Valancy Stirling
To Save This Earth
It was the dead of night, and there was barely a sound save for crickets. And then, there they were. Earth’s mightiest heroines had gathered there, in Nigeria, at the behest of Valancy. Their gathering had occurred with fanfare, to limit attention, and provide no warning to those they sought. Nature’s Voice nodded to the last arrivals, and began, looking around at those assembled. The Justice Queens were there, each member’s visage shining with determination, along with the on and off leader of the X-men, Ororo Munroe.
Valancy drew up a dome of earth around them, so that they could not be heard, while Kylie provided a green light from her ring, illuminating their faces in veridian. “Thank you all for coming. So, you all know why we’re here, and I’m no good at speeches so here’s the plan,” said the embodiment of Earth. “Kylie and Marybeth, you are Distraction #1. Lots of noise, lots of light, draw them out and then pick them off. Ororo, Naja, you’re Distraction #2. Wait for Kylie and Marybeth to start their distraction, and then begin yours. “Everyone else is with me, Katie, you’re for transport. As soon as you see a girl, nab them, and place them inside this dome, the door will open in and out for you. So...let’s go save these girls.”
Doors of earth opened up, as the distraction forces flew out, the rest of the team stepping out as well. Valancy looked towards the treeline, beginning to hear vibrations as Marybeth let loose her shouts, and lights as Kylie created illusions of fighter jets and heroes swooping in. That continued on, and as she heard shouts Valancy began to slowly inch forward towards the camp which was now growing visible, using her power to muffle her already faint footsteps, being made so by her lack of shoes. Ever since she had traveled to Africa, where there were much fewer sidewalks and concrete, she had gone barefoot. There was a boom of lightning as Ororo began her distraction from the west, Valancy now hearing shouts of confusion as she winced at the lightning, a wince that was caught by Katie, who scooted closer to her. “What happened to you, Val?” Asked Katie in a whisper, Valancy looking at her in some confusion., Katie extrapolating. “Ever since you left Xander and Naja’s wedding early, you’ve...weathered. New lines have appeared on your face,” Katie said, tracing a line, “and you seem to be sicker. Plus, you’re never in New York City anymore. What’s going on?”
“Should’ve figured that someone would’ve noticed…” the half-Primordial muttered to herself, before she responded softly. “I will explain, Katie...but not right now. But thank you for your concern.” Valancy said, before she peeped her head above the ledge where they were, seeing that most of the terrorists had been drawn away, while some still remained above the entrances to caves and tents, where, through the earth, all 219 missing female students were accounted for. Motioning to Katie, their own attack began. Katie blitzed them, her form turning electric as she leaped off the ledge and zipped around, knocking out terrorists as Valancy, Cora and Jamie rushed them, Cora taking over for Katie as Voltra rushed into one of the tents, zipping out at the speed of electricity, two girls in her hands.
Valancy simply snapped her fingers, the grass blades twisting and then lashing out, the trees joining in to attack as Valancy leapt inside one of the tunnels, running through as she clotheslined one terrorist, kicked another in the balls, and simply opened up a sinkhole underneath the third, Nature’s Voice leaping over it as she sprinted through, coming to a halt as she beheld a large group of girls. Switching to their language, she said, “I am here to rescue you.” Some cheered, while others simply nodded, exhausted from their ordeal. And so, slowly, Valancy led them out, two toddlers in her arms as they followed behind, another group joining them, Valancy counting 189 girls in total. As they reached the ladder that led back to the surface, she climbed it first and peeped her head out in all direction, seeing Katie, Cora, and Jamie leading other groups out. And so, cautiously, Valancy climbed the rest of the way, beckoning them up. She counted softly, Katie finishing with her group and beginning the transportation to the dome,when, all of a sudden, she heard a crack of gunfire. A wounded terrorist had recovered, and, seeing that the girls were escaping, he determined to kill as many of them as possible. Several of the girls screamed as they threw themselves to the floor, bullets missing them by inches. But one little girl did not realize and kept walking, Valancy shouting out her in terror, her legs bursting into action as they pumped faster than her blood, racing towards that little girl, as Jamie and Cora rushed the terrorist.
But she was not faster than a bullet, and her heart withered like a rose in winter as she saw the shot travel through that girl’s chest, the terrorist being taken down seconds later, Valancy’s speed being so that she was able to catch the girl. She gazed at the girl’s terrified and pain filed face, before her heartbeat stopped. “No.” she whispered, her hands glowing with green as she pumped her healing power into the girl, attempting to snatch a life back from Death itself. When the girl did not revive, she redoubled her efforts, drawing energy from the Earth’s life-force, her own life-force, until she heard a tiny heartbeat and ceased, laying the girl into Marybeth’s arms, before she stumbled for a little while, her entire body dry and wrinkled, dessicate and deprived. And then, she collapsed, her eyes dull and vacant, Katie catching her and calling her name, “Val? Val!”
But there was no answer…
Some time laterShe awoke on a small cot, her eyes fluttering slowly open to behold the silvery-white hair of Ororo. “Welcome back from the dead, Valancy.” Said the mutant, pushing Valancy down as she attempted to rise.
“The dead, you say?” Asked Valancy with a quirked eyebrow.
“You’ve been in a coma for 3 months, Val. You were far too close to that ledge for my liking. The JQ cleaned up the whole thing, and you’re a hero, here in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Apparently they’re so inspired that they’re going to take care of some things for themselves for once, and are creating a special meeting to try and decide action on the Darfur genocide. They’ve invited you to speak, there, by the way, in a month or two. The rest of the world is undecided aboutyour actions, though you may have helped to fan the flames of the tensions.”
“I should’ve gone to Darfur first, instead of last,” Valancy said, shaking her head. “That HERO Act actually passed, along with the SHRA?”
“Yup.”
“Sounds absolutely fantastic. Where to next?” Asked Valancy as she leapt up, Storm rising up in protest before Valancy explained, “I used some of my own healing power to speed up the process.”
“Uhuh. As for the next and final location, it’s the one place I’m not going with you.”
Valancy’s eyes widened with understanding. “Ah. Wakanda, the pride of Africa.”
Ororo shook her head in both agreement and disagreement.“Yes. Wakanda, where pride goes to feast.”
Valancy soon set off, using a wooden branch borrowed from a tree as a walking stick. And taking a breath, she turned and waved to Ororo, who stood watching. And then she was gone, transporting herself through the Earth, arriving at the gates of Central Wakanda, the guards standing to attention, their spears held ready. “Who goes there?”
Valancy hailed them with a hand, brushing some hair from her face in an attempt to look more presentable. “Valancy.”
The speaking guard gained a look of comprehension, and waved her through, telling her that “the King awaited her in the palace.”
She shook her head in wonderment as to how T’Challa had known, but nodded, the gates opening for her. And so, she walked past the two lying black panthers which guarded the gate, and marveled, as she entered Wakanda, the kingdom that had never fallen. It was mythological in the West---she corrected herself there, ---it was legend, in the Western world. The rest of Africa either looked upon Wakanda with respect, fear, or envy. She looked upon its paved streets, and its glass-enclosed domes, and all the prosperity that the Great Mound had brought to this kingdom. Yet despite Wakanda seeming to be a utopia, it had its problems. Valancy stopped to play with some children , before proceeding on to the palace, shaking her head as her footsteps echoed upon the floors, the palace seemingly empty, until she reached the throne room, T’Challa standing as he greeted her. “Valancy! Welcome to Wakanda. You remember Shuri, I hope?” He said, gesturing to his sister who wore the Black Panther suit, a furred cape trailing before her. Shuri offered her a rare, warm smile, and Valancy reciprocated, making small talk with the brother and sister over dinner, along with the rest of the assembled dignitaries. It was a night of story-telling, and so they shared stories until the moon climbed higher in the sky.
T’Challa bid Valancy walk with him, and so, the two of them strode the balconies, silent for a while, before T’Challa spoke. “What are your thoughts on what’s going on in the world?”
“The two acts? Well, I don’t know all the details, but what happened to Stamford required action. However, the world will go to hell over this. I can already hear the drums of war. This is one fight where there is no good, no bad, and this is one fight I do not see Craig backing out of. I will remain neutral, I think, though I’ll have to talk with the rest of the Queens, as to our official response. What about you?”
T’Challa was silent, as if deliberating, before responding. “Anti-Registration.”
“Uhuh. You know, T’Challa, when I asked Storm if she still flies naked thinking of you, she blushed.” Valancy said, lifting her eyebrows a bit, T’Challa reddening in response as it suddenly began to hail and thunder, Valancy grinning in response.
“As she told me to tell you,” T’Challa responded with a vindictive smile, “Let’s talk about your love life.”
“Um...let’s not. Considering that it’s nonexistent…”
“Well, let’s talk about you anyway. I’ve had my people watching you…”
“Do you know how creepy that sounds?” Valancy quipped, interrupting him, T’Challa rubbing his neck sheepishly. “Anyway, “ the King of the Dead continued, “Your power has increased exponentially, ever since a couple of months ago. I assume it has something to do with Darkseid’s death.”
“How did you---but yes. My mother shoved her goddess title on me and disappeared. Ever since, I have had a greater connection to plants and the very Earth itself...as if I was it.”
“And you would be right in that. But you’re no goddess, Valancy….” He extrapolated, pulling up a holographic file of Valancy from his databases.
Valancy quirked an eyebrow. “Then please do explain, T’Challa, if not a goddess, what am I?”
“Something more than a goddess. You can’t control the elements, showing that you are not as powerful as Gaia, in that regard, and so, you are not Mother Nature herself. You are...Mother Earth. And you might found that you have access to new powers. For example, with your personification of the Earth, you might attempt to access the morphogenetic field and imitate the powers of animals, and different organisms.”
Valancy pondered on that, then stored it away to try when she had some time. “Now, shall we talk Wakanda, and Storm? The thing is, Wakanda’s isolationism is a detriment to Africa. I’ve basically stopped Chinese influence from spreading, for the moment, but someone has to take the void. You are either envied or respected in Africa, but all fear you. Expand Wakanda’s influence and her warm arms. Africa should not be the poorest continent when one of the world’s greatest nations dwells among it. That is partially why Storm left you, in my opinion. Take the lead in solving Africa’s problems, and show the world what giants can do.”
T’Challa offered a nod, which Valancy would take as a victory. But it was time to return to New York, for a little bit. Her mission to save herself was not done, but this crisis would engulf it. Stamford called for justice, the world, called for justice, but also calmness, and so, she and the Queens would answer.