New Gods Among Us

"The New Gods"

  

 On the European countryside, a man dressed in red and yellow is surrounded by children of a nearby village. The man is part of a traveling circus and had just performed a death-defying escape from an iron coffin in a pool of water. The children all take guesses as to how he did so, but the man claims he can perform miracles. When an older kid jokes the man can't be human, the man-Mister Miracle-claims he is not and tells the children of "Two children, destined to clash".

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there were two planets at constant odds. The haven of peace and purity, New Genesis, and the world of despair and darkness, Apokolips. Inhabiting these contrasted worlds were beings known as The New Gods, who's two worlds sat beyond where any being could travel to. New Genesis was ruled by Izaya The Highfather, who treated every being on his planet as his child and student. Apokolips was ruled by Uxas The Dark Seed, who took control of his planet by slaughtering who opposed him. Somewhere along the way, Uxas found a way to tip the scales between the two worlds and sought two powerful forces: The Omega Force and The Anti-Life Equation. Uxas murdered his own brother to obtain The Omega Force from it's temple on Apokolips and obtaining it's power resulted in Uxas turning into a rock-like creature, fully embracing his place as Darkseid. The Anti-Life Equation was harder to come by as it was a mathematical equation that-when seen-would rob anyone of their freewill. Darkseid believed that if The Omega Force was within Apokolips, The Anti-Life Equation could be within New Genesis. As the war between worlds became more savage, Highfather was forced to make a tough call. Sparing both worlds of many lives, Highfather and Darkseid made a deal. The two rulers would exchange their youngest sons to each other and both children would grow up on opposite worlds. When they both reached the age of twenty, they would fight to the death and whichever ruler's apprentice would win would decide the fate of the opposite planet. The Highfather's son Scott was taken by Darkseid and his son Orion was given to Highfather.

As a child, Orion often got into fights with other New Gods on New Genesis, most often the prankster Lightray. As the two of them rough house through The Highfather's castle, Lightray playfully removes Orion's helmet. Disgusted, Lightray flies off as Orion sees the reflection of his neanderthal-like brow. Lightray is about to tell the other kids, but Orion stops him and pleads for him not too tell. Lightray agrees, but accuses Orion of being from Apokolips because he isn't beautiful like other New Gods on New Genesis. Lightray keeps his secret, but refuses to be around Orion. In his loneliness, Orion goes to the home of Himon the scientist. While Himon is busy with his work, Orion joins Himon's daughter Bekka as she gardens. On Apokolips, child Scott wakes up in his cell like every morning. He is escorted to the lunch line by Parademons, creatures created from the remains of foreign species. Scott regards breakfast as his favorite part of the day because it is the only part in which he is not terrified. Scott is then put through several death traps and is released from them seconds before they would kill him. After a full day of torture he is visited by Granny Goodness, the woman who runs this "Torture Orphanage" and turns New Gods into powerful warriors. Granny reminds Scott that the torture will be less painful the faster his body adapts, either that or he will die one of these days.

Now as a teenager, Orion trains with New Genesis War General Magnar. Magnar helps Orion control his natural anger and tap into his immense strength. After the training Orion avoids Lightray and other kids to go visit Bekka, but she and Himon aren't there. Lightray reluctantly tells Orion that Himon is going to Apokolips. Orion arrives at the temple just as Himon and Bekka are walking out. Himon tells Orion that continuing his research on Apokolips could end war. On Apokolips, Granny Goodness drags Scott to her Colosseum to watch her Furies train. Granny tells Scott that while he can survive the worst punishment he must also learn how to deal punishment. She tosses Scott into the arena where several female warriors try to attack him, but he is able to evade them all. Scott is only struck to the ground once by a teenaged warrior. She hesitates to hit him again, but Scott uses her size to trip her over. Granny is impressed by Scott's ability to "run like a little bitch" but has her Parademons drag him back to the Orphanage. Orion goes to Highfather and commands an answer as to why he let Himon and Bekka leave. Highfather explains that Himon created Mother Boxes-A.I. tools all New Genesis citizens carry to teleport them across the planet-and that by researching technology on Apokolips he could upgrade his Mother Box models to travel across space and time. By doing this he could separate New Genesis and Apokolips and end the war. Orion is upset because he believes Highfather doesn't think Orion could defeat Scott, but Highfather denies this and assures him it is a more peaceful course of action. Besides, Highfather is the protector of New Genesis, not a tyrant. Orion bets that if Highfather went against the free will of his people he'd do a better job at protecting them, prompting Highfather to say Darkseid had a similar mentality. Orion is disgusted by the comparison to Darkseid and runs off.

In his cell Scott thinks about that teenaged warrior he fought and how she was the first person to show mercy to him. As he rummages around the cell he finds a crawlspace he can barely fit through and escapes the Orphanage. Scott eventually finds his way to an underground lab where other citizens of Apokolips are being taught by Himon and Bekka on how to construct devices. Scott quickly takes to this class and with Himon's help develops wonderful tools. One of Scott's classmates is the Fury who spared him, Big Barda. After the class wraps up Himon suggests Scott sneak back into the Orphanage to avoid Granny finding out about his class. Before he leaves, Scott asks for advice regarding Big Barda from Bekka, and Bekka tells him to make his move before it's taken away from him. During a day of training, Orion loses his tempter and snaps at Magnar. Orion accepts that Himon has a duty to New Genesis, but hates that he had to take Bekka with him. Magnar tries to help him, but Orion runs away. Orion stands on the edge of the city above the dark forests beneath. He recalls all the tales he heard about the Dark Forests, that "it is where New Gods become fiction". In order to escape Magnar and his search party, Orion leaps down to the forest. There he is attacked by a giant beast that he defeats easily. Orion is then surrounded by insect-like people who are impressed he killed the beast all by himself. These creatures-The Foragers-realize Orion is a New God and worship him.

At Himon's class, Scott creates a special suit that is filled with tools and can integrate with The Mother Box he created. When Barda tells the class she can no longer attend do to Granny's suspicions, Scott follows her and gives her The Power Rod, a weapon he created to produce blasts as powerful as it's user. Scott says he created it because in the time they have known one another (this film would go through years pretty quick) he has fallen in love with her and sees that she isn't a savage like the other Furies. Big Barda returns this admiration and tells Scott if he's going to wear a costume he should have a name that fits him. Barda never imagined anyone on Apokolips would show her such kindness and as such dubs Scott "Mister Miracle". In The Dark Forests, Orion tells The Foragers the tales of The New Gods and he enforces the idea that just because the Foragers are beneath the New Gods does not mean their lives are any less important. The elder Forager leads Orion to a shine worshiping "The Astro Force", the answer to Darkseid's Omega Force. Orion knows if he fully accepts the power it could corrupt him the same way, and so he and The Foragers build a device called "The Astro Harness" that uses a chunk of the shrine as its power source. With this, Orion promises The Foragers a place above the Forest and uses the Harness to fly back up to the city.

A few days later, Granny Goodness keeps discovering Scott escaping her death traps. She's impressed, but not done. Scott is held in a straight-jacket, locked in a coffin, and suspended underwater. Granny leaves the room while Scott remembers Barda and the name she gave him. A few minutes later, Granny is eating chocolates in her office watching the Fury's train on TV. Scott walks into the room soaking wet and places the jacket on the table. Granny proclaims Scott is ready, not for the fight, but for The Furies. Orion goes to Highfather revealing he has The Astro Force and can defeat Darkseid. Highfather seems unsure on what to do, so he opens a portal that transports himself and Orion in front of The Source Wall (the beginning and end of reality). There stands Takion of The Source (a character who'd have a TV mini-series beforehand) and Metron The New God of Time. The three consult on what should be done, but Orion is enraged to learn the three of them have so much power, but do not use it to end Darkseid. Ignoring him, Metron suggests the agreed battle go as planned. When they return to the temple, Highfather tells Orion that if Darkseid was exposed to the power Metron and Takion hold he'd be more likely to steal it than die from it. Orion leaves again, this time planning on taking control of the situation himself.

Granny Goodness commands Big Barda to fight Scott, but during the fight they are both cuffed to each other. The person responsible is Doctor Bedlam who appears to be an android. Granny demands an explanation and Bedlam explains that some of Darkseid's minions have discovered Himon's lab and are currently pursuing the scientist. As they argue, Big Barda and Scott work together to run off. More androids resembling Bedlam show up and fight the duo, with Scott remembering that Bedlam provided Granny Goodness with all the weapons, toxins and torture devices she used on him. Though the androids are destroyed, more begin appearing and Bedlam announces that he doesn't have a body and as such psychically controls his androids. Even if they destroy the machines, he will still exist. Orion breaks into Himon's old lab and tries to connect his Mother Box to The Astro Harness, believing the power could be enough to bring him to Apokolips. He is stopped by Magnar and Lightray. Orion-though evenly matched-defeats Magnar and Lightray tries to talk him out of it. Orion claims Lightray has only ever cared about peace, but never the cost of acquiring it. Orion hops on his Harness and opens a portal to Apokolips, Lightray follows. Scott and Barda make it to the lab and Scott uses a special pick to undo the cuffs. As Scott puts his suit on, Big Barda fights Granny Goodness' other Furies. Just as she seems victorious, Granny herself fights Barda and tries to use her Power Rod against her, but it doesn't work. Mister Miracle launches a shock-wave at Granny, sending her back. He hands the rod back to Barda and explains that the strength the Rod draws from is not physical, but emotional. Granny Goodness has only acquired strength from harming others, and that is not strength, but cowardice. Together Mister Miracle and Big Barda defeat Granny Goodness and Bedlam's androids. Orion and Lightray make it to Apokolips and find Himon, Bekka and their class. Orion and Bekka embrace as Himon reveals his Mother Box can now teleport them across time and space. Orion orders Himon to open a Boom Tube portal to New Genesis, but Himon is struck with an arrow from afar and killed. Bekka tends to Himon as Lightray flies towards the shooter, but he is also shot in the arm and falls to the ground. The assassin goes to finish Lightray, but Orion intervenes. The assassin introduces himself as Kanto, Darkseid's personal mercenary. Orion and Kanto fight, but Kanto's strange weapons hurt Orion on a new level. Orion seems to be losing, but Miracle and Barda show up and force Kanto to escape. As Himon dies, he passes control of his Mother Box to Bekka. Orion claims they should stay and fight Darkseid, but Miracle refuses. Barda ends their argument by saying Miracle can run away and Orion will fight Darkseid in Miracle's place. That way the original pact can still commence, but Miracle will be sparred. Bekka begins sending Lightray and all the classmates to New Genesis as Miracle offers to go back in time to prevent all this. The four of them are visited by Metron The New God of Time. He claims that if Miracle wants to escape, he cannot effect the timeline. Big Barda-feeling guilt for fighting The Furies, who were pretty much her sisters-agrees to end the violence and decides to follow Mister Miracle. Mister Miracle wishes Orion luck as Mister Miracle and Big Barda join hands and walk through The Boom Tube to world only Metron knows.

Orion tells Bekka to go home to New Genesis while he finishes this. Orion begins flying to Darkseid's throne, killing Parademons along the way. He finally gets to the throne and Darkseid sits before him. Darkseid's minion Desaad offers to call his Generals, but Darkseid refuses. Orion announces the battle between New Genesis and Apokolips to be decided here. Darkseid's champion has ran, so he must battle Orion for the fate of The New Gods. Before the fight, Darkseid asks Orion to ditch his Astro Harness and fully absorb The Astro Force so the fight is even. Orion tries to refuse, but Kanto appears holding Bekka hostage. With no choice, Orion crushes the battery of the Harness and absorbs the Astro Force. He and Darkseid have an epic battle, one that spans across Apokolips. During their battle, Bekka uses her Mother Box to open a Boom Tube and kicks Kanto into the portal, swiping his dagger as she does. Orion and Darkseid are at a standstill and Darkseid uses his "Omega Beams" to blast Orion, but he reflects them into nearby Parademons, showing the beams disintegrate their targets. Orion is knocked into a fire pit and is lifted back up by Bekka. Bekka informs him that she activated the Master Box, a large Mother Box hidden underground that she and Himon built to teleport the entire planet of Apokolips to the opposite end of the universe. Orion tells her to leave, but she won't let Orion die here. As they kiss, Bekka is hit by The Omega Beams and disintegrated, leaving only her Mother Box and Kanto's dagger. Darkseid pities Orion and offers his son a place by his side. When Darkseid questions if Orion thinks he can kill him, Orion regards how before Bekka the only New God he saw die, died at the hands of Kanto's weapons. This dagger could kill a New God, so it must be able to kill Darkseid. Even if Orion is on his last rope, risking death or imprisonment he has lost the thing he loved most and won't let Darkseid take anything else. Orion removes his helmet and fights Darkseid again, using The Astro Force to block his Omega Beams. Finally, Orion stabs Darkseid in the heart with the dagger and watches the live pour out of his father's eyes. As he digs the dagger into Darkseid, Apokolips starts getting covered with Boom Tube energy and is slowly being teleported. Orion falls off the dead Darkseid and watches the planet fall into itself. Orion crawls towards the ashes of Bekka and grabs a handful of her ashes. To save Orion, Bekka's Mother Box opens a portal under him and brings him back to New Genesis.

The people of New Genesis celebrate the end to the long-standing war, with Highfather building statues to Orion, Lightray, Bekka, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, and Himon. Orion successfully integrates The Foragers into New God society and they build him a new Astro Harness that can draw out any energy that has corrupted him. Highfather agrees to study the material of Kanto's dagger as Orion leaves New Genesis. Highfather's last words to Orion are words of encouragement and pride.

Most of the smaller children are asleep at this point, but the older ones are sad the story ended. Big Barda walks out dressed like a circus strong-woman and claims with her husband Mister Miracle, the story is never over. Before the two leave, an older boy asks how Scott knew Orion's side of the story. Scott claims he's got a little gold angel on his shoulder. He looks up and sees a figment of Takion watching over.

After the credits, the little boy runs to a park where a man named Godfrey sits. The boy begins to the tell the story to Godfrey. On Apokolips, an army led by General Virman Vundabar prepares to fight the army of Granny Goodness for control of Apokolips. But the fight is stopped by Desaad who has important information from The Glorious Godfrey. The armies don't care about any news of Earth or it's heroes, but suddenly Darkseid appears out of the shadows and claims he wishes to hear this info. Everyone bows and Desaad asks how Darkseid survived, Darkseid's eyes glow black as he proclaims "Not even Death can defeat Darkseid. Now tell me what you've learned right away, we have an army to raise".

Thank you for reading.

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