The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season IV

[wiegeabo]

Dick immediatley grew something he hadn't in quite some time: Angry.

"Yeah, criticising us for a job already done is going to do alot of good, Sinestro.", Nightwing responded, his anger apparent in his voice. "Not all of us have your goddamned resources. Some of us have a hard time doing some of your 'simple' tasks. So back the hell off.", He finished.

I ponder his words for a moment. In some respects, he is right. I do not banter during crisis. I do not banter outside of crisis. And this is one of the reasons. Why spend time jesting when one's concentration is needed for the task at hand.

But doing so with Jordan and Rayner felt...right? No, it felt good. Perhaps the humans are right about one thing afterall.


"I...", He blurted out, before sighing to himself. The situation with Bludhaven was pounding at him more and more by the moments. "I... Sorry. That was uncalled for.", He said, looking away from his teammates in shame.

He was already taking this way too seriously.

"Do not apologize. The task at hand was immense, and tensions were high. I was only trying to alleviate it, as you and your friends do. Perhaps I did it wrong."

[Green Lantern]

~ 0, Chatter folk ain't they?~

"They're the best Saff." Dinah tilted her head as she heard Roy's voice singing the more than familier Disney song. She shook her head, remembering rainy days watching it.

"If only the Teen Titans back then knew.." she said a smile playing on her face.

~ Knew what?~

"Nothing..just a memory." Dinah said alighting down on the Water Plant and walking through the side door, she spied the Boys on the main platform and called across to them.

"I have to agree with Dick on the earplugs and remind me not to invite you to Karaoke night.""...you used to sing 'Ooh de lay' too... why do you think I still remember it? We'd watch Robin Hood whenever it was on Disney, heck I still do. It's Lian's favorite. I'm her Robin Hood now."

Roy smiled slightly thinking of his daughter.

[Batman]

~ 0, Chatter folk ain't they?~

"They're the best Saff." Dinah tilted her head as she heard Roy's voice singing the more than familier Disney song. She shook her head, remembering rainy days watching it.

"If only the Teen Titans back then knew.." she said a smile playing on her face.

~ Knew what?~

"Nothing..just a memory." Dinah said alighting down on the Water Plant and walking through the side door, she spied the boys on the main platform and was silent as Dick snapped back at Sinestro.

~Intense~

Dinah shook her head, normally she'd rake in to him but what right did she have? Everyone was entitled to a breakdown, some more wrongly than others. The memory of Harley Quinns blood on her hands coiled in her mind ready to spring. No, Dick was understandably stressed and to have a powered ex-villain belittle him like that was even more than a man like Dick could handle to some point.
She took a breathe and called across to them in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"I have to agree with Dick on the earplugs Roy, and remind me not to invite you to Karaoke night."

For the first time since she had saved him from The Trickster, Dick was glad to see Dinah again. He gave a gentle smile... a grateful one, as he responded.

"See! Even she knows you're not winning any American Idol tournaments anytime soon."

[Batman]

I ponder his words for a moment. In some respects, he is right. I do not banter during crisis. I do not banter outside of crisis. And this is one of the reasons. Why spend time jesting when one's concentration is needed for the task at hand.

But doing so with Jordan and Rayner felt...right? No, it felt good. Perhaps the humans are right about one thing afterall.

"Do not apologize. The task at hand was immense, and tensions were high. I was only trying to alleviate it, as you and your friends do. Perhaps I did it wrong."

Nightwing sighed, turning to Roy. He felt bad. Particularly since... Sinestro had saved his life, less than an hour earlier.

"We've gotta teach this guy wisecracking 101, when all of this is over."

[Green Lantern]

For the first time since she had saved him from The Trickster, Dick was glad to see Dinah again. He gave a gentle smile... a grateful one, as he responded.

"See! Even she knows you're not winning any American Idol tournaments anytime soon.""Pfft. Like I'd wanna. On the other hand with talent like this, I can put Justin Timberlake to shame... that and I'm hotter too.

Oh the world will sing of an English King
A thousand years from now
And not because he passed some laws
Or had that lofty brow
While bonny good King Richard leads
The great crusade he's on
We'll all have to slave away
For that good-for-nothin' John

Incredible as he is inept
Whenever the history books are kept
They'll call him the phony king of England
A pox on the phony king of England!

He sits alone on a giant throne
Pretendin' he's the king
A little tyke who's rather like
A puppet on a string
And he throws an angry tantrum
if he cannot have his way
And then he calls for Mum while he's suckin' his thumb
You see, he doesn't want to play

Too late to be known as John the First
He's sure to be known as John the worst
A pox on that phony king of England!

While he taxes us to pieces
And he robs us of our bread
King Richard's crown keeps slippin' down
Around that pointed head
Ah! But while there is a merry man
in Robin's wily pack
We'll find a way to make him pay
And steal our money back

The minute before he knows we're there
Ol' Rob'll snatch his underwear
The breezy and uneasy king of England
The snivellin' grovellin'
Measly weasely
Blabberin' jabberin'
Gibberin' jabberin'
Blunderin' plunderin'
Wheelin' dealin'
Prince John, that phony king of England
Yeah"

[twylight]

"...you used to sing 'Ooh de lay' too... why do you think I still remember it? We'd watch Robin Hood whenever it was on Disney, heck I still do. It's Lian's favorite. I'm her Robin Hood now."

Roy smiled slightly thinking of his daughter.


Dinah gave Roy a warm smile.

"Now you have an excuse to watch it."

"See! Even she knows you're not winning any American Idol tournaments anytime soon."

"He'd have to sink to Ollies level and depend on looks alone." She said winking at the three.

"Pfft. Like I'd wanna. On the other hand with talent like this, I can put Justin Timberlake to shame... that and I'm hotter too.

Oh the world will sing of an English King
A thousand years from now
And not because he passed some laws
Or had that lofty brow
While bonny good King Richard leads
The great crusade he's on
We'll all have to slave away
For that good-for-nothin' John

Incredible as he is inept
Whenever the history books are kept
They'll call him the phony king of England
A pox on the phony king of England!

He sits alone on a giant throne
Pretendin' he's the king
A little tyke who's rather like
A puppet on a string
And he throws an angry tantrum
if he cannot have his way
And then he calls for Mum while he's suckin' his thumb
You see, he doesn't want to play

Too late to be known as John the First
He's sure to be known as John the worst
A pox on that phony king of England!

While he taxes us to pieces
And he robs us of our bread
King Richard's crown keeps slippin' down
Around that pointed head
Ah! But while there is a merry man
in Robin's wily pack
We'll find a way to make him pay
And steal our money back

The minute before he knows we're there
Ol' Rob'll snatch his underwear
The breezy and uneasy king of England
The snivellin' grovellin'
Measly weasely
Blabberin' jabberin'
Gibberin' jabberin'
Blunderin' plunderin'
Wheelin' dealin'
Prince John, that phony king of England
Yeah-"


~ Faye...~

Dinah nodded and a stream of blue energy shot from the slender ring and across the platforms and pipes to settle tightly over Roy's mouth.

"I think that's all the evidence we need to convict you of crimes against music.
I came to see if you needed a lift back to our regrouping point. We can shoot spit balls at the GL's"

[Green Lantern]

Nightwing sighed, turning to Roy. He felt bad. Particularly since... Sinestro had saved his life, less than an hour earlier.

"We've gotta teach this guy wisecracking 101, when all of this is over.""WE? You haven't even passed that class buddy. Batman could probably out wisecrack you."

Roy grinned at Dick.

[Franklin Richards]

"Pfft. Like I'd wanna. On the other hand with talent like this, I can put Justin Timberlake to shame... that and I'm hotter too.

Oh the world will sing of an English King
A thousand years from now
And not because he passed some laws
Or had that lofty brow
While bonny good King Richard leads
The great crusade ---


CLICK


That's is quite enough of that.


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[Spider-Man9X17]

"Nice work, Rook. Nice work, Sinestro. Looks like I'm buyin' the first round."

I know he doesn't like it when I call him that. But it sure is fun.


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"ARRRGH! I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M GONNA KILL THOSE MIDGETS! THEN, I'M KICKING YOUR @$$!"

Kyle was joking, of course, but deep down he felt a small pain. He had carried on the legacy of the Corps, had brought the power back to Oa, and viewed Hal Jordan as a good friend now. To have the man he took over for know nothing of what had happened, to forget all that. Frankly, it sucked.

[Batman]

"Pfft. Like I'd wanna. On the other hand with talent like this, I can put Justin Timberlake to shame... that and I'm hotter too.

Oh the world will sing of an English King
A thousand years from now
And not because he passed some laws
Or had that lofty brow
While bonny good King Richard leads
The great crusade he's on
We'll all have to slave away
For that good-for-nothin' John

Incredible as he is inept
Whenever the history books are kept
They'll call him the phony king of England
A pox on the phony king of England!

He sits alone on a giant throne
Pretendin' he's the king
A little tyke who's rather like
A puppet on a string
And he throws an angry tantrum
if he cannot have his way
And then he calls for Mum while he's suckin' his thumb
You see, he doesn't want to play

Too late to be known as John the First
He's sure to be known as John the worst
A pox on that phony king of England!

While he taxes us to pieces
And he robs us of our bread
King Richard's crown keeps slippin' down
Around that pointed head
Ah! But while there is a merry man
in Robin's wily pack
We'll find a way to make him pay
And steal our money back

The minute before he knows we're there
Ol' Rob'll snatch his underwear
The breezy and uneasy king of England
The snivellin' grovellin'
Measly weasely
Blabberin' jabberin'
Gibberin' jabberin'
Blunderin' plunderin'
Wheelin' dealin'
Prince John, that phony king of England
Yeah"

Dick stared at Roy, for a long moment, blankly. Slowly, he turned to Dinah, a disgusted look on his face from Roy's little show.

"Can we please get out of here before he attempts Broadway?"

[Green Lantern]

Dinah gave Roy a warm smile.

"Now you have an excuse to watch it."

"See! Even she knows you're not winning any American Idol tournaments anytime soon."

"He'd have to sink to Ollies level and depend on looks alone." She said winking at the three.

"I came to see if you needed a lift back to our regrouping point. We can shoot spit balls at the GL's"Roy peeled off the blue energy and spit the bad taste out of his mouth. "Like you need a reason to watch Robin Hood... Its goddamn Robin Hood. No hero is cooler than Robin Hood.
And sure we could use a lift, and would the spitballs be yellow?"

[Batman]

"WE? You haven't even passed that class buddy. Batman could probably out wisecrack you."

Roy grinned at Dick.


Dick grinned back.

"You seem to forget a certain Donna slam, from earlier."

[Franklin Richards]

A certain tone entered Hal Jordan's voice. The same tone he had when a MiG would start to sputter.

"Ok crew. Let's get our game faces on. If everyone is through with the antidote, we need to rendezvous at Superman's last known location. I am sending this message out on all frequencies. League. Titans. Even local radio band. Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter if you can hear us we need you to acknowledge too. All heroes rally to New Mount Swan. The Man of Steel may need us. Green Lantern 2814.1 out."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/Jordan_pacheco.jpg




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[wiegeabo]

Nightwing sighed, turning to Roy. He felt bad. Particularly since... Sinestro had saved his life, less than an hour earlier.

"We've gotta teach this guy wisecracking 101, when all of this is over."

I begin flying back to the rendezvous point.

"I would appreciate that. Do you know anyone who may be qualified to teach it?"

That should be satisfactory.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Nightwing sighed, turning to Roy. He felt bad. Particularly since... Sinestro had saved his life, less than an hour earlier.

"We've gotta teach this guy wisecracking 101, when all of this is over."

"You do that, and I'll test the first ever power ring catheter on you."

Kyle powered up and began towards Supes coordinates.

[Green Lantern]

I begin flying back to the rendezvous point.

"I would appreciate that. Do you know anyone who may be qualified to teach it?"

That should be satisfactory."Ollie and I could show you a thing or two, Pinky, but you're getting the right track with that jab. And judging from everyone's reactions, I guess theres a reason I'm just a drummer huh?"

[twylight]

Roy peeled off the blue energy and spit the bad taste out of his mouth. "Like you need a reason to watch Robin Hood... Its goddamn Robin Hood. No hero is cooler than Robin Hood.
And sure we could use a lift, and would the spitballs be yellow?"



"I should just dye my hair blonde again." She said lightly scooping them up on a platform and leaving the building taking to the air.

She turned as she flew so she was facing them, allowing Saff to guide her flight path.

"I think those arrows Sinestro gave you might work a bit better than simple spit balls." she said joining with the glowing Green Lanterns.

[Speedball]

Dick stared at Roy, for a long moment, blankly. Slowly, he turned to Dinah, a disgusted look on his face from Roy's little show.

"Can we please get out of here before he attempts Broadway?"

"Thank goodness he hasn't started to rap, or else I would have to use my patented "Shut-Roy-Up" Mouth Sealent. So where are we he-

-Ok crew. Let's get our game faces on. If everyone is through with the antidote, we need to rendezvous at Superman's last known location. I am sending this message out on all frequencies. League. Titans. Even local radio band. Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter if you can hear us we need you to acknowledge too. All heroes rally to New Mount Swan. The Man of Steel may need us. Green Lantern 2814.1 out.-

"New Mount Swan? What happened to the old one?"

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Thank goodness he hasn't started to rap, or else I would have to use my patented "Shut-Roy-Up" Mouth Sealent. So where are we he-

-Ok crew. Let's get our game faces on. If everyone is through with the antidote, we need to rendezvous at Superman's last known location. I am sending this message out on all frequencies. League. Titans. Even local radio band. Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter if you can hear us we need you to acknowledge too. All heroes rally to New Mount Swan. The Man of Steel may need us. Green Lantern 2814.1 out.-

"New Mount Swan? What happened to the old one?"


"It is the old one. Supes just kinda....relocated. He has some issues."

[wiegeabo]

"It is the old one. Supes just kinda....relocated. He has some issues."


"Unfortunately, to no effect. While I applaud his effort to kill the Parasite, but it appears we still have more work to do to stop him."

[twylight]

"It is the old one. Supes just kinda....relocated. He has some issues."

"It's all about loaction, location, location. A Realtors dream."

"Unfortunately, to no effect. While I applaud his effort to kill the Parasite, but it appears we still have more work to do to stop him."

Dinah squinted her eyes.
"I wish I could agree, but I think this is a battle Superman needs to win on his own. "

[Green Lantern]

"Thank goodness he hasn't started to rap, or else I would have to use my patented "Shut-Roy-Up" Mouth Sealent. So where are we he-

-Ok crew. Let's get our game faces on. If everyone is through with the antidote, we need to rendezvous at Superman's last known location. I am sending this message out on all frequencies. League. Titans. Even local radio band. Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter if you can hear us we need you to acknowledge too. All heroes rally to New Mount Swan. The Man of Steel may need us. Green Lantern 2814.1 out.-

"New Mount Swan? What happened to the old one?"
"No force of man, can shut me up! Just ask Ollie! And Supes kinda dropped the old one on Parasite, at least from what I could tell..."

[Franklin Richards]

"It's all about loaction, location, location. A Realtors dream."

"Unfortunately, to no effect. While I applaud his effort to kill the Parasite, but it appears we still have more work to do to stop him."

Dinah squinted her eyes.
"I wish I could agree, but I think this is a battle he needs to win on his own."


"I have no problem with that. However we will need to contain a battle of that magnitude. If push comes to shove we might even have to relocate them to space. All in all we protect the civillians and make sure Parasite doesn't escape. At any cost."

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[twylight]

"I have no problem with that. However we will need to contain a battle of that magnitude. If push comes to shove we might even have to relocate them to space. All in all we protect the civillians and make sure Parasite doesn't escape. At any cost."

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Dinah gave a smug smile.

"Damage control. Welcome to the life of a non-powered hero." she said a little bitterly.

~ Tha' was harsh.~

Dinah bit her lip.
"He deserved it." she said speeding up.

"We need to relieve Zatanna, and alert the military. However at this juncture I almos feel it would be better to not allow the military in. Who knows what they'll want to do if they gain a firm foothold. But coordination of evacuation and safety is the prime concern right now. Hal, you're a military man."

[Speedball]

"No force of man, can shut me up! Just ask Ollie! And Supes kinda dropped the old one on Parasite, at least from what I could tell..."
"Brings new meaning to 'Dropping the house on the Wicked Witch', doesn't it?"

[wiegeabo]

Dinah gave a smug smile.

"Damage control. Welcome to the life of a non-powered hero." she said a little bitterly.

~ Tha' was harsh.~

Dinah bit her lip.
"He deserved it." she said speeding up.

"We need to relieve Zatanna, and alert the military. However at this juncture I almos feel it would be better to not allow the military in. Who knows what they'll want to do if they gain a firm foothold. But coordination of evacuation and safety is the prime concern right now. Hal, you're a military man."

I pull in close to Jordan, so that no one can hear us. "One question, could she always fly? Because, at this moment, she seems to be displaying Lantern-like powers."

[Franklin Richards]

I pull in close to Jordan, so that no one can hear us. "One question, could she always fly? Because, at this moment, she seems to be displaying Lantern-like powers."

"I'd let it be. Dinah's always been a private person. She'll tell us when she's ready."


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[SuperFerret]

"Ok crew. Let's get our game faces on. If everyone is through with the antidote, we need to rendezvous at Superman's last known location. I am sending this message out on all frequencies. League. Titans. Even local radio band. Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter if you can hear us we need you to acknowledge too. All heroes rally to New Mount Swan. The Man of Steel may need us. Green Lantern 2814.1 out."


I turn to Diana, "I think we should meet them there."

We both take off and fly to meet the others.

OOC: Yet another exciting post from Superferret! :(

[MST3K 4ever]

Lex's phone rings.

Angela...I knew sooner or later that she might call...I better answer it.

Lex answers the phone, "Yes Angela what can I do for you?"

She replies, "Mr. President I'm in the press room and the White House press corps is starting to get a little anxious. They want an offical comment on the situation in Metropolis and I can't keep stalling them much longer."

Lex says, "Ahh very well Anglea have the switchboard operator put me through."

Angela says, "Gladly."

Within moments he hears Angela say, "I have on the line the President himself. Go ahead sir."

Lex replies, "Thank you Anglea. Ladies and Gentlemen of the press corps. Let me just say that this is not a press conference. The situation in Metropolis is under in control thanks to the work of, I guess we can call them the Justice League. There are still some unsettled situations but they are being addressed. When the time is right I will address the enitre nation on the situation and have some interesting revelations as well. There is no cause for alarm"

He can hear some of them shouting questions and Lex says, "Everything will be brought to light in due time thank you all very much."

Lex hangs up the phone.

Soon my victory....my long overdue victory will be at hand.

[SuperFerret]

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As I fly to where the others are, Diana at my heels and the cool breeze on my face, I can feel my strength returning as the buzz of thoughts from the surrounding people returns to my mental "background", and my muscles regain a portion of their former capability. I concentrate, to heal my body further.

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Soon, I am able to see my fellow Justice Leaguers.

[Franklin Richards]

"Welcome J'onn. Diana. We are containing the battle. The virus has been dealt with. The final few patients should be cured before the day is over. Any updates from you two?"


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[SuperFerret]

"Welcome J'onn. Diana. We are containing the battle. The virus has been dealt with. The final few patients should be cured before the day is over. Any updates from you two?"


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"I was nearly killed by the Parasite, before Kal interceded."

[Apprentice]

"And I'm exhausted," Diana announced, a mile touching her lips in an attempt to break the solemn tone enveloping the city. Her shoulders slumped as she ran a hand back through her hair and began to apply pressure to certain points across her body to check for any internal damage. "Would somebody please explain what is going on here? I only knew that you were all in trouble when I came here."

[twylight]

"Someone alert Zee she can put her spell down. If we want to keep the military out we need to alert them to focus mainly on the evacuation and medical needs of the civilians." Dinah said

[SuperFerret]

"Someone alert Zee she can put her spell down. If we want to keep the military out we need to alert them to focus mainly on the evacuation and medical needs of the civilians." Dinah said

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With my telepathy returning, I feel that I am up to the task.

"Just one second."

~Zatanna. You may halt your containment spell. We have the situation well in hand.~

[Keyser Soze]

"There's no place like home! There's no place like home! There's no place like hooooooooooooooooooooome! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Arkham Asylum. Surely it was as much a home as anywhere for The Joker. It seemed that no matter where he went, what hideouts he inhabited, good ol' Arkham was the one place he always ended back in. Home. He got bored whenever he stayed here too long, but he had always said he had fun here in short bursts. And he had lots of fun planned for the near future.

Fun. That's something he hadn't had nearly enough of recently. He'd been so caught up in big plans and grand causes - fighting alien beings, acting as leader to teams of his fellow supervillains, becoming Mayor of Gotham - that he'd seemed to stop having good old-fashioned fun. When he finally decided to ditch the Arkham homestead for another night on the town, he would be happy to paint it red, no strings attached. Just pure, unadulterated, unfiltered carnage.

But that was later. Now, he was scheming. Waiting. He didn't like being out on the sidelines for too long. He'd heard of all the malarchy in Metropolis, somehing about a virus. Well, he still had his Venom Bomb in storage in one of his many hideaways. If it had been THAT that had went off, there would have been no salvation or miracle cures. Everyone in the city would be dead by now. Just like in Bludhaven. The thought of it widened the grin on The Joker's face.

But you know what? If these amateurs wanted to get into their little power-plays, let them. The Joker was never finished. He'd have centre stage soon enough. He could afford to be patient. All he had was time. Time for scheming. Time for waiting. And, of course, most important of all, time for laughing.

And that's exactly what The Joker decided to do, the shrill screech rising to a cacophony that echoed through the entire Asylum like a wild demonic spectre.

And The Joker laughed.

And laughed.

And laughed.

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THE END...FOR NOW...

[Apprentice]

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PROLOGUE

Metropolis:
Oh, Hera.

It can't be.

She's dead...my exhaustion must be making me see things...

"Dinah?" Diana murmured at disbelief. She stumbled back, her wounds and weariness finally kicking in. "But...you...oh!"

The princess embraced her old friend, relief and joy flooding her. Amidst the destruction, amongst the flames, a seemingly impossible thing had occurred - something good had happened. At that moment, Diana didn't need an explanation. She was content just to sob weakly as memories so faint and distant rose to the forefront of her mind...one final breath of air from Paradise Island, the small form of Artemis at the shore below her...

And then, raw pain.

It struck through her mind, tearing into her and driving her down to the streets, to her very knees. Gripping the sides of her head, she tore her tiara from its lodgings and tossed it aside, sinking her teeth into her lower lip and gagging at the coppery taste of blood. She shrieked, an agonising howl, but it was only a dim sound to her ears, almost as if it were miles away...finally, the overwhelming agony subsided, and, quivering, she slumped to the concrete.

A sickening knowledge was now placed upon her, a knowledge of the future. Somehow, she knew what was about to come, but it didn't make it any easier. Two Amazonian soldiers appeared beside her, yanking her unceremoniously to her feet. Diana groaned, too weak to resist.

"Princess Diana, you are under arrest," one of the armour-clad guards hissed.

A golden light encircled them, and they were gone.

***

"I hope I have done the right thing," Hippolyta mused aloud, peering into the viewing portal before her.

The shadowy figure beside the Queen smiled under her hood, watching intently as the guards hauled their charge away from the burning city of Metropolis. "I can assure you that you have, my Queen. My visions are never wrong. Diana's destiny is pre-determined, and if we are to change it..."

"...we must act now," Hippolyta finished with a heavy sigh. Resting her hand on the hilt of the ceremonial sword strapped to her waist, she grimaced. "Oh, Diana, what have you become?"

"I think the more apt question is, my Queen," the figure began gravely, "what are you going to become?"

TO BE CONTINUED IN SEASON FIVE!

[LibrarianThorne]

Silence filled the air. None of the remaining animals in the area were making any noise, frightened to death in their shelters. The only noise that could be heard for miles was the wind settling the dust and the heavy breathing of a super man.

Another noise began to flow through the trees; a noise so small that only one with Kryptonian ears could make it out. Pebbles were stirring and shaking in the remains of Mount Swan. Then a scream was let loose. It was a monstrous roar of both pain and inhuman rage, not solely aimed at the Man of Steel. It was for the world and everyone beyond.

The boulders and rocks exploded, rocketing into the sky in gigantic arcs, melting from the heat of the air's friction. In the epicenter of the blast stood a being with energy and fury boiling from his body.

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/543/poweredupns2.jpg

A whisper in Kryptonian tongue escaped Raymond Jones' lips, "Do you think that killing me would have mattered at all, Clark?" A roaring thunder sounded as the Parasite shot himself at Superman. He slashed his claws across his enemy's face, howling his anguish at him. "Have you any idea of what I learned when I killed the Unity?!"

Superman's knuckles struck the Parasite's jaw mercilessly, but monster's attack pressed on. The two flew, passed the speed of sound, out of the forest and straight into a highway overpass that lead back into the city. The concrete and pavement only gave them a slight pause, but it was enough to provoke the Parasite to steer both of them back into the ground, plowing another trench for miles.

Telepathy gleaned from the Martian Manhunter reinforced Jones' words more than speech could ever do, ~None of our actions were our own, Clark! The Unity was using us all from the very beginning! It made us do things, things that never should have been done, and now we're all paying the price! I'm going to finish what I started when I killed it!~

"Get out of my head."
The words were grunted as Superman struggled against the Parasite. He was being drained, he could tell, but the power leeching from his body was a trickle, where in their previous battle it had been a flood. He didn't know why, and didn't have the time to think about it any longer. He headbutted the Parasite, whipping the purple monster's head backwards.

That small advantage was all the Man of Steel needed. A palm thrust into Parasite's chest knocked him off of Superman, and left a hand-shaped dent in the monster's hide.

"You're insane, and I'm going to put you down like the rabid dog you are," said Superman, blood flowing down his face from the cuts on his cheek. He blurred ahead, catching up to the Parasite. Even with the Martian Manhunter's speed, Parasite couldn't react quickly enough as Superman grabbed two of his fangs and forcefully ripped them out. In one motion, he spun the fangs around and jabbed them into Parasite's eyes in a motion that even Superman himself barely percieved. The purple monstrosity would have screamed in pain had Superman not then backhanded him with such force that he careened earthwards, his ears deaf to the nine sonic booms he made. Parasite impacted the Earth with the force of a large bomb, massive chunks of Earth and stone sent high into the air as one hundred foot crater formed from the impact.

Superman floated above the crater, taking the Parasite's momentary incapacitation to hope that now the Parasite would stay down and he thought about a new plan to kill the delusional monster if he didn't.

[wiegeabo]

Half a city away, the battle could be heard. Superman and the Parasite raged against each other, but we stayed here, unsure of what to do. The city was crippled, and needed our help now. The people were no longer afflicted with the virus, still suffering its aftereffects. And...over one million dead. A number that drives into the bone with its meaning.

Yet, if Superman is defeated, which is distinctly possible with Parasite, this city may fall, us included. But if we do help in the battle, the city may fall without us. And then, Wonder Woman falls to ground in pain and disappears in golden light. As if the situation wasn't already strange enough.

"How...how do we handle this?" I ask the others.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Half a city away, the battle could be heard. Superman and the Parasite raged against each other, but we stayed here, unsure of what to do. The city was crippled, and needed our help now. The people were no longer afflicted with the virus, still suffering its aftereffects. And...over one million dead. A number that drives into the bone with its meaning.

Yet, if Superman is defeated, which is distinctly possible with Parasite, this city may fall, us included. But if we do help in the battle, the city may fall without us. And then, Wonder Woman falls to ground in pain and disappears in golden light. As if the situation wasn't already strange enough.

"How...how do we handle this?" I ask the others.

"We do it like we've always done it. As a team, and we don't stop until somebody drops."

[Franklin Richards]

"Ok, Ring Slingers. I want four walls around the battle zone. Leave doors on the sides for our allies in case they need to assist. Contain the debris but don't interfere with Superman. We don't need Parasite absorbing any more power. If he approaches your wall, drop it. J'onn and Zatanna see if you can find out what happened to Diana. Everybody else stand guard at the doors. Let's move people."


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gif

[Trigger]

Rose made her way through the thick crowd of people in Metropolis's busy streets with little effort. Everyone seemed so pre-occupied with their own injuries and wounded loved ones to impede on her progress. Even the cops who probably had a warrent to arrest her, weren't paying Rose much mind. Had Conner not haphazardly ran off somewhere, she'd probably using this time to grab a few things off her wishlist.

But due to her lack of superspeed however, tracking down Boy of Steel was bit more difficult than she had initially thought. In fact, she didn't have a clue where she was, but at least she had a chance to think without any interruptions. She was always being interrupted by some idio-

"Aiiiie! M-my baby!!"

Rose folded her arms and turned to her left. A woman in her late twenties sobbed uncontrollably into the arms of firefighter. A burning building behind them was steadily being devoured a sea of flames. Rose rolled her eyes and reluctantly approached them.

"Hey! You two!"


The woman jumped a little at the sight of Rose, but the firefighter was all too happy to have her presence on the scene.

"A-aren't you a Titan? Super-Boy-"

"Is in the building? Right. I know. You can shut up now.."

The firefighter simply stood there as Rose grumpily walked towards the towering inferno. She stood at the entrance to the building's lobby with mild amusement.

"I would have to rush into a burning building two days after being revived."

Rose cut a piece of her sleeve and wrapped it around the lower half of her face. Her body tensed at the idea of being burned alive, but if Conner died then who would she constantly antagonize?

With an unusually mighty kick, Rose knocked open the door to the burning building and stumbled in. The dry heat slapped her in the face and stunned her for minute. Rose bent down on one knee and tried to catch her breath.

"Sheesh, could this be any more dangerous?!"

Rose got back on her feet and looked around.

"Conner! Conner, can you hear me?!"

[twylight]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/Apprentice1/wwrtr.jpg
PROLOGUE

Metropolis:
Oh, Hera.

It can't be.

She's dead...my exhaustion must be making me see things...

"Dinah?" Diana murmured at disbelief. She stumbled back, her wounds and weariness finally kicking in. "But...you...oh!"

The princess embraced her old friend, relief and joy flooding her. Amidst the destruction, amongst the flames, a seemingly impossible thing had occurred - something good had happened. At that moment, Diana didn't need an explanation. She was content just to sob weakly as memories so faint and distant rose to the forefront of her mind...one final breath of air from Paradise Island, the small form of Artemis at the shore below her...

And then, raw pain.

It struck through her mind, tearing into her and driving her down to the streets, to her very knees. Gripping the sides of her head, she tore her tiara from its lodgings and tossed it aside, sinking her teeth into her lower lip and gagging at the coppery taste of blood. She shrieked, an agonising howl, but it was only a dim sound to her ears, almost as if it were miles away...finally, the overwhelming agony subsided, and, quivering, she slumped to the concrete.

A sickening knowledge was now placed upon her, a knowledge of the future. Somehow, she knew what was about to come, but it didn't make it any easier. Two Amazonian soldiers appeared beside her, yanking her unceremoniously to her feet. Diana groaned, too weak to resist.

"Princess Diana, you are under arrest," one of the armour-clad guards hissed.

A golden light encircled them, and they were gone.

***

"I hope I have done the right thing," Hippolyta mused aloud, peering into the viewing portal before her.

The shadowy figure beside the Queen smiled under her hood, watching intently as the guards hauled their charge away from the burning city of Metropolis. "I can assure you that you have, my Queen. My visions are never wrong. Diana's destiny is pre-determined, and if we are to change it..."

"...we must act now," Hippolyta finished with a heavy sigh. Resting her hand on the hilt of the ceremonial sword strapped to her waist, she grimaced. "Oh, Diana, what have you become?"

"I think the more apt question is, my Queen," the figure began gravely, "what are you going to become?"

TO BE CONTINUED IN SEASON FIVE!


Dinah embraced the fellow black haired woman, this welcome home was one that didn't bear the markings of awkwardness because of any previous background. Instead it was pure and hearfelt from the part of Diana and Dinah knew it.

"Diana.." Dinah started before she felt a jolt from Saffire.

~ Might wanna stand back~

Diana recoiled in pain and fell to the concrete below them. Dinah reacted quickly and dove after her.

"Diana are-wha?" Dinah threw her arms up as the light burst quickly and Diana was gone.

She looked around.

"Saff, run a-"

~ Already done, there isn't a trace of her.~

Dinah stood there for a moment. Of course there wouldn't be, not if she'd been called back to-

Sinestro's question brought her out of her pnderings and she flew back up to them, past Dick, Roy and Tim still on the sapphire blue platform she'd created.

"Ok, Ring Slingers. I want four walls around the battle zone. Leave doors on the sides for our allies in case they need to assist. Contain the debris but don't interfere with Superman. We don't need Parasite absorbing any more power. If he approaches your wall, drop it. J'onn and Zatanna see if you can find out what happened to Diana. Everybody else stand guard at the doors. Let's move people."

"I'll alert the Military." Dinah said, no sense in keeping them out of the loop.

Dinah turned to the non-powered heroes.

"Where would you like me to put you down?"

[Purple Man]

Rose made her way through the thick crowd of people in Metropolis's busy streets with little effort. Everyone seemed so pre-occupied with their own injuries and wounded loved ones to impede on her progress. Even the cops who probably had a warrent to arrest her, weren't paying Rose much mind. Had Conner not haphazardly ran off somewhere, she'd probably using this time to grab a few things off her wishlist.

But due to her lack of superspeed however, tracking down Boy of Steel was bit more difficult than she had initially thought. In fact, she didn't have a clue where she was, but at least she had a chance to think without any interruptions. She was always being interrupted by some idio-

"Aiiiie! M-my baby!!"

Rose folded her arms and turned to her left. A woman in her late twenties sobbed uncontrollably into the arms of firefighter. A burning building behind them was steadily being devoured a sea of flames. Rose rolled her eyes and reluctantly approached them.

"Hey! You two!"


The woman jumped a little at the sight of Rose, but the firefighter was all too happy to have her presence on the scene.

"A-aren't you a Titan? Super-Boy-"

"Is in the building? Right. I know. You can shut up now.."

The firefighter simply stood there as Rose grumpily walked towards the towering inferno. She stood at the entrance to the building's lobby with mild amusement.

"I would have to rush into a burning building two days after being revived."

Rose cut a piece of her sleeve and wrapped it around the lower half of her face. Her body tensed at the idea of being burned alive, but if Conner died then who would she constantly antagonize?

With an unusually mighty kick, Rose knocked open the door to the burning building and stumbled in. The dry heat slapped her in the face and stunned her for minute. Rose bent down on one knee and tried to catch her breath.

"Sheesh, could this be any more dangerous?!"

Rose got back on her feet and looked around.

"Conner! Conner, can you hear me?!"

"Quiet down, Rose. I can hear you. I can hear Superman on the outskirts of the city. He said he is going to put down Parasite like the rabid dog he is. We shouldn't have come here. I might be the only thing holding this building up, keeping all these people from dieing, but who is going to keep Superman from becoming a murderer?" Conner was down on one knee, surrounded by flames with his arms outstretched. Superboy was barely holding up the corner of the building. His tacticle telekinesis hardly keeping everything from falling apart. Any tears that tried to come from his eyes were instantly turned to steam by his burning heat vision.

"I can't hold on much longer. There's a baby crying five stories up. I don't know where Krypto is, so you're the next in line. I know you hate me, and I know you'd love to take this opportunity to rub that kryptonite in my face, but an innocent life is on the line." Though the fire and smoke obscured the view of the boy of steel, his head was bowed low, the crumbling structure shaking as he sighed. "I need to get this weight off my shoulders. I need you, Rose."

[Trigger]

"Quiet down, Rose. I can hear you. I can hear Superman on the outskirts of the city. He said he is going to put down Parasite like the rabid dog he is. We shouldn't have come here. I might be the only thing holding this building up, keeping all these people from dieing, but who is going to keep Superman from becoming a murderer?"

Conner was down on one knee, surrounded by flames with his arms outstretched. Superboy was barely holding up the corner of the building. His tacticle telekinesis hardly keeping everything from falling apart. Any tears that tried to come from his eyes were instantly turned to steam by his burning heat vision.

"I can't hold on much longer. There's a baby crying five stories up. I don't know where Krypto is, so you're the next in line. I know you hate me, and I know you'd love to take this opportunity to rub that kryptonite in my face, but an innocent life is on the line."

Though the fire and smoke obscured the view of the boy of steel, his head was bowed low, the crumbling structure shaking as he sighed.

"I need to get this weight off my shoulders. I need you, Rose."

This was beautiful, absolutely delicious. Rose made her way to Conner and smirked beneath the rag covering her face.

"Is it getting a little hot in here to ya', Conner?"

Rose knelt down and got close to Conner's face. Watching the strain on his face was glorious for some reason. She stood back and up and backed away from him. The flames danced around them and the shadows draped her lean figure. For a second a gleam of her father sparkled in her eyes.

"I give this place another another five minutes. I'd give a baby even less. Do what you want with Superman, but I expect you to be here for three more minutes."

Rose removed the kryptonite from her back pocket and flashed it once again.

"Not that you have much choice in the matter."

Without another word Rose dashed through the building's floor effortlessly. The same flames that seemingly burned away her dream home couldn't hold back the new surge of energy propelling her through the burning building.

Upon entering the lobby of the fifth floor a wall of flames and heat seemed to surround her. The echoing cry of a frightened baby could be heard in the distance, but intense, arid heat did it's job at pushing Rose back.

Rose pushed her way through the heat, through the burns, through the pain.

"N-not....g-gonna...stop..." she panted to herself.

A sudden blast of fire knocked Rose to the ground and sent her rag flying into distance flames. She let out a gasp and inhaled a mouthful of smoke.
Her senses overwhelmed, Rose fell into a coughing fit.

"Pathetic."

Rose looked in terror at the hallucinatory figure standing before her. In the flames, it leered at her.

"W-what....?"

"You heard me. If you were just going to haphazardly rush into danger, then what was the point of even resurrecting you?"

"........"

Rose couldn't respond. Why was she alive? Why was she here?

"Maybe you deserved to die? You certainly don't have a purpose."

Rose's eyes fell to the ground. Maybe she should die...what was the point on living, if she could just be killed by a random fire?

"Waaaaah!"

Rose and her hallucination looked further down the hall. The incessant crying of the baby could still be heard behind a half opened apartment door. It was still in danger. It needed someone.

Rose's eyes moved from the door to Slade. Her muscles tensed as she slowly Rose to one knee.

"Hmm?"

Rose let out a grunt and stood on both of her tired legs. Her platinum hair covered her face and swayed with each breath she took.

" I died...because of you..........I won't die again."

Slade laughed, "Oh really? And after you save that baby, what next?"

Rose's head hung low for a second. She looked up at Slade and smiled before dashing off towards the apartment where the baby was located. The fire behind her raged, but her reply still wisped through the air.

"I'll live...to find a new purpose."

With a burst of strength and energy, Rose fully knocked the apartment door open. She could hear the crying, but she couldn't see the baby.
She ran back and forth between each room, knocking each individual room open until she found the baby. She smiled at the innocent figure lying in it's cradle.

"How could someone leave you here?"

The baby's tears were still fresh, but a smile krept across the corners of it's face. It welcome the sight of the teen and looked genuinely happy in her arms. This was a new feeling, helping somebody out and actually enjoying it.

"Okay, so what say we get outta here and get you to your mother?"

A rumble in the building's foundation agreed.

"Damn Conner, I thought I said three minutes?"

The baby giggled.

"Don't you go repeating that when you get older!"

Under most situations Rose would've checked on Conner, but if he wasn't leaving now, then too bad for him. With a galliant leap, Rose knocked open a nearby window and made her way down the fire escape.

Baby in hand, Rose made her way to the woman and the firefighter. The woman broke down into more sobs and practically snatched the baby out of Rose's hands.

"T-thank you, thank you so much!"

Rose pushed some of her hair behind her right ear and and began to walk off. The fresh city air was nice compared to the towering inferno that raged behind her. The firefighter still looked concerned.

"Aren't you going to help Super-Boy?!"

Rose turned to the man and smiled. She withdrew her katana and threw it through a window on the third floor. She wouldn't need it anymore, but Conner needed a sign that she had made it out.

"He'll be fine."

Rose slipped her hands into the pockets of her jumpsuit and walked off into the busy Metropolis streets. Even with all the chaos, Rose felt a little better, a little happier.

"Where to now, I wonder?"

[Spike_x1]

"Get out of my head."
The words were grunted as Superman struggled against the Parasite. He was being drained, he could tell, but the power leeching from his body was a trickle, where in their previous battle it had been a flood. He didn't know why, and didn't have the time to think about it any longer. He headbutted the Parasite, whipping the purple monster's head backwards.

That small advantage was all the Man of Steel needed. A palm thrust into Parasite's chest knocked him off of Superman, and left a hand-shaped dent in the monster's hide.

"You're insane, and I'm going to put you down like the rabid dog you are," said Superman, blood flowing down his face from the cuts on his cheek. He blurred ahead, catching up to the Parasite. Even with the Martian Manhunter's speed, Parasite couldn't react quickly enough as Superman grabbed two of his fangs and forcefully ripped them out. In one motion, he spun the fangs around and jabbed them into Parasite's eyes in a motion that even Superman himself barely percieved. The purple monstrosity would have screamed in pain had Superman not then backhanded him with such force that he careened earthwards, his ears deaf to the nine sonic booms he made. Parasite impacted the Earth with the force of a large bomb, massive chunks of Earth and stone sent high into the air as one hundred foot crater formed from the impact.

Superman floated above the crater, taking the Parasite's momentary incapacitation to hope that now the Parasite would stay down and he thought about a new plan to kill the delusional monster if he didn't."You have no idea. How could you?" Superman turned, a mixture of surprise of fury on his face as the Parasite became visible once again behind him. In a flash, Jones grabbed the sides of Superman's head and shoved the hero's face downward, kneeing him in the nose.

"Do you remember when Raven attacked the United Nations? She just went nuts one day and hijacked some nukes to try to kill everyone at the UN. Remember, Kent?" The Parasite's elbow came hammering down into the back of Superman's neck. "Haven't you even bothered to ask yourself 'why would a member of the goddamn Teen Titans do something like that?' Of course you wondered about it. But here's the answer you've been waiting for: The Unity did it."

Superman looked up at the Parasite and gave a guttural growl as he plowed his shoulder into the large monster's abdomen.

As he was being forced back, the Parasite closed his hands together and brought them down in a hammer blow into his opponent's back. "Raven was the Unity's trial run. It just wanted to see how far it could go with controlling people's minds; how much it could get away with as it manipulated the hell out of us. Back then, all of us did things, things that we wouldn't normally do, and when you look back at it, none of it made sense. I couldn't have been the only one who wondered what made us do some of those things. And that's the answer to all of it, Clark! None of our decisions were our own! And even now, a small piece of the Unity still lives on in each and every one of us, and I'm gonna put a stop to that right here, right now!"

His claws ripped through Superman's bio-electric aura as if it weren't even there, splashing blood into the air around the juggernaut and sending the blue-clad enemy spiraling into the high class financial district.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7508/eyes2zx.jpg

Today is the first day of the rest of my life

[Purple Man]

"Aren't you going to help Super-Boy?!"

Rose turned to the man and smiled. She withdrew her katana and threw it through a window on the third floor. She wouldn't need it anymore, but Conner needed a sign that she had made it out.

"He'll be fine."

Rose slipped her hands into the pockets of her jumpsuit and walked off into the busy Metropolis streets. Even with all the chaos, Rose felt a little better, a little happier.

"Where to now, I wonder?"

"I'll be fine!? She didn't even try and help me!" With his knees buckling under the weight of an apartment complex. Conner screamed his fury at the world. At Superman for losing his way. And at Rose for not finding her way. Was Tim ok?

All his anger and concern were washed away in a wave of concrete. The building had fell directly on top of him. He was holding up the most damaged corner and the weight of the building was on his shoulders. Now the enormous weight was all over him. Burying him alive.

There were several tense moments as everyone was too breathless to gasp in horror. As silence gripped the crowd, suddenly there came a rumble. Debris fell aside as a figure rose from the settling dust.

Superboy stood bruised and bleeding atop the wreckage that was once a home to many. With a broken hand, he reached for his chest, gripping his shirt tight. Throwing his batterd arm forward, he tore his shirt off, holding up the S symbol to the crowd.

"Remember me." As the last syllable was escaping his lips, he fell. Unconcious but breathing.

Fate will decide if he ever wakes.

[LibrarianThorne]

"You have no idea. How could you?" Superman turned, a mixture of surprise of fury on his face as the Parasite became visible once again behind him. In a flash, Jones grabbed the sides of Superman's head and shoved the hero's face downward, kneeing him in the nose.

"Do you remember when Raven attacked the United Nations? She just went nuts one day and hijacked some nukes to try to kill everyone at the UN. Remember, Kent?" The Parasite's elbow came hammering down into the back of Superman's neck. "Haven't you even bothered to ask yourself 'why would a member of the goddamn Teen Titans do something like that?' Of course you wondered about it. But here's the answer you've been waiting for: The Unity did it."

Superman looked up at the Parasite and gave a guttural growl as he plowed his shoulder into the large monster's abdomen.

As he was being forced back, the Parasite closed his hands together and brought them down in a hammer blow into his opponent's back. "Raven was the Unity's trial run. It just wanted to see how far it could go with controlling people's minds; how much it could get away with as it manipulated the hell out of us. Back then, all of us did things, things that we wouldn't normally do, and when you look back at it, none of it made sense. I couldn't have been the only one who wondered what made us do some of those things. And that's the answer to all of it, Clark! None of our decisions were our own! And even now, a small piece of the Unity still lives on in each and every one of us, and I'm gonna put a stop to that right here, right now!"

His claws ripped through Superman's bio-electric aura as if it weren't even there, splashing blood into the air around the juggernaut and sending the blue-clad enemy spiraling into the high class financial district.


http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7508/eyes2zx.jpg

Today is the first day of the rest of my life



Superman's world went spinning after the Parasite's onslaught. Blood fell freely from massive claw marks on his chest, claws that had made tatters of his S-shield. As he tumbled Earthwards, one thorugh ran through his mind.

I have one more chance. That's all. One more.

By sheer force of will, he stopped his cataclysmic descent, but not before he had plowed through two skyscrapers and half a dozen smaller buildings. He hovered a few feet above the ground, collecting his senses. He heard Hal and his friends in the distance.

My God, no! I can't let them get near Parasite. He'll kill them, just like he's-

A rush of wind and a howl like thunder made Superman twist around, and his face was met by the massive purple chest of the Parasite. Wasting no time, Superman let fly beams of super-focused heat vision, beams of such intensity that they glowed white instead of the usual red. The concussive force and supernova heat of the beams drove the Parasite back. Superman wasted no time and rushed forward, uppercutting the Parasite in the jaw and sending the monster skywards at escape velocity. Superman followed, matching the Parasite's speed then exceeding it. He yelled "UNITY?!" as he caught up, and let fly a thunderous right cross that sent the Parasite tumbling. Superman pressed home his advantage, diving into the Parasite's stomach like a rocket of yellow and blue. Together, comet like, the pair slammed into the Earth four hundred miles outside of Metropolis.

Later, people would say that they could feel the impact in their bones. As if the entire planet, just at that moment, shuddered. Later, mathmeticians would use the impact as a comparison point to the kind of devastation caused by several hydrogen bombs. In a flash, millions of tons of dust and rock were airborne, as a crater seventy five miles wide formed.
When Parasite opened his eyes, he was met with a grey wasteland as far as he could see. Bits of diamonds, shattered by their impact, mixed in with the grimy gray dust and sparkled oddly.

"You're blind, Parasite, or easily fooled!" Rudy Jones spun around, and was met by another fist from the hand of Superman. "The Unity's brainwashing only went so far! Even Robin overcame it. Or did you forget that the Red Hood doesn't exist any more?"

A powerful gut punch doubled the Parasite over, and a hammer blow that rang out like armageddon knocked the Parasite to the floor. Superman stood over his enemy, his sometime ally. The man who had murdered his wife, and served a monster that had nearly destroyed everything.

"You will kill everything and everyone I love, unless I stop you now." He knew what it would take. One punch to the head, of sufficient force, would shatter the Parasite's skull and annihilate his brain. Though Rudy Jones' healing powers bordered on the miraculous, the body wouldn't regenerate if it had no signals from the brain. Red enery sparked from his eyes as he cocked back his right hand. It descended at a fantastic speed. Fire leapt around it as it ran through the air. As Superman looked down, he saw one thing.

A rainbow of light, more luminous and beautiful than he, or anyone else for that matter, could describe. A light that Superman didn't think Rudy Jones had any more. A light that would change everything.

"NO!" bellowed the Man of Steel as he diverted his hand from its fatal course. It impacted a scant five milimeters from the Parasite's head, impacting the bedrock with force like an artillery shell. His arm was buried up to his elbow before it stopped. Superman fell to his knees as his strength fled out of him. He knew, as the Parasite stood, that he didn't have the strength to fight him any more.

"Dammit." The word was whispered from Superman's lips, his voice no longer carrying the rage and determination it had before.

[wiegeabo]

"Ok, Ring Slingers. I want four walls around the battle zone. Leave doors on the sides for our allies in case they need to assist. Contain the debris but don't interfere with Superman. We don't need Parasite absorbing any more power. If he approaches your wall, drop it. J'onn and Zatanna see if you can find out what happened to Diana. Everybody else stand guard at the doors. Let's move people."


"Too late!" I shout. But the blue and red streak is already gone, closely followed by a purple blur. "Dammit!" Half a second. Just half a second more and I would have had my wall solidified and Superman wouldn't have broken through. I may have even been able to drain the Parasite again.

But the fact is they had broken through. And as we tried to catch up to them, they were gone again.

"Too fast. They are just moving too fast." The ground explodes with their latest impact. The level of dust kicked up could be disasterous if it were to rain down upon the city. I create a giant expanding net, trapping as much debris as I can. "I doubt we can contain the fight. It appears our job is now damage control."

[twylight]

Dinah alighted in front of the temporary command station of the Military.

~ Hold up darlin' Saffire said as a wave of blue eneergy ran up and down Dinah, her costume changing from a torn and bloody one piece to familiar leather and fishnet's. Dinah loked down at the extremly low neckline.

~ Ah only had pictures ta go one.~ Saff said in reply to Dinah's unspoken thoughts.

Dinah shook her head and walked for the Command Station only to find herself blocked by two large MP's

"Black Canary, JLA" She said simple as she held her card out.

"The JL-"

"Consider it re-established." she said sharply.
"Now are we going to have to argue about the status of a Hero group or are you going to allow me to speak with your commanding officer about damage control and evacuation?"

They looked at each other before a slight Major brushed past them.

"Black Canary?"
Dinah nodded.

"Follow me please."

He said leading her towards a busy area and announcing her to the General.

He straightend up and grunted, his white gray hair crew cut, and his hat laying on street maps and satellite images.

"'Bout time you got here." He said gruffly.

Dinah reached her hand out to shake his before looking down at the maps and images spread out on the table, phones, computers and radio's going crazy in the background.

"What do we have sir?" She asked respectfully.

"Two Meta's fighting within a civilian area, and many wounded and hurt around the entire city. A few isolated pockets of Villian resistance. This..virus or whatever severely hampered our rescue efforts and many City personnel are still recovering from it."

Dinah nodded.

"I can offer you damage control for here." she pointed her finger to a place on the map.

"And a team can go here to pick up the resisiting meta villians. As well as evac for the immediatly damage area's."

He nodded as Dinah's cell phone went of. She held up a finger and turned away.

"Yes."

"We're on our way. Apparently Wayne Enterprises has several Military grade helicopters. Is there a place to land?"

Dinah turned towards the general and asked a question before turning back to her phone.

"Yes, just north of the city's center, the main park has been turned into a temporary landing pad, also if you've got more than two there's a pad on top of the City Hospital. I'll meet you there."

"Understood"

Dinah turned back to the General,
"We have some more medical personnel brought in to help."

The General nods.
"I don't think I have to say this but, thank you."

Dinah smiles.
"No, you don't."

[The Question]

We fly across the Illinois state lines at god knows what speeds.

"Thanks again for the ride, Ted."

Kord talks to me over his shoulder.

"My pleasure, Vic. Hell, I had to be getting back home myself."

After a few more minutes, we're finally nearing Hub City. Ted slows the bug down. We both look out the window. Most of the fires are out, but the buidlings are just as bad as when we left. Not much surprise there, of course. Hardly something the city needed added on to the rest of it's problems.

Ted lowers the bug over a rooftop, and I jump out.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Help with the clean up. Bust some heads. You?"

"The same, probably. I'll make some sweeps over down town, scare away any looters or rioters I see. Seeya."

The bug rises into the air, and I make my way down the fire escape.


*******


A few hours later, and I'm still helping with the clean up. No mask. Just infamous reporter Vic Sage helping with the clean up. True to Hub City form, there are still some people trapped under the rubble. Still people freaking out and acting like it's their last day on Earth. Which, by the way, doesn't involve pleasent and rational hedonism like most crappy musicians like to think, and instead involves a good deal of violence and screaming.

After a while, some emergency service worker tells me to take a break if I don't want another body added to the pile. I sit down on a curb and take a sip from a bottle of water.

Suddenly, I hear a voice from behind me.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Now, normally, I would probably make some sort of snide comment about overused cliches, but I'm hardly in the mood and I doubt anyone else is. I respond without turning around.

"I'm fine."

"You're a lousy liar."

A woman. Fairly young. Probably barely out of her teens. She crouches down beside me. My eyes stay fixed on the ground. I really don't want to look at anyone right now.

"....I've lived in this city my whole life. I've done every thing I can to try and make it a better place. It never works. And every damn time it looks like things are going to turn around, and Hub City is only going to be the second or third worst hell hole of a town, something like this happens."

She's silent for a few seconds.

"Don't worry, Vic. If I know anything about you, it's that you're very good at doing the extraordinairy. Even if it's just through dumb luck."

How the hell did she know my....

Oh right. I'm a TV star. Weird how you can forget a thing like that.

"I'm certain that soon enough, you'll do something that will effect the whole world."

"Thanks for the confidence, but I somehow doubt that."

"Trust me Vic. You will. You're a truely special guy."

Neither of us say anything. Then, in almost a whisper, she speaks.

"I just hope you'll be able to get through the bad times to do it."

Now, I'm not sure about most people, but cryptic predictions of impending doom tend to promt me to turn around and face the person who made said prediction. Which is what I do.


Strange thing is, when I do, the woman isn't there.



"....huh."

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Too late!" I shout. But the blue and red streak is already gone, closely followed by a purple blur. "Dammit!" Half a second. Just half a second more and I would have had my wall solidified and Superman wouldn't have broken through. I may have even been able to drain the Parasite again.

But the fact is they had broken through. And as we tried to catch up to them, they were gone again.

"Too fast. They are just moving too fast." The ground explodes with their latest impact. The level of dust kicked up could be disasterous if it were to rain down upon the city. I create a giant expanding net, trapping as much debris as I can. "I doubt we can contain the fight. It appears our job is now damage control."

Kyle used his ring to reached out an listen to the life in Metropolis. There were still people, alive, trapped under the rubble that now littered the city. There was still a chance, but they had to act fast.

"We need to start clearing the rubble. There are still people down there who need help."

[Franklin Richards]

Kyle used his ring to reached out an listen to the life in Metropolis. There were still people, alive, trapped under the rubble that now littered the city. There was still a chance, but they had to act fast.

"We need to start clearing the rubble. There are still people down there who need help."


"I'm on it."

Hal formed a giant baseball bat with his ring and started knocking boulders into space before they hit the ground.


:gl: :gl: :gl:

[Spike_x1]

Superman's world went spinning after the Parasite's onslaught. Blood fell freely from massive claw marks on his chest, claws that had made tatters of his S-shield. As he tumbled Earthwards, one thorugh ran through his mind.

I have one more chance. That's all. One more.

By sheer force of will, he stopped his cataclysmic descent, but not before he had plowed through two skyscrapers and half a dozen smaller buildings. He hovered a few feet above the ground, collecting his senses. He heard Hal and his friends in the distance.

My God, no! I can't let them get near Parasite. He'll kill them, just like he's-

A rush of wind and a howl like thunder made Superman twist around, and his face was met by the massive purple chest of the Parasite. Wasting no time, Superman let fly beams of super-focused heat vision, beams of such intensity that they glowed white instead of the usual red. The concussive force and supernova heat of the beams drove the Parasite back. Superman wasted no time and rushed forward, uppercutting the Parasite in the jaw and sending the monster skywards at escape velocity. Superman followed, matching the Parasite's speed then exceeding it. He yelled "UNITY?!" as he caught up, and let fly a thunderous right cross that sent the Parasite tumbling. Superman pressed home his advantage, diving into the Parasite's stomach like a rocket of yellow and blue. Together, comet like, the pair slammed into the Earth four hundred miles outside of Metropolis.

Later, people would say that they could feel the impact in their bones. As if the entire planet, just at that moment, shuddered. Later, mathmeticians would use the impact as a comparison point to the kind of devastation caused by several hydrogen bombs. In a flash, millions of tons of dust and rock were airborne, as a crater seventy five miles wide formed.
When Parasite opened his eyes, he was met with a grey wasteland as far as he could see. Bits of diamonds, shattered by their impact, mixed in with the grimy gray dust and sparkled oddly.

"You're blind, Parasite, or easily fooled!" Rudy Jones spun around, and was met by another fist from the hand of Superman. "The Unity's brainwashing only went so far! Even Robin overcame it. Or did you forget that the Red Hood doesn't exist any more?"

A powerful gut punch doubled the Parasite over, and a hammer blow that rang out like armageddon knocked the Parasite to the floor. Superman stood over his enemy, his sometime ally. The man who had murdered his wife, and served a monster that had nearly destroyed everything.

"You will kill everything and everyone I love, unless I stop you now." He knew what it would take. One punch to the head, of sufficient force, would shatter the Parasite's skull and annihilate his brain. Though Rudy Jones' healing powers bordered on the miraculous, the body wouldn't regenerate if it had no signals from the brain. Red enery sparked from his eyes as he cocked back his right hand. It descended at a fantastic speed. Fire leapt around it as it ran through the air. As Superman looked down, he saw one thing.

A rainbow of light, more luminous and beautiful than he, or anyone else for that matter, could describe. A light that Superman didn't think Rudy Jones had any more. A light that would change everything.

"NO!" bellowed the Man of Steel as he diverted his hand from its fatal course. It impacted a scant five milimeters from the Parasite's head, impacting the bedrock with force like an artillery shell. His arm was buried up to his elbow before it stopped. Superman fell to his knees as his strength fled out of him. He knew, as the Parasite stood, that he didn't have the strength to fight him any more.

"Dammit." The word was whispered from Superman's lips, his voice no longer carrying the rage and determination it had before.
There they stood. A monster and a man. Not a sound could be heard. No wind, no people, no animals, and no vehicles. It was the first glimpse of true peace that the Parasite had had since he could remember. Rudy Jones closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, and letting tranquility settle in for the first time in his life.

~This is where I belong.~

He wasn't sure if he had absentmindedly broadcast his inner thoughts to Clark or not, and he didn't care. The Parasite slowly opened his eyes and looked at Superman, standing in front of him.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9595/showdownpr4.jpg

"This is where we were always meant to be, Kent." Rudy turned his head, looking around at the barren wasteland that they had created. Nothing for miles in any direction. "Every decision we've ever made, or at least the decisions we thought we made, has led us, right smack-dab here." The Parasite's glowing eyes settled back down on Superman with what could almost be called an expression of sadness. "We don't even need telepathy to know what the other is thinking right now, do we? We both know that one of us isn't going to walk away from this battleground today."

Before his sentence was even completed, the Parasite's fist lashed outward, striking his enemy in the side of the head with a wet-sounding crack.

Superman stumbled backward, struggling to keep his footing, as the Parasite slowly walked toward him. The will, let alone the power, to fight seemed to have left the Man of Tomorrow. "None of our choices were made by us, Clark." Another thunderous jab struck the Last Son of Krypton's face, sending him back. "We are the slaves of things that neither of us can even begin to dream of. We're the puppets. The toy soldiers." The Parasite kept walking. When the monstrosity stepped within reach, Superman threw a last desperate punch, but it was caught in the nightmare's bare hand. "In the grand scheme of things, nothing we do matters in the least. Yes, history will remember the both of us. But not for our real accomplishments."

He let go of Superman's fist and backhanded him across the face. Before Superman could be flung backward, Rudy grabbed a clump of his hair and held him in place by it. "And there's only one way to set us all free, Clark. One way to make sure that only our true footprints are left behind in history. It actually is a shame that you won't be around to see how I end it." The Parasite pulled his fist back and powered it up with the God-like energy flowing through his veins.

[LibrarianThorne]

There they stood. A monster and a man. Not a sound could be heard. No wind, no people, no animals, and no vehicles. It was the first glimpse of true peace that the Parasite had had since he could remember. Rudy Jones closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, and letting tranquility settle in for the first time in his life.

~This is where I belong.~

He wasn't sure if he had absentmindedly broadcast his inner thoughts to Clark or not, and he didn't care. The Parasite slowly opened his eyes and looked at Superman, standing in front of him.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9595/showdownpr4.jpg

"This is where we were always meant to be, Kent." Rudy turned his head, looking around at the barren wasteland that they had created. Nothing for miles in any direction. "Every decision we've ever made, or at least the decisions we thought we made, has led us, right smack-dab here." The Parasite's glowing eyes settled back down on Superman with what could almost be called an expression of sadness. "We don't even need telepathy to know what the other is thinking right now, do we? We both know that one of us isn't going to walk away from this battleground today."

Before his sentence was even completed, the Parasite's fist lashed outward, striking his enemy in the side of the head with a wet-sounding crack.

Superman stumbled backward, struggling to keep his footing, as the Parasite slowly walked toward him. The will, let alone the power, to fight seemed to have left the Man of Tomorrow. "None of our choices were made by us, Clark." Another thunderous jab struck the Last Son of Krypton's face, sending him back. "We are the slaves of things that neither of us can even begin to dream of. We're the puppets. The toy soldiers." The Parasite kept walking. When the monstrosity stepped within reach, Superman threw a last desperate punch, but it was caught in the nightmare's bare hand. "In the grand scheme of things, nothing we do matters in the least. Yes, history will remember the both of us. But not for our real accomplishments."

He let go of Superman's fist and backhanded him across the face. Before Superman could be flung backward, Rudy grabbed a clump of his hair and held him in place by it. "And there's only one way to set us all free, Clark. One way to make sure that only our true footprints are left behind in history. It actually is a shame that you won't be around to see how I end it." The Parasite pulled his fist back and powered it up with the God-like energy flowing through his veins.

"Who wants to throw that punch, Rudy?"

The Parasite looked at him qith a quizzical expression, one almost comical considering the Parasite's fang filled maw and orange eyes.

"I know why you keep talking about the Unity. It's still alive, isn't it? And it outsmarted you, and me, and everyone else. I can see it, Rudy. Whatever's left of it, it's inside of you."

Superman looked at the Parasite, and he saw the strange energy that suffused hte monster. A red, glowing presence that almost overpowered the light that shone out from the Parasite.

"You have my powers, Rudy. Everyone wonders why I don't kill, and now you can see it. Look around you, and see the world with my eyes. Infrared vision. X-Ray vision. Macroscopic and microscopic panoramas. The entire electro-magnetic spectrum, and only you and I can see it. Only we can see these manmade electronic signals zigzagging across the sky. Bright beams of infrared from orbiting satellites. A world of color that no one else can see. Now look beyond that. Look at me, Rudy. Do you see it?"

Superman looked down, and saw the same sight that had greeted his eyes hwen he was fifteen years old. "I don't know what it is, not really. But, if any word can describe this, it would be soul. You can see the souls of living things now, Rudy."

Superman coughed. His face looked like a bloody mess, pcokmarked with the occasional swollen bruise. He swayed, and blinked his eyes as the glorious sight faded away. More and more of his powers were leaving, and he felt weaker by the second. He collapsed to his knees.

He realized then what was happening to him. His body had stopped resisting the Parasite's absorption.

As Parasite looks at Superman, he sees the aura fading, wavering. As more and more of Superman's power comes into Rudy, he sees Superman's aura flicker like a candle struggling against a hurricane.

"That's why I can't kill, Parasite. I can't kill Lex Luthor or Bizarro or any other living thing because when that aura fades, I can't look at what's left. God help me, I couldn't kill you because you still have... that light."

As Superman's aura fades completely before Rudy's eyes, the Man of Steel falls facedown into the ground. A single word, mouthed out of almost pure will. The last movement of the Man of Steel. With his newly acquired hearing, Rudy noticed something conspicuous by its absence: the heartbeat of Krypton's last son.

[trustyside-kick]

Jason's dialouge
Jason's thoughts
Paulie's dialogue
Narration

Jason Todd- 'Old faces'
--------------------------
The word arsenal appears in various forms in Romanic languages, i.e. Italian arzanale, Spanish arsenal, etc.; Italian also has arzana and darsena, and Spanish a longer form atarazanal. The word is of Arabic origin, being a corruption of daras-sina'ah, house of trade or manufacture, dar, house, al, the, and sina'ah, trade, manufacture. Such guesses as arx navalis, naval citadel, arx senatus, have been discounted.

Enlarge Cannons and mortars of Napoleon's Army exhibited along the wall of the Kremlin Arsenal. For the rest of Early Modern Europe, the Arsenal was the Venetian Arsenal. A first-class arsenal, which can renew the materiel and equipment of a large army, embraces a gun factory, carriage factory, laboratory and small-arms ammunition factory, small-arms factory, harness, saddlery and tent factories, and a powder factory; in addition it must possess great store-houses. Paulie practially fit all of that in his backroom of the Gotham Gentlemen's Club. He was right, I did have no idea.

"Let's see what we go here...Anti-tank rifles."

"Yup."

"Designed to penetrate the armour of vehicles, mainly tanks. You know the usefulness of rifles for this purpose ran from the introduction of tanks into WWII? And they were rendered obsolete. So what use do I have of this Paulie? Vehicle armour eventually became too thick to be penetrated by rigid projectiles from rifles that could be carried by a single soldier, and anti-tank rifles were replaced with shaped charge weapons."

"Well lucky for me...my other clients aren't as educated in guns as you are. You always fascinate me with that knowledge of yours JT."

"Yea well let's hope Big Bertha won't be the only thing I end up taking from your collection."

"Yea but you forget the fact that you might need some of my stuff to use against Task if he becomes aware of our plans."

"If he becomes aware? Oh...he is going to become aware all right. I am going to walk up to him and tell him what we are doing and then I'm going to kill him. Savvy?"

"Always the jokester JT."

"Who said I was joking?"

I smirk a little bit. Although...I am going to eventually approach Task...and then he is going to pay for what he has done.

"Fine...I'll take an anti-tank rifle. Gimme a good deal on the rounds though. I'll wire you the money when I can."

"No need to JT. If you are going to take down Task eventually like you say you will...that is payment enough. I hate that scum."

"Well then...let's continue shall we? Okay let's see...ah...you got a few recoilless rifles here I see."

"That is what those were? Heh, I'm lucky you are here to tell me that. I was sweating when thinking of what I was going to tell my other buyers. So you want a few?"

"Yea, gimme two of those and a few rounds...and oh...how could I forget. PLEASE tell me you have the crates."

"Oh yea...I always have the crates. But you sure you wanna waste them on Task and his men?"

"Nah, that will be for Big Blue."

Paulie gives me a wierd look like if I were dumb. Of course anyone would give me that look. But no one knows what is going on in this mind of mine...sometimes I surprise myself too...deception is a powerful agent; that is how Bruce says it. Boy will Big Blue be decieved.

"Don't worry about it...have I ever been wrong about a hit? Have I ever planned my options and scenarios poorly?"

Paulie's face restores to his smile he had before. I know what I'm doing.

"Allright...let's wrap this up so I can make preparations and plan out this job. Just gimme some of those semi-automatics and automatics and a few of those flashbangs and grenades and we will call it a night."

"If you want you can stay here JT. That way you can have plenty of workspace and all and not have to worry about being interrupted. I got no more deals for the night. Plus, perhaps you could find some more use for my other stuff here. Heck, with all this at your disposal you could plan the Task shipment and Superman hit in one night and be fully prepared."

Jason sits down on the couch.

"Thanks Paulie...for letting me stay and all...and I'll take your other idea under consideration...but I wanna make sure Task gets hurt...professionally, emotionally, and physically. Not sure if I will have time to plan both hits now."

Jason smirks a bit.

Jason's dialouge
Jason's thoughts
Paulie's dialogue
Task's dialogue
Thug's dialogue
Narration

Jason Todd- 'Old faces'
--------------------------
================
The next evening
================
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/dhunter22/jasonsneaksin.jpg

Paulie briefed me well before I came here but just incase something like an emergency were to come up I can contact him by cell-phone...not sure if this counts but I just got one thing to say to him now.

"Damn."

"Guessing you found it?"

"It? More like them."

The entire warehouse is stacked with crates and compartments. Wonder what is in mystery box number 1...2...hell all of them!

"Paulie, do you know anything specific on the crates containing the stuff looks? Like would the crate itself stick out?"

"Yea, of course. They should be using lead crates to contain the radiation sealed in while shipping so most of the crates should be either wooden or steel. Find the lead one and poof, you got it."

Jason walks around the warehouse searching for the lead crate.

"Bingo."

"Found it JT? Is it the real thing? Oh man if only I could see them. What's it look like?"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/dhunter22/jasonkryptonite.jpg

"Imagine a green ocean so clear that you can even see the coral reef below. That...or imagine 100 lbs of kryptonite."

"Holy crap!!! That sonuva! He told me it would be way less! The punk fooled me! The shipping and handling I charged him shoulda been a whole lot more!"

"Yea well--"

What? What's that?

Jason hears a noise and quickly scans the warehouse. He sees nothing but he can hear what sounds like footsteps...lot's of them.

Oh shi--

Jason quickly places the lid back ontop of the crate of kryptonite but is too late.

"FREEZE!"

"KEEP THEM HANDS UP IN THE AIR FOOL!"

"ONE STEP AND I'LL BLAST YOU!!"

"Oh so only if I do a step?"

"JT! What is going on man?!"

Jason slowly removes something from behind his backk and smirks.

"ICE THIS *****!!!"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/dhunter22/jasondodging.jpg

As Jason dodges and shoots back at the gangsters he rolls behind the lead kryptonite crate. Bullets continue to hit the crate while he unzips his jacket and takes something out of his left-side pocket.

****! Where's my--

Jason looks across the room behind another crate.

****! HOW COULD I BE SO SLOPPY? Now I gotta go get my damn smoke grenades.

"JT! What the hell is going on?"

"DUDE PAULIE! NOT NOW!"

Jason gets up and runs towards the other side of the room shooting and as he goes. He makes one risky roll to the crate.

Here we go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/dhunter22/jasonattackingmobsters.jpg

"TELL TASK I SAID HI! COURSE, THAT IS IF YOU SOMEHOW GET OUTTA HERE ALIVE!"

Jason relentlessly fights the thugs until none are left standing. Some lay unconscious. Some lay dead; but one remains conscious.

"You are going to regret the fact that my bullet missed your heart."

Jason takes out his kris dagger, and finishes the last thug slowly. He digs the dagger deep into his belly and rides it up his chest. Tired, Jason twists it and pulls it out of his dead victim.

"JT? You still there man?"

Jason sighs.

"Yea...I'm still here. The place is now clear. You can send in the guys and the trucks to bring the crates to your place."

"And what about you?"

"I got un-finished business with Task. Don't bother following me Paulie. Just stick to the plan."

"But hitting Task was only a back-up! You don't gotta do that man! You got the loot AND took out his men! We're home free!"

"Paulie...just...just...make sure before the guys leave to pick up the shipment that two of them are well-armed and with their own transportation. I'll have them come with me."

Jason ends the call and sits down to rest.

Soon Task...Soon.

============================================
1 hour and 15 Minutes later- The Gotham Gentlemen's Club
============================================
Jason is at the bar with Paulie recovering from the night errands.

"S-so it is done? He's done for?"

"Done."

"Mind telling me how it all went down? Try to spare me any gory details...I just wanna hear about how you wacked that scum."

"Well after your guys with the vans came to pick up the shipments the two that I requested be armed went with me in their car. We drove over to Task's territory and silently took out the few guys he had protecting the parameter of his home. I waited outside his frontdoor and had your 2 guys go in and get him. What happened while they were in his home? That I don't know and don't care. The boys had a lil fun with him, slapped him around a little, and brought him outside to me..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/dhunter22/jasontask.jpg

"DO YOU KNOW WHO--WHO YOU--ARE MESSING WITH?!"

"You're some big damned drug dealer in the east quarter right?"

"I AM THE EAST QUARTER DRUG TRADE. YOU STUPID BULLETHEADEDBAGS OF..."

"Oh but that isn't all you are...or rather were."

"WHAT THE **** ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"Well, everyone starts out as little fish Laurence and you know that. I mean you cannot just start out being a big fish unless you gained a lot of respect and power while still a little fish. Sure some of the swims you go through in life might be harder then others...but you...you took one of the sickest routes."

"THE HELL YOU SAYING SON? WHEN THIS IS OVER I'M BUSTING A CAP IN ALL YOUR ASSES! NO! MAYBE INSTEAD I'LL GET YOU ARRESTED SO YOU CAN GO TO ONE OF THEM FEDERAL 'POUND ME IN THE ASS' PRISONS! *******!"

"Tsk tsk tsk...you haven't changed a bit since last time I saw you Laurence...not a shock you don't recognize me. Let's just say...it was back in the days when I wore tights."

I see Task is confused with what I said. That doesn't matter. Even the late person will soon be able to connect the dots.

"Don't worry...not like I expect you to connect the dots or anything...just know this...I know some of your dirtiest deeds. And frankly? A few of those deeds I just couldn't stand back then and I still cannot stand them. Several years ago when your drug trade was first starting to grow you targetted highschool students...and your sellers were mainly young teenage girls. Of course...it wasn't easy to get these girls to do what you wanted right Laurence?"

Mr. Task looks away.

"Oh yes...believe me...I read the police files. I just happen to have connections here and there. You would beat and rape the girls in order to get them to do you wanted. And then, you would go and have them sell drugs at their local highschools. Your plan almost worked fine until a dynamic duo ruined your operation in the end. You wonder how I know this? Let's say a little bird told me. You see...before I couldn't take you down like I wanted. But that was another life. Want to know the difference this time?"

Jason looks over to Paulie's men.

"Boys, go inside for a second...watch TV or something...knock yourself out. This part is private."

The 2 men go inside the house, leaving Jason and Task alone outside.

"The difference is this time there isn't a giant Bat looking over my shoulder."

"Y-Y-YOU---YOU MEAN--"

*BAM*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Woah."

"Yup."

"So that was why you had such a grudge against him? I don't get it though...yea that is real bad but how would it concern you?"

"One of those girls...was a good friend...more than a friend."

I give Paulie a lil look hoping he gets the picture. He gives me a look back; I hope he didn't connect some of the other dots though. Paulie doesn't even know my name...would really be something if he found out who I used to be.

"Oh."

Silence fills the room. An awkward vibe rolls down my spine. I want to change the subject but it is too painful to want to say anything more.

"Well, that S.O.B was well overdue."

Words seem to be impossible to form. I don't know what to do: cry, scream, stay silent, sigh. But I finally come up with the strength to change the subject.

"So...how about that kryptonite?"

------------------------------------------------------

TO BE CONTINUED IN SEASON V!

[wiegeabo]

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."

[Batman]

Dinah embraced the fellow black haired woman, this welcome home was one that didn't bear the markings of awkwardness because of any previous background. Instead it was pure and hearfelt from the part of Diana and Dinah knew it.

"Diana.." Dinah started before she felt a jolt from Saffire.

~ Might wanna stand back~

Diana recoiled in pain and fell to the concrete below them. Dinah reacted quickly and dove after her.

"Diana are-wha?" Dinah threw her arms up as the light burst quickly and Diana was gone.

She looked around.

"Saff, run a-"

~ Already done, there isn't a trace of her.~

Dinah stood there for a moment. Of course there wouldn't be, not if she'd been called back to-

Sinestro's question brought her out of her pnderings and she flew back up to them, past Dick, Roy and Tim still on the sapphire blue platform she'd created.

"Ok, Ring Slingers. I want four walls around the battle zone. Leave doors on the sides for our allies in case they need to assist. Contain the debris but don't interfere with Superman. We don't need Parasite absorbing any more power. If he approaches your wall, drop it. J'onn and Zatanna see if you can find out what happened to Diana. Everybody else stand guard at the doors. Let's move people."

"I'll alert the Military." Dinah said, no sense in keeping them out of the loop.

Dinah turned to the non-powered heroes.

"Where would you like me to put you down?"

Nightwing scanned the area below, spotting a rooftop that seemed to be intact well enough, and big enough to hold all of them. He pointed at it, allowing Dinah to see.

"Down there'd be peachy, Di.", Nightwing stated.

As they were lowered, and Dinah flew off, A message came in. Usually, Dick would think it to be a briefing. But no. Not this message. Not this message bringing forth the news that...

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."

The air grows colder. A chill goes through Dick's spine, hearing the lone message as he pauses in his step. Superman... dead? He had heard that before. Back when Doomsday nearly destroyed Metropolis. But now? From what Bruce had told him... He could only be ressurected once.

...

Does... that mean...?

NO! No, that can't be... There's no way... No way... NO WAY...

Nightwing turned to Roy, speechless, jaw dropped, eyes widened... every sign of shock imaginable, as he asked his friend the burning question.

"He... He can come back again. Right? He has to come back. I mean... He's Superman, for god sakes. He has to! He..."

Dick's face grew pale.

"... He has to..."

[Speedball]

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."

"Dead..."
How can this even happen. This city is in total chaos, and now it's greatest protector is...No, It's not true. It's a lie! He's lying to us! He hasn't changed at all! He's trying to drop our morale!

"You're lying!!! You haven't changed! You're still as evil as you were bef-"

No...He's not. I know he's not. I just don't...

I drop to my knees on the rooftop, and begin to cry. All of these people keep leaving my life, and I'm just a helpless kid each time. I can't do anything to save them. Why am I such a helpless little kid...

[Green Lantern]

Nightwing scanned the area below, spotting a rooftop that seemed to be intact well enough, and big enough to hold all of them. He pointed at it, allowing Dinah to see.

"Down there'd be peachy, Di.", Nightwing stated.

As they were lowered, and Dinah flew off, A message came in. Usually, Dick would think it to be a briefing. But no. Not this message. Not this message bringing forth the news that...



The air grows colder. A chill goes through Dick's spine, hearing the lone message as he pauses in his step. Superman... dead? He had heard that before. Back when Doomsday nearly destroyed Metropolis. But now? From what Bruce had told him... He could only be ressurected once.

...

Does... that mean...?

NO! No, that can't be... There's no way... No way... NO WAY...

Nightwing turned to Roy, speechless, jaw dropped, eyes widened... every sign of shock imaginable, as he asked his friend the burning question.

"He... He can come back again. Right? He has to come back. I mean... He's Superman, for god sakes. He has to! He..."

Dick's face grew pale.

"... He has to..."Even before the message came in, Roy knew. He had gotten a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he had only gotten three times before. His sharp eyes picked up one of his idols falling in the distance, and when the message came Roy completely zoned.

The first time he had gotten that feeling had been a few years ago now, he'd been watching the Star City Comets playing the Metropolis Marvels at the time. They cut away to breaking news. Before the headline appeared, Roy's instincts had told him something bad had happened. He watched as their was a clip of a plane exploding. His heart had fallen to his knees as he read the scrolling bottomline. "Green Arrow Sacrifices Self to Save Metropolis. Firey End For Emerald Archer. More at 11:00" With Lian watching the game on his lap, Roy had turned the TV off before she could figure out what was going on. When he finally did tell her that her grandpa may not ever come home, it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

The next time hadn't been as hard on Lian, but just as hard on Roy. It had come when the sun had gone out. With the end of the world nigh, Roy was so busy trying to contain order that this one didn't really hit home until days after it happened. Another of the most important people in his life made the ultimate sacrifice. Hal Jordan flew into the sun to reignite it and save the world. Even when, he'd gone bad, Roy still had had faith in Hal. After all, Hal had faith in Roy when he was hooked on the junk. Seeing the bright green glow of the sun when it restarted, and knowing what Hal had done, made it hit home even more. He redeemed himself, but only in death; noone would ever be able to thank him for it, at least they didn't think they would.

The last time was even tougher. It had come after both he and Lian had come back from their own death experiences, and when he had found out who hadn't come with them. Compounding it was the fact that either way the blast that had taken Dinah had gone, it would have hit him just as hard. Either taking the closest thing he'd ever had to a mother, or taking the man despite their bickering and constant fights, who had always been his best friend. It had sent Roy into the downward drunken spiral that he had just pulled himself out of. Every night, when Lian asked him the same question, it got harder and harder to answer.

"Daddy, when is Aunt Dinah coming home?"

"Honey, I don't know if she will. Sometimes when family dies, they don't come back."

"Yes they do! Unca Hal came back! Gwampa came back! Auntie Dinah is gonna come back! I know she is!"

Roy could never think of a response to that. Never could even look Lian right in the eye immediately afterwards. He always had to turn away so she couldn't see his tears.

As Roy heard Dick's frantic questions, he looked up.

"He... he has to Dick. Honestly... if a deadbeat like me can beat death once, a legend like him has to be able to do it twice, right?"

[Batman]

Even before the message came in, Roy knew. He had gotten a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he had only gotten three times before. His sharp eyes picked up one of his idols falling in the distance, and when the message came Roy completely zoned.

The first time he had gotten that feeling had been a few years ago now, he'd been watching the Star City Comets playing the Metropolis Marvels at the time. They cut away to breaking news. Before the headline appeared, Roy's instincts had told him something bad had happened. He watched as their was a clip of a plane exploding. His heart had fallen to his knees as he read the scrolling bottomline. "Green Arrow Sacrifices Self to Save Metropolis. Firey End For Emerald Archer. More at 11:00" With Lian watching the game on his lap, Roy had turned the TV off before she could figure out what was going on. When he finally did tell her that her grandpa may not ever come home, it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

The next time hadn't been as hard on Lian, but just as hard on Roy. It
had come when the sun had gone out. With the end of the world nigh, Roy was so busy trying to contain order that this one didn't really hit home until days after it happened. Another of the most important people in his life made the ultimate sacrifice. Hal Jordan flew into the sun to reignite it and save the world. Even when, he'd gone bad, Roy still had had faith in Hal.
After all, Hal had faith in Roy when he was hooked on the junk. Seeing the bright green glow of the sun when it restarted, and knowing what Hal had done, made it hit home even more. He redeemed himself, but only in death; noone would ever be able to thank him for it, at least they didn't think they would.
The last time was even tougher. It had come after both he and Lian had come back from their own death experiences, and when he had found out who hadn't come with them. Compounding it was the fact that either way the blast that had taken Dinah had gone, it would have hit him just as hard. Either taking the closest thing he'd ever had to a mother, or taking the man despite their bickering and constant fights, who had always been his best friend. It had sent Roy into the downward drunken spiral that he had just pulled himself out of. Every night, when Lian asked him the same question, it got harder and harder to answer.

"Daddy, when is Aunt Dinah coming home?"

"Honey, I don't know if she will. Sometimes when family dies, they don't come back."

"Yes they do! Unca Hal came back! Gwampa came back! Auntie Dinah is gonna come back! I know she is!"

Roy could never think of a response to that. Never could even look Lian right in the eye immediately afterwards. He always had to turn away so she couldn't see his tears.

As Roy heard Dick's frantic questions, he looked up.

"He... he has to Dick. Honestly... if a deadbeat like me can beat death once, a legend like him has to be able to do it twice, right?"



Dick looked straight at Roy, silent, for a moment. Sure, he had survived death too. It seemed everyone was, these days. But... then again... Roy hadn't went toe to toe with The Parasite after dropping a mountain on him.

"I... I don't know, man... I just... I just don't know."

[Spike_x1]

"Who wants to throw that punch, Rudy?"

The Parasite looked at him qith a quizzical expression, one almost comical considering the Parasite's fang filled maw and orange eyes.

"I know why you keep talking about the Unity. It's still alive, isn't it? And it outsmarted you, and me, and everyone else. I can see it, Rudy. Whatever's left of it, it's inside of you."

Superman looked at the Parasite, and he saw the strange energy that suffused hte monster. A red, glowing presence that almost overpowered the light that shone out from the Parasite.

"You have my powers, Rudy. Everyone wonders why I don't kill, and now you can see it. Look around you, and see the world with my eyes. Infrared vision. X-Ray vision. Macroscopic and microscopic panoramas. The entire electro-magnetic spectrum, and only you and I can see it. Only we can see these manmade electronic signals zigzagging across the sky. Bright beams of infrared from orbiting satellites. A world of color that no one else can see. Now look beyond that. Look at me, Rudy. Do you see it?"

Superman looked down, and saw the same sight that had greeted his eyes hwen he was fifteen years old. "I don't know what it is, not really. But, if any word can describe this, it would be soul. You can see the souls of living things now, Rudy."

Superman coughed. His face looked like a bloody mess, pcokmarked with the occasional swollen bruise. He swayed, and blinked his eyes as the glorious sight faded away. More and more of his powers were leaving, and he felt weaker by the second. He collapsed to his knees.

He realized then what was happening to him. His body had stopped resisting the Parasite's absorption.

As Parasite looks at Superman, he sees the aura fading, wavering. As more and more of Superman's power comes into Rudy, he sees Superman's aura flicker like a candle struggling against a hurricane.

"That's why I can't kill, Parasite. I can't kill Lex Luthor or Bizarro or any other living thing because when that aura fades, I can't look at what's left. God help me, I couldn't kill you because you still have... that light."

As Superman's aura fades completely before Rudy's eyes, the Man of Steel falls facedown into the ground. A single word, mouthed out of almost pure will. The last movement of the Man of Steel. With his newly acquired hearing, Rudy noticed something conspicuous by its absence: the heartbeat of Krypton's last son.Something was wrong.

Where he once thought he'd have complete delight and happiness in this situation, Rudy Jones felt nothing. He'd known Superman for years, hoping for this moment every day, and now that it was finally here...

"This doesn't make sense."

He stared down at the body of Clark Kent, face down in the dust at his feet, for what seemed like forever. Along with Superman, The Parasite had finally stolen the life from his very last opponent.

Himself.

Thousands of dead were piled at the gates of hell thanks to him. He had sworn to murder the few people who he once called friends. He had killed the mother of his child. He killed the wife of his hated enemy. And now that enemy himself was dead before him.

At that moment, the moment that time stopped for the Parasite, he knew. Rudy Jones knew that, no matter how badly he had been manipulated throughout his life, he had condoned every second of it. Every single death was his fault as much as anyone's. More than anyone's.

"Oh Jesus." The once mighty Parasite fell to his knees in front of Superman's body. After all this time, Rudy Jones was never fighting the Unity. That war was already won.

The Parasite had been fighting himself, and it was a war that he stood no hope of ever winning.

Clark was right. The only place that the Unity still lives is inside of me. I am the Unity. It's all my fault.

Tears flowed freely from Rudy Jones' eyes as he held his head in his hands.

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/2451/crying2xq.jpg

Where did things go so wrong?

[twylight]

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."

"Oh my God."

Dinah breathed stepping back.

The General looked up at her.
"What is it?" He said noting her completely white face.


Dinah bowed her head as tears came to her eyes. This couldn't be happeneing, she didn't even get to see him again. She closed her eyes shutting out the faded screams of friends deaths, their bloodined boddied engulfed in an unholy light never to be seen again, a whole world destroyed before her eyes, a Crisis unaverted.

She wiped her tears and forced the rest back as she raised her head and looked the General squarely in the eye.

"Superman is dead." she stated simple before turning to leave, ignoring the shocked expression on his weathered face.

She stopped at the door and turned towards him.
"I would not tell your soldiers if I were you." She said simply before lifting into the sky and towards the decimation. She landed on the outskirts and watched as Paraiste surveyed the fallen hero.

A figure shimmered into existance next to her, the energy forming it flowing from the ring.

Her entire form was like a sparkling and cut sapphire, reflecting light. High boots that went up to the middle of her thighs, her outfit was a tight dress, the skirt ending just a little bit above the boots. The neckline was a V-neck that dove to dangerous levels, the woman’s face was hidden in a domino mask which flared up into two points over her hair, which was fixed in curves that would have rivaled Betty Grable’s. She had a pretty face perfect cheek bones and a small mouth.

"Ah am so sorry Faye."

Dinah stared into the distance as a stray breeze caressed over the landscape.

"This is your fault. If I'd-"

The figure turned to Dinah.
"There was nothin' ya could have done even if-"

Dinah turned on her her blue eyes sparking.
"After this you go back to where you belong. I don't ever want to see you again. EVER. Why do you think I never brought you out in the first place?" She said as tears came to the surface.

The figure placed it's hands on Dinah's shoulders.
"Grow up. Be the woman ya were before, not the child we created. There are people who need help here."

[Speedball]

Dick looked straight at Roy, silent, for a moment. Sure, he had survived death too. It seemed everyone was, these days. But... then again... Roy hadn't went toe to toe with The Parasite after dropping a mountain on him.

"I... I don't know, man... I just... I just don't know."

I stand back up, and wipe my face off. Why are we just standing here, on this roof, like ordinary people who have never seen this before?

I walk to the edge of the roof. It's not a far drop, about 40 feet or so.

"Are we just gonna stand here? I'm going to go make sure that we have a body, so Lois can give her husband a proper burial. Anyone with me?"

I don't wait for an answer. I jump down to street level, using my cape to slow my descent. I tuck and roll when I reach the ground. As I begin to run, I pull out my communicator and ring Sinestro.

-Sinestro, where is he?-

[wiegeabo]

I look up at the mass of rubble I hold over the scene. My mind races with ways to kill the Parasite. All the ways I could torture him for what he has done. How I could rip him asunder, shred him limb from limb. How I could drain every last drop of power from him, leaving him a lifeless husk just as he left Sup...

I do not even know if it is possible for the Parasite to be killed. For him to die. And I hear the words in my head. Heroes do not kill. And I remember, despite what I have tried to convince others, to convince myself, that right now...


I am no hero.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/wiegeabo/08.jpg

[Franklin Richards]

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."


"No."

Hal swooped down to the crater. The body of Superman lying amidst the rubble. He streaked past Dinah and another figure. A purple blur flashed past him.

"Where are you, you blackhearted son of a *****!?"

Parasite was nowhere to be seen. Hal looked down at the Man of Steel.

This can't be happening.

Hal formed an altar of emerald energy and the Last Son of Krypton's body rested upon it. Hal looked over at Dinah. Tears forming in his eyes as he thought of Lois. Barry. Diana. Bruce. Ollie. J'onn. Arthur.

"I can fix it, Dinah. I can make things the way they were."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gif

[SuperFerret]

I need to do something.

I can only watch, holding up uncounted tons of debris, as the Parasite batters Superman into a pulp. I need to do something, but what can I do.

I could drop this mass on the both of them. It would buy Superman time, but only a few seconds. And Parasite would survive, but I am unsure if Superman would. I could knock Parasite away, but again it would only buy Superman scant seconds and he would pull some of my ring energy. I could pull Superman away, infuse him with concentrated sunlight while dropping the mass on Parasite. But he may be able to catch up and feed on both of us. And if I leave his grasp, he may turn on the city.

I need to do something. But I can only float high above and watch as Superman drops to the ground. I scan...and detect nothing. I send out a signal to all the others.

"Superman...Superman has fallen."

I try to regain control over my voice, but cannot.

"He is dead."

........

I hear Sinestro's words, and they cut through me to my very core.

Years ago, on Mars, I had a family. A wife. A daughter. Friends. Now they are but dust on a barren red plain, and while I have always mourned them, I have found a new family here on this blue and green world.

First and foremost among them, was Kal-El. Like me, he was the last scion of a dead world. Like me, he wielded powers unimaginable to those around him. In him, more than any other member of the family the Justice League has become, I have a friend. I have a brother.

I was there the first time he fell. I watched helplessly as the creature called Doomsday seemingly ended his life, but this time, this time it feels different.

Kal-El, Clark Kent, Superman, my best friend, my brother, is dead.

And I have not felt worse since I cradled the lifeless form of my daughter in my arms.

I fly to the spot where his body lay on an altar of emerald energy, where the others have gathered, and I kneel beside my friend's lifeless form, and weep.

[wiegeabo]

"Are we just gonna stand here? I'm going to go make sure that we have a body, so Lois can give her husband a proper burial. Anyone with me?"

-Sinestro, where is he?-

The boy's voice stops me before I drop the mass. It would have burried Superman with the monster.

No, that would not be proper.

The Parasite appears to have collapsed next to the...body. Almost as if he was...grieving? I look at the mass above me again. And by the time I look down, the Parasite was gone.

"No."

Hal swooped down to the crater. The body of Superman lying amidst the rubble. He streaked past Dinah and another figure. A purple blur flashed past him.

"Where are you, you blackhearted son of a *****!?"

Parasite was nowhere to be seen. Hal looked down at the Man of Steel.

This can't be happening.

Hal formed an altar of emerald energy and the Last Son of Krypton's body rested upon it. Hal looked over at Dinah. Tears forming in his eyes as he thought of Lois. Barry. Diana. Bruce. Ollie. J'onn. Arthur.

"I can fix it, Dinah. I can make things the way they were."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gif

"Follow my signal," I say to the boy, and anyone else listening. "Parasite is gone." I set the mass down gently around the altar, the friends that had already gathered.

"It was an honorable death."

But, for some reason, that is little consolation.

[twylight]

"No."

Hal swooped down to the crater. The body of Superman lying amidst the rubble. He streaked past Dinah and another figure. A purple blur flashed past him.

"Where are you, you blackhearted son of a *****!?"

Parasite was nowhere to be seen. Hal looked down at the Man of Steel.

This can't be happening.

Hal formed an altar of emerald energy and the Last Son of Krypton's body rested upon it. Hal looked over at Dinah. Tears forming in his eyes as he thought of Lois. Barry. Diana. Bruce. Ollie. J'onn. Arthur.

"I can fix it, Dinah. I can make things the way they were."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/AuntPetunia/Green%20Lantern/greenlanthal1ci.gif


........

I hear Sinestro's words, and they cut through me to my very core.

Years ago, on Mars, I had a family. A wife. A daughter. Friends. Now they are but dust on a barren red plain, and while I have always mourned them, I have found a new family here on this blue and green world.

First and foremost among them, was Kal-El. Like me, he was the last scion of a dead world. Like me, he wielded powers unimaginable to those around him. In him, more than any other member of the family the Justice League has become, I have a friend. I have a brother.

I was there the first time he fell. I watched helplessly as the creature called Doomsday seemingly ended his life, but this time, this time it feels different.

Kal-El, Clark Kent, Superman, my best friend, my brother, is dead.

And I have not felt worse since I cradled the lifeless form of my daughter in my arms.

I fly to the spot where his body lay on an altar of emerald energy, where the others have gathered, and I kneel beside my friend's lifeless form, and weep.


The boy's voice stops me before I drop the mass. It would have burried Superman with the monster.

No, that would not be proper.

The Parasite appears to have collapsed next to the...body. Almost as if he was...grieving? I look at the mass above me again. And by the time I look down, the Parasite was gone.



"Follow my signal," I say to the boy, and anyone else listening. "Parasite is gone." I set the mass down gently around the altar, the friends that had already gathered.

"It was an honorable death."

But, for some reason, that is little consolation.

~I'm picking up air traffic coming this way.~ Saffire said mentally showing Dinah it as she faded from existance and back into the ring.

A blue energy lashed from Dinah's hand covering Hal's green alter.

"No. You can't. Leave him be." She said her voice loud enough to be heard by all the gathering heroes.

"Clark was never stupid. Leave his body be. We've got bigger concerns. He'd never ask us to save his corpse if he knew live people were still in danger." She said firmly, and maybe a little harshly to get them moving.

Dinah rose into the air, her voice softening.
"Clark's body will be taken care of the way he had it planned to be. Hal if you'd like to stay here and guard it you may. In the mean time, we've got Clark's city to attend to. He wouldn't have left us if he didn't think we couldn't handle it."

[SuperFerret]

~I'm picking up air traffic coming this way.~ Saffire said mentally showing Dinah it as she faded from existance and back into the ring.

A blue energy lashed from Dinah's hand covering Hal's green alter.

"No. You can't. Leave him be." She said her voice loud enough to be heard by all the gathering heroes.

"Clark was never stupid. Leave his body be. We've got bigger concerns. He'd never ask us to save his corpse if he knew live people were still in danger." SHe said firmly

Dinah rose into the air, her voice softening.
"Clark's body will be taken care of the way he had it planned to be. Hal if you'd like to stay here and guard it you may. In the mean time, we've got Clark's city to attend to. He wouldn't have left us if he didn't think we couldn't handle it."

Dinah is right.

"She is right. If we let our grief overcome us and thus allow Metropolis to continue to suffer, we will have failed Clark. And that I cannot allow."

[Speedball]

"Follow my signal,"

I follow it, and it leads me to nothing but more and more disaster. Buildings demolished by the huge brawl.

I'm not sure if Roy and Dick are following me. I don't look back, I just look the way I'm suppossed to be going.

I reach the edge of a crater. In the center are Hal, Sinestro, and Jonn. Superman's lifeless body is on a green altar.

I slide down the crater, toward the middle I begin to stumble. Not sure if it's because it's so rocky, or because my emotions are beginning to swell up.

I walk up slowly, my legs sort of give way and I falter a bit. Tears start to well up.

The glow is gone. Superman's glow has left him. Whenever I saw him, he had a glow, probably because of how he used energy from the Sun. It made him look alive, more alive than anyone else. But now it's gone.

"What..."

My voice crackles. My throat hurts, like after you cough a lot.

"What do you need me to do?"

[Franklin Richards]

"All of you go. I can't... I can't just leave him like this without trying something."

The Sun. Clark is a living solar battery. When Doomsday defeated him he was buried under the ground for weeks. The Sun. Maybe that's the answer.

Hal Jordan formed a solar collector two hundred yards above the crater. Hal positioned the stadium sized construct so that the focus of the solar radiation concentrated on Superman's altar.

"Come on, Clark. Not like this."

Hal's chin dropped.

Not like this.


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[SuperFerret]

"All of you go. I can't... I can't just leave him like this without trying something."

The Sun. Clark is a living solar battery. When Doomsday defeated him he was buried under the ground for weeks. The Sun. Maybe that's the answer.

Hal Jordan formed a solar collector two hundred yards above the crater. Hal positioned the stadium sized construct so that the focus of the solar radiation concentrated on Superman's altar.

"Come on, Clark. Not like this."

Hal's chin dropped.

Not like this.


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I place my hand on Hal's shoulder.

"Hal...please..."

[twylight]

"All of you go. I can't... I can't just leave him like this without trying something."

The Sun. Clark is a living solar battery. When Doomsday defeated him he was buried under the ground for weeks. The Sun. Maybe that's the answer.

Hal Jordan formed a solar collector two hundred yards above the crater. Hal positioned the stadium sized construct so that the focus of the solar radiation concentrated on Superman's altar.

"Come on, Clark. Not like this."

Hal's chin dropped.

Not like this.


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Blue energy entwined around Hal's creationg and Dinah focused, Saffire helping, shattering the green energy into a million shards.

"Stop this nonsense Hal." She said sharply.

"He's not coming back, and if he does it's in his own time."

Her voice turned hard.
"Let him go."

[Franklin Richards]

I place my hand on Hal's shoulder.

"Hal...please..."

"J'onn, we can't just.."

I look into his face. The face of a man who's seen his entire world vanish while he lived on. I want to punch him. I want to embrace him. I just want Clark back. I want to fix it.


But I can't.

Blue energy entwined around Hal's creationg and Dinah focused, Saffire helping, shattering the green energy into a million shards.

"Stop this nonsense Hal." SHe said sharply.

"He's not coming back, and if he doesn it's in his own time."

Her voice turned hard.
"I didn't see any of you trying to bring me back. Let him go."

"You *****! Don't say that... Don't you have a heart? Or did you leave that behind in your grave?"



And then it's there again. Something I haven't felt in a long time. Thinking of a world without Superman. A world without his light. It brings to mind something I have fought all my life.

Fear.

"I'm sorry, Dinah. I didn't mean that."

He places his hand onto Dinah's shoulder. Hal Jordan turns to J'onn. Then the Green Lantern of sector 2814 embraces the Martian Manhunter. He turns back to the body of Clark Kent and does something that he's never been good at.


He says goodbye.


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[wiegeabo]

The grieving has started. His friends begin to mourn. But, at this moment, there is not time for that.

"We cannot remain here. There are people who still need help. The people he sacrificed himself for."

I look at the Man of Steel. Then look back at the rest of the league.

"Do not lessen that sacrifice."

I step up, stainding with them.

"Honor it, by focusing on those lives that can still be saved."

[twylight]

"J'onn, we can't just.."

I look into his face. The face of a man who's seen his entire world vanish while he lived on. I want to punch him. I want to embrace him. I just want Clark back. I want to fix it.


But I can't.



"You *****! Don't say that... Don't you have a heart? Or did you leave that behind in your grave?"



And then it's there again. Something I haven't felt in a long time. Thinking of a world without Superman. A world without his light. It brings to mind something I have fought all my life.

Fear.

"I'm sorry, Dinah. I didn't mean that."

He places his hand onto Dinah's shoulder. Hal Jordan turns to J'onn. Then the Green Lantern of sector 2814 embraces the Martian Manhunter. He turns back to the body of Clark Kent and does something that he's never been good at.


He says goodbye.


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Dinah pulled away, Hal's words cutting deep but truthfully. It was a hit below the belt on her part at a time like this, but the question of if they had even tried to bring her back, would she have had to live through what she did?

"Don't be sorry Hal." she said looking down at Clark, his face strangly peaceful.

"In all honesty I envy him of his death. I was allowed no such courtesy. Please, let's just go save some people." She said turning and flying away.

[wiegeabo]

Dinah pulled away, Hal's words cutting deep but truthfully. It was a hit below the belt on her part at a time like this, but the question of if they had even tried to bring her back, would she have had to live through what she did?

"Don't be sorry Hal." she said looking down at Clark, his face strangly peaceful.

"In all honesty I envy him of his death. I was allowed no such courtesy. Please, let's just go save some people." She said turning and flying away.

"Yes, let us."

I rise into the air.

"There is a city to save."

[Franklin Richards]

Dinah's changed.

Hal looks over at Sinestro.

"You're right. Let's get to work."

Hal took one last look at Clark.


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[LibrarianThorne]

The Fortress of Solitude was abuzz with activity. Dozens of golden, floating robots, powered by technology Lois Lane couldn't even concieve of.

"Kelex! What in the name of God is going on?"

The little robot turned its expressionless face toward Sam Lane's daughter. "I cannot say, Mrs. Lane. The Master would not want me to tell you."

A cold fear gripped her heart. "Wouldn't want you to tell me what, Kelex?"
"I apologize, Mrs. Lane. This is one of my highest protocols."
"Fine then, what's the name of this damned protocol?" said Lois, her natural reporter instincts taking over. She knew, in her heart of hearts, something had happened to Clark. Something bad. And now these guardians, these housekeepers, wouldn't tell her what.
"Doomsday/Failure."

Deep in the bowels of the Fortress, six Superman robots came to life. Their costumes were similar to Superman's, save for one striking difference. Their S-shields were black. They spoke, vocal transmitters relaying the last instruction of the Jor-El command. "Enact program: Temple of Peace."

The robots flew out of the Fortress, streaking past a still confused Lois Lane.

"What was that?!"
"A subroutine activating, Mrs. Lane."
She grabbed the robot, heedless of her own still recovering state. In her gut, she could feel it. The same tight, cold ball of fear that had gripped her six years ago. She knew, but she had to hear it.
"God damn you, Kelex! What happened to Clark?!"
"Please wait. You will know in approximately twenty minutes."

Six blue and black figures streaked across the sky. With sensors more advanced than anything on Earth, they located the resting place of the Man of Tomorrow. They descended into the midst of the heroes around Superman's body. One of them strode to the body, and lifted it off of the emerald altar. It turned, and spoke to the assembled heroes.

"Command Last Rite /execute." The robot's face changed almost imperceptibly, becoming softer, more human. More like his face, an odd sight giving the body the robot held. "Hello, everyone."

The voice was his, and the robot looked at each hero in the eye as it spoke. "I recorded this to beread in the worst case scenario. If you're hearing this, it means I'm dead. Again. Wow, that sounded really weird to say," the robot chuckled as it said the uncomfortable sounding line. "But the fact remains. Something I didn't tell many of you, my earlier... resurrection, I'd guess you'd call it, was a one time thing. The Fortress no longer has the ability to resuscitate me, so... this is it. I've instructed these robots to recover my body, and play this recording. A last will with robots, I guess. What's going to happen is this: they will take my body to the Fortress. Even now, I bet the Fortress is changing. It's becoming a monument to... me, I guess. One last protocol my father had hardwired into the Fortress software. I may not be around, any more, but through the Fortress, my legacy and example will live on. I hope that will be enough."

The robot sighed, and inclined its head as he so often did when he didn't know what to say. "This is so macabre, but I have to do it. I'm sorry that I'm leaving you all so suddenly. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, and-and I hope that the good I've done will be more important than me. Don't mourn me, you already did that the first time. I know a lot of you must be sad, and I don't even want to think about what Batman would be doing right now, but listen to me this one, last time. Being who we are, doing what we do, was never supposed to be safe or easy. Many of us have died fighting this never ending battle, some of us more than once. We're all used to dealing with loss, and my last wish is for all of you to be even better heroes than you were when I was here. People all over the world look to us and our example, and our actions will always speak louder than our words. Go out, today, and make someone believe not in a man who can fly, but in themselves. End recording."

The robots flew away, leaving some staring at the sky.

Five minutes later, they entered the main lobby of the Fortress. Lois Lane and Kelex emerged from a side chamber. The body was placed on a strange crystalline altar, one that hadn't been there a few minutes before. On each side of the altar was the S-shield of Superman.

Lois Lane gasped. She ran over to the altar, her mouth suddenly dry. She put her hands on his scarred, bloody face. So like the last time.

"Clark..." No more words left her mouth. She buried her face on his chest, and began sobbing uncontrollably.

[Speedball]

"Yes, let us."

I rise into the air.

"There is a city to save."
"I'll...I'll stay here, with Superman. There's not much good I can do here, at least not like you guys."

It's times like these, when I'm surrounded by people who have powers beyond my imagination, that I really feel like a little kid. You always believe that your parents are superheroes, they can do the impossible.

"When Roy and Dick get here, we'll get him somewhere safe."

[twylight]

Dinah turned floating in the air as the Robot spoke, it's voice an imitation of Clarks own. She looked down tears forming in her eyes as she silently said good-bye to him.

~It is worthwhile to live
and fight courageously
for sacred ideals....~ Saffire whispered.

Dinah ignored her, before speaking silently finishing the poem.

"'-

O blow ye evil winds
into my body's fire
my soul you'll never unravel.

Even though disappointed a thousand times
or fallen in the fight
and everything would worthless seem,

I have lived amidst eternity --
Be grateful, my soul --
My life was worth living.

He who was pressed from all sides
but remained victorious in spirit
is welcomed into the choir of heroes.

He who overcame the fetters
giving wings to his mind
is entering into the golden age of
the victorious.'"

~Norbert Capek~ Saffire commented.

Dinah nodded.

"Very applicable to Clark." she said before turning and flying off.

"We've got some of our own living to do."

[Franklin Richards]

"Goodbye."


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[wiegeabo]

I float silently, listening to the greatest hero's last words. The robots gather up his body and fly into the blue sky, soon fading from sight. Then the Canary speaks.

I turn away and look down for a moment, absorbing what they said. From the corner of my eye, I notice a shadow, shaped much like a man, seeimingly standing a short distance away. But before I can bring it into focus, the shape disappears, merging back into the shadows from which it came.

So he heard it, after all.

[Speedball]

Six blue and black figures streaked across the sky. With sensors more advanced than anything on Earth, they located the resting place of the Man of Tomorrow. They descended into the midst of the heroes around Superman's body. One of them strode to the body, and lifted it off of the emerald altar. It turned, and spoke to the assembled heroes.

"Command Last Rite /execute." The robot's face changed almost imperceptibly, becoming softer, more human. More like his face, an odd sight giving the body the robot held. "Hello, everyone."

The voice was his, and the robot looked at each hero in the eye as it spoke. "I recorded this to beread in the worst case scenario. If you're hearing this, it means I'm dead. Again. Wow, that sounded really weird to say," the robot chuckled as it said the uncomfortable sounding line. "But the fact remains. Something I didn't tell many of you, my earlier... resurrection, I'd guess you'd call it, was a one time thing. The Fortress no longer has the ability to resuscitate me, so... this is it. I've instructed these robots to recover my body, and play this recording. A last will with robots, I guess. What's going to happen is this: they will take my body to the Fortress. Even now, I bet the Fortress is changing. It's becoming a monument to... me, I guess. One last protocol my father had hardwired into the Fortress software. I may not be around, any more, but through the Fortress, my legacy and example will live on. I hope that will be enough."

The robot sighed, and inclined its head as he so often did when he didn't know what to say. "This is so macabre, but I have to do it. I'm sorry that I'm leaving you all so suddenly. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, and-and I hope that the good I've done will be more important than me. Don't mourn me, you already did that the first time. I know a lot of you must be sad, and I don't even want to think about what Batman would be doing right now, but listen to me this one, last time. Being who we are, doing what we do, was never supposed to be safe or easy. Many of us have died fighting this never ending battle, some of us more than once. We're all used to dealing with loss, and my last wish is for all of you to be even better heroes than you were when I was here. People all over the world look to us and our example, and our actions will always speak louder than our words. Go out, today, and make someone believe not in a man who can fly, but in themselves. End recording."

The robots flew away, leaving some staring at the sky.



The robots came down and took the body. Superboy never even got to see him one last time, at least not on good terms. I wonder what he's doing?
Probably doing what any person with the word Super before their name, saving lives.

I head back up the crater, somewhat in a daze. These past few days have been so crazy, that I completely forgot about what I was going to do tomorrow.
I finally tracked down Pamela Isley. She got out(or broke out) of the hospital before I could speak to her. Some of my sources tell me she has set up shop in New Zealand.

But that's tomorrow, today I need to help the people of Metropolis get back on their feet, tomorrow I'll worry about my own needs.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Kyle dropped to his knees, burying his head in his hands.

"I should have never came back. Never. This place holds nothing but heartache for me."

Kyle couldn't help but remember his first fight as a Lantern. Against Mongul. The monster who had destroyed Coast City and finally allowed Parallax to gain the hold it needed on Hal Jordan. In a way, Mongul was the thing responsible for Kyle getting the ring. But he knew none of that at the time. He knew nothing of using the ring, or the Corps, or being a hero. He was way out of his league.

And who was there that day, to watch his back for the first time. To bail him out. To be the first hero to shake his hand in gratitude and friendship.

Superman. Clark Kent.

A sudden thought popped into his mind. Something Calrk said to him as he gathered up Mongul's limp form and flew away.

"You can be proud of yourself Green Lantern. Look me up next time you're in Metropolis."

And that was Superman in a nutshell. No matter what happened, there was always faith.

Now that faith fell to the other heroes of Earth.

The Torch Bearer. A name bestowed to Kyle so long ago. Now, it carried so much more meaning. For all the heroes. They were all the Torch Bearers now.

Slowly, Kyle picked himself up off the ground, the form of his costume shimmering back to his original, the one he had willed up that night on the beach with Alex.

Tonight, for some reason, it felt right.

And then, after wiping the last tears away, he went back to work. Saving people.

Because that's who he was. That's what he did.

http://glfreak.mybesthost.com/KyleGlow.jpg

"In Brightest Day, in Blackest Night, no Evil shall Escape my Sight. Let those who Worship Evil's Might, Beware my Power, Green Lantern's Light."

[Red]

Lex's phone rings.

Angela...I knew sooner or later that she might call...I better answer it.

Lex answers the phone, "Yes Angela what can I do for you?"

She replies, "Mr. President I'm in the press room and the White House press corps is starting to get a little anxious. They want an offical comment on the situation in Metropolis and I can't keep stalling them much longer."

Lex says, "Ahh very well Anglea have the switchboard operator put me through."

Angela says, "Gladly."

Within moments he hears Angela say, "I have on the line the President himself. Go ahead sir."

Lex replies, "Thank you Anglea. Ladies and Gentlemen of the press corps. Let me just say that this is not a press conference. The situation in Metropolis is under in control thanks to the work of, I guess we can call them the Justice League. There are still some unsettled situations but they are being addressed. When the time is right I will address the enitre nation on the situation and have some interesting revelations as well. There is no cause for alarm"

He can hear some of them shouting questions and Lex says, "Everything will be brought to light in due time thank you all very much."

Lex hangs up the phone.

Soon my victory....my long overdue victory will be at hand.

The private elevator in Luthor’s office gave a loud ping and the doors drew open out revealing the Demon’s head himself: Ra’s Al Ghul.

Ra’s produced his sword from his belt and quickly dispensed with Luthor’s security guards. He causally made his way to Luthor desk.

“If you had died in this office as fate intended Alexander, you could have saved yourself the agonising pain that you and yours will now have to endure.”

[The Question]

For the past day, I've been looking over the files I stole from the DEO office. Most of the agency files are of no use to my investigation, but might come in handy later. What interests me are the personal files of our now deceaced scientist. It seems that our dearly departed doctor didn't own a home computer. Used the one at the office because he thought it was "safer." Hopefully it might shed some light on the identity of his killer.

********

Hours later, and I still haven't found much of anything. Just standard journal entries. No, less than standard. This guy was incredibly boring. Every person I know who ever kept a journal filled there's with all sorts of insecurities and wannabe philosophy. This is almost like he was having a journal because he needed to, not to write down anything important. I wonder.....



Well. What do we have here? Some very havily encrypted files. The journal I read must have been to keep suspision away from his real secrets. Clever boy.


*********

Several hours later. Haven't slept all night. Need to finish this. I cracked the files a few minutes ago. Some pretty interesting stuff here, but nothing worth killing anybody over.



Wait.


I wonder what "Project B" is.

[Speedball]

I head back to the hospital where Superboy and Rose left me.
I'm still trying to analyse all of the events that have happened today.
Black Canary's return, The Virus, Superman's death, and the man who killed him still at large. Can the world even get worse?

Near the hospital, about a block away, is a building in total ruins. The structure must have been too weak to handle the earthquake caused by Superman.

On top of the rubble I see a black cloth with something red on it. It has to be-
I run over to it and it is.
It's Superboy's shirt, but it's torn and frayed.
Dear God! He must be somewhere in the rubble!
I lift the shirt up and find a hand. He's directly under me!
I dig and dig until I finally find him.

"No Conner! I've lost one friend today, I don't know if I can stand to lose another!"

I check for a pulse and...
YES! He's alive!
I check to see is if he is breathing...
He's alright!
I push everything off of his body, and I put him over my right shoulder.
Thank God the hospital isn't to far. I'm not sure how far I could have gone with him before I was completely exhausted.

When I get there, doctors rush to help me. They put him on a stretcher and take him in. I'm with him the whole way.

The doctors tell me he's in a coma. His brain funtions are normal, everything is normal, he's just in a very deep sleep. I give them my cell phone number. It's linked to my communicator.
I send a message to the GL's and Sinestro.
-This is Robin. I've found Superboy, he's in a Coma and I've left him at the hospital where the antidote was first administered. Since things in Metropolis have calmed down, I'm going to leave. I have something I need to take care of.-

__________________________________________________ _______________


Two days and three flight changes later, I arrive in New Zealand.
I decided to take a commercial flight, instead of using a Batplane.
I needed some peace and quiet. After all of the craziness in Metropolis, A little rest is due.
When I arrived in Hawaii yesterday, all of the newspaper had one headline "Superman Dead" or something like that.

The plane lands in Wellington, on the North Island. My "sources" told me that she is living near New Plymouth, in a green house about 5 miles outside of the city. She's apparently tried to change, to concentrate on developing new plant life to help people.

I rent a jeep in Wellington and drive. No need to be Robin when there are almost no criminals in the country. It takes me about 2 hours to get to her house. I knock on the door, but no one answers. It's not locked, so I go inside.

"Hello?!"

It's pretty nice in here, there are tons of plants, but also very modern furniture.

"I'm back here! Who is it by the way?!"

"Umm...My name's Tim!"

I find her in the green house section. It's gigantic, almost two stories tall and longer than her house. Plants are everywhere, from floor to ceiling.
Some are small, but some are bigger than anything I've ever seen.
"I'm afraid I don't know a Tim. At least, I don't know one here in New Zealand."

She's doesn't look up at me. She's busy studying one of her plants.

"You're right, you don't know me by Tim. The last time I saw you, I went by something else."

"Robin, right?"

"Yes...But how did you-"

"-How did I know? I'll never forget the voice of the only man strong enough to kill me."

"I came here to apologize."

"Well...apology accepted. You were going through a rough time, and I only made it worse. I'm the one who should apologize actually."

She still doesn't look up at me. That plant must be mighty interesting.

"I don't understand it. How are you here today?"

"Like plants, I can be uprooted. But if you put me back into the ground, I'll begin to grow again."

"And that time in Gotham not too long ago?"

"Oh you mean that time I got my butt kicked by that woman-"

"-Black Canary."

"That was Black Canary? Looks like I'm not the only person to rise from the dead.
When she beat me up, it knocked some sense into me. Why fight? Why try to be someone I never wanted to be? So I escaped from the hospital and came here. Since you found me, I suppose others know where I am? I don't think they care though. I'm not hurting anyone, I'm trying to help people now."

She really has changed. Her whole attitude has taken a 180. She doesn't seem like the ruthless Poison Ivy I know, but the woman Pamela Isley that I'm meeting for the first time today.

"I'm glad to see you are doing well then."

"And I see you have turned back to the light yourself."

She finally looks at me. She walks over to me, and puts her hands on my shoulders.
She kisses me on the cheek. No poison, no toxic chemicals like usual, just a nice kiss.

"It was nice seeing you Tim."

"Uhh...It was nice seeing you too.

I leave the green house, then the house entirely and get back into my jeep. I have a smile on my face. Why do I have a smile on my face? I guess it's because, finally, something has gone right.

__________________________________________________ ______________

I got back to Gotham at about 12 pm yesterday. I unpacked and trained until it got dark.
After dusk, I go outside and patrol. Doing what I do every night. I stop a few robberies, a mugging, and stopped a bar brawl. Yep, just like old times.

I sit on the top of Wayne Tower, or the New Wayne Tower. It's still under construction. I look out to the horizon, to all of the construction.
It seems like even during a time after the death of Superman, things are going to get back to normal.
I jump off the Tower, and smile.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Robin150.jpg

Yep, things are only going to get better now.

[Green Lantern]

Visibly strung by his emotions, Roy crouched down near Dick.

"Dick, with every thing thats happened in the last day, I can't handle this right now. I need to get home, I need to see Lian. Bruce have a stash of vehicles hidden in Metropolis?"

[Batman]

Visibly strung by his emotions, Roy crouched down near Dick.

"Dick, with every thing thats happened in the last day, I can't handle this right now. I need to get home, I need to see Lian. Bruce have a stash of vehicles hidden in Metropolis?"

Nightwing looked over at his friend, trying to hide his own visible sadness. But eventually, He nodded, sucking up the tears that nearly came out with Clark's final message to the world. To... everyone. A hero to the very end.

"Yeah... I- I think so. Bruce usually keeps some spare stuff in one of his company's warehouses. Shouldn't be far from here." , Dick said, standing up.

"I don't blame you. I think I'm gonna head back too. With what Clark said... I think Bludhaven needs it's protector back."

[Green Lantern]

Nightwing looked over at his friend, trying to hide his own visible sadness. But eventually, He nodded, sucking up the tears that nearly came out with Clark's final message to the world. To... everyone. A hero to the very end.

"Yeah... I- I think so. Bruce usually keeps some spare stuff in one of his company's warehouses. Shouldn't be far from here." , Dick said, standing up.

"I don't blame you. I think I'm gonna head back too. With what Clark said... I think Bludhaven needs it's protector back."About an hour later they made it to the Wayne Warehouse. Inside they found one bike. "...MULTI-BILLIONAIRE Bruce Wayne has ONE ride in Metropolis?!? What kinda crap is that? I call front since I have further to go. You ride b**ch til we drop you in your town."

[Batman]

About an hour later they made it to the Wayne Warehouse. Inside they found one bike. "...MULTI-BILLIONAIRE Bruce Wayne has ONE ride in Metropolis?!? What kinda crap is that? I call front since I have further to go. You ride b**ch til we drop you in your town."

Nightwing looked at Roy.

"You actually have the mental capacity to drive this thing? Oh, this I gotta see...", He responded, before sitting on it, waiting for them to leave.

He was trying his best to hide it. But everything that had transpired in the past few hours had really got to him. Clark was gone, now. Aswell as half of Metropolis. Dinah was back, and fully alive. How that happened perplexed Dick, but he decided he didn't care anymore. He didn't even care that Bruce did absolutely nothing to help with Metropolis, despite the anger he felt in that regard. Nothing else mattered now... Except his city.

He was going to be the hero that he had ventured out to be. He just needed to keep strong, and stay focused...

By the time Dick regained his awareness of what was happening around them, they were already heading out of the City of Tommorow.

[Johnny Blaze]

Eiling sat in his office as he watched the events in Metropolis die down. It was perfect. The war in the world's greatest city was just what he needed. This fight would leave the heroes weakened and ripe for the picking, especially if the preliminary reports of Superman's demise were true.
All the pieces were almost in place. Soon he'd make his move. With the aid of his own League the world would soon belong to Eiling.

A knock on the door to his office brought him from his thoughts of grandeur and back to reality.
"What?"

A short yet stocky officer entered the rooms and saluted. Eiling returned the salute and asked, "What's the matter, son?"

"General, it is my duty to inform you that we believe someone has...gained information on Project: B."

"WHAT", screamed Eiling as his eyes narrowed in anger.
"I don't care what it takes, but you find out who took these files and kill them along with the files! Do I make myself clear, Sargeant!?"

"Yessir!"

"No, wait", said Eiling as the officer was about to leave the room, "I have an idea."
Eiling leaned on the front of his desk with a wicked smile on his face as he looked at the Sargeant.
"Send out clone trooper B-1. Tell him I want this thief dead and the stolen data destroyed. Tell him that I want this all done a quietly as possible. Is that clear, Sargeant?"

"Yessir", replied the Sargeant as he snapped to attention. After Eiling dismissed him, he quickly exited the room and ran down the hallway.
Eiling sat alone in his office contemplating the news. Those files were important. He had stolen them from the government before he cut ties with them. They contained all the info on his little cloning experiment as well as many other secret military projects. In the wrong hands, that information could prove very dangerous to Eiling's plans.
Still, the General had faith that his man would get things done.

Right now there was nothing he could do but wait.
Soon though the time for waiting would be over, and Eiling would show the heroes a war unlike any they had ever seen before...

[Green Lantern]

Nightwing looked at Roy.

"You actually have the mental capacity to drive this thing? Oh, this I gotta see...", He responded, before sitting on it, waiting for them to leave.

He was trying his best to hide it. But everything that had transpired in the past few hours had really got to him. Clark was gone, now. Aswell as half of Metropolis. Dinah was back, and fully alive. How that happened perplexed Dick, but he decided he didn't care anymore. He didn't even care that Bruce did absolutely nothing to help with Metropolis, despite the anger he felt in that regard. Nothing else mattered now... Except his city.

He was going to be the hero that he had ventured out to be. He just needed to keep strong, and stay focused...

By the time Dick regained his awareness of what was happening around them, they were already heading out of the City of Tommorow."Heh, you only ask that because I made you wet yourself last time you piggy backed on one of these with me. Remember, I did that crazy jump a semi thing?"

-----------------------------

Six hours later and they were pulling up to the outskirts of Bludhaven.

"Listen Dick, I know we said we were gonna take down this drug ring together, but given the circumstances, I really need to see Lian, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna let you off here. Give me a call if you get a lead, or if you need my help. I'll be there in a half a second, and you know it. In the mean time, I got a long ride still ahead of me, good luck cleanin up your town, it has, like always with us, been a blast."

[Batman]

Six hours later and they were pulling up to the outskirts of Bludhaven.

"Listen Dick, I know we said we were gonna take down this drug ring together, but given the circumstances, I really need to see Lian, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna let you off here. Give me a call if you get a lead, or if you need my help. I'll be there in a half a second, and you know it. In the mean time, I got a long ride still ahead of me, good luck cleanin up your town, it has, like always with us, been a blast."

"Don't get sappy on me, Boy Bowman.", Nightwing said, as the two stood infront of the fallen city. The sun rose near them, as they were unphased by the loneliness... the death, around them. Just like old times.

"Anyway, yeah. We may have our differences, but I have to admit, I had one hell of a time up there.", Dick mentioned. "And I'll be sure to take you up on that offer. But for now... Go. You got a little tike waitin' for ya. Who am I to keep you from her?", Nightwing asked, with a grin.

He then looked at the Bat-cycle Roy was leaning against.

"...Hey, you don't plan on keeping that, do you?"

[Green Lantern]

"Don't get sappy on me, Boy Bowman.", Nightwing said, as the two stood infront of the fallen city. The sun rose near them, as they were unphased by the loneliness... the death, around them. Just like old times.

"Anyway, yeah. We may have our differences, but I have to admit, I had one hell of a time up there.", Dick mentioned. "And I'll be sure to take you up on that offer. But for now... Go. You got a little tike waitin' for ya. Who am I to keep you from her?", Nightwing asked, with a grin.

He then looked at the Bat-cycle Roy was leaning against.

"...Hey, you don't plan on keeping that, do you?""No you moron, I'm gonna leave the bike here and walk the two hundred miles to New York. What are you, retarded or something? I'm goddamn Roy Harper, and you owe me a bike anyway remember?"

[Batman]

"No you moron, I'm gonna leave the bike here and walk the two hundred miles to New York. What are you, retarded or something? I'm goddamn Roy Harper, and you owe me a bike anyway remember?"

"...I asked if you were KEEPING it, not borrowing it. Jackass.", Nightwing responded.

Nightwing smirked.

"But seriously man, it's been fun. Take care of yourself, and that munchkin of yours."

[Green Lantern]

"...I asked if you were KEEPING it, not borrowing it. Jackass.", Nightwing responded.

Nightwing smirked.

"But seriously man, it's been fun. Take care of yourself, and that munchkin of yours." As Roy hopped back on the bike, he smirked. Then looked back at Dick, "I'll tell her that her "Unca Hotpants" said hi. When things get settled down you'll have to come up and see her, shes growin like a weed. See ya Disco Stu."

Roy gunned the engine and shot northward towards the big apple.

-------------------------------------

Four hours later, the bikes tires squeeled as he tail-whipped the cycle into the JSA's private underground lot. "WOOHOO!" He hopped off, leaving it perfectly parked in Ted's spot, and stood by the elevator. A laser scanned his retinas.

Identity Confirmed: Welcome Roy Harper. Sending notification of your arrival to all rooms.

From one of the upstairs rooms he could hear a squeel of joy. "DADDY!" He smiled as he stepped on to the elevator and hit the floor for Jessie's room. As the doors slid open, he braced himself and not a moment too soon as Hurricane Lian dived at him and wouldn't let go.

"Ah, did ya miss your daddy?"

"Uh huh!!! What took so long?"

Roy thought of what to tell her, and then hesitated.

"Ninjas. Daddy was fightin Ninjas."

"REAL Ninjas?!? Cool!"

"Yeah, real ninjas. Hey, you go down to the garage. Uncle Hotpants left us with one of Uncle Spooky's bikes. And he told me to tell ya hi for him."

"We getta ride a Bat-Bike? SWEET! Okay daddy, I'll be down there."

As the door closed Roy was left alone with Jessie.

"Jess, did you see the news?"

"Yeah Roy, I saw. I didn't believe it, but I saw it. Is it true?"

"Fraid so Jess, I saw him fall. You didn't tell Lian did you?"

"No, I figured that be better left to you if it was true."

"God. She's gonna get one back, just to lose another. Well, thanks again for watching her, if you ever need anything you know who to call. In the mean time, I'm gonna take some time off to catch up with her, and a couple other important people. See ya later Jessie."

Roy got in the elevator and pressed the button for the basement. As the door closed he heard Jessie. "Have fun Roy. You deserve it."

Yeah, for once, I do, don't I?

TO BE CONTINUED IN SEASON V

[SuperFerret]

Dinah pulled away, Hal's words cutting deep but truthfully. It was a hit below the belt on her part at a time like this, but the question of if they had even tried to bring her back, would she have had to live through what she did?

"Don't be sorry Hal." she said looking down at Clark, his face strangly peaceful.

"In all honesty I envy him of his death. I was allowed no such courtesy. Please, let's just go save some people." She said turning and flying away.

Interesting, and a slight bit disturbing. This isn't the Dinah Lance I once knew, and once again I am tempted by curiosity to just scan her mind to discover if this was indeed the true Black Canary, but if she was truly who she says she is, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for the invasion of her privacy.

Then, suddenly...

The voice was his, and the robot looked at each hero in the eye as it spoke. "I recorded this to beread in the worst case scenario. If you're hearing this, it means I'm dead. Again. Wow, that sounded really weird to say," the robot chuckled as it said the uncomfortable sounding line. "But the fact remains. Something I didn't tell many of you, my earlier... resurrection, I'd guess you'd call it, was a one time thing. The Fortress no longer has the ability to resuscitate me, so... this is it. I've instructed these robots to recover my body, and play this recording. A last will with robots, I guess. What's going to happen is this: they will take my body to the Fortress. Even now, I bet the Fortress is changing. It's becoming a monument to... me, I guess. One last protocol my father had hardwired into the Fortress software. I may not be around, any more, but through the Fortress, my legacy and example will live on. I hope that will be enough."

The robot sighed, and inclined its head as he so often did when he didn't know what to say. "This is so macabre, but I have to do it. I'm sorry that I'm leaving you all so suddenly. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, and-and I hope that the good I've done will be more important than me. Don't mourn me, you already did that the first time. I know a lot of you must be sad, and I don't even want to think about what Batman would be doing right now, but listen to me this one, last time. Being who we are, doing what we do, was never supposed to be safe or easy. Many of us have died fighting this never ending battle, some of us more than once. We're all used to dealing with loss, and my last wish is for all of you to be even better heroes than you were when I was here. People all over the world look to us and our example, and our actions will always speak louder than our words. Go out, today, and make someone believe not in a man who can fly, but in themselves. End recording."

The robots flew away, leaving some staring at the sky.

Kal, you are a noble man. All the way to the end and beyond.

"Let's finish up here, and allow everyone to get on with their lives."

[Batman]

EDIT: Double Post

[Batman]

As Roy hopped back on the bike, he smirked. Then looked back at Dick, "I'll tell her that her "Unca Hotpants" said hi. When things get settled down you'll have to come up and see her, shes growin like a weed. See ya Disco Stu."

Roy gunned the engine and shot northward towards the big apple.



Nightwing watched as Roy headed out of town, and out of sight. For a moment, he stood there, unsure of what to say. But surely, and easily enough…

“...Is he actually aware of what he wore, back then?”

Turning around, Nightwing began walking back into the ruins of Bludhaven.

God, I need rest. God, I need to eat.

Nightwing paused, realizing how whiney he sounded, even in his own subconscious.

…God, I need to get laid, first. Now I’m starting to see where Speedy is getting his material…

* * *

The phone rang, ceasing Dick’s pattern of deep snores as he woke up, raising his head from the scattered blankets he was sprawled in. He had set the alarm to wake him up just before sunset, so he could get an early start on his version of ‘catching up’ with the underworld of the city. But now, someone was calling him. As he reached for the phone, He wondered who. Bruce usually contacted him either in person, or through the communicator. Babs was a tech-fiend, so if she had returned, she wouldn’t resort to using a common regular phone. And Kory… probably wasn’t even on this planet. So who could it be?

“Hello?”

“You sound tired. Another rough night, as usual, Grayson?”

Dick immediately sat up, eyes widened, hearing the voice on the other end of the line.

“Rohrback? That you?”

Sargent Amy Rohrback. His superior officer on the Bludhaven Police Squad. She had both hired him and fired him off of the force, due to many unexplained abscences on his resume. Needless to say, she was the last person that he expected to call.

“So you still have a good ear, it seems.”

“Well, you gotta admit. This is sort of …not something I would expect.”

“It’s not something I ever expected either. Believe me. But listen closely… and I know that’s something you are capable of. Ever since Darren died in that explosion that destroyed the city a few months back, none of the other officers have been necessarily optimistic about doing their jobs. The ones that are usually quit, and the ones that aren’t unfortunately stay.”

“Sounds like my kinda crowd.” , Dick responded, with a smirk.

“I sure as hell hope not. Because if you still have the same bad habits as before, you may not get an offer like this again. And for your sake… I hope you’ve changed.”

“Wait… So, you’re offering me my job back?”

“IF, and only if, you’re willing to be more dedicated to it than you were… Because we don’t employ slackers, here, Grayson.”

“Could’a fooled me.”

“Watch the tongue. Or do you not want a spot back on the force or not?” , Rohrback responded, sternly.

Dick now had a difficult decision to make. He could either tell this woman, who had forced him out of a job, to shove it where it counted… Or, he could simply accept, and start getting payed again. God knows he needed the extra cash, now that he was going to be spending a lot more time here. A grin came to Dick’s face, as he thought of a response.

“Depends. Do I get an advance on my salary?”

“Don’t push it.” , Rohrback responded, without missing a beat.

Dick laughed.

“I had a feeling you’d say that.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Dick thought about it. What did he have to lose? He could use the cash… The leads would be beneficial to taking down this new drug ring…

“When would you need me?”

“Tonight. There’s a raid being mapped out for the east end. Seems Tad Ryerstad is moving up in the world… managed to score it big with one of the local drug rings.”

Dick paused. A drug ring? The drug ring? The one he was determined to end? Dick thought about it even further. Hell, why go back to the force? If they were out there, He could easily take them down as Nightwing. And after all… All work and no play makes Dicky a dull boy…

“Hmm… I’ll have to think about it. Maybe I’ll drop by tomorrow.”

“TONIGHT, or never again.”

“…”

“So, Seven sound good?”

“I had a feeling you’d say that.”

Dick could tell she had mimicked him, with that last part.

“Be here at eight. And get some sleep between now and then, too. You sound like you need it.”

Dick smirked.

Yeah, for once, I do, don’t I?

* * *

A lone figure flew through the night, into the air above Bludhaven. The air where he belonged. Ever since he was a kid, it was where he belonged… Now, and forever in the spotlight. Landing on a rooftop below, He surveyed the beginnings of an active night in the fallen city.

Good. He was ready for it… because he was back. For good, this time. Bludhaven, even to this day, was still hopelessly lost in corruption and criminality. It had been deemed beyond hope… beyond saving.

Nightwing smirked to himself, ready to take on the world. Or at least, the one city that the world had forgotten.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/NightwingBats.jpg

“Huh. So that’s why I still like it, here.”

[wiegeabo]

It took me nearly an hour to rebuild the peak of the mountain sheered of in the fight. Collecting the rubble and refusing it to the rock was time consuming. It took even more time to return it to the way it used to look. While not perfect, it ws whole again.

As long as it took to rebuild the mountain, I only needed minutes to fill the crater in with the mass I had collected during the fight, returning the land to how it was, almost. At the spot where...it...happened stands a simple boulder carved from a piece of the mountain. On a smoothly carved face of the boulder read the words:


"Here, the greatest hero fell for us all..."


It was the least I could do for him.

[The Question]

*RING!*

"...huh?"

Phone. Damn it. I stand up from my desk (must have fallen asleep working) and pick up the phone.

"Vic Sage, vastly superior to you in every way."

"You're wit never ceaces to amuse, Charlie."

"Hey, Tot. This a social call? I know you've been aching for inteligent conversation since I moved out."

"Hardly. John stopped by. Told me to pass along a message because he lost your phone number. Said he wanted you to meet him at the diner on Elm Street."

"Wonderful. I SO needed to deal with him at this hour."

"It's one PM."

"Exactly. Such ungodly hours. I better get going then."

I hang up the phone, grab my coat, and head out the door. I'll shave later.


*******


A few minutes later, and I'm at the diner. I step inside, and am greated by this:


http://www.comicmonsters.com/CMimages/hellblazer.jpg


John Constantine. Paranormal investigator. Sorcerer. Complete *******. Pretty okay guy, all things considered.

"Afternoon, No Face. Have a seat."

I sit down at the counter and order a plate of scrambled eggs.

"Just wanted to tell you. Apreciate you setting me up with a place to stay after the **** in Keystone, but I think it's time I hit the road again."

"Didn't you just get back from a trip down south last month?"

"I mean on the road home. I miss England. The States are fun, but they're not home. Besides, the music over here is ****. And I'm getting tired of substituting for you as this town's resident grim avenger of melodrama when you'r on holiday."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow, probably. Maybe the next day. Depends when I can get a ticket. I'll probably travel by boat. Bit more interesting."

"Well, good luck then."

"Was a pleasure knowing, No Face. Not very often I meet I guy with problems as bad as mine. Just remember, if you're ever in a fix involving any kind of Twlilight Zone ****, call me. I'd be insulted if you left me out."


He walks out the door right before I get my eggs.


God, that guy is a dick.


**********


I open the door to my apartment. Better get back to work on this whole "Project B" thing. Maybe I can hack into the DEO's....


Someone's there.

"Hello, Vic."

"Bruce?"

He steps towards me. He looks like Batman. Stupid costume and everything. But from the part of his face that isn't covered, I see that his skin is a sickly white, and his eyes are blood red.

"Close."

He reaches for his belt. I duck just as two of those shuriken/boomerang things of his imbed themselves in the wall behind me. I duck into the kitchen.

"A fighter. How wonderful."

I open the medicine cabinet and search through. C'mon....


He walks into the kitchen. I turn around, holding an arisol spray can and a cigaret lighter.


I think you can guess what happens next.


This Batman-ish thing stumbles into the living room, quite surprised that he's now on fire. I bet that suit of his is resistent to burning, so that probably won't doo much damage.


However, this next bit will.


I pick up my two 45.s and shoot him four times in the torso. I kick him through the door to the fire escape and keep shooting. He tumbles over the side into the street below.




That was nuts.


I pick up the phone and call Constantine.

"No Face?"

"Listen. John. I think you better postpone your trip home."

"What's wrong?"

"Twilight Zone ****."

[Spike_x1]

"Can I get ya a refill, mack?"

Bibbo Bibbowski stood behind the bar, drying a glass mug as he spoke to the last customer of the night in what was left of the Ace O' Clubs. The customer in question was a large man, hunched over the bar, holding his head in his hand with a lit cigarette held between his index and middle finger. A half-empty glass of beer was off to his side.

"No."

Bibbo placed the mug back onto the rack behind him and sighed heavily. "Supes' dyin' prob'ly is the worst thing that can happen to a burg like this, but trust me, I know from experience;" the former prize fighter turned to face the man, "We gotta keep ourselves going."

It's not that easy.

The man lifted his head up and put his cigarette between gritted teeth. His eyes were red from tears, but his expression was riddled with hate.

Hate for himself and the world he had to live in.

He left a large pile of bills on the bar before standing up and walking out. When he had first began doing the Unity's dirty work, the boss had set up a bank account with unlimited funds, to be used if and when money would be necessary. That account was still active today, and would have probably come in handy to him, if he had chosen to use it after today. Before walking away, he grabbed his glass of beer resting on the bar and raised it towards the poster of Superman displayed on Bibbo's wall.

Cheers Clark. I hope you found the peace in death that I could never find in life.

He downed the drink and set the glass down. He nodded a silent 'thank you' to the bartender before walking out. Stepping outside, Rudy Jones could see rescue crews trying to find their way through the smoldering remnants of the jungle that the Suicide Slum had become hours before. It actually was a miracle that the Ace O' Clubs was even standing. All three walls of it, that is. Could it actually have been God trying to give him a small sanctuary?

Rudy breathed smoke a final time and then put the butt out underneath of his boot. He rooted his hand through his jacket pocket for a moment, making certain that he still carried the instrument for which he had come to the Slum in the first place for. Satisfied, he began his long march into the burning field.

Almost thirty minutes later, Jones stopped walking and looked around him. Several emergency helicopters were in the air, fire trucks were littered in the distance, but he was alone enough for his needs. He had always been alone.

"I set out to kill what was left of my greatest enemy, and I thought I finally did it," he again searched his pocket, "but I was wrong. I'm still here." He pulled the gun from his jacket and looked down at it. Shining and black, it was heavier than he thought it should be. He wasn't sure if he'd actually die today. In human form, his abilities were greatly diminished, hopefully enough. He knew that nobody would recognize the body that he was now assuming the likeness of, and nobody would ever miss Raymond Maxwell Jones.

My path of death and hate ends here. With me.

Rudy raised the weapon into his open mouth.

I guess today really was the first day of the rest of my life.

When the lone gunshot echoed through the Suicide Slum, nobody cared.

Stick a fork in me, ladies. I'm done.

[MST3K 4ever]

The private elevator in Luthor’s office gave a loud ping and the doors drew open out revealing the Demon’s head himself: Ra’s Al Ghul.

Ra’s produced his sword from his belt and quickly dispensed with Luthor’s security guards. He causally made his way to Luthor desk.

“If you had died in this office as fate intended Alexander, you could have saved yourself the agonising pain that you and yours will now have to endure.”

Lex looks at Ras and begins to smirk then suddenly a look of disgust crosses his face.

Lex stands up and walks to the window. He looks out the and says, "Ras at first I feared you coming here. Then I welcomed it I looked forward to another confrontation, but now. I truly loathe you. I never thought that I could loate anyone more than Superman but you proved me wrong."

He turns back to Ras and says, "All the time it's another virus. You are so d*** predictable. No wonder Batman thwarts you at every turn. You are almost as dull as the Rogues."

He continues to look at Ras and says, "I don't care if you find this insulting or not. Because..."

Lex takes out a picture of Lena and shows to Ras. He then says, "I have nothing to lose anymore. She was the one thing that kept me grounded. Not money, power, world domination none of that crap. IT WAS HER."

He puts the picture away and scowls at Ras. He says, "YOU WANT TO KILL ME? FEEL FREE TO TRY!!!! I just have one thing to say...Barry Bonds eats strawberries at LAX with Peyton Manning."

Ras gives Lex a puzzled look and then Lex says, "Top of the world ma!"

A computer voice chimes in saying, "Auto Destruct sequence activated...60, 59, 58, 57..."

As the countdown begins Lex says (understandably)hurried, "That absurd sentence armed the program the last sentence activated it. There will be a metal shield encasing the building keeping damage to a almost nil. A few shockwaves but that is all. I suggest you find a way out of here within the next 35 seconds."

With that Lex shrugs his shoulders and his business suit falls off revealing his battle suit.

Lex activates the jet boots and flies out the window.

He watches the metal shields encase the building and then hears a terrible rumble with in the metal.

Shockwaves begin to ripple throughout Metropolis.

I wonder if Ras made it out...who cares? I don't.

Just then Mercy calls on his wrist communicator. She says, "I just got the final readings the Lexcorp towers are down the metal casings will open up within the next couple of hours once the explosions have settled."

Lex replies, "Good meet me at the White House. I have a speech to give that will change history."

Lex begins flying to Washington DC.

[MST3K 4ever]

(OOC: Okay I realize I am doing back to back posts, but since this is my last post for the season and everyone is looking forward to season 5 I figure I'll help that process along)

Lex sits at the Oval Office desk looking at his notes one last time.

An aide brings him a glass of water and says, "Two minutes Mr. President."

He looks up and replies, "Thank you Donna."

She walks away and Lex downs the water.

The floor manager shouts, "Clear the room we're on in 90! Remember this is being broadcast world-wide first person to screw up is fired on the spot no questions asked."

Lex looks over at Mercy who bows her head to him. Lex smiles and takes a deep breath as Mercy leaves with the rest of the crew leaving Lex and one camera-operator.

Now the crushing blow that will change history.

The Camera-operator cues Lex.

Lex looks into the camera and says, "Good evening my fellow americans and other citizens of our planet. Tonight I am more than pleased to report that the situation in Metropolis has been contained thanks to members of the Super-Hero community, and while we give them much deserved thanks and praise their are several matters to be addressed."

Lex takes a deep breath and says, "First, Ras-Al-Goul was behind this scheme using a virus stolen from Lexlabs that was being developed for a bio-weapon for the Pentagon. The directors of the C-I-A, F-B-I, N-S-A and Homeland security have verified this. Now there will be rumors and postings on the internet claiming a Government conspiracy. Those reports are false and I have already contacted the Senate-Oversight committee. They do not see a need at this time for any hearings, but let me say for the record if these hearings should ever come to pass I welcome them. I have already with their assitance prepared a report on this matter."

He pulls out a binder and lays it on the desk.

Lex says, "There it is in black and white. I have nothing to hide."

He puts the binder away and says, "Secondly the reconstruction of Metropolis will begin without haste. Now I realize the Lexcorp towers have been destroyed but there are thousands of Lexcorp offices throughout Metropolis and the world that will assist in this effort. In fact Lexcorp is something I have worked very hard to build into the global power that it is, but even though I turn it over to others while being the President it still weighs on my mind. I feel I can't be an effective President while I am still tied to Lexcorp. Therefore..."

He pulls out one single sheet of paper and says," I have agreed to sell Lexcorp to...Bruce Wayne. Bruce if you're watching Lexcorp is yours for the sum of one dollar. Every desk and phone all of it is yours I will sever all ties to Lexcorp if you agree to this thus taking away my power-base in Metropolis so I can focus on serving this country and humanity at large."

Lex puts the paper down and says, "Lastly a rather distressing matter. For years we have marveled at the heroic deeds of those who protect us in our world and in many cases the universe. They have great power and many of them use their powers in the cause of justice and hope. However there is a rather large question to be asked...who watches the watchers? Who are they accountable to?"

Lex rolls the tape of the mind-wipe. Once the tape is done Lex says, "The tape you have just watched is authentic. It as been verified by the FBI, CIA, Microsoft and the Secret Service it is not a forgery or a CGI fabircation. My mind was wiped clean by Dr. Fate under the orders of the Green Lantern as Superman and Batman looked on. I have since recovered but there are gaps in mind that nothing will ever be able to fill in. I see videos of my late daughter's first birthday. I am there but I don't remember it. I see videos of her taking her first step...I look on but I don't remember it. I hit a home-run off of Roger Clemons at the Lexcorp charity soft-ball game. I don't remember it. I see videos and pictures like that and it's like watching someone else's life."

He takes a deep breath and wipes a tear away. Lex then says, "I realize that at times I was shrewd in the business community and I have committed my share of sins, but I don't think I ever did anything to warrant that penalty. to have my life taken away in that matter. I shudder to think that others may suffer that fate as well."

Lex then rolls another tape of Superman in his office. It shows Superamn breaking into the office and making accusations and threatening Lex.

Once the tape is done Lex says, "Again that tape and the next one are authentic and have been verified as such. I'll admit Sueprman and I don't always see eye to eye, but I was hoping that going against Ras Al Goul we might've been able to put aside our differences and work together."
Lex rolls the video of him standing on the Lexcorp tower spray-painting a a giant red "S" and waiting for Superman.

Lex says after the tape is done, "I am not advocating the outlawing of any super-heroes they serve a useful purpose in our world and the universe. However there must be accountability. If those like the Riddler, Parasite or Cheetah or accountable then those who bring them in must be as well. Otherwise we don't we just slap a cape and or a mask on every law enforcement offical and be done with it. Therefore I am resubmitting the Super-Hero registration act. Senator Howard of North Carolina has agreed to chair the committee. He has no feelings one way or another towards the Super-Hero community. The time has come for those who call themselves Super-Heroes to be held accountable. No one is above the law and they need to realize that as well. That the laws they advocate apply to them as well."

Lex takes a pause and says, "I leave you all with this Superman claims to be for Truth, Justice and the American Way...well it's time to put up or put away the capes. Now let us all move forward as a nation and world-wide community and let the debates begin. Good night and God Bless us all."

As the camera pulls away the mind-wipe tale is shown once again.

And so a new chapter in our war begins....I say bring it on.

(OOC see you all in season 5!)

[LibrarianThorne]

Far away, in the arctic north, the Fortress of Solitude was changing. Sheets of crystalline ice, but made of an unearthly material that would defy categorization for even the most intelligent scientists, sealed off the majority of the Fortress, leaving only one massive room accessible: the central lobby. The body of Krypton's last son laid in state on an altar, in front of the massive statues that dominated the room: those of Jor-El and Lara, holding up a massive granite representation of Krypton itself. Small holographic screens blinked into existance, each depicting the Man of Steel's greatest victories. Directly above Superman's body, the roof opened up, revealing a large glass (or so it appeared to be) version of Superman's S-sheild. A porthole opened in the top of the Krypton statue, and from it emerged a massive beam of light that shone through the glass, projecting Superman's symbol high into Earth's atmosphere. Twelve Superman robots, each in formal Kryptonian funeral garb, stood silent guard over the room, hovering above the incredible scene.

These were not the most dramatic changes. Slowly, the gigantic doors to the Fortress swung open. Ice melted in an almost mechanical pathway, the ground itself heating up. Massive chunks of ice simply vanished from the frigid arctic north as a small, heated dirt pathway to the final resting place of Superman was created. Three Superman robots installed large holographic displays along the cavernous, icy walls of the parthway. When activated, each projector shone out a golden S-shield and they served to light the way towards the Fortress. Finally, a last respect shone to Kal-El of Krypton, the fortress repaired the costume that his Earth mother had given him so long ago, restoring it and Superman's body to perfect condition with Kryptonian technology. Finally, their tasks completed, each robot in the fortress deactivated itself, save for the twelve silent guardians of Superman's tomb.

************************************************** ***

Six Hours Earlier

He was in a place not quite a place, standing above himself. He looked down, and saw that he was wearing the grey suit jacket withg the leather patches that Ma had sewn in. A white shirt with that red and blue stripe pattern that Lois hated, but Pa liked. A white shirt, and long grey slacks that Lois had bought him. At his feet, was the bloody, battered body of Superman, the blue of the costume ripped and covered in his own blood. But he was still, unquestionably, there.

"What's going on here?"
"Oooh, this is going to be a rough one to explain, kiddo."
He turned, and saw a strange woman standing before him. Her skin was marble white, but her black hair unkempt and a black dress blew against her legs.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5973/overcastfao4.gif

"And who are you supposed to be?"
"Well, first off, I need to know something. What do you prefer to be called? Kal-El, Superman, or Clark Kent?"
"Clark works for me."
"Oh, cool. So you're not like the last one."
"Last one?"
"You'll see."

He looked up and saw the golden figure of Sinestro, carrying thousands of tons of debris in a shimmering shield of will. Sinestro was visibly shaken as he looked on Superman's body. The Parasite fell to his knees. No one saw him. He grew frustrated, and confused at his current situation. "Could you please tell me what in the name of God is going on? Why am I here and lying there?"
The strange woman's face grew concerned, her eyebrows (is that what they really were?) scrunching together. "Oh, wow. You haven't figured it out yet. That I really didn't count on."
"Figured what out, exactly?"
"Well, Clark, you're dead."
"I'm dead?"
"Yeah. Really, truly dead this time, not that limbo thing that happened last time."
"This can't be happening. I mean I'm-"
"Superman?"
"Well, yes."
"That last syllable there would be the one to think about, Clark. Super MAN. Sure, you can move mountains and touch the sky, but for all your godly powers you're still a man. And men die every day. I should know."
"So, what am I supposed to do?"
"Man, this is always the hardest part when dealing with you spandex types. Especially you." She sighed, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I could tell you to kick back and wait for the inevitable and miraculous return to life, but I don't know if you will. My older brother does, but he's not very forthcoming."
Clark heard a boom behind the pair, and saw a massive tunnel of light. "What's that?"
"A cliche, but one that works pretty well for guys like you."
He stared at the woman with wonder. "Is this really a time to joke around?" The Parasite flew away, a blur of purple, but Clark Kent barely noticed his passing.
She smiled a soft smile, one that just barely brought the corners of her mouth up. "If you can't take things lightly when everything's over, then when can you?"
Clark chuckled. "You make a good point." He stared at the tunnel. The light seemed so... warm. So welcoming. When he looked at it, he felt something he couldn't really describe. It pained him to do so, but he looked away from it and at the woman. "What will happen now that I'm gone? Can you tell me? What happens to Lois? My Ma and Pa?"
She sighed quietly. "Better questions for my brother, but one thing I can definitely tell you is that, sooner or later, you'll be with them again. Trust me, family makes eternity that much more bearable. Now get going, you big lug."

Clark Kent spared one last glance at his bruised and broken body. "You're Death, aren't you?"
"Bingo."
"I... I don't think I expected you to be so... chipper."
"I find this works better than the whole scythe and reaping thing. What can I say? I've got a good bedside manner."
He looked up at her, and smiled. "Thank you."
"Everyone needs a friend, Clark. One last reminder that even here, at the end, you don't go alone."

He turned again towards the light, and this time walked into it.

He was surrounded by a force that he would never be able to describe. A warmth filled every part of his being, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast cornfield. Stalks reached up to his shoulders, like on the farm back home. Above him the sky was a clear blue. He floated into the air, and realized that now he was dressed like he was when he was a boy. The red plaid shirt Ma had given him when he was fifteen, and the dusty overalls that felt as comfortable to him as anything else in the world. He was no longer wearing glasses. As he rose higher and higher into the sky, he saw a shimmering city of gold in the distance. He flew to it, the crisp air blowing against his face as he crossed the endless field. In what felt like moments, he was flying amidst the city. Around him, he could see lines of black-garbed Kryptonians, and with a start he realized where he was. The city of Kandor, or at least how it looked on Krypton. He looked around , and suddenly the Kryptonians burst into applause. He felt his own face grow red at the sound. He heard the ruffle of clothes behind him, and turned.

In front of himw ere the faces of people he'd seen in holograms and projections. Faces and forms that he knew, but had never touched. The woman, her headdress shining in the afternoon sun, took one of his hands and pressed it to her chest. The male, his surplice a shimmering green, took his other hand and did the same. He spoke, and Clark Kent heard a voice he'd heard, but never really heard, before.

"Welcome home, Kal-El. Welcome, my son," said Jor-El, in a voice filled with pride. Jor-El and Lara embraced their son, and Clark Kent began crying tears of joy. Wetly they slipped down his face, arcing around a broad smile that no force in heaven or Earth could take away.

It had cost him everything, even his life. But now, he knew in his very marrow, now he was no longer alone. Krypton's last son had finally come home.


Far off in the distance, two figures in familiar costumes floated. They had escaped Superman's detection, but both of them knew that wouldn't last for long. One of them wore a bright blue costume, and emblazoned int he center of his chest was a shield containing a stylized S. Next to him was a girl with long blonde hair, restrained only by a red sweatband. Her eyes were a clear, unearthly blue, and her outfit similar to the man floating next to her.

"You'll have to talk to him eventually, Kal. After all, he's you isn't he?"
"He's not me, Kara. He's capable of killing, and look at the reception he gets."
"To be fair to him, cousin, he didn't have your luck. He never really knew his parents, and look at the odds he had to deal with."
The man sighed, and tugged on a spitcurl that hung down his forehead. When he let go, it snapped back into a familiar S shape. "I know that too. I just wish we could meet under different circumstances. He doesn't need me coming down on him, not now. His family and friends are still alive, and he'll realize that soon enough."
"You've got to talk to him, Kal! He's got to remember us, right? Can you make him remember what happened? Will he remember the Crisis?"
"Maybe not. But what I can do, I hope, is make him a better hero."