~ six

EDL (part six)
Third Wave
________________

On the river Styx

Charon - Pushing the boat with his pole, "And did you then kill them ?"

Diana lowers her head.
________

They spin from their thrones, blades twirling with their robes.  Diana is faster, but they work as one when Persephone sneaks in a dagger to Diana's side and kicks the back of her knees, kneeling her as she spins off while Hades puts an old world war one service revolver to her forehead.

Persephone - Licks the blade, "It's poisoned Diana.  We are death."

Hades - "Do you think you're going anywhere when this is done ?"  Cocks the gun, looking at her with curiosity, "So answer me this, that I may hear your answer both before and after you die ..."

His eyes go wide and he falls from the end of Persephone's dagger.

Persephone - "Poisoned with your blood, did you know ?"  She falls.
________________

Charon - Near the shore, "Then we are free."  Puts his hand on her shoulder.  The boat hits land as he looks around with a small laugh before stepping off the boat and disappearing, clothing and pole falling to the ground.
________

Diana, now wearing Charon's cloak and carrying the pole, reaches a cliff where she sees a man looking over holding a bow, also cloaked.

Diana - Calls to him in the wind, "Gargarean !"

He turns back to look at her, "Who says that word ?"

His eyes burn and in them she see Greek soldiers burning woods, Amazons of old fleeing their lobs of fire to regroup the village.  The Gargareans charge from the wood head on to the Greeks.

Diana - "We need you."

Gargarean - Laughs and turns to the cliff, _"Gargareans !  We Ride !"_

Thousands cheer from over the cliffs, prepping themselves to mount their black horses.
________

Hippolyta sits on her throne holding a Diana's crown in her lap mournfully.  An Amazon walks up and whispers in her ear.

Hippolyta - "Oh Diana ..."  A tear falls as she crushes the crown.

The Amazon bows and continues to whisper.

Hippolyta - Looking up with hope in her eye through tears she whispers back, "We ride."
________________

Darkseid exits the mech-woods kicking off zombies with annoyance, and scans the field before the gate.  The Atlanteans hold those pouring from the gate, but appear soon to be overwhelmed by the countless coming.  

The crashed cruiser divides the field, much smaller on the left, forcing his armies through on the right.  Clark, Kara, and Jordan wait on the left chatting, Darkseid heads that way.
________________

Jordan - Eying the crackling green around Clark's broken armor, "So that was you that destroyed that city, right ?  And that island ?"

Clark - "And an indestructible monster.  After which I died.  And then an army of _invaders._ and.  And then ..."

Jordan - Gesturing to the gate, "You mean _that_ army ?"

Green crackles from clark's eyes.

Kara - "I didn't destroy anything !"

Jordan - "You an alien too ?"

Kara - Looking sideways at Clark, "Yes.  But you didn't know that because I didn't destroy a city and an island."

Clark - "I died.  Saving the world."

Kara - "Whatever.  I do that every week.  You do it like once every year or two."

Jordan - Looking now at Kara suspiciously, "So ... what's with the outfit ?"

Kara - Snickering, "... these are my alien pajamas.  I fight in them for confidence."

Darkseid - _"What_ are you _babbling_ about ?"

"Oh Shit !"

Kara - While fighting, to Jordan, "Get to the wall !"  

Clark - "With growing field and rage, "We've got this."
________

The general and Comm stand on the hill watching the tree-mech line as the villains begin to exit.  Past the the onslaught from Apokalypse is temporarily held.  He lowers the binoculars and looks where the Comm is looking.

The Legends are grouped together, seven of each, one painting skulls on the faces of the six like others.  Storms gather around, tornadoes approach.

Comm - Watching from the side, "What's happening ?"

General - "They already died protecting the Earth before.  Right here.  Now."

Some pray together, some mourn and drink, some salute as the skulls separate from the rest and walk toward the field.

General - "So now, to protect the time-line, they _have_ to die."

Comm - "And if they fail ?  If we all fail ?"

Sarah walks to them as the departing head toward a growing tree-bridge over the field.  She drops a heavy duffel bag from which Hunter groans.  

Sarah - "Then we take Hunter's ship and do it all over again.  Number eight and it's _our_ turn to cross that bridge."  She puts a manila envelope on the table, Constantine joins, putting down his and looking at his watch.

Comm - "You've fought this war ..."

Sarah - "Six times before this, at least me.  As many times as it takes.  Forever.  We've _all_ died here today.  Even you.  It's just their turn to do it again.  And each time we learn a better way to do it."

(Live for Love - Prince)

The Legends cross the bridge, geared heavily, storm swirling around as the tree bridge grows over the mech-forest beneath, roses grow lining their path as they walk.  Swamp Thing builds the structure, Ivy the lattices and roses.
____

Diana rides an upward cavern with the pole as lance among the Gargareans, earth caving around and before them.
____

The zombies pause in their meals looking up with a brief awe as they pass over, following underneath shyly.
____

Hippolyta, with Amazon riders lined at an archway holds her sword high, before slamming into the ground, activating the gate.
____

Reaching the other side to the open field gathering the roar their charge directly toward the portal to Apokalypse, followed by the hoard and storm.

Amazons port to their left, Gargareans burst from the ground to their right, all sending waves of arrows to clear their path.
____

Clark and Kara continue to fight Darkseid, who moves like a competent boxer, fast and stout, making all the right hits and blocks while they work.  Grabbing kicks and take downs, but with no clear victories for any.  As Clark's discharge grows it has little effect on Darkseid, but appears to weaken Kara.
____

The Legends' army force their way and make the gate, supported by the Atlanteans, continuously charging against the wall of invaders, all covering each other to keep the motion forward, as they fall one by one, with great destruction in their wake, multiplied by their time distortions.

The field gathers near the gate to hold it against the invasion, Lanterns moving their walls forward setting them hard into the ground close to the gate, while behind them the military blows the mech-forest, tanks advancing over the rubble.
________________