Written by Barry Reese
Mistakes
May 12, 4022
What Has Come Before : Magnus and his allies, the Starwatchers, found themselves trapped in Sub-Space, a realm outside the normal time/space continuum. Aided by several timelost heroes, Magnus managed to convince the mad Dr. Tempus to help restore the normal flow of reality -- but the Robot Fighter was troubled to learn that the source of the disturbance was an energy wave centered in the early 21st Century. Elsewhere, Elzy has been altered in some unknown way by a group of rogue freewills....
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid Designate : Bos-411. Gehenna Level
Magnus could barely contain his shock -- the North Am Senate, assembled in the depths of Gehenna. It was amazing how many changes had been wrought by the Malevs and the Destroyer. When Solar had eradicated the Malev influence from Earth, he'd helped devastate much of the Atl-320 Grid, forcing the Senate below the milespires. It was something that, even only a scant year ago, would have been inconceivable.
"Magnus! What do you think of the Psi-Lords? Are they going to betray us again?" The senator's voice rang out over the noisy chamber, which was filled to capacity with senators and spectators. In addition, the session was being transmitted out to the rest of the world and the colonies. The return of Magnus had been a major news story and President Shooter had insisted the best way to handle things was for Magnus to address the people of the world directly. So far, the question and answer session had dealt mainly with how the Robot Fighter had managed to survive and return.
Magnus stepped towards the podium, looking out over the assembled throng. Not so long ago, he'd been President of North Am, convinced that at long last humanity was going to throw off their need for robots. He'd been wrong. "I would be lying to you if I said I trusted Gryffen. I think that the Starwatchers, by their very nature, will do whatever they think is necessary to safeguard their plans. That sometimes means they'll be underhanded in their dealings." A renewed burst of murmuring intensified until Magnus raised his hands for silence. "However... in light of the incredible losses we've suffered, I'm not sure we can rebuild on our own. If it were just a matter of rebuilding an infrastructure, of putting in some backbreaking labor, then I have no doubt that we could overcome these troubles. But it's more than that. Many of our food processing plants have been eradicated. We've been forced to re-open many of our droid processing plants and we're currently in a treaty with the freewill consortium... These are trying, unusual times. I think that President Shooter has done the very best he could under the circumstances."
Shooter breathed a sigh of relief. He was standing near Magnus, his stomach tied in knots. He'd always seen the Robot Fighter as a living legend, but he'd feared that Magnus would criticize him in some way and undermine his power. Thankfully, that wasn't happening.
Magnus pressed on. "Many of you have learned that my son, Torque, is now counted among the Starwatchers. I would vouch for him with my life. If he says the Starwatchers can be trusted... then I'll take his word for it."
Nikolas Clane rose. Magnus felt his heart jump to his throat as he saw the resemblance the young Clane bore to Leeja. "Magnus... How can you say these things? Even after the way the Psi-Lords betrayed you?!"
Magnus kept his face neutral. He'd noticed that you could tell a person's leanings on this subject by the term they used to describe the peacekeeping force -- Psi-Lords was considered far more of an insult than the more politically neutral Starwatchers name. "Like I said before, my son is a Starwatcher now. They didn't have to save his life, but they did. For that, I'll always be in their debt. I'm not saying we shouldn't watch them closely... I certainly will and I know that President Shooter will, as well. But we need them. Those of you who've seen Atl-320 in recent days have seen the incredible progress that's being made, with freewill and Starwatcher assistance. A new Golden Age could be upon us, one in which man, robot and Starwatcher can be allies and not enemies."
Shooter watched, impressed, as Magnus spoke. He's certainly charismatic... which means I should be doubly sure he's in my corner in the days to come.....
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid Designate : Bos-411. Milespires.
Glia stood waiting for him as Magnus exited the Senate chamber. Her emerald, metallic boy gleamed in the sun's rays. The symbol of a scarab was carved into her forehead and long tendrils of 'hair' fell down her back, giving her an unearthly beauty. "You-did-well-friend-Magnus."
Magnus smiled. "You're too kind. I hated being up there. Everyone's looking to me for all the answers again, and I have none to give. It's Shooter's ballgame now."
Glia fell into step with him as they moved up into the milespire territory. Tall, gleaming buildings, newly restored, were everywhere. Repair robs scurried on the outsides of the buildings, doing repair work while the Starwatchers supervised. "You-command-great-respect. Your-opinion-will-always-be-valued. You-are-a-hero."
Magnus glanced at her. "But not to all. Is there a lot of opposition to me in the Freewill High Council?"
Glia managed to look uncomfortable. "Yes. Many-see-you-as-the-Robot-Fighter-only. They-will-not-forgive-your-attempts-to-eradicate-us."
"I don't blame them. I can explain away all the rogue freewills I've fought and slagged over the years, but my presidential order to have all freewills destroyed was wrong. I realized that before my death, but since my rebirth I see it even more clearly."
Magnus and Glia stepped onto a moving sidewalk, part of an increasingly thin group of pedestrians. "You-admit-your-error. You-have-made-actions-to-correct-your-mistakes. To-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-freewill."
Magnus laughed out loud and placed a hand on Glia's shoulder. "Well put. Still, maybe I can visit the High Council and...." His voice trailed off and he narrowed his eyes.
"What-is-wrong?"
Magnus stepped in front of Glia and looked about him. The crowd of people were gone now, having slowly drifted apart. Now only Magnus and the freewill ambassador rode the people mover, which rode steadily on towards a small alleyway. "Maybe nothing. But I've learned to trust my instincts -- and they're telling me that we're headed right into an ambush."
Before Glia could respond, Magnus saw three large robs step into view. Two of them were battle robs, used in the past for gladitorial combat. The third was a refitted pol-rob, part of the corps of robots who had once served as North-Am's police force. The pol-rob pointed a metal finger at Magnus. "Magnus-for-crimes-against-robotkind-you-are-sentenced-to-deactivation. The-true-freewill-patriots-know-that-are-not-to-be-trusted!"
Glia's vocabulator registered alarm when she said "Magnus! We-must-flee."
Magnus, however, stood his ground. He cracked his knuckles and smiled. "You go. I think this is a clear-cut case of self-defense... and I need the workout."
Magnus burst forward with surprising speed. His reflexes, which had begun to return to their youthful glory during his stay in the Lost Land, were now back to a pre-Malev War level. Magnus jumped into the air, kicking out with a powerful blow. It connected with the larger of the two battle robs, sending his head flying.
The Robot Fighter landed on his feet, ducking beneath the second battle rob's attack. These would-be assassins were dangerous foes, but Magnus had spent the better part of his life battling robots. He could predict their actions with almost startling accuracy. Magnus ducked and parried a few times more before bringing up his palm. He caught the rob's fist in his, applying pressure. The rob's hand began to crack under the strain.
"Who sent you?"
The pol-rob, who had moved around behind the Robot Fighter, slammed a fist into his kidneys. "We-represent-the-best-interests-of-the-freewill-community. There-are-many-who-will-never-forgive-never-forget-your-attempted-genocide-of-freewills."
Magnus, still holding the battle rob's hand, summoned all his Harbinger-born strength. He ripped the rob's arm out of its socket and wielded it like a club against the pol-rob. "Your leaders seem to disagree with you. Glia is willing to forgive me."
"Then-she-is-a-traitor."
Magnus slammed the pol-rob again, driving the arm right through the other robot. A flash of sparks ended the pol-rob's existence. The Robot Fighter turned, eager to see if the one-armed battle rob wanted more, but the robot had fled the scene.
Magnus looked about him, at the metal carnage that surrounded him, and sighed. Why was it, even after all these years, did he only feel truly alive when he was in combat?
North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid Designate : Bos-411. Gehenna Level.
Elzy strode out of his ruined living area and headed straight for the trans-tube that would take her out of Gehenna. She didn't respond to anyone who greeted her along the way, instead choosing to maintain a silence that would seem especially eerie to anyone who knew the spunky scavenger very well. Her eyes were steel-hard and unblinking. Within her veins, something stirred.
Elzy stepped into the trans-tube, her mind a blank except for one, repeating thought -- the day of humanity was at an end. The victory of the freewills was at hand.
May 14, 4022. North Am Metroplex. Eastern Seaboard. Grid Designate : Atl-320. Milespire.
Magnus sat in his new apartment, watching the news vids and drinking from an synthenol beverage. He'd had numerous invitations to travel, of course, but he'd done enough of that in the few weeks since he'd returned from sub-space. Japan had been his first stop, taking time to catch up with Obie and Torque. Then a tour of the decimated North Am led by Shooter. It seemed almost like he hadn't had a chance to catch his breath since returning. Today was the day for it.
A sudden buzzing at his door made him frown. He crumpled the drink container in his hand and stood up. "Yes?"
A voice came through the speaker system. It was that of an older, kindly gentleman. The sort of voice that made you feel cozy and safe. "Magnus? I was hoping to see you... it's been a long time."
Magnus frowned and turned on the exterior viewscreen. He didn't recognize the voice, though something about it.... He saw a bald, middle-aged man looking up at the viewer. For a moment, Magnus paused. So many of his memories had been scrambled after his resurrection... but those eyes... "1-A?"
The man smiled warmly. "Yes."
Magnus opened the doors, letting him in. For a long moment, they stood regarding one another. 1-A broke the silence. "I knew you would return."
Magnus rubbed his chin. "You're human*."
(*Towards the end of the Valiant series, Magnus learned that Freewills had found a way to 'become' human. 1-A himself underwent this process.)
"Hmm. I suppose. Human enough, is what I think. It was necessary -- for a time there, it was dangerous to be robotic and freewill."
Magnus flinched at that. How could he have done it? How could he have ordered the destruction of all freewills when he'd been raised by one? "I'm... sorry."
1-A shrugged. "No need to be. You make mistakes. It happens."
The Robot Fighter couldn't tear his eyes away from his mentor's face. Where once he'd been a typical robot, with spindly legs and arms, he was now... a man.
1-A held his arms out. "I'm sorry, too. For not telling you about the failsafe that would revive you if you died. For not warning you how hard it would be. And I'm sorry... about Leeja."
Magnus hesitated only a moment before embracing 1-A. All the emotions that had been slowly coming back to him broke through suddenly and the might robot fighter squeezed his mentor tightly. "I miss her."
1-A patted the Robot Fighter's back. "I know, my son. I know." He felt Magnus' tears on his shoulders and he held on even tighter. "But you and I have been given a rare opportunity... both of us have been reborn in a sense. And we have to make sure that we uphold the memory of those who perished along the way. We can make sure they're never forgotten."
Magnus brought his face close to the being who had raised him. For the first time, he felt a warm cheek against his. Tenderly, he kissed his 1-A's face. "I missed you, old timer."
1-A could only smile. "Welcome home. This time, we'll make sure you never leave again."
May 18, 4022 -- Sol System. Unity Colony.
Solar the Destroyer sat on his throne-like chair, energy crackling about his light-based form. Down below, on Earth, the Starwatchers were massing again. He'd hoped that by returning Magnus home*, he'd foil some of their plans... that the Robot Fighter would keep an eye on the situation and let the Destroyer turn his attentions elsewhere. But it seemed that Magnus, too, had fallen for the Starwatchers' lies.
(*In Magnus, Robot Fighter # 67.)
"You gonna destroy 'em? I think you should. One more time, Alice, and BOOM! Right in da kisser!" The inky black figure who circled his throne was Dr. Eclipse, an old foe of the original Solar. If there was such a thing. When you'd split as many times as Solar had, it was hard to tell.
"Go away. You don't exist."
Dr. Eclipse reared up in front of the Destroyer. He grinned like an idiot. "I think, therefore I am. Isn't that right? Look, Phil, I don't give a rat's patootie if you believe in me or not... but I'm ready to blow something up. Can we?"
Solar tried to look away, but everywhere he turned, he saw only Eclipse. I'm going crazy. The hallucinations*... the breakdowns... the paranoia. It's happening again.
(*Check out Magnus, Robot Fighter # 65 for the first of them.)
Solar glanced up to see Eclipse growing in size, threatening to envelop him. "Give in for a little while, Phil. Cut loose. Go nuts. We'll have a party."
Solar the Destroyer screamed as the madness threatened to overtake him. He twisted and writhed in agony as the sickness within his mind welled up and exploded outwards in a burst of starlight.
A figure developed out of the starlight, looking down at the shivering figure of the Destroyer. He wore a black variant of the Solar costume, his visor gone. In its place, his eyes shown like twin suns. On his chest, in the place of the familiar sunburst symbol, there was only a stylized skull. "I think it's time to show you what being a Destroyer really means, Phil...."
Next Issue : Looks pretty bad, doesn't it? What does the new Destroyer want and can anything in the galaxy stand up to him? Plus : a blast from the past returns!
AUTHOR'S NOTES
No letters. Is anyone out there?!
Barry Reese
Write me at aric_dacia@yahoo.com