Titans: The Resistance #31

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Titans Resistance
Issue #31: “Brood of Vipers, Part One”
Written by Jay McIntyre
Cover by Jamie Rimmer
Edited by Mark Bowers

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
Matthew 3:7 New International Version

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
Luke 3:7-14 New International Version

-1-

Pope Eugene V was old, and tired.

Things had not been the same for the Church since the Markovian Empire came like a conquering storm, tearing up not only the Italian peninsula, but more than half the world.

It was, to his mind, a sure sign that the end was nigh. Judgement Day would be soon, he was sure. The world could not endure such concentrated evil.

He had heard tales of the Resistance, of course, and the Church had helped that older resistance, the so-called Society of Justice, on a couple of occasions. But he was not optimistic. He had seen too much of the world for that.

Also he was aware of this younger Resistance’s actions in the Italian peninsula. The Empress had come down on him particularly hard for that, and he had done his best to reassure the obedience of his flock since.

Officially.

But now things were worse. He would have to see her today.

He should be grateful that she was coming to him, rather than ‘politely requesting his presence’ in Petrovnik.

The Church had been playing a dangerous game since the Empire began its expansion. Unlike many, he and the Holy Fathers before him had studied extensively the history of Markovia before its rise. The little nation-state had never shown expansionist tendencies in all the centuries that had gone before; but that perhaps was the reason why they struck during the Great War. Because they were tired of being pushed around. Tired of acting purely defensively. Tired of the wolf at the door.

That was no justification for becoming the wolf, of course.

The Catholic Church, officially, had no complaints with the Markovian Empire. It was an Empire of Man, and as with all such Empires, it would eventually pass its course, and the Church would still be there. Unofficially, they supported and coordinated with the Protestant churches, which preached passive resistance, and the Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, which cried for outright rebellion.

The Markovian population itself, pre-Empire, had been mostly Catholic with a smattering of Orthodox and a handful of Protestant. The Protestants had been purged, brutally, and the Orthodox had run for their lives. It was quietly whispered, though never proven, that the Imperial family themselves had favored the Orthodox Church, and been heartbroken when that Church had stood against them. Privately, Pope Eugene V suspected that the Imperial family worshipped nothing but power.

The Empress would be coming to him this afternoon.

The Empire ‘recognized’ the sovereignty of Vatican City. Not that great a challenge, since their forces surrounded it on every side. Sometimes it seemed like a forest of bayonets, pointed at the Church.

At him.

And worse, there were some Cardinals who wanted the Church to more openly support the Empire, and cut ties with the free world.

Eugene sighed and shook his head.

Who knew how much time he had left?

Only God knew.



-2-

“The Catholic Church,” said Anarky dryly.

“Yes,” Terra answered, looking shifty.

Anarky looked at Rose at his shoulder. “Tell me why this is important?”

Rose shrugged. “Can’t exactly raid the Vatican. Would’ve thought it mattered more to Argent, really.”

Argent, in her turn, shrugged. “Was too busy trying to survive my enslavement. If anything, I’d be more worried by La Cosa Nostra moving in to the power vacuum of my old home.”

“So why the interest, Princess?” Anarky said, swinging his masked face back around to Terra.

“Don’t bait her,” Robin warned.

“Aww,” Ravager chuckled.

“I am sure she is capable of defending herself,” Anarky snapped back. “But in any case, I am genuinely curious.”

“Is it a personal motivation?” Deriven asked from the sidelines.

Terra hung her head. “Mother was always very angry at the Church for ‘not cooperating enough’ with the Empire. But not enough to act against them. I found it very confusing.”

“Ahhh,” Anarky stood straight. “So there is a tactical element to your considerations.”

“Curiosity at least, to what role they play,” Terra conceded.

Ravager nudged Anarky. “Cut it with the Sherlock Holmes act.”

Anarky snorted. “Sherlock would never be so....emotional.”

“In any case, chill.”

“Yes, dear.”

Now it was Terra’s turn to say “Awwww,” and everyone laughed, even Deriven. Supergirl smirked, a little. She seemed to have....mellowed out some....since the HIVE incident.

“Okay, enough soap opera humor,” Robin said, waving his hands. “We need a plan.”

“I would think that Terra already had a plan?” Anarky prompted.

Terra frowned. “More like an idea...”

-3-

Pope Eugene stood on the steps and accepted the arrival of Empress Petra.

Visits from the Empress were nothing new; a handful of Cardinals were present, and of course the usual security. It was worth nothing that almost none of the citizenry showed up, save a few die-hard Markovian partisans waving orange-and-black flags. Oh yes, there were a few. But fewer and fewer each year.

The brash, strident tones of the Markovian Imperial Anthem faded, and the Empress bent her head over the Pope’s hand and kissed it, but very carefully did not kiss his ring. There were shocked gasps from a few of the Cardinals, though of course they were wise enough not to otherwise react. Pope Eugene took it in his stride, of course. Nothing new under the sun.

“Your Majesty,” he said.

“Your Eminence,” she sneered in reply.

“Shall we go inside?” He gestured fluidly.

“Of course.”

He winced. She was in a bad mood.

“I confess, Your Eminence...that I need your help.” She lowered her eyes in what was not a show of humility, exactly....more like embarrassment. “The rumors are true...the new Resistance cabal is led by....is led by...” She stopped.

The Pope slowed, and turned, and raised an eyebrow at her. “I had heard little of the new rebellion beyond its existence, Majesty.”

“Truly? You have not heard details?” She looked at him doubtfully.

“Though it may surprise you to learn it, Majesty, many of the flock view the Church as being more complicit with the Empire’s wishes than you do. Mostly what I know is that the older rebellion, the so-called ‘Society of Justice’, are pleased and excited. And even that is hearsay.”

“I’m sure they would be excited,” the Empress agreed sourly. “But in any event, the Resistance is lead by a traitor from within the Imperial family itself.”

For only the second time in his life, the Pope was speechless.

“The no-longer Crown Princess Tara,” the Empress spat out. “My own daughter, curse the day she sprang from my loins.”

“I.....am very sorry for your loss,” the Pope managed. “It is a tragedy for one so high to fall so low.”

“A loss,” the Empress said, staring at the floor. “Yes. That is very much the phrase. For in all ways, she is dead to me now.”

The Pope very pointedly did not say that the Empress seemed more motivated by anger and pride than by grief or loss. He wondered if the princess had truly turned, or if this was some sort of ruse. He would have to ask the Society of Justice, through discreet channels of course.

But the Empress’s next words complicated matters.

“It cannot be said politely or kindly,” she said, turning a cold glare on him, “but the Catholic Church cannot help the insurgency any further, in any way.”

“We have always been on the same path as the Empire,” the Pope said, giving his standard answer to such challenges by the Empress and her forbears. “If any local priests rebel, we always excommunicate them.”

“Yes, of course,” the Empress snapped. “Well, do be sure to hunt them a little more carefully. It would be unfortunate if the Empire had to take a more direct hand in the Holy City.”

“That would indeed be unfortunate,” the Pope answered. “Particularly the cost of lives that would involve.”

He had said the words mildly, but the Empress understood the double meaning. She glared at him anew. “Lives that the Church cannot afford to lose as easily as the Empire.”

“That is so,” he agreed, “but the Empire has other concerns these days, as you yourself have revealed to me. Add to that the older resistance cabal, and those robotic creatures in Japan--”

“We are convinced they are people in powered armor,” she cut him off. “Similar to our own Rocket Men.”

The Pope let out a long, irritated sigh at being interrupted. “Be that as it may, the Empire has many threats on many fronts. Threatening the Church is a waste of your time and resources.”

“Is it?” the Empress asked, staring into his eyes. “I wonder. I wonder very much.”

“Any rebellious priests know the price they will pay,” Pope Eugene said calmly, staring back.

“I hope they do. I truly hope they do. Good day, your Excellency.” She stormed out.

The Pope sank his head in his hands.

She hadn’t even stayed for tea.

The meeting had been a complete and total disaster.


-4-

The Sweet Lilli moved slowly and silently towards Europe. Not into the Mediterranean--where anyone would expect them to go-- but towards the Gulf of Bothnia. There was some discussion of using the submarine Ravager had lent to them before, but Rose had rejected it. There was also some discussion of just flying in, or of having Lantern try to shield them, but both Green Lantern and Supergirl had suggested a quieter approach.

A true stealth mission, something that both Robin and Anarky had liked very much, though not having been too happy about the fact of their agreement.

Normally such banter made Terra smile.

Not today.

She sat quietly in the cabin Rose had provided, fingering a silver filigree crucifix she had acquired during their time in Britain.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” she called, putting the cross away.

Supergirl came in. “Argent is praying,” she said without preamble.

“....Yes?” Terra asked, uncertainly.

“I confess I....do not understand. Some would say that Kryptonians treat science as religion, and I would not necessarily argue. But I wonder what role it plays in your society. Societies,” she amended.

“After the trip to that magical dimension, I thought you’d have accepted the truth of spirituality,” Terra teased, but gently.

Supergirl blinked and shook her head. In a human it might have been irritation. Terra was forcibly reminded, again, of just how alien Supergirl was. Certainly more so than those of said magical dimension had been.

“I mean its role in your societies,” she repeated.

“It’s...not an easy question to answer,” Terra sighed, sitting back. “At home, the Imperial family was Catholic, but quietly so. There is some yearning for the Eastern Orthodox Church to return to us, but they have damned the whole Imperial line to hell, or so I understand. Nor can I entirely blame them,” she said sadly. “The most obvious explanation is, of course, the need for explaining death, an afterlife....”

Supergirl waved her hands. “I know the causes and reasons. What I mean is, what role it plays in society. I cannot explain it clearer than that.”

Terra sighed again. “That’s not easy to explain.” She shifted her position on her bed. “For a long time, it was succor and support when--at least in Europe--governments fell all around them. In a way it was the government. I’m sure Anarky would have a thing or two to say about that. Even after that period was over, it was still in a position of moral guidance. That position has diminished over time. But in many places it is still an organizing force, and even where it isn’t, it is a focus for faith. I am, again, mostly talking about Europe here, and I suppose the Americas by extension. The Middle and Far East, not to mention Africa, are something else again.” She paused. “Does that answer your question?”

Supergirl shrugged uncomfortably. “More or less. Do you believe?”

“I believe....something,” Terra said finally. “Whether that has anything to do with what any branch of modern Christianity teaches is another matter.”

-5-

“Religion,” said Anarky, “is the opiate of the masses. But saying that in and of itself is an old chestnut, nothing new. Authoritarians of various stripes have used it as a catchphrase. More than that, it is a force of authority in and of itself. I’m surprised you even ask; as a being from an advanced scientific culture, you should know that it is foolishness.”

Supergirl did not sigh. She did blink slowly and wonder how she could say this. “It is not a question of what I think. It is a question of what humans, in general think. So you think it is merely a controlling force?”

“One amongst many. Though few control the individual so fundamentally. Or in some cases, violently.”

“You think it should be gotten rid of?” Supergirl prompted.

“I have to get rid of all government first,” he replied. “And even that is a challenge I may not achieve. Getting rid of the Markovian Empire’s iron grip on the world is a start.”

Supergirl left without another word, realizing she would get nothing but ideological rants from him, so religious in their own way.

-6-

“I don’t really care,” Ravager said.

She was still on deck, unlike all the others. Even Deriven had gone below. It was night; cold, crisp and clear. Slowly the stars moved as they continued in their course.

“You....don’t care?” Supergirl frowned.

“Supergirl, I’m a pirate. I help the Titans because the Markovians are a threat to me, and if I help them break the Empire, it will mean more wide open piracy for me. The rest is just details. Most of them unimportant. Religions have always been there, will always be there. So what?”

“You don’t think they play any role in society?”

“I’m sure they do; I’m sure some people get something out of it.” She shrugged. “When I die, I’ll find out.”

-7-

Deriven was not exactly sitting in his cabin. More like....floating.

It was the typical meditative pose, cross-legged, but he was several inches off his bunk, levitating. Every few seconds he would rise and fall an inch or so.

For a moment, in her way, Supergirl almost understood Ravager’s indifference and that oh-so-human emotion of frustration. She leaned against the metal doorframe, and she wondered if she should even bother asking the ‘magician’ what he thought. Or if he would even break his trance and notice she was there.

Almost as if he was reading her mind, he opened his eyes. Still floating, he said, “The nature of our mission troubles you?”

“Not troubles, exactly. It is just....I don’t claim to understand exactly what role religion plays in human society.”

“That depends on the society in question,” Deriven said. “It is not so dissimilar from various scientific factions on your own world. And you do know that the Cult of Rao exists.”

“But it serves some meaningful role?” she pressed.

Deriven smiled. “Oh yes.”

“Even one that does not agree with your notion of magic?”

“You do not agree with my motion of magic, despite all you’ve seen. Yet I do not discount your intellect.”

“That may be so,” Supergirl said, “But it does not answer my question.”

“I already answered your question,” he said, without rancor. “The exact role a religion plays in society depends on the society. Though I suppose it depends on the religion, as well, as there are almost always several different religions at work in any society. Moral guidance, support and succor, discussion of the afterlife, and so on.”

“And I suppose you know the truth of the Universe?” She folded her arms in what she had come to recognize as a human gesture.

“This particular incarnation of the Multiverse is seventeen eons old,” Deriven said, his eyes glowing with more than just smug satisfaction, though certainly that was there too. “There were three before it; the whole history of all the incarnations of the Multiverse--or as some call it, the Omniverse--is more than 343 Quadrillion years. After all the current tangled threads of this version of the Omniverse expire, there will be a Fifth Multiverse. So much is known. What is not known is how many years the current Multiverse has left; it could be twenty Billion, or merely two thousand. Nor is it known what form the Fifth Multiverse will take.”

“I’m sure you can back that up with hard data,” Supergirl said, almost wishing she hadn’t asked.

“Signs, portents and auguries,” he answered, which to him no doubt was a form of sarcastic agreement.

Supergirl left him without another word.

-8-

“Religion is a manifestation of faith, which in turn is a manifestation of the will,” Green Lantern answered. “Or so the Guardians taught me. It certainly plays a role in society. Whether that role is vital, useful, or merely decorative is a matter of debate. I’m sure Anarky said it was parasitic, or something like that.”

“Something like that,” Supergirl agreed. “What do you believe?”

“I’ve been from one side of the galaxy to the other, and seen a lot of strange stuff. Twice, even beyond the galaxy. And then there was that trip to Tolkien-land, as you remember. I’ve seen too many strange things to believe there isn’t something behind it all. Something that started it all.”

Supergirl did not sigh, exactly. She exhaled quietly and closed her eyes. “It is very strange.”

“No offense, but you’re pretty strange too.”

“I know.” She almost smiled. Almost.

-9-

“Religion is a fact of society, whatever role it does or doesn’t play,” Robin said. “I believe there’s more than science tells us, but I’ve never much thought about what that might be. I try to worry more about what is, than what might or might not be.”

Supergirl noted how Robin’s answer seemed in its way to share elements of both Terra’s and Ravager’s, while splitting the difference between them. “Do you think you might ever give it more thought?”

A ghostly-thin smile appeared on his face. “Sure. When the Empire is defeated and I only have ordinary criminals to deal with. If that day ever comes.”

Again, Supergirl noted, like and yet unlike both Terra and Ravager.

“What do you believe?” he surprised her by asking.

“In science, of course.”

“Yes, of course. Science is a useful tool, but....” he shrugged.

She left him then.

-10-

And so she ended where she began, with Argent, praying devoutly, staring at a point on the ceiling. She was in the same posture Supergirl had left her in. She supposed Argent’s hard life was the source of her belief. Nor could she exactly blame her.

She didn’t know what to say to her. She was pretty sure that there was no point in asking her about religion’s role in society.

So when Argent finally stopped praying and opened her eyes, Supergirl simply asked, “What do you believe?”

Argent flinched slightly, evidently not expecting to see her there. Supergirl wondered how deep her trance of prayer had been. Deeper than Deriven’s certainly.

“The Holy Trinity will see us through our time of trial,” Argent said.

“You believe God is on our side?”

“God is on the side of the just.” Argent hung her head. “I will not deny our hands are dipped in blood, and that we are far from saints. But what choice to we have?”

“What choice, indeed?” Supergirl answered, and let her be.

She had not really received a definitive answer to her question, but perhaps she should not have expected anything else.

They would be in the cold waters of the North Atlantic soon enough, and there would be other things to think about.



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