Lazarus (2013) 3

Lazarus (2013) 3
Jun 2013

Family (Part 3)
By Greg Rucka, Michael Lark, and Sanyo Arcas

Forever is challenged by a Morray team leader. He wants her to surrender her weapons. Joacquim disagrees but the Sgt insists so Joacquim encourages him to try and disarm Forever. She senses that Joacquim does not approve of the Sergeant’s behavior and cuts off his hand when he asks for her sword. Joacquim beheads the sergeant in front of his men for his insubordination.

Jonah and Johanna plan to kill Forever. Johanna seems a little more confident than her brother about their ability to deal with the Family’s Lazarus. Jonah tried to get information from Dr. Man about Forever’s whereabouts but he refused to help Jonah, and then reported the conversation to Malcolm.

Forever shares a tender moment with Joacquim. It has been 5 years since they last saw one another. The moment only lasts a few minutes before the head of the Morray family arrives.

Forever delivers Malcolm's message to Joacquim‘s uncle. His son Brian and Joacquim are also there for the parlay. It is a memorized speech she delivers. The two parties come to an agreement after a bit of negotiating. The two families are pledged to work together more closely and the Morray family pledges to stay away from Jonah. Brian says nothing during the parlay but doesn’t seem pleased with how things go.

Joacquim escorts Forever back to the border. They stop just before they get there to share a drink of water and a moment alone. Before they can do anything they are hit by a missile launched from an aircraft.

Thoughts

Good stuff. I’m still enjoying the story. I’m still not crazy, about the art even though it gets the job done. I think I liked Lark’s work better in Daredevil where he was drawing cities and prisons.

Prologue

Following an attack on Carlyle holdings, her father, Malcolm, has dispatched Forever to Mexico to parlay with the Family Morray. Forever is met by the Morray Lazarus, Joacquim.

Meanwhile, the Twins, Jonah and Johanna Carlyle, plot against their father and sister both...

Timeline

X+1
Pope Nicholas VIII issues public statement condemning the Macao Accords.

X+1
Chinese military forces deploy in Hunan, Guangxi, and Neimongol Provinces to restore order after violent public demonstrations.

X+2
Unrest across Europe in response to the acceptance by multiple governments of “economic relief programs“ collectively presented by Saskia Bittner (Bittner SBC), Luka Rausling (Rausling Equity), Julian Keene (Armitage Group), and Vitaly Sidorov (TransEnergetika).

X+2
SCOTUS rules 5-4 upholding the “Corporate Citizenship Act”.

X+3
Dirty bomb detonated in Melbourne, Aus. Multiple terrorist groups claim responsibility. Initial fatalities are low, long term casualties from radiation and radiation-related illness is considered “significant”. Central Melbourne is rendered uninhabitable.

Carragher Holdings, Ltd. contracted for cleanup and implementing new “public safety measures”.

X+5
Jonah and Johanna Carlyle born (Seattle, Wa.)

X+6
Pope Nicholas VIII dies, succeeded by Honorius VI

X+7
Malcolm Carlyle has private audience with Pope Honorius VI during Papal visit to the U.S.

X+7
Cholera outbreak in former Detroit. Neighboring cities shut down transit routes to prevent spread of infection. Multiple instances of panic-driven violence occur.

X+8
POTUS signs executive order curtailing corporate military forces from operating domestically.

House immediately passes Commerce and Industry Defense Act (colloquially referred to as “Corporate Stand Your Ground”).

Bill is passed in the Senate and sent to POTUS, who vetoed it.

Veto is quickly overturned.

Social media declares United States “bought and paid for.”

X+9
Global markets cease to function, leading to cascading “failed nations.” Signatories of the Macao Accords promptly assume previously negotiated ownership of territories.

Armed resistance, including elements of military forces, attempt to repel corporate seizures of materiel and infrastructure.

Pacification of populace is in many cases brutal. Death toll globally is in the millions. Outbreaks of disease and famine follow.

Stories spread of re-education camps in Vassalovka-controlled Russia. Li-controlled China, and D’Souza-controlled South America.

X+10
Family Carlyle institutes Laborer Reward Program as incentive system for workers. At the same time, Family Carlyle enlists community-based religious groups to assist in the distribution of food and medicine to those in need.

Several other families emulate Carlyle “Waste management” techniques.

X+11
Hock forms alliance with Bittner, breaks with Carlyle.