Before Leaving Onnotangu (Fan Fiction)

A call from BADGE sent him on a covert mission.

He and Chase found shelter from the government in the secret home of a woman and a group of superpowered children.

After sneaking into a gala hosted by the Supreme Leader, he and Chase were captured.

Chase was taken by Krampus to god knows where.

He had been taken before the party guests and almost killed by the Supreme Leader with a weapon designed to kill those enhanced by Morphons.

He only survived because Shizoe and her younglings had intervened. Shizoe freed him while the children distracted everyone else. The Supreme Leader shot a young boy with the weapon that had been aimed just a few minutes prior at Starmaster.

Then Skelanimal attacked. The heat of battle demanded immediate attention: Fight or die.

Now, after the intervention of so many heroes to defeat the colossal Skelanimal, enhanced by Krampus’s power, Starmaster couldn’t put one thought out of his mind.

His life was spared for the price of that of one child. His chest ached more from that realization than from the wound Skelanimal tore into his ribcage.

In the city square where the statue of Supreme Leader Shoju laid in broken pieces after the battle two days prior, Starmaster stood alone and stared at the fractured segments. He held his suit’s facemask in his hand.

Chained Angel dropped out of the sky and landed beside him. “Director Nova’s given orders for all heroes to leave. He doesn’t want our presence to be interpreted as an invading force as the Supreme Leader’s family fights for his position. I bet you’re ready to get the…” Her voice trailed off as she spied the tears trailing down his cheeks. “Are you alright?’

He shook his head, his face hard like stone. “No.”

“I’m sure you did everything you could.” She moved close enough to rest her hand on his shoulder.

Starmaster drew in a deep breath. “Not yet. Gather the Star Force. There is more that needs to be done.

*****

Once the other members of the Star Force arrived, Starmaster shared his plan.

El Rey, HowlingMoon, Lightning R.A.D., and Bloodstar gathered the broken pieces of statue into one pile.

Wyldfyre then melted the material until it became molten hot and malleable.

Starmaster focused his telekinetic strength to shape and mold the metal into one figure, holding it in place as Wyldfyre cooled the metal with aid by the Infinite Tempest who summoned as small downpour.

Prysmatica and Chained Angel removed the place attached to the base the statue sat upon and carved new words into the stone.

The Unstoppable Nightmask and Catalyst carried electronic equipment and materials out of the borrowed BADGE shuttle, affixing them to the top platform of the statue’s stone base.

Half a day went by as they toiled at Starmaster’s instructions. Finally, Starmaster lifted the freshly cooled statue back onto its redone home. Some citizens of North Onnotangu milled around, keeping their distance but still curious as to what activity the league had undertaken.

The figure was of the young boy Shoju killed, poised as a happy, smiling youth. Starmaster had spent several days with the children, so his rendition was very accurate.

Lights flickered to life as Catalyst engaged his solar powered electronic device. They watched as the lights highlighted the young man until it shimmered. A holographic projector turned the boy’s face into the death mask Starmaster observed as the child had been reduced to atoms. After two seconds, the statue disappeared just as the target of Shoju’s weapon had.

People watching in the crowd turned their faces away, obviously disturbed by the chilling representation.

“Every five minutes, the hologram with disengage and the statue will return.” Catalyst said as he admired his handywork. He had recreated the effects based on the images Starmaster showed him from the recorded television transmission from the gala.

The base of the statue now read “This boy lived in hiding. He came out to defend a friend he barely knew. He died protecting people he loved. Let his example light your way. Don’t live in darkness any longer!”

Tired from the effort, the heroes gathered around their returned team leader. As a group, they watched their handywork cycle through it’s first disappearance and reappearance.

“We can’t change the way this country is run, but I have to hope change is possible.” Starmaster said, finally returning his mask to his face.

Chained Angel had watched him carefully as they did their work. He never once wiped his tears away. She realized they were a scar he planned on carrying for the rest of his life.

Starmaster continued, his voice now modulated by the technology in his suit. “Thank you, but our job isn’t done yet. Let’s go and find Chase.”