard time during the Infinite Crisis. What's he doing here . . . and where's the rest of the Six?

"Watch out, Mary," Zatanna cautioned her. Water dripped from her long black hair; the spray from the geyser had obviously splashed everyone on the deck. "He could be . . ."

"Dead?" Mary suggested. She didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved that Slig looked like he was in no shape to put up a fight. I wonder how my powers stack up against a New G.o.d these days?

Zatanna shook her head. "Dangerous."

"DEATH!" Slig's eyes snapped open, revealing slitted red orbs. He scrambled to his feet, looking just as panicstricken as the freaked-out vacationers. "Death comes for me! I must escape his wrath!" His open jaws revealed sharklike pointed teeth. "Gole . . . Jaffar . . . Kurin . . . all my Deep Six brothers, dead by his hand!"

Whose hand? Mary wondered. Who was scary enough to wipe out an entire pack of New G.o.ds? Hovering above the deck, she put off tackling Slig in hopes of learning more. "Spill, fish boy! What're you babbling about?"

Ignoring her query, he slid across the wet deck with unexpected speed. Webbed fingers closed around the ankle of an unlucky tourist, who instantly underwent a startling metamorphosis. Gills formed along the poor guy's throat. Fins sprouted from his arms and legs. Scales spread across his skin. His Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts were torn to shreds by the violent transformation. Within seconds, an ordinary senior citizen had changed into something resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Piscine eyes stared agog at his mutated mitts.

"Worthless dry-skins!" Slig hissed. He charged into a dense clump of pa.s.sengers, grabbing on to them one after another. Arms and legs turned into tentacles. Bony sh.e.l.ls covered flailing bodies. Mortal men and women devolved into hybrid sharks, barracudas, eels, cephalopods, and crustaceans. "You shall be reborn as beasts of the sea, the better to mask my escape!"

Mary kicked herself for not stopping Slig earlier. "You slimy sea monkey!" She dived at the berserk sea-G.o.d, seizing his helmet with both hands. Her anger exploded in a flash of eldritch lightning that went off right in his face. "Stop touching people!"

He roared in agony. "Foul creature! What have you done to me!" The glare from the thunderbolt faded away, revealing scarred white eyes surrounded by scalded green flesh. Greasy yellow tears leaked from the smoking sockets. "I'm blinded!"

Serves you right, Mary thought. She struggled to hold on to her slippery foe, who thrashed wildly within her grasp, desperate to break free. Muscles conditioned to withstand the awesome pressures of the deep managed to hold their own against Mary's preternatural strength. Slig was at least seven feet tall, but Mary's ability to defy gravity gave her the height advantage. The spines on his helmet snapped off in her fingers. "Stop being such a crybaby!"

"Mary!" Zatanna shouted. She sounded appalled, but by what Mary wasn't sure. "Back down a notch until we find out what this is all about!"

He's turning people into sea monsters, Mary thought, surprised by Zee's disapproving tone. She got a fresh grip on Slig's helmet. Her fingers dug into the hardened coral, which cracked beneath the pressure. Isn't that enough?

She tried to get Slig in a headlock, but he twisted free before she could secure the hold. A taloned hand, questing blindly, grabbed on to the front of her dress and ripped it down the middle, exposing a lot more cleavage than before. Hey, watch it! she thought indignantly. Who does he think I am? Power Girl? The vicious claws didn't even scratch her skin, however.

"Foolish human!" His rank breath smelled like spoiled sushi. He raved deliriously. "You don't understand. The Killer is here!"

"What killer?" Sparks flew from her knuckles as she slammed her fist into his face. Cartilage crumpled loudly. He went flying backward into a steel bulkhead, shattering a solid gla.s.s porthole. Cold red blood streamed from his flattened snout. A strip of ragged black fabric still clung to one talon. Mary followed up with a devastating blow to his gut. "You're the one causing all the trouble!"

She was about to turn Slig into a fish fillet when Zatanna came running up behind her. "Mary, I said back down! What's wrong with you?"

"Me?" Mary couldn't believe that Zee was giving her grief at a time like this. "You saw what he did." She glanced down at her suddenly low-cut costume. "Look at my dress!"

"Forget your wardrobe!" Zatanna scolded. She pointed at the shambolic ma.s.s of transformed humans charging toward them. They seemed compelled to defend Slig from any or all attacks. "There are innocent people here. We need to attend to them!"

Mary looked away from her battered opponent. By now, the promenade deck resembled some sort of bizarre aquatic freak show. Almost two dozen mutated monstrosities flopped and slithered toward Zatanna. Rent clothing was strewn about the deck. A limbless gray worm that resembled nothing so much as a gigantic sea cuc.u.mber wiggled across the textured metal floor, leaving a trail of mucus behind it. The translucent ichor glistened in the moonlight.

"Okay," Mary said. "That's disgusting."

Zatanna scowled. "No matter what happened to them, they're still innocent people, Mary! We have to help them without hurting them."

The monstrous worm rose up in front of Zatanna, seemingly intent on devouring the world-famous celebrity. A voracious maw, lined with hundreds of razor-sharp fangs, opened wide.

"Jeez, Zee, I haven't gone senile," Mary replied irritably. She had seen the pa.s.sengers turn into monsters less than five minutes ago. Despite Zatanna's admonition to be gentle with the mutant horde, she flew between the giant worm and Zee, then delivered a magically charged right hook to the lunging creature. The blow didn't kill the beast, but it did stun it long enough to keep Zatanna from disappearing down its slimy gullet. "Just make with the magic!"

The sorceress didn't bother thanking Mary for the save. Instead she raised her hands and gestured dramatically at the worm. Her eyes glowed with mystical energy. "Trever ot namuh mrof!"

No puff of smoke accompanied the spell; presumably Zatanna saved such theatrics for her performances onstage. Without any fanfare, the huge wormlike creature morphed back into a trembling, middle-aged man whose unclad form could have benefitted from a few more hours at the gym. He blinked in confusion, as though trying to figure out how he had ended up naked and surrounded by sea monsters. "What the-?"

"You're safe now, sir." Zatanna wiped her forehead, as though reversing the transformation had been harder than it looked. She turned to face the rest of the mutated victims. "One down, only twenty more to go. . . ."

Mary flew above the deck, picking out her next target. I'll bet I can knock them out faster than Zee can cure them. She was zeroing in on a rampaging lobster-man when a brilliant flash off the bow seized her attention instead. "Zatanna! Heads up!"

A glowing figure, radiating a blinding white light, burst from the sea, momentarily turning night into day. Shielding her eyes with her hand, Mary tried to see who it was, but the incandescent glare was too intense; all she could make out was a vaguely masculine silhouette. Forced to look away, Mary saw that the stranger's explosive entrance had dragged up several other figures in its wake. Scaly bodies, bearing a distinct familial resemblance to Slig, drifted lifelessly to the surface of the foaming water. Gaping green holes in the center of their chests informed Mary in no uncertain terms that the rest of the Deep Six were now literally food for the fishes. No wonder Slig was scared out of his mind!

"That's it!" Zatanna exclaimed, staring aghast at the floating corpses of five New G.o.ds, as well as at their painfully luminous executioner. "I'm contacting the Justice League. This is getting way too cosmic for the two of us!"

"No way!" Mary resented the implication that she couldn't handle this emergency on her own. What was the use of having all this power if she still had to call in the big guns when things got tough? "I'm not going to sit back and let other people do my job!"

Zatanna was taken aback by her reaction. "Your job?"

"No!" Slig blurted. "The Killer is here! I can feel it!" He dropped to his knees upon the deck. His blind eyes beseeched the radiant figure. "Slig shall be your humble servant! I will spit in the face of Darkseid if only you will give me my life!"

Cowardly slug! Mary thought scornfully. A G.o.d should have more pride.

"Look out!" Zatanna shouted as a beam of golden light shot from what might have been the eyes of the Deep Six's murderer. The golden ray pa.s.sed right through Mary, producing only a slight tickling sensation, before taking a sharp downward turn toward the prostrate Slig. The beam struck the G.o.d directly in the chest-and a volcanic burst of energy exploded from inside him. His bloodcurdling scream was cut off abruptly as he toppled over onto his back. A steaming cavity, identical to the ones carved out of his comrades' b.r.e.a.s.t.s, left him as dead as the rest of the Deep Six. The smell of his burnt flesh filled the air. Mary had a sudden craving for seafood.

His homicidal mission completed, the a.s.sa.s.sin shot up into the sky at the speed of light. In a heartbeat, he had completely vanished from sight, leaving only his grisly handiwork behind. "Wow," Mary remarked. "I've seen some brutal things before, but . . ."

"A little help here?" Zatanna called out. Stalking across the deck, the transformed pa.s.sengers seemed intent on avenging their master's death. The besieged magician gestured hastily. "Egnahc! Egnahc kcab!"

A handful of monsters reverted to human form, but many more creatures remained. Zatanna was backed up against the rail as she attempted to muster the strength for another spell. Perspiration gleamed upon her determined face. Her ivory brow furrowed in concentration. "Nruter ot lamron!"

This is taking too long, Mary thought impatiently, watching Zatanna's efforts from above. At this rate, they'd be at this all night. She swooped over the heads of the remaining sea devils, then paused in midair. Closing her eyes, she called upon the power of Isis. It's only magic. How hard can it be?

"What are you doing?" Zatanna asked in confusion.

You can do this, an encouraging voice whispered inside Mary's brain. You have the power.

"Fixing things faster," Mary declared confidently. Her eyes opened, revealing glowing orbs ablaze with mystical fire. Electricity crackled around her floating body, then zapped the milling creatures below. Nearly a dozen simultaneous lightning strikes instantly transformed scales, fins, and sh.e.l.ls back into bare skin. All at once, the battle-scarred promenade deck went from being a mutant aquarium to an impromptu nudist colony. Mary figured that was an improvement, although some of the scrawny and/or flabby bodies on display almost made her think otherwise. Disoriented men and women tried awkwardly to cover themselves, much to Mary's amus.e.m.e.nt. I'm betting this is one cruise they'll never forget!

Zatanna spared the mortified pa.s.sengers any further embarra.s.sment. "Steknalb rof lla!" she p.r.o.nounced, conjuring up a slew of blankets from the ether. Apparently, making fabric materialize took less effort than undoing Slig's original enchantment. The gray wool blankets descended like manna from heaven, draping themselves over the trembling tourists.

Mary didn't begrudge Zatanna her cleanup efforts. She was still too exhilarated by her own triumph to worry about anyone's modesty. Almost in pa.s.sing, she noticed that her own garment had magically repaired itself. See? she thought smugly, more than a little pleased with herself. Who needs the Justice League?

"Wow!" she enthused out loud. "Did you see that, Zee?"

Zatanna nodded gravely. She regarded Mary with new eyes. "I didn't realize you had that kind of power."

"Eh, who cares?" Mary said with a shrug. She didn't want to show off too much. "Let's just be happy that we averted what could have been a major maritime disaster."

"I suppose," Zatanna murmured. Even though the nameless killer was long gone, and Slig's victims restored, she still sounded worried. The soaked magician gazed up at Mary as though she had never seen her before. "Mary, I'm concerned about you. . . ."

Me? Mary thought. Whatever for?

She felt terrific.

APOKOLIPS.

"Everything dies," Darkseid observed as he removed the figures of the Deep Six from his chessboard. Torches illuminated the spartan war room as he ruminated on the demise of the piscine warriors. "And like the Prometheans before them, so shall the New G.o.ds pa.s.s into the Stygian depths of oblivion."

He contemplated the inanimate replica of Slig in his grip. The remainder of the figures he swept into a carved ivory box next to the board. "They are but p.a.w.ns, sacrificed in a battle beyond their primitive conceptions of life and death." His crimson eyes glowed in antic.i.p.ation of the cataclysm to come. "At the end of an age where time, s.p.a.ce, and reality will bow before me, only Darkseid shall rise to wield universal power-and decide who lives and dies in the new Multiversal dynasty."

He crushed the figure in his fist, so that painted green powder rained down onto the chessboard. Random flecks settled onto the adjacent figures of Mary Marvel and Zatanna.

The game continued.

25 AND COUNTING.

GOTHAM CITY. EARTH-15.

The neon jungle of Earth-Three gave way to an open plaza inside a peaceful city park. Metal benches and waste bins lined the paved square. Moonlight filtered through the bare branches of venerable oaks and elm trees, casting long shadows onto the paved pathways leading away from the plaza. Sleeping pigeons perched atop a marble statue of some forgotten Revolutionary War general, and a geyser of water rose from the center of a concrete fountain. The spray from the water felt cold against Donna's face.

"Another Earth," she realized. "Hopefully better than the last one."

Jason coughed. His voice was still scratchy from the gas he'd inhaled during their fight with the Crime Society. "So where the h.e.l.l are we now?"

"Earth-15," the Monitor stated. "Gotham City."

Right, Donna thought. Now that she had a chance to get her bearings, she recognized the familiar skyline of Jason's hometown. Gloomy Gothic architecture mingled with modern high-rises. The corporate headquarters of Wayne Enterprises, all gleaming gla.s.s and steel, shone like a beacon in the dark. A clock tower informed her that it was five past midnight, which explained why the park appeared to be deserted. The Bat-Signal shone brightly over the tops of the skysc.r.a.pers. Apparently this Gotham also had a Dark Knight.

"Are you sure?" Jason asked skeptically. "It looks too . . . clean."

The Monitor dismissed his objections. "Not all versions of Gotham City are as filthy and crime-ridden as your own."

"Oh yeah?" Jason snapped. He angrily kicked over a trash can, spilling garbage onto the pavement. "Then why don't I just make myself feel more at home?"

Donna tried to calm him. "Jason, please-"

"No, Donna!" he interrupted her. "I'm getting sick and tired of this wild-goose chase!" He wheeled about to get into the Monitor's face. He poked the powerful alien in the chest. "You're a Monitor. Your people are supposed to see all and know all, but you can't even find one guy?"

To Donna's relief, the Monitor didn't simply obliterate Jason. "It is more complicated than you realize, human. Each Monitor is responsible for only one of the fifty-two universes, and it is forbidden for us to interfere outside our jurisdiction." He glanced around apprehensively, as though half expecting to face the judgment of his peers at any moment. "I watched over only your own world, Earth-One. This universe is under the purview of another Monitor. We should not be here."

"But can't you ask your fellow Monitor for a.s.sistance?" Donna inquired. "Surely he-or she-would know if Ray Palmer was here."

The Monitor shook his head. "That would not be wise. There has been . . . dissension . . . amongst our ranks over such issues. Each Monitor guards his own territory zealously, and I fear we do not always see eye to eye."

"But if you explained the importance of our mission," Donna pressed him, "made the other Monitors understand what was at stake . . . ?"

"And what would that be?" a gruff voice intruded from above. "And how does that involve my city?"

Donna looked up in surprise to see Batman-or at least, a Batman-rappelling down a length of shimmering golden rope. His scalloped black cape spread out behind him as he descended to the ground. His boots touched down lightly onto the floor of the plaza. The winged emblem on his chest matched the Bat-Signal shining overhead. He didn't look happy.

The Dark Knight wasn't alone either. Wonder Woman hovered in the sky above them, holding the other end of her Golden La.s.so. Her star-spangled skirt, gilded breastplate, and jeweled tiara were almost identical to those Wonder Woman wore back on Earth-One. "Diana?" Donna said hesitantly before getting a closer look at the flying Amazon's face. Her jaw dropped as she recognized the face as the same one she saw in the mirror everyday.

Wait a second, she thought. This world's Wonder Woman is . . . me?

Batman glared suspiciously at the Challengers. "I don't know who-or what-you people are, but I'll tell you this: I don't like imposters."

The Monitor held up his hand. "Wait. Before there is any unneeded conflict between us, I can explain our presence here."

"Good," Wonder Woman said. She la.s.soed the Monitor with the golden lariat, binding his arms to his sides. "The La.s.so of Hestia will ensure that you speak the truth."

The Monitor glanced disdainfully at his enchanted bonds. "Your primitive magicks are unnecessary. My companions and I are from a parallel version of your planet and have no intention of posing as anything other than what we are."

"An alternate Earth?" Batman scrutinized Donna and Jason. Something about him struck Donna as slightly off. His hostile tone sounded different from that of the Batman she knew, but also strangely familiar. "Do you truly expect us to believe you?"

"Hey!" Jason blurted. "Your voice . . . !"

"Sounds like mine," Batman said, nodding grimly. "I already noticed that."

By the G.o.ds, Donna thought as the truth sank in. That's not Bruce Wayne; that's another version of Jason!

The Dark Knight confronted his startled doppelganger. "Still wearing a domino mask, eh? Guess you never made the leap from sidekick to team leader."

Jason bristled indignantly. "I don't need a string of snot-nosed Boy Wonders traipsing after me. I'm my own man now!"

"Then you only have one person to disappoint," Batman said.

Before the two men could go at it any further, a miniature figure suddenly appeared upon Batman's shoulder. Glowing atomic orbitals circled the tiny figure, who grew from one inch to doll-sized in a matter of seconds. Donna's heart leapt in excitement. It's the Atom, she thought. We've found him!

Her momentary jubilation evaporated, however, as she realized that this Atom was a woman. Springing from Batman's shoulder, the brightly costumed heroine landed on the ground before them. Her red and blue uniform matched the other Atom's, right down to the stylized atomic insignia on the forehead of her hood, but her long blonde ponytail and feminine figure made it abundantly clear that she was not Ray Palmer. The shimmering orbitals faded from view as she a.s.sumed normal human proportions. She seemed thrilled by the Monitor's revelation.

"I knew there was a multiverse!" she enthused. "I've been trying to prove its existence since I was five." She eagerly approached the bound Monitor. "How did you make it through the interdimensional barrier?"

"Never mind that," Batman said. "Why are you here?"

Donna stepped forward. "We're trying to find a friend. He's our Earth's version of the Atom."

"There's another me out there?" the female Atom asked. She sounded a few years younger than the rest of them. "Fascinating!"

Jason looked her over dubiously. "This chick is your Atom? What is she, twelve?"

"For your information," she replied, "I'm eighteen. Who the h.e.l.l are you supposed to be, the smart-a.s.s Robin?"

Wonder Woman alighted onto the pavement. She released the Monitor from the golden lariat. "Jessica Palmer is the Atom," she said in defense of her comrade. "She graduated from MIT at the age of eight."

"We don't know these people, Donna." Batman scowled at Wonder Woman. "Stop handing out personal information."

"Don't be paranoid, Jason," she rebuked him. "My la.s.so confirms that they're telling the truth."

Donna shook her head at the sight of their counterparts, whose debate had a familiar ring to it. This is like looking into a fun-house mirror.

"Even still," Batman insisted, "why are we helping these people? I'm not convinced they know what they're doing."