B8
Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
By James
Preview
Presented by Marzena
A bit of time has passed and Ming is apparently dead. Sheila, Flash and their daughter are living on their own in Central City. April moved in with Rick and LJ. Cathleen is still living in the mansion. Hadea is watching over the reconstruction of the Netherworld. Jedda is pregnant and and she's in Bengalla with Krotan and Phantom. Aura prepares to be Empress of Mongo. But someone has tricked them and Ming is still alive — and of course Cathleen knows more than she admits.
Chapter 8: Forward
"We're nearing the island," Rick said with a grumble, turning the jet toward a mass of land.
Mandrake paused to take everything in. According to his partner in the pilot's seat, Amy had bargained with Damian Dark. She planned to give all of her powers away. Dark would agree. No doubt of that. He'd make Amy think he was helping her. In reality, he'd help himself. Amy didn't know him like Mandrake did.
The craft shook a little as they made the turn. Rick was flying quite recklessly.
"Settle down there," Mandrake said.
Rick took a breath. "I just want to reach her before she's hurt."
Mandrake heard something in the seat at his rear. It sounded like a sigh — or maybe a scoff. He turned backward, glancing at April. She looked displeased as she eyed her lap, readying her weapon with a series of clicks. Why was she irked over Rick's concern? Had she learned something he didn't know?
The craft swung lower. He had a clear view. A wave of horror swept over him. Amy was crouching on the field of green. She looked quite weak. She looked de-powered. "We've come too late," Mandrake uttered. Two other people were present as well.
"Is that Veena?" April called.
Rick hesitated, apparently stunned. It seemed that his focus was on Amy now.
"I believe so," Mandrake managed.
April shifted, sounding poised. "I'll leave Mr. Dark to you gentlemen. Just clear him out and give me some space...so I can slam my foot up his daughter's- -" The vehicle shook, once again, more violently than it had before. "Rick!" she shouted. "Get it together!"
"That wasn't me!" Rick replied. "I've lost controls." He jerked on them.
"We're being attacked," Mandrake said. "This is a telekinetic force." That was a power he and Amy shared — a power his daughter no longer had. He looked a bit closer, staring at Veena. Her hand was directed straight up at the plane. It seemed Amy's powers had been given to her.
Dark looked on, giggling.
Amy quivered, then managed to rise. She rushed at Veena, who held her at bay, lifting her telekinetically.
Veena turned her gaze toward the plane again. The wings were beginning to come unhinged.
Hadea clicked the last of her armor in place — a sparking white suit with a dark-gold cape.
"Your father approaches," a captain said, kneeling before her in a suit of his own. "His army awaits just beyond our walls."
She needed a moment to absorb the words. She and her father were about to clash.
It wasn't supposed to play out like this. The plan was simple when he sent her here: jump into bed with the Golden King, and use this land as a second base — a little complement to Ice Station Earth, a spot the Defenders wouldn't know about. With troops from both places, working together, she and Ming would strike in a dual attack, using their strength to bring Monitor down.
She hadn't expected to like it here. She hadn't thought the kingdom would warm her heart.
Hadea wouldn't have it turned into a fort, hordes of ice robots patrolling the streets. She wouldn't let her soldiers be used as pawns, risking their lives in the name of Ming.
Her father refused to evacuate. Ming was determined to conquer the land.
She lifted her chin toward the man on his knees. "Address the troops," Hadea directed. "We end this now."
Amy watched in terror as the plane collapsed. She realized now that she'd made a mistake. She'd needed her powers as part of the fight — a fight to stop people like Damian Dark. By giving them up — for her own relief — she'd put her desires ahead of her duty. That wasn't what a hero was supposed to do. Maybe she wasn't a hero yet, but Amy had vowed that she'd try to be.
She stirred again as she watched the sky, seeing three figures drifting toward the ground, each of them using large parachutes. Her father, April, and Rick had survived.
Dark stepped forth, lifting his hands, probably planning a lightning attack.
Amy tried to break out of Veena's hold, the telekinesis suspending her.
All of a sudden, multiple figures appeared in the sky; her dad had made illusions of the team up there. A number of Aprils were scattered about. A multitude of Ricks could be seen as well. Several Mandrakes drifted through the air.
Dark scowled a little, but made his attack. The lightning passed right through the fluttering figures.
Dark kept it up. He started to growl. He couldn't find the targets who had first appeared.
All of the figures touched down on the ground. Each apparition had begun to fade. The spell of deception couldn't last for long.
April and the others had removed their packs.
Veena tossed Amy with a swing of her arm, sending her rolling several yards away.
Aiming her weapon, April unleashed a loud series of blasts, each of them directed at Veena's head.
Veena teleported just off to the side, then retaliated with a lightning thrust.
April took cover just behind a rock — a huge gray stone resting on the ground.
"Amy!" Rick called, rushing to her. "Are you o- - Ah!" Rick was thrown back by a gust of wind, Damian Dark flinging him aside.
Her father walked forth, confronting their foe. "I want my daughter's powers back."
Dark made a smirk. "Then kill me, weakling." He readied a hand. "Only my death can undo the spell."
A globe of fire covered Mandrake's palm. "Prepare yourself."
You're Reading
Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
"Where are you going?" Sheila asked, twitching on a long white hospital bed.
"To help your sister," Flash replied, clutching his jacket as he held her hand. "You told me that your father is about to attack." He sensed that their struggle was nearing its end. This was a chance to stop Ming for good.
"Flash..." she muttered. "I need you to stay. I think that the baby is about to arrive."
A nurse tensed at that. "I'll get the doctor." She hurried toward the door and ran out of the room.
Flash looked her over in a state of awe. Sheila was about to birth their child. The woman on the bed meant the world to him.
Time to decide what mattered more: his hatred for Ming or his love for her.
Amy crawled closer to Veena and April. Veena was blasting away at the rock.
"Keep shooting, skank," April called, her back to the stone as she clung to her gun.
The rock began to break under Veena's attack. Amy grew nervous for her fellow Defender.
April tossed a little round sphere through the air. It flew in an arch over Veena's head, landing a few yards away from her.
Veena paused, then fired again, pummeling the rock with lightning streaks. "Really, dear?" she said with a smirk. "You thought you were going to connect with that?"
April peeked out. "Who said that my throw was directed at you?"
The sphere exploded by a nearby tree, bringing it down onto Veena's back. Veena made a grunt underneath the weight. Seconds before the tree fell on her, it seemed she'd attempted to warp away, but hadn't had the power to teleport. Teleportation took energy; Veena drained a lot while attacking the rock — just as April seemingly wanted her to.
April charged Veena with her weapon in hand.
Veena freed a palm, and aimed at April, using Amy's power to push her away, seemingly unable to attack with a bolt.
Amy heard the crackle of fire again. She turned toward her father and Damian Dark.
Mandrake threw a long stream of flame at the man.
Dark sidestepped, replying in kind.
Mandrake made a roll on the ground as he dodged. He got to his feet, then fired again. The men's twin streaks ate into each other.
Veena raised a hand from beneath the tree. She summoned a huge shard of broken glass — just as Amy had done to her — flinging it directly at Mandrake's back.
"Dad! Look out!" Amy wailed.
Mandrake looked, then ducked aside.
The glass flew straight into Damian Dark, puncturing his chest as his eyes grew wide.
Veena scowled, but didn't shout. She made no cry for her dying dad.
Dark stumbled back, coughing up blood. Then he collapsed right onto his side.
A sparkling globe shot out of Veena. It flew and seeped into Amy's skin.
"My powers are back," she said in awe.
Veena rose, then tightened her fists. She concentrated, and faded away. Amy could sense that she'd left the grounds.
Rick rushed the field. April followed. Both of them appeared to be all right.
Amy levitated. "I can get us home."
Hadea made a slash with her mighty blade, slicing a robot's head in two. Hundreds of her soldiers were engaged in battle.
Others lay still on the ivory grounds.
Smoke was rising all across the land. Flames shone brightly in the distant fields.
"Highness!" said the captain. "Your father's ship!"
Hadea looked up, seeing the craft. Ming was retreating like a cowardly dog. "Cannons at the ready," Hadea directed.
The captain looked back, swinging his arm, sending a signal several yards away.
Hadea saw a cannon pointing toward the ship. All it needed now was a word from her. She narrowed her eyes as she watched the craft.
She thought about her time growing up in a palace, a palace on a planet light-years away. Her father was not an affectionate man, but he had been a caring and generous one. He made sure she had everything she needed, and saw that her sisters were cared for too.
People thought that Ming didn't have a heart. Hadea knew better than that, however. At least she had, years ago. There was no trace of the man she'd known. He'd become a merciless one indeed.
She was the queen of this kingdom now. She'd do what was needed to keep it safe. "Fire," she said, shaking a bit.
A blast hit the ship. The craft blew up.
Hadea looked on, then closed her eyes. She opened them again as a shout rang out.
"Victory!" the captain wailed. Several other people began to cheer.
More of Ming's ships were beginning to flee.
One Day Later
"There, there, kiddo," Flash said gently, rocking his daughter as she shook in his arms.
Sheila walked in, crossing the floor, her nightgown dragging along the rug.
"You should be in bed," he muttered to her.
"I'm okay, hon," she said while sitting, cuddling right up beside him and the child. "Any news on Jedda?"
"She's still expecting." She and Krotan had gone back to the village. Kit was there keeping an eye on them.
"And how are you?" Sheila smiled.
He thought it quite odd that she'd asked him that. Why was she concerned about him right now? She was the person with a lot to handle — the death of her father, the birth of their child. She'd had mixed emotions to those events. Flash was overjoyed by both of them. It felt quite odd that they'd coincided. Almost too good to be true, perhaps.
In any case, she needed his love more than ever now, and he would make sure that she got just that. All of the adventures would have to wait. "I'm doing just fine." He made a grin. "Because I'm exactly where I belong."
They shared a deep kiss.
"So I've got a few options," Rick said to Amy. "I could move in with LJ and April." He paused a bit, trembling. How was he going to get this part out. "Or..." he muttered.
"Or?" She smiled.
"Well...maybe you and I..." He grinned. "Maybe you and I could take a step forward. Everyone appears to be doing that."
Amy flinched. "Whoa," she whispered. "Are you asking me..."
"No, no. We're not getting married yet."
"Oh," she said. Then she quivered. "Did you say 'yet?' "
"I'm asking if you want to move in with me. You know, maybe just the two of us."
Amy looked touched. She stroked his chin. "I think I'd like that — very much."
He leaned toward her, and they kissed slowly.
Volume I — End
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Chapters
Volume I
As the New Rebellion rages across Mongo and Earth, Jedda and Krotan unite against Ming — and find themselves pursued by one of his ships.
2: Mongo Is Burning — Part 1
Desperate to end the battles, Krotan and Jedda, who have fallen in love, agree to a politically driven wedding — which Rick opposes.
3: Mongo Is Burning — Part 2
Despite growing opposition to the wedding, Jedda and Krotan remain firm in their decision.
Rick observes Amy venting, then ends up on a wild ride.
Amy visits her ailing foster mother, only to realize that she's fallen into a trap.
Rick and Amy take May to the Netherworld, where an invasion has begun.
Against the wishes of Rick and others, Amy makes a bargain with Damian Dark.
While the Defenders scramble to catch up with Amy, another battle occurs in the Netherworld.
Volume II
Flash sets out to free Ming, who has vital information regarding an impending attack.
Lothar and April move to counter an assassination attempt.
The team hurries to prevent LJ and Rick from carrying out an assault on another planet.
The Royal Five converge to counter a group of outlaws who've abducted Castra's husband.
Despite Castra's objections, Hadea grows tempted to remain on Mongo and take over as queen.
Kshin and LJ suspect that Veena is planning to bring her father back.
The Gordons arrive at Dale's grave.
Castra and her relatives vie for the position of queen on Mongo.
Volume III
Dale reveals the identity of her first child.
Veena uses her powers to help others.
Flash gets a startling surprise while chasing Ming.
20: The Princess Makes Her Move
In Dimension K, Ming weds his ambitious stepdaughter Hadea.
A visitor arrives from Dimension Y, intent on taking Dale back with her.
Duffy attempts to bond with Dale, who learns of a portal to another dimension.
After arriving on Earth K, the duo find themselves captured by Queen Hadea, who tasks Dale with a mission.
Now a mother of four, Dale attempts to help ease tensions between April and Duffy.
Rick learns that Duffy might have another special ability.
Volume IV
After using her seer to avert a grim future, the Hadea of Earth K believes herself unbeatable.
April receives a visit from her aunt, Commander Abigail Gordon, who seeks her help on a mission.
Amy confronts her mother Cathleen, who is attempting to conquer Earth P.
On Earth C, Agent Kristina Graf seeks members for a new defense team.
April and Duffy are approached by Kent Madden's daughter Clare, who claims to need their help.
Sheila reflects on her choices.
32: Parental Guidance Required
Duffy develops an unexpected bond.
The Defenders are challenged inside Monitor.
In response to the recent assault, Abby and Dale take action against Madden.
Duffy begins acclimating to life on Earth B.
Krotan receives comfort from Jedda in the midst of a new matter.
Amy seeks to help an old friend.
Hadea and Jedda bond on Earth H in the series finale.
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