Item Biography
"The Master Assassin of Mars-- Chapter 12: Marathon of Death!"
or; "Dammit, Dejah! The Girl Done Gone and Got Herself Abducted Again!"
Mordin has just made an aerial escape after his Guild of Assassins' failed overthrow of the Helium ruling elite. However, he left his mark on the sordid affair by trailing a corpse in his wake; Tara, wife of Mors Kajak and mother of Dejah Thoris.
John Carter languishes unconscious on the desert sand after attempting to collar Mordin. Tars Tarkas rides out to help his friend back to his senses.
Mordin's flyer is just visible on the horizon. Fortunately, Tars shares Tharks unerring long-range vision and targets the craft, crippling it. The Assassin's craft judders along, with John and Tars tracking it from below.
It finally crash-lands in the shadow of the ghost city, Marahn. Tars cautions his friend, as his memories of the once-Wizard's playground come back. John presses ahead, regardless.
JC moves among the dimly lit structures, when out jumps Mordin. The two have at it, again and the swordfight swaggers back to the cavern of ice where Tars Tarkas previously fought Barak Sol. Like before, crimson limbs scrabble their way to the surface and grasp for living flesh. Mordin suffers a harrowing fate, but John is reeled back by his wingman, Tars Tarkas.
The two compadres journey back to their adopted hearth of Helium, but stumble upon the spectre of dead Red Men. One snatch of silk catches John's attention. Dejah's essence pervades amidst evidence of a Warhoon ambush.
John's strength and endurance are greatly increased by Mars's lighter gravity. He reasons that his Thark friend won't be able to keep pace with him, even on Thoatback. Following the Warhoon tracks, JC prays that his errant soulmate still lives. Run, Carter, run.
This hostile night, the Barsoomian desert paints a picture of green-skinned savages near-ejaculating with glee at the cries of terror cajoled from their captives. When the last Red Man hanging dies, the Warhoon turn their attentions to Dejah.
Their psychological torture fails to faze Dejah, who doesn't flinch an inch even when a sharp-tusked warrior swings his sword at her face.
JC watches it all unfold from an overlooking peak and formulates a rescue strategy. Cause a stampede to confuse the Warhoon and disguise his solo status, thus scattering their ranks.
Gathering up his grateful wife astride a Thoat, JC thunders off into the distance leaving the bewildered Warhoon in a tizzy. Paper Tigers. Who was that masked man, anyway?
Back to the relative safety of Helium, John receives a pleasant surprise. Dejah has given birth to an... ovoid. Martian women lay eggs, and it's a seven year duration before they hatch.