Secret Origins: Strobe

Master of the Glow

by Dan Swanson

Master of the Glow Prologue 1

The time: 100,000 years ago, +/- 3500 years The place: the Earth-2 universe, at a secret Galactic Patrol base on the rogue planet Ekluabdyalbker, somewhere nearer the center of the Milky Way Galaxy than Earth

The Galactic Patrol was about to die. And Iredok Jur Diah was about to kill it. The Galactic Patrol was (well, had been…) the greatest force for unity, peace and Order yet to arise in the Milky Way Galaxy. Iredok was one of the greatest champions of the Galactic Patrol. Yet he must destroy the Galactic Patrol at the peak of its power and influence, because one of the Patrol’s enemies, the Lords of Chaos, had discovered a way to turn the Patrol’s greatest weapons to the service of Chaos.

Selected members of the Galactic Patrol were equipped with the Glove and Globe, the use of which allowed them to control the power of the Glow. Each Globe was a conduit, tapping into the Hawking radiation emitted by the massive black hole at the center of the galaxy, through a subatomic wormhole. (Of course, Hawking radiation had a different name then, long before Steven Hawking was born…)

Each Glove was a weapon, capable of storing, discharging and manipulating energy drawn through the Globe. A Glove was charged by placing it in contact with the Globe for about a minute. Each Glove contained a highly advanced, non-sentient artificial intelligence. A Patroller sent mental commands to the Glove, where they were interpreted by the AI, which released and modulated the stored energy to achieve the results the Patroller had requested.

The energy output from the Glove was a glowing off-white, as if someone had illuminated a giant pearl from the inside. This glowing white energy was usually called ‘the Glow’. More than simple weapons, the Gloves also served as identification ‘badges’ for Patrollers, and allowed Patrollers to communicate telepathically with all known intelligent species in the Galaxy.

The Galactic Patrol was allied with the mystical Lords of Order, which made all Patrollers natural enemies of the Lords of Chaos. Minions of the Lords of Chaos had recently found a way to subvert the Glow. A counter-weapon, similar to a computer virus had been devised and introduced to the black hole. Each time a Patroller charged a Glove, the contaminated energy flowed into the Glove and the Chaos virus infected the Glove’s artificial intelligence. Each time a Patroller used a contaminated Glove, the Chaos virus attacked the Patroller’s mind.

Some Patrollers were able to resist the effects of the Chaos virus long enough to remove their Gloves and then destroy both Glove and Globe. Others were unable to resist and became Agents of Chaos. These corrupted Patrollers were able to wreak havoc on their civilizations, killing billions and destroying many civilized worlds.

When the Chaos virus struck, Patroller Iredok Jur Diah, was working with another Patroller named Zolru. Iredok was working undercover, without his Glove. He was able to observe changes in Zolru’s behavior each time Zolru recharged his Glove, and from these behavioral changes he deduced that something was wrong with the Glow.

Realizing that he couldn’t possibly fight a Patroller wielding the Glow without his own Glove, Iredok took his own (still uncontaminated) Glove and Globe and fled. His destination was the Patrol research base on the rogue planet of Ekluabdyalbker. This base was equipped with highly advanced research equipment, carrying out sensitive experiments in the dark, empty space between stars. The base had been temporarily abandoned when all Patrollers were recalled to address the problem of the Chaos virus.

In this secret Patrol outpost, Iredok began his study of the Chaos virus.

Iredok constructed special equipment that could siphon off just a little contaminated energy from his Globe and then store it so he could study it. Eventually he worked out a counter-virus. But he knew that the effects of the counter-virus would be devastating – would in fact, destroy every Glove and Glove, as well as killing every Patroller who wore the Glove. And yet it had to be done – the Glow was too powerful a weapon to leave it in the service of Chaos!

Iredok also realized that he would die when he released the counter-virus – but because his Glove was not yet infected, it would not be destroyed. His Glove and Globe might be returned to the service of Order, if he could arrange it. So before he released the counter-virus, he completed another project.

Iredok knew that immediately after the destruction of the Galactic Patrol, Chaos would be ascendant throughout the Galaxy. But the loss of the power of the Glow would weaken ascendant Chaos, and inevitably the forces of Order would regroup. Iredok grew a clone of himself, used Patrol technology to give it his current memories, and placed it in suspended animation. He set up a sensitive guardian machine to monitor the Galaxy, and programmed this guardian to revive the clone when the power of Order began to rebuild in the Galaxy.

You and I, reader, far removed in time and space from Iredok and Ekluabdyalbker, may see some logical flaws in Iredok’s plan. But we can’t know his thoughts and feelings at that time. He had been isolated on a planet far from any star for several years, working frantically to destroy the Galactic Patrol, an organization to which he had given his life and his soul. He would destroy millions of sentient beings, not the least of whom were his best friends and former partners. Without the Galactic Patrol, the many civilizations in the confederation would slip into Chaos, trillions of sentient beings would die as a result, and more trillions yet to be born would live their lives in misery and Chaos before order would be restored. Is it any wonder, then, that his thinking was flawed?

Finally he was ready. Ironic that the last Patroller, in the name of Order, would destroy the organization that had promoted Order throughout much of the Galaxy. But he had no choice. Iredok released the counter-virus into his Glove. He donned his Glove and charged it one last time…

His Glove transmitted the counter virus into the Glove and in turn to the black hole. At the black hole, the battle between the counter virus and the Chaos virus produced a violent energy feedback surge, which fed back through Iredok’s Globe and Glove, killing him instantly. In nanoseconds, the counter virus attacked and totally destroyed the Chaos virus at the black hole. But the virus still infected every other Glove and Globe.

The next time each Patroller anywhere in the Galaxy charged his/her/its Glove, the counter virus flowed through the Globe into the Glove, and fought the Chaos virus inside them. The counter-virus always won, if destroying every Globe, Glove and Patroller could be counted as a victory. The Galaxy was free of the threat of the Chaos virus! But the price was terrible – the Patrol was decimated.

Iredok’s other project was initially a failure. The balance of power between Order and Chaos shifted many times over the next 100,000 years, but Iredok’s guardian machine never revived the sleeping clone. In his haste, Iredok had made a programming error – his guardian machine was actually programmed to revive the clone only when Order returned to the planet Ekluabdyalbker, rather than when the power of Order waxed in the Galaxy. And during those many long years, no one and nothing visited the rogue planet of Ekluabdyalbker as it flew its lonely journey between the stars.

Master of the Glow Prologue 2

Dr. Fate, as the host of a Lord of Order, resisted the growth of Chaos in the universe, and battled to advance the cause of Order. One of the tools of Order is the ritual. Part of the life of a Lord of Order is consumed in observing the various rituals of Order. The modern part of this story begins with Dr. Fate performing just such a ritual.

Periodically, Dr. Fate performed a ritual of Search. During this ritual, his astral self wandered through space ‘close’ to Earth, searching for signs of the expansion of Chaos. During this particular ritual of Search, Ekluabdyalbker’s flight had finally brought it into Dr. Fate’s sphere of interest. He noticed the new rogue planet, and his human host, archeologist Kent Nelson, was fascinated by the discovery of the abandoned base of the Galactic Patrol. What an amazing find! It could provide amazing insights into live in the Galaxy thousands of years ago. Nelson strained his will to divert Fate’s attention to the base. Fate stopped his search and spent several seconds flitting through the long-abandoned corridors. When he found no signs of Chaos, he returned to his ritual search, ignoring Nelson’s desires.

On the rogue planet, however, the sensitive guardian machine noted the passage of Fate’s astral self. It analyzed the miniscule traces of mystical energy Fate’s astral self left behind, and interpreted these energies as a sign of Order returning to Ekluabdyalbker. The guardian machine initiated the final phase of Iredok’s plan. The clone was awakened, provided with the Glove and Globe, and encouraged to join the forces of Order in the Galaxy.

But Iredok had never expected a lapse of 100,000 year to pass before his clone was awakened. Small imperfections in the suspended animation process, imperfections that would make no perceptible difference over tens or even hundreds of years, built up during the long sleep and when Iredok II was finally awakened, his brain was considerably damaged, and he was unable to make the Glove work for him.

Whatever portion of his brain had been used to communicate with the Glove had seemingly been destroyed. No matter how hard he concentrated, Iredok II was unable to use his Glove. When he commanded the Glove he could feel it quivering, as if it was trying to respond – almost as if it was begging to be commanded! – but Iredok II was not able to break through whatever barrier kept him from controlling the Glow. He felt as if he was on the edge of success – that if he had time, he might once again regain his power, but he didn’t have time! He needed to find the Lord of Order whose activities had led to his revival. Perhaps this Lord of Order could restore his mind. If not, certainly this Lord of Order would help him find someone worthy to whom he could pass on the power of the Glow.

Working with the sensitive detection instruments Iredok I had built into the guardian machine, Iredok II was able to determine that the Lord of Order who had awakened him came from a distant planet (Earth). Iredok quickly refurbished one of the Patrol spaceships that remained on Ekluabdyalbker, and headed towards Earth. Once again he was betrayed when Patrol technology, unused for over 100,000 years, failed…

Master of the Glow Part 1

As the spaceship bearing the clone of Galactic Patroller Iredok Jur Diah, along with his Glove and Glove approached Earth, something in the hyperdrive unit failed. The ship abruptly shifted from hyperspace into normal space. The uncontrolled transition left Iredok stunned! He wasn’t surprised at the failure, given the age of the ship, but he had hoped it would last long enough to get him safely to Earth.

Although he could see the planet approaching at a dangerous speed, Iredok Jur Diah could do nothing to regain control. The ship plunged almost instantly through the atmosphere and smashed into the planet’s surface at tremendous speed, crashing at the base of a mountain. The ship was totally destroyed and only the advanced passenger-protection devices kept Iredok alive. But he knew he was fatally injured and would die soon

Up until now, Iredok had been unable to activate the Glove, due to the damage his brain had sustained during his long sleep in suspended animation. He knew he was going to die soon, and only the power of the Glow could aid him now, so he painfully slid his Glove onto his hand. He then made a fist and pressed the face of his fist against the glowing Globe, which was set on a conical stand. His hand sunk slowly into the Globe about an inch. He felt the power of the Glow flow from the Globe into the Glove, and bright white light leaked out of the Globe around the edges of his fist. Suddenly he felt the Glove start to stretch, and within a second, his entire body had been covered in a skin-tight black and gray bodysuit. He felt his own life force slowly leaving him, and he knew he had only seconds to act. He focused all his concentration, heightened as it was by his desperation, and gave his last command of the Glow.

“Find me someone who can be trusted to control this power!” he screamed, weakly, in his thoughts. For a short time, nothing happened, and Iredok felt despair. It wasn’t going to work! But then, weakly at first, but steadily growing stronger, a glowing thread grew from the Glove, and started to stretch away from him. The thread was a pale, off-white color, much as the color one might see if a white pearl were brightly illuminated from the inside. The thread stretched and formed into a giant hand, which flew away and shortly returned, carrying a black man clothed in hiking gear and wearing a backpack. The power of the Glow allowed Iredok Jur Diah to read the hiker’s mind, and translated his speech into English.

“James Chisholm! The power of the Glow has selected you! When you wear this Glove, you will command mighty powers! If you can will it, the power of the Glow can make it happen. The Glow has searched your mind and shows that you will always use this power wisely and for the purposes of Good!”

Days later, when Jim thought back on this instant, Iredok Jur Diah’s final words seemed corny, almost like something out of a comic book. But Iredok Jur Diah knew he was dying, and he didn’t have time to find more elegant words…

With almost his last thought, Iredok Jur Diah commanded the Glove to leave him and go to James Chisholm. Before Jim could even react, the Glove left Iredok’s hand and slipped onto Jim’s hand. Jim was immediately covered in the same skin-tight black and gray body suit that Iredok had been wearing.

Jim was pretty stunned and amazed at all of this. He wished that he could read Iredok’s mind, and suddenly he could! In the last second before Iredok’s life faded, Jim was able to examine his entire life in his mind. When Iredok died, the memories suddenly snapped away from Jim’s mind, and he knew as little about Iredok as he had before. He wished that he could recall these memories again, and found that apparently, Iredok Jur Diah’s memories had somehow been stored in either the Globe or Glove, and he could access them at will.

Master of the Glow Part 2

Jim wanted to understand what had happened to him, so he took a long time to examine Iredok Jur Diah’s stored memories. Iredok had been a member of the long-vanished Galactic Patrol – or had he? Jim was confused, this Iredok actually seemed to have been a clone of the original Iredok. It was the original Iredok Jur Diah who had been a member of the Patrol – and who had, in the end, destroyed the Patrol.

Jim slowly absorbed the history of the Galactic Patrol, from the beginning through the invention of the Glove and Globe, Iredok joining the Patrol and receiving the highest honor possible, control of the Glow, through the contamination of the power of the Glow by the Chaos virus, and finally, the destruction of the Galactic Patrol by Iredok Jur Diah himself. Of course, there was no memory of the thousands of years since the Patrol had been destroyed, since the Iredok clone had been in suspended animation during those years. (Jim realized that he couldn’t even be sure that the Galactic Patrol had actually been destroyed – Iredok II was sure it was, but he hadn’t actually seen it happen).

Jim learned from Iredok’s memories the theory of how the Glove and Globe worked. He found that the wearer of a Glove can fly, create and shape force fields for offense and defense, and use the Glow to read minds and automatically translate between the language of the wearer and anyone of any species that he might be talking to. The Glove and Globe were created with highly advanced technology. Although their manifestations appear magical, there is actually nothing magical about them.

Iredok also knew that it took some time for the Glove wearer and the non-sentient artificial intelligence in the Glove to adapt to each other, and that unfortunate commands given the Glove during the learning period could be dangerous. He had trained long and hard with the Glove before he was actually able to use it safely. Jim, on the other hand, had little choice – he was already wearing the powerful artifact, so until he removed it, he had to guard his every thought.

Jim was an architect, sculptor and artist, as well as an accomplished athlete. For whatever reason, early in his life Green Lantern had fascinated him. He had studied everything that had ever been written about Green Lantern, and had often daydreamed about having his own power ring. He had managed to be introduced to his hero at a charity event, and had talked with him several times since then. Although they couldn’t be classified as friends, GL knew Jim well enough to recognize him whenever they saw each other.

As he paged through Iredok Jur Diah’s memories of the history of the Galactic Patrol and the Glow, Jim started to realize that although he hadn’t just been handed his very own power ring, what he did have seemed like a very acceptable substitute! Although he had just started mourning the loss of the valiant Iredok Jur Diah, a man he had never known, Jim began to get very excited about his own possibilities! The Glove and Globe could exceed even his wildest imaginations!

Master of the Glow Part 3

Realizing that the best way for him to learn to control the power of the Glove was through cautious experimentation, Jim began to make use of his new power. Jim felt that he would use Green Lantern as an example, and rather than using the power directly, he would shape it into familiar forms to accomplish his goals. This would give him important, immediate visual feedback regarding the tasks he was trying to accomplish. Being an artist would give him the imagination he needed to create useful energy constructs, his sculptor’s touch would allow him to readily create and shape these constructs, and his architect’s discipline would help him make sure he considered all of the details of whatever he wanted to do.

“It’s ironic!” he thought. “Who would have guessed that my profession and my avocations would help make me so suitable to control my new power?” Jim would remember that thought ironically in only a short time. “My first task will be to build a suitable monument for Iredok Jur Diah, the hero of the Galactic Patrol, who kept the power of the Glow from the forces of Chaos!

“I’ll begin by scooping out a shallow cave in the mountainside, just above where he crashed, and then I will use the stone from the excavation to build a vault, shaped like a Grecian temple.”

When wearing the Glove, to think is to act. A giant glowing white ice cream scoop formed in the air and began to gouge the mountainside. Unfortunately for Jim, he couldn’t yet control his new power. The scoop was much too powerful, and as it tore a huge chunk out of the mountainside, the entire mountain started to collapse! Jim quickly swung Iredok’s body over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, and grabbed the Globe.

“I need to get out of here, fast!” he thought, almost in panic. When wearing the Glove, to think is to act… Suddenly Jim was flying through the air at an incredible speed. He was moving so fast, he started to burn from wind friction. If he didn’t slow down fast, he would be dead in only seconds!

When wearing the Glove, to think is to act! Jim slammed to an immediate stop. And started falling towards the ground! When he looked down, Jim realized that he was at least a mile in the air. The Glove was getting him into worse and worse trouble each time he tried to use it! At least he had a few seconds to act. A part of his mind started to calculate just how long it would be before he hit! He had trouble believing just how idiotic it would be to spend the last seconds of his life uselessly calculating some meaningless number. “s=1/2 a t squared” a part of his mind droned on. “vf =vI + a t” Shaking his head, he focused his attention on saving himself.

“I need a parachute!” When wearing the Glove, to think is to act! A glowing white parachute formed above him. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to construct the harness, and he continued to fall. “|>@^^|\|! I have to think fast, or I’ll never get a chance to use this neat new toy!”

Jim couldn’t remember all the details of a parachute harness, so he tried something else. “A hot air balloon, with a gondola hanging underneath it, and me in the gondola!” Jim crashed to the floor of the gondola, dropping Iredok and the Globe. He looked around and noticed that the balloon wasn’t falling – at least he was safe for a few minuets!

“Better think the next move out very carefully, Jim! Ironic, isn’t it, how smug you were only seconds ago!”

Jim then noticed that he was very cold and getting colder, and that the balloon had started to fall. Nothing dangerous yet, but he really did have a deadline.

Thinking very cautiously, Jim attempted to form a small construct that looked like a hand, and would respond to his thoughts. A hand, the size of a newborn baby’s hand, formed in the air. Jim concentrated carefully on enlarging the hand, causing it to grow slowly. Within seconds, it reached the size of his own hand and he commanded it to stop growing. It did! He then created another, exactly the same size as the original. The hands then very gently lifted Iredok’s body and the Globe.

Very cautiously, Jim commanded his Glove to stop his fall, and to retain the holds on Iredok and the Globe. Once again, it worked! He stopped falling and was hovering in the air. Jim quickly realized that within seconds he would become entangled in the ropes holding the gondola as the balloon continued to fall, so he very carefully banished the balloon, while maintaining the hover, and continuing to hold Iredok and the Globe. Finally, Jim had the Glove move him, very slowly, down and back towards the crash site. He continued to get colder, but the air around him was starting to warm up. Rather than disturb the concentration that was maintaining his other energy constructs, he decided to put up with the cold until he landed.

At his carefully controlled flying speed, it took him about 20 minutes to return to the crash site. He was especially careful to land softly. The spaceship was entirely buried under the rockslide he had caused earlier. Jim couldn’t believe how lucky he had been so far, and he decided not to take any more changes with his new, barely controlled power. Using rocks from the slide, Jim built a cairn around Iredok’s body. He would return later to build the proper memorial.

Finally, Jim walked back to the hiking trail he had been following when his life so abruptly changed, and made his way back to his car. No more super powers until he was more completely trained!

Master of the Glow Part 4

The next day, Jim flew via commercial jet to Gotham City, and made his way to the JSA’s brownstone headquarters. He was let into the building’s waiting room, and eventually, Ted (Wildcat) Grant greeted him.

“Howdy, bud! Who are you and what can the JSA do for you?”

“My name is James Chisholm, and I would like to talk to Green Lantern. He’s not expecting me, but he does know me…”

“You name sounds familiar.” growled Wildcat. “I can’t quite place you, however…”

“I was on the US Men’s Volleyball team in the last Olympics. We took the Gold!” responded Jim, proudly.

“I knew it!” said Ted. “I won an Olympic medal once myself. I’ll tell GL you are here. Meanwhile, make yourself at home! You know, it’s a nice change to have a visitor who isn’t a super villain!”

A few minutes later, Jim was telling Green Lantern and Wildcat the entire story. “So you see,” he finished, “I really need some help figuring out how control the power of the Glow!”

“You’ve come to the right place!” responded Green Lantern. “Let’s get right to it. I’ve been working with Corona recently on using her ring – you can join us!”

Master of the Glow Part 5

A few days later, Green Lantern was summarizing what they had discovered. “The Glove and Globe are not dissimilar in power and usage to my Green Lantern and Power Ring, although my powers are mystically based while yours are based in very advanced technology. In a way, your Glove is more similar to Corona’s Power Ring, which is also built using highly advanced technology.

“We haven’t yet found an inherent weakness of the power of the Glow, analogous to my Ring’s weakness to wood. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have weaknesses. Until you are sure of your vulnerabilities, Jim, don’t get cocky!

“Meanwhile, you have definitely improved your control over your power – you and the computer in the Glove have seemingly adapted to each other. You have figured out how to think about things without ordering the Glove to act, and the Glove has learned how to distinguish your commands from your normal thinking process. You need more practice, but you are not in danger due to random thoughts any longer.”

“Thanks, Alan!” they had quickly realized the futility of trying to keep their identities secret from someone who could read their minds. “I hope that someday, I can be a hero of the same stature as the Green Lantern!”

“Say, Jim, if you wanna be a super hero, you’ll need to know how to handle your fists!” Of course, this came from Wildcat, who thought with amusement that he had already probably trained every other young super hero in the US. He was very surprised at Jim’s answer.

“Thanks, Ted, but I don’t believe in fighting unless I have no other choices. I understand that force will be required to resolve some situations, but I have always been able to avoid fisticuffs so far in my life. You know I have a black belt in Aikido, which is, among other things, a non-aggressive method of self-defense.”

“I think you’re making a BIG mistake, Jim! Super villains don’t understand nothin’ but violence!”

“I don’t disagree, Ted. I guarantee I’m not helpless in a situation that requires violence. Since we’re still in training, let me show you. Why don’t you attack me as if you were a violent criminal?”

Ted’s eyes lit up! Nothing he liked more than a good fight! He immediately swung a roundhouse right hand at Jim’s jaw. He would make this lesson quick! Jim swayed slightly to the side, and Ted totally missed. Jim reached his hand behind Ted’s elbow and pushed in the direction of the blow, and Ted stumbled off-balance, past Jim. Jim tripped him as he went by, and as soon as Ted hit the ground, Jim used energy constructs of the Glove to tie him up.

“Aw, $\-\|?<>! I hate it when that happens!” yelled Ted. “Get this crud off of me!”

“I trust I’ve proved my point?” Jim asked quietly.

“You might be sorry, someday, if you are in a tight spot without the power of your Glove!” Ted wasn’t really mad, but he knew he wasn’t wrong, either.

“I’m aware of the possibility, Ted, and I will take precautions. But I have to live my life according to my own beliefs!”

 

The End