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“Where the hell are we??”

Axel Asher, aka Access, rubbed his eyes as he watched the cosmic scene before him. He floated in space, but the planets and stars were…off. Their colors and effects were foreign. They seemed to cause a headache if he looked too long. As he looked around, he tried to see if he was alone. His Green Lantern power ring was protecting him from the rigors of space…but what he now saw made him feel very much unprotected in the least.

Energy erupted a distance from his current position. Blue and green energy exploded over and over. Despite the brilliance, he could make out three beings in the conflagration. Despite his own sense of self preservation, he willed his ring to bring him closer to the battle.

UNABLE TO COMPLY. PROTECTION MEASURE ‘PARENTAL CONTROL' INITIATED.

“What the hell is this?” asked Axel.

GREEN LANTERN KYLE RAYNER HAS INITIATED PROTECTION MEASURE ‘PARENTAL CONTROL'. RING-BEARER AXEL ASHER TO BE KEPT FROM HARM AT ALL COSTS.

“Oh, freaking great,” said Axel. “Kyle…I hope you know what you're doing.”

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DC INFINITY PRESENTS

#8

‘ NEGATION WAR – CONCLUSION'

By Mike Hintze

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“If you had no chance in your own universe,” said Charon, “What chance do you have in mine?”

Kyle Rayner and the god-being named Danik faced the blue humanoid that was the ruler of the Negation Empire. Charon had a reputation for being of seemingly unlimited power, but so far he had been unable to outright kill Kyle, Danik or their assembled Sigil-bearing forces back in Danik's home universe. Kyle hoped the two of them had what it took… and that he didn't have to use his backup plan.

“I've met a few guys like yourself before,” said Kyle. “They thought they were going to beat me, too. But I'm still standing.”

“You have never faced one such as I, my friend,” said Charon. “I guarantee it.” He fired a bolt of brilliant blue energy at Kyle, but it was barely deflected by a shield from Danik.

“This ends today, Charon,” said Danik. “Your reign of terror ends today.”

“You really think so?” asked Charon. “You, one of the Atlanteans that tapped into the potential that created me? If anyone knows of the potential I have, it is you, Danik. And not even you can hope to stop me.”

“You can be stopped,” said Danik. “We know how…don't we, Kyle?” Danik gave Kyle a meaningful look.

“If you had a way to kill me,” said Charon, “You would have used it long ago.” He glowed with brilliant blue energy and sent a wave of power at the two others.

Kyle erected an emerald energy shield that was cracked and shattered almost immediately. Danik was swept away as well, tumbling into the ether.

“I, however,” said Charon, “Will kill you both…now.”

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Axel watched as cosmic energies were exchanged. He tried willing his power ring to move over and over…but it didn't respond. It maintained his personal atmosphere, but that was all.

Axel wasn't sure where they were, but he could sense it was not the same universe as what they had just been in. It felt…odd…similar to the anti-matter universe where the Keepers of the Cluster had kept him imprisoned before. His awareness of dimensional barriers was an ability that he had learned to trust implicitly. It was that ability that allowed him to ‘key in' to a universe and tell if it was one of the ‘Prime Realities' that supported the foundation of the Multiverse, a foundation the Keepers were trying to destroy. Axel focused his awareness now, sensing…sensing…

“My God,” he said, “Oh, Crap.” He looked longingly at the battleground that Kyle was involved in. “Ring! I need to get over there! Now!”

UNABLE TO COMPLY.

“Dammit!” said Axel. “I need to get over there! Everything depends on it!”

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Kyle concentrated, his body generating the raw energy that was called will-power into a massive wave of emerald energy. That energy coalesced and became a huge Superman construct several hundred feet tall, S-shield reflecting the starlight.

“Back where I come from,” said Kyle, “This is how we take out the trash.” The Superman flew at Charon and punched him, sending the blue godling flying.

“We need Appolyon's weapon,” said Danik. “You will hold Charon here…I need to seek out Appolyon.” Danik put his hand on Kyle's head. A brief energy discharged between them. “I have given you an aspect of my own power,” he said. “I hope it will assist you long enough.” Danik disappeared in an eyeblink.

“Okay, Rayner,” said Kyle. “Time to live up to that trash talk.”

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Axel watched helplessly as Charon flew back firing purple energy at Kyle. Danik had disappeared, to god knew where.

“Axel,” said Danik as he appeared beside him, “I have need of you.”

“What about Kyle?!” asked Axel.

He never got an answer, as the two men disappeared in a haze of light.

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“You are an interesting being,” said Charon. “Your power is similar to that which I possess…but it cannot hope to best me. You will be destroyed…unless…yes…”

“You know,” said Kyle, “You're all talk.” He created a massive spotlight that shined a huge bat-signal into Charon's eyes. Instead of a beam of light, however, a massive bat-symbol slammed into Charon.

“Yes,” said Charon as he shook off the impact of Kyle's attack. “Death is too quick for you…instead, I shall remake you…you shall be…” Charon waved his hands and tendrils of blue energy arced and seemed to attach themselves to Kyle's body. He tried to shake them off, but they maintained their hold on him.

Kyle hunched over in pain. The tendrils seemed to be expanding, wrapping themselves around his body.

“…my newest Lawbringer,” said Charon. “Instead of killing you…I will make you my newest slave.”

Kyle screamed.

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Danik appeared with Axel on a barren planetoid. Axel looked around them and saw no sign of the battle between Kyle and Charon.

“Where are we?” asked Axel. “Kyle needs us!”

“We are needed here,” said Danik. “Kyle buys us time to obtain what we need.”

“What's that?” asked Axel.

“My aspect named Zamida was imprisoned here with Obregon Kaine and their allies,” said Danik. “They met a man named Appolyon, who was a counterpart to Charon, possessing power on par with Charon's. He also had created a weapon capable of destroying Charon. We are here to obtain that weapon…and use it.”

“Anything that powerful,” said Axel, “Can't be good for the rest of this universe? Right?”

“From what I have gleaned from Zamida,” said Danik, “The weapon is a bomb…that will also destroy the Negation Universe.”

“What??” said Axel, “You can't mean that! This universe may be home to the Negation, but there are innocent beings here, too! Plus, this universe…it's a Prime Reality! This universe can't be allowed to die! If it dies, the Multiverse is that much closer to destruction!”

“This relates to yours and Kyle's mission, yes?” asked Danik. “Against the so-called Keepers?”

“Yes,” said Axel. “The Keepers want Prime Realities destroyed in an attempt to bring down creation. Kyle and I are hunting them and trying to stop them. I can sense what universes are ‘Prime' ones…and the Negation Universe is a Prime Reality.”

“My universe must be saved,” said Danik. “The Negation Universe means less than nothing to me…but if its destruction might mean the end of all I mean to protect anyway…”

“I think I might have an idea about that,” said Axel. “But it involves you helping me.”

“How?” asked Danik.

“I need you to remove my power ring and keep it from coming to my aid,” said Axel. “It won't let me enter harm's way…Kyle put some kind of protection program on it.”

“You can't just remove the ring?” asked Danik.

Axel pulled on the ring. It did not move. “Nope.”

“Very well,” said Danik. “We will obtain the bomb from Appolyon…then we will see about your plan.”

Axel looked around at the massive citadel before them. “This is his prison?”

“Yes,” said Danik. “Appolyon was imprisoned here eons ago by Charon. He is the one chance we have at destroying Charon and the Negation.”

“We'd better hurry,” said Axel. “Your Sigil-Bearers holding up?”

“I do not know,” said Danik. “I have lost my connection to them by crossing the universal barrier. I only hope they are faring well.”

The two men walked up to a large metal door. Danik waved his hands, and the door parted before them, the metal straining as it moved. Inside was mostly dark, with little illumination to guide their way.

“You know where we're going?” asked Axel.

“I do,” said Danik. “Follow me.”

The two walked on into Appolyon's prison.

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“Keep it on! Keep fighting!” yelled Samandahl Rey, leader of the Sigil-Bearers. They were all assembled on one world, facing the entire Negation Fleet. Particle beams lanced the planet while Negation Lawbringers, leather-clad agents of death, brought the fight to the Sigil-Bearers planetside.

Sam's sigil was on his chest, and resembled two dragons eating each other's tails. His powers allowed him control over matter, allowing him to recreate it into any form he wished. In this case, he commanded the very ground around him to rise as a spear into the sky. Hundreds of spears were launched into the sky, aiming for Negation warships. Some were taken out by energy beams, others found their targets.

The battle was too one sided, and Sam knew it was a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. He needed to do something that would alter the battlefield…and quickly.

The samurai warrior named Obo-san had his blade withdrawn and was cutting a swath into the Negation troops and Lawbringers. With a slash of his blade, a wide energy arc resembling half of his own sigil, a stylized yin/yang symbol, cut anything in its path for hundreds of feet. Obo-san's face was one of regret over killing, but resigned to the fact that he must.

Prince Ethan wielded a blade comprised entirely of energy from his sigil, which was emblazoned on his right shoulder. The energy blade cut a path wherever he went.

Mordath, a burn-scarred despotic ruler on his native world, was far more direct. White-hot flames emanated from him in waves, incinerating Negation Troops. He merely walked through the enemy and they simply ceased to exist. The red sigil on the top of his head pulsed with energy.

Sam saw there were many others fighting, some losing. The barbarian warrior named Brath was facing a Lawbringer who despite his best attempts at combating it, could not stop its advance as it tore him in two. Ilahn, another despotic ruler, was attacked by two Lawbringers who ripped him to shreds.

Sam concentrated and the metal from a shattered building moved and formed into battle armor, covering his entire body. He looked up and fired into the sky, a humanoid missile.

He ripped through various Negation starships moving through the atmosphere, his powers reforming the ships into useless blobs that themselves were propelled into other starships. Finally, Sam approached the Negation flagship. As he came closer, he reformed his armor to have hundreds of long tendrils. The tendrils shot out, lancing into the lead flagship as he made impact. The shields of the flagship did nothing to stop his path, his powers refracting the shields as he approached.

The ship immediately began reshaping as he made contact. He had never made such a large-scale use of his powers before, and he felt pain as he concentrated and re-made the ship. Its weapons systems were moved into different positions as the vessel became a large humanoid version of Sam himself, his sigil radiating out from the centre of the humanoid-shape's chest.

The fingers were radiative pulse cannons, the shoulders firing quantum torpedoes. The eyes were particle beams. In his right hand, a large sword lit up with the power of fusion reactors, slicing other ships in one swoop.

The Negation fleet was being decimated. Sam just hoped he could keep this up long enough to turn the tide in their favour.

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The massive man known only as Kevin watched as he had a moment's respite from the Negation onslaught. His body was taking punishment from the Negation's energy weapons, but so far he had prevailed. His body was bleeding green ooze from several wounds, not red blood as he might have expected. Why was he different? He couldn't remember…

“You,” said a raspy voice, “Will be a meal for Txztr.” The Lawbringer moved towards Kevin, his massive torso shivering with anticipation as the mouth within the torso licked its lips. The Lawbringer was a grotesque creature and had killed its share of Sigil-Bearers this day.

Kevin ran at the Lawbringer, his heavily muscled frame almost increasing in size as he headed towards the creature. The Lawbringer reached out to Kevin and grabbed his head. Immediately, Kevin screamed as his mind was invaded by Txztr.

His mind's eye was bombarded by images…his father…his mother…the girl he loved…Hardcase…Firearm…Prototype…the UltraForce…his name…Kevin…Kevin Green…and…

“NOOOO!” yelled Kevin as his lost memories returned. He fell to the ground before the Lawbringer, who was laughing at his helplessness.

“None survive the predations of Txztr,” said the Lawbringer. His massive torso-mouth opened as he prepared to swallow Kevin.

“Do you…know…what…time it is?” asked Kevin. His body shook as he spoke.

“What?” asked Txztr, drool dripping from his maw.

“It's…PRIMETIME!” Kevin reached into Txztr's mouth and grabbed his tongue. He then tore it out and tossed it aside. The Lawbringer dropped to its knobby knees, a mewling sound coming from its mangled mouth. Kevin grabbed Txztr on both sides of his mouth and tore the creature apart.

“I'm back,” said Kevin to himself. “Prime is back!”

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Axel and Danik walked further into the mazelike facility that was the prison of Appolyon. Axel's ring was generating some light for them to see better by, but so far they had come across little that could lead them directly to their quarry. Nothing stood out in this building that made them think they were getting closer.

“You know,” said Axel, “It's ok to admit you're lost. I'll admit it. I am freaking lost. No clue as to where we're going. None.”

“Quiet,” said Danik. “I sense something…it might be Appolyon…”

“I hope so,” said Axel. “Kyle might be dead now for all we know.”

“Let us hope not,” said Danik. “He needs to buy us the time we need.”

Danik stopped walking and motioned for Axel to do the same. “Here,” he said. “He is here…but something feels…off.”

Axel looked at the metal door off to their left. “Knock knock,” he said as he willed his power ring to become a battering ram that took the door clean off its hinges.

They stepped in and stopped. Axel couldn't quite understand what he was seeing. A blue winged humanoid with a starfield effect similar to Charon's was suspended in a field of energy that was dark emerald in color. Appolyon was screaming in pain, but no sound could be heard. On either side of Appolyon were two obsidian-skinned dwarves with tufts of white hair and deep red eyes. In front of them was a device that was pulsing with energy.

“Those are Keepers,” said Axel.

“That's the bomb,” said Danik.

“Oh, shit,” said Axel.

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Kyle wiped blood from his brow, his breathing was labored. Charon was smiling at him, despite the man-god's blue form showing cracks across it like damaged glass.

“Had…enough?” rasped Kyle.

“Not…nearly,” said Charon. “You cannot win…you cannot!”

“That sounds like…fear,” said Kyle. “I didn't think gods felt fear.”

“I will…teach you fear, whelp,” said Charon.

“Where I come from,” said Kyle, his form glowing brighter and brighter, “Fear is something we beat before breakfast.” His form glowed more and more, becoming a small sun.

“You,” said Kyle, “Will... fear... me!”

The brightness took over all, and everything went white.

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"We are so totally screwed," said Axel.

Danik looked over at Axel before directing his attention at the two Keepers. "If this is a Prime Reality," he said, "They will effectively end our problems...Charon, the Negation...all of it."

The Keepers looked over at the two intruders. "The Access," said one. "How fortuitous."

"Convenient," said the other, "Kill him."

The first Keeper pointed at Axel and fired a bolt of dark green energy. Axel's ring immediately erected a shield to protect him...but it began to buckle and crack almost immediately.

Danik turned to face the Keepers and found himself looking inches from the eyes of the other Keeper. A morbid grin was on the dwarf's face.

"You...are an interesting one," said the Keeper. "But at this juncture, an unknown quantity is best left as a dead one." Energy surrounded Danik as the Keeper initiated his attack.

Danik was driven to his knees. The Keeper smiled as his onslaught pounded the Atlantean godling. Several feet away, Axel's power ring shield was looking more like a smashed windshield than a translucent sphere. Axel focused his concentration into the ring and maintaining the shield.

"Your power ring is an inferior one," said the Keeper. "Easily broken." The Keeper made a fist and Axel's hand was crushed by an invisible force into an unrecognizable, bloody pulp. The shield shattered and disappeared as the Keeper brought his fist to his chest...and ripped Axel's ruined hand off.

The power ring then floated into the now open palm of the Keeper, who then held it between his fingers like a marble. Smiling, the Keeper popped the ring into his mouth and swallowed it.

Danik turned his face upward as both Keepers now turned their attentions against him. The dual attack made Danik's form shimmer and shift. His appearance changed from a woman to a man, to a child to an old man and on and on.

Axel was left to his own, lying on the floor clutching his severed wrist to his chest. The two Keepers were intent on destroying Danik...and it looked as if they were going to succeed. Axel tried breathing deeply, trying to get his bearings and focus. He glanced over at Appolyon, writhing in his energy prison...and once again saw the bomb. It was counting down in an alien language...but Axel knew. The bomb was armed and going to detonate, destroying the Negation universe...and possibly the Multiverse as well.

Axel moved to his knees and began crawling across the metal floor. The Keepers were still intent on destroying Danik. Ironic, considering their plans were actually favorable to Danik's ultimate endgame. Axel came closer...closer...finally, he was beside the bomb. He got to his feet and staggered. He laid his undamaged hand on the bomb...and concentrated.

"See you on the other side, Kyle," Axel said to himself. He focused...and in an instant, both he and the bomb disappeared.

Danik screamed in agony. He got to his feet, his appearance shifting faster and faster, like a stop motion animation. Energy crackled as Danik now stood erect, fire flashing from his eyes and mouth. "Die!" yelled Danik as he exploded.

The Keepers' faces changed instantly from pleasure to shock before they were vaporized.

Appolyon covered his eyes as everything faded to black.

 

He streaked through the sky, a living fireball. The ground shook as he made impact. The metal shell that had protected him from re-entry melted away. Samandahl Rey stepped out and looked around.

The sky was alight with Negation ships burning up in the atmosphere. The entire fleet was destroyed. The troops on the planet were being slowly dealt with by the surviving Sigil-Bearers. The Negation War, at least this front of it...was over.

A scream sounded from rubble a hundred feet away from Sam. He turned and saw the little girl named Zamida, who was actually an aspect of Danik himself split off from his main being, screaming. Her eyes were white with no irises showing, and blood streamed where tears would have been. Sam ran towards her, concern evident on his face.

"Zamida!" said Sam, "What is it? Are you hurt?"

"I'm...dead," said Zamida. "I am...dead." She collapsed in Sam's arms.

Sam felt her chest, and it still rose and fell, if laboured. He gently shook Zamida, but she wouldn't come to.

Sam held her close. He had a feeling that despite winning the day...they may have lost more than they could afford anyway.

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In the Negation Universe, Charon floated in the void. His blue starfield body was dim, nearly black. He was, for the first time in his long life, near death.

A flash of light appeared beside the fallen god-emperor. It was another humanoid with a bluish star-field, but with angel-like wings spread wide. Appolyon looked tired and didn't have the glow he had enjoyed before his imprisonment by the Keepers.

"Hello, Robert," said Appolyon. "Long time no see." His smile was anything but friendly.

Charon could barely focus to see his counterpart.

"As you can see," said Appolyon, "I am free of the prison you created. I won't say I escaped unscathed...but I have fared far better than you, I see."

"N...Nathan..." was all Charon could say.

"I think its time for a change, Robert," said Appolyon. "The Negation Empire needs a new leader...and your term, as they say...is up." He reached out and laid his hand on Charon's brow. Energy pulsed into Charon, breaking the man-god down as Appolyon absorbed his essence. In seconds, Charon was gone. He didn't have time to scream.

"Now," said Appolyon, "To work, to work."

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Next Issue: Perhaps the weirdest, most off-beat tale you'll see this year...'Talking To Myself" in Dark Worlds #9!