Beyond Shazam's Magic #1

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Beyond Shazam’s Magic!
The Once and Future Champion Part 1

Written by G. Brown
Edited by Daniel Dyer

Elsewhere

The fabled land of Arrington was once again under attack from the dreaded blue dragon Bouldah. The renowned Knight Sir Justice raced below the flying beast on horseback. The dragon fired twin bolts of lightning from its cavernous mouth. Both bolts crashing to the ground on either side of Sir Justice’s steed.

Lady Abigail watched the brave knight as he battled the beast from the relative safety of the woodline. She breathlessly waited for the tide of the conflict to turn in the favor of the brave knight. A shadow fell over the valiant knight as Bouldah swept down for the attack. Justice raised his shield just in time to deflect the teeth of the reptile. As the dragon lifted itself upward into the air, it countered with a mighty swing of its tail, knocking the warrior from his horse.

Lady Abigail gasped audibly as did the many peasants watching from behind the shutters of their humble homes. Pressing its advantage, the blue dragon changed course and flew back toward the fallen knight. As Justice attempted to regain his footing, he was met by a blast of electrical breathe from his mighty opponent. In a burst of light Sir Justice was no more!

The Lady Abigail fell to her knees. She could hardly believe that the hero Justice was dead. He was gone! Now who would save all of Arrington from the dragon’s wrath? Who would defend these helpless people?

Why, she would of course!

The Lady Abigail dashed from the woodline toward the still smoking body of the now dead champion. As she closed the gap, the mighty Bouldah noticed this new player on the field of battle and banked his flight in order to intercept. The dragon flew downward locking eyes on the Lady Abigail. Bouldah opened his mouth, ready to chomp down and dispatch this weaker opponent in one gulp. At the last possible minute, Lady Abigail leaped under the jaws of the beast and grabbed the sword of fallen Justice. Diving through a pile of ashes that was once the hero of the land, Abigail thrust the sword upward cutting deeply into the dragon’s vulnerable underbelly. The sword somehow cut into the beasts very heart as it sailed past!

The blue dragon collapsed in a field of wheat and took its final breath. The Lady Abigail rose to her feet as the throngs of grateful peasants ran around her cheering!

“Abigail! Abigail! Abigail!”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

2046
Lois Lane High School

“Abigail! Abigail Freeman are you even paying attention to anything I’m saying?”

Abbey Freeman looked lost and dazed as she attempted to recover from her deep day dream.

“No... I mean Yes, Mr. Snow. I’m sorry,” she stammered.

Laughter and snorts came from the back of the room along with various non complimentary comments.

“Dork. Retread. What a reject.” Just to list a few.

Abigail shook her long brown haired ponytail and pushed her glasses up from the brim of her nose. She was used to being teased. After years of such abuse, she was actually getting numb to most of it. At least that’s what she told herself. Who could blame the other kids for being mean? Abbey Freeman was the poster child for teasing. It was the mid 21st century, for goodness sake and here she was wearing glasses! She understood her mother’s wishes, that she didn’t believe in splicing or genetic tampering as she liked to call it, but understanding didn’t make life any easier for Abbey. As if the archaic glasses weren’t bad enough, Abbey’s biggest obstacle to a life like other girls was this ugly metallic box she was forced to live in. Abbey was born with a rare spinal disease that left her without the use of her legs since she was about three years old. Ever since, she has lived in the comfort or prison of a hoverchair. So here she sat at the ripe old age of fifteen, okay fourteen and a half, floating around in a dork box wearing ancient eyewear. Not the number one way to attract boys and get popular fast. Sure there were many ways to help her see better or walk for that matter, but see above for Mother Freeman’s lack of faith in modern science. No, Abigail Freeman was doomed by Fate to never walk and be the object of ridicule or worse, pity, for the remainder of her days.

At least her mind was sharp. She aced every class she ever attended. She never received a grade below an “A” on any test she had ever taken since grade school. Her Grandad joked that Solomon himself would come to Abbey for help on a test. It was as if nature was trying to make up for her physical limitations. Science and school came easy for her. Study time was not a priority, most things came easy to her. Of course this “gift” came with a price, her academic achievements only added fuel to the fire of her peers. Oh well, if your going to be the object of ridicule, you may as well be the best at it. Why not present the total package, Abbey often told herself.

Today couldn’t end soon enough! This was the last day of school and the official beginning of her best summer ever!

BZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The buzzer announcing the end of class sounded and a roar exploded from the class. The students raced from the room like a herd of elephants cheering and leaving a trail of papers behind them. Abigail waited until everyone had left, not wanting her hoverchair to cause a traffic jam at the doorway.

“You were daydreaming again. Lady Abigail battling the Black Knight this time?”

It was the last of the students and Abbey’s best friend, Thomas Spencer. He stood beside her chair with a know it all look on his face. Spence, as everyone called him, was not a science geek like the ones Abbey spent her lunch period with, but he wasn’t exactly a jock or one of the popular crowd. He walked the fine line between both worlds and for some mysterious reason liked to spend time with Abbey. A lot of time. At least it was a mystery to her.

“Yeah, I’m sorry if Lady Abigail’s life is a little more exciting than Abbey Freeman’s. At least for now. And the Black Knight was yesterday. Today it was Bouldah!”

“Yeah, but Danger and Daggers can’t take over your whole life. Not that the dashing Rogue Spencer doesn’t like playing sidekick to Lady Abigail every Tuesday and Thursday nights over the ethernet, but plain old Abbey isn’t so bad to hang out with either, you know?”

Spence was a sweetheart and Abbey would be lying if she didn’t admit to feeling a certain pang in the pit of her stomach when he spoke about her like that, but deep down she knew that when they grew up Spence would be chasing the more...... lets just say, agile girls of the world.

“You’re right, Spence, but I just get into her character a lot. She’s really what I wish I could be.”

Spence was about to say something, maybe something sweet again when Mr. Snow interrupted them.

Abbey, Thomas, Don’t forget the bus meets in the school parking lot at 6:00am sharp, Monday morning. Don’t be late. I’m looking forward to the work we can all accomplish this summer.”

Abbey’s face lit up with a smile from ear to ear. This trip was a monumental event for her. Abbey and Spence were chosen to spend the summer as volunteer/interns with the Save the Savannah Foundation for the entire summer. The STS group traveled the globe in an attempt to save or restore what was left of the Earth’s natural resources and nature’s wonders. This summer the two friends would be flying from Africa to Australia working on restoration projects with other students chosen from Neo Fawcett to Gotham City and everywhere in between.

“We got it, Mr. Snow. No way we’d be late. I can’t wait!” Abbey was like a kid on Christmas Eve. Monday couldn’t come soon enough.

The two headed into the hallway. “Spence, do you think we’ll have some real adventures this summer? Like mysterious treasures or fighting monsters and weird artifacts? Running from one scrape to another....”

Abbey was so excited she forgot for a moment who she really was. The look on Spence’s face brought her right back to reality. He was looking directly at her hoverchair, before averting his gaze too late.

“Oh right.” Abbey tried to recover quickly, but the look on Spence’s face had said it all. “It will still be a great trip. We’ll see things we’ve never seen before. See you Monday morning, bright and early.”

Even though she tried hard to hide it, Abbey’s face lost a little of its light as she glided the chair down the hall and away from Spence.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Cindy Freeman packed the last of her daughter’s clothes into her suitcase. The Save the Savannah Foundation provided room, board and saw to all the volunteers needs, but Cindy was worried all the same. Her little girl was going away for a long time, for the first time in their life together. Abigail had overcome much in her short life and she always made the right decisions, Cindy never worried about her daughter’s character. Deep down Cindy was more worried about how the time apart would be for her. Abbey was strong, fate made sure of that, it was Cindy that would have the hardest time.

Abigail entered her room on a slider attached to the wall. The device carried her around the house by slider seats that slid around the entire length of the home by way of the walls. Abbey was dressed in her bed clothes fresh from the shower.

“All set Mom?” Abbey chewed her lower lip. It was a habit she never out grew. Anyone could tell when she was nervous just by looking at her while she did it. She knew her mother was dreading this trip as much as Abbey was looking forward to it. Ever since Dad disappeared years ago, Mom hated to be alone, even for an evening.

“Yup, everything is all set, Pumpkin.” Cindy came and sat at the end of the bed alongside Abbey.

“It’s okay, Mom. I can take care of myself. I have my hoverchair and I even finished my own special adjustments to it. You know what a tech genius I can be at times.” Abbey tried to remain perky and upbeat for her mom.

“I know you can, baby. Its not that, you can handle anything life throws at you. Heck, you can take care of yourself better than I can take care of myself sometimes. Its just there is so much unrest all over the world these days. Its getting dangerous overseas.... and I’m just going to miss you... a lot.”

Cindy faced her only child. “You have grown up so smart, so mature. You’re Dad would ah.....Well he would have been proud of you. Just like I am.”

Mom and daughter hugged tightly. Abbey remained silent, the subject of her father rarely came up. It was not a subject they talked about at all. It was time to change the subject.

“Don’t worry, Mom. There hasn’t been a major war in over forty years. The Foundation stays away from all conflicts. I couldn’t be safer.”

Cindy turned around before she left the room. “I almost forgot. Grandpa Freddie and Grandma Mary sent this for you.”

She handed Abbey a small gift box. She pulled out a chain and pendant of gold. At the end of the chain was a charm in the shape of a lightning bolt. Abbey sighed and smirked, she knew its significance.

“It’s the symbol of Grandpa’s favorite hero from the Golden Age of Heroes. The hero of Fawcett City, Captain Marvelous or something like that.”

Abbey often droned out her Grandpa Freddie’s endless stories about the Marvel Family of heroes. He would tell her tales of heroism all done by the “Marvels” of bygone days for hours at end. As a little girl it was wonderful! But soon she began to notice that Grandpa Freddie would only tell her the stories when they were alone. Hushing up very quickly whenever Grandma Mary would come by. It was like a little secret they shared. Then it was fun and cool, but as Abbey got older she began to only put up with the stories for Grandpa’s sake. All of Neo Fawcett knew about Captain Marvelous or whoever, they even had a statue to him at C.C. Beck Park, but these days it was covered in graffiti and bird droppings. Every now and then, the news would talk about Superman or the JLA, but none of them were ever seen in Neo Fawcett. Today was nothing like Grandpa’s old stories, no one had seen or heard from a “Marvel” in like forever. Certainly not in Abbey’s lifetime. At least those old stories were good for something, they had bonded Abbey and Grandpa, they were very close even today.

“He had asked that I make sure you get it before the trip.”

“Thanks Mom, I’ll wear it for Grandpa.” Abbey put the chain around her neck and fell to sleep dreaming of far away places, Magic, Dragons, Wizards and for the first time in a long time, a hero named Marvel.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Two weeks later, Kahndaq Africa.

The Save the Savannah Foundation had been working for the better part of a week on restoring a natural Oasis on the outskirts of the city Tothopolis. Green had begun to grow from the sand and the STS scientists had actually created a man made water source that would only grow larger with very coming year. Abbey and Spence had seen scientific wonders in two short weeks that almost seemed like magic. The trip was living up to all its billing.

“Abbey, did you see the camels! A caravan came through today with REAL camels! This is the only nation that still raises them naturally, no splicing or cloning.”

Abbey’s hoverchair floated to a stop right next to the overexcited Spence. They both met at the town center, just in front of a huge well. Both were dressed in the tan and white uniforms of the STS Foundation.

“I know they were amazing. The holovids in school sure underestimated the smell though. But did you hear the REAL news? They discovered the lost Tomb of Teth-Adam!”

Abbey waited for the desired effect to sink in, when nothing showed on Spence’s face her smile faded and she chided him.

“Come on, Spencer. Teth-Adam the son of Ramses II.....the greatest champion of his day? Don’t you read the information about the sites we are visiting? Honestly Spence, I know you’re smarter than you let on.”

“Of course I am. I just like to see you get all worked up, Abbey girl. What’s more, did you hear the Rogue Spence is going to raid the tomb after hours?”

“No way, Thomas Spencer! The Tomb is off limits to all but authorized workers. The Foundation won’t put up with stuff like this. I’ve waited too long to get on this team, I will not allow you to mess this up for us and get us sent home early.”

“Suit yourself, Abbey, but I could really use the backup of my faithful companion, the Lady Abigail. I guess she didn’t come along for the trip. Shame really, adventures aren’t the same without companions.”

Abbey sighed and her head sagged, every part of her knew this was wrong but she was also sure of where she would be after lights out.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Tomb of Teth-Adam

The night was cold and the tomb entrance was lit only by moonlight and a few sparse solar torches. Abbey and Spence hid in the darkness overlooking the entrance and the sleeping STS sentry in his chair.

“See Abbey, he’s asleep. I’ll just sneak on down there and see what I can find.”

“Spence, they said the tomb was sealed shut. They tried all day to get in and failed.” Abbey was giving it one last shot at reason. Maybe Spence could be talked out of this and the summer could be saved. Abbey was sure they’d be caught and the whole trip would be ruined, but Spence was always so nice to her, she didn’t want to disappoint him. She would never let him down.

“Ahh but the Dashing Rogue Spence hasn’t tried yet. Just stand watch. If trouble heads my way, give the whistle.” With a flash of his smile and a nod of his head, Spence slid down the berm and disappeared intro the shadows.

Abbey watched the darkness, she had lost sight of Spence, but assumed he must be close to the sleeping guard by now. As she watched the guard, she was shocked to see three men appear from the shadows and gag the guard while hitting him over the head with a sap of some kind. As they began to drag the body into the shadows, one of them noticed Spence. Abbey was frozen in fear. She couldn’t even manage to whistle.

“Over there! It’s a kid, get him! He’s seen us.” With the command given, two of the men raced after Spence in the dark. Frighteningly fast, they caught up to him and hit him with the sap as well. They dragged Spence into the light for a moment as they headed toward the tomb and their leader.

Abbey was still frozen. Still watching the events unfold before her like a nightmare come to life. She was terrified, but she knew she couldn’t just watch as Spence was taken away. She was his only chance. She stopped chewing on her lower lip and suddenly she knew what she had to do. Just before she put her plan in action, she realized she had been clutching her Grandpa’s charm the whole time.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Kid almost got away. Fast one.”

The two men were talking as they dragged Spence’s unconscious form toward the front of the tomb.

“We gonna have to kill him now?”

“Not sure. Its up to the boss, not my call. If I had my....”

The conversation was interrupted by Abbey’s hoverchair racing into the light at full throttle! It slammed its metal nose into the head of the first man and passed precariously close to the second man. As Abbey zoomed past the surprised second man, she swung one of the solar torches like a baseball bat and hit a home run with his head! The torch shattered as it crashed into the man’s face. Within two seconds both men had collapsed to the desert floor unconscious!

Abbey lowered her chair to the sand and breathing heavily still shaking from the adrenaline coursing through her body , she began to pull Spence over the nose of her chair. After a great struggle, she finally draped Spence over the front of her chair like a hunting trophy. Abbey began to move the chair into the light toward the tomb entrance with every intention of going straight to the dorms. No passing GO and no collecting $200 dollars. The chair struggled and hesitated under the additional weight.

Come on, Come on. I’ll have to add more torque to the thrusters she thought to herself over the pounding of her heart.

Suddenly an orange scaled tail slammed into the chair! The hoverchair crashed into the sand. It took all of her concentration and strength to ensure Spence didn’t get thrown from the nose. She was almost totally out of energy, but Spence was still safely on the chair. She could just make out the tomb door from where she crashed. She could clearly see that there was no levers or handles in which to open the door. She also couldn’t help but notice the unique carvings all over the sides of the tomb door. Lightning bolts.....plenty of lightning bolts. Her attention was diverted from the door to her pursuer who had just stepped into the light. As she looked at the man, her nightmare just got worse. The man was a serious splicer. He was more snake than man. Abbey would have preferred if the tail had belonged to a dragon then the creature heading towards her now. He was huge with orange scales all over his body and long fangs where his mouth should have been, but worse were his spliced eyes. They were black and cold just like a real snake.

“You got guts girl and I want to see them all. You just made me very angry and when Anaconda’s angry, people die.”

Abbey had to do something. If she didn’t act fast both Spence and her would die. She was no Lady Abigail, she was no match for this monster, but there was no reason they both should die. Abbey launched herself from the chair by her arms and when she landed in the sand she immediately activated the hoverchair’s auto pilot return sequence. With the hit of a button the chair automatically returned to its programmed destination. In this case it was the safety of the STS dormitory. Suddenly the chair lifted to life. No longer bogged down with the extra weight, the chair flew at top speeds to the dorm. Spence was safely whisked past Anaconda and toward help. Abbey knew she had saved Spence but she had almost certainly killed herself in the process. She had no regrets, but that didn’t mean she had to go quietly. Abbey began to crawl/pull herself by her arms toward the tomb door at a snail’s pace. Panting and grunting with every pull, she refused to give in.

The splicer was even more enraged that Spence escaped.

“Oh but you’re a clever girl. You’ve ruined the entire night’s work. I’m going to enjoy tearing you apart!” With that Anaconda’s upper torso began to stretch from his lower torso and his body really became snake like. He began to slither and close the gap between him and Abbey with amazing speed. Abbey had momentarily looked back and saw this hideous transformation. She screamed out loud and began to pull furiously in the sand! She was just about to reach the tomb when Anaconda was upon her! She could feel her hand touch the cold stone entrance to Teth-Adam’s tomb when....

BOOM!

It was the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning! Abbey had closed her eyes in anticipation of Anaconda’s bite and was too terrified to open them. When she felt nothing and the sound of the thunder dissipated she slowly unclenched her eyes. What she saw took her breath away. She knew almost instantly that she wasn’t inside the tomb. No, she was somewhere else entirely. She looked around a tunnel of sorts. There were several statues lined on the walls each with a brazier of fire under them. The fire lit the tunnel and splashed shadows all over the walls. She still laid helplessly on the tunnel floor. She twisted her body around and saw a man at the end of the tunnel sitting on a stone throne. The man was dressed in all white and his face was obstructed by a white hood. She could only see the bottom of his face and his nose. He bristled with raw power.

“Holey Moley.......” was all Abbey could say. She thought for just a minute that she saw the man on the throne smile at her comment.

To be continued.