MvDC MVFBB - Andromeda vs. Ms. Marvel

Talented text and Marvelous music by the Avant-garde Aron Orson
Impressive inks and Captivating colors by the Magnificent MuscleGirlsArt

Backstage... 

L-Gand [peeking through the curtains at the stage and audience, a bit nervous]: “I know the history vids about these events were highly accurate, but experiencing the real thing…it’s definitely a whole different thing altogether…”

C-Danvers: "You okay, kid?"

L-Gand [brows mildly furrowed]: "I'm not exactly a 'kid'--I'm nineteen, going on twenty."

C-Danvers: "(Huh. Pretty tall for nineteen.) Sorry--force of habit from my Air Force days, when they had me oversee my own squad of cadets."

L-Gand [brows unfurrowed]: "It's...it's fine. I shouldn't have answered like that."

C-Danvers [hand held out]: "No problem, a lot of us are pretty new to each other. Carol Danvers."

L-Gand [shaking the proffered hand]: "Laurel Gand. I imagine me and the blonde with the pointed ears are probably the youngest of all of us 'contestants'. Then again, I didn't imagine this would be how I'd find myself visiting this time period again."

C-Danvers [one eyebrow quirked up]: "'This time period'--are you saying you're from the future, or something?"

L-Gand [nods]: "The 31st century--of my universe, specifically."

C-Danvers: "Huh. Interesting--the team I'm on, the Avengers, has worked with folks from the 31st century (of our world, that is) on more than a few occasions. Called themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy." [Notices the emblem on L-Gand's top.] "Is that 'L' for the outfit you're a part of?"

L-Gand: "It is--we're called the Legion of Super-Heroes. We were inspired by the heroes of our distant past to join together in protecting the galaxy, on behalf of the United Planets. Though there are times where I feel I'm not exactly proving myself worthy of being a member."

C-Danvers: "...Don't mean to pry, but I'm willing to listen if you want to talk about it."

L-Gand [hesitant]: "...I'm originally from the planet Daxam. We're a similar world to Krypton--where Power Girl's from--and even get the same powers when we're under a yellow sun; only difference is, we've got a hypersensitive weakness to lead. I was raised in a very xenophobic community of Daxamites called the White Triangle; we were all practically indoctrinated on how interspecies cooperation was a horrifying prospect. Yet, their political clout is what led to me representing Daxam in the Legion. I practically had to wear a transuit at all times because of my lead vulnerability; at the time, I didn't have any problem with it, since it meant that I wouldn't have to actually touch any non-Daxamites. Unfortunately, that really hampered my battlefield effectiveness. I'd actually avoid physically engaging with foes, which was bad enough; what made things worse was when I let a group of White Triangle members go after they mugged someone, which led to them nearly fatally beating my teammate Triplicate Girl. I found myself disgusted by what they'd done, and my own part in it; I chased after them, but they tore my transuit and directly exposed me to lead. It wasn't enough to kill me, and I barely managed to bring them to the Science Police before I collapsed at Legion HQ. It took a conversation with another teammate in Brainiac 5, while he was creating an anti-lead serum for me and I was recovering, for me to realize everything I'd been taught was completely wrong. In spite of that epiphany, another teammate, Shrinking Violet, found my White Triangle pendant, and one of our leaders, Cosmic Boy, ordered me confined to quarters, but not before he'd tried having me removed from the team. Adding insult to injury, Roxxas, the Daxamite ambassador, forced me to give him and four followers the anti-lead serum so they could wreak havoc on Earth. I wanted to atone for my actions and behavior, so I aided the Legion in stopping them. I nearly lost my life in the process, but I somehow managed to survive the explosion that took down Roxxas. After that, I felt like I couldn't face the Legion, not yet--so I went into self-exile to a place called Planet Hell. Another Legion leader in Lightning Lad wound up bringing me out of it under Cosmic Boy's directive to build up a "Legion Rescue Squad"; it was the first Daxamite Legionnaire, Mon-El, who helped convince me to join it. I'd heard stories of Mon-El's valor as a Legionnaire, and talking with him got me to see this as a way to redeem myself. I've been with Legion Rescue ever since. I know I'm not any closer to being back in the good graces of those teammates I indirectly wronged, but I'm still trying to get there."

C-Danvers [nods sympathetically]: "Sounds like you've had a rough go of things. I can relate, partly--mainly in terms of nearly burning bridges with teammates, and admitting I've been wrong about certain things after dragging them out for so long. A while after I'd gotten my powers, I joined the Avengers and was riding pretty high for a while. Then things started going wrong. First there was a very convoluted series of circumstances I'd soon rather forget*, which really did a number on the trust I had in my fellow Avengers...Then one of my all-time low points came a year later." [Points with her thumb towards Rogue's direction.] "Back when Rogue wasn't on the side of the angels, we got in a fight that led to her permanently absorbing both my powers and memories. She reformed and turned to the X-Men for help, and their leader, Prof. Xavier, was able to restore my memories to me--but for a good while, he couldn't return all my emotional attachments to them. For a time, I crashed with the X-Men while trying to figure out what to do with my life...then I found myself with a group of space pirates called the Starjammers, where I wound up being experimented on by aliens called the Brood. If there's any positive to that, they wound up giving me increased powers; that's when I started using the alias 'Binary'. Some time later, I lost a lot of those when we helped the Avengers intervene in the Kree-Shi'ar War. While I got my original powers back, I somehow managed to sink lower. I rejoined the Avengers later on, but...all those prior experiences--losing my powers and memories, being used and experimented on--ended up driving me to drink. I bungled a mission because of this, and wound up suspended from active duty. I thankfully got help, ironically from a fellow Avenger who battled his own 'demon in a bottle'."

*See the events of the controversial Avengers, vol.1, #200 (1980)--Archival Aron Orson.  

L-Gand [awed]: "...How--how'd you get back up from all that?"

C-Danvers: "...At one point, us Avengers and the X-Men got a glimpse at an alternate reality where mutants--that's our term for metahumans in our universe--were the dominant ones on Earth. In spite of that, in that reality...I was seen as its greatest hero; I'd even taken up the 'Captain Marvel' name fully. When we got back to our own world, I decided I was going to fulfill my potential like my counterpart over there. I've been striving for that since then; there were setbacks here and there--including a superhuman civil war and a secret invasion of Earth--but I haven't stopped fighting the good fight, whether on my own or with those I've called friends, teammates...even former rivals." [She again eyes Rogue.] "It took a while, but Rogue and I were able to start over. Same with those I've befriended on the Avengers." [Looks at Laurel.] "Point is, a lot of us have gone through major highs and lows in 'the life'; the trick is having the patience and determination to work through the bad things, while savoring the good things that come with being a hero. So keep at it--we both got second chances from people we, to put it lightly, disagreed with, and we're not wasting them."

L-Gand [still awed]: "...You're right. Thanks."

C-Danvers: "Anytime."

L-Gand: "So, just curious--but what was that 'convoluted' thing you mentioned?"

C-Danvers [dismissive]: "Sigh Long story short, a whole thing involving a time-traveling creep giving me the worst kind of 'virgin pregnancy'. Not going any further than that, you understand."

L-Gand [surprised]: "Really?!...Yikes." [Gives a slight nod towards Power Girl.] "You and Power Girl ought to compare notes--while it's a tiny, obscure footnote in our universe's historical record, she also experienced a really weird 'virgin pregancy' during this universe-wide event called the "Zero Hour Crisis"."

C-Danvers [slightly surprised while giving PG a glance]: "No kidding. Tell you what, remind me to find her once our turn on stage is done."

L-Gand: "Sure. Here's hoping we'll all come up with something to get out of this."

C-Danvers: "It'll all depend on how we put all our heads together." [Hears the sounds of the crowd on the other side of the curtains.] "Sounds like our cue. Just to keep the charade going for now...good luck out there."

L-Gand: "Thanks. You too--you'll need it."

C-Danvers [slightly smirking as she dons her mask]: "We'll see..."

Main stage...  

Promoter: "Let's get ready to meet our third set of contestants! The first of these two comes from the far-flung future of Multiverse-A, where she's one of a small number of major powerhouses that claim membership in the 31st century's premier team of interplanetary do-gooders, the Legion of Super-Heroes! Whenever Superboy and Supergirl are unavailable, she and fellow Daxamite Mon-El step up to pick up the slack! All the same abilities like previously-seen contestant Power Girl, yet none of the same weaknesses! A proud-serving member of the Legion Rescue Squad, with a thing for guys who happen to be brainy and green, she's a girl who'll take no guff from anyone, especially if they happen to be the Khunds. So, give it up for one of the few who could be the Legion's 'Girl of Steel'--ANDROMEDA!"

[Needle-drop: "Andromeda" by Gorillaz.]   

Promoter: "Let's hear it for Andromeda, folks! And now, introducing her opponent from Multiverse-B...This woman's had a very illustrious career since getting her powers in a freak accident. She's been a U.S. Air Force pilot, chief of security for a top secret military installation, editor of a prominent women's magazine, an Avenger, a Guardian of the Galaxy, and so much more! Throughout it all, she's been a fighter, never backing down from almost any challenge thrown her way, and this competition won't be any different! Now then--please, give a loud round of applause for one of the major contenders for the title of her Earth's mightiest hero--MS. MARVEL!"

[Needle-drop: "Playing with the Boys" by Kenny Loggins.]