Tales From Earth-E: 1941



"That stupid little fool."



The voice was deep and imposing, nearly as imposing as the large, thickset man from which it issued. A gray-clad arm, thicker than the thighs of most of his peers, lifted a snifter of brandy from the mantle over the fireplace and held it up before his eyes. He gave the glass a gentle shake and watched the liquid slosh around before tilting his head back and swallowing the contents in one gulp.



Shifting his angry gaze back to the fireplace, he watched the dancing flames attempt to brighten the cavernous room. As he focused on the flames, he began to tremble with growing rage. What began as a rumble deep within him clawed its way up his throat and burst forth from his lips in a savage roar, a roar that reverberated throughout all of Castle Apokolips. He launched his empty glass at the hearth.



A thin corridor of light appeared behind him and then quickly vanished as someone entered his study. He knew of only one person who dare intrude upon his solitude to investigate the reasons for his foul mood.



"Chancellor Darkseid," the newcomer said, "I take it you have received disturbing news."



The chancellor glanced over his shoulder. "My faithful aide. Did you know that in the English speaking countries of this world, your first name is synonymous with "pest"?"



A worried look appeared on the face of Virman Vundabar. "So I have been told, Chancellor."



Darkseid's countenance softened ever so slightly. "Yes, I have received disturbing news. It appears that I have allied myself to fools. Pour us a drink."



Vundabar walked over to a sideboard and withdrew a couple of snifters, making a mental note to purchase a new set, and filled them a quarter of the way full with brandy. He followed Darkseid out onto the balcony.



A biting wind tugged at the clothing, but Darkseid didn't seem to notice. The chancellor silently accepted the brandy and directed his aide's attention down the mountain slope to where the Elbe River cut through the valley below. He took a sip before speaking.



"When I first saw the Elbe, it was little more than a trickling stream."



Virman took a sip of his own in the vain attempt to chase away the chill. It was rare for the chancellor to speak of his past, and the man was eager to listen to anything Darkseid had to say. It was rumored that he had lived well beyond the age his appearance suggested.



"For over five hundred centuries I have trod upon this world, untouched by age or disease. And during my wanderings, I began to long, no, to hunger, to become the ruler of all I have seen.



"It has only been in the last few hundred years that I began to realize how attainable my goal truly is. Everyday, we see new inventions that make the world seem smaller and smaller.



"I have also observed those with similar goals. I have noted their successes and their failures. Based on my observations, I have realized that I chose to rule all from the shadows. To set myself up as "Emperor of the World" is to invite countless assassination attempts, something I have no wish to do. I shall become the puppetmaster and pull the strings of those I chose to place upon the thrones of this world."



He paused long enough to take another sip.



"Napoleon was one who, at first, showed great promise. In the end, I came to see him for the fool he truly was, and cut the strings. I cast him to the wolves, as it were, at Waterloo. I decided to bide my time and see if another with the charismatic appeal arose.



"Despite my years, I am not a patient man. In my impatience, I reasoned that adversity was needed to create a leader of the caliber that I sought. In the early part of this century, a planted thoughts in certain ears and dropped a few coins for an assassination. The results were more than I could have hoped for. Nation went to war with nation, and, within three short years, the entire world had plunged into war.



"And through it all, I observed. Watching. Waiting. My time was not wasted. I chanced upon a corporal in the German army. I saw his unrest at the way the war ended, and integrated myself into his close circle of friends. I followed, and sometimes pushed, him along in his political career. In a few short years, with my unseen help, he went from retired army corporal to Fuhrer of Germany.



"I suggested he gather allies to him, even going so far as to bring them to his attention. Stalin, Mussolini, Hirohito, Franco, all of these I brought to his attention and he grew stronger."



Virman Vundabar saw the chancellor's jaw tighten and knew what was to come next. He remember those days all to vividly.



"Then, six months ago, our illustrious Fuhrer showed me that he was nothing more than a bumbling fool. Against my advice, he chose to turn on Stalin and invade Russia."



"How has he upset our plans now?" Vundabar asked.



Darkseid chose to ignore his aide's choice of words, knowing that he held more of the man's loyalty than Hitler ever would. He also knew that Vundabar held no ambitions beyond the position he held now. He understood extremely well that he was an underling and that was all he would ever be; and he was content with that knowledge.



"Fortunately," the chancellor said, "he is not the problem this time. It is Hirohito."



Vundabar's snifter slipped from his grasp and fell to the stone floor.



"Then...the rumors were true," he asked, suddenly aware of how cold he truly was.



"Yes. Yesterday, under direct orders from Hirohito himself, the Japanese navy made a surprise attack on an American naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The Americans have officially declared war on Japan. It is only a matter of time before that declaration extends to Germany as well."



"What are we going to do?" Virman asked.



"Pack."



"Pack?"



Chancellor Darkseid turned and faced his assistant. "What do you know of the mystery men who have began to appear in the United States?"



"I just assumed they were propaganda."



Darkseid shook his head. "They are real."



"What do these costumed adventurers have to do with us?"



"I am cutting the strings once again. Let these fools suffer the consequences of their own folly."



Vundabar looked confused. "But what of our other allies, Mussolini and Franco?"



"It is just a matter of time before they commit blunders of their own. No, we are packing up and going to America."



His aide still was not grasping what he was trying to say. "What are we going to do in America?"



"We are going to set these costumed cretins on Hitler and his allies."



"But, how are we going to accomplish that?"



"Oh, a whisper in the right ear can do amazing things," Darkseid assured him. "I shall see that these mystery men are organized. They shall be "enlightened" to the many injustices that Hitler and his allies have committed."



Vundabar raised his hand to his lips only to discover that he had dropped is glass. He excused himself and went inside to get another glass and replace the brandy he had spilled. When he returned, he raised his glass. "May I propose a toast?"



"What do you wish to toast?" Darkseid asked.



"I propose a toast to you and your plans. A toast to your "Justice Society of America"."