The Democratic Republic of Congo ...

[planetaryguide]

Much to his shame, Elijah didn't like returning to Africa that often. It made him think of Anaykah, the brilliant scientist from the Lost city of Opak-re – Jakita's mother – and that was a pang that he didn't like to face. It's been decades, and he was still in love with the woman. Worse, she was probably still alive out there, somewhere, wherever they hid the city after Jakita was born, after Anaykah and Lord Blackstock broke their only really big taboo. 

But this was hardly Opak-re. That was a dreamlike, sci-fi fantasy. This part of the Congo was impoverished by drought and war, ravaged by soldiers and terrorists and practically ignored by the world at large. It made him angry that he avoided this, too. the human misery here was a solvable problem, he believed, but governments and corporations are driven by self-interest, and places like this were only there to be exploited, as far as they were concerned. American, Russian and Chinese companies raced to strip the entire country of its resources and pay a pittance in return. 

But that was an issue for another day, one he intended to return to when he was  able. In the meantime was the mission ahead of him, and the unlikely company with which he'd found himself.  An emergency in Fawcett city had called Freeman away, leaving him with the Martian Manhunter and Jenny Quantum. The latter he'd been aware of for ages, of course, before he was even common knowledge. he'd looked in to death of one Dr. Erdel in the '50s, and became aware of the alien's presence on Earth. He even wrote about him for a Planetary Guide. But the Martian proved benign, so he didn't intervene. Still, having him here now made him nervous. He wasn't at all certain they'd land on the same side when push came to shove.

And then there was  Jenny ... He had ... ahem ...known Jenny Sparks, of course, so having this 17-year-old girl in front of him who was her reincarnated was a bit odd, but it was her power that really unnerved him. She had bent reality to create a door between Singapore and the Congo, allowing them to traverse the seconds in the space of a few heartbeats. Jenny Sparks had been one of the most powerful people on Earth. Jenny Quantum probably was the planet's most powerful person, and it was unclear what she would do with that power.  In a lot of ways, the world would reflect her life, and vice versa. He could see why that would make her valuable to someone like ...

He didn't know. He didn't really know who his enemy was, here. Anubis? Certainly, but there was a more mundane hand in all this. Luthor? No, Luthor was with Superman. Still, if he ever realized exactly what Jenny and the other kids represented ...

He shook it off. Jenny didn't know exactly where to bring them, so she got us to a municipality in the area where they were mostly seen, and  the trio rented a jeep, seeing as "I'm an old geezer who can't fly." They had an idea where we were going -- a township out in the savannah, but only rumors telling them what to expect ... fantastic technological marvels, on the verge of propelling the impoverished township out of poverty and into the future. That was something Elijah would like to see. 

Comments

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn wished that his memories were not quite so murky. For a Martian, a violation of memory has a terrible thing. They were masters of their own minds...

More well formed memories would have served him well now. He knew that Stormwatch had been aware of the Planetary operatives, though he now suspected that whatever they had known... it had not been the complete picture.

And Jenny... The J'onn J'onzz who had joined Stormwatch had been a far harsher individual, one who did not trust or believe in the Justice League. But he had also genuinely liked the members of Stormwatch, been pained when he had been forced to wipe himself from their memories (something he would never have done). But Jenny, she stood out in his fragmented memories well enough. A most remarkable girl... now grown into a most remarkable woman.

For the duration of the ride, he had adopted a human form, a black man who would blend in well with the natives if pressed.

His eyes flashed briefly as he employed his Martian senses. "I sense... something. But it eludes me, as though actively hiding from prying eyes."

[planetaryguide]

"I've been getting that a lot, lately," replies Jenny, who seems to be drinking in the countryside as they travel. "I've had this ... awareness ... of energies being manipulated on a massive scale. That weird feeling of prying eyes. You know the one? When you can't see anyone but you know you're being watched? at first I thought it was the Chinese, but now ..."

She trails off, lost in thought.

"I should have kept the Carrier when I left Stormwatch," she says, only half sarcastically. "Then I'd have the equipment to trace what's happening. But I don't know where it is, or if there even is a Stormwatch anymore."

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn nodded. "After reality was... realigned, I made efforts to search out for it. Their mission and methods of operation concerned me..."

And more. If his other self had damaged their minds, perhaps he could have repaired them.

"But I was unable to find anything conclusive. Only whispers and rumors."

[planetaryguide]

"Yeah," says Jenny. "I hear about Midnighter or Apollo sometimes, but haven't seen them since I was little."

She shrugs.

"Most American supertypes don't come to China, and I've been a little busy trying to recontextualize Chinese authoritarianism. So, it's possible I missed stuff."

She gives j'onn a winning smile, but it's clear she's not joking. Not really.

[planetaryguide]

"Altered reality," says Elijah, under his breath. "Is that why I remember the JSA and no one else seems to? That wasn't just me and Jay Garrick having some sort of shared, senior citizen dementia?"

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn nodded. "A being from outside our reality, called Doctor Manhattan, attempted to... and succeeded, in altering our reality. His was a more cynical, harsher universe, and he wished to prove that his cynicism was the correct belief, and tried to steal time and memories from ours, in an effort to wipe out hope."

His eyes flashed briefly with something like anger. "He failed, and reality was largely restored. But... not evenly, and not the same for everyone. And not all is as it was."

[planetaryguide]

"You'd think cosmically powered godlike things would have better things to do, wouldn't you? But that's never been my experience. Still, I can't say a little bit of cynicism has ever done me wrong."

[planetaryguide]

Jenny rolls her eyes dismissively.

"Oh, please," she says. I don't have Jenny Quantum's memories, so I don't really know what went down between the two of you, but I've been with you just a couple hours and I can already tell you practically run on hope. You, like, literally spent a century tracking down all the hidden, wonderful things that were hidden around the world, to record them and make sure they weren't abuse. How in the world is that not an act of hope?"

[planetaryguide]

Elijah mutters something unintelligible underneath his breath and keeps driving, looking ahead for signs of their destination.

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn allowed himself a small smile at their banter. In some ways, it reminded him of the conversations he had overheard between Clark and Bruce.

"Regardless of his reasons, Manhattan was defeated. But it seems as though whatever alterations he made are not reverting evenly.

"It is hardly the first time we have seen the very fabric of reality played with. Perhaps it only has so much elasticity to it."

[planetaryguide]

The strange trio arrive at the township where Baako and Vaada Achebe are listed as living ... and it feels like it's part of another country entirely. Everything is clean, and the buildings are powered by solar panels. There are electronic devices in everyone's hands ... not brand names, but what appear to be hand-built smart phones and tablets. Most of the cars have been adjusted to run on electricity.

The younger sister, Vaada Achebe, is waiting for the visitors in the center of town, standing patiently with her arms folded, a look of annoyance in her eyes. The villagers all defer to her as they pass, nodding their heads and shuffling away.

"Baako said that you would come," she says simply in flawless English on their arrival. "I had wished it was not so, but I knew he was correct. You have come to take us from our home, haven't you?"

The question hovers in the air like an accusation.

[mars_my_destination]

What these two had done... was truly remarkable. J'onn had seen much in his long life, from Atlantis to Z'onn Z'orr. What he saw here was truly an accomplishment.

"That... is a matter of perspective," J'onn said. "We have come to ask for your aid. There is a terrible threat on the horizon that we cannot stop alone."

[planetaryguide]

The girl appraises J'onn before replying, and when she speaks, she speaks in Martian that's only slightly hampered by her human tongue. Even the language's telepathic subtext is present.

"There is always a threat," she says, unswayed. "My brother's machines predicted someone would come. 'Great heroes and great monsters,' he said," and then she turns to appraise the trio, as though deciding which they are.

"But foreigners only come to Africa unless it is to take something from us. We have our people to look after. Who else will? Certainly not The Justice League."

It's clear she fully understands how powerful the visitors are, but she is utterly fearless.

[mars_my_destination]

If J'onn was surprised by the sudden Martian, he was quick to recover from it.

The accusation was not entirely without fact. Even with heroes such as Vixen, Impala, the original Batwing, or Freedom Beast to protect it, there were far fewer super-beings protecting Africa than North America or Europe. And many of those that did eventually became embroiled in American affairs. Even though he protected more of the Southern Hemisphere than most, there were not nearly enough hours within the day.

"I cannot dispute what you say," he said. "Your people need you. But so does the world. If not stopped now, the threats we face may well come knocking at your door."

[planetaryguide]

Elijah crooks his neck at the language they've lapsed into, glancing at Jenny, who merely shrugs. But he's got the general gist.

"Ms. Achebe," he says in English. "I understand that this might be difficult to believe, but your gifts ... they're meant to protect the entire planet. My name is Elijah Snow, and I represent the Planetary Foundation ..."

That seems to get her attention.

"You are the Ghost of the 20th Century," she says, flatly. "Yes, I have heard of you. My grandfather spoke of you, many years ago."

It's not often he's caught off guard, but Elijah is startled by that revelation.

"How can that be?" he asks, and his heart is pounding just a bit faster as his mind races. "I've been to Congo," he says, but I've never been here."

The thinnest bit of a smile pulls at Vaada's lips.

"Our grandfather was not from here," she says. "Not originally. But he remembered your talks, which he admired, and Lord Lord Blackstock, whom he disliked."

Elijah gasps.

"Opak-re," he says, after a moment. "You're descended from the people of Opak-re."

A fierce intelligence glimmers in her eye, and she smiles, but says nothing.

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn didn't recognize the name of the place, but that Elijah deduced it so quickly was interesting.

So many secret cities in Africa. From Gorilla City and beyond.

"For those of us unfamiliar with the city you are describing...?"

[planetaryguide]

"Opak-Re was a fantastically advanced African city hidden in the jungle. This was before deforestation and industrial sprawl. It was easier to hide things that big back then. Anyway, I visited there in the '30s."

He pauses for a second, as if remembering something.

"Fell in love with someone a little. But I was warned not to breed, that there would be consequences. I obeyed the rules, but another white man, Lord Blackstock, didn't."

He smiles at J'onn.

"She was bored, you see. And I'd been gone a long time. Anyway, Blackstock was a 'Century Baby,' like me. A jungle adventurer, strong and fast. I arrived in time to rescue the child, but the city disappeared. I have no idea where."

Vaada nods.

"Nor do we," she says. "My grandfather left before the vanishing, but he knew Anaykah was bearing a child. He knew the city would be ... moved. The secret of its new location died with him years ago."

Elijah hangs his head.

"Anaykah." he says, her name unfamiliar on his tongue after all these years.

[mars_my_destination]

J'onn nodded thoughtfully. The individual details were different, but the story held elements he had heard time and time again. Not surprising, perhaps, with Century Babies.

"I see," he said.