Ultimate Martian Manhunter #3

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Ultimate Martian Manhunter: Parts Unknown #3

“Brave New World”

Lindsey awakes in the the Den, home of the Colorado lycan pack. Slowly, she begins to regain her senses and is able to evaluate the situation. She first notices a collar around her neck; she traces a chain connecting it to the wall. Lindsey tries to control her heart rate as she realizes that the Senator's daughter is barely an arm's length away from her. One of the Lycans notices her awakening; and begins moving toward her grabbing a bowl of water and a bowl of fruit off of a stone table. As he gets closer he shifts back to the form of a tall, lean man his features gaunt. His pale skin highlighting the darkness around his eyes. Placing the food and water in front of her, he says, “You need to sustain yourself. Eat. Drink. Time is short, my queen.”

Returning to his wolf-form the man turns and prowls back amongst the pack. Lindsey drinks fully from the bowl spilling water on the ground around her. Lindsey looks down at the bowl of fruit as she places the empty bowl on the ground. Before grabbing from the bowl of fruit she looks up; noticing that the entire pack is watching her every move. Lindsey realizing that for whatever reason they are fixated on her every move; decides it's best to pretend to sleep so she can shed the watchful eyes. Maybe get to work on this collar so she can grab the kid and make a run for it. She had to get the kid out of here; had to honor John's sacrifice.

****

Meanwhile in Boulder

Amy Roth smiles across the bar at the attractive heroic jawed man across the bar from her. Amy, a cute blond with a blinding smile, never really got out much she was always studying. Medical school was never a cakewalk especially when she was watching all of her friends making six figures off of bachelor's degrees. She just kept reminding herself it'd be worth it in the end. After a week solid her girlfriend Rachel had finally convinced her to go out to the bar for a single night. And now the hunk across the bar was reminding her of the joys of being an attractive twenty three year old in a town filled with doctors and lawyers. Rachel had slipped off with some douchebag artist about ten minutes ago. The glowing Adonis across the bar finally musters up the courage to come over; to talk to her with a smile.

“All these pretty ladies in here tonight and I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you. Do you mind if I buy you a drink?” he asks

“I guess if you want to you can.” Amy says trying not to sound too easy. The striking guy motions to the bartender for a couple of drinks.

“So what's your name blue eyes?” the man asks.

“My name's Amy.” she replies clumsily not saying a whole lot; trying to remain mysterious.

“Ahh, such a beautiful name. My name's Randy. You from around here, Amy?” The guy says as Amy's cell phone vibrates inside of her purse. Amy checks her iphone to see a text from Rachel saying

Is he a lame? Do I need to do a fake emergency?

Amy quickly replies, no 2 both.

Time flies as the drink's keep rolling as the bar starts shutting down Randy suggests they continue the night elsewhere. Amy makes the mistake of inviting him over to her apartment the last mistake she'll ever make.

Forty five minutes later...

No!

NO!

NO!!!

Stay Away!!!

Amy Roth cries out as Randy chases after her. Amy crawls around on the floor on all fours trying to get away from the madman with the set of knives. A throwing knife plants it's self in to her right shoulder causing her to fall face first into the cold floor. From the shadows, a man wearing a top hat and all black including a custom made trench coat which houses all the tools of the trade. A gas mask covers his face as he stands over Amy. Completely naked and covered in her own blood Amy feels the will to live fading from herself.

She looks up on the mantle and sees the picture of her with her parents at her college graduation. Their smiling faces brings the fight back into her like a volcano erupting. Amy flips over onto her back; barely even gritting her teeth as the knife wedges deeper into her shoulder. Amy becomes extremely thankful for her childhood dreams of being a gymnast. She kicks both of her powerful legs at the groin of her assailant. Feeling them connect she gets to her feet bowling him over as she makes her way towards the front door.

Getting back to his knees the Butcher screams, “I love it when they fight back. Makes the thrill that much better.” The Butcher chases after the injured medical student. As she tries to get away another throwing knife cuts right through her left Achilles Tendon. Amy hits her face on the front door hard as the Butcher leaps on top of her. Flipping her over she manages to get out one last question.

“Why?”

The Butcher plunges his knife into her chest. Once. Twice. Three times. He loses count as the blood lust takes him over. Blood spreads everywhere as he cuts through her skin slicing tendons and muscles alike. As he finishes mutilating the body he walks around the room spreading blood on the walls. Finally, he reaches the most clear point on the wall and begins writing a message in blood.

“Detective Jones, I'm watching you. I love this little game we play. It's even more enjoyab---.”

“Damn it! Out of paint.” The Butcher says as he walks back across the room dipping his right hand into one of the larger wounds covering it in blood again.

“able when you get to make up all of the rules. I hope that you're enjoying this as much as I am. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of each other.”

The Butcher picks up one of the throwing knives as he walks toward the door. Slowly, he turns and tosses the knife at the family photo on the mantle placing the knife right through Amy Roth's face.

****

Lycan, Colorado

Two Priestess chant in the corner of the cave. Hundreds of candles illuminate the Den. The Lycans are all on pins and needles as they prepare the ritual for the girl. Lindsey busted the lock on the collar in the night as the lycans slept; waiting for an opening was looking like an unrealistic option time was running out.

Crack!

Howl!

Crack!

Howl!

Gunshots ring out from the mouth of the cave followed by howls of anguish. Lindsey sweeps the cave seeing all of the lycans eyes diverted she throws the collar off and snatches up the young girl on the ground. Lindsey runs across the cave as gunshots continue to crack through the night air.

“John!!” Lindsey cries out as she maneuvers around the lycans trying to block her path. Shots continue to echo through the cave as Lindsey slams into one of the lycans sending the girl and Lindsey stumbling to the ground.

John emerges into the candlelight as Lindsey struggles with the powerful Lycan who she ran into; John point's the gun to it's head and pulls the trigger.

“Glad to see you in one piece partner.” Lindsey says with a smile. John looks down at his partner helping her to her feet.

“Let's go. We've got to get the girl out of here and then we need to talk.” John says as he fires another round into the darkness.

“I'm staying, John.” Lindsey says leaving John floored.

“No, Lindsey you're my partner. I'm not leaving you to die.” John pleads.

“I'm not going to die, John. Connect the dots. It was never about the girl; she was just a pawn in the war between the Council and the things in the shadows. It's been right here in front of us the whole time. If Alberts rose to the presidency the war would be over without a doubt. This pack needs a leader and they think that I am their Queen.” Lindsey says as the pack looms just inside the shadows.

“No, that is out of the question.” John argues.

“Let me do this, John. I can steer them away from these killings; lead them to be more then simple predators. This is my choice, John.” Lindsey begs of her partner.

“I couldn't have asked for a better partner, Lindsey.” John says his stony facial features soften giving way to tears as he hugs his partner.

“Me either, John. Just promise me no matter what remember this was my choice.” Lindsey repeats herself as she breaks free of John's embrace. He watches as she disappears into the darkness without a word.
****

John Jones watches as the Albert's family rejoices as they are reunited with the missing girl; the night's events have clearly weighed on the family in the span of twelve hours there life has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Even with the joy brought by the return of Sidney Alberts; dealing with the fact that everything they've ever known has been a lie will make moving on with their lives difficult. John's mind begins to drift back to the den. Back to losing Lindsey.

“Excuse me, Detecive Jones.” the girl's mother approaches John. “I wanted to thank you for returning my daughter. I heard that your partner didn't make it back. I'm so sorry for your loss.”

“These are the moments she lived for.” John says not truly in reply to what the woman had said, but more in reflection. “It's not often in our line of work that there is a happy ending usually there isn't even a body to bury. Lindsey ran off these moments though she'd be happy to know that her death would help bring one of these moments about.”

Dorothy Alberts repeats her words of gratitude before slipping away to be with her family. John continues watching the family til he feels a strong hand on his shoulder. “Come on Jones. Let's give the family some time alone.” Commissioner Rawlings says with an uncharacteristic gentleness.

The two men began to walk through the hospital halls. “You did good work on this case let's just hope we can catch the girl's father and bring him to justice for the lives he has taken. I was sorry to hear Detective Tomlin was lost when you raided the hideout of the kidnappers. I know the last thing you want to hear is me rattling off a bunch of cliches, but your stuck listening to me for at least a few more minutes.”

Rawlings pauses as the two come to a stop in one of the waiting areas of the hospital. John can't help, but notice the native American man sitting in the corner his headdress painting a drastic contrast to the white walls of the waiting room.

“I remember the first time I lost a partner. Taylor Plummer he was one of the good guys for sure. I still remember the look on his wife's face when I broke the news to her. It took me a long time to figure out everything I know now. I sure wish I'd had someone who knew what I was going through who could have told me what I'm telling you. Don't forget about her John. Never try to forget her. Remember what happened to Tomlin wasn't your fault and if it was John forgive yourself. Don't let guilt hang around it'll eat you alive. And John if you need someone to talk to remember my door is always open.” Rawlings gives John a reassuring hand shake as he walks away. John noticed during his talk with Rawlings that the Native American man's eyes never left him. John crosses the room in three steps,

“I can't help, but notice that your eyes have been glued to me for the past several minutes. Do you care to explain why?” John questions

“Sit.” The Native American replies.

John follows the directive before answering back. “I don't even know who you are?”

“But I know who you are J'onn.” John flinches as he hears his true martian name, “Now would you please listen to my offer?” the man says.

“How do you know who I am?” John says.

“I know plenty of things about you. For one I know what really happened in Lycan, Detective.”

John pauses at the statement that hangs in the air for a moment.

“Do you prefer Detective or J'onn?”

“Detective will work fine. Mind giving me a name?”

“My name is Time, Detective. My faces have been many over the years. I work for S.H.A.D.E though you'll find no records of us. Our job is to deal with the evils that lurk in the shadows. Detective you've been touched by such evils tonight.” Father times tells John.

“So what is this about, Time?” John's asks his patience clearly running thin.

“Detective, to cut to the point I'm here to offer you a job. S.H.A.D.E is always searching for new operatives. If you join our team you'll spearhead the formation of S.H.A.D.E team two. With our funding we make sure all of our operatives live comfortably; and have the counseling and resources they need to deal with any issues they might have. You'd be able to help on a much greater level with us John. You're dealing with murders while my people are dealing with genocides.”

“I'm sorry but I'm not interested,Time. Here on Earth; I'm John Jones. I left J'onn J'onnz behind when Adam Strange sent me here to Earth.”

“Whenever you grow tired of running from your true nature, J'onn. S.H.A.D.E. will be waiting for you.” With that the Native American gets to his feet and walks away leaving John frozen in thought.

****

Detecive Tomlin's funeral is held on Mt. Sanitas; the snow on the mountainside has been light for this time of the year. Nonetheless, the funeral looks like it was ripped from a painting by Albert Bierstadt Lindsey's mother decided since there was no body to bury the best way to go about things would be to spread her ashes over the place she loved spending time when she was away from work. Lindsey use to tell John stories about all the time she spent in these mountains growing up. Each thought of his lost partner was painful; the guilt kept him from going near the urn and spreading the ashes. He watches Sam Wright throwing the ashes into the wind; the ashes drift off so peacefully in the wind. The serenity of the moment clashes with John's last memory of Lindsey.

Sidney Alberts and her family come to show their respect for the brave woman who sacrificed herself to reunite their family. On their return to the town car that they arrived in the family stops in front of John. Dorothy Alberts gives John a polite hug while telling her daughter, “This is the man who brought you back to us, Marissa.”

The teenage girl looks up at John with respect and gratitude. No words are exchanged, but a lot is said. The girl embraces John briefly before the family pulls her away. John watches the car pull away from the funeral grateful that the girl is okay after her ordeal.

Sam Wright approaches John from behind the crunch of the snow under his feet gives him away. John turns as Sam gets within an arm's length of him. The punch connects with John's jaw causing a hollow crack to break through the mountain air.

“You were suppose to protect her!” Sam screams.

“Sam, I did all that I could.”

“It should be your body out there not hers, John. Then you have the guile to show up here and not even spread the ashes. What kind of partner are you, John?” Sam spits with each word working himself up as he shoots the venomous words at John. John just takes it because he can; Sam needs to vent these feelings.

“That's enough, Wright. John's got enough on his plate without you laying blame on his plate.” Crowne says as he pulls Sam away from John.

John stares out into the valley while the snow begins to fall.

****

Epilogue I: The Council of Shadows

The Senator sits before the Council deacons chained to a chair awaiting judgment. The men sit above him on a raised platform. Each one wears a symbol of a golden cross inside a silver circle with a single golden slash running across the circle around their neck. Each one bears a individualized mark on their left cheek indicating they are senior members of the Council. The roaring fire in the center of the room licks his the Senator's arms.

“You've caused the Council a great deal of embarrassment this day. What do you have to say for yourself?” One of the Deacons, whose face has what appears to be a large snake coiled up under his eye, states.

“I was coerced into speech. There was a foreign prescience in my mind pushing the secrets forward. The man, the detective, he wasn't normal. He had something that was more then human about him. I don't know what it was, but he was in my head.”

“Regardless, you have betrayed the Council you have revealed our very existence. As we stand on the cusp of war with the lycans. You've turned over to them their greatest possible asset; you've returned their queen to them. If the lycans are united under one ruler the power we have will be lost.” a second deacon, whose left cheek bears the icon of the crescent moon, says.

The Deacons pass a slip of paper between themselves. All of them nod in agreement. The third deacon, whose face bears a feather beneath his left eye, comes down from the raised platform where the three deacons had been seated. The feathered deacon grabs a prod from near the fire; placing it into the flames he waits as it gets hot.

“This is your punishment for your betrayal. You will never gain a sign of distinction instead you will bare the mark of betrayal. We set you up for greatness and instead you have failed us because you fell to earthly feelings.”

Pulling the prod from the fire he plunges into the face of the Senator. Searing his face from temple to temple and from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin. The flesh on his lips melts away instantly.

“ARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!” The Senator cries out in pain as he writhes in his chair. The pain just too much.

“This is your cross to bear, Senator. This burn shall not heal till you redeem yourself for your betrayal. The Council has cast you out and this mark will make sure none of our operatives will help you. In order to regain your honor and place among the council you must kill John Jones.”

****

Epilogue II: Rise of the Lycans

Lindsey's eyes dart around the new cave, following John and Marissa escaping the Lycans deemed a move was in order. Lindsey lays paralyzed on the cold stone table as a lone lycan approaches the table. He stands over her for a moment saying some words in a long lost lycan language. The Lycan is presented with a knife by another priest.

“I apologize my queen; this will only hurt for a moment.” The Priest plunges the knife into the belly of Detective Tomlin. Tomlin is thrown into a set of convulsions as the knife enters her flesh. Thrashing around the entire Lycan pack watches as her bones begin cracking. Jet black fur begins sprouting out of her skin. Her eyes change from their normal green to a bright red that could cut through a man's very soul.

As the queen rises to her feet the pack let's loose a fierce howl.

Which is answered by their Queen whose howl pierces through all of the others rising above the rest of the pack.

Lindsey Tomlin is no more. Only Ti'lfa, Queen of the Lycans remains.