Written by Barry Reese
The Silver Age, Part One
April 20, 4022
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid Designate : Bos-411. Gehenna Level.
"How could they have allowed this to happen...?" Magnus, Robot Fighter stared at the vidscreen in shock, watching as the horrors of the most recent Malev War flashed in front of him. "So many people dead... Leeja...." The young man stood up quickly, smashing his steel-hard fists into the vidscreen. Energy crackled in response and smoke issued forth from the ruined monitor. "How could I have let this happen?!" The Robot Fighter felt a cold bitterness threaten to overtake him, but he pushed it away quickly. 1-A had trained him better than to lose his temper like that. He was almost glad his mentor was still sleeping in the 'Gold Key' hibernation tubes. So far, only he and Leeja had been released -- released into this mad world where man lived and died in great numbers on the whims of self-declared deities like Solar the Destroyer.
"Magnus? What's wrong?" Leeja stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with alarm. She had one hand raised in front of her protectively and her lower lip trembled. She looked more like a frightened deer than anything else at that moment, but Magnus loved her with all his heart. She stared at his ruined monitor. "Did...did that screen attack you? Was it a freewill in disguise?"
Magnus shook his head slowly and moved towards her. He put one hand protectively around her waist and drew her to him. She melted into his arms. "No. It wasn't a freewill. It's just that the things I've seen on that thing... the horrors of what's happened to this world. It's terrible."
Leeja drew back from him, staring into his eyes. "How did we get here? Do you think... do you think we'll ever be able to get back?"
"Of course we will. I'm not sure how or why we're here -- unless it's a warning to us of what could happen if we aren't careful. Maybe we're meant to go back and change things."
"But what about the others? That man with the green skin and the red costume? Or the Indian?"
Magnus turned away. "I don't know, Leeja. Apparently that man in red is some sort of variant identity of the one they call the Destroyer. It's all very strange... What's the last thing you remember? What was the date?"
Leeja smiled softly. "It was the second of December, 4000. You had just foiled a freewill plot to kill my father and one of the other senators...and then we were going to go skating. I think..." Leeja's smile faltered. "It's all so fuzzy."
"It is for me, too. I remember...parts of things...but they're like unfinished stories."
"Then perhaps it's time for your stories to be told."
Magnus whirled towards the unfamiliar voice. Standing behind Leeja, who quickly rushed to Magnus' side for protection, were two men. One of them was the young Starwatcher named Torque, whom Magnus had learned was his own son, and the other was a taller individual with a flowing moustache. Magnus made a point of watching the stranger as the man entered.
"I am Balaam. I don't suppose you have any memory of me?"
Magnus shook his head. Torque watched him with curiosity. The man before him was barely older than Torque himself and it was disconcerting to try and picture him as his father.
"I've never met you before. Where I come from, we've never heard of Starwatchers."
Balaam nodded. "So. It's true, then. Either you've been regressed in age or else you're not the same Magnus I know...."
Torque spoke up. "I think they're from the past -- it's not just a matter of age regression. My mother," Torque ignored the way Leeja's eyes lit up at his words, "shouldn't be here at all if that were the case."
Balaam rubbed his chin, his eyes never leaving those of Magnus. "Agreed. Something stranger is at work, then. With your permission, young Magnus, I'd like to take you and your still-sleeping companions to the Palisade. The Starwatchers have equipment that might be able to probe your origins -- and send you to your proper place in time, as well."
Leeja looked up at Magnus with worried eyes. "Oh, Magnus, can we trust them? How do we know this isn't all some kind of trick?"
Magnus held her tightly. He set his jaw and looked extremely heroic. "We don't have any choice, Leeja. We'll have to see this through to the end."
Torque, despite the circumstances, couldn't resist a smile. He'd never imagined his father being so... young and naive... and his mother! She was so helpless! If there's any way I can restore you to the way I remember, I promise I will. Both of you. I may have wasted most of my life being jealous and spoiled, but that's going to change -- because right now I might be the only chance you have to come back okay....
North Am Metroplex. Western Seaboard. Grid Designate : LA-307. Milespire.
"Death-to-Magnus!"
The chant was being picked up in increasing numbers as the freewill robots swarmed over the figure of Magnus, Robot Fighter. He'd materialized from the Lost Land* only moments before and had quickly been recognized. LA-307 was mostly freewill these days, having been ceded to the Freewill Consortium after the last Malev War -- something that Magnus was unaware of. As such, he'd found the tremendous number of Freewills in the open very surprising.
(*Where he's been in the last two issues. Barry, Deadline Fighter.)
"What are you doing?! Are your circuits fried?" Magnus ducked a blow from a small courier robot, flashing his fist out in response. It tore through the robot's abdomen, causing it to spark and tremble. "Last time I checked, freewills were illegal in North Am -- you're only going to get yourselves arrested and slagged by massing out in the open like this!"
A battle-rob slammed a metal fist into the robot fighter, something akin to excitement in his voice. "You-are-misinformed-Magnus. The-new-President-has-recognized-our-sovereignty."
Magnus blinked, leaping into the air to avoid another attack. He kicked out a leg and knocked a rob's head clean off, while simultaneously driving an elbow into another attacker. Even in the midst of combat, he couldn't but notice how fluidly he was moving -- the rejuvenating effect he'd felt in the Lost Land was continuing. He felt better than he had in years. "Does he also approve of you attacking North Am citizens?!"
"Stop."
The word was spoken softly, but with such force behind it that the battle ceased at once. The attacking robs fell back almost reverently and Magnus wiped a bit of blood from his lip with the back of his hand. Though he could have fought -- and won, most likely -- against the entire mob, he was still aching from his battle with Mekman and the Bionosaurs in the Lost Land. He wasn't going to turn down a reprieve. He looked at the source of the command and blinked.
Standing before him was a robot shaped into the figure of a woman. Her metallic form was emerald in color, reflecting back the sun's rays in a blinding fashion. The symbol of a scarab was carved into her forehead and long tendrils of 'hair' fell back from her head. For a moment, she reminded him strongly of Tekla.
"Greetings, Magnus. I am Glia of the Freewill Consortium High Council."
Magnus brushed himself off and stepped towards her. "Pardon me if I don't thank you for the warm welcome. What in the name of the Destroyer is the Freewill Consortium?"
Glia moved forward, nodding to the other Freewills. In response, they moved away, though many of them still glared at Magnus. "Are you truly unaware of what has transpired since your disappearance, Magnus?"
"How long has it been?" Magnus glanced about, staring with growing concern at the Freewill community surrounding him. He had taken notice of Glia's smooth mode of speech, as well. Obviously, she'd been outfitted with a very fluid speech program. Perhaps she'd been an ambassador rob?
"Almost a year, friend Magnus."
Magnus grunted. "Friend? You seem to hold a different opinion of me than your fellow Freewills."
Glia nodded. "I knew Tekla well. She thought you were worthy of trust and I agree. Your actions have proven in the past that you are far too complex to be judged merely by your actions as president, no matter how reprehensible they were."
"Hmm. Well, thank you for that much, at least." Magnus ran a hand through his hair. A year? A year since the day Leeja died... "Where's my son, Torque?"
Glia placed a hand on his shoulder. "There are things you need to know, obviously. Your son is now a Psi-Lord...."
Magnus felt his heart drop at those words. The Psi-Lords, or Starwatchers had called themselves, had betrayed his trust -- and now, somehow, his son was one of them.
Psi-Lord Precinct Cluster/Designate : "The Palisade." Sol System.
Psi-Prime Gryffen stared at the four remaining hibernation tubes with narrowed eyes. The technology was like nothing he'd ever seen before -- primitive in some respects, but far advanced in others. "And you say you have no idea how you came to be inside these?"
The young Magnus was looking about the Palisade, marveling in the details. He'd grown up surrounded in the utopia that was North Am in the late 40th Century, but this... this was amazing. "No. Leeja and I remember a few details about the day in question, but no memory of where the tubes come into play."
Gryffen nodded and turned back to face the young robot fighter. They were alone in the testing chamber, at Gryffen's request. He saw definite uses in this situation -- though he felt guilt for having betrayed the elder Magnus, he knew that such a thing wouldn't have been necessary had Magnus entrusted the planet to the Starwatchers to begin with. If this young man proved to be the real Magnus, and he was more susceptible to being swayed, he could be a valuable piece of propaganda for the Starwatchers. "You've been told that a seventh tube was found in the Atl grid?"
"Yes -- is it being brought here, too?"
Gryffen started to reply in the affirmative when a strange alarm blared. It shocked Magnus so much that he dropped into a fighting stance, much to Gryffen's amusement. The Starwatcher activated his communications device with a switch. "Yes?"
The voice that came back was Torque's, sounding strained from the events of recent days. "Long-range scanners are detecting a strange increase in energy -- some kind of wave is heading towards Earth."
Gryffen frowned. "Is it the Destroyer's doing?"
"I don't think so -- the energy signature is nothing like his. Estimated arrival time is five minutes."
Gryffen strode towards the door, eager to get back to the bridge. He felt more in control there and could better assess the danger. "Recall all Starwatchers from Earth, immediately. Maximum priority." The Psi-Prime glanced at Magnus and noted that the youth was already making moves to follow him. "You'd best come too, young Magnus. Your skills might be needed."
En Route to the Palisade, Shuttle Designate Phoenix.
Magnus sat in silence while Glia piloted the shuttle. He had no idea why she'd accompanied him this far, but he didn't mind particularly. Though they'd barely spoken since leaving Earth, Magnus enjoyed her presence. During the silence, he mused over all the things he would have to take care of in the coming days -- contacting 1-A, for one. He had little idea what his old mentor was up to these days, or even if he was still active. For that matter, he would have to check on Obadiah to see how the current Rai was doing. All of those things could wait, however. First, he had to check on Torque -- now that Leeja was gone, Torque's well-being seemed all the more important.
"Shuttle Phoenix requesting permission to board the Palisade. This is Freewill unit Glia, of the Freewill Consortium.
Magnus glanced up as Glia opened the hailing frequency. He heard the terse reply from the Palisade and immediately knew that something was wrong. "Sorry, shuttle Phoenix. The Palisade is locked down. You are encouraged to return to Earth immediately."
Magnus reached over and took the conn before Glia could respond. "Palisade, this is President Magnus. I demand the right to board the Palisade."
A long pause answered him before Balaam's voice carried through. "Magnus? You wouldn't believe how surprised we are to finally hear from you. Permission to land is granted. I know several people who will be very interested in meeting you. Balaam out."
Magnus leaned back in his chair, a chill going down his spine. Something in Balaam's words froze his blood.... What could he have meant?
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid-Designate : Atl-320. Milespire.
President Shooter downed his drink and chewed the ice slowly. He stared at Gryffen's face on the viewscreen. "So, to summarize -- a strange energy wave of unknown origin is headed towards Earth and you've got not one, but two, men claiming to be Magnus onboard the Palisade?"
The Freewill ambassador 9-Z moved quietly behind the President, rubbing his metal hands together in a display of nervousness. The two sentients were holed up in one of the bunkers erected in the ruined Atl-320 grid, with the seventh hibernation tube propped against the wall. "Is-this-energy-wave-dangerous?"
Gryffen answered the question, ignoring Shooter's sarcasm. "Unknown at this time. The Palisade is moving into position to try and catch the wave before it reaches Earth. As for the Magnus situation, that's working itself out even as we speak."
"Grife." Shooter shook his head. North Am couldn't withstand another alien assault, if that's what this energy wave was. Softly, he murmured "I hope that both of them are Magnus. North Am might need two of them to pull its fat out of the fire this time...."
Psi-Lord Precinct Cluster/Designate : "The Palisade." Sol System.
Torque had embraced his father the second the older man had stepped from the shuttle, but he'd quickly recognized that Magnus was looking younger than usual. "Not another one...."
Magnus glanced at his son and shook his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. "It's me, son. I've been in the Lost Land but--" Magnus broke off his words as the door to the shuttlebay opened, revealing the figures of Balaam, Leeja and the younger Magnus.
Leeja stared with an open mouth at the older Magnus, her hand going to her lover's arm. "Magnus, he looks just like you!"
The younger Magnus nodded. "I can see that, Leeja."
Torque remained near his father's side, with Glia nearby. "They -- and a few others -- were found a few days ago. We think they're from the past but we're not sure yet."
The two versions of Magnus moved towards one another. The elder spoke first. "It's like looking into the past..." His eyes moved over to Leeja and a flicker of pain crossed them. "Reminds me of all the things I've lost..."
Balaam cleared his throat. "Pardon me for interrupting -- but we're expecting the energy wave to hit any moment now. Perhaps we should move this to the bridge?"
A sudden shaking of the Palisade sent everyone tumbling and elicited a scream from Leeja. The younger Magnus moved towards her. "What's going on? Has the wave hit already?!"
Balaam nodded. "I'd say so...."
The rest of their words were drowned out by a rising, shrill sound. Reality itself was ripped asunder.
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid-Designate : Atl-320. Milespire.
"I assure you, Senator, as soon as I've heard from the Starwatchers, I'll pass the information along to the senate. In the meantime, we shouldn't be overly alarmed." Shooter was talking in an exasperated tone to an elder senator on the com-net, wishing desperately that he had another drink in his hand. Once he'd drank recreationally -- now it seemed to be a necessary part of getting through the day.
Behind him, 9-Z heard a strange hissing sound. He turned to see the hibernation tube opening slowly. A strange gas floated through the air, but 9-Z ignored it. "Mr-President-we-have-a-situation."
Shooter started to tell the increasingly annoying robot to slag off when he saw a wisp of smoke drift by. He turned and gasped. "What?"
A figure stumbled out from the tube, dressed in garb like Shooter had never seen. He was in the prime of his life, an athletic figure with a look to him that commanded respect, even at a time like this. "Where... am I?"
Shooter cleared his throat. "North Am. Eastern Seaboard, Grid--"
The man waved a hand. "No! The date!"
"April 20, 4022...."
The man straightened. "Then there's still time..." He tugged on his tunic and drew himself up. When he spoke, his voice was deep and carried the strength of command. "My name is Captain Johner and I'm here on a mission of extreme importance. The fate of the galaxy is at stake!"
NEXT ISSUE : Captain Johner?! Yep. The obscure character (created by Magnus creator Russ Manning) is back -- be here for part two of The Silver Age!
LETTERS PAGE
This feedback is probably a bit late but I wanted to read through Anthony Koch's Archer & Armstrong Yearbook afterwards which I never got around to checking out mainly just because it seemed so long. Anyways,Ihad a feeling that Magnus was one of the people in the hybernation tubes from last issue but his identity as the Gold Key version was still a surprise and the appearances of Dr. Solar and the Son of Stone were a huge shocker. I think I have a good guess at the mysterious last memberof the Gold Key 7. Could it be Captain Johner? The only other likely possibility that pops to mind is Professor Harbinger.I'm not all that familiar with DC comics in general so when I read theline about futuristic teenagers talking about a time trapper in the Lost Land, it caught my interest but I didn't realize at first where I hadcome across the term until I remembered him from Dan Jurgens' Zero Hourmini-series. I've never read an issue of Legion of Super-Heroes but that was a cool subtle detail. Needless to say, I really enjoyed seeingArcher, Armstrong, XPH-1 AKA Barry, and especially Geoff again. OnceTeam Harbinger gets up to 1999, I should write an issue with at leastArcher as a guest star since Rai #0 suggests that Pete & Charlene are no longer a couple by then. This issue wasn't a let down at all. It was fantastic and I have a feeling that the Gold Key 7 subplot will be oneof the most memorable events in VF1.
Keith Ehrich
Thanks, Keith! By now you've seen that the mystery member of the Gold Key 7 is, indeed, Captain Johner. Good guess! As for the Legion cameo, I had to work it in -- I'm a lifelong Legion fan and I've had an idea for a Magnus/Legion crossover in my head for awhile. I'll probably never do it, but I couldn't resist sneaking them in. Glad you noticed it.
Hey Barry,
I just finished reading Magnus 66, and have to smile at the ability youhave to combine so much important events and mysteries into one issue.I was thinking of LSH's "SW6 Batch" when I read the issue, and your mentioning it in the lettercol just made me realize how much I miss those Giffen written issues. I just got some back issues of the Giffen run on Magnus, and I'll be giving them a close look now that you're touching on aspects of his run. The lead-in to 1999 and Pandora has me chomping at the bit for those respective issues and events...All in all, a great issue! Looking forward to #67, and the mysterious occupant of the last hibernation tube...
Mike Hintze :)
Thank you, Mike. Glad you're checking into the Giffen run on Magnus -- good stuff!
Barry Reese