Post by lawrenceliberty on Jun 9, 2017 18:03:16 GMT
Rrr
The Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman: The Queen of Mars!
By libbylawrence
Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter pledge their love for one another but battles on two fronts swiftly follow the ceremony!
1
June 1988
In a small but comfortable home on the planet once known as Vonn but currently called New Mars, a family had gathered for a joyful occasion. R’Bert J’Onzz and his wife J’Une were the proud parents of a Martian hero J’Onn J’onzz who was about to be one of the featured participants in one of the most sacred ceremonies in which members of their race could partake.
J’Onn was one of the founding members of the famous Justice League of America. He and his Earth based allies had become heroes across the known universe. He had also been a gifted scientist and leader among his people during both the Golden Age on Mars itself and during the difficult exodus to New Mars.
Now, he merely relished several new sensations as he stood within the family home.
“It is good to with my family again. It is also liberating to know that the Brotherhood has been exposed and their dark conspiracy has been ended. Perhaps, it is even more exhilarating to walk these streets and see happy expressions on the faces of my people. The military regimes that dominated our culture for so long are out of favor. At last the Martian people have returned to the path of science and humanitarianism!”
A slightly smaller Martian approached him with a ready smile on his face.
“I know that look! You’re feeling at ease again! It seems as if you stopped smiling back when you innocently first joined the Brotherhood all those years ago!” said T’Omm.
J’Onn nodded as his younger brother entered the room.
“I do feel as if my troubles have ended! Is this unusual for one about to take part in the Ceremony of Unity? I know some have joked that that was the start of their troubles!” he said.
T’Omm said, “You are pledging a bond of union with a special woman! Nubia would be a wonder even if she was not the heroine called Wonder Woman!”
J’Onn smiled and said, “If this was what my JLA friends know as a wedding ceremony, you would be what they call the best man. By any name you still offer me needed support!”
A small orange being raced into the room and said, “Me…best Zook!”
J’Onn bent down on one knee and hugged the small alien.
“Zook, you are indeed, the very best Zook there ever could be!” he said.
At that moment a beautiful woman entered the room accompanied by J’Onn’s parents.
Nubia wore the red, white, and blue costume that had made her famous as the second Wonder Woman on the planet Earth. Since this Martian Ceremony of Unity was not exactly a wedding, she had felt no need to wear anything other than the costume that she felt most at ease wearing. She was a warrior and had few overtly feminine demands. She merely knew that she loved J’Onn and was completely committed to him as far as her own code of conduct was concerned. She had enjoyed meeting his family and she relished the stark tranquility of the planet called New Mars.
Zook clapped his small hands together and shouted, “Nubia looks pretty!”
Nubia smiled warmly at the little alien. She knew J’Onn thought highly of the brave and loyal alien and she had come to share his affection for the high spirited and childlike Zook!
J’Onn said, “She does indeed look pretty. I would say she is beautiful!”
J’Onn looked over to his father who had the duty to officiate over the ceremony as was his right as the eldest family member present.
R’Bert smiled warmly and spread his arms with a slight hesitation. He was a rather shy man and he hated being the center of attention.
“All is change. All things alter. The only great immutable is love and it is to celebrate such eternal unity that we have gathered this day. We are here to witness the pledge of unification for J’Onn J’Onzz and Princess Nubia. We witness their devotion and we pray for its constancy in a world where all is change!”
he said.
J’Onn took Nubia’s hand and said, “I, J’Onn J’Onzz declare my love for Nubia. I pledge this love will not alter nor will we allow anyone to change us or weaken this union!”
Nubia smiled and said, “I, Nubia, declare my love for J’Onn. I pledge that my passion will never cool nor will we allow anyone to threaten our bond of unity!”
As J’Une softly wept and Zook giggled softly the couple kissed and then stepped back to face their loved ones.
“I do love you!” whispered J’Onn.
Nubia responded softly and then gasped as the man she loved vanished into thin air!
“Great Hera!” she cried!
2
Nubia exchanged startled glances with the J’Onzz family and everyone began to speak at once.
“J’Onn just disappeared!” cried J’Une!
Nubia said, “We have many enemies with the capacity to abduct someone from a distance!”
T’Omm said, “We will find him!”
Zook ran around in a small circle and yelped, “Zook find Manhunter!”
T’Omm said, “I believe I know where he went! I do not fully understand the abilities I gained after direct exposure to the Blue Flame but I feel as though some sense is telling me J’Onn is on Mars!”
T’Omm referred to the strange powers he gained after falling into the energy source called the Blue Flame of Mars. It had ravaged the planet but T’Omm had somehow emerged from its conflagration with remarkable energy powers. The J’Onzz family had migrated to New Mars along with their fellow survivors following the terrible destruction caused when Commander Blanx tried to use the natural resource as a weapon!
Nubia said, “We will go to Mars at once! Do not worry! T’Omm and I will find him!”
R’Bert and J’Une expressed their appreciation as they embraced their new daughter and bade farewell to the pair.
Later, after Nubia and T’Omm had departed for the planet Mars, R’Bert bent down to comfort Zook who had remained silent but clearly agitated.
“Zook, they will find my son! Plus, you know how capable J’Onn is! He will be fine!” he said.
Zook shook his head and said, “Manhunter be fine… but Zook not sure he on Mars! Nope!”
The elderly Martians listened as the little alien repeated his concerns. They weren’t sure if he was right or not but they knew J’Onn had learned to trust Zook’s tracking abilities.
“Zook, dear, you do not track as well when someone has left the planet. How can you be sure?”
asked J’Une.
Zook frowned as he shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“Zook just know!” he insisted!
3
Meanwhile, J’Onn J’Onzz the Martian Manhunter had found himself instantly transported to a very familiar setting!
He stood within a large building that had once been a barn. As he used his Martian vision to scan the surrounding area, he recognized the small town at once!
“Middleton! I have been brought back to the small town I originally found myself in all those years ago when Dr. Erdel’s electronic brain accidentally brought me to Earth!” he thought.
He nodded slowly as he spotted a smaller duplicate of the exact same invention that had ripped him away from his home planet and brought him to Earth long ago!
“It looks like a far more sophisticated model but otherwise it is clearly Erdel’s old machine or one with the same function!” he thought.
He walked over to the electronic brain but he made no progress since small flames suddenly erupted from concealed nozzles that lined each side of the converted barn!
J’Onn shuddered as the heat weakened him but he managed to draw himself back away from the flames.
As he did so he heard mocking laughter and saw a weird man appeared from behind a lined secret panel.
The man had dark hair and heavy eyebrows but the feature that made him utterly unforgettable was the fact that his skull was unusually prominent.
“Professor Hugo Arnold!” said J’Onn as he recognized the mutated features of his brilliant old enemy!
The criminal genius smiled wickedly as he said, “You remember me? I am touched! After all these years I thought you only recalled your many alien enemies! This little homecoming is so very special to me. You see, I’ve brought you here with my own improved version of Erdel’s old machine. I’ve brought you here to finish old business if you will! In short, I’ve brought you here to kill you!”
J’Onn said, “I am not surprised that your evolved mind could improve on Erdel’s machine nor am I shocked that your petty malice would motivate you to try to murder me but I am surprised that you believe you could ever defeat me. After all, I beat you every single time you challenged me!”
Professor Arnold merely smiled although his dark eyes flashed with anger.
“I could not defeat you with my purely human body but thanks to an old enemy of yours I will easily slay you. You do recall this esteemed gentleman don’t you?” he said as he cackled with pleasure.
J’Onn looked up with disbelief as a massive shadow suddenly loomed over him and a towering being emerged to confront him!
“You? That’s impossible!” he whispered.
4
Meanwhile, Nubia and T’Omm had materialized on Mars. Nubia was used to many amazing feats since she had been raised in an environment of ancient magic and as a warrior and a member of the Justice League she had encountered many bizarre beings with superhuman powers of their own; however, the Amazon Princess was still impressed with the speed and ease of T’Omm’s teleportation!
“I am not entirely comfortable with these abilities although I have had them for a long time now. I do not like to talk about them since I frankly do not fully comprehend their origin or purpose!” he said as blue energy flickered around the pair and they stepped on to the barren sands of Mars!
Nubia said, “My ally Green Lantern has similar powers that originated with his alien mentors the Guardians of OA. Perhaps the Blue Flame of Mars has a connection to their emerald power source?”
T’Omm said, “I could not say. J’Onn is the scientist of the family. I suppose in many ways I have been a disappointment to the family. They took my frequent absences to be a sign of irresponsibility instead of realizing that I was truly infiltrating the Brotherhood. I have done very little to change their impression of me. I suppose I do not like to talk about the way I have lived over the last few years!”
Wonder Woman remained silent. She was worried about J’Onn and she did not know exactly what to make of his rather taciturn sibling. T’Omm seemed to have bouts of melancholy or at least he was far more introspective than J’Onn had led her to believe.
Nubia looked over the stark desert sands and frowned as she spotted a towering structure in the distance.
“I suppose I wrongly assumed the Blue Flame destroyed all the buildings when Commander Blanx tried to use it as a weapon!” she said.
T’Omm said, “Most of the planet was charred by the raging inferno he unleashed. Still, I can tell you that that odd structure is not something I have ever seen before!”
They approached the white building and Nubia inhaled sharply as she recognized the basic outline.
“Great Hera! It’s a Colosseum! “she cried.
“To be precise it is Amphitheatrum Flavium! But then how could you be expected to think clearly when you did not expect to see such a site? “
The words came from a mocking female figure that stood defiantly on one ledge of the imposing building. She had long blonde hair, green skin, and a lithe but athletic body. She wore a brief red and gold tunic with matching laced sandals.
“Who are you?” asked Nubia as she stepped closer to the confident Martian woman.
“Your life mate J’Onn once knew my caress and my name very well! Perhaps he will again someday when I slay you. I am Bel Juz but to my subjects I am more fittingly known as the Queen of Mars!”
she said.
At that moment dozens of yellow skinned Martians surged into view and overwhelmed Nubia with sheer numbers. As she was herded into the massive Colosseum, Nubia received one additional shock as she realized that T’Omm had disappeared completely!
5
J’Onn J’Onzz gazed upward at a towering metal humanoid who looked down on his captive and weakened form with the silent malevolence of a sentient machine!
“Tor! You were destroyed long ago!” he said as the robot moved closer to him and raised one massive fist.
“Tor! The Frankenstein Monster of Mars! Much like that modern Prometheus, Tor always had the capacity for rebirth! “gloated Professor Arnold.
J’Onn’s mind raced back to his early days as a scientist on Mars. He had been the sole voice of dissent when his fellow scientists had designed the robot called Tor.
“I always feared such an engine of near mindless power could be a danger to Martian society! Little did I suspect that a lab error would give the automaton the instincts of a criminal!” he recalled.
Arnold laughed and said, “You thought you had seen the last of Tor when you defeated his human pawn and left him to rot on a barren planetoid but I brought him here with my electronic brain and I repaired him! He now operates at my command since it is my advanced mind that guides his every move!”
J’Onn shifted sideways as the robot attacked. He managed to avoid the blow but he shuddered as he came closer to the flickering row of flames that’s till lined both sides of his prison.
“We won’t make this too easy or too fast! I want you to suffer! That is why I brought you here. That is why I labored to create a new and improved version of Erdel’s old machine. You see, you filthy alien, you should be honored! You’ve been the main obsession of the great professor Hugo Arnold for years now!”
J’Onn released a burst of super breath but it failed to smother the flames.
“I am running out of options but I will not allow this madman to keep me from Nubia!” he vowed silently.
Professor Arnold allowed the robot to back J’Onn up until he was closer to the rear wall of the old barn.
“Tor will keep you company while I prepare another fatal surprise for your friends in Middleton! I might just find pretty patrolwoman Diane Meade and become reacquainted with your old ally!” he said.
He started to leave but then he turned and glared at J’Onn.
“Oh yes, I know you were Police Detective John Jones. I had plenty of time to deduce the truth while I languished in prison because of your interference. You know, Batman was the first costumed hero to oppose me but I hate you infinity more than the Caped Crusader because you are not from this world and yet you dared to challenge me when I already had more right to rule here than your kind ever could have possessed!”
J’Onn said, “I never tried to rule. I always tried to help others. You were the enemy of your own civilization!”
J’Onn thought, ‘If I can stall and keep this ego maniac talking, I may be able to come up with a solution to this trap!”
5
On New Mars, little Zook had been sitting on his bed talking softly to himself.
“Manhunter go away like ‘Tronic Brain took him! Zook knows ‘cause Zook saw old Brain on Earth!”
he said as he held a small action figure in one hand and lifted it into the air.
He scrambled out of bed and slipped out of the house. As he raced through the streets of New Mars, the little alien repeatedly whispered.
“T’Omm wrong! J’Onn not on Mars! Manhunter on Earth! Zook help him!” he said.
He made his way to a small home and flattened himself until he was no thicker than a piece of paper. He used this special power to slip inside where a beautiful Martian woman with auburn hair gasped in surprise!
“Zook! What is wrong? Is he hurt?” she asked as she bent down and placed a calming hand on the orange alien.
“Nope! He on Earth! Zook just knows! Zook’s antennae say so!” he sputtered.
She said, “I will take you there but you must keep your promise to me!”
Zook nodded eagerly.
“Nobody know your secret. Zook promised!” he added.
She used her Martian power to transform herself into a white hued Martian with long platinum hair and a brief blue and white costume.
“Call me Primaid while I am in this form. I can not let anyone …least of all J’Onn…know that the first super heroine of New Mars was once very dear to the Martian Manhunter!” she said.
They hurried into the darkness and flew over the city until they reached the mysterious phasing building of the ancient race known as the Thythen that regularly materialized on the planet Earth!
“J’Onn told me about his adventure with Superman within the shifting building when he and I were first lovers. Now, that knowledge may enable me to save his life. If only that could make up for how I betrayed him once before!” she thought as she carried Zook through the phasing structure seconds before it vanished to reappear on Earth!”
Zook clapped his small hands with pleasure as he recognized Earth!
“Zook liked Earth but it made Zook cough!” he said.
Primaid said, “You can not stay here long or your pollution allergy will return! Can you detect J’Onn?”
Zook concentrated and then nodded with excitement.
“Zook find Manhunter! Come on!” he cried.
They flew away from Utah leaving the weird building and its startled Earth based military guards in silence!
6
Nubia awakened to find herself wearing a brief red tunic with gold sandals. Her Wonder Woman costume had been removed by her attackers.
She looked up to see the Coliseum full of rows of yellow Martians. They were clearly eager to see some sporting event and she swiftly realized that she was to be the main attraction!
Bel Juz flew down to land in front of the prone Amazon as she slowly stood up.
“Nubia of Earth, I am Bel Juz the Queen of Mars. I have brought you here so you may provide sport for my loyal subjects!” said the blonde Martian.
Nubia smiled grimly as she prepared to fight.
“I welcome any challenge but I want to know where J’Onn is!” she demanded.
Bel Juz tossed back her long blonde locks and laughed bitterly.
“Have you lost your lover so easily? If a true Martian woman could not occupy him than surely no Earth savage could amuse him for long! When J’Onn and I were together, I assure you he never tried to leave my side!”
Nubia said, “No. He did not. You were the one who lied to him and tried to betray all he valued in order to gain favor with the enemies of your race. You are both a traitor and a coward! You sold yourself to the Marshall in order to gain his protection in case your people and J’Onn eventually learned how you had aided their enemies!”
Bel Juz’s eyes flashed with passion as she drew closer to Nubia.
“You witch! I used J’Onn and the Marshall as playthings and it all paid off. I rule here! This world…our ancestral home.. . belongs to me and to my benefactor! I have all the power I always desired!”
She kicked Nubia in the leg and then elongated one arm to choke the Amazon.
Nubia brought both fists upward in a sweeping motion and broke free of the crushing embrace. She spun around and connected with a spinning kick to the face.
BeL Juz used her malleability to absorb the impact of the kick and she closed over Nubia’s foot with two pincher –like sections of wildly changing skin!
She dropped Nubia to her back and swept over her as a elongated blanket!
Nubia gasped for air as she found herself enveloped buy the shape shifter!
“By Mars Beard, she does fight like a fury!” thought Wonder Woman!
7
J’Onn had remained motionless and had conserved his energy while he waited on Professor Arnold to return. He ignored the robotic guardian and focused his powerful mind on probing Tor in order to find a weakness.
“Tor no longer has a weakness! He once had a psychosomatic weakness to fire because his brain patterns came from a Martian criminal. Now, with Arnold’s mind in the driver’s seat, fire is not an option. Of course, I do have another tactic to try when he returns!” he thought.
Suddenly, a paper-like shape slipped between slats in the old barn’s wall and little Zook appeared!
He cried happily, “Manhunter!” before using his power to generate extreme cold to put out the fires!
J’Onn smiled with pleasure as his strength began to return and he hugged the small alien.
“ Zook! You are a welcome sight! But you should not be here!” he cautioned.
Zook sniffled and said, “Ah, Zook okay now that you okay!”
J’Onn abruptly shifted and placed Zook behind him as Tor lurched forward and he glimpses Professor Arnold in the doorway of the barn.
“That little monster triggered my alarms! I will kill you and him!” roared Arnold.
Tor grabbed The Martian Manhunter as Zook squealed and ducked to one side.
J’Onn brught both fists down and hurled his full strength against the robot but he barely rocked it backward.
“Just as an Earth robot would be stronger than a mortal man here, so is this Martian machine stronger than I am!” he mused.
He allowed the machine to exert crushing pressure on his pliable body as he suddenly slumped forward and focused his mental powers through the robot toward its master!
Arnold scowled but he remained alert. He knew what was happening but he was not able to give up now.
“You…know… my mind drives Tor… but you won’t beat me! My advanced mind is too strong for your mental tricks!” he shouted.
Zook scampered forward and sent a wave of intense cold at the scientist!
Arnold lashed out at the little alien but Zook was too fast!
A second burst of frigid cold swept over Arnold and as he shivered from the terrible cold, his concentration wavered!
J’Onn focused all his mental might in one skillfully directed assault! He took control of Tor long enough to force the robot to swing around and knock Arnold across the room with one giant arm.
Immediately the robot stiffened as Arnold lost contact with its controls. It swayed to one side and then fell backward like a huge tree caught in a storm!
J’Onn rushed forward and pushed Zook to safety as the huge robot fell across Professor Arnold’s prone form.
J’Onn flew to the villain’s side and lifted the robot off of his body.
“He’s alive but his legs were crushed!” he said.
Zook coughed and grabbed J’Onn’s hand.
“We better go! Nubia gone to Mars to find you!” he said.
J’Onn blinked in surprise.
“Mars? She’s gone to the original Mars?” he exclaimed.
Zook said, “Yep! T’Omm think you there but Zook know better!”
J’Onn said, “I’ll call the authorities and summon help for poor Arnold. He was almost killed by his own desire for revenge!”
He waited until the police arrived and medical personnel carried Arnold to an ambulance.
A blonde woman in a smart looking uniform came in and smiled warmly as she rushed forward and embraced J’Onn before bending down to kiss Zook.
“Diane!” cried Zook as he hugged the pretty blonde police woman.
J’Onn said, “Diane! It is good to see you. It has been far too long!”
Diane Meade said, “I agree. The people of Middleton have missed you. I know I have missed you!”
“I’ve missed you too, Zook! Do you still love candy bars?” she asked as she patted the little alien’s head.
“Uh huh!” he shouted. “Zook sure glad to see you!”
Diane said, “I see it was Arnold who brought you two back here after so many years. You always were dutiful!”
J’Onn said, “I see you are Deputy Commissioner now! Chief Harding told me how proud he was of you. I know your late father would have been equally thrilled with your success!”
She nodded sadly and said, “Harding told me that he’d talked with you a few times in the last year. He’s just one of our old friends that I missed so much. I often think of poor John Jones. He died much too soon. He was a remarkable man!”
J’Onn nodded solemnly and said, “You have Arnold in hand. I will remove this robot and Zook and I will be on our way. It was good to see you once more, Diane!”
He walked over to the electronic brain and deftly made some adjustments.
“I will give Arnold credit. He did improve the old model. I can set the controls on this version with ease. What took years of effort before can now be done in minutes. I will set it to take us directly to Mars where we will find Nubia!”
Zook gave Diane one last hug and then ran over to the Manhunter where the electrical energy swept across them and teleported them along with the inert robot to Mars itself!
Diane Meade looked at the empty barn for a few minutes. She and her men would secure the place and handle any of Arnold’s dangerous inventions with the proper care. She sighed softly and as her eyes glistened for a moment with the hint of unshed tears, she whispered, “It was good to see you again, John!”
8
Nubia grunted in pain as Bel Juz throttled her but she managed to break free and return several smashing blows to the Martian warrior.
She stiffened as Bel Juz blasted her with beams of Martian vision but she fought through the pain to connect with a punch that knocked the Martian away from her.
She leaped after her and landed with both feet on the other woman’s chest. She gripped her by her hair even as Bel flipped her over her shoulders. She retained her grip but the alien used her power to turn intangible to escape!
Nubia screamed as Bel materialized with one hand inside her body! She brought her head down and rammed the alien in the face. Abruptly Bel released her hold on the Amazon and flew backward.
“Poor Earthling! I could kill you without even touching you!” said a sneering Bel Juz.
Nubia said, “I would rather touch you with my fists!”
She gave a battle cry and charged at the Martian with super speed.
She connected before Bel could dodge the attack and she pummeled her repeatedly.
The crowd of yellow Martians screamed with a fevered pitch. Some seemed to be cheering her on although she could really only determine that they relished the battle in and of itself!
Nubia hesitated as her enemy exerted her own mental powers and tried to overwhelm her mind with a barrage of mental attacks!
Nubia ignored the painful sensation and battled on with renewed strength.
She saw a blinding flash of blue energy fill the sky and she stopped her attack for a moment.
“T’Omm! I don’t know what happened to him but that’s his power!” she thought.
At that moment J’Onn and Zook materialized and raced forward.
“Nubia!” said J’Onn as he flew to her side.
Bel Juz scowled as she saw her old lover appear.
“The gallant knight arrives just in time!” she said as she rolled out from under Nubia.
The lovers embraced and then Nubia said, “Are you hurt?”
J’Onn knew it would be swifter to merely project his story telepathically.
He did so and received Nubia’s own thoughts in return.
“Bel Juz! I had hoped to never see you again!” he said.
Bel Juz said, “I rule this world now! You will bow down to me!”
J’Onn said, “Things are not as they appear! My mental powers allow me to see through this illusion!”
He concentrated and Nubia’s eyes widened as the entire Colliseum faded from view and the yellow Martians were revealed to be sitting on barren sand instead of marble seats.
“The whole Roman motif was an illusion! It appears as if you are truly queen of nothing!”
he said to Bel Juz.
A wizened old man in ancient armor suddenly loomed over the entire area like a ghostly apparition in the sky.
“The Duke of Deception!” said Nubia as she recognized the master of illusions!
“Of course! Was it not fitting that your old mentor created the perfect kingdom here on the planet that gave birth to your lover? “ he said with a cackling laugh.
The Martians cowered at the sight of the immortal villain while Bel Juz cried out, “Master, restore my domain! You promised me that I would ever reign as your Queen of Mars!”
The Duke said, “I fear, fair Bel Juz that the time has come for the stark light of truth to blanket this barren world. Our charade has ended! Such delights are always far too fleeting even for one with all the time in the world!”
A flickering blue light bathed the sky as the Duke seemed to shrink out of sight.
Nubia said, “You would be wise not to rely upon promises made by that master of lies!”
She grabbed Bel Juz and whirled her around before knocking her flat with one stinging punch!
The Martians cheered wildly and began to chant, “Hail Nubia, Queen of Mars!”
Nubia raised one arm in salute and said, “J’Onn, these Martians seemed more primitive than your people on New Mars. They clearly want me as their ruler!”
J’Onn said, “When the Blue Flame destroyed most of our civilization here, we departed to find a new home. That home turned out to be the planet Vonn or New Mars as we called it. However, some of the yellow Martians took the destruction as a sign that our society had drifted too far from the ancient ways. They became nomadic and remained here. Clearly, they’ve come to embrace what many would call barbaric customs and the Duke of Deception was all too willing to use his powers to indulge their fantasies by installing Bel as a type of Warrior Queen!”
Nubia said, “He was always cruel and cowardly. Yet I can’t explain his sudden departure!”
T’Omm flew into view as a blue flame of energy crackled around him.
“I can explain! I have a lot to tell you all!”
Later after J’Onn and Nubia had exchanged their stories and little Zook had received deserved praise for his help, Zook thought of the way Primaid had helped him get to J’Onn. He knew that she was a reformed military official who had once loved J’Onn but had chosen to side with a more warlike section of their people than to stand by his side. Her real name was J’En N’Ston but she was content now to secretly be a heroine to the Martian people known as Primaid. She was still guilty over the way things had ended between her and J’Onn but she had vowed to always do anything she could to help him. If he was happy now, she was glad but she also regretted losing him years before. Zook had agreed to keep her secret and he had kept his promise. She had returned to New Mars after making certain via her Martian senses that Zook and J’Onn had triumphed. She did not know that J’Onn had already detected her from afar after their battle with Arnold. His keen senses were far more developed on Earth than any other Martian who had less experience in the alien environment. He felt sorry for his old lover but he was proud that she was trying to redeem herself. He would allow her to keep her secret.
He looked over at T’Omm who spoke softly but deliberately. He selected each word carefully.
“I was drawn here by the Blue Flame itself. It made me think you were here. When you vanished we didn’t know what had happened but I was deluded into thinking you were here. It was all a ruse to draw me back here so I could fulfill a prophecy.”
Nubia said, “T’Omm, your power frightened the Duke away. I could tell.”
T’Omm said, “My power comes from a deep elemental source that rests within this planet. I was drawn away from Nubia when we first arrived. I went to the site where the Blue Flame first made itself known to us. It spoke to me. Eons ago the Guardians of the Universe banished all magical energies to another universe. Some of those energies fell to an Earth known as Earth 2 and became known as the Starheart. They empowered a hero named Green Lantern of the Justice Society!”
J’Onn said, “I have met him. He is a true hero. Are you saying the Blue Flame is also part of those long banished magical energies?”
T’Omm said, “That is what it told me today. The voice said that another section fell free before the rest were contained. This section split into component parts- not green- but blue and yellow. The yellow part was drawn into a universe known as Qward while the blue landed here and became the Blue Flame itself. Apparently, when Blanx tried to manipulate it, it blazed forth as a deadly force. It bonded with me for some reason and now it has brought me here to fulfill its second prophecy. The power must bring life as well!”
J’Onn said, “But didn’t it do that already when you were not harmed by its power years ago?”
T’Omm said, “Possibly, but it has compelled me to come here to use its elemental magic to bring life to this charred world!”
He flew skyward and as blue energy erupted across the sky the landscape itself began to transform from charred desert to green life-sustaining foliage! In moments half of the content itself had become renewed and J’Onn gasped as he realized all the implications.
“Someday life may thrive here again! T’Omm has repaired the damage caused by Blanx years ago!”
He thought as he held Nubia and Zook watched excitedly.
T’Omm landed and the blue nimbus faded from view.
“My powers are still inside me but they have been greatly expended. J’Onn, I think I’ve done what I was always meant to do. I spent so long wondering if I had a role of my own to play and now I’ve found it. I have restored our homeland. Our people can return and begin to build again!”
J’Onn said, “You truly have amazed us all! You are more of a hero than I ever could be! Perhaps, some will choose to leave New Mars and start again here!”
Nubia said, “What of the yellow Martians? They need leadership. I lost one people to the time and space fluctuations of Marzel Isle but I feel like these people are my responsibility now. As your partner I have a tie to Mars. I once had a vision caused by the Time Master in which I was crowned Queen of Mars. I think it is my duty to care for these people and guide them into the development of civilization!”
J’Onn said, “With your plane travel between here and Earth is rather easy. I will support you if you wish to spend more time here and help my people. You were truly born to rule!”
Nubia said, “IF I but rule your heart, I will be eternally happy!”
They kissed as the Martians cheered and little Zook laughed merrily.
“ Manhunter always wins! Zook knew it!” he shouted.
The End
The Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman: The Queen of Mars!
By libbylawrence
Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter pledge their love for one another but battles on two fronts swiftly follow the ceremony!
1
June 1988
In a small but comfortable home on the planet once known as Vonn but currently called New Mars, a family had gathered for a joyful occasion. R’Bert J’Onzz and his wife J’Une were the proud parents of a Martian hero J’Onn J’onzz who was about to be one of the featured participants in one of the most sacred ceremonies in which members of their race could partake.
J’Onn was one of the founding members of the famous Justice League of America. He and his Earth based allies had become heroes across the known universe. He had also been a gifted scientist and leader among his people during both the Golden Age on Mars itself and during the difficult exodus to New Mars.
Now, he merely relished several new sensations as he stood within the family home.
“It is good to with my family again. It is also liberating to know that the Brotherhood has been exposed and their dark conspiracy has been ended. Perhaps, it is even more exhilarating to walk these streets and see happy expressions on the faces of my people. The military regimes that dominated our culture for so long are out of favor. At last the Martian people have returned to the path of science and humanitarianism!”
A slightly smaller Martian approached him with a ready smile on his face.
“I know that look! You’re feeling at ease again! It seems as if you stopped smiling back when you innocently first joined the Brotherhood all those years ago!” said T’Omm.
J’Onn nodded as his younger brother entered the room.
“I do feel as if my troubles have ended! Is this unusual for one about to take part in the Ceremony of Unity? I know some have joked that that was the start of their troubles!” he said.
T’Omm said, “You are pledging a bond of union with a special woman! Nubia would be a wonder even if she was not the heroine called Wonder Woman!”
J’Onn smiled and said, “If this was what my JLA friends know as a wedding ceremony, you would be what they call the best man. By any name you still offer me needed support!”
A small orange being raced into the room and said, “Me…best Zook!”
J’Onn bent down on one knee and hugged the small alien.
“Zook, you are indeed, the very best Zook there ever could be!” he said.
At that moment a beautiful woman entered the room accompanied by J’Onn’s parents.
Nubia wore the red, white, and blue costume that had made her famous as the second Wonder Woman on the planet Earth. Since this Martian Ceremony of Unity was not exactly a wedding, she had felt no need to wear anything other than the costume that she felt most at ease wearing. She was a warrior and had few overtly feminine demands. She merely knew that she loved J’Onn and was completely committed to him as far as her own code of conduct was concerned. She had enjoyed meeting his family and she relished the stark tranquility of the planet called New Mars.
Zook clapped his small hands together and shouted, “Nubia looks pretty!”
Nubia smiled warmly at the little alien. She knew J’Onn thought highly of the brave and loyal alien and she had come to share his affection for the high spirited and childlike Zook!
J’Onn said, “She does indeed look pretty. I would say she is beautiful!”
J’Onn looked over to his father who had the duty to officiate over the ceremony as was his right as the eldest family member present.
R’Bert smiled warmly and spread his arms with a slight hesitation. He was a rather shy man and he hated being the center of attention.
“All is change. All things alter. The only great immutable is love and it is to celebrate such eternal unity that we have gathered this day. We are here to witness the pledge of unification for J’Onn J’Onzz and Princess Nubia. We witness their devotion and we pray for its constancy in a world where all is change!”
he said.
J’Onn took Nubia’s hand and said, “I, J’Onn J’Onzz declare my love for Nubia. I pledge this love will not alter nor will we allow anyone to change us or weaken this union!”
Nubia smiled and said, “I, Nubia, declare my love for J’Onn. I pledge that my passion will never cool nor will we allow anyone to threaten our bond of unity!”
As J’Une softly wept and Zook giggled softly the couple kissed and then stepped back to face their loved ones.
“I do love you!” whispered J’Onn.
Nubia responded softly and then gasped as the man she loved vanished into thin air!
“Great Hera!” she cried!
2
Nubia exchanged startled glances with the J’Onzz family and everyone began to speak at once.
“J’Onn just disappeared!” cried J’Une!
Nubia said, “We have many enemies with the capacity to abduct someone from a distance!”
T’Omm said, “We will find him!”
Zook ran around in a small circle and yelped, “Zook find Manhunter!”
T’Omm said, “I believe I know where he went! I do not fully understand the abilities I gained after direct exposure to the Blue Flame but I feel as though some sense is telling me J’Onn is on Mars!”
T’Omm referred to the strange powers he gained after falling into the energy source called the Blue Flame of Mars. It had ravaged the planet but T’Omm had somehow emerged from its conflagration with remarkable energy powers. The J’Onzz family had migrated to New Mars along with their fellow survivors following the terrible destruction caused when Commander Blanx tried to use the natural resource as a weapon!
Nubia said, “We will go to Mars at once! Do not worry! T’Omm and I will find him!”
R’Bert and J’Une expressed their appreciation as they embraced their new daughter and bade farewell to the pair.
Later, after Nubia and T’Omm had departed for the planet Mars, R’Bert bent down to comfort Zook who had remained silent but clearly agitated.
“Zook, they will find my son! Plus, you know how capable J’Onn is! He will be fine!” he said.
Zook shook his head and said, “Manhunter be fine… but Zook not sure he on Mars! Nope!”
The elderly Martians listened as the little alien repeated his concerns. They weren’t sure if he was right or not but they knew J’Onn had learned to trust Zook’s tracking abilities.
“Zook, dear, you do not track as well when someone has left the planet. How can you be sure?”
asked J’Une.
Zook frowned as he shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“Zook just know!” he insisted!
3
Meanwhile, J’Onn J’Onzz the Martian Manhunter had found himself instantly transported to a very familiar setting!
He stood within a large building that had once been a barn. As he used his Martian vision to scan the surrounding area, he recognized the small town at once!
“Middleton! I have been brought back to the small town I originally found myself in all those years ago when Dr. Erdel’s electronic brain accidentally brought me to Earth!” he thought.
He nodded slowly as he spotted a smaller duplicate of the exact same invention that had ripped him away from his home planet and brought him to Earth long ago!
“It looks like a far more sophisticated model but otherwise it is clearly Erdel’s old machine or one with the same function!” he thought.
He walked over to the electronic brain but he made no progress since small flames suddenly erupted from concealed nozzles that lined each side of the converted barn!
J’Onn shuddered as the heat weakened him but he managed to draw himself back away from the flames.
As he did so he heard mocking laughter and saw a weird man appeared from behind a lined secret panel.
The man had dark hair and heavy eyebrows but the feature that made him utterly unforgettable was the fact that his skull was unusually prominent.
“Professor Hugo Arnold!” said J’Onn as he recognized the mutated features of his brilliant old enemy!
The criminal genius smiled wickedly as he said, “You remember me? I am touched! After all these years I thought you only recalled your many alien enemies! This little homecoming is so very special to me. You see, I’ve brought you here with my own improved version of Erdel’s old machine. I’ve brought you here to finish old business if you will! In short, I’ve brought you here to kill you!”
J’Onn said, “I am not surprised that your evolved mind could improve on Erdel’s machine nor am I shocked that your petty malice would motivate you to try to murder me but I am surprised that you believe you could ever defeat me. After all, I beat you every single time you challenged me!”
Professor Arnold merely smiled although his dark eyes flashed with anger.
“I could not defeat you with my purely human body but thanks to an old enemy of yours I will easily slay you. You do recall this esteemed gentleman don’t you?” he said as he cackled with pleasure.
J’Onn looked up with disbelief as a massive shadow suddenly loomed over him and a towering being emerged to confront him!
“You? That’s impossible!” he whispered.
4
Meanwhile, Nubia and T’Omm had materialized on Mars. Nubia was used to many amazing feats since she had been raised in an environment of ancient magic and as a warrior and a member of the Justice League she had encountered many bizarre beings with superhuman powers of their own; however, the Amazon Princess was still impressed with the speed and ease of T’Omm’s teleportation!
“I am not entirely comfortable with these abilities although I have had them for a long time now. I do not like to talk about them since I frankly do not fully comprehend their origin or purpose!” he said as blue energy flickered around the pair and they stepped on to the barren sands of Mars!
Nubia said, “My ally Green Lantern has similar powers that originated with his alien mentors the Guardians of OA. Perhaps the Blue Flame of Mars has a connection to their emerald power source?”
T’Omm said, “I could not say. J’Onn is the scientist of the family. I suppose in many ways I have been a disappointment to the family. They took my frequent absences to be a sign of irresponsibility instead of realizing that I was truly infiltrating the Brotherhood. I have done very little to change their impression of me. I suppose I do not like to talk about the way I have lived over the last few years!”
Wonder Woman remained silent. She was worried about J’Onn and she did not know exactly what to make of his rather taciturn sibling. T’Omm seemed to have bouts of melancholy or at least he was far more introspective than J’Onn had led her to believe.
Nubia looked over the stark desert sands and frowned as she spotted a towering structure in the distance.
“I suppose I wrongly assumed the Blue Flame destroyed all the buildings when Commander Blanx tried to use it as a weapon!” she said.
T’Omm said, “Most of the planet was charred by the raging inferno he unleashed. Still, I can tell you that that odd structure is not something I have ever seen before!”
They approached the white building and Nubia inhaled sharply as she recognized the basic outline.
“Great Hera! It’s a Colosseum! “she cried.
“To be precise it is Amphitheatrum Flavium! But then how could you be expected to think clearly when you did not expect to see such a site? “
The words came from a mocking female figure that stood defiantly on one ledge of the imposing building. She had long blonde hair, green skin, and a lithe but athletic body. She wore a brief red and gold tunic with matching laced sandals.
“Who are you?” asked Nubia as she stepped closer to the confident Martian woman.
“Your life mate J’Onn once knew my caress and my name very well! Perhaps he will again someday when I slay you. I am Bel Juz but to my subjects I am more fittingly known as the Queen of Mars!”
she said.
At that moment dozens of yellow skinned Martians surged into view and overwhelmed Nubia with sheer numbers. As she was herded into the massive Colosseum, Nubia received one additional shock as she realized that T’Omm had disappeared completely!
5
J’Onn J’Onzz gazed upward at a towering metal humanoid who looked down on his captive and weakened form with the silent malevolence of a sentient machine!
“Tor! You were destroyed long ago!” he said as the robot moved closer to him and raised one massive fist.
“Tor! The Frankenstein Monster of Mars! Much like that modern Prometheus, Tor always had the capacity for rebirth! “gloated Professor Arnold.
J’Onn’s mind raced back to his early days as a scientist on Mars. He had been the sole voice of dissent when his fellow scientists had designed the robot called Tor.
“I always feared such an engine of near mindless power could be a danger to Martian society! Little did I suspect that a lab error would give the automaton the instincts of a criminal!” he recalled.
Arnold laughed and said, “You thought you had seen the last of Tor when you defeated his human pawn and left him to rot on a barren planetoid but I brought him here with my electronic brain and I repaired him! He now operates at my command since it is my advanced mind that guides his every move!”
J’Onn shifted sideways as the robot attacked. He managed to avoid the blow but he shuddered as he came closer to the flickering row of flames that’s till lined both sides of his prison.
“We won’t make this too easy or too fast! I want you to suffer! That is why I brought you here. That is why I labored to create a new and improved version of Erdel’s old machine. You see, you filthy alien, you should be honored! You’ve been the main obsession of the great professor Hugo Arnold for years now!”
J’Onn released a burst of super breath but it failed to smother the flames.
“I am running out of options but I will not allow this madman to keep me from Nubia!” he vowed silently.
Professor Arnold allowed the robot to back J’Onn up until he was closer to the rear wall of the old barn.
“Tor will keep you company while I prepare another fatal surprise for your friends in Middleton! I might just find pretty patrolwoman Diane Meade and become reacquainted with your old ally!” he said.
He started to leave but then he turned and glared at J’Onn.
“Oh yes, I know you were Police Detective John Jones. I had plenty of time to deduce the truth while I languished in prison because of your interference. You know, Batman was the first costumed hero to oppose me but I hate you infinity more than the Caped Crusader because you are not from this world and yet you dared to challenge me when I already had more right to rule here than your kind ever could have possessed!”
J’Onn said, “I never tried to rule. I always tried to help others. You were the enemy of your own civilization!”
J’Onn thought, ‘If I can stall and keep this ego maniac talking, I may be able to come up with a solution to this trap!”
5
On New Mars, little Zook had been sitting on his bed talking softly to himself.
“Manhunter go away like ‘Tronic Brain took him! Zook knows ‘cause Zook saw old Brain on Earth!”
he said as he held a small action figure in one hand and lifted it into the air.
He scrambled out of bed and slipped out of the house. As he raced through the streets of New Mars, the little alien repeatedly whispered.
“T’Omm wrong! J’Onn not on Mars! Manhunter on Earth! Zook help him!” he said.
He made his way to a small home and flattened himself until he was no thicker than a piece of paper. He used this special power to slip inside where a beautiful Martian woman with auburn hair gasped in surprise!
“Zook! What is wrong? Is he hurt?” she asked as she bent down and placed a calming hand on the orange alien.
“Nope! He on Earth! Zook just knows! Zook’s antennae say so!” he sputtered.
She said, “I will take you there but you must keep your promise to me!”
Zook nodded eagerly.
“Nobody know your secret. Zook promised!” he added.
She used her Martian power to transform herself into a white hued Martian with long platinum hair and a brief blue and white costume.
“Call me Primaid while I am in this form. I can not let anyone …least of all J’Onn…know that the first super heroine of New Mars was once very dear to the Martian Manhunter!” she said.
They hurried into the darkness and flew over the city until they reached the mysterious phasing building of the ancient race known as the Thythen that regularly materialized on the planet Earth!
“J’Onn told me about his adventure with Superman within the shifting building when he and I were first lovers. Now, that knowledge may enable me to save his life. If only that could make up for how I betrayed him once before!” she thought as she carried Zook through the phasing structure seconds before it vanished to reappear on Earth!”
Zook clapped his small hands with pleasure as he recognized Earth!
“Zook liked Earth but it made Zook cough!” he said.
Primaid said, “You can not stay here long or your pollution allergy will return! Can you detect J’Onn?”
Zook concentrated and then nodded with excitement.
“Zook find Manhunter! Come on!” he cried.
They flew away from Utah leaving the weird building and its startled Earth based military guards in silence!
6
Nubia awakened to find herself wearing a brief red tunic with gold sandals. Her Wonder Woman costume had been removed by her attackers.
She looked up to see the Coliseum full of rows of yellow Martians. They were clearly eager to see some sporting event and she swiftly realized that she was to be the main attraction!
Bel Juz flew down to land in front of the prone Amazon as she slowly stood up.
“Nubia of Earth, I am Bel Juz the Queen of Mars. I have brought you here so you may provide sport for my loyal subjects!” said the blonde Martian.
Nubia smiled grimly as she prepared to fight.
“I welcome any challenge but I want to know where J’Onn is!” she demanded.
Bel Juz tossed back her long blonde locks and laughed bitterly.
“Have you lost your lover so easily? If a true Martian woman could not occupy him than surely no Earth savage could amuse him for long! When J’Onn and I were together, I assure you he never tried to leave my side!”
Nubia said, “No. He did not. You were the one who lied to him and tried to betray all he valued in order to gain favor with the enemies of your race. You are both a traitor and a coward! You sold yourself to the Marshall in order to gain his protection in case your people and J’Onn eventually learned how you had aided their enemies!”
Bel Juz’s eyes flashed with passion as she drew closer to Nubia.
“You witch! I used J’Onn and the Marshall as playthings and it all paid off. I rule here! This world…our ancestral home.. . belongs to me and to my benefactor! I have all the power I always desired!”
She kicked Nubia in the leg and then elongated one arm to choke the Amazon.
Nubia brought both fists upward in a sweeping motion and broke free of the crushing embrace. She spun around and connected with a spinning kick to the face.
BeL Juz used her malleability to absorb the impact of the kick and she closed over Nubia’s foot with two pincher –like sections of wildly changing skin!
She dropped Nubia to her back and swept over her as a elongated blanket!
Nubia gasped for air as she found herself enveloped buy the shape shifter!
“By Mars Beard, she does fight like a fury!” thought Wonder Woman!
7
J’Onn had remained motionless and had conserved his energy while he waited on Professor Arnold to return. He ignored the robotic guardian and focused his powerful mind on probing Tor in order to find a weakness.
“Tor no longer has a weakness! He once had a psychosomatic weakness to fire because his brain patterns came from a Martian criminal. Now, with Arnold’s mind in the driver’s seat, fire is not an option. Of course, I do have another tactic to try when he returns!” he thought.
Suddenly, a paper-like shape slipped between slats in the old barn’s wall and little Zook appeared!
He cried happily, “Manhunter!” before using his power to generate extreme cold to put out the fires!
J’Onn smiled with pleasure as his strength began to return and he hugged the small alien.
“ Zook! You are a welcome sight! But you should not be here!” he cautioned.
Zook sniffled and said, “Ah, Zook okay now that you okay!”
J’Onn abruptly shifted and placed Zook behind him as Tor lurched forward and he glimpses Professor Arnold in the doorway of the barn.
“That little monster triggered my alarms! I will kill you and him!” roared Arnold.
Tor grabbed The Martian Manhunter as Zook squealed and ducked to one side.
J’Onn brught both fists down and hurled his full strength against the robot but he barely rocked it backward.
“Just as an Earth robot would be stronger than a mortal man here, so is this Martian machine stronger than I am!” he mused.
He allowed the machine to exert crushing pressure on his pliable body as he suddenly slumped forward and focused his mental powers through the robot toward its master!
Arnold scowled but he remained alert. He knew what was happening but he was not able to give up now.
“You…know… my mind drives Tor… but you won’t beat me! My advanced mind is too strong for your mental tricks!” he shouted.
Zook scampered forward and sent a wave of intense cold at the scientist!
Arnold lashed out at the little alien but Zook was too fast!
A second burst of frigid cold swept over Arnold and as he shivered from the terrible cold, his concentration wavered!
J’Onn focused all his mental might in one skillfully directed assault! He took control of Tor long enough to force the robot to swing around and knock Arnold across the room with one giant arm.
Immediately the robot stiffened as Arnold lost contact with its controls. It swayed to one side and then fell backward like a huge tree caught in a storm!
J’Onn rushed forward and pushed Zook to safety as the huge robot fell across Professor Arnold’s prone form.
J’Onn flew to the villain’s side and lifted the robot off of his body.
“He’s alive but his legs were crushed!” he said.
Zook coughed and grabbed J’Onn’s hand.
“We better go! Nubia gone to Mars to find you!” he said.
J’Onn blinked in surprise.
“Mars? She’s gone to the original Mars?” he exclaimed.
Zook said, “Yep! T’Omm think you there but Zook know better!”
J’Onn said, “I’ll call the authorities and summon help for poor Arnold. He was almost killed by his own desire for revenge!”
He waited until the police arrived and medical personnel carried Arnold to an ambulance.
A blonde woman in a smart looking uniform came in and smiled warmly as she rushed forward and embraced J’Onn before bending down to kiss Zook.
“Diane!” cried Zook as he hugged the pretty blonde police woman.
J’Onn said, “Diane! It is good to see you. It has been far too long!”
Diane Meade said, “I agree. The people of Middleton have missed you. I know I have missed you!”
“I’ve missed you too, Zook! Do you still love candy bars?” she asked as she patted the little alien’s head.
“Uh huh!” he shouted. “Zook sure glad to see you!”
Diane said, “I see it was Arnold who brought you two back here after so many years. You always were dutiful!”
J’Onn said, “I see you are Deputy Commissioner now! Chief Harding told me how proud he was of you. I know your late father would have been equally thrilled with your success!”
She nodded sadly and said, “Harding told me that he’d talked with you a few times in the last year. He’s just one of our old friends that I missed so much. I often think of poor John Jones. He died much too soon. He was a remarkable man!”
J’Onn nodded solemnly and said, “You have Arnold in hand. I will remove this robot and Zook and I will be on our way. It was good to see you once more, Diane!”
He walked over to the electronic brain and deftly made some adjustments.
“I will give Arnold credit. He did improve the old model. I can set the controls on this version with ease. What took years of effort before can now be done in minutes. I will set it to take us directly to Mars where we will find Nubia!”
Zook gave Diane one last hug and then ran over to the Manhunter where the electrical energy swept across them and teleported them along with the inert robot to Mars itself!
Diane Meade looked at the empty barn for a few minutes. She and her men would secure the place and handle any of Arnold’s dangerous inventions with the proper care. She sighed softly and as her eyes glistened for a moment with the hint of unshed tears, she whispered, “It was good to see you again, John!”
8
Nubia grunted in pain as Bel Juz throttled her but she managed to break free and return several smashing blows to the Martian warrior.
She stiffened as Bel Juz blasted her with beams of Martian vision but she fought through the pain to connect with a punch that knocked the Martian away from her.
She leaped after her and landed with both feet on the other woman’s chest. She gripped her by her hair even as Bel flipped her over her shoulders. She retained her grip but the alien used her power to turn intangible to escape!
Nubia screamed as Bel materialized with one hand inside her body! She brought her head down and rammed the alien in the face. Abruptly Bel released her hold on the Amazon and flew backward.
“Poor Earthling! I could kill you without even touching you!” said a sneering Bel Juz.
Nubia said, “I would rather touch you with my fists!”
She gave a battle cry and charged at the Martian with super speed.
She connected before Bel could dodge the attack and she pummeled her repeatedly.
The crowd of yellow Martians screamed with a fevered pitch. Some seemed to be cheering her on although she could really only determine that they relished the battle in and of itself!
Nubia hesitated as her enemy exerted her own mental powers and tried to overwhelm her mind with a barrage of mental attacks!
Nubia ignored the painful sensation and battled on with renewed strength.
She saw a blinding flash of blue energy fill the sky and she stopped her attack for a moment.
“T’Omm! I don’t know what happened to him but that’s his power!” she thought.
At that moment J’Onn and Zook materialized and raced forward.
“Nubia!” said J’Onn as he flew to her side.
Bel Juz scowled as she saw her old lover appear.
“The gallant knight arrives just in time!” she said as she rolled out from under Nubia.
The lovers embraced and then Nubia said, “Are you hurt?”
J’Onn knew it would be swifter to merely project his story telepathically.
He did so and received Nubia’s own thoughts in return.
“Bel Juz! I had hoped to never see you again!” he said.
Bel Juz said, “I rule this world now! You will bow down to me!”
J’Onn said, “Things are not as they appear! My mental powers allow me to see through this illusion!”
He concentrated and Nubia’s eyes widened as the entire Colliseum faded from view and the yellow Martians were revealed to be sitting on barren sand instead of marble seats.
“The whole Roman motif was an illusion! It appears as if you are truly queen of nothing!”
he said to Bel Juz.
A wizened old man in ancient armor suddenly loomed over the entire area like a ghostly apparition in the sky.
“The Duke of Deception!” said Nubia as she recognized the master of illusions!
“Of course! Was it not fitting that your old mentor created the perfect kingdom here on the planet that gave birth to your lover? “ he said with a cackling laugh.
The Martians cowered at the sight of the immortal villain while Bel Juz cried out, “Master, restore my domain! You promised me that I would ever reign as your Queen of Mars!”
The Duke said, “I fear, fair Bel Juz that the time has come for the stark light of truth to blanket this barren world. Our charade has ended! Such delights are always far too fleeting even for one with all the time in the world!”
A flickering blue light bathed the sky as the Duke seemed to shrink out of sight.
Nubia said, “You would be wise not to rely upon promises made by that master of lies!”
She grabbed Bel Juz and whirled her around before knocking her flat with one stinging punch!
The Martians cheered wildly and began to chant, “Hail Nubia, Queen of Mars!”
Nubia raised one arm in salute and said, “J’Onn, these Martians seemed more primitive than your people on New Mars. They clearly want me as their ruler!”
J’Onn said, “When the Blue Flame destroyed most of our civilization here, we departed to find a new home. That home turned out to be the planet Vonn or New Mars as we called it. However, some of the yellow Martians took the destruction as a sign that our society had drifted too far from the ancient ways. They became nomadic and remained here. Clearly, they’ve come to embrace what many would call barbaric customs and the Duke of Deception was all too willing to use his powers to indulge their fantasies by installing Bel as a type of Warrior Queen!”
Nubia said, “He was always cruel and cowardly. Yet I can’t explain his sudden departure!”
T’Omm flew into view as a blue flame of energy crackled around him.
“I can explain! I have a lot to tell you all!”
Later after J’Onn and Nubia had exchanged their stories and little Zook had received deserved praise for his help, Zook thought of the way Primaid had helped him get to J’Onn. He knew that she was a reformed military official who had once loved J’Onn but had chosen to side with a more warlike section of their people than to stand by his side. Her real name was J’En N’Ston but she was content now to secretly be a heroine to the Martian people known as Primaid. She was still guilty over the way things had ended between her and J’Onn but she had vowed to always do anything she could to help him. If he was happy now, she was glad but she also regretted losing him years before. Zook had agreed to keep her secret and he had kept his promise. She had returned to New Mars after making certain via her Martian senses that Zook and J’Onn had triumphed. She did not know that J’Onn had already detected her from afar after their battle with Arnold. His keen senses were far more developed on Earth than any other Martian who had less experience in the alien environment. He felt sorry for his old lover but he was proud that she was trying to redeem herself. He would allow her to keep her secret.
He looked over at T’Omm who spoke softly but deliberately. He selected each word carefully.
“I was drawn here by the Blue Flame itself. It made me think you were here. When you vanished we didn’t know what had happened but I was deluded into thinking you were here. It was all a ruse to draw me back here so I could fulfill a prophecy.”
Nubia said, “T’Omm, your power frightened the Duke away. I could tell.”
T’Omm said, “My power comes from a deep elemental source that rests within this planet. I was drawn away from Nubia when we first arrived. I went to the site where the Blue Flame first made itself known to us. It spoke to me. Eons ago the Guardians of the Universe banished all magical energies to another universe. Some of those energies fell to an Earth known as Earth 2 and became known as the Starheart. They empowered a hero named Green Lantern of the Justice Society!”
J’Onn said, “I have met him. He is a true hero. Are you saying the Blue Flame is also part of those long banished magical energies?”
T’Omm said, “That is what it told me today. The voice said that another section fell free before the rest were contained. This section split into component parts- not green- but blue and yellow. The yellow part was drawn into a universe known as Qward while the blue landed here and became the Blue Flame itself. Apparently, when Blanx tried to manipulate it, it blazed forth as a deadly force. It bonded with me for some reason and now it has brought me here to fulfill its second prophecy. The power must bring life as well!”
J’Onn said, “But didn’t it do that already when you were not harmed by its power years ago?”
T’Omm said, “Possibly, but it has compelled me to come here to use its elemental magic to bring life to this charred world!”
He flew skyward and as blue energy erupted across the sky the landscape itself began to transform from charred desert to green life-sustaining foliage! In moments half of the content itself had become renewed and J’Onn gasped as he realized all the implications.
“Someday life may thrive here again! T’Omm has repaired the damage caused by Blanx years ago!”
He thought as he held Nubia and Zook watched excitedly.
T’Omm landed and the blue nimbus faded from view.
“My powers are still inside me but they have been greatly expended. J’Onn, I think I’ve done what I was always meant to do. I spent so long wondering if I had a role of my own to play and now I’ve found it. I have restored our homeland. Our people can return and begin to build again!”
J’Onn said, “You truly have amazed us all! You are more of a hero than I ever could be! Perhaps, some will choose to leave New Mars and start again here!”
Nubia said, “What of the yellow Martians? They need leadership. I lost one people to the time and space fluctuations of Marzel Isle but I feel like these people are my responsibility now. As your partner I have a tie to Mars. I once had a vision caused by the Time Master in which I was crowned Queen of Mars. I think it is my duty to care for these people and guide them into the development of civilization!”
J’Onn said, “With your plane travel between here and Earth is rather easy. I will support you if you wish to spend more time here and help my people. You were truly born to rule!”
Nubia said, “IF I but rule your heart, I will be eternally happy!”
They kissed as the Martians cheered and little Zook laughed merrily.
“ Manhunter always wins! Zook knew it!” he shouted.
The End