Crossover Earth '98
Infinity #1 Jay Shaffstall
The Japanese children shrieked and ran from the apparition that appeared in the street before them. The apparation looked like a man, but slightly translucent. The children ran both because he must be a ghost, and because he looked like a westerner. They weren't certain which was worse.
As the street cleared, the apparation looked around him, shaking his head slowly. A tear slipped down his cheek. Instinctively the apparation looked to the sky to see another figure hanging in midair. This figure wore a red cape that billowed around him, obscuring all else. A full mask obscured his features.
In years to come this man would be called Captain Infinity by the media. As Captain Infinity, he would help defeat much evil in the world. For now, however, he was just a friend.
"I'm sorry, my friend." Infinity spoke to the apparation, knowing that he couldn't be heard. The apparation looked from Infinity to the city and back again. Infinity shook his head.
"I can't do anything, you know that. We both have our dues to pay for our failure. Yours is to watch, unable to alter the course of events. Mine is to have the power to alter the course of events and know that to do so would cause untold greater disaster. The past cannot be changed; at least, not yet."
The apparation pointed upward, his mouth forming words that could have been "No!". Infinity followed the gesture and saw a bulky object falling from the sky. It had been dropped from a plane flying at high altitude.
"Time for me to leave, my friend." Infinity looked sadly at the apparation and, with a swirl of his cloak, disappeared.
The apparation looked with mounting horror at the falling object, unable to look away. As the first atomic bomb used in warfare detonated, the force of the explosion sent the apparation on his way.