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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 24, 2021 20:10:53 GMT
Kind of embarrassing that it's taken nearly a year to get back to this one. Yikes.
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 24, 2021 20:56:47 GMT
As the sun's rays began to dawn over the slums of El Alil, a teenage Egyptian boy named Mehemet Khadul hid himself in a quiet, secluded alleyway. After determining that nobody was around, and no one could see him, he pulled a cloth-covered bundle from a pocket and carefully unwrapped it to find what was hidden within.
His eyes widened in wonder as he marveled at the spectacle before him for the first time in daylight since he'd swiped it from the dig site. It was a bright blue object carved in the shape of a beetle from an unknown type stone. Under the rays of the sun, the object reflected a glow that seemed to emanate some kind of light from within. It was the Scarab of Kha-Ef-Re.
***
Elsewhere, an elderly being laughed with childlike delight as he watched the spectacle far below. "Yes, yes, yes!" the sun-god croaked. "After all these many years, a mortal shall once again champion the power of Ra and defeat the Chaos Serpent for the final time!"
Nearby, his children and grandchildren listened to him but couldn't help think that he sounded more unhinged than ever. Despite all appearances, the elderly Ra had become animated by these events on Earth, but couldn't possibly have the strength to keep up these exertions for long.
***
Hearing the sound of boots running through the slums, the boy was startled out of his reverie over the Scarab and quickly wrapped it in cloth once more before taking to his feet and running further into the maze of alleyways. Within moments, Mehemet was far away from the sounds of those German kaffirs, and out of their reach.
He settled back down in another alleyway, intending to just take another look at the amazing Scarab once again, when two shadows fell over him.
"There it is!" shouted one of the two Germans.
Mehemet stumbled to his feet, tripping and nearly falling to his face before he regained his balance and ran in a zigzag motion to avoid any bullets that might be fired at him, when he finally remembered the Scarab and quickly searched himself for it. He felt momentary relief when he realized he was still holding it in one hand, but came to a sudden stop when two more Germans blocked his exit.
Without more than a moment's thought, the boy leaped sideways to a staircase and ran up the steps, leaping quickly over a gated doorway to the rooftop. Mehemet laughed again to himself as he thought how he knew these streets and rooftops better than any kaffir ever could, and could outrun any of them. They'd never catch him.
***
Far above, Black Condor had been watching the movement of the German guards from the dig site to the shantytown and now spotted the men chasing the boy over the rooftops. He smiled, impressed at the boy's speed and skill at evading these experienced soldiers, but knew he had to lend a helping hand if his suspicions about the reason for their chase was correct.
Into a wrist-mounted radio he said, "They're coming your way. Under twenty seconds. Over."
"Roger," came the reply.
***
On a rooftop below, the boy kept running at a frantic pace as the two Germans tried to catch up to him. As they neared the edge of one roof, a rope was suddenly pulled taut and tripped them, causing the Germans to fall to the street below.
Hiding behind a chimneystack, Lady Blackhawk grinned as she let go of the rope and saw the boy escape his pursuers with ease. "Two down," she muttered into the radio. "But another one is taking up the chase, and looks tired of running."
"I'm on it," replied.
***
Chapter 7: The Blue Scarab
Mehemet had jumped across every rooftop with ease over the crowded, narrow streets of El Alil, but he was running out of places to go. The streets would soon get wider, and the rooftops higher. Finally, as he reached the edge of a rooftop with nowhere to run, he was forced to a stop.
Huffing and puffing behind him, a German soldier caught up to him. Within a few feet away, he pulled out his Luger and grinned in anticipation as he prepared his shot.
At that moment, Black Condor swooped down from the sky and lifted the boy up into the air to safety. The soldier emptied his pistol at the flying hero, but missed every shot, and stamped one booted foot in frustration.
Finding himself airborne, Mehemet began to panic as he thought he might be done for. Grasping at the Scarab desperately, he pulled the cloth off of it and clutched it to his chest. As if by instinct, he felt compelled to cry out two words that were gibberish to him: “KAJI DHA!”
As the morning sun's rays beat down on the boy and the Scarab, something miraculous began to happen. With a burst of blinding light, Mehemet Khadul suddenly transformed. His skin was covered by blue chainmail with red trimming covering his whole body and his scalp that strangely cooled him despite the desert heat, and he grew several inches taller as well as bigger and more muscular.
Black Condor, equally startled not only by the burst of light but by the fact that the boy had suddenly grown in mass and was much heavier, dropped him.
Mehemet, transformed into a man in a blue outfit, recovered quickly from the fall and suddenly swooped up into the air himself, a scream turning into a whooping of delight as he realized he could fly. In seconds, he had taken off into the skies above so quickly that Black Condor could no longer pursue him.
The Blue Scarab, champion of Ra, had been reborn on Earth again.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Jul 25, 2021 0:26:21 GMT
I'm so glad to see this back
At last, now we know where the Scarbe of Kha-Ef-Re is on Earth-X. All five versions have now been found
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 25, 2021 18:13:07 GMT
I'm so glad to see this back At last, now we know where the Scarbe of Kha-Ef-Re is on Earth-X. All five versions have now been found That's cool. Do you have a list of them? Also, I'm uncertain whether it should be called the Scarab of Kha-Ef-Re after all. In the original Charlton Comics origin story (and DC's Secret Origins #2 retelling), Kha-Ef-Re was known as a very evil pharaoh, and the Scarab appeared to be placed on his sarcophagus in order to keep him from using his occult powers to return and plague the people once more. The Scarab itself was originally used by the Great Pharaoh, who appears to have godlike powers (he's basically treated almost exactly like the wizard Shazam in the mid-1960s stories). In the Post-Crisis era, the Great Pharaoh and Kha-Ef-Re have been conflated to be the same person, so now Kha-Ef-Re has been made into a good pharaoh, instead of an evil one whose atomic-radiated mummy was the first foe that Dan Garrett fought as the Blue Beetle. So since Kha-Ef-Re was likely an evil pharaoh on Earth-X, or at the very least not the one known for using the Scarab for good, I wonder if a better name should be chosen. The Great Pharaoh was never named, but I think it's possible that his name is Kaji Dha, the phrase used by the bearer of the Scarab to transform into a champion of all mankind (much like Shazam is both the word used by Billy Batson to transform into Captain Marvel as well as the name of the wizard). I had some plans to use a young Kaji Dha on Earth-4 in a time travel story eventually, showing that he was once such a champion in ancient times. It's possible that he also existed on Earth-X in the past, though I'd posit that his history might be a bit less grandiose than on Earth-4.
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 25, 2021 19:10:59 GMT
In a Celestial sphere, the ancient sun god rose from his throne, filled with more energy than he'd had in centuries, at least as mortals reckon time. His worshipers were now so few in number that he had lost almost all of the power he'd once held in his now-frail frame, but thankfully he had thought to divested some of his power in certain artifacts hidden across Egypt. The Sacred Blue Scarab, created while Ra was in his aspect of the beetle-headed god Khepri and thus a lesser object of power, was nevertheless one of the few that still remained intact. As long as the Blue Scarab acted as Ra's champion, the ancient god had a chance to revive his wizened form and continue the never-ending battle against his ancient foe Apep, the serpent that never dies.
As his rantings and ravings became more and more animated, his children became ever more concerned. "Grandfather, come, sit down -- I implore you!" said one. But Amun-Ra was at his peak and could not be brought down from his lofty height just yet.
***
With a shout of pure delight, the Blue Scarab soared into the heights of heaven and above the clouds. Nothing could stop him. No one could pursue him. For all intents and purpose the boy had become invincible. For this one brief shining moment, Mehemet Khadul had forgotten the occupation of his land, the war, his poverty -- everything.
Below, Black Condor strained to fly after him, but even at his own top speed he stood no chance of catching up to the boy. But he wasn't a mere boy any longer -- whether by chance or by fate, he had joined the ranks of heroic champions. All Black Condor could do now was stand back and watch what the Blue Scarab did next. Watching the boy reminded him both of his own childhood in Mongolia with his flock of mutated condors and of his early years as a world-traveling hero, righting wrongs wherever he found them, before he finally settled down in America.
Much time passed as the Black Condor watched the Blue Scarab exult in his new powers above the clouds, before finally he seemed to remember the earth below, and flew back down to the slums of El Alil.
The radio broke in once more. "Have you found the boy?"
"I have," replied Black Condor. "And I'll tell you where he can be found. Send Abdul and his men over to guard him and his family. But we need to have a talk before we take any further action. The situation has changed."
There was a brief pause before Zinda Blake replied, "All right."
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 25, 2021 22:17:02 GMT
It was late afternoon by the time Black Condor met with Lady Blackhawk at their agreed-upon rendezvous point in the sandy dunes outside of El Alil. The veteran hero had laid out all the facts before her and had tried to make his case, but she wasn't having any of it.
"Listen, we came here for one purpose -- to find and obtain the Sacred Scarab for the Allies, or otherwise ensure that the Axis doesn't get their hands on it," Zinda said with a frown. "The mission remains the same, no matter what has happened to the boy."
"I know, I know -- orders are orders," Black Condor replied. "I've been part of a semi-military organization, too, since before you were in diapers. But technically the Axis does not have the Scarab. It has now chosen its own champion or host in the boy, and I'm telling you that I've seen this kind of thing happen over and over again over my lifetime. This Blue Scarab, or whatever he ends up calling himself, might very well be destined to be a hero for Occupied Egypt in its time of direst need. The last thing that would help the boy is if we forcibly take the Scarab from him now."
Lady Blackhawk sighed and threw up her hands. "You costumed heroes are so frustrating! You think in terms of 'destiny' and 'champions of good,' and all that is just fine with me in peacetime. But we're in the middle of a war, and that Scarab in the hands of an unvetted Egyptian child is an unpredictable factor that could easily be turned against us!"
"How so?" challenged Black Condor. "It's clear that the boy now possesses the power not only to defend himself, but to keep the Scarab from getting into the wrong hands."
"That's not for us to decide!" shouted Zinda. "Who's to say the Scarab couldn't be stolen at any time, while the boy's sleeping or knocked out during a battle? Or, God forbid, when he's killed by a force powerful enough to stop even his mighty power? Our world has certainly seen enough dead heroes even in my time."
"Then let's come to a compromise," said Black Condor thoughtfully. "How about we convince the boy... the Blue Scarab, that is, to come with us back to the States? Then we can let President Richards decide. Perhaps he'll agree with you, or with me. If he takes my side, I assure you we'll make every effort to support the Blue Scarab with everything he needs to fight our mutual enemies."
Lady Blackhawk shook her head, but looked away as she considered his proposal. Finally, she looked up and said, "Fine. Let's bring him with us, Scarab and all. But I'm not about to let him visit the President without first being fully vetted. We know next to nothing about him, and we certainly cannot know yet if he might present a danger to us. The Nazis have no shortage of mind-controlled agents out there who seem completely normal on the outside, but turn into traitors and even killers when activated."
"Agreed," replied Black Condor. And the two left for El Alil.
***
The streets of El Alil were full of people as a long plume of smoke reached up to the heavens where Mehemet Khadul's home had once been. All that was left of the small domicile was a smoking husk with bodies strewn all over it and into the street, both Arabs and Germans. A middle-aged woman was weeping loudly over the burnt corpse of her son.
Black Condor and Lady Blackhawk pushed their way through the onlooking crowds and soon located Abdul Bey himself. The young fighter was badly wounded, with one bloody arm dangling from his badly bruised body.
"What happened?" asked Zinda, kneeling down to check his arm.
"Nazis," spat Abdul, his teeth clenched in pain. "Ambushed us. They knew who the boy was as soon as we did. Held his mother at gunpoint. Took the Scarab. Shot the boy. We fought for the Scarab, but Von Kluge escaped with it. He had an old man with him -- Tremaine. Maxwell Tremaine. White hair, big mustache. Eye patch over right eye. I know his face. A traitor. An American scientist who turned traitor. Helped the Nazis win the war. He carried something more powerful than the Scarab, something your list didn't account for: the Ruby... the Ruby... of Life. The Germans found it -- already dug it up -- and used it against us."
At that, Abdul nearly passed out. Recovering a moment later, he continued. "Tremaine used the Ruby to... toy with us. Turned our rifles into living snakes. While the Nazis, wearing welder's goggles -- killed my men. Two of my cousins. All for a stone trinket stolen from a tomb. Something that rightfully belongs here -- belongs to these people. Tell me, Americans -- was it worth it? Were the lives of my kinsmen, my countrymen, worth this bloodshed?"
Black Condor and Lady Blackhawk were speechless, the silence between them permeated by the wailing of a mother who had lost her only son.
"We failed. You failed. The Nazis got what they came for. But I swear this, Americans -- I swear that I will wage a jihad -- a holy war -- against the infidels who have invaded our lands. I will raise a mighty army -- with or without Allied help -- and purge these lands of these Nazi kaffirs."
"We will, of course, aid you in every way we can," Lady Blackhawk insisted, but Black Condor pulled her away. Some of Abdul's fighters had returned with a medical kit and began applying bandage wrapping and a sling over his arm. Others were picking up their fallen and bringing them away for burial preparations.
"This isn't the right time," said Black Condor. "Let's let them grieve."
"We could've stopped this," Zinda said hotly, as the two passed through the crowds and out into the streets. "We should've been here the whole time."
"There's nothing we could've done," replied Black Condor. "You heard what he said. The Nazis knew who the boy was the whole time, and held his mother at gunpoint. The only thing that might have gone differently is that she could've been killed, and possibly us as well. I've heard of the Ruby of Life, and I'm not surprised to learn that it's more powerful than the Scarab after all. Legend has it that the Ruby of Life was created by a powerful wizard in an age that predates Egyptian civilization itself."
"Surely you don't believe that nonsense," replied Zinda. "Just mythology."
"In my time I've seen stranger things that that," said Black Condor. "Trust me. In a few years you'll realize how often so-called 'myths' turn out to be thinly veiled hard reality."
***
It was already dusk by the time Black Condor and Lady Blackhawk prepared to leave the land of Egypt via the Blackhawk jet. After leaving Abdul the Arab in the care of his fighters, they returned to the dig site outside El Alil to find it utterly abandoned. Geert Von Kluge had left no traces of his camp behind, having gotten exactly what he'd sought for. There was no sign of this Maxwell Tremaine, either, but Black Condor was sure that Abdul Bey would never rest until he'd tracked that man down and exacted vengeance for himself and his people.
The jovial attitude they'd had at the start of this adventure was all but gone as they left in silence that night, thinking only of the human lives lost and the powerful weapon that was now in the hands of the enemy.
***
"Lost, lost... all is lost..."
The sun god had collapsed back into his throne, looking more ancient than ever. The energy he'd had at the peak of midday was gone, replaced by an even worse decline than he'd had before. "My champions... where... where are you? Apep... has won."
His children and grandchildren looked at each other. The old god had grown senile over the centuries, and had long forgotten that the war with the Chaos Serpent had ended 3,000 years ago. And Apep, the serpent that never dies, was long dead, along with all of Ra's chosen champions. Soon, as gods reckon time, the sun god himself would join them.
***
In Nazi Germany, Doktor Thirteen held the Sacred Scarab of Kha-Ef-Re in his hands, marveling at its distinctive blue color, which had not faded in all these centuries.
"It's useless now," explained the courier who had brought it to him. "The artifact only worked for the boy. No one else can use it."
"Of course," replied Thirteen. "And you shouldn't have made such an attempt without obtaining my permission first. The Sacred Scarab chooses its own champion."
"Then how shall we use it for the glory of the Fatherland?" asked the courier.
Doktor Thirteen grinned. "Oh, don't worry on that regard. I already have some ideas on how I might overcome that slight limitation."
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 25, 2021 22:48:13 GMT
That's the end of that episode. We can't win 'em all! Also, if you've read all the Earth-X stories (including some that haven't yet been finished and/or archived), we already know that one of the new members of the SS Ubermenschen is a Nazi version of the Blue Beetle (see the unfinished story called " Mizu Jin: Revelations" by Philip Todd Franklin to see Blauer Käfer). The above is the story of how the Nazis obtained the Scarab. What hasn't yet been told is how they mastered it to make this new super-agent.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Jul 26, 2021 11:46:30 GMT
That was a little sad, and anti-climactic. I guess I have to take Blue Scarab off my list of Earth-X heroes.
Here is the status of the Blue Scarab on each Earth
Earth-1: Bonded to Jaime Reyes, who is one of the young heroes being trained by Guy Gardner in Baltimore, called the Scarab Earth-2: Bonded to Jared Stevens, who is called the Scarab, and is currently trapped in Skartaris Earth-4: Bonded to Daniella Garrett, daughter of Daniel Garrett, who is know as Lady Bug (nobody would go along with calling her the Blue Beetle, since Ted is more accepted) Earth-S: Bonded to Kent Nelson, along with the Helmet of Nabu, which turns him into Captain Scarab Earth-X: In the clutches of the Nazis
BTW, there were a few spots in the last chapter were you referred to it as the Scarlet Scarab. Was that a mistake?
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Post by johnreiter902 on Jul 26, 2021 11:48:05 GMT
I can't find Mizu Jin: Revelations. Maybe I'm not using the search feature correctly? Where is it?
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 26, 2021 16:40:02 GMT
That was a little sad, and anti-climactic. I guess I have to take Blue Scarab off my list of Earth-X heroes. Here is the status of the Blue Scarab on each Earth Earth-1: Bonded to Jaime Reyes, who is one of the young heroes being trained by Guy Gardner in Baltimore, called the Scarab Earth-2: Bonded to Jared Stevens, who is called the Scarab, and is currently trapped in Skartaris Earth-4: Bonded to Daniella Garrett, daughter of Daniel Garrett, who is know as Lady Bug (nobody would go along with calling her the Blue Beetle, since Ted is more accepted) Earth-S: Bonded to Kent Nelson, along with the Helmet of Nabu, which turns him into Captain Scarab Earth-X: In the clutches of the Nazis BTW, there were a few spots in the last chapter were you referred to it as the Scarlet Scarab. Was that a mistake? I called it the Sacred Scarab, because the original Blue Beetle origin story calls it such a few times. Technically, Earth-X has already shown the Scarab being bonded to a member of the SS Ubermenschen called Blauer Kafir ("Blue Beetle" in German). We just haven't shown the rest of the origin story yet.
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 26, 2021 17:25:36 GMT
I can't find Mizu Jin: Revelations. Maybe I'm not using the search feature correctly? Where is it? It was never posted here. I've just posted it now: Mizu Jin: Revelations
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 26, 2021 17:27:41 GMT
Earth-4: Bonded to Daniella Garrett, daughter of Daniel Garrett, who is know as Lady Bug (nobody would go along with calling her the Blue Beetle, since Ted is more accepted) Lady Bug's name is Marian Garrett.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Jul 27, 2021 1:09:04 GMT
Earth-4: Bonded to Daniella Garrett, daughter of Daniel Garrett, who is know as Lady Bug (nobody would go along with calling her the Blue Beetle, since Ted is more accepted) Lady Bug's name is Marian Garrett. Oops, sorry. My mistake
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Post by DocQuantum on Jul 31, 2021 21:24:13 GMT
I've edited this story to replace the Orb of Ra with the Ruby of Life. The reasons will become clear later on.
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Post by DocQuantum on Mar 13, 2022 20:06:26 GMT
I kind of wish I’d used a different Freedom Fighter in this section so I could have Black Condor meet a couple of Tarzan-inspired characters later on and compare notes with his own upbringing by mutant condors. It’s a missed opportunity. Oh well. Still, I may be able to fit it in later somehow.
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