Crime Syndicate: Qward War!
By libbylawrence
The Crime Syndicate declares war on Qward with a little help from their enemies!

1
“I’ll kill them all!” shouted Ultra Man (Kel-LL) as he slammed his fist into a wall!
He scowled as the specially reinforced structure resisted his blow and he looked up at the other four members of the Crime Syndicate who had responded to his summons.
“Those freaks from Qward thought they could use me as some kind of living battery and I’m going to murder every last one of them if I have to do it by myself!”
The Kryptonian powerhouse glared at his allies as if he was expecting defiance.
Sure enough the youngest and newest member of the team Power Ring II (Ken Rayner) raised his hands in a placating gesture and he spoke in a hesitant manner.
“We rule this world. Sure, guys like Dr. Alexander Luthor and Agent: Cobra try to stop us but they’ve never really succeeded. Why should we risk our necks going to a whole planet full of crazy alien soldiers?” he said.
Johnny Quick (Charles Drake) the super swift speedster with ties to the future nodded and said, “The kid is right. I wasn’t there but you beat those bald freaks. They won’t mess with any of us again!”
Superwoman (Princess Diana of Sanctuary Isle) the renegade Amazon Princess smiled eagerly and said, “I relish the chance to unleash my combat skills upon those alien warriors! It would be very pleasant to teach them to fear me!”
Ultra Man clinched his fists and said, “You don’t understand. We’ve known about the Qwardians for a while now and we’ve ignored them; however, we can’t let them get away with trying to take us down. I won’t let those hairless punks use me like the tried to do!”
He referred to a recent experience in which the evil aliens from Qward had attempted to use him and others to turn Earth 3 into a Qwardian colony.
Johnny Quick sneered as he said, “Hairless? Maybe, that’s why Ultra Man is all worked up. The Qwardians remind him too much of Luthor!”
Ultra Man shouted, “Shut up! Just because that Egghead has escaped from me more than once doesn’t mean I won’t kill him someday!”
Owlman (Dr. Thomas Wayne) sat quietly and watched the others. He had expected each of them to react exactly as they had.
He knew them well and he had spent considerable time over the years perfecting his own subtle defenses against them all. Even the newest member Power Ring had already become a victim of Owlman’s mental manipulations. None of them could easily attack Owlman because of the mental blocks he had implanted in their minds. They did not realize the limitations he had instilled in them.
He had recently had to restore his original mental block in Johnny Quick’s mind since the sarcastic speedster had more or less received a new physical body after a near death experience and certain alterations in a future timeline. At first he had wondered if the new Quick was an imposter but careful observation had revealed his ally to be the original Quick after all. Now, confident as ever that he knew exactly how each of his teammates would react, he smiled slightly.
The foursome looked at him and Ultra Man said, “What about it, Chum? Are you going to try to tell me to calm down and enjoy what we have achieved here on Earth? Are you going to suggest we forget about the Qwardians?”
Owlman stood up slowly and said, “On the contrary, I side with you, Chum! If we defeat the Qwardians once and for all, we may be able to acquire some of their advanced alien technology and in doing so enable us to finish off all our enemies including those from the Justice League, the Justice Society, and the Squadron of Justice!”
Owlman waited in anticipation as he mused, “Let them think I’m in agreement with them for the reason I stated. They must never suspect my true motives in supporting Kel’s little invasion!”
Ultra Man grinned broadly.
“Yeah, he’s right! Owlman’s got a good idea. The three of us can do it if we work together!” he announced.
Johnny Quick shrugged and said, “Okay, okay! I’m in.”
Quick had recently learned some things about his true parentage and he also faced terrible oppression from the future. He wasn’t the kind of man to worry about threats that might never manifest but he also wanted to be prepared in case some of what he saw in the future ever came back to his own era to menace him. The Qwardian technology might be of value to him in such a crisis.
Power Ring sighed and he threw up his hands. “I will join you!” He shuddered for a moment as he felt a chill and seemed to hear a voice whisper to him from within the ring he wore. He often felt as if the magical ring he had found after the death of the original Power Ring (Bill Baggins) had some kind of sinister control over him and he didn’t like to admit that he sometimes wondered if his decisions were truly of his own making or were determined by the ring. He ran one hand though his thinning hair and looked at the others as if awaiting their own orders.
Owlman noticed the casual gesture and he thought, “Rayner had more hair when we first met him not all that long ago. He’s starting to look more like Bill. He’s lost some weight and some hair. I wonder exactly what that means.”
Ultra Man said, “So, we’re agreed! The Crime Syndicate has declared war on Qward!”

2
Later in a darkened alley in a London suburb, two weird figures faced off near the shattered window of a jewelry store. No alarm had echoed to disturb the silence of the desert street and yet the stealthy robber had almost immediately been confronted with opposition.
“You were sloppy, Stephen! For someone who claims to embody perfect balance in all things, you were downright careless! I saw the pattern in your crimes and it enabled me to realize you would be hitting this particular store on this particular night!” said the masked hero known as Mr. Clue!
Even Stephen, an immaculately attired man with the relaxed air of someone who has total confidence in his own abilities and his ultimate triumph over any crisis, dusted off a nonexistent speck of lint from his black suit and looked at the orange and blue clad hero with a smug expression on his handsome face.
“Poor Mr. Clue! For someone who has a genius level I.Q. and a penchant for solving cryptic puzzles of every kind, you do lack true self-awareness! And isn’t knowledge of one’s inner man, truly the ultimate answer to the greatest and most challenging of riddles?” he said.
Mr. Clue(Artie Brown) shifted from one foot to another as he deftly withdrew a clear pellet from his weapons belt and prepared to hurl the knockout gas at his mocking foe. He frowned as his hand dropped the pellet seconds later and it emitted a cloud of gas that briefly obscured his foe.
“I am immune to my own weapons!” he said as he moved closer to Even Stephen but the ground seemed to give way beneath him with each step.
“You are not immune to my weapon though. You are not immune to the truth. You have been a bad husband. You have led your beloved daughter Sharon into hero worshipping you and in her zeal to be like you she had neglected the normal routine of a schoolgirl to train as a heroine! You have wronged her. You have also placed your life at risk for no true purpose! What family man jeopardizes his very existence by donning a mask and costume to fight crime? Surely, neglect of family and failure to cherish such a blessing is the true crime?” he said.
Mr. Clue gasped as he fell to his knees. He could not resist the other man’s mental attack! Somehow everything the calm and collected Even Stephen said seemed to be powerfully true and each word robbed the hero of his free will!
He struggled to resist and he thought of his wife and daughter even as he suffered a massive heart attack and breathed his last!
Seconds later two red and black figures swung down from above! The small figure dropped down to check on the fallen hero while the larger man tackled Even Stephen and knocked him cold before he could use his mental powers on the newcomers.
“Red Hood! Mr. Clue is dead!” gasped the teen known as Red Raven.
The Red Hood whispered a prayer as he looked toward his junior partner and nodded slowly.
“We were too late! I knew Even Stephen had the mutant ability to channel his own latent schizophrenia into a mental attack that brought crippling clarity and then death to his foes. I didn’t realize Mr. Clue would try to take him down by himself!”
Red Raven (Lance Bruner) said, “Poor Art Brown! He was a nice guy. He loved those old TV game shows! How will we break this to Sharon? She’s crazy about her father!”
Red Hood (Tom Wayne Jr.) said, “We’ll find some way to do it. We’ve all dealt with father issues of one kind or another. Luckily, our patron La Mana Aporto has the wisdom and the compassion to help heal a grieving heart!”
A shadowy figure dropped down to face them.
Red Raven gasped but his mentor seemed unsurprised by the sudden arrival of Owlman. As father (Owlman) and son (The Red Hood) gazed at each other the older man spoke first.
“I needed to see you. I’m going to be away for a while. I didn’t want to leave without seeing you. Finding out that you were alive and that we both had the same mysterious benefactor made me do some serious thinking. I know I can never make up for my past or restore the years we lost when I believed you were dead but I want to at least begin to build a relationship with you.”
Red Hood said, “I’ve hoped you would say that since you left Italy. The Open Hand still insists that you are a hero and I want that to be true!”
Owlman said, “ There is a chance I can accomplish something of true significance on this mission but it will take me away from Earth for a time. I wanted to tell you that I love you and I am proud of you. I also wanted to ask you to look after Raven my partner. The boy is mixed up. He admires me and yet he rightfully blames me for his father’s death. He stays with me out of a desire to learn all I can teach him so he can use those skills against me someday. I want you to help him reform should I not return!”
Red Hood said, “Of course, we will help! The Open Hand’s League of Assistance is comprised of countless agents who fight for justice around the globe. We can use Ricky Zucco in time! But, where are you going? You said you were leaving the planet! If I had not met an alien or two in my time, I would doubt your story. How long will you be gone? May we assist you?”
Owlman said, “No. You stay here and should I fail to return, I want you to claim the cavern and Wayne manor and use all its resources to free Gotham City from thugs like Big Jim Gordon. As for where I am going I’d rather not say at this time.”
Red Raven said, “Why leave? We could clean up Gotham now!”
Owlman frowned and then he said, “For now it is best that I rule the city as I always have. When I return safely we will have time to reconsider what tactics are best for both my home and the world as a whole. This mission into space may enable me to resolve the problem of the Crime Syndicate once and for all!”
He extended one hand and shook his son’s hand.
“Thank you for believing in me. The Open Hand made me Owlman for his own purposes but perhaps in time I may turn that identity into a name to be revered and not to merely be feared! “
The heroes watched as Owlman swung off into the night. He turned to his ward and said, “Son, we better get Art back home. Our work is cut out for us. He died a hero and we must honor him while trying to comfort Sharon Brown.”
Red Hood looked down at the still form of Mr. Clue and prayed once more that his own conflicted father would not meet death on this mysterious mission.
3
Dr. Alexander Luthor looked up from his desk in his hidden Fortress of Science and smiled as he saw a black haired boy playing with a puppy.
“I’ve missed so much of my own son’s childhood. He’s suffered so much because of the life I’ve lived since my war against the Crime Syndicate began!”
A green hued android approached and watched his creator with a thoughtful expression on his metallic features.
“Alex, you must not blame yourself. Lois had already lost more than one child. You were away in space when she discovered she was pregnant again. Had she not sought the help of Dr. Ives, both she and your son might have perished. Dr. Ives saved them both although in doing so, he was forced to graft an unstable genetic pattern on the child. Samuel aged at an unnatural rate of time and yet tests show he had stabilized. He is a normal healthy boy of 15 now. You must love him as he is instead of lamenting the fact that you lost so many years due to his rapid aging.”
“Brainiac…John, your logic is unfailing. I still feel like I could have saved him without the trauma of the age acceleration effect. Dr. Ives is not merely brilliant. He is rather unorthodox too!’
A pretty blonde girl rushed into the lab and said, “I had another vision. I saw you all in space!”
John Smith (Brainiac) took Lena Luthor’s hand and said, “We know your precognition is often misleading. It could be literal but then again you could have seen something symbolic!”
Alexander Luthor stroked his red beard and looked at the sister he had raised since their parents had died years before.
“Lena, I’m so sorry. I know how upsetting these visions are to you. I was working on a method by which we could ascertain the true nature of them but my work has been interrupted more than once by Ultra Man and his ilk!” he said.
At that moment, Alex’s wife Lois Luthor entered the lab along with their son Sam. She said, “Honey, you need to see this!”
She gestured to a monitor within their underground base and frowned as a series of cameras displayed the view from above.
A bright beacon of yellow and black in the shape of an owl was shining skyward from a projector device that rested a few miles from their underground base.
“Great Scott! Owlman has found us!” cried Luthor.
Brainiac said, “My sensors detect no life forms. I suspect this is merely a method of communication and not an attack! Have we not theorized that he might have had the resources with which to detect us long ago? Or has he merely determined our base is somewhere in this vicinity?”
Lois held her son’s arm as they looked at the monitors. “What does that fiend want with us? Can’t they ever leave us in peace?”
Lena cried, “Does this have to do with my own visions?”
Luthor said, “I will find out. Do not worry. The beacon seems to be originating in a remote signal device. It does appear to be a message!”
They studied the small holographic display within the lab after making certain it was truly a message and not a method of attack.
The projected image of Owlman appeared before them.
“The Crime Syndicate is about to invade Qward. While my allies seek revenge on the Qwardians, I see this mission as a chance to remove a powerful source of evil influence from this cosmos. You may not trust me but we share this goal. I ask you to join us in this war. I offer you the opportunity to harness Ultra Man’s power for good. My allies do not know of my motives. I am telling you as a gesture of good will. If you aid us in our mission to defeat the Qwardians, you will be removing what may in truth be one of the core sources of evil in our universe! Is that not worth dying for Dr. Luthor?” he said.
Sam said, “Pop, that’s a bunch of lies. You can’t trust that creep!”
Brainiac said, “I concur!”
Luthor shook his head as he ruffled his son’s hair.
“I share your distrust of Owlman. He is devious and he is a schemer but in spite of my scientific background I share his belief that on a metaphysical level much of what plagues this cosmos is a sense of pervasive evil or immorality. Why has our Earth not known the heights of nobility and personal growth and dignity the history of those parallel Earths are so replete with in many ways? I feel the Qwardians have some shame of the blame. Do they not taint the already corrupt fabric of this universe with their love of evil and their aggression? I often wonder what led our cosmos to be this way? If things were had been different long ago might we not now have the blessing of a Superman instead of the curse of an Ultra Man?”
Lois said, “Alex, please don’t tell me you are serious? You can’t join that group of killers!”
Alex said, “And yet for the sake of the redemption of our very cosmos, I feel as though I have little choice!”
4
Lisa Patrick smiled winningly as she walked down the red carpet and struck a bevel pose before the eagerly shouting crowd of photographers and camera men. The beloved actress was so used to scenes of adoration that the whole experience almost bored her. Still, the blonde beauty concealed her feelings and stopped to sign autographs as she made her way toward her waiting limo. It was tiring being one of the most celebrated women in the world but Lisa took her fame in stride. After all, she had worked hard to achieve it and she had her private side as well. In fact, Miss Patrick had more than her share of secrets.
“Blonde Orchid! We love you!” cried one frantic fan.
“It was great the way you captured the Tattered Man!” said another.
“Where did you get that dress?” shrieked another observer.
She flashed one final cover girl grin to her screaming fans and then entered the car. As the door closed and the tinted windows concealed her from view, she ran one hand through her long blonde hair and sighed wearily.
“I still can’t get over the nerve of that witch from the Daily Star! As much good as I do as the Blonde Orchid and she has the unmitigated gall to ask me why I’ve never tried to capture Super Woman!”
While Lisa was as conceited as any starlet and placed a high value on her own conversation, she was not truly talking to herself. She was speaking via a communications device concealed within one of her long dangling earrings.
She gasped as her transmission stopped due to interference and a glowing figure appeared in her car.
“Blonde Orchid? I am Dr. Alexander Luther. While we have never met, I am aware of you and your super powers. You have done much good in your costumed role; however, I have sent this holographic message to you in order to enlist your help! Will you join me on a mission that may enable us to achieve something you have probably never imaged before? I seek your help in ridding this cosmos of an evil that threatens to taint all we know!” he said.
She frowned and then masterful actress that she was, she smiled demurely and said, “Dr. Luther, it would be an honor to fight by your side. Please tell me more and I will do my best to help you!”
Later, after the heroine had learned everything the genius had planned, she entered a luxurious mansion outside the city and entered a concealed elevator that opened up in a large room beneath the manor.
She reached down to remove her violet high heels as three other identical women approached her. While two were dressed in ordinary if costly dresses, the third woman wore an orchid colored leotard with an elaborate butterfly-like winged cloak. Her blonde hair and winning features matched Lisa’s own perfectly.
“Ladies, we have a problem!” announced Lisa as she flung down her designer heels.
The first blonde said, “Was it something to do with the way our transmission broke down? We lost contact with you right after you got in the limo!”
The second blonde said, “I think she has a more urgent concern! Don’t tell me, someone finally figured out our secret? Surely, no one has gotten wise to the fact that four surgically altered woman take turns posing as the world famous Lisa Patrick-the Blonde Orchid?”
The costumed blonde said, “While you were soaking up the limelight in that slinky gown, I cleaned out the North Avenue Bank! Not that anyone detected me of course!”
The original Lisa said, “No one knows of our Blonde Orchid Society. No one suspects that our Lisa Patrick role is merely a pretty decoy with which we occupy the world media along with our good deeds as the Blonde Orchid. They certainly don’t suspect that their beloved pin-up girl/heroine is a super villain! We’ve made the Blonde Orchid and her public identity as actress Lisa Patrick the most famous heroine around. People think they know everything there is to know about their idol when clearly they don’t.”
The second Lisa said, “So, what’s wrong?”
Lisa said, “Dr. Luther came calling. Get this! He wants the Blonde Orchid to stop tracking down petty punks in order to help him on some kind of cosmic crusade!”
The other three blondes frowned as they came closer. While their ruse had fooled the world, none of them were confident that they could delude the famous Luther for long!
“Ladies, we have some real thinking to do!” said one of them.
5
Johnny Quick was not given to sentimental thinking but he too had a goodbye to make and he stood in an empty field outside of the small rural community known as Blue Valley and spoke with uncharacteristically kind words to a pretty girl of around 15. She wore a costume of red and gold that matched his own costume in many ways.
“Dawn, I only learned that my real name was Don Allen and that you were my sister a while ago. I never knew what it meant to have a family. I sure didn’t know my true parents were more or less the same age as I am because of time travel twists and turns. For that matter, I sure didn’t see Barry Allen or Iris in a family light. I hated him and tried to force myself on her. You know all this. I guess what I’m trying to say is that’s you’ve been great to me since you joined me back in this era. I know you’ve been going through a rough time too since you gained those speed powers and lost some of your years due to what Microbe called chronal deceleration syndrome. You went from being a grown woman to being a teen. That kind of freaky stuff happens to people like us! Now, I’m going to join my team on a mission to Qward. I don’t know when I’ll be back!” he said.
Dawn Allen nodded and said, “I’m going to miss you! I know people outside our line of work might think it is weird that I could accept you so readily in spite of the history you and our folks had but I do love you. Your way of life offers me freedom I never knew in my own era! I’ll go with you if you want!”
He leaned over and hugged her before saying, “I appreciate it but you better stay here. Enjoy that freedom you mentioned. I will be back eventually! Just don’t give up on me!”
She returned his hug and smiled. “You can count on me!”
It was a quiet and loving moment in the life of a man who had spent much of his time in a frantic race to escape from feeling anything except pleasure and power.
6
Ultra Man, Owlman, Super Woman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring assembled within their HQ and made their final preparations for departure. Owlman knew that Luther had agreed to stage his own invasion of Qward and he felt it best to keep this information to himself. There was no need to sent Ultra Man into one of his rages and any reference to the scientist he hated so much was certainly to do just that.
“Deadeye, Silk Canary, and Rubberneck didn’t show up. None of them would have really counted as more than cannon fodder but I don’t like their lack of loyalty!”said Ultra Man.
Owlman said, “I’m more concerned about the absence of the Martian Warlord. We could have used his raw power and his cunning mind!”
Super Woman said, “He is a fine warrior but I have never trusted him.”
Mircobe (Dr. Roy Palmer) was a six inch man in a black and red costume. The brilliant scientist had developed a means of reducing his size and mass and he relished using his talents and his genius in a quest from new data. He clearly looked forwarded to this trip.
“I am certain we might be more effective as a small group than we would be with additional undisciplined allies!” he said.
“And yet I do not think you will turn down my offer to assist you!” said a newcomer as a strikingly beautiful Egyptian woman in a filmy white tunic and laced sandals with ornate golden bracelets on each bare arm materialized in the middle of the room!
Superwoman cursed and stepped forward as even Owlman jumped to his feet at the sight of the palpable power the smiling woman possessed.
“I am the Mighty Isis! I am new to this cosmos but I possess great gifts that may be of value to those who wisely agree to become my servants!” she said.
“Lady, I don’t care if you have killer legs or not. Johnny Quick is nobody’s patsy!” said the speedster as he raced forward.
“Hover in air, suspended there!” said Isis!
Quick gasped as he found himself magically caught up in the air without any traction!
Isis smiled and placed both hands on her hips.
“See? The might of Isis is not to be denied and yet I will alter my words. I would gladly join your group as an ally and not as a ruler!” she said.
Owlman said, “Remember the other Isis? We fought with her and against her in Qward. She came from earth S where Captain Marvel and his family originated. This new version seemed to have all of her power but none of her values. She will fit right in now that we’ve lost Dr. Chaos!”
The Mighty Isis scowled and said, “The other Isis is a pretender. She will pay for challenging me. I came here through a portal in her temple. I will reclaim it someday but for now I have been convinced that I can achieve much in this universe!”
Super Woman said, “Can one so petite truly be of use to us?”
Isis smiled wickedly and said, “Do as I say, return to clay!”
Super Woman shuddered as her body suddenly transformed to melting clay!
Ultra Man shouted, “Stop! Cure her! “
Isis nodded and said, “Amazonian form, return to norm!”
Super Woman returned to normal and dived at Isis only to be pulled back by Ultra Man.
“Diana, we can use her! We need a magical ally!” he said.
Owlman nodded slowly. “I concur. Isis, welcome to the Crime Syndicate!”
He thought, “I’d rather have this one where I can see her. She might be of use to me as well!”
Isis said, “I accept your gracious offer!”
Super Woman scowled silently but made no effort to attack the Egyptian goddess.
Ultra Man said, “Okay, if you’re in, then you’ll have a chance to prove yourself. We’re going to attack a planet called Qward!”
Isis smiled confidently and replied, “Excellent! The Qwardians will become my newest worshippers!”
7
Ultra Man said, “Power Ring, use your ring and transport us all to Qward. We’ll start smashing everything in sight until those punks have nothing left!”
Microbe said, ”Ultra Man, we won’t need to have Power Ring transport us. He and I have been busy since you first announced your plans. I encouraged him to generate some power ring probes and dispatch them to Qward. They’ve already given me valuable data. The Qwardian society is a military one in nature. The warriors are known as Weaponeers and their highest ranking soldiers are called Thunderers! Their culture has often made use of the basic structure of the obelisk. These odd constructions served functions. One was said to contain a weapon of great power; however, it was in truth merely an empty structure designed to motivate the development of technology that could supposedly penetrate its seemingly invulnerable surface. There are others that dot the Qwardian landscape and have unknown purposes!”
Johnny Quick said, “Palmer, this isn’t one of your college lectures. You’re killing me, man! Just tell us what we need to know in order to shut down those bald freaks!”
Microbe said, “I forget that you have such a short attention span! I believe we may gain an advantage over our foes by breaking into these obelisks! If we do not gain knowledge, we will at least have rendered a psychological blow to them that may very well discourage all opposition!”
Owlman said, “Very well. Dr. Palmer. How do you suggest we reach these obelisks?”
Microbe said, “Through this remarkable device!”
He gestured to a large mirror that rested in a specially designed support structure.
Quick’s eyes widened in surprise as he approached the looking glass.
“Say, I recognize that! The Rogue used it to trap me in another dimension until Microbe freed me when we first met! I didn’t know you had kept it or that you’d been experimenting with it!” he said.
Microbe said, “Indeed, I have and it will allow us to easily reach Qward thanks to certain adjustments that I have made to its primary features!”
Ultra Man grinned and he said, “Good! The sooner we get there, the sooner I can rip their whole planet apart!”
Superwoman said, “Bah! I tire of this endless chatter! I want to hurt someone!”
Isis smiled wickedly but she said nothing.
“These dolts will make useful slaves in time but for now I will pretend to desire nothing more than to assist them! My power will enable me to accomplish their planned conquest before they can realize how fortunate they are to have me!” she thought.
Power Ring said, “So, we enter the mirror and start breaking into their obelisks! That’s simple enough!”
The villains walked directly through the gleaming mirror and emerged on the weird world known as Qward! They recognized the stark nature of the planet in which most resources had been used for war. It was a dark and bleak domain. There was no sound of laughter nor any sign of leisure!
Grim armored men and woman patrolled silently and true to Microbe’s data, there were golden obelisks that loomed across the cityscape.
Ultra Man roared in anger and slammed his palms together! The force of the shockwave he generated swept a squad of troops off their feet! Before the golden clad soldiers could react, Ultra Man was on top of them and his deadly fists had made short work of them!
Superwoman smiled readily as she charged into another squad and pummeled them senseless even as they tried to fight back!
“You worms would not last an hour on Sanctuary Isle! Even my mewling sisters could slay such vermin!”she said.
Some of the troops fought back as word spread through the city and reinforcements gathered!
Johnny Quick spun around furiously and caused a whirlwind to smash through the city! He laughed as the alien buildings collapsed and dozens were crushed or trapped beneath the rubble!
Mighty Isis posed dramatically as several Thunderers rushed forward and took aim with their odd lightning bolt shaped weapons!
“Bolts rebound, strike these dolts!” she cried.
The energy bolts shattered prematurely at her magical command and incinerated the startled Qwardains!
Owlman and Microbe had stealthily approached one of the towering obelisks only to be confronted by one of the hulking generals called a Master Thunderer!
He cursed them in the Qwardian tongue and hurled a blazing bolt in their direction but the always prepared Owlman had vanished into the darkness and Microbe merely shrank out of sight and then enlarged himself and allowed his normal mass to enable him to crash into the shocked warrior and force him to the ground. The evil genius passed inside the alien’s body and then grew larger! He erupted from within the general’s body and turned to face the looming tower.
“I should be able to pass between the molecules and enter this amazing place!” he mused.
Owlman waited silently in the shadows and casually dispatched a passing Qwardian with a garrote! He was trying to change but he saw this mission as war and he had no qualms about killing the Qwardians to achieve what he felt would be a greater good!
Superwoman spotted a large vehicle shaped roughly like a tank! She stood her ground as it rumbles closer and then the Amazon Princess bent down and grasped its rolling treads with both hands. She stooped down and lifted the whole vehicle over her head! She hurled it straight into the heart of the city and laughed as flames erupted and the impact shook the streets!
Ultra Man was shouting as he smashed his way through the city.
“Come on! Come on! I’ll kill you all!” he bellowed!
The Qwa bolts shattered against his chest and if he felt any pain he ignored it! He was a true engine of destruction and his power was frightening to behold! He moved with super speed and a brutal efficiency that caused the ancient city to seemingly fall apart in minutes!
Power Ring was holding back. He shielded the others at times and he blasted away with the emerald energy he commanded but he was troubled. He had no guilt. He was a ruthless killer but he was also less confident in his abilities than the others and he certainly lacked their experience. He didn’t understand it but something in the air seemed to whisper to him. It was not the ring this time. It was more of some primal instinct that warned the young man that he was about to face a direct consequence of on of his past actions!
He kept thinking of a certain perfume and of the texture of a girl’s long, silky blonde hair.
“Alexandra! Why did you pop into my mind now?” he thought as he recalled a lost lover.
As the team drew closer to the site of Microbe’s entrance into the first obelisk, a small figure who was no larger than a child emerged from within the odd structure although no doorway could be perceived on its gleaming smooth surface.
“Now, they are sending their bratty kids against us!” said Johnny Quick as he saw a childlike figure in gold armor emerge from within the silent structure.
Owlman frowned as he delicately extended his keen mental powers and made a brief contact with the newcomer.
“He’s no child! His name is …!” he began even as the entire obelisk exploded!
The incredible explosion struck the Crime Syndicate like a tidal wave of raw energy!
As successive waves of energy swept across the city rubble the small being smiled and his normal sized soldiers emerged to stand at his side. He hurled Microbe’s stunned body from one hand to the ground beneath his boots.
“I am General Fabrikant and in spite of my stature, I stand triumphant over you all! You see, I knew you were coming and I had time to prepare this obelisk for your arrival! Did you idiots think that even the rawest Weaponeer would not recognize emerald energy probes and know them for what they were? This Power Ring may not be a real Green Lantern but we have ways to detect any kind of energy that resembles the will focused might of one of the Green Lanterns?”
Power Ring shuddered with horror as he saw Superwoman, Isis, and Johnny Quick’s stunned bodies.
His ring glowed dimly as if something had drained its mystical power.
A misshapen figure lurched forward and stood by General Fabrikant’s side. He lacked any real definition as far as features or muscle tone was concerned. It looked like a raw blob of pure energy.
“This ally of mine has been sapping all of your powers ever since you first entered Qward! He lacks a real name but I call him the Quarmer because he originated in a dimension by that name. He is a living parasite and he happens to feed upon the life force of natives of your universe!” said General Fabrikant.
Power Ring’s ring enabled him to detect that Isis, Quick, Microbe, and Superwoman were still alive but in response to his hasty command regarding the missing Ultra Man and Owlman, the ring could only whisper, “No trace of them can be detected on Qward or in its vicinity!”
Power Ring gasped as the Qwardian warriors closed in on him.
“I’m alone here! I’m all alone!” he cried and then with the last of his emerald energy he flew away over the wrecked city leaving his fallen friends behind!
General Fabrikant smiled and said, “Do not worry, friend. You will feed on that coward soon enough! He has no place to hide from our forces!”
The Quarmer said nothing as it waited hungrily by its master’s side.
8
Earlier, Dr. Alexander Luther and his own team of unlikely allies had assembled at a secluded wooded area in Maine. The scientist had always placed a distance between himself and his allies out of a desire to protect those he loved. He frowned as he recalled his recent parting from his family. Lois and Lena had naturally been upset but it was Sam’s reaction that troubled him most. The boy had always been affectionate. Even the natural side effects of his artificial aging and the computer based learning program that had enabled him to acquire the necessary knowledge of a boy his age had failed to alter his sunny disposition. Thus, Luther had been surprised by the anger his son displayed when they parted.
“All you care about is your experiments and fighting those Crime Syndicate goons! You always put your family second! I don’t care if you come back or not ‘cause you’ll just leave again as soon as you can think of some crummy excuse!” Sam had shouted.
Luther had tried to comfort the boy but he had merely raced back into their home in spite of the best efforts of Lois and Lena to soothe him.
Luther sighed as he wondered if Sam had been correct. “What kind of life have I given Lois or Lena? I have spent so much time in the lab. We don’t even have a home. We merely take shelter in the Fortress of Science! What can I do to fix things? Will we ever know peace as long as Ultra Man and the others are free?”
He stroked his bearded in a nervous habit and looked at his new allies.
The Blonde Orchid was stunning and her remarkable super human powers would enable her to face Ultra Man and Superwoman as a near equal. What Luther did not know was that she was not a true heroine and would resort to any tactic to protect her secret life of crime!
She frowned as she waited on him to speak. She smiled in anticipation. She was a skilled actress and she knew how to play a role. She also felt as if she had no choice but to accompany him on his quest if she wished to protect her public image as a heroine. She was not scared but she was also concerned that Luther might ruin everything she and her sisterhood had worked so hard to build.
Next to the celebrated and beloved “heroine” sat a smaller woman in a colorful costume of red, yellow, green, and white. She wore a white mask over her face and her long black hair cascaded down to each side of her masked features. She was clearly nervous but Luther had heard of the woman called the Clock Queen and he knew that she had come very close to capturing the villainous Microbe during various battles in their Ivy Town home. Luther also had his own suspicions about her real identity but he had a strong curiosity about how she acquired or developed the advanced technology she used in her heroic role.
In truth Clock Queen was a prominent lawyer named Joan Loring. She had adopted her costumed role out of a desire to advance her legal career; however, in doing so she had encountered Microbe on more than one occasion and had never managed to defeat the evil genius. She was a bit selfish and vain and cared more about her own fame and fortune than she did about the justice system.
Next to the masked woman stood a tall man in a pink and blue costume with a cape and cowl.
He called himself Cataclysm but his real name was Peter Booker. He had a weird ability to alter probabilities and increase the chances of the failure of others or of his own success in any given task.
The next ally was a beautiful woman in a brief pink and white costume. She wore a mask and within her black hair rested a matching tiara. She was known as Rose Sapphire and she was in truth an heiress and business woman named Carol Bloch. She had been chosen by a race of benign warrior women from space to be their mortal champion. She was in fact the latest of a line of intrepid warrior queens dating back to ancient legend when the first one -Shaleika of the Rose- roamed the Earth in the barbaric past.
Rose Sapphire had her own adversarial relationship with the original Power Ring. She was brave and carried herself with a combination of feminine allure and defiant swagger.
The last member of Luther’s team was a meek looking old man in a nondescript jumpsuit. He stayed close to Luther’s side as if he was dependent upon him for guidance.
Luther smiled encouragingly at him and said, “I want to thank you all for agreeing to join me on this crusade. I can’t offer you more than my gratitude but rest assured that you each have that!”
Rose Sapphire said, “Do not worry. We will stay the course and triumph in the end! Such is the way of the warrior!”
Blonde Orchid fought the urge to roll her eyes. She hated such over earnest sentiments!
Clock Queen said, “I hate to be a walking cliché but time is of the essence! I want to finish this mission and get back to my so-called normal life!”
Cataclysm said, “No problem! I just know we will be back before long! I am naturally lucky!”
Rose Sapphire said, “In combat, one makes her own luck!”
Luther said, “Be that as it may, I have our transportation ready. It is a modest little craft of my own design but it should suffice!”
He gestured to a blue spacecraft that rested in a clearing at the edge of the woods.
The older man in the jumpsuit said, “This is outstanding! I never knew you had such a remarkable machine!”
Luther said, “Thank you, Phil. I was able to draw upon some designs given to me by an alien ally named Ranjar Ro!”
Clock Queen said, “Exactly what is the plan? We can’t just start attacking the Qwardians like a group of aimless savages!”
Luther smiled and said, “Nor shall we! I have taken steps to protect us from attack and to subdue them all! My friend here will be able to bring about the desired outcome simply by his proximity to their Qwa bolt energies!” He gestured toward the older man.
They boarded the small craft and in moments they found themselves warping through space to approach the planet Qward!
Luther piloted the ship expertly down to a safe landing outside the rubble of Qwar-Deen!
“My scanners show the city is nearly destroyed! I think the Syndicate was rather efficient!” said Luther.
Rose Sapphire said, “I am eager to test the merits of the stripling who now calls himself Power Ring!”
Blonde Orchid thought, “What is the point of risking my life when no one is around to take pictures? I suppose I have little choice though since Luther would have been suspicious had I declined to aid him.”
The group had barely exited the craft when a group of the golden armored Weaponeers charged into view!
Luther said, “The personal force field belts I gave each of you earlier should shield you from the Qwa bolt energy used by these soldiers!”
Blonde Orchid said, “And to think, I was about to quip that it clashed with my tights!”
Clock Queen said, “I see the Qwardians but not the Syndicate! Do you suppose Microbe and the others met defeat in spite of the damage around us?”
Luther said, “I have learned not to count those villains out of any battle in spite of appearances to the contrary!”
As the Qwadians hurled their blazing energy bolts at the group, the projectiles did indeed bounce off the invisible shields with a hissing sound!
Rose Sapphire soared into the sky and smiled broadly. She seemed to relish combat and danger and now she dropped down in the midst of the startled Qwadians and her body glowed a bright pink as her unique energy surged outward from the gemstone in her tiara and stunned those around her!
“Weaklings! How unworthy they are of the class of warrior!” she said with a laugh.
Luther raised his own gloves and used a tightly focused force beam to scatter some other Weaponeers!
“John did a superb job upgrading my armor! He is a truly amazing being!” he thought. “Poor fellow seemed distraught when I refused to allow him to join me. He will be better suited to carry on my fight should I fail on this Quixotic quest!” he mused.
The Blonde Orchid sailed through the air and crashed into another squadron! She kicked and punched and drove them backward with an almost balletic grace! She moved faster than any ordinary woman and she struck with super human force! As another Qwardian charged at her, she flipped upward and brought both feet into his face! He collapsed and she landed deftly on his chest!
“Next?” she said in a mocking tone of voice!
Clock Queen raised a strange weapon in both hands and aimed it at the Qwardians! The flat clock-shaped device fired projectiles shaped like the hands of a clock; however, each one ended with a blunt tip.
The Ivy Town heroine proved her skill as the projectiles hit a warrior and dropped him to the ground!
“Your time is up!” she joked.
Cataclysm merely stood his ground while the others displayed their individual talents. As warriors closed in on him, the ground beneath their feet shuddered and gapped open! They fell into the pit and he smiled calmly.
“See? Things usually work out the way they were meant to!” he said.
Phil Martin stayed beside Luther and rather nervously adjusted his suit.
Luther noticed and calmly said, “Not yet, Professor. I want to save your special gift for the right moment!”
However, Dr. Luther frowned as they moved closer to the city.
“In spite of my confident words before, I wonder what has happened to Ultra Man and his allies. Were these Qwardians able to destroy them and if so, how should I feel about it?” he thought.
9
Isis opened her eyes and frowned as she realized that she, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Microbe were in a prison cell. She shook her long hair out of her eyes and tried to move. She soon found out that her arms and legs were chained to a wall and a metal collar covered her lips. She could not speak her spells!
“Superwoman, Quick, and Microbe are stunned. Power Ring, Ultra Man, and Owlman are missing! I can see no advantage in staying here a second longer!” she thought.
She strained and then shattered the chains that bound her!
“They thought I was merely a magic user who was helplessly without the ability to speak her spells. I need no spell to use my super human strength!” she thought as she ripped off the binding collar and freed the others from their own bonds.
“Trio heal, my power is real!” she said as her magic restored the three captives.
Superwoman nodded approvingly.
“Sister, you have proven yourself to me. I count you worthy!” she declared.
Quick said, “What happened? They knew we were coming! This is all Power Ring’s fault! If only Bill was still alive! Ken is a tool!”
Microbe said, “We need to retreat to fight another day!”
Superwoman said, “What of Ultra Man and Owlman?”
Isis stared into space for seconds and then said, “My magic can only determine that they are not on Qward! They have either died or escaped in some unknown manner!”
“What of Power Ring?” she asked.
Superwoman said, “Quick gave me an idea! Can your magic bring the ring itself to us? If so, surely we don’t need that useless pup!”
Isis smiled wickedly and said, “Power ring come here, leave Ken Raynor in his fear!”
The green ring appeared in her palm as she smiled again.
“To Earth return, Qward burn!” shouted Isis!
The group materialized back on Earth as flames swept across the city they left behind!
Seconds later, the power ring burst into green flames as Isis dropped it and the fiery energy shaped itself into the form of a now familiar man!
“Bill!” cried Quick as he recognized the original Power Ring!
“I’m back! I got pulled inside the ring when the explosion caught us! I’ve been inside trapped ever since but I was able to drain strength from that punk who found my ring! It took me this long to get enough strength back to escape!” he said.
Isis said, “I assume this is the original Power Ring?”
Power Ring looked at the beautiful Egyptian and smiled like a hungry wolf.
“At your service, Gorgeous!” he said.
Quick slapped him on the back and said, “I am glad you are back, pal! Ultra Man and Owlman are missing though. They could even be dead!”
Power Ring grinned at his best friend and he shrugged, “What a drag! I guess we’ll just have to divide up Earth between us and drink to their memory.”
10
Meanwhile, Power Ring (Ken Raynor) had fled from the mocking General Fabricant and his humanoid parasite the Quarmer only to find himself growing weary and agitated.
“I can’t seem to concentrate! My energy is growing dimmer too!” he thought as he landed and hid behind a deserted old barracks.
“The explosion killed Ultra Man and Owlman! I don’t know how I survived but my ring still seems like it has been damaged!” he whispered.
“Everything has gone wrong for me since I found the ring! Sometimes it seems like it is taking over my mind!” he cried.
He gasped as golden light illuminated the sky and a humanoid shape descended to confront him.
She was blonde and beautiful and wore a gold and white leotard. She had delicate features and he stared in disbelief since she was a woman he knew very well!
“Alexandra? How can you be here? I searched everywhere for you, Babe!” he stammered.
The golden glow expanded around her in a protective field that stopped him in his tracks.
“Ken? I can’t believe it either but where else would evil scum like you belong than on Qward? I fled from you after the last beating you gave me! I couldn’t stand to listen to your promises to never hurt me again! I changed my name and hid out until my life changed forever!” she said.
Power Ring said, “It was good when we were together! I meant it when I said I would never hit you again. I love you! You don’t know how much I’ve needed you these last few years!”
Alexandra De Witt said, “I was shot by a gangster after I tried to extort money from him. I would have died and I would have deserved it too since I had been a ruthless loser all my life! I didn’t die though. An energy being called the Starheart saved me by merging with me. It wanted to know what being human meant. It had been banished from Qward because the soldiers fear magic and revere science. It changed me and made me a heroine! I fight people like you now!”
Power Ring said, “Yeah? That’s why I could not find you even with the ring. You were here all along!”
He staggered forward and cried out in pain as his ring suddenly vanished from his hand!
“I’m dying! My ring is gone and I can barely stand up. Please help me!” he pleaded.
Starheart said, “I don’t know how you became a super villain but I won’t let you die. You hurt me badly and I hated you but I will help you live if I can!”
She bent over the fallen man and allowed her golden energies to pass over him.
“I don’t understand it. You were caught in an energy blast but you also seem to have been weakened by some kind of infection! Even my power can’t restore you, Ken,” she said.
His eyes widened in shock and suddenly he lurched passed her and struck a newcomer that had silently approached her from behind!
It was the Quarmer! As the misshapen being grabbed Power Ring, he screamed and yet he made no effort to break free.
“I’ll save you, Babe! I’ll die for you! I owe you that! I’ll prove I love you!” he said.
Starheart whirled around and aimed a beam of golden energy at the parasite!
It hurled a now nearly dissociated Power Ring to the ground and shambled toward Starheart but before it could reach her, Luther and Phil Martin approached!
“I saw the bright flare and figured we should check it out!” said Luther as he dropped down to block the creature from the girl.
“Dr. Luther! I have read about you! Can you help us?” said Starheart,
Alex Luther said, “I will certainly try!”
Phil Martin said, “I think this is the right moment for me to do my part! Ever since my accident, I’ve wanted to find a way to be useful!”
The old man bravely walked directly toward the monstrous being and smiled as the creature touched him!
Instead of draining his life force, the Quarmer grew smaller as if Phil Martin was absorbing its own energies! That was exactly what was happening!
As the old scientist drained the monster’s power, the creature shrank and the meek man underwent a strange transformation. He grew more muscular and then the exposed parts of his body like his head and hands vanished from sight!
The Quarmer seemed to blink out of existence as the last of its stolen power was taken in by the glowing professor!
“Dr. Martin, or the Invisible Creator as he has called himself since an accident gave him certain powers, can absorb energy although the more he takes in, the less tangible he becomes!” explained Luther.
Rose Sapphire said, “The elderly one has been feeding on the Qwa bolts our force fields deflect! You’ve been feeding him energy all along, haven’t you Luther?”
Luther nodded as Dr. Martin expanded in size until he towered over Qwa-Deen and the assembled Weaponeers gazed at him in horror! He only grew stronger from each exposure to their most reliable means of attack!
Blonde Orchid frowned. “He truly is beating them! I expected some opposition and assumed I could take advantage of such conflict but now what can I do to rid myself of the great Dr. Luther? Maybe, I should just continue to play along as the dutiful do gooder!”
Starheart shook her head sadly as she stood up and looked down at Ken Raynor’s body.
“He’s gone! I loved him once and then that love turned into hate. Now, I only feel regret!” she said.
Rose Sapphire said, “What should we do with his ring? I would claim it as a trophy!”
Luther glanced over at the gigantic form of Dr. Martin and said, “The ring has disappeared! I will worry about that later. Dr. Martin, if you will stop absorbing the ambient qwa energy around us, I believe our foes may be ready to submit!”
At that moment General Fabrikant approached and said, “You have robbed us of what made us great. Still, even without my Quarmer or our energy bolts, we are a proud race and will fight until the end! To stop us, you will have to become the greatest mass murderer in this cosmos! Will you kill every man, woman, and child on Qward?”
Luther said, “No! I am not a killer! The Quarmer was pure energy and never truly lived. As for your people, without weapons, you can’t defeat us. Your bolts are useless. Their energies will no longer empower your tanks or assault vehicles. Your bombs only make Dr. Martin stronger! I offer you a chance for peaceful surrender!”
General Fabrikant said, “You do not understand my true abilities! Those obelisks that dot our landscape are full of more energy than even your living weapon may absorb! Enjoy your victory while you may!”
He pressed a switch on his gauntlet and across the barren world of Qward every obelisk exploded at once!
A brilliant blast of energy scorched the surface of Qward and the group was thrown away from one another by the shockwaves!
Luther was caught by surprise for once and as the golden energy rained down on them.
“My armor can’t protect us against energy of this magnitude!” he thought.
He could not see the others as the rubble separated them.
Meanwhile, Rose Sapphire had tried to shield Cataclysm, Blonde Orchid, and Clock Queen as they found themselves separated from Luther!
“My energy couldn’t block that amount of power but we were partially shielded anyway! Where is Dr. Martin? I don’t see him either! He may be why we survived!” she said.
There was no sign of the Invisible Creator but then again Clock Queen speculated that the old man might have saved them all from certain death by drawing in most of the raw power released from the obselisk bombs!
“I think that kindly old man sacrificed his physical form to protect us! Didn’t Alex say the more he drew in the less tangible he became?” she said.
Cataclym shrugged and said, “My powers will put us where we need to be! Just relax!”
At that moment, Starheart spotted them and flew toward them as if any answer to Booker’s probability altering powers!
She snared them as well and warped into space above Qward.
“I do not know if I can get you back home! The obelisks weakened me too!” she thought.
At that moment a red spaceship appeared and teleported them all above!
“Brainiac! John!” cried Luther as he recognized the android.
“Logic dictated that I obey your wishes. Friendship dictated that I ignored them and came to help you!” said the green humanoid.
Luther smiled and shook hands with his friend.
“I can’t argue with that. You saved us all!” he said.
Brainiac said, “My sensors indicate there is no trace of the Crime Syndicate. They departed from Qward in some manner that defies science!”
Luther said, “I suppose that ends our alliance although I still wonder what to do about Qward? It may be in ruins but it still exists as do its fanatical natives!”
Brainiac said, “I have a compromise! Containment is our best option!”
He activated another control on his ship and a beam emerged to swallow the planet Qward!
It materialized in a shrunken but preserved form within a huge bottle.
“I have reduced the planet and stored it in perfect environmental stasis! While the evil of Qward lives on, it is now contained!” he said.
Luther said, “John, I don’t know if this was the right thing to do but may I be forgiven, I have no better solution!”
Blonde Orchid said, “Why didn’t you simply shrink it to begin with before we even invaded the place?”
Brainiac said, “The shrinking ray had been broken for some time. I only managed to repair it hours ago! I found something that I had overlooked countless times before!”
Cataclysm said, “See? My luck powers brought us this break at just the right moment! No need to thank me. It is what I do!”
Rose Sapphire said, “What of Dr. Martin?”
Luther said, “I am supposed to be a genius but I just don’t know. I can’t detect him. He may have given his all to save us. May he rest in peace! His death is another burden that rests with me!”
He said, “Take us home, John. That’s my only answer. Take us home!”
Starheart said, “I will join you. It has been too long since I knew my world of my birth!”
Epilogue 1
On the surface of the bottled world of Qward within the Fortress of Science, Ken Raynor opened his eyes and looked at General Fabrikant. They were within one of the diminutive general’s hidden bunkers.
“You were dying and even your odd allies could not save you. In fact, they deserted you. You owe them nothing. I have given you new life. I will help you pay them back if you agree to serve me!” said Fabrikant.
Ken glanced down at the red armor that now composed his body. He knew that he had been surgically altered in some manner and yet this awareness caused him no horror. It was as if something had turned him into a machine devoid of normal emotions and yet capable of feeling hatred and rage.
He spoke in an oddly robotic tone of voice and clinched one blue metal glove.
“I agree! I will serve you and I will kill the Crime Syndicate!” he vowed.
General Fabrikant placed a pale blue mask over Ken’s angry features and said, “Excellent! Have you anything else to add?”
“No one escapes the Manhunter!” declared the altered Ken Raynor!
Epilogue 2
Ultra Man rubbed one hand across his eyes and glanced over to where a stunned Owlman’s prone form rested nearby.
He frowned as he recognized the style of architecture of the room they were in and he stared in disbelief at the writing on an ornate plague that decorated the chamber.
“That motto is a kind of home sweet home slogan found in most Kryptonian houses! In fact this whole place looks just like my home world!” he said.
A door slid open and a robotic server entered and spoke to him in what clearly was Kryptonian.
“Kel-LL! You are safe here! Welcome to Argo City!” said the droid.