Traitor Game L: Existential Crisis

[The Purple Skull]

"I do apologize for the inconvenience this seems to be," Harbinger replies, "but I can assure I am playing no mere games. We are faced with a task of utmost importance, and it affects your homeworld."

"If this affects Thanagar, then why did you transport me here without my consent?!

I don't know about any of you, but something is not adding up here. Harbinger, you say? Who do you represent? Rann? Krypton? Those scum Gordanians? From the looks of it, you might be one of those navel gazing Earthlings."

[Cthulhudrew]

"I don't know about any of you, but something is not adding up here. Harbinger, you say? Who do you represent? Rann? Krypton? Those scum Gordanians? From the looks of it, you might be one of those navel gazing Earthlings."

"Hey, watch it, pal!" Rick shook his index finger at the Rannian. "Some of us Earthlings have saved the world once 'er twice!"

[Anodyne]

Dex-Starr's small size made it easy for him to remain unnoticed in the crowd. He studied the other beings with interest. The duck bearing guns particularly intrigued him. Dex-Starr would normally regard a bird--any bird--as a potential meal; but this one seemed more predator than prey. He was clearly no more an ordinary bird than Dex-Starr was an ordinary cat. He would bear watching.

[Joe Acro]

"If this affects Thanagar, then why did you transport me here without my consent?!

I don't know about any of you, but something is not adding up here. Harbinger, you say? Who do you represent? Rann? Krypton? Those scum Gordanians? From the looks of it, you might be one of those navel gazing Earthlings."

"I did not say. You heard that... elsewhere," she says mysteriously, "from the same source that brought you here. I was born on Earth, yet raised here in this space station." Harbinger lifts her head and her arms, motioning to the large station that envelopes them.

[The Purple Skull]

"Hey, watch it, pal!" Rick shook his index finger at the Rannian. "Some of us Earthlings have saved the world once 'er twice!"

"And I suppose you are one of the champions of that backwards planet?"


OOC: Did you just call Hawkman a Rannian?!

[Wolvie616]

It was a glorious night. Stars twinkled like diamonds, dazzling the eye, and illuminating the world. It was the kind of night that man stayed on the grass of a hill, looking up with wonder. And in that wonder, a man could contemplate his place in the world, and question the nature of things. It was the primeval urge to explore and find the unknown that made the stars so fascinating to man. On the mind and lips of every man, woman and child at some point in their lives: What's out there? Is anybody there?

There is.

Far beyond, in the realm of stars, there is a bridge crafted of rainbows. This bridge is dazzling and brilliant, refracting every hue and shade of color of the rainbow. It truly is one of the great wonders of the cosmo. This wondrous bridge leads to the answer of that primeval question, for it leads to a home. It leads to Asgard.

Asgard, home of the gods. Home to Odin the One Eye. Balder the Brave. Sif the Warrior. Volstagg the Voluminous. Names of legend, echoed through every part of the cosmos. People of Honor and Virtue; Warriors without peer. In this enchanted land is Valhalla, home of the greatest heroes known to man and myth. Where deeds performed millenia ago are celebrated daily. Where man and woman alike is honored for his bravery, his skill, and his valor. And in this place, one name is spoken of above all the rest.

THOR. SON OF ODIN. PRINCE OF ASGARD. THOR THE THUNDERER. THOR, THE MIGHTY AVENGER.



It was he, on that fateful day, that was called by the Harbinger of Fate. For on this day, Thor would begin his quest to fulfill his Destiny, and conquer his greatest adventure. Here, he would perform his greatest feats, as he was called upon to assist in the saving of all that there ever was or will be.

On this day, Thor was chosen for the TRAITOR GAME

[Cthulhudrew]

"And I suppose you are one of the champions of that backwards planet?"

"You betcher sweet..."

"Richard..." Banner warned.

"... tailfeathers I am, bucko!"

OOC: Did you just call Hawkman a Rannian?!

OOC: Oh that's right. He's a Thanagarian. Rann is Adam Strange, right?

Hm... Arkon Strange...

[Deadpooligan]

ULTRA ROGUE - THE PROLOGUE

'SLEAZEWORLD'. THE PRESENT.



"Look! Up in the atmosphere!"
"It's a Shi'ar!"
"It's a starship...!"
"No-- it's ULTRA ROGUE! Flee, my kin, fleeeeeeaaaaAAAAIIIIIIEEEEGH!"

The sky itself burns a crimson red as a stellar heat consumes and vaporizes the group of Brood warriors. A smoking landscape then no sooner graced by a quip, delivered in an unmistakable Southern accent.

"There is just something about deep fryin' that always warms this girl's heart a li'l bit."

ULTRA ROGUE has entered the fray-- turning the tide of a fierce battle between the diabolical parasitic alien BROOD and the champions of the Virgo Supercluster, the UNCANNY X-LEGION. The fate of the peaceful ACANTI hangs in the balance, moreso now than ever, with the BROOD QUEEN forced to reveal herself in a desperate gamble for spacefaring supremacy!

Two of Rogue's teammates recover, uncovering their eyes from the powerful and blinding display.

"Bozhe Moi! Katherine, are you--?!"
"I'm fine, phased just in the nick of time! Good thing these Sleazoids don't share my mutant power..."

A harried and angered voice comes over the team's communicators.

"Ultra Rogue!! How many times have I told you exercise restraint with your Flash Vision! You could have injured FERROUS and SHADOW GIRL with that blast. Why, one slip just then--!"

Not that her commanding officer could see, and not that she cared if he did, Rogue rolled her eyes and interjected; "An' how many times do ah have to tell you, MAKER-- y'could have all the tech ingenuity in the 'verse and it ain't enough t'collar me? Ah handled that flank a'Broods, and everybody else can handle the fight planetside, so it's up to me to help the Acanti--"

She adjusted her jacket, flexing and steadying herself before rocketing skyward, her shoulder patch shimmering against the starlight.



"--an' y'all know ah've been mighty close to those space whales!"

But before she can continue her pursuit, she's intercepted by a flash-- what looks like a bolt of lightning!

"NATURE GODDESS! What just happened out there?"

"By the Bright Lady, my love-- it's Rogue-- she has disappeared!"

A bolt of lightning! And 14 unique individuals from multiple realities find themselves mysteriously transported to a space station in an undisclosed location. In the main chamber, deep within the Monitor's satellite, the powers have been assembled.

From a platform higher above, Harbinger speaks. "Call me Harbinger. We, myself and my allies, will address why we have brought you here shortly. Please make yourselves at home. By the nature of what we plan to do, you will be here for a lengthy period of time. Call my name, and I will address any questions you have about this place, or each other."

Ultra Rogue takes in her surroundings, one Hyper-Sense at a time. There was ambient cosmic energy here. It felt... different. Wherever she was, it wasn't anything like home.

"Ah'm no stranger to space, an' unfortunately no stranger to the occasional kidnapping by people I ain't nevah met before, but would it kill ya'll to ask 'please' just once?"

She shrugged her shoulders. Might as well get hip to the program. Harbinger said there'd be answers soon enough.

[Indigo Al]

Earth-IA

Sailing across the English Channel to the British Isles was the finest ship of the Carolingian Empire. It bore The Empire's ruler, Arak Magnus, King of Thunder, Heir to Carolus Magnus, High Jarl of the Norsemen, Last Son of the Quontauka.



It was not a long journey but it felt so to him and to his former enemy, now consort, the witch queen Angelica of White Cathay.



She drew a thick white fur cloak about her and joined Arak as the King stared out into the sea.

"You're anxious, love."


"Aren't you?"

"We could escape the Crisis, together in my Netherworld, and live there for eternity"


"That hell would be no more preferable than the end of all existence."

She sighed. "I still don't understand why we travel by ship. Malagigi or I could have magicked us here. You could have taken to the skies."


"Camelot is owed this courtesy, Angelica. Despite our differences with the Pendragon, I don't wish to flaunt power. Not when we're all united in this dread hour."

She laughed. "And how do you think the delegations from Atlantis, Gemworld, Skartaris and Myrrha will travel? Do you believe for one second they care to show respect for Round Table? Or fear Le Fay and the Merlin, and his pet demon?" She placed a slender hand on the hard muscles of his shoulder. Arak tensed at her touch.

She glared at him. "And I know you're still pining for her. You share my bed, but you still think of the little Iron bitch, now that the apocalypse is truly upon us. Valda left you, son of thunder. And I, I am still here." She pulled away from him in frustration and anger and hurt.

TO BE CONTINUED.

[Chris Lang]

Ultra Rogue takes in her surroundings, one Hyper-Sense at a time. There was ambient cosmic energy here. It felt... different. Wherever she was, it wasn't anything like home.

"Ah'm no stranger to space, an' unfortunately no stranger to the occasional kidnapping by people I ain't nevah met before, but would it kill ya'll to ask 'please' just once?"

"So what happened? Did this woman appear before you and tell you that you were needed?" Hummingbird asked.

"You can call me Hummingbird, by the way."

Linda realized that while they were waiting for answers, she might as well get to know just who it was she was stranded with. So far, she didn't recognize anyone. No one here appeared to be anyone she'd seen in person, or even seen pictures of. She wondered where the Justice League or the Justice Society were doing all of this.

[Masterbasset]

The Weaver had found a spot. A lovely little alcove where the light and wall bent just right and close enough so others could still interact with him if need be. He could see this webweave of relationships and questioning unfurl, and will be able to remedy and make better any blemishes.

On his way over, there was a divot in the ground that just ruined the entire aesthetic of the space station. This should be fixed. With his most human appendages, he palmed the metal of the facility and smoothed it out to match the rest of the floor paneling, muttering happily. It was Fixed. Happy day.

He hung his new pair of scissors in the most pleasing spot he could find and made the spot His. The space around it held the pair of scissors in place to Weaver's liking.

His fellow Players began to speak. He watched as new paths and additions were festooned to the Worldweave with every word spoken. How delightful!

"Wait a minute. I've heard about something like this. The Anti-Monitor ... he isn't back, is he? The Justice League assured us he was dead."

...OH YES MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT MONITOR OF THE VOID MAKES INEXPERT INARTICULATE RIPPLES AND TEARS EVEN AS WE SPEAK I AM AGHAST HIS WAVE AND TORRENT CONTINUES UNCHECKED...

He brought a fist down onto an open palm.

...WE MUST WIN...

"You there! I do not know why you brought me here, and quite honestly, I do not care! I am at war, and I do not have time for your petty games, woman! Return me to my homeworld this instant!"

"I do apologize for the inconvenience this seems to be," Harbinger replies, "but I can assure I am playing no mere games. We are faced with a task of utmost importance, and it affects your homeworld."

...BIRDMAN OF PREY WARRIOR OF UNCOUTH TIMES THE HARBINGER IS RIGHT NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR FAR THE PLACE YOU COME FROM IS IT IS ALL AFFECTED THE ENTIRE WEB IS AT STAKE AND WE MUST BAND TOGETHER WE CHOSEN FEW AND PLAY THE PROPOSED GAME...

[Joe Acro]

"I am afraid I can answer no further questions. Rather, now that you have all become acclimated, it seems time for someone to offer some explanations."

"Do not blame poor Harbinger. She answered as much as I allowed," says a figure in shadow. "Ah, right. I still have the 'shadow' setting on. Give me a moment to brighten this hallway."

The figure touches a nearby control panel.

"And now, let me properly introduce myself. I am... The Monitor!"



"And I have summoned you here because your universes are about to die!"

"Whoa, there's no need to be so melodramatic." Everyone turns to see a man who has entered the room from behind them. On his feet are two large metallic boots that rise past his knees; they have been pulled over his red and white striped pants. Along his belt, he wears two guns, a rifle and a blaster, each currently sitting in their respective holsters--the rifle on his right, the blaster on his left. On his upper body, he wears a long-sleeved, loose-fitting red shirt with a large yellow lightning bolt crossing his chest, a bolt familiar to some of those present. On the shirt is a small pin of a top hat with a design reminiscent of the U.S. flag.



"Hi, I'm Roy Lincoln. Call me Roy." In a burst of super speed, he runs around the room, shaking each person's hand, each time saying, "Nice to meet you!"

After Roy has finished, the Monitor asks, "Are you quite through?" Roy salutes. The Monitor sighs.

"As I was saying, your universes are in peril. A force wall of anti-matter is constantly expanding, engulfing universes in its path, destroying all life. Already over a thousand universes have been lost. If we do not act, it will reach each of your worlds, and each will die."

"Then send me home! Send me back to Thanagar, so I can fight this threat myself!" Hawkman shouts.

Roy approaches him. "I brought you here, Hawkman. You and a few of the others. I know what problems you all faced and the lives you led. I assure you that your presence here will serve your homeworlds best. Please, hear us out."

The Monitor mutters to Harbinger, "I hated these worlds once. Hawkman reminds me why."

She puts a hand on his shoulder and replies, "Please be patient. They will understand."

The Monitor nods and, sitting in a chair on an elevated platform in front of them, continues. "I am a being of positive matter. It gives me power. And every universe that this anti-matter wall destroys robs me of my power. I weaken with each universe that falls."

Jimmy Kudo interjects, "So you don't care about us. You just want your power back!"

The Monitor responds, "I despised all these alternate worlds and their existences, but I made a vow to forgive their transgressions and fight for them. I can't do that if this wave of anti-matter persists. What is at stake now is bigger than my former grudges, or any animosity you might hold toward us. If we do not act, all of reality will be destroyed."

[Joe Acro]

"I know what some of you are thinking," Roy chimes in. "This sounds like a problem your world has faced before and has thwarted. This one is different. Harbinger, care to help me out with some visual aids?"

"I can assist you." She walks, then stops beside him. She outstretches her right palm, and from it images fill the air as Roy describes the situation.

"This anti-matter force wave is controlled by a different Monitor, this Monitor's negative universe mirror image. For the sake of clarity and convenience, we'll call him the Anti-Monitor."



"For every universe he destroys, he gains power."

Harbinger plays the destructions of previous universes.

"Here's where this story differs from those of other universes. This Anti-Monitor learned that he can take power not just from one universe, not just a collection of universes we call a multiverse, but from all of reality. The Anti-Monitor of your world might be defeated. For some of you, this is 'your' Anti-Monitor. Either way, he needs to be stopped before he destroys everything. But I'm sounding as dramatic as The Monitor did earlier. Simply put, we need your help to stop him, to prevent more devastation."

"We have a simple task before us. Within the multiverse that spawned this Monitor and this Anti-Monitor are objects of power. This satellite will traverse universes and, with your help, we can claim these artifacts and halt the progress of the anti-matter force. Will you help us?"

After they all come around, Harbingers adds, "For now, you should rest for the trials to come. I am able to duplicate myself. Anywhere you travel within this station, one of my bodies will be near you. Simply ask, and I will assist you."

"And to further assist you," The Monitor states, rising from his chair. "I'll bring someone from my force, my Wanderers, who currently have an equally important task. Clark Sparks! Heed my call! Always wanted to say that."

In a FWAAASH, he appears!



"Help prepare these... individuals for the job ahead."

[Masterbasset]

"Hi, I'm Roy Lincoln. Call me Roy." In a burst of super speed, he runs around the room, shaking each person's hand, each time saying, "Nice to meet you!"

In their brief contact, The Weaver hopped up and down and giddily shook Roy's outstretched hand with both of his own, all the while muttering metaphors and exclamations he deemed fitting.

"I despised all these alternate worlds and their existences, but I made a vow to forgive their transgressions and fight for them. I can't do that if this wave of anti-matter persists. What is at stake now is bigger than my former grudges, or any animosity you might hold toward us. If we do not act, all of reality will be destroyed."

The Weaver perked up at the first of the Monitor's words, stopping his internal gospel and ignoring the appearance of the Harbinger's duplicates.

...AH MONITOR FROM ONE ARTIST TO ANOTHER I MUST POINT OUT THAT ALL WORLDS ARE ALTERNATIVE WORLDS TO SOMEONE ONE WORLD CANNOT HAVE GREATER IMPORTANCE OVER ANY OTHER FROM ANY ONE PERSPECTIVE AN INFINITE NUMBER OF BEAUTIFUL LOCALES AND REALMS MAY BE MISLABELED AS LESSER YOU MUST SEE THAT THE WORLDFABRIC CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF STRING...

[Jeremi]

Cyborg Sage would have been quiet when people started arguing and new individuals arrived. She tried to scan the individuals in the room but the majority of them came up blank. Even so she'd stand arms crossed trying to assess the situation.