Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Earth – 1; Waverider
All of our heroes were back aboard the Waverider that floated around Earth – 1. After Scott and Hope learned about the Crisis, Earth – 96's Superman got to know Ray Palmer. All could see their physical resemblances. Even the Guardians of the Galaxy were stunned.
"They have a little family resemblance," Drax pointed out.
"I wonder if there wouldn't be a version of me on another Earth," Star-Lord said, thinking about the concept of the Multiverse.
"One Quill is enough," said Rocket. (Looking at the two identical men.) "It's too weird all these doppelgangers from other Earths!"
"I am Groot," Groot muttered approving of his raccoon friend.
"It's really amazing that resemblance," Shuri said with fascination. "The surprises of the Multiverse. This Superman has the same face as Ray Palmer!"
Even Scott and Hope were stunned by the resemblance between Ray and the new Superman.
"I already knew Ray. I knew this Superman was familiar to me," Scott said flabbergasted. (Addressing his partner.) "Do you think there is a version of me on another Earth who is Superman?"
Hope chuckled.
"I can hardly imagine you in Superman," she answered, laughing.
As the two lookalikes looked at each other, Ray allowed himself to ask:
"So, uh, do you have a gluten sensitivity too?"
"No, not that I know of," Superman replied with a friendly smile.
"Congratulations. You're a ringer for a filthy Kryptonian." replied Lex Luthor on a platform surrounded by an invisible barrier. "Your mom must be so proud!"
Since their return, Thor had insisted on locking Lex Luthor up so he wouldn't cause them any more problems. Now, the bald man couldn't do anything against Superman.
Hope turned to him.
"You know, I'm surprised that with all your intellect you still haven't managed to grow your hair back," she replied to the bald man in a scathing voice.
Scott chuckled, while Lex scowled sullenly.
"Wonderful, I was stopped by Giant-Ant and a pathetic mantis," he muttered, annoyed.
"It's Ant-Man and the Wasp, chrome dome!" Scott replied in a harsh voice.
"Go to hell," Lex snapped.
Mick joined the group in the lab, beer in hand, and baby Jonathan in the other.
"Kid was a piece of cake." he said, handing the baby back to Lois.
Then while Lois was walking with her baby in her arms, Rocket took the opportunity to talk with Mick:
"Hey, human! You and I will have scores to settle if we ever survive this Crisis! My mate Groot won't read your horrible dirty stories! And if you dare to turn him against me, you'll wish you'd never been born!"
"Blah-blah-blah…" Mick mumbled indifferently while drinking his beer.
"But you're in a lot of trouble later, Mick Rory," Rocket added with a fierce look.
Then Quill came to calm him down.
"Rocket, take easy! I hate this nut as much as you do, but here we have a big problem that affects the whole universe, so let's put our differences aside, and let's work together!"
"OK Quill!" the raccoon nodded angrily. "But this guy isn't our friend!"
"I like him," Drax said.
"Oh no, not you too, no!" grumbled Rocket.
Lois took Jonathan to meet the Superman from another Earth.
"Here. There's someone I want you to meet."
Then Earth – 96's Superman watched the infant in Lois's arms tenderly.
"Hi there, handsome guy." said the new Kryptonian, stroking the baby's face. "Wow. He looks just like my son Jason."
Quill turned to Thor.
"So we have a Paragon with us?" Star-Lord asked.
"Yes, and it hasn't been easy," Thor commented.
"All that remains is to wait for Supergirl and Batwoman for their Paragon…"
Then the Monitor joined the whole troop.
"Well done. You have succeeded in finding the Paragon of Truth."
Scott and Hope looked surprised at the sight of Mar Novu.
"This is the guy who came to see us on our Earth," specified the Wasp, looking at the Monitor.
"And his name is Mar Novu? It doesn't sound like a real name," Scott added confused.
Ignoring Ant-Man and the Wasp, Mar Novu turned to Lex.
"Lex Luthor played his role. He led you to him."
The bald man made a small reference, apparently proud of what he had accomplished. Thor made a face in disgust.
"I still don't trust you! Neither you, nor even Luthor," the Asgardian declared angrily.
"Yeah? How many more people did he hurt to do that?" asked Kara who had just arrived with a distraught Kate. "You think you're a good guy, but you're not!"
"I think he's kind of neat." Lex said admiringly.
"Well, we still only have three," Kara said. "Bruce Wayne wasn't the Paragon of anything, so… (She paused, gazing at Ray's lookalike in admiration.) Whoa, Ray. You are looking jacked."
"No, no, this is your cousin," Clark told his cousin.
"Yes, we have found the Paragon of Courage," Thor told his friend. "And he's a Superman who is Ray Palmer's doppelganger."
Kara then noticed Ray and was stunned when she saw the two identical men.
"And what about me," Thor said amusedly. "On his Earth, I'm an actor by the name of Chris Hemsworth."
"What?" exclaimed the Girl of Steel, eyes wide in amazement.
Even for Ant-Man and Star-Lord.
"Really?" Quill exclaimed before leaving with a giggle.
"No kidding?" Scott added, amused. "If Thor is an actor on Earth of this new Superman, who am I then on this Earth? (Turning to Hope.) Do you think I'm a movie star? Or rock and roll?"
But Hope didn't share her fun, and was frustrated.
"Scott, we have a Major Crisis! This isn't the time!"
"Yeah, sorry," Ant-Man replied, embarrassed.
Kara then noticed the presence of the two new heroes of Earth from the Avengers.
"Scott? Hope?"
The couple greeted the Girl of Steel.
"Hi Kara," Scott said warmly.
Kate, who was still reeling from the traumatic experience with Earth – 99, spoke in turn:
"OK, uh so… Batman was not our Paragon and he died… he sacrificed himself to save us Kara and me…"
"Wait, are there now two Supermen and a Batman?" Scott exclaimed, confused.
But no one paid attention to him.
Thor looked intrigued.
"What happened?"
"It's a long story," Kara replied. "But this trip to Earth – 99 was a failure."
"So back to square one," Quill exclaimed, lowering his head in disappointment.
"Yeah, so we're doomed!" Kate said broodingly.
"We shall see." Mar Novu replied with a strange smile. "I believe the work of Dr. Palmer, Shuri and Rocket is now finished."
"Finished yes, but…" answered Shuri anxiously.
"We don't know if this stuff works yet," Rocket added.
"I've never actually built a Paragon detector before." Ray replied with an embarrassed smile.
"Neither do we," replied Rocket and Shuri at the same time.
"If we can't find the Paragons, we're doomed," Nebula added in a neutral voice.
"That's what I said." Kate replied.
Ray, Shuri and Rocket turned to the machine they had built together.
"Uh okay," Ray announced. "If all goes according to plan, we should find the others. (Addressing everyone.) Everyone might want to take a step back."
Shuri nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we don't know what will happen if we turn this machine on, so stay back."
Then everyone else started to back away. Kate rolled her eyes and took a step back. Mick frowned across the lab with his beer. Then Thor joined Kara aside.
Ray plugged in a cable, while Shuri turned on the machine. The screen indicated Earth, followed by a ship that glittered a reddish color.
Puzzled, Thor, Earth – 96's Superman and Ray stared at the screen.
"And which Earth is that?" asked the new Superman.
"None of them. That's us, this ship." Ray replied.
"Unless I am mistaken," Shuri added. "It looks like the Waverider has Paragons. We have Kara's signal, the new Superman's signal and… a third… we have another Paragon aboard this ship!"
"And who?" Star-Lord exclaimed. "That's not me, or a member of my team?"
"None of us are Paragon, Quill," Nebula retorted with a firm gaze.
"Apparently, there are still a few bugs." Rocket replied, looking at the machine.
"No, your machine works just fine," said Mar Novu, smiling. "We have a new Paragon on board. That light is the Paragon of Courage."
"Well, Bruce's body isn't on the ship, so…" Kate retorted, shaking her head.
"No, but you are," the Monitor replied, looking at Kate.
It was then that all eyes were on Batman's cousin. Mar Novu continued looking at her:
"I said the path to Earth-99 would lead you to the Paragon, and that has come to pass. You are the Bat of the future, Kate Kane. You are the Paragon of Courage."
Kate then looked at the Monitor, not believing her ears.
"So our Paragon isn't Batman, it's Batwoman?" Rocket said, surprised.
"I am Groot," Groot muttered, intrigued.
Earth – 18; North Dakota
Oliver Queen was inert on the ground. A ritual circle was drawn around him. Right above him, Sara and Mia held both hands, while Barry, Clint, and Peter had stepped aside and Constantine performed the ritual to restore his soul. The speedster and the two Avengers waited anxiously, praying that the ritual would work.
Once Constantine was done… nothing happened. Oliver was still unconscious. The occult detective was confused, and Sara looked at him with wide eyes.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"I don't know," Constantine replied, his gaze defeated. "It's, uh something's wrong. This has, uh this has never happened before. With all the anti-matter in the system, I've lost my magical mojo."
- So, you mean we can't bring back Oliver's soul? exclaimed Peter.
"Exactly, young Luke," replied the detective. "For some unknown reason."
"What shall we do now?" Clint muttered, annoyed.
"Oliver's gonna be a monster forever." Barry said in anguish.
"Yeah," Constantine nodded frustrated.
So it was impossible for them to bring back Oliver's soul. Mia remained motionless next to her father's body. As Peter walked away from the group, putting both hands behind his head, distraught.
"We're doomed!"
As he mumbled in uncertainty, there was a dazzling flash.
"Uh… guys, what the f…?"
And he suddenly disappeared in a whitish halo.
Earth – 1; Waverider
Kate was sitting alone and pondering her journey on Earth – 99. She took out what Bruce had given her before leaving. It was a folded piece of paper, but when she unfolded it, Kate found a photo on it. And what she saw shocked her. It was a photo of herself, smiling and happy in the company of a woman who looked like her sister Beth. But she was a loving sister who beamed with happiness. She was nothing like Alice. As if on Earth – 99, Beth had never become Alice. Did Kate grow up on this Earth with her sister by her side? She would have liked to know the answer. Tears of sadness rolled down her face.
I want give this to you. I kept it all this time. It's my only memento of my Kate! I couldn't save her, but I can save you!
She thought back to the Bruce she had just met and left in a doomed world and that version of Beth she would never know. Had she been happy on Earth – 99 before she died? Was she Batwoman, whether Beth was Alice or not? She would never know her answer, and it upset her terribly.
Then Kara came to see her with a beer in her hand. Then Thor joined the two women. He had learned what had happened on Earth – 99.
Kate rubbed her eyes to hide her tears and frowned at the beer in Kara's hand.
"Do these things even work on you?" she asked.
Thor laughed lightly.
"After we lost to Thanos, I got drunk on beers for five years, and that was awful," he replied regretfully. "So I prefer to abstain."
"It doesn't affect me at all," Kara answered, handing Kate a small bottle. "But you looked like you could use a drinking buddy."
"And we thought after what you've just been through, you wouldn't want to be alone," Thor said kindly.
Kate took the beer, while Kara and the asgardian sat down beside her.
"Thank you. Thor, you told me about your brother. Did you still believe in him, despite what he had done?"
"Yes," Thor agreed. "No matter who he was, even if he wasn't perfect, I never stopped believing in him. He was my brother, and I loved him, despite his faults. I never managed to really understand him, but I had always believed in him."
Kate nodded, drinking her beer.
"Time travelers, aliens, gods," she mumbled. "I've barely even started this whole vigilante thing. How am I a Paragon?"
"I've seen you in action," Kara pointed out. "You saved me, and last year, you saved Oliver and Barry's asses, thank you very much."
"And I remember you freed me from that hallucinogenic gas," Thor added proudly. "You also saved my life. And yet, I am a God. You are brave, Kate Kane."
"Thor's right," agreed the Girl of Steel. "And that is not nothing."
"Accurate," Kate replied, nodding.
"How much you care, how hard you try," Kara said. "Those are the things that make you hero, not powers or time travel, and you may not feel like you have the experience now, but you have the heart. And as Thor said, you are brave."
"That Bruce was brave, once," Kate replied.
"And he sacrificed himself to save you both," Thor replied. "He was a hero. Like Oliver was. Like Stark and Nat. And I think he would have wanted us to continue the fight to save the universe. And we will."
"What if our universe becomes like Earth – 99?" Kate pointed out.
"So, we'll do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn't happen," Thor continued. "Because, we're masters of our destinies."
Kara noticed the photo Kate was holding in her hand.
"Is that what Bruce gave you?"
"Yes," Kate replied sadly. "That's my sister Beth and me. From Earth – 99. I wish I knew her like this."
"Maybe you still can." Kara added kindly.
"Kate, it doesn't matter who your sister really is," Thor explained. "You can't let her destroy what makes you a hero. Batman may be gone, but not his fight to save his city. Batwoman represents the hope for a better life for Gotham. I am convinced that it is true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
The young woman from Gotham looked at Kara and Thor with an encouraging smile.
"Sounds like the Paragon of Hope just got her hope back, and the Keeper is starting to understand his role," she pointed out.
"Hope, help and compassion for all," Kara said, taking another sip of the beer.
Thor suddenly stood up.
"Speaking of me, Kate, I think you should try lifting my hammer," he said as he put Mjolnir on the ground in front of Kate, who was surprised.
"Do you think I'm really worthy of it?"she asked.
"According to the Monitor, Paragons can hold it in their hands. Kal-El of Earth – 96 was able to take it. So you can do it."
Kate put down her beer, stood up and grabbed the handle of the hammer. She tried to lift it with both hands… but nothing happened. The hammer didn't move, despite Kate's best efforts. After a few tries, she gave up.
"No, I can't." she said. "It's like it's glued to the ground."
Thor frowned.
"However, you should be able to wear it… I don't understand…"
Kara stood up in turn.
"I think I know why. It's because she doesn't see herself as worthy, because she doesn't see herself as a Paragon."
Kate frowned at the Girl of Steel.
"You think?"
"Yes," Kara replied, nodding her head. "I remember the first time I held Mjolnir. Thanos was going to kill me with kryptonite. And I saw this hammer, not far from me. I had tried to get it to come to me, but nothing had happened. I wondered if I was really worthy of lifting it. And then I had like visions of my entire existence from Krypton. I have seen my whole life pass before me. I remembered coming to Earth, the fact that I hid my powers until one day I became a Supergirl, and all of my fights. It was… like the hammer wanted to show me why I'd be worthy of holding it, and that's when I realized who I really was, because at that point I was confused by this. that Thanos had put us through. And Mjolnir reminded me of the hero I was before this monster arrived… and that's how that hammer got into my hand. Kate, I'm sure you can do it. You just need to believe in yourself. Be the Paragon of Courage you are meant to be to save the Multiverse."
Thor frowned, Kara had never told him all the details, the day she first held her hammer.
"My father put a charm on it," he explained to Kate. ""Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." Only worthy people can take it. And during this Crisis, we need worthy people like Paragons."
"But how can it choose me?" Kate wondered. "How can I be worthy enough to take it?"
Thor gave Kate a serious look and replied:
"The hammer does see the good and the worthiness of the user. For a while, I had become unworthy of lifting him. I had been arrogant and selfish. And to punish me, my father stripped me of my powers and then exiled me to Earth to atone for my faults. I had lost my hammer. And during my exile on Earth, I learned a valuable lesson, and that's what gave me back the worthiness I had to lift it. I'm sure you're worthy enough to take it. Kate Kane or Batwoman, our meeting in Gotham was no coincidence. It is destiny that brought us together, I am sure. And I am convinced that you can still be able to take Mjolnir in your hands. Be patient and believe in yourself. I'm sure even Bruce or another Bruce in the Multiverse would tell you the same thing."
Kara smiles at her Asgardian friend.
"You are hopeful, Thor."
He nodded, smiling.
"You put this on me, Kara."
"Hope, yes, I'm going to need it," said the Girl of Steel, confident.
"What for?"Thor questioned, frowning.
"For my Earth."
"But your Earth is gone." Kate reminded her.
"I know," Kara replied. "But maybe I can use the Book of Destiny to bring it back."
"Kara," Thor exclaimed anxiously. "I'm not sure using this Book to bring back a whole Earth is wise."
"The Monitor said that would be really dangerous." Kate told her.
"I agree," agreed the Thunder God. "Kara, although I don't trust Mar Novu, he's not wrong about the Book of Destiny. We are talking about an almighty Book able of rewriting reality. And if you use it to bring a world back, it could have catastrophic consequences. It would be too risky! I'm not saying that we must abandon all the worlds that have disappeared, but there must be another way."
"We used the Infinity Stones to bring back half of the universe," Kara reminded her.
"Yeah, and do you remember what happened to Hulk and Tony?" Thor pointed out apprehensively. "Banner barely survived, but Tony Stark wasn't so lucky. Using these Stones is one thing, but a Book that can change reality is too dangerous, Kara. You could lose your life there. I refuse that you take such a risk."
"I know what he said But what good is being the Paragon of Hope if I don't have any?" Kara retorted, upset.
"Kara, I promise you we'll find a way to save all the Earths," Thor told her gently. "Please, don't do this! Don't use the Book of Destiny, there must be some other way."
Nodding sadly, Kara moved away from her friends, while Thor and Kate watched her go. Kate discreetly took a canister that contained kryptonite from her pocket. A box she had snatched from the Parademon attacking Kara on Earth – 99.
"Thor, we can't let her do this," she said to the God of Thunder.
"I know, I will not lose Kara like I lost my family and my friends," declared the asgardian with determination.
The two looked at each other, trying to stop Supergirl from making a mistake that could cost her her life.
Suddenly, Peter Parker was on Earth – 18 with his new friends, when he had mysteriously disappeared, and had just reappeared aboard the Waverider. He had landed in one of the hallways of the timeship. Stunned and confused, the young man looked around, when the towering figure of the Monitor appeared before him.
"Oh God!"
"Peter Parker!" he said in a neutral voice, looking at the young man. "Like I said before, everyone has a part to play, including you! Now is the time for Spider-Man to fulfill his mission!"
"Why?"exclaimed Peter in awe. "You have the wrong person. I'm not Thor, I'm not a hero, nor an Avenger. I am nothing. I lack the stomach for this Crisis. Find someone else!"
"Only you can do it. The survival of the Multiverse is all up to you, Spider-Man! You are not ready yet, but very soon you will! I brought you here because I have a mission for you! Only you can accomplish it!"
"And why me?" stammered the exasperated young man.
The Monitor smiles before answering:
"Because with great power, comes great responsibility."
Peter looked shocked and looked at the cosmic being with rage.
- How do you know about that?
"I know all about you, Spider-Man, as well as a lot of Spider-Man that exists throughout the Multiverse. But you are the one and only to stop this Crisis. You don't know it yet, but later you will understand why. In the meantime, you are going to make your way to Earth – 962. There is a Superman imprisoned on this Earth who needs your help. You will be helped for this mission, and at the end of your journey, you will find him."
"Find who?"Peter asked, puzzled.
"One of the eight Paragons. Spider-Man must answer the call. Now go, Peter Parker. Serve your higher purpose!"