The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season IV

[MaskedManJRK]

Ra’s dodged Batman’s attack then hurtled toward and razed his sword to Batman’s throat.

I pointed my head down so that Ra's would notice that I have both of my swords pointed to him. One was near his heart, the other was near his crotch.

"You kill me, I'll probably slip and stab you and castrate you. Yield."

[MST3K 4ever]

Superman begins soaring over Metropolis, slowly, surveying the damage wrought by the Qwardians. It was, thankfully, about as minimal as could be hoped when dealing with an alien army.

"I think it's time I was honest with you, Captain. I know you've been here in Metropolis for a little while now, and I've got to confess to none too little curiosity. I thought Fawcett City was your territory, and now with you in Metropolis, I am beginning to wonder why you're here."

He looked out across the city, scanning everything from the LexCorp tower down to Hob's Bay and the Suicide Slum.

"Metropolis isn't like Fawcett, Marvel. Things are more serious here, more deadly. Look at what the Parasite was able to do last year, for God's sake. To the public in general, she is the City of Tomorrow, and I'm her protector. A lot of people think nothing really bad can ever happen to Metropolis as long as I'm around."

He sighed. The truth of the matter was ugly, but it had to be said. Especially if, aas he suspected, Marvel intended on staying in Metropolis for the long term. "All of those people? They're wrong. This is a city on the edge of a needle, and it can so easily be tipped one way or the other. I remember what it was like when I first came to Metropolis. The fear in people's eyes, the hope that didn't exist. Metropolis was more cynical than New York City. People never looked to the sky. I'd like to think I've done some good since I came here, but the honest truth of it is there'll be more work to do here than I'll get done in a lifetime. Corruption and graft still permeate Metropolis. Gangs rule in Suicide Slum, and though I dearly wish there was something I could do about it there isn't."

The Daily Planet came into view, the sun casting golden rays off of the globe that topped the building, the rays alighting on the Man of Steel and Captain Marvel. Superman touched down on the rooftop, while Marvel hovered above him. "And, truth be told, as Superman I can't help the real problems that plague Metropolis. I can put down the occasional riot and stop the alien invasions and take out the giant death machines that show up every so often; but those don't help this city. In my real job, I can do honest good to Metropolis."

He turned around, scanning more of the city. He walked over to a ledge, his back to Marvel, and placed his foot on the ledge. Resting his arm on his knee, he bent down, placing his chin on his hand. "I don't know what your aim in Metropolis is, Captain. But if you're going to be here for a while, think about what I've said."




Marvel lands next to Superman and says, "Superman, I have no intention of making Metropolis my home base forever. In fact if I had my way about it I'd be back in Fawcett City. I am here only because Billy Batson has been assigned here by WHIZ. You see WKLS is owned by the same corporation as WHIZ and the usual reporter here is on some kind of top-secret assignment for the corporation. The rumors range from he is going on a special forces raid in Iraq to he got a job Lexcorp and he is working undercover to try and do some kind of tell-all story that will take down Lex. So rather than hire someone completly new they figured just transfer someone temporairly, and they figured I've got experience dealing with super-heroes so I was the ideal candidate. Trust me Superman the minute I get the call telling me to go home I am out of here."

Marvel walks over to the ledge and looks out at Metropolis hearing Solomon's wisdom beckon to him: Reassure him that you are not his foe but his friend and the respect that you have for him and his work in this city. Ease his mind.. He says, "Metropolis is a beautiful city Superman it's lucky to have someone like you in it whether it is an editorial in the Planet or stopping Parasite you make a difference. In our line of work we both know that we rarely enjoy an outright victory over the forces of evil, and most of the time the best we can do is hold the line and hope that is enough for the day. That's all I am trying to help you do is hold the line while I am here. I have heard stories of you occasionally going to Gotham and helping out despite the fact that Batman is there. I'll bet he isn't crazy about you being there. To me though it's all about making a difference no matter or how big or small that difference might be. We do what we can for the good of those who can't do it themselves so they can enjoy the fruits of justice and peace."

Marvel looks directly at Superman and says, "I know that Metropolis is a huge step up from Fawcett City in so many ways and that you think that maybe I am too naive to handle it. I hear some of this whispers from the others like Guy calling me Captain Whitebread or I heard Kyle once say, when he didn't think I was around, that I probably hadn't even kissed my mom. Maybe at times my idealism and optomism get in the way but those beliefs among others help guide me and help me believe that we all can make difference."

He puts his hand on Superman's shoulder and says, "I can help you in this war in Metropolis. I will follow the example that you have set for the rest of us in this battle, and I will do everything I can to avoid stepping on your toes, but if I see trouble and I can help I am not going to just stand by and let a criminal get away with a crime. That's not what a hero does and that's all I am going to do. I am going to do what a hero would do what you would do in that situation. I don't want to be a savior of Metropolis I just want to make a difference. " He hears the voice of Solomon say, "Well done"

Marvel removes his hand from Superman and says, "I thank you Superman for listening to me, and hopefully this clears up any misgivings that you have about me being here."

[Nightwing]

As he was blazing down the interstate towards Gotham, Roy felt his phone vibrate. He looked down and saw he had a missed call and voicemail from Ollie.


Goddammit Ollie, you best not have taken my Harley... I could give a s#!^ less if you took one of the Japper Crappers, but if you took the Harley, youse a dead man...

He picked up the phone and dialed Ollie, getting voice mail.

Must be busy doin something... "Hey Ollie, it's Roy. If you took one of the Kawasaki's, 'scool, don't worry bout it. But if I find one speck of dust on my Harley, I WILL pin you to the walls THROUGH your biceps and quads along with your hands and feet. Anyway, you need to come hang in New York some night, I'll let you meet some lady friends I think you may like. Talk atcha later."




I make my way outside and about to put my helmet on, when my phone rings to tell me I missed a call.

"Its from Roy."

The kid calls to threaten me about his bike? Heh, I tought him well.

I check my list of numbers and pick his to reply to his call, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had the time to check my other messages. So much on my mind.....

"Roy, it's me Ollie. The Harley is right here in front of me, and I've got to say she's a beaut. Dont worry I'll have her back in tip top condition, I'll even clean her up when I get back from Hub City. I'll take a rain check on that New York outing, you know what Im going through. I have alot to take care of, including this lead I got on Merlyn. He's up to something that could lead to being disaterous. We've faced him together numerous times, so you know what he's capable of. I'll call you if I need back up of any sorts. We'll take later."

Immediately, I close the phone and hop on the Harley. The engine to so powerful, I should be there in no time. Hub City has its own protector, but then again doesnt every city? I've ran into him only on some occasions, and at first I wasn't to thrilled. But he's suprised me more then anyone I know, he truly knows his stuff. The Question, is someone who can take the fear right out of you. It's not everyday that you see someone wandering the streets without a face. Who knows I might run into him on my trip to Hub, and if I do I'm sure he'll give me some details on the where abouts of Merlyn.

"15 more miles."

Im going to do some serious ass kicking when I get there. Its been driving me nuts that Merlyn would bring those meta drugs to Star. Batman should know, he's faced tons of rouges who've gotten their hand on it. He even got his back broken by one.

"What more do I need on my shoulders? Those drugs could raise the villain capacity to a minimum, and might even lead the city to its own destroying if I don't stop it."

I see the "Welcome to Hub City" sign, and I know I've arrived. The city was so frigid, and you can feel the dread radiating off the people once you've entered it.

"Something tell's me this wont be fun. But thats not why I'm here."

I scale to the nearest roof in my sight, and keep a close eye on anything I might see to futher my investigation. And guess what? I found just that. I see a hooded man wandering through an alley, with a woman? I zoom in to see him quickly start beating her without pause. I get there as quickly as possible, the last thing I need is a death on my hands.

When I do, I aim for his leg with a fresh arrow. She see's me, leading him to turn around while she hides in the shadow. He drops to the floor with an sharp one right thtough his right leg.

"You talk then you're safe as a grayhound. You dont then say adios to your other knee."

"He knew you would come."

"What did you just....."

I dont even have time to finish my question, the ladies kidnapper vanished into thin air with a puff of gas. Could he mean Merlyn? My enemy knows me better then I know myself. This just turned into a whole new ordeal. I feel a poken my back, and for the next 2 minutes I'm in awe.

"You gotta be kiddin me! What the hell are you doing here? Were you following me the whole time?

Rochelle Cortez.....

"Please...Pease dont be upset, I had to find out more of why they wanted me other then the fact they know that I know what thy're planning. So after I entered the hotel back in Star, I decided to have a plan of my own. I got to Hub as fast as I could, and the next thing you know I got jumped by that....that guy. Who was he?"

"Thats none of your business, you shouldnt even be here Ms. Cortez. I was done with you hours ago, when I rescued you. And now I had to do it again.I dont like being followed, nor do I like it when people invite themselves into my personal affairs. I cant do anything about it now now can I? Im sending you back to your own residence rigth here."

"Who are you to be giving me orders? Im one of Hub's most smartest reports, and Im here to get some answers. Im not going anywhere, so it looks like you're stuck with me. Besides whose going to protect me if I get kidnapped again? Or worse dead. You're a hero and thats what herpes do, they protect."


Suddenly theres smoke surrounding us both, and I look to see Cortez shaking like a leaf. Man does she talk alot, maybe I have been a little hard on her. But I cant take that risk, even though she is good looking.....Wait, what am I saying? Theres no way Im going to start hitting on her, when every time I'm with her she nearly gets us both killed.

"I know this smoke all to well."

My vision is kind of vague, but it's just clear enough that I see a shadowy figure drawing closer and closer. In fact, I recognize the hat he is wearing. I'd recognize it anywhere.


"So glad of you to join us, The Question."

This just got a whole lot easier.


http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/5636/HubCity/quest18.jpg

[Red]

I pointed my head down so that Ra's would notice that I have both of my swords pointed to him. One was near his heart, the other was near his crotch.

"You kill me, I'll probably slip and stab you and castrate you. Yield."

Ra’s lowered his sword from Batman’s throat and then dropped it to the floor. He clapped his hands and began to march away “Impressive…most impressive.”

The ninjas that surrounded Batman simultaneously removed their swords and charged at him. “But foolish.”

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Intel on the dancer just came through sir. Her name is Natalie Douglas, age 23, currently enrolled as an oceanography major at UCLA. Works at the strip club to earn her way through college. Mother and father live in Tuscon, but have long since disowned her. No siblings."

"Her connection to our target?"

"None know. First encounter is recorded as the attack she witnessed two days ago, and then the meeting yesterday. All indications point to no further relationship."

"I want surviellance on her anyway. What about our main weapon?"

"Ahead of schedule."

"Good."

The shadowed figure left the room and walked down the hallway to an interrigation room. He walked inside and locked the door. Strapped to the solitary chair inside was the agent that Kyle had confronted the day before.

"You were sloppy. Our hat is now tipped. The target is sure to be extra careful now, and will no doubt go to his friends and allies."

"B-bbbut sir, he doesn't know, he can;t know who we are. My lips were sealed."

"Really. And what if he traces us back to our intial confrontations all those years ago prematurely. What if he involes the detective, or the martian, or the big blue Boy Scout?"

The man pulled a gun from a shoulder holster.

"Don't get me wrong, you have done good. But not good enough."

There was never even a chance to scream.

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel lands next to Superman and says, "Superman, I have no intention of making Metropolis my home base forever. In fact if I had my way about it I'd be back in Fawcett City. I am here only because Billy Batson has been assigned here by WHIZ. You see WKLS is owned by the same corporation as WHIZ and the usual reporter here is on some kind of top-secret assignment for the corporation. The rumors range from he is going on a special forces raid in Iraq to he got a job Lexcorp and he is working undercover to try and do some kind of tell-all story that will take down Lex. So rather than hire someone completly new they figured just transfer someone temporairly, and they figured I've got experience dealing with super-heroes so I was the ideal candidate. Trust me Superman the minute I get the call telling me to go home I am out of here."

Marvel walks over to the ledge and looks out at Metropolis hearing Solomon's wisdom beckon to him: Reassure him that you are not his foe but his friend and the respect that you have for him and his work in this city. Ease his mind.. He says, "Metropolis is a beautiful city Superman it's lucky to have someone like you in it whether it is an editorial in the Planet or stopping Parasite you make a difference. In our line of work we both know that we rarely enjoy an outright victory over the forces of evil, and most of the time the best we can do is hold the line and hope that is enough for the day. That's all I am trying to help you do is hold the line while I am here. I have heard stories of you occasionally going to Gotham and helping out despite the fact that Batman is there. I'll bet he isn't crazy about you being there. To me though it's all about making a difference no matter or how big or small that difference might be. We do what we can for the good of those who can't do it themselves so they can enjoy the fruits of justice and peace."

Marvel looks directly at Superman and says, "I know that Metropolis is a huge step up from Fawcett City in so many ways and that you think that maybe I am too naive to handle it. I hear some of this whispers from the others like Guy calling me Captain Whitebread or I heard Kyle once say, when he didn't think I was around, that I probably hadn't even kissed my mom. Maybe at times my idealism and optomism get in the way but those beliefs among others help guide me and help me believe that we all can make difference."

He puts his hand on Superman's shoulder and says, "I can help you in this war in Metropolis. I will follow the example that you have set for the rest of us in this battle, and I will do everything I can to avoid stepping on your toes, but if I see trouble and I can help I am not going to just stand by and let a criminal get away with a crime. That's not what a hero does and that's all I am going to do. I am going to do what a hero would do what you would do in that situation. I don't want to be a savior of Metropolis I just want to make a difference. " He hears the voice of Solomon say, "Well done"

Marvel removes his hand from Superman and says, "I thank you Superman for listening to me, and hopefully this clears up any misgivings that you have about me being here."

Marvel's words rung in him. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was Marvel's purity, and the calm confidence and conviction with which he said it. He could almost remember when he was like that. Perhaps Metropolis had changed him as much as he had changed Metropolis.

"Don't worry about stepping on my toes, Captain. Don't worry about offending my sensibilities, or any of the other worries I know you probably have. You do what you have to do, and I'll do what I have to do."

He smiled to himself. He'd done the same thing he'd berated others for; underestimating Captain Marvel. It was so easy to do, but Marvel was so much more than everyone assumed he was.

"I'd shake your hand, Captain, and welcome you to Metropolis, but I've got a job to get to, and I'm sure WKLS needs Billy Batson."

He walked towards the Daily Planet globe. His suit and glasses still exactly where he left them.

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel's words rung in him. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was Marvel's purity, and the calm confidence and conviction with which he said it. He could almost remember when he was like that. Perhaps Metropolis had changed him as much as he had changed Metropolis.

"Don't worry about stepping on my toes, Captain. Don't worry about offending my sensibilities, or any of the other worries I know you probably have. You do what you have to do, and I'll do what I have to do."

He smiled to himself. He'd done the same thing he'd berated others for; underestimating Captain Marvel. It was so easy to do, but Marvel was so much more than everyone assumed he was.

"I'd shake your hand, Captain, and welcome you to Metropolis, but I've got a job to get to, and I'm sure WKLS needs Billy Batson."

He walked towards the Daily Planet globe. His suit and glasses still exactly where he left them.

Captain Marvel smiles and says, "I understand Superman and you're right WKLS is gonna want that story on the aliens that we faught today. See you around the skies."
Marvel takes to the sky and speeds back to WKLS. He lands in the back alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Billy runs into the offices. Mr Perkins is standing there as Billy rounds the corner and yells, "Batson do you got the story about..." To which Billy shouts back, "Just hold the newscast for the next five minutes." Perkins yells, "YES! We may not beat the planet to the punch but we got just about every electronic media outlet beat....Billy you're a marvel in this field!"

More than you'll ever know Mr. Perkins...more than you'll ever know. Bill types out his story which emphasizes the teamwork that heroes showed and the leadership tone set by Superman."

[White_Howling]

"Late, but just in time for the cleanup crew I've been assigned to. Your tactile telekinesis'll finally come in handy."

I smiled at him.

"I told you I was fast."


"You didn't have to rub it in Gar."

Looking around at the mess that surrounded me, a wave of depression swept over me. This was going to take forever.

"Clean up duty? Enjoy playing the leader don't ya?"

[The Question]

The Hub City office of the D.E.O. A little past midnight.

Two days ago, a S.T.A.R. labs scientist by the name of Fred McCarthy died. Suicide. However, there was very little evidence to suggest that he was at all depressed. Say for what seemed to be a case of paranoia that began days before his death. Seems suspicious to me. That, and the fact that his suicide note was very cliche.

McCarthy was a geneticist. He was working on some big project shortly before he died. His wife mentioned that she overheard him refering to the D.E.O. while on the phone with parties unknown. And so, I find myself breaking into a government building based on nothing more than circumstantial evidence.

And Tot asks me why I never thought of becomning a cop.

I pull up my collar and pull my hat down. My hair's turned black, but I'm not wearing my mask. I walk up to the door and use the key card I stole from an agent's apartment earlyer tonight. I walk in, and walk past the half asleep security gaurd at the desk without saying a word.

I apply my mask in the elevator and head to wear they keep the computers. Once I get there, I hack the files to find something on McCarthy.

"Hey! Who the hell are you?"

I turn around slowly in my chair and look at the security gaurd behind me.

"That's a good question."

I grab the back of my chair, stand up, and hit the gaurd with the chair in one quick motion. I grab his walky talky before he can use it, and continue hitting him until he's unconscious. I sit back at the computer, and copy some files that look promising onto a disk. I then open a window, and use my grappling gun to lower myself to the ground, and head back into the city.

I duck in between alleys just in case anyone followed me, until I see a very peculiar sight in one alleyway.

A man in a green Robin Hood costume shooting an arrow at another man in a hood.

Green Arrow.

The hooded man vanishes in a puff of smoke, and Green Arrow begins to talk with a woman who I hadn't seen before.

I release some of the gas in my belt (because it's cool), and step towards them.

He sees me, and speaks.

"So glad of you to join us, The Question."

I step closer.

"The Question? I hardly think there's a need to be so formal."

[Keyser Soze]

Keystone City. The Joker had been here a few times. But he never really liked the place. Keystone - hell Central City as well, BOTH the Twin Cities - were just too dull and cookie-cutter for his tastes. He loved the architecture of Gotham, the character of it. Oh well, they wouldn't be here for long.

As The Joker raced through the streets of Keystone City in his ice-cream van, he knew that his target did not lie here, but a couple of miles beyond the city limits, in the prison known as Iron Heights. If Arkham Asylum was like a haunted house, hallways littered with screaming, cackling ghouls, then Iron Heights was like an alien fortress, its structure made of cold, unforgicing rock and steel. The Joker looked forward to staging a little break-out.

"Now, where was I?" The Joker asked, looking around at his fellow passengers, "Oh yes: And if one handicapped orphan, should accidentally take a drink...there'll be 61 bottles of cyanide, sitting on a wall! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[Johnny Blaze]

"Cold?"

"What is it, Digger?"

"Magenta just rang in. Seems there's a fishy lookin' ice cream van rippin' through the city streets. Damn thing looks like it's been through some tough times too. Want me to check it out?"

"...No. Just tell me where it's at now and I'll get McCulloch on it."

"Be one sec. Got Mardon on top of things at the moment."

As Cold waited for Digger to report back, he got in contact with the Mirror Master over the communicators they were given.

"McCulloch..."

"Yeah, Cold. Watcha want? I still ain't seen nothin'", said Mirror Master as his face appeared in table in front of Cold's surface.

"Just shut yer mouth and listen. According to Boomerang, Magenta saw a suspicious lookin' ice cream van tearin' through our city. Mardon's checking it out now. As soon as he gets a fix on it, you're going in to investigate. Clear?"

"Crystal, Captain."

"Good...get ready..."

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

The Weather Wizard glided high above the City of Keystone, the eyes in the sky for the Rogues as they kept a sharp eye out for anything that might be out of the ordinary and thus connected to Luthor's group.
So far, they've had nothing but false alarms and dead ends. So far they've stopped a bus load of elderly people heading to Vegas, a limo filled with drunk college students, and a disfunctional family from Metropolis in a black van with tinted windows. And that was just in the past hour. They've had nothing but failure in the last twenty-four hours.
As Mardon was about to give up, he finally spotted the ice cream van as it sped around a corner onto Lexington Street.

"Cold...I think I've spotted the van. It's speeding down Lexington. Want me to check it out?"

"Negative...McCulloch will take this one."

"Fine by me."

Cold turned his attention back to the visage of the Mirror Master, "McCulloch, the van's speeding down Lexington right now. Hurry up and check it out."

"Aye, aye, Cap'n", replied Mirror Master with a smile and a salute before disappearing.

Traveling through the mirror worlds, McCulloch quickly arrived at Lexington Street, appearing in a shop's window. He saw that the van had already past him, but he knew what it looked like and wear it was. He had appeared and disappeared in the store window quickly, but he still put a scare into the hearts of a few passers-by who happened to notice the face of the evil Mirror Master.
Moving back into the mirror dimension, McCulloch appeared in the van's rear view mirror, and was visibly surprised at what he saw. The Joker in the driver's seat and sitting shotgun to him was another Gotham nutcase, the Scarecrow. McCulloch might've thought that this was just some Gotham job and was about to notify Cold and the Rogues to come put a stop to whatever it is these loon's had planned for their city, but when he looked in the back of the van...all that changed. Sitting in the back was the Joker's on again/off again girlfriend, Harley Quinn...and a hulking monster that could only be Solomon Grundy. A villain of the original Green Lantern, and a menace to Superman and even the entire Justice League.
Maybe these were Luthor's men after all.
So far it didn't look like they've noticed him in the mirror yet (he had only appeared a few seconds ago after all), so he decided to make himself known.

"Hullo there, lads", McCulloch said with a smile, "Somethin' I can do ye for?"

[Watchman]

The finally reached Keystone City and Joker sang that song the whole time which was getting on Scarecrow's nerves. The pain came back a few times but not as bad as the first. He put this thought in the back of his mind and would ponder about it later. As they approached the prison Scarecrow wondered how they were going to bust Grodd out.

"So how are we breaking out..." he was interupped


"Hullo there, lads", McCulloch said with a smile, "Somethin' I can do ye for?"

Scarecrow looked at the mirror and saw Mirror Master smiling at them. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at the mirror.

"Well Joker it seems we have some company"

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker let out a theatrical gasp as he jumped out his seat.

"Oh my, Mirror Master!" The Joker exclamied, "You gave me quite a turn!"

The Joker had been hesitant about recruiting The Rogues. A group of close-knit, powerful villains working within this team might lead to some kind of divide. But on the other hand, McCulloch was a very powerful villain, and his skills could prove highly useful to their cause. Oh well, the more the merrier!

"Ach aye, Mirror Maister," The Joker said, adopting a bad Scottish accent, "There is somethin' ye cin help us wae. We're aboot tae go stage a jailbreak in Iron Heights, and yer welcome tae come along. We think yer awright, even though ye have glaykit claes, HA HA!"

The Joker looked over his shoulder, at the fridge holding the ice-cream. That would do nicely.

"The door back there is a reflective surface," The Joker explained, "Why don't you come through that to join us. You can help yourself to some ice-cream. Just make sure you don't eat the green stuff!"

The Joker had to keep on reminding people of that. After all, mint was his favourite flavour!

[Johnny Blaze]

So, this was part of Luthor's new Syndicate that was going to bust out Grodd. Just after only a little more than a day's worth of searching, they've finally hit paydirt.

"Appreciate the offer, Joker, but it looks a bit cramped back there. Especially with Grodd on th' way. I'll stay in the back door's reflection if ye don't mind."

McCulloch disappeared from the rear view mirror and went back into the mirror world. Before he went into the reflection of the van's back door, he reported back to Cold.

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

Appearing in the table's reflective surface where Cold sat McCulloch spoke up, "Everything's a-ok, Cap'n. We hit the jackpot. Those're Luthor's boys...and let me say he sure can pick 'em."

"Whatta you mean, McCulloch? Who are we working with here?"

"Well, pulling this little jailbreak we've got Scarecrow, Solomon Grundy, Harly Quinn, with the Joker apparently leadin' them."

"The Joker's running the show!? Damn crazy clown...no tellin' what he could pull. I don't know why Luthor'd include him in his group."

"Aye, Joker's a wildcard if there ever was one, but I trust Luthor's got some way of keepin' him in check for the most part. At any rate, since I'm ta be the go between 'tween our two groups, I'm headin' back to the van. Gonna give them boys a hand in bustin' out Donkey Kong."

"All right. Just watch your ass McCulloch."

"Aye, aye Cap'n", said Mirror Master with a smile and a mock salute before he disappeared.

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

Appearing in the van's rear door, McCulloch rejoined the party of villains who were inroute to Iron Heights prison to bust out Grodd.

"So", said McCulloch as he looked around at his newfound...teammates, "what's the plan to freein' old Groddy?"

[Batman]

I believe in Gotham City.

...Oh,shut the hell up already.

Two-Face sits in his den,flipping his coin,over and over.His eyes never leave it,as he sits...waiting for something to happen.In this city,something always happens.Whether it's mafia hits,the police,or one of the Bat's brats...Gotham City is far from being the dullest city in the country.

And then,His waiting comes to an end,as he hears a knock on his door.The coin lands in his hand,as He gets up,and answers it.Ricky,his second in command,surprisingly,isn't there.Instead,it's Lloyd...The ex-arms dealer.

"And Just What The Hell Do You Want?"

Lloyd doesn't respond.He's too terrified to say anything.So instead,He holds up a white envelope,and hands it to Two-Face.He then backs away,as Two-Face looks down at it.Two-Face looks back up.

"Whimp."

Two-Face slams the door,before sitting at the desk in his room,and ripping open then envelope.It's a letter.Harvey raises an eyebrow...well...actually,the only eyebrow he has...as he begins reading...

'Dear Mr. Dent ,


I am aware of your situation and attitude in regards to earth's so-called protectors,particularly the one who calls himself 'The Batman',and am taking measures to ensure all of our futures are free of him,and his fellow 'Do-Gooders'. However, in order to fulfill this dream, I need your assistance. Similar letters as this have already been sent to over one hundred potential candidates. From Arclight to the Toyman,to Deadshot. We need the expertise of Two-Face and Harvey Dent in our Syndicate. Membership with us will be mutually beneficial; we will leave you and your "business" alone and will even provide substantial funding if requested. In return we ask for your participation if and when the "Justice" League discovers us and attempts to stop our activities. With your help, they will not succeed.

I do not make this offer lightly, Two-Face.


LL'

What the hell is this?!Who the hell does Luthor think he is,wanting me to participate in his goddamned 'club'?

He's the richest man in Metropolis.Maybe even the world.And we could use the money...

Last time I checked,Harv,Money wasn't an issue with us.We have our own worries in Gotham alone...We don't need to worry about the whole Justice League.Just the Bat.And ONLY The Bat.

So that's it,then?You're not even going to give it a flip?

Two-Face looks down at the coin,still in his hand.He tosses it into the air,and watches as the coin lands back down into his hand.The scarred side is up.

Luthor can go to hell.

Two-Face looks over,and grabs a gun,sitting on the opposite side of his desk.He then loads it,and stufts it inside the envelope,despite it not being a very good fit.He then takes a piece of paper,and scribbles on a message on it,using a pen...

'Dearest' Mr. Luthor...

Do us all a favor,and use the contents of this message to blow your big bald head off.Last time I checked,you're the only one who gives a damn about the Justice League.I've got my own problems,rich boy.

'Kindest' Regards,
Two-Face.

PS: Oh,and give my regards to Superman,When he hauls you off to prison.AGAIN.

As Two-Face finishes the letter,and stufts it into the envelope holding the gun,He hears another knock.

"Goddammit."

Frustrated,He gets up,and pulls the door open.Ricky stands on the other side,with a smirk.

"This Better Be Good."

"Oh,it is,Boss.It definatley is..."

[LibrarianThorne]

Aliens Invade; Heroes Save Metropolis but Citizens Remain Concerned
by Clark Kent and Lois Lane

Early in the afternoon, at approximately 1:15 PM, the villain-turned-hero Sinestro crash landed into Metropolis at the intersection of 46th and Christen Blvd. On his heels was an alien army from the world of Qward, sources say. Claiming they were there to arrest Sinestro, the Qwardians began their attack, only to be surprised by the arrivals of Superman and Captain Marvel of Fawcett City. The two heroes managed to stalemate the Qwardians long enough for Sinestro to recharge his ring, marking the turning point in the struggle.
The combined powers of Superman, Captain Marvel, and Sinestro proved too much for the alien army, who fled back to their home world after Sinestro and Superman defeated the alien leader. There was a momentary confrontation between Superman and Sinestro, but the situation resolved itself in short order. Beast Boy and Superboy, of the Teen Titans, arrived late on the scene and helped with cleanup as Marvel, Superman, and Sinestro left the scene of the attack.
Jim Jonstone, 36, president and CEO of Inquire Technologies, was not happy about the intervention of the superheroes. "The aliens just destroyed my 23rd floor office! Who's going to pay for that? I didn't see a wallet anywhere on those capes, did you?"
Jonstone's comment echoes the feelings of many Metropolitans, still recovering from the Unity event. Dozens of onlookers complained about the damage done to several office buildings on the outer edges of Metropolis.
"I jus' don' unnerstand why dey couldn'ta left the aliens ta deal with each other, 's all I'm sayin'," said Carmella Dean, 26, of 222 Daygrove Lane. "Way I hear it, that army woulda left us alone if Superman left that pink guy to them. Why didn't he?"

[wiegeabo]

In space, I crush the remaining Qwardian technology into a massive ball and release on path to this system's star. I turn and look back up at the Earth above me. And I think about what just happened.

I almost killed that Qwardian general. I should have. But I can't. That's not what heroes do. Besides, he's no longer a concern as long as the Qwardians remain in their universe.

Then I think about the other thing. The fact that Superman supported me. Called me a hero. I'm still stunned by that fact. I convinced one of them, possibly the greatest one of them, that I have changed. Like I realized while I held that general's life in my hands, it's all about second chances. And as I move my plans forward, I am definitely going to take advantage of this one.

My ring signals it is low on power. The Qwardians drained the charge I took from Marvel. Which reminds me that I must...ask...him about the source of that energy. It may become very useful.

But, for now, I must settle on getting a charge from a lantern. I wonder if the Guardians could be convinced to give me a battery to use. More than likely, they would put me back in the Central Battery again.

That will not happen.

I will my ring to track Lantern energy signatures and track the nearest one of the four...wait...four? There should only be three. Jordan's on Oa, Gardener has no ring....so, either a new Lantern has been selected, or Gardener has a new ring. I'm not sure which is the more likely scenerio.

I choose one of the signals and track it, not knowing what, or who, I will encounter.

[MaskedManJRK]

Ra’s lowered his sword from Batman’s throat and then dropped it to the floor. He clapped his hands and began to march away “Impressive…most impressive.”


The ninjas that surrounded Batman simultaneously removed their swords and charged at him. “But foolish.”

Ra's al Ghul, if anything, if a man with a severe ego. Even worse, it is an ego wrapped inside a code of honor.

I use that to my advantage fighting off his horde of ninjas. I attack Ra's with my mouth.

"You couldn't beat me on your own, so you send your goons? Very honorable, Ra's. Either get back here and face me, or admit that you're a sore loser and take your bow of shame.

"Come on, Ra's! You can't become the martyr you want to be without losing a fight! How can you be satisfied with your 'new world' when you haven't killed me with your bare hands!

"Come on, Goddamnit, FACE ME!"

[wiegeabo]

I decend back to Earth, towards the other side of that same continent. What was it's name again...? No matter. For a moment I think that I am headed for Jordan's home of Coast City. But no, my destination is further south.

I break through the cloud cover. While it was afternoon in Metropolis during the battle, it is still eary morning here, dawn just passing a couple of hours ago.

I fly over a very large city. Tall buildings covering the ground and air. Even at this time, vehicles congest the roadways. How do these humans manage to survive? Ignoring this plight of their own making, I focus on my destination and come across a smaller structure. A dwelling that looks to house several units.

Coming up on one of the windows my ring indicates that the Lantern energy is coming from inside. I use my ring to open the window and float into the large room. Scanning, I follow the signature into a smaller room. Sleeping on the bed is Kyle Rayner. Even without his mask and uniform I recognize him.

Eyeing his hand, I'm tempted to just take the charge form his ring while he sleeps...but I won't. Heroes work together, not steel from each other. But I am impatient to get on with my mission.

A gold bucket of water floats over Rayner's head. I will it to tip over, and it overturns onto him. I surpress laughter as he jumps up, yelling and swearing.

"Good, you are awake. I require a charge from your ring."

[twylight]

The cold night air of Gotham City whips around the buildings in sporadic bursts of breezes. High on the ledge of one of the many penthouse apartments of Gotham City a shadow moves. The shadows seem to move around it as the outline of a woman becomes visible. Her dark hair tied back in a high ponytail streamed behind her because of the invisible breezes. Her tight black body suit covered her whole frame, leaving only her face, from the eyes up open. Her eyes gleamed in the artificial light of the surrounding buildings.
She leapt softly onto a balcony, several stories up. Turning she gazed down at the city lights below her and out at the harbor lights in the distance, little lights spotted the black expanse of Gotham harbor.

She turned lightly on her toes and ran her black gloved hands over the sill of the French doors till she found what she was looking for. Unlocking the door she slid it open and slipped her lithe frame into the room before sliding the door quietly behind her, careful to not catch the fluttering curtains in it. Her eyes scanned the walls for hidden surveillance, her eyes playing over every nook and cranny with trained precision. Not seeing anything she quietly walked farther into the room, her collapsed bow staff hanging from her belt, its matte black finish absorbing the light and blending into the darkness that seemed to emanate from her.

She made her way to an office, cracking the door open softly before slipping in and finding the safe, very uncreative hiding behind a picture. A smile played on her hidden lips as she pulled out a lock cracking device and set it, stepping back to watch the dim red numbers scroll up and unlock. The safe unlocked with a muffled ‘click’ and she opened the door quietly, extracting what she’d been told to get. She grabbed it and placed it in a pouch on her hip before closing the safe door and pushing a button on the device to relock the safe. While it quietly relocked the safe she walked over to the large desk and carefully ran her hands over it, over, under, around looking at the statue ontop of the desk she picked it up and ran her hands over the clean Art Deco curves of the penguin statue before flipping it over.
The statue firmly held in her left hand she reached her right hand into a pouch and stuck a paper thin and penny sized transmitter on the bottom of the cool metal penguin.
Flipping it back over she held the statue balanced in her left palm, her right hand around it’s middle and smiled at it as she placed it in the exact same location as she’d picked it up.


“CLICK”

Her head jerked up at the sound of a door closing, muffled voices came from the front room and another little ‘click’ followed by the glow of the light along the bottom of the closed office door confirmed her fears. In a whirlwind she grabbed the device from the safe, shoving it into a pouch and hung the picture back on the wall. Straightening it she ran for the window, struggling with the stuck latch.

Voices drew near, one of them the unmistakable quack of one of Gotham’s ‘finest citizens.’

“I want Harvey strung up on the line…. where the birds can peck his eyes out..”

“Sir..”

“ NO SIRS!”

She jiggled the latch trying to get it undone. Spinning around she saw the door knob turn.

“Incomprehensible! Storming into my Restaurant like that.” The Penguin opened the door and looked around his office, crossing it he sat down at his desk and smiled at the metal Penguin statue. His smile turned to a slight frown as he reached his hand out for it. Turning it a fraction of an inch he leaned back and smiled again before his face went serious and he turned to his assistant.

“I want Two-Face brought down!”


Out on the ledge of the building the woman stood, her back pressed against the wall. A hidden smile of exhilaration on her face. She turned and inched along the edge, leaping onto the balcony of a different apartment, peeking in through the French doors she noted it was empty before crossing in front. Extending her hand she launched a line to another building before swinging across and down landing in a crouch on top of a restaurant. Straightening she ran off, over the rooftops into the night.

[Spider-Man9X17]

A gold bucket of water floats over Rayner's head. I will it to tip over, and it overturns onto him. I surpress laughter as he jumps up, yelling and swearing.

"Good, you are awake. I require a charge from your ring."

"Go to hell, Sinestro," Kyle scuttled to his feet as his costume formed around him. "The others may buy this 'goddie-tow-shoes' crap, but you ain't baiting me in."

Kyle's ring crackled with energy, waiting for Sinestro's counter strike.

[Red]

Ra's al Ghul, if anything, if a man with a severe ego. Even worse, it is an ego wrapped inside a code of honor.

I use that to my advantage fighting off his horde of ninjas. I attack Ra's with my mouth.

"You couldn't beat me on your own, so you send your goons? Very honorable, Ra's. Either get back here and face me, or admit that you're a sore loser and take your bow of shame.

"Come on, Ra's! You can't become the martyr you want to be without losing a fight! How can you be satisfied with your 'new world' when you haven't killed me with your bare hands!

"Come on, Goddamnit, FACE ME!"

“You taunts however amusing Detective are trivial, I am not one to be bated into a fight.”

[Infinity9999x]

New member here, I posted my startup form in the sing up thread so I guess I'll just start off now.

Jerves Tech rearranged the small pieces of the motherboard with a calculated skill and speed that was the envy of his coworkers, and consequently was the reason he was so invaluable at WayneTech (one of Bruce Wayne's branch companies.)

After fully assembling the small piece, he leaned back in his chair and streached his cramped muscles. It had certainly been a long day he thought as he glanced up at the small digital clock on his cluttered desk. It was almost time to pick up Alice from the day care.

He smiled as he picked up the small framed picture he kept of her at his work. His six year old daughter smiled back out of him from the photograph, her pretty face framed in her golden blonde hair.

"Hey Jervis," a female voice said behind him. He turned around to see Sue standing over his shoulder.

"Umm, me and a few of the others were wondering if you would want to ...you know go out to lunch sometime....like...like we used to."

Jervis sagged a little in his chair..,"Well...I...no, I mean i need to pick up Alice and...and...well I just don't think I'm quite ready for...well..." He broke off and looked away sadly.

Sue patted his shoulder sympathetically, "You can't let yourself waste away like this. Jenny wouldn't have wanted that."

"I know, I know, thanks Sue, but maybe some other time ok?" Sue looked at him sadly, but nodded her head and walked away, weaving in between the maze of desks in the clustered workplace. Jervis looked over at the other picture on his desk, the one of his deceased wife, Jenny. She was so beautiful. It had been just over two years. Jenny and he had alawys ate lunch with sue and some of the others...but, well...he just couldn't bring himself to start that again. Too many painful memories. They had all tried to help him of course, even Bruce Wayne, a man he had barley met, invited him to his own home a few times and talked with him. He was really a wonderful man, but...but it still couldn't fill that hole inside of him.

Really, he thought to himself as he swung his coat over his shoulder, he probably would have broken down if it wasn't for Alice. She was practically his life. He smiled thinking of all the little games she loved to play with him. He favorite was playing Alice in Wonderland. He'd always dress up as the Mad Hatter (his friends had told him multiple times that he looked like this character. They said he was practically Martin short with blonde hair) and she would always play Alice. How she loved that game.

Well, Jervis thought to himself as he punched his timecard, Alice was going to be in for a treat tonight, he was taking her to the toystore, and she loved buying new dolls. It would be wonderful.
He had no idea how wrong he was.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis stepped out of his car infront of the quaint daycare, the cold wind whipping his face.
"Daddy!" his daughter said happily as she ran into his outstreached arms.

"Did you have a good day today honey?" Jervis asked ruffling his beaming daughter's hair.

"Oh yeah, it was pretty fun. Except for when Jimmy was pulling my hair, but I kicked him in the shin and he stopped, of course then Mrs. Johanson had to come over and....."

Jervis smilled and helped his daughter into the car as she continued her monolouge. She could talk anyone's ear off. Just like her mother....it reminded Jervis of the long phone calls they had so often in colledge....Jervis shook his head as if to brush the painful memory away.

As he pulled himself into the drivers seat on pulled on his seatbelt Alice asked,

"Are we doing anything today daddy?"

"Well...I was thinking about taking a run by the toystore, how about that?" Jervis said, glancing in his rear veiw mirror.

"Oooh yes, really?" Alice said excitedly.

"Yep," Jervis said, a smile upon his face.

"OHH you're the best daddy ever you know that?" Jervis smiled all the way to the store.

Alice took a while to pick out her doll, she was trying to get one that she thought would look most like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. She consulted her father on this many times, and he happily helped her.

"Put on the hat daddy," Alice asked.

"Well..I don't know..."

"Pleeeaaase," She said, giving him that look he couldn't refuse.

"Ohhh alright," Jervis said. He pulled out a large tophat from his trench coat and placed it on his head.

"Tea for two m'dear?" Jervis said in his Hatter voice. Alice smilled and clapped her hands happily. The two continued strolling the aisles chatting in the fashion of Alice and the Hatter, which caused many to stare at them in puzzlement.

After they had purchased their doll, they strolled back outside. Alice walked over to the small bridge that spanned over the channel in the river and gazed at the water for a while, with Jervis standing beside her, his small hand on her shoulder. Just as they turned to walk back to the car, a raggedy looking man stepped out of the shadows.

"Ok funny man, gimmie yer wallet," the mugger said in a rough voice, showing his gun. Jervis instictively stood infront of his daughter...not again. He can't have her, he can't loose her too.

"F...fine, just take whatever you want...please," Jervis said handing over his valuables.

"Gimmie the locket on the kid too," the man said jestering to Alice. Alice's tiny hand instictively went up to cover the locket. It was her mother's , one of the few things she had to remeber her by.

"Please, no, please just go," Jervis begged, but it was too late. The man reached in to grab the locket, and shoved Jervis backwards. Everything seemed to go in slow motion then.

Alice tried to bite the man, he yelled and she kicked at him. Jervis was still falling backwards, he tripped over a rock. The man's hand twiched the gun....a shot.

Jervis had barley hit the ground by the time it was over. Alice lay on the street, her tiny hand still clutching the unopened doll case.

"Oh god...oh god no," Everything in Jervis was breaking. The hole was now a vaccum, sucking everything inside him into oblivion. God no, it wasn't fair...how could you, no no no no NO!

Jervis rushed at the mugger, the man tried to fend him off, but he had gone crazy. He hadn't meant to hurt the kid, his hand just slipped. He shoved the little guy back with all his might, and Jervis fell backwards. His head hit the railing of the bridge hard, and the next thing he knew, his body was tumbling over towards the water.

Jervis stared blankly at the approaching body of water. His reflection growing bigger each second.

So this is how it ends, Jervis thought, through the looking glass.

[wiegeabo]

"Go to hell, Sinestro," Kyle scuttled to his feet as his costume formed around him. "The others may buy this 'goddie-tow-shoes' crap, but you ain't baiting me in."

Kyle's ring crackled with energy, waiting for Sinestro's counter strike.


I fold my arms across my chest. I suppose it could have been worse. Jordan and Stewart would have reacted the same way. Gardner would have attacked, then boasted. I expected Rayner to be different.

But of course, he was asleep. He did know what just happened in Metropolis. That should change.

I walk out of his bedroom, leaving behind a confused Rayner. He follows me out as I create a hand with my ring and turn on his television. Useful devices, I must admit, although far too adictive for these humans. A scan through the channels until I come to a news report replaying and describing what had occured in Metopolis just a short time ago.

I indicate the news coverage. "Please, once again tell me how I am baiting you. My ring has been nearly depleted again. All I require is a recharge." I then ram my point home. "Even Superman defended me; has given me a second chance. For now, that is all I ask."

[MST3K 4ever]

Billy finishes his news-shift and leaves the building. He steps down the back alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Captain Marvel appears and takes to the sky. Well if this going to be my temporary base I might as well enjoy it.

He begins his patrol and hears the people shouting to him and cheering. Remember this is Superman's city he....he hears someone yell," Hey Marvel it's about time someone gave that over-rated bum Superman a run for his money."

Marvel hovers and lands in front of the man who shouted at thim. Marvel says, "Excuse me. I don't think Superman is over-rated at all. In fact when my day is done if I can merely be half-the hero that he is then I will consider it an honor to be mentioned in the same breathe as him." He looks at the gatehring crowd and says, "The world, and especially this city is lucky to have Superman here. He has set the tone for myself and others like me to follow. There is a reason so many of us look to him and it's not just because of his powers...it's the type of person that he is that makes us follow him so willingly. His self-less sacrifice time & again in service to our country and the world should serve as an inspiration to each and everyone of us...regardless if you have powers or not. I am here only trying to help in the war against evil. A war I am honored to fight following Superman's lead." He nods to the crowd and says, "Thank you all for listening to me and have a nice day."

Marvel takes to the sky to continue his patrol.

[Infinity9999x]

The waves gently rocked against the still form of Jervis Tetch lying still on the beach. With a groan, the small man slowly pushed himself up off the sand.

Cold...so...cold. Water...where was he? Oh his head, it hurt so badly. Jervis reached up, fingers lightly brushing against the bleeding bruise on his temple. What had happened? Alice...where was alice?

A flash of memory. Alice, lying on the ground, blood...the blood..no..no NO!
"NO NO NO!" Jervis screamed aloud, waving his hands wildley in the air fighting off his own personal demons only he could see.

He fell to his knees. Oh god why....how.....how could this.....but no...it couldn't have happened...it was too cruel too....far too cruel.

"Why are you kneeling in the water?" a girls voice rang out in the darkness.
Jervis turned his head quickly to see a small girl, her skin pale, basically white. She seemed to glow, almost to float above the ground.

"You must find alice," the girl said, "she's gone down the rabbit hole."

"but..." Jervis said, "but she's she's dea.."

"NOOOO!" the girl let out an ear splitting screach, and pain flashed through Jervis's head. The girls eyes fixed on him...red eyes....red....blood the blood blood around Alice....

Jervis let out a scream of his own, a scream mingled with greif and denial, a scream of a father who had lost all he had ever cared for. Jervis stayed on his knees for a while, then slowly rose back to his feet.

"Down...the rabbit hole....." he muttered. He looked over to the little girl, the deamon created by his mind.

"find your hat," the little girl said, "a hatter is nothing without his hat."

"Hat," Jervis said...slowly nodding his head. He found it moments later, bobbing on the waves.
"find her, must find her," Jervis mumbled. But where had she gone....where...why would she leave him?

"Taken," the little girl said.
"Taken," Jervis repeated, "they took her." He had to find her...had to find Alice...the rabbit hole....she..was down the rabbit hole.

Jervis stumbled off, the deamons of his broken mind driving him on.

[Infinity9999x]

*ok we cleared up the whole Hatter being dead thing. Jervis wasn't really killed when WW went nuts last season, he's just in a coma, those few posts were his origin basically*

Jervis slowly stirred awake. He lay in a hospital bed, everything hurt. And he had no idea what was going on....he heard voices behind him.

"So who is this one nurse?"
"John Doe, no identification, apparently he was wounded in the arkham attack, he's been in a coma for a while. I found his file, no name, the police picked him up for liotering, and apparently they found out he suffered from extreme diliusions and a form of schizophrenia."

The voices talked a bit more then left, and everything came flooding back to Jervis in a wave. He had been taken before he could find Alice...by...by them. They were trying to keep him away from Alice. And then that woman had attacked him, and everyone else....but he had lived. No matter now though, he had to find Alice....but where...
"Down the Rabbit Hole." Jervis turned, and saw the little girl, her red eyes...they reminded him of...

"NO, don't think of that," she said, "you have to find Alice."
Jervis nodded, and pushed himself out of bed. He looked over at a chair in the corner and saw a small bag with his belongings in it labeled "John Doe patient #117."

As he pulled out his belongings he noticed a insigna on the bage. Wayne....it said Wayne...so familiar....

A memory. A big man, he was nice...he had come over to Jervis's apartment just after...after...after he had lost...someone...who was it? He couldn't remeber. But the big man...he had played with Alice and Jervis. He had played the tea party game with them...Alice had liked him.

The memory was gone as quickly as it came, and Jervis pushed it from his mind. He had to find Alice, that was all that was important. He quickly began putting on his clothes.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Kyle grummbled a string of obsenities under his breath as he summoned his power battery.

"Fine. But I still don't like it."

[Nightwing]

A man in a green Robin Hood costume shooting an arrow at another man in a hood.

Green Arrow.

The hooded man vanishes in a puff of smoke, and Green Arrow begins to talk with a woman who I hadn't seen before.

I release some of the gas in my belt (because it's cool), and step towards them.

He sees me, and speaks.

"So glad of you to join us, The Question."

I step closer.

"The Question? I hardly think there's a need to be so formal."


The Question walks up to us all cool and collectecd.

"Only cause my new friend isn't to familiar with your actions."

I look over at Cortez to see her shaking like a leaf. Funny though, I thought she'd be happy Question would be here condiering this is his city. Well part of it anyway....Guess she's never heard of him, which is odd to me. Like I said before about him, The Question can take the fear right out of you.

"I'm going to need your help on a case I'm working on, something involving a connection to Hub and Star City. Have you heard anything about meta drugs flowing these streets ? I can't tell you what I've already been through just to get here! I'm ticked off at the fact that Merlyn is included in all of it."

"Before we get to that though, let me introduce you to Rochelle Cortez." Maybe you've heard of her around Hub, she's a top reporter. She'll be joining us on this little venture, considering she's the one who got me into this mess. I seem to be to much of a babe magnet....."


Question pauses and looks at us both. I can already tell he's thinking of how to reply to my questions, his detective skills are on par only to Batman. Thats why I could really use his help on this one.

I wait for an answer.

[The Question]

Cortez. I've read her stuff. She's pretty good.

"Well, it's nice to meat you, Ms. Cortez."

".....likewise."

I turn back to Green Arrow.

"I haven't heard much about the new drug trades. Some rumors here and there, but nothing substantial. Talk about new dealers peddling illegal preformance enhancers. They must be just starting up. You obviously seem to know more than I do, so what drugs are we talking about? Venom? Gingold? Miraclo? Velocity-9?"

[Nightwing]

"Seems like Venom, recently the meta's in Star have been getting bigger. My arrows can't even go through them, thats how big they are. It's the stuff that made Bane what he is today. As you can see, the more time I waste, the more time I'm giving for the innocents I swore to protect to be lead into danger....MASSIVE danger."

I think for a second. Cortez after being properly intoduced, is comfortable now around us both. She steps up to say something....

"So what are we waiting for? We have to find out where they'll strike next right?"

"Thats why we need a game plan, we have to be where they'll least expect us to be. Im sure by now Merlyn knows Im on to him. I have a feeling, that he'll be back in Star sooner or later. Since he keeps moving back and forth. But I'm going to some more digging while I'm here. I came here to find some leads, I might aswell continue.

I pack back my bow and then turn to Question, I wonder if he'll assist.

"Question, I could use some help on this one. Care to join in? Maybe I can find him quicker if we team up, you know this city better then I do obviously. Cortez will go where ever I go, and Im thinking about calling Arsenal."

"I can't wait to get my hands on Merlyn. Not to mention how there will be tons os his assassins around us, so the more back up I have the less chance I'll have of getting killed haha."

I chuckle at that one.

[The Question]

"Alright. First, we've got to figure out where this Merlyn guy's operating from. Venom's a coctail of steroids and other stimulants, so the process of making it would be quite complex. They'll probably need a very large space to keep up production. Or, if they're smart, they probably have smaller labs scattered across the city. Could be either."

[Keyser Soze]

Iron Heights. The maximum-security prison three miles north of Keystone City. The place was well known to The Joker. He liked Arkham Asylum, so much so that it was almost a shame to hear that Wonder Woman demolished the place! HA HA! In Arkham, they were obsessed with rehabilitation, with all these quacks trying to help you discover your inner gerbil or some crap like that.

But Iron Heights was different. This joint was run by a man named Gregory Wolfe, and he ran the place with an iron fist. HA HA, the iron fist of Iron Heights! The Joker had heard stories of inmates being beaten and tortured every day just for being there, and rumour had it that Wolfe himself had a kind of metahuman power that allowed him to mentally tense up muscles and cause all kinds of pain. Well, today, The Joker was the one bringing the pain! HA HA!

"Okay, boys (and girl), here's the plan," he cackled, "Once we're inside, I want Scarecrow to release his fear gas. I want everyone in a panic - guards and inmates alike. Let's create some chaos! HA HA!"

The Joker looked through the windscreen. The gloomy structure of Iron Heights was getting closer. Soon, it would be time to react.

"Mirror Master, I'd like for you to teleport all over the building," The Joker continued, "Screw up their security systems, unlock all the cell doors. And if you find any groups of guards trying to build up a resistance, take care of them."

Of course, all this was a smoke-screen. The Joker was taking care of what they were really here for personally.

"Solomon Grundy, Harley Quinn and myself will make our way into The Pipeline," The Joker explained, "As you probably know, The Pipeline is where Wolfe holds the metahuman prisoners, in specially designed cells. Gorilla Grodd will be in the deepest, darkest corner of that pipeline. If Mirror Master does his job, all the security systems will be shut down, and it will just be a matter of Solly here breaking down the walls. Then, in the midst of a fear-induced riot, we'll all make our escape, with a new teammate among us. Genius! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Iron Heights was close now. The guards on watch duty had probably spotted the ice-cream van speeding towards them.

"Sounds like a great plan, Mr. J," Harley Quinn replied, "But...how are we gonna get through those outer walls?"

"Simple, snookums," The Joker chuckled, "By offering them ICE CREAM! HAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker pressed a few buttons on the dashboard. And then, the giant ice-cream cone on the van's roof took flight, heading straight for Iron Heights. It was, of course, a high-powered missile. So powerful, in fact, that upon impact, the towering explosion left a gaping hole in the front wall of Iron Heights.

"Let's get this show on the road..."

[Watchman]

The ice cream truck raced right into Iron Heights prison which now looked like a warzone because of Joker's missle. Guards headed for the ice cream truck.

"Everyone hold their breath" he told them as he step out of the truck and walked toward the guards. He placed his hand in the pockets reaching for his new toy.

"Put your arms on your head" one screamed. Scarecrow obeyed and took his toy out of his pocket. "What's the hell is that?" ask the guard.

"What...this?" he brought done his arm to about head level "Scary isn't it? It's called a shruken head" he threw it down in the mass of guards which exploded and released a cloud of gas. The guards started to cough but soon it turned into screaming. He reached over and took some keys and and gun from a guard and headed for the the insides of Iron Heights.

Once inside Scarecrow saw more guards trying to bring down some inmates. He raised the gun in the air and fired. The guards jumped in the air to respond but it was to late. Gas cirlce the whole group.

"bOO...sCaREd YoU?" He ran from them into another room a much bigger then the last one where many guards where fighting with inmates. He raised the gun in the air and fired to get their attention.

"Gentlemen there's no reason to fight when we could live in FEaR!" it seemed that fear gas erupted from every pore in Scarecrow body covering this place. Moments later fires started, there was gun fire, killing, beating, maiming... Scarecrow was having so much fun watching fear rip these people apart.

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker emerged from the ice-cream van. The others were still in the van - probably waiting for the gas to disperse - but The Joker wanted to be right in there amidst the anarchy, relish in it. He didn't need to worry about the fear gas: he'd established long ago that it had no effect on him. He was fearless! HA HA! Walking through the mist of fear gas, The Joker spotted Scarecrow, gunning down people with wild abandon.

"Mmmmmm......is this a new flavour you've got, Crane? HA HA!"

A screaming prisoner rushed towards The Joker, waving a guard's night-stick in the air. The Joker casually side-stepped him, flicking out the knife in his cane and slitting the prisoner's throat. Backing away from the arterial spray, The Joker approached a guard, cowering in the corner. The Joker knelt down next to him, putting an arm over his shoulder.

"What do you see, my quivering friend?"

"B-bats," the guard whimpered, "Oh God, there are...bats everywhere!"

"Ah, bats," replied The Joker, "I'm not to fond of those myself. I know. You tell me how to get to The Pipeline, and I'll make them go away."

With a trembling voice, the guard told The Joker where to go. The Joker grinned gratefully, and snapped the guard's neck.

"Thank you kindly," he said, tapping his cane against the ground.

The Joker walked through the halls of the prison, casually stepping over the dead bodies. He mused over what Gregory Wolfe was doing right now. If he was smart, he would be locked up in his office, praying that the big scary supervillains didn't have the time to hunt him down and slaughter him. His thoughts were cut off when he reached a thick steel door that stretched right up to the ceiling.

"Oh dear," The Joker gasped, "This looks like a job for a super-strong zombie!"

The Joker sniffed the air. The fear gas was beginning to dissipate. And besides, The Joker wasn't even sure if it would have any effect on Grundy.

"Solly, a little help here?"

[Spike_x1]

Lex rose out of bed at the crack of dawn and began the same process as every other morning. He hummed an upbeat tune to himself to perk him up for the day's coming activities as he showered and shaved. As the maid was brewing the coffee, Luthor checked his E-mail, ignoring the blonde supermodel who was still slumbering in his bed. "Computer: Access inbox." A formation of hard-light monitors appeared floating around Lex, keeping pace with him as he strolled around his penthouse, doing his morning exercises and various other activities.

Lex took a moment to pause and look at the central screen and noticed dozens of new messages, but one in particular caught his eye. It was simply titled 'Gotham.' He instructed the computer to open the mail. It contained a notice from his personal courier who had received a reply from Two-Face in Gotham City. In the E-mail was a transcription of Harvey Dent's refusal. Once Lex finished reading the letter, he began chuckling, which soon grew into full-blown laughter.

Once Lex had calmed down and completed his morning routine, he left a note for the girl who was still asleep. The note was the usual; 'I had a good time last night, I'll call you, etc, etc.' He actually had to ponder for a full minute before remembering what the girl's name was to write on the note.

After Luthor had reached the ground floor and climbed into the limousine to head to the Towers, he placed a call to his Bodyguard. "Joseph, I want you to have our agents find Black Mask in Gotham City, wherever he's hiding. Once he's found, our operatives are to give him whatever weapons and funding he wants in order to kill Two-Face. Tell the agents not to even mention the Syndicate to him. Yet. This will be an honest gift from me to him. By the time he actually gets the message, a windfall of two million dollars will be in Roman Sionis' swiss accounts. Have the agents tell Black Mask that there will be plenty more where that came from and all he needs to do in return is wage war on Harvey Dent. I don't even care if he wins, really." Lex hung up, leaned back, and opened the latest edition of The Planet. As he read, his mind couldn't help but wander; if he couldn't have a foothold in Gotham, then he might as well make the city a warzone for anyone who actually does have a foothold.

[wiegeabo]

Kyle grummbled a string of obsenities under his breath as he summoned his power battery.

"Fine. But I still don't like it."


I sigh to myself. I knew convincing the Lanterns wouldn't be easy. They would be the least likely to give me a chance. But the fact that Rayner hasn't attacked me while my ring is low on charge shows promise.

I look at his power battery. I still am not comfortable charging from them rather than rings. Too many...unpleasant memories. I take a moment, then cautiously put my ring to the lantern. The energy flows into my ring. Strange, it feels a little...odd. It must be the Oan energy interacting with the remnants of Marvels energy. But that doesn't make complete sense, unless his energy was from an...atypical source. Again I remind myself to 'ask' him about it.

The ring feels normal again. And is fully charged. Excellent.

"So...what can I do to assuage your fears?"

[Johnny Blaze]

The Mirror Master had disappeared from the van's back door as soon as the missile struck Iron Heights. He had a job to do after all, and it was time to go to work.
Sewing the seeds of confusion, McCulloch began teleporting everywhere in the facility. And every once in a while he'd drop a glass grenade on some unsuspecting guards. The grenades would explode and the shrapnel would slice them to ribbons.
After taking out another group of guards by sending them to mirror dimension, McCulloch made his way into the control center.
The place was bustling with activity as guards ran around frantically activating security systems and making sure to contain the inmates. In the midst of the organized chaos is where McCulloch saw the catch of the day: Wolfe. The Warden stood among his troops, barking orders as his facility was under attack. McCulloch smiled. It was time for some payback for what he's done to his fellow Rogues.

"God dammit, I said I want this place locked down now! Nothing in or out!"

"Why the hell hasn't a strike team been sent out yet!? I want a team on those *******s immediately! GO!"

"And I want that ****ing clown brought to me alive! Move!"

As Wolfe moved from station to station getting in the guard's faces Mirror Master made his move. As the warden was heading to another guard, he melted into the floor.

"What the---" was all he was able to get out before he was gone.
Suddenly, Mirror Master's smiling visage appeared in all the monitors in the colossal room commanding the attention of every guard in the place.
"Don't worry lads, I did ye a favor. Won't have ta worry 'bout that bastard ever again."

As he finished his sentence the Mirror Master's face disappeared and was replaced by the warden being chased by demons as he was trapped in hellish dimension.
"As ye can see, looks like the warden is a bit busy at the moment", said the Mirror Master as his face returned to the monitors.
"Now then...I'm feelin' a wee bit gracious t'day, so I'm givin' you all five seconds to clear out of here. Any man still in here when I finish countin' down joins the warden in the afterlife. Five...four...three..."

As McCulloch began his countdown, frightened guards began to scramble over each other to get the rooms only exit. It was chaos as they burst open the doors running into the hallway outside the control center...and each one of them falling into the tile floor as they went.

"Whoops! I forgot to tell you ta watch that first step", said a smiling McCulloch as he went to work taking out the remaining guards. Two got glass lances through the throat and forehead, and another one was gutted from his reflection. The final group was simply turned into glass and shattered into a million pieces by McCulloch as he entered the room.
With the room secured, McCulloch reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a tiny mirror. Inside the mirror were all the guards that had evacuated the room during his countdown. They all appeared to be trapped in some Limbo-esque mirror world.
"All right, boys...listen up. The first one who's willin' to help me gets outta there. The rest are left to rot. So...which one of you fine gents can show me how to release the prisoners?"
At first no one spoke up, but finally one of the younger guards said something.
"I--I c-can help you. Just get me out of here!"
McCulloch smiled as he made the guard disappear from his prison and melt up from the tile floor. The other guards were protesting their colleagues's betrayal as McCulloch put the mirror back in his belt pouch.

"All right, lad", said McCulloch as he looked at the frightened guard, "here's what I want ye to do. I want ye to release all the prisoners in the entire facility. I don't ye even think about arguin' with me or tryin' anything, or I'll send ya ta meet your old warden."
The guard froze for a second not knowing what to do, but then slowly nodded his head and complied. Moving to a large console the guard pressed a series of buttons, and in all the monitors McCulloch could see that all the cell doors were opening and all the bonds holding the meta prisoners were being shut down.
Every prisoner was now free.

"Very good, Alice", said a smiling Mirror Master as he watched the entire population begin to leave their cells.
"Now then", said McCulloch as he turned his attention to the guard, aiming his gun at him, "ye did good, but you've run out of usefulness."

"W-wait! I c-can still help!"

"Sorry, Alice", said McCulloch with a cold look, "but you're done."

The guard disappeared in a flash of light as McCulloch fired the gun. With all the guards in the immediate area dealt with, the warden no longer a problem, and the prisoners free McCulloch disappeared into a monitor. It was time to see how his teammates were fairing.

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

Reappearing in a small lake a few miles away, the guard was stunned at what had just transpired. After swimming to shore, the guard simply curled up into a ball along the bank and cried. His thoughts filled with what had occurred to his fellows and his warden, and of how he had betrayed them to save his own skin.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis was just straightening his tophad and smoothing the wrinkles in his trenchcoat as a nurse appeared in the room.

"Oh!" she said with a surprised expresion, "Sir...I'm sorry but you can't leave..."

Jervis stared at her, his wild eyes glowing. Them again! They were trying to keep Alice from him....but nothing would stop him from getting to Alice...nothing.

"I'm late," Jervis replied, his hand slowly fastening around the small chair leg of the chair his clothes had been sitting on, "I'm late."

"Sir.."
"OFF WITH HER HEAD!" Jervis screamed, and hurled the chair at the nurse. The seat collided with her temple and she crumpled to the ground. Jervis rushed past the fallen woman and out the door. For a few moments no body noticed him, then he heard a scream behind him.
"Stop that man! He's a murderer!" Someone yelled, but Jervis was already halway down the flight of stairs to the exit. By the time a few of the doctors got outside he was gone, vanished into the maze of Gotham's side streets and alleyways. Down the Rabbit hole.

[LibrarianThorne]

He leaned back in his chair, and smiled to himself. It had been a hard day's work. First, the Weather Wizard in London, then the Qwardians in Metropolis, and then there was that giant, rocket powered ape in Phoenix that he had to deal with. Then, of course, there was the writeup on the alien invasion in Metropolis and Perry had started him on a piece on the gangs that ran Suicide Slum. It was nothing out of the ordinary for him, really.

Lois swiveled her chair around, taking a break from her piece on the civil war in Khandaq. "So, where do you want to go for dinner, Clark?"
He checked the time on his computer. It was almost seven, time for everyone to leave the Planet and go home for the day.
"Hmmm, good question, Lois. I know this really great Chinese place..."
"Let me guess, somewhere in China, right?"
"Naturally."
"I was in the mood for Italian, to be honest."
"I think I can manage that."

Perry and Jimmy stopped by Lois and Clark's cubicle. "Lane, Kent, good work on the invasion piece today. Olsen's a damn fool for flying into the middle of it and taking those shots, but they should look good on the front page tomorrow."
Jimmy blushed. "What can I say, Chief? Sometimes you gotta do the dangerous stuff to get the best shots."
"Now Jimmy, you can't go off and do stuff like you did today. It's too dangerous, and you don't have invulnerability like Superman."
"Aw, c'mon Mr. Kent. You're telling me not to do all the dangerous stuff? You've been in Iraq, Pokolistan, and Khandaq. You've been in the middle of a south American rain forest when a drug bust was going on. And you're telling me not to do the dangerous stuff?"
He had to give Jimmy credit, he did have a point.
"Jimmy, listen to Perry and all of us. One of these days, you're going to get hurt. We wouldn't all bring it up so much if we didn't care about you."
"All right Ms. Lane. I'll be more careful next time."

************************************************** **

Lois and Clark walked out of the Daily Planet building together. They headed into a little known back alley behind the Planet.
"So Clark, the usual? Meet me at the apartment in forty five?"
"Sure thing, Lois."
They kissed each other, briefly, and then he was gone. She smiled to herself, and walked to her car.
He was soaring above Metropolis, casting about with his microscopic vision. It was a rather quiet Monday night in Metropolis.

His superhearing picked up the squeal of breaks. He followed the sound, and saw a bus speeding into a busy intersection. He flew down, a blur of red, and stood in front of the truck, bracing his hands against it.

[Watchman]

"There's one now, get him!' screamed a guard in full riot gear. Tow other guard with night sticks knocked down Scarecrow. One of the guards raised their nightstick but Scarecrow punched him in his stomach. His fist went right through the man. Scarecrow was as shock as the other two.

"Jesus" said the other guard who fumbled for his gun. Scarecrow picked him up by his neck and pinned him against the wall. There was a loud SNAP and the guard fell down limp. The last one tried to make a run for it but Scarecrow tackled him.

"Gas mask how I hate them" he ripped the mask off the guard and punched him in the face expecting it to be completly destroy but nothing happened. "How disapponiting", he covered his whole hand over the guard's face and released the gas. Screaming came from guard. Scarecrow grabbed the guard's the taser and shove it into his eye.

He looked over at the two guards who he killed, "Where did this come from". He looked down at his hands, "The pain and this power must be connected and there is only one conclusion I can come up with":

Keystone City- Some time ago in a place between time and space

"It's over Crane." the Queation said

"CRaNe Is nO MOre...nOw It'S OnLY SCARECROW" the fear demon said and threw a punch knocking the Question down.

"bE AFrAiD BE vErY AfAIrd HaHAhA" the Scarecrow demon approached the Question.

"Well I didn't think you would listen to me that's why I brought a friend", Dr Fate appeared and cast a spell the next thing Scarecrow knew he was in Keystone city standing right next to Dr. Fate and the Question. The Question punched Scarecrow in the face knocking him out.

Iron Heigts-now

Could there still be magic left in my system..could I be turning into a monster Scarecrow thought to himself. He started to look for the others.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis ran, he didn't know where he was, or what he was doing, but he ran. They kept haunting him...the memories, flashes, quick darts of realization that vanished as quick as they came. They hounded him.

"I'm late I'm late I'm late!" Jervis muttered to himself. He had to find Alice, the rabbit hole was a very scary place, one had to be careful. The Queen was not always kind to vistors.

He found himself entering an old apartment building...he didn't know why...it just seemed so familiar... He walked to room 156, and found a key under the mat. He felt like he had done this before...

He entered the room, and another flash of memory. Alice laughin, sitting at the old oak table...the big man whispering to him
"See? You have lots to be thankfull for...."

Gone again...Jervis shook his head. Why wouldn't they leave him alone!?
He wandered into the apartment...the old oak table...here...it was one of the tea party places. Tea...that was it! He needed tea cups! How could one have a tea party without tea cups? Jervis walked over to one of the cupards and removed serveral of the china teacups Alice loved to play with. They had been her moth...

"No time you're late!" the little girl was back again, she stared at him, the red eyes...they made him want to leave. He had to leave...find Alice.

As he started down the stairwell, the sounds of footsteps came to his ear, and Jervis ducked into a recess in the wall behind a vending machine. He didn't know why he was hiding, he only knew he didn't want to be seen.

Moments later a man appeared, the big man, the one from his memories! He halted at the door. He looked sad, very sad.

"So much loss..." he muttered to himself. For a moment he stood staring at the door, like he didn't want to enter, then he pulled out a key and opened it, "someone has to clean out the apartment, he didn't have any family."

Jervis stayed still, and listened to the man rummage around in the apartment...then silence. Jervis peaked his head around the vending machine and saw the man standing stock still, staring at the open cupards. He seemed to be examining the disturbed dust on the wood. Then he took a few steps back and shook his head.
"Doesn't make sense..." the big man muttered to himself. He poked around the apartment for a little while longer, then turned and left.

Jervis waited a good long time just to make sure, then walked outside and vanished down a side alleyway. That had been close...the big man almost found out he had been there....who was the big man? Was he one of them? One of the ones who were trying to keep him from Alice?
"No consequence," the little girl said, her red eyes leaping in front of him again, "you must find Alice."

"time for tea," jervis said aloud with a frantic nod, "time for tea."

[Spike_x1]

The limousine was flowing through traffic very nicely. As they came within a block of the LexCorp Towers, a bus squeeled through a red light and sped by Lex's window, bringing a smile to his face. He watched the inevitable blue and red streak of colors go after the bus and turned his cell phone on. He dialed up the number for LexCorp's Research and Development labs. The second in command of the facility answered the call.

"Lex Labs, this is Gloria speaking."

"Good morning Gloria," said Lex.

"Oh, Mr. Luthor. Wh-what can I do for you?" The woman's anxiety leaked to the other end of the line.

"Gloria, do remember the big red button that I pointed out to you after the demonstration of the TeleMatrix 6?"

"Uh, yes. Yes I do. In fact, it's right in front of me now."

"Do recall how I instructed you never to touch that button without my authorization?" Lex didn't wait for a reply, "Well Gloria, my dear, I want you to push that button. Now."

Luthor couldn't bare to be distracted from what was about to happen before his very eyes. He quickly hung up the phone, not waiting for Gloria's confirmation of completing such a simple task. His attention needed to be focused on Superman as the Alien laid his extra-terrestrial claws on the runaway vehicle.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis stumbled through the alleyways. He had to find Alice, he must. As he walked by a small store, he saw a tiny girl walking out of it, holding a woman's hand. A small lock of hair flashed out under her hat...a small lock of golden hair.

Jervis froze..."Alice?" he whispered. But who was the woman? Alice didn't know any older ladies...unless...the Queen! The Queen wasn't very friendly, she'd hurt Alice....she'd...
"off her with head," Jervis muttered. He stalked forward, and picked up a heavy chunk of broken ashvault from the old street. As the mother and child rounded a corner, Jervis jumped forward and brought the large rock down on the womans head. She crumpled imediatley.

The little girl was already crying, knealing down next to her mother. "Mommy...mommy please wake up...please." Jervis was confused. Why was Alice crying? He was here now...they were together.
"Alice...it's time for tea," Jervis said knealing down next to her and showing her one of his china tea cups. The girl backed away from him, shaking slightly. Something was wrong...Alice loved to play tea party... Jervis leaned forward and studied her face...wait...it wasn't Alice!

She was one of them, the ones trying to keep Alice away from him! WHY, WHY WERE THEY DOING THIS? Jervis let out a yell and smashed his teacup on the brick wall. Then slowly turned to the girl.
"off with her head..." he slowly walked towards the girl holding the shards of the teacup in his hand.

A scream rang out in the night, no passerby's stopped to investigate. In this town, you learned to leave well enough alone.

Jervis dropped the little body from his hands. What...the tea cup was broken...why..where was Alice...what was going on...something...he had done something horrible....
"No," the little girl again, "you're late. Find Alice."
"Yes," jervis said, "find Alice..." He trudged off, resuming his search.

[SuperFerret]

I awake in my cell, and realize that the door was open. Interesting.

Suspecting a trap, I scan the surrounding area with my telepathy, finding the minds of the most intruiging individuals in the prison. Mirror Master. Scarecrow. Solomon Grundy. The girl called Peek-a-Boo, though she had just teleported out of Iron Heights as my mind touched hers, leaving the resulting explosion behind to destroy a good chunk of the prison's kitchen. But the most interesting individual, especially given the fact that he was here to "rescue" me, had to be the tall, thin man with the pale skin.

The Joker.

"Very interesting indeed."

[LibrarianThorne]

The limousine was flowing through traffic very nicely. As they came within a block of the LexCorp Towers, a bus squeeled through a red light and sped by Lex's window, bringing a smile to his face. He watched the inevitable blue and red streak of colors go after the bus and turned his cell phone on. He dialed up the number for LexCorp's Research and Development labs. The second in command of the facility answered the call.

"Lex Labs, this is Gloria speaking."

"Good morning Gloria," said Lex.

"Oh, Mr. Luthor. Wh-what can I do for you?" The woman's anxiety leaked to the other end of the line.

"Gloria, do remember the big red button that I pointed out to you after the demonstration of the TeleMatrix 6?"

"Uh, yes. Yes I do. In fact, it's right in front of me now."

"Do recall how I instructed you never to touch that button without my authorization?" Lex didn't wait for a reply, "Well Gloria, my dear, I want you to push that button. Now."

Luthor couldn't bare to be distracted from what was about to happen before his very eyes. He quickly hung up the phone, not waiting for Gloria's confirmation of completing such a simple task. His attention needed to be focused on Superman as the Alien laid his extra-terrestrial claws on the runaway vehicle.

He didn't know what happened. It was just a simple thing, something he'd done countless times before. Stop an out of control vehicle before it smashes into an intersection. He'd done it a million times or more. What in the name of God had just happened?

Review it in your head. You've got super-memory for a reason. He'd flown down, and put his hands on the bus. Plain as day. Then... then why had the bus crashed into the department store across the street? No one of that kind of strength was around. No one... but him.

For the first time in a great while, Superman was shocked. There was only one conclusion. Somehow, he must've thrown the bus.

There was no time to worry about that now. He scanned the bus with his x-ray vision. The people inside were hurt, but he didn't see anything serious. He flew into the enormous hole the bus had made in the department store. The front end of the bus was wrecked, the windshield a spider-web of broken glass. He ripped off the jammed door, and started taking people out of the bus as quickly as he dared. There were broken arms and cuts, but most of the people were still in shock. In the distance, he heard the wail of ambulances. He sighed to himself. They'd be able to do more here to help these people, but until they got here, he was the only aid they had. He'd made it to the middle of the bus before he noticed that one man wasn't moving. His head still rested against the headrest of the seat in front of him. His head was covered in orange hair.

Oh God...

He moved him back. His fears were confirmed. It was Jimmy. Blood still leaked from a wound on his forehead. Superman gathered Jimmy up in his arms, and ran out of the bus. When he was outside the ruins of the department store, he leapt into the sky, heading for Metropolis General Hospital. Moments later, he arrived. He burst through the emergency room doors. The reception nurse looked up, and saw the man held in Superman's arms. She ran and grabbed a wheelchair, and brought it before the Man of Steel. He bent down, laying Jimmy in it.
"You'll see to it that he gets the best of care? He's a personal friend of mine."
She nodded, and wheeled him away.

Superman stood in the emergency room, dozens of eyes fixed on him. He looked around, still shocked. He still didn't know what had happened, why he had thrown the bus into the department store.

He walked out of the hospital, and flew into the air. His mind was a confused jumble of thoughts and images, feelings and logic. What had happened?

[MST3K 4ever]

Captian Marvel lands near WKLS. He went into the alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Might as well see if what I said about Superman made the news yet.

Billy Batson then walks into the studios at which point the receptionist says, "Billy did you hear? There was a bus accident, and Superman was involved." Billy replies, "Oh I guess he saved the day as usual." She hakes her head and says, "No, the reports are very sketchy. Some witnesses say he caused it." Billy's jaw drops slowly and he says shaking his head, "No that can't be...no. He couldn't have done that..no." She says, "Like I said everything is sketchy right now...if this were a criminal case against Superman the evidence would be circumstancial, but I don't know lately Superman has been getting some serious bad press. If it wasn't for Captain Marvel being here it would probably be the lead story on a nightly basis." Billy is dumbfounded as he says, "Yeah lucky for Metropolis that he's here."

He leaves the studio visibly shaken...Superman throwing buses??? No way! If anyone can take the heat it's him but everyone has their breaking point maybe he finally reached his. Just as the wisdom of Solomon tells him..."things are not always as they appear...find your friend and ask him."

Billy heads down the same alley and says, "SHAZAM!"

KABOOM!!!!
Captain Marvel takes to the air. There is no way I can believe this about Superman...if anything right now he might need a friend to talk to and I like to think I can fill that role for him.

[SuperFerret]

I awake in my cell, and realize that the door was open. Interesting.

Suspecting a trap, I scan the surrounding area with my telepathy, finding the minds of the most intruiging individuals in the prison. Mirror Master. Scarecrow. Solomon Grundy. The girl called Peek-a-Boo, though she had just teleported out of Iron Heights as my mind touched hers, leaving the resulting explosion behind to destroy a good chunk of the prison's kitchen. But the most interesting individual, especially given the fact that he was here to "rescue" me, had to be the tall, thin man with the pale skin.

The Joker.

"Very interesting indeed."

I began to wander the prison, curiously observing the panicked guards as they ran from unseen terrors. Most likely the work of the Scarecrow's fear gas. I was looking for the Joker, I needed to ask him some questions. First and foremost, what reasons he had for breaking me out. Not that I wasn't grateful, this will save me the trouble, but one wonders why a madman like the clown would do such a potentially selfless act (though no doubt he's reveling in the chaos) when he himself did not see any gains from it. In all likelyhood, he's looking for what those pompous "super heroes" call a "team-up". I just hope he doesn't think that a talking gorilla would be a perfect addition to some kind of sick circus he'd put together or something of similar stupidity.

Note to self: Kill him if he even thinks about a circus.

[Keyser Soze]

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I tell you any more, I'm going to show you the greatest thing your eyes have ever beheld. He was a king and a god in the world he knew, but now he comes to civilization merely a captive - a show to gratify your curiosity."

The Joker approached Grodd, Solomon Grundy close behind him. He wanted to be sure he had some protection to back him up. Grodd was not known for being a team player, and would only work with others if he would profit from it. And while The Joker did have something to offer all his teammates, they were going to have to work for it.

"Gorilla Grodd, a pleasure to meet you again," said The Joker, giving a little bow, "You have been imprisoned, humiliated. How would you like to get some revenge? Join us, and together, we can strike at the human race, right where it hurts the most."

[Electro UK]

"War with Harvey Dent?" Black Mask said as a weapons cache as dropped at his feet. He opened it up to find heavy weaponary inside. A huge smile spread across this face. "My my my Mr Luthor you have been busy. With this kind of merchandise, I'd go to war with America... not a bad idea. Maybe I'll do that once I've got complete control of Gotham."

He stuck his hand into his pocket and produced a coin. "Heads or tails?" he asked an agent.

"Uh...tails." Black Mask flipped the coin. It landed on heads.

"Ha! I win!" he pulled a pistol from the cache and blasted the coin. "Gentlemen, consider Harvey Dent a dead man." he turned to his guards. "It's time to strike. Go to the docks and find Dent's stock building that we have been surveying, kill everyone inside and write the words, "Dent is dead" on the walls inside." he handed a mask to one guard. It had two halfs to it, just like Two-Face. "Nail this next to the message."

As his men left, Black Mask smiled to himself. "I can picture the masterpiece now."

[batnkevlar]

"You didn't have to rub it in Gar."

Looking around at the mess that surrounded me, a wave of depression swept over me. This was going to take forever.

"Clean up duty? Enjoy playing the leader don't ya?"

"Word," I try saying with a straight face.

***

We're in the Tower, lounging about, just ol' Beast Boy and the Second Coming of Krypton.

"So, really, how's it goin between you and Cassie? Bad times? I'm thinking of taking Bette to Smallville High's prom, you know, as chaperones and all that jazz."

[SuperFerret]

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I tell you any more, I'm going to show you the greatest thing your eyes have ever beheld. He was a king and a god in the world he knew, but now he comes to civilization merely a captive - a show to gratify your curiosity."

The Joker approached Grodd, Solomon Grundy close behind him. He wanted to be sure he had some protection to back him up. Grodd was not known for being a team player, and would only work with others if he would profit from it. And while The Joker did have something to offer all his teammates, they were going to have to work for it.

"Gorilla Grodd, a pleasure to meet you again," said The Joker, giving a little bow, "You have been imprisoned, humiliated. How would you like to get some revenge? Join us, and together, we can strike at the human race, right where it hurts the most."

"Revenge? Surely, Joker, you know I can achieve vengeance on my own, without joining your little group." I stoop, bringing my eyes in line with the eyes of Gotham's premier madman. I can tell he's betting on Grundy being able to hold me off if I had any intentions of devouring him. I wonder if he knows that we "bestial villains" would rather eat our own fecal matter before taking a single bite from his putridly contaminated form.

"I accept your offer to 'strike at the human race', partly because I do owe you for releasing me, and partly because I want to see who exactly is pulling the strings around here, because even our friend Solomon could plainly see that this operation was far too organized for your particular tastes."

I stand again at my full height, and take a quick look around, "Now that your, or shall I say 'our' objective is completed, what is our next move?"

[Franklin Richards]

"Revenge? Surely, Joker, you know I can achieve vengeance on my own, without joining your little group." I stoop, bringing my eyes in line with the eyes of Gotham's premier madman. I can tell he's betting on Grundy being able to hold me off if I had any intentions of devouring him. I wonder if he knows that we "bestial villains" would rather eat our own fecal matter before taking a single bite from his putridly contaminated form.

"I accept your offer to 'strike at the human race', partly because I do owe you for releasing me, and partly because I want to see who exactly is pulling the strings around here, because even our friend Solomon could plainly see that this operation was far too organized for your particular tastes."

I stand again at my full height, and take a quick look around, "Now that your, or shall I say 'our' objective is completed, what is our next move?"


"Grundy want out. Grundy no like prison. Monkey Man no like prison. Monkey am smart."

Solomon Grundy turned towards where he thought the Ice Cream van was. With the power of a juggernaut Grundy hurtles towards the van. No man made structure could stop him. A tunnel of sorts appeared from their current location to the Van. Grundy walked without fear through the Scarecrow's gas. Considering Solomon Grundy didn't breathe, he didn't even slow down.

Grundy boarded the Van and began to eat the last of the Cookies and Cream.


"Grundy want more Cookies and Cream."


:marv: :marv: :marv:

[Keyser Soze]

"Grundy want out. Grundy no like prison. Monkey Man no like prison. Monkey am smart."

Solomon Grundy turned towards where he thought the Ice Cream van was. With the power of a juggernaut Grundy hurtles towards the van. No man made structure could stop him. A tunnel of sorts appeared from their current location to the Van. Grundy walked without fear through the Scarecrow's gas. Considering Solomon Grundy didn't breathe, he didn't even slow down.

Grundy boarded the Van and began to eat the last of the Cookies and Cream.


"Grundy want more Cookies and Cream."


:marv: :marv: :marv:

The Joker looked at the hole in the wall, then back at Gorilla Grodd. He comically raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Grundy has spoken," he said, "And I think he speaks for all of us. HA HA!"

The Joker began walking towards the exit, motioning for Scarecrow, Mirror Master and Grodd to follow him.

"As for what the plan is, I have it all figured out. And let me tell you - it's a doozy! HA HA! I'll explain it once we're all in the van and out of this cozy little place."

[Hyper Venom]

Iron Heights...

Zoom had visited the facility meerly for sentimal reasons. He wanted to see a couple of former colleagues, though he obviously couldn't speak with them. He had no intention of staying long. In the last two minutes, he had visited his old apartment, the police station he used to work at, the house he grew up in, the amusement park he used to visit with Ashley, the baseball diamond he used to play at as a child, the house where his father and law was murdered, his father in law's grave, his parents' grave, Ashley's grave, and finally Iron Heights.

Ever since his encounter with Saturn Girl, Zoom had been soul searching. She did something to him...changed him. Hunter Zolomon, in some capacity, was in there somewhere. But Zoom was still dominant. He had hoped to find a balance by visiting places that reminded him of his past. He only came to Iron Heights to see a few familiar faces and be on his way.

But he wasn't prepared for this...

It was a riot. Or, more specifically, a breakout. There were bodies everywhere. Several rooms in the facility had been set ablaze. A strange fog roamed through the halls. Judging by the panicked reactions of the surviving personnel, it wasn't hard for Zoom to deduce that it was the Scarecrow's fear toxin that had garnered such a reaction.

Zoom could leave.

Hunter could stop them.

What would be the right thing to do?

He would stop them. If he were to truly redeem himself, he would have to put an end to this breakout immediately. He could easily apprehend whoever was in the building. He had to change his ways. He was a changed man. He would redeem himself.

With that, Zoom took off. Running through the halls, Zoom noticed many criminals that he had come to recognize through his many years as a profiler. He took mental note of each one as he ran past them, taking an inventory of names.

"GirderMirrorMasterMrZsasz..."

He continued to run through the halls, inspecting them to see who was in the building.

"MurmurBlacksmithPeekabooFallout..."

Still he ran...

"TheTopTarPitScarecrow..."

And ran...

"JokerGrundyGrodd..."

...and he stopped.

"Grodd..."

Grodd...the would-be simian dictator who had crippled him. If not for his heartless actions, Hunter would never have become Zoom in the first place. He would never even have to redeem himself. Zoom would destroy Grodd. He would have his vengeance. Then he would set about stopping the breakout. He would do just as the world's heroes would do...

The world's heroes...

"Wherethehellarethey?"

Zoom took off again, running once more through the halls of Iron Heights. He saw dozens of escaping convicts, but where were the heroes? Where was the Justice League? Superman? Batman?

The Flash?

Zoom stopped in his tracks. He found himself standing over one of the inmates.

"Where is the Flash?"

The inmate slowly backed away from Zoom.

"How the hell am I supposed to know? All I know is he put me in here and I'm gonna get outta here while I got the chance!"

In a split second, Zoom had his hands wrapped around the man's throat. He began to throttle him violently.

"Theyresupposedtobeheroes!"

Zoom continued to strangle the life out of the inmate.

"Wheeeeere aretheheroes why aren't they heretostopyou whyyyyyy arenttheyhere what kind of heroes are they?!"

Before he knew it, he had strangled the man to death. He didn't even care. He dropped the body to the ground and looked around.

"All this chaos and destruction...and where are those so-called heroes? Where is the Flash? This is his city to protect! Why aren't they here to stop this?!"

Soon he was seething with rage. He couldn't believe what was happening. This breakout could mean the destruction of Keystone City, and not a single hero was there to put a stop to it.

"They..they don't deserve to be heroes..."

Zoom stared blankly at the floor as this realization swept over him. These people were given great gifts with which to protect mankind, and they squandered these gifts as if they were playthings. They didn't deserve their gifts if they weren't going to use them properly. They didn't deserve to be heroes...

"...and they don't deserve to stop this breakout..."

He would see if they could live up to their self-proclaimed titles. He would see if they were really "heroes".

Running as fast as he could, Zoom ran to every cell that was still locked. Moving as only he could, he unlocked each one. Before he got there, some of the inmates had gotten free.

Now, they were all free.

Many of the inmates had congregated at a locked door. If they could just get through that door, they could make their way to freedom. But unbeknownst to them, there was a squadron of riot police waiting outside the door for them. They would be stopped the second they got outside.

Zoom would not allow it. This was the "heroes'" job to do.

Running to the door, Zoom now stood with his back to the escaping inmates. Many of them jumped at his sudden appearance. He looked over his shoulder at them.

"Get as far back as possible."

The inmates didn't argue with him. They all ran back, giving Zoom the space he needed. Zoom turned back toward the door, rose his hand, and simply snapped his fingers.

*KRAKOOM!*

The snapping of his fingers caused a huge sonic boom. That simple action was all he needed to do to blow the door away and knock every one of the riot police outside unconscious. Every glass nearby had shattered. Some of the inmates had been knocked unconsious or even killed by the sonic boom. Many of them were still alive and well, however, and slowly approached the hole in the wall where the door used to be. Zoom turned back toward them.

"Go. Now."

He didn't need to tell them twice. The inmates ran for freedom, leaving Zoom alone in this particular wing of Iron Heights. He stood and thought for a moment. He still had a score to settle with Grodd, but it could wait. This was far more important. He had to teach them all a lesson. They had to pay for their failure to act. He would stay and see what the escaped criminals had planned. He had a feeling that the Joker had played a major part in the breakout. He would wait and see what their plan was.

And so, Zoom continued to observe the events as they unfolded. None of the inmates even knew he was in the building. And even more frightening, all of this had just transpired in only one minute...

http://hallofheroes.free.fr/Images/Vilains/zoom.jpg

[Spider-Man9X17]

The ring feels normal again. And is fully charged. Excellent.

"So...what can I do to assuage your fears?"

"Dude, did you just call me an ass? Cuz I'll kick yours right here and now. I'm not afraid of anything......well, except romance movies."

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker was about to head for the ice-cream van when he heard a huge boom. It was in another wing of Iron Heights, but the sound was still loud enough to briefly deafen him.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" he asked, unaware of how loudly he was speaking, "WAS THAT AN INMATE? WHOEVER MADE AN IMPACT LIKE THAT IS A POWERHOUSE I WANT ON MY SIDE!"

The Joker took his leave of the others, running back into the prison, in the direction that the noise came from. After a sprint of a minute or so, he noticed a fresh swarn of inmates running through another gaping hole in the outer wall. Was it an explosion that had caused this? The Joker stopped, puffing and panting from the run. He looked around, trying to see who (or what) had caused this damage.

Then he spotted him. He was standing right in front of him. Or was he? He seemed like some kind of ghost, almost blurry to look at. He had heard of this guy, read all about him on Luthor's secret archives. He knew that it wasn't an explosion that had taken out the door - it was a sonic boom.

"Zoom."

Despite what he'd read, this Zoom character was something of an unknown entity. Before donning the yellow tights, he'd been known as Hunter Zolomon - a criminal profiler. And even now, many doubted if he was really a criminal, and not some crazed vigilante with delusions of superheroism. It was well known in the underworld grapevine that this guy had taken out all The Rogues single-handedly. But still, what was The Joker going to do, run? HA HA! No, The Joker was going to have to talk to him, try to get inside his hwad. He was going to have to profile the profiler.

"I've heard all about you," The Joker said, "Word is you've caused The Flash quite a bit of grief. I find your modus operandi - is that what you profiler types call it? HA HA! - very intriguing. You cause all this chaos and destruction because you want to make the do-gooders of the world - Flash in particular - into better heroes? And they say I'm crazy! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker stopped his laughter. He remembered he was trying to get on Zoom's good side, so maybe mocking him wasn't a good idea. He tried a different angle.

"Well, obviously they haven't been listening to you because...where are they now?"

The Joker looked around, giving a comical shrug of the shoulders.

"Is Superman at home, washing his tights? Is Wonder Woman booked in for a bikini wax? Are they all too busy to stop a MASS JAILBREAK? The only hero who shows up is you, Zoom. These so-called superheroes have outlived your usefulness to the world. You want to make the world a better place? You don't go after the "supervillains", you go after the heroes. Do you think I'd still be killing people left and right if Batman wasn't out there, waiting to continue our never-ending dance? Psychos like me only exist because of... hypocrites like them! Ironic, ain't it? HA HA!"

The Joker cautiously stepped towards Zoom, careful not to get too close.

"Our Syndicate is initiating a plan that will destroy the world's superheroes forever. This isn't some grand scheme for world domination that they have to stop. This time, they are the target. Every last one of them. And once our mission is complete, we can all retire gracefully, safe in the knowledge that, when it was all said and done...we won! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker extended his hand. He wondered if he'd even notice Zoom shaking it, or if the guy would just be too damn fast.

"Care to join us?"

[LibrarianThorne]

He flew to his and Lois' apartment. He was a jumble of emotions and memories, and one thing played over in his mind. He had done it. For some reason, he had thrown the bus into the department store and hurt all of those people. Hurt his best friend.

What he couldn't figure out was why. Why had he done it? What in the world was going on?

He landed on the balcony and walked in. Lois was just putting down the phone, a look of concern in her eyes.
"Clark, there's a breakout going on at Iron Heights. Just confirmed it on the AP wire."
"Keystone is Wally's town. He... he can handle it." He sat down on their couch, and began rubbing his forehead.
She looked concerned. "Clark, Wally hasn't shown up. There's confused reports, people saying the Joker and Solomon Grundy are there, others saying it's a planned breakout. People are dying out there, Clark. And you can do something about it. So, that you aren't out there saving the day tells me something's wrong." She sat down next to him, taking one of his hands in hers. "This is the part where you tell me what's wrong, we work through it, and you get out there and save the world. So, Smallville, talk."
"I can't go out there, Lois. Something's wrong. I... oh God, Lois, I put Jimmy into a coma!" he wailed.
He looked at her. Her eyes were wide with shock, not comprehending what he had just said. "You... You-- what?"
"It was just a normal thing. Just stopping a traffic accident. There was a Metro Bus speeding uncontrollably into an intersection. I flew down, and I was stopping it. Just like always, the whole 'more powerful than a locomotive' thing. And then-- I don't know what happened. One minute I was stopping the bus, the next I had hurtled it into a building across the street. I wasn't even aware of it, Lois! It was, it was like a muscle twitch. One twitch and BAM! I didn't even know Jimmy was on it. He's at Metropolis General now and.. and Jesus, what have I done?!"
He buried his head in his hands. She hugged him closely.
"I don't know what to say, Clark."
He began talking, more to himself than Lois. "I was always terrified of something like this. With all my power, what would happen if I got some sort of brain disease? Something no one could treat? What if, with all this strength I have, what if I couldn't control it? What would happen then? And now, now I think it's happening. I can't think clearly. Can't think here. Too much noise, too many people. Need to go home, think things out. Figure out what it is I'm going to do now."

And just like that, he was gone. It took her a moment to register that he had even left. She looked around their apartment, suddenly alone and very, very afraid.

[wiegeabo]

"Dude, did you just call me an ass? Cuz I'll kick yours right here and now. I'm not afraid of anything......well, except romance movies."


I roll my eyes. And then sigh when I realize it still isn't as bad as what Gardner would have thought. How low can the Guardian's standards fall? And I am still the outcast!?!

No, now is not the time for anger.

"First," my ring reaches out to a bookcase. A yellow hand grabs a book with the name Dictionary, and tosses it to Rayner. "Brush up on your own language."

"Second, let me rephrase. Superman, Marvel, and I just stopped a Qwardian invasion that was trying to capture me, probably for toture and punishment for spreading order rather than chaos. Even Supermen himself defended me and gave me a second chance." Yes, I played the Superman card, and it felt good. "My ring is mostly drained, and I require a recharge if I am to go out and continue my work."

The news on the television changes from the earilier scenes in Metropolis to a live feed from Keystone City. The home of the speedster. We watch as the reporter describes the situation. A jailbreak of some of the most villainous criminals. Many deaths and injuries. Perfect.

I nod at the news report. "Please make up your mind quickly. I believe we have a job to do."

[Hyper Venom]

Zoom listened intently as the Clown Prince of Crime offered him a membership in this so-called Syndicate. Zoom didn't particularly like the idea of fraternizing with the scum that he used to put away, but the "heroes" needed to be taught a lesson.

He knew alot about the Joker, thanks to his many profiles. Though notably, many of the Joker's files seemed to contradict one another at one point or another. In any case, Zoom was aware of one notable consistency: he wasn't much of a team player. At least, not for an extended period of time. If Zoom were to join forces with him, Joker would almost certainly attempt a sneak attack when the opportunity presented itself.

Zoom thought for a moment, and then he extended his hand, accepting the handshake from the Joker.

"You make a good case, Joker. If they can't stop you, they don't deserve to be heroes. What's your plan?"

[Watchman]

"Spiders...all...over me" somebody muttered crawling over the rubble that Grundy made. BAM! A shot came from the back and man went limp. Scarecrow lowered his gun to his side and looked back at the Joker.

"Yes Joker" he steped over the body "tells us this plan you've been talking about all these time. While we're on the subject of your grand master plan who's in charge of this operation? Everybody knows this plan was too organized for you."

[Johnny Blaze]

McCulloch watched the exchange from broken piece of glass amidst the rubble caused by Grundy's walk to the Joker's van.
They had met up with Grodd and the gorilla had agreed to join forces with the clown...and whoever Joker's working for. It also seems that they've picked up yet another member of this growing Syndicate in the form of Zoom.

After the Scarecrow asked his question, McCulloch spoke up, "A good question, but one that'd be best answered when we're away from here. We best hit the road 'fore any cops or capes show up."

[Keyser Soze]

"Wise words indeed, Mirror Master," The Joker said, "Have no fear, Scarecrow. Get it, have no fear? HA HA HA! Hoo! Where was I, oh yes, have no fear, heh heh, because I have my...grand master plan all worked out."

The Joker walked closer to Scarecrow, putting on a theatrical sad face.

"Though I must say that I'm hurt, Scarechum. Why oh why do you underestimate me so? I'll have you know that I'm not working for anyone. This is my idea, mine! And the identity of my...business associate doesn't need to be known by any of you just yet."

The Joker tapped the side of his head knowingly, winking at Scarecrow.

"But now, let's take our Glaswegian's friend advice to heart," The Joker continued, "We'll get back to the jolly ice-cream van, and then I'll tell you the next stage of our plan."

The Joker grinned, looking back again at Zoom.

"Race you to the van! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[SuperFerret]

"Wise words indeed, Mirror Master," The Joker said, "Have no fear, Scarecrow. Get it, have no fear? HA HA HA! Hoo! Where was I, oh yes, have no fear, heh heh, because I have my...grand master plan all worked out."

The Joker walked closer to Scarecrow, putting on a theatrical sad face.

"Though I must say that I'm hurt, Scarechum. Why oh why do you underestimate me so? I'll have you know that I'm not working for anyone. This is my idea, mine! And the identity of my...business associate doesn't need to be known by any of you just yet."

The Joker tapped the side of his head knowingly, winking at Scarecrow.

"But now, let's take our Glaswegian's friend advice to heart," The Joker continued, "We'll get back to the jolly ice-cream van, and then I'll tell you the next stage of our plan."

The Joker grinned, looking back again at Zoom.

"Race you to the van! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"


I roll my eyes at the clown's madness, and follow him to our mode of transportation, and climb into the front passenger side seat. If we were stopped by anyone, all they'll see is a happy family traveling the country together in their van. Let's just hope that the clown doesn't ruin it with his chaotic demeanor.

[LibrarianThorne]

It was something akin to a buzzing in his head. White noise. He couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate. He flew through the night sky, lost in thought. Something was wrong. He had to get out of Metropolis to figure out exactly what it was. He did know where to go to figure it all out, though. The only place he'd ever really considered home.

Smallville.

He flew across the country, until he spied it. The landmark he always used to identigy Smallville. It was just a small cliff, nothing impressive really, but it held importance for him. He was just playing around on it, goofing off like any bored teenager in Smallville, when he tripped and fell. He'd thought he was dead then, but the ground never came. When he'd opened his eyes that night, he'd discovered that he was floating in the air. That he could fly.

It was to this point on the outskirts of Metropolis that he now returned. He sat down on the edge f the cliff, legs dangling in open air, and laid his back down and stared up at the sky. It was so clear here, and so big. Not like in Metropolis, where what little light you could see was filtered through the massive towers that were everywhere in the city. But here, here the sky was open and free and bigger than anywhere else.

He let his mind wander. In so many ways, this is where his whole storied history as Superman had begun. It was here he learned for the first time that he wasn't human, that he really wasn't like anyone else. From here, he'd left home, traveled the world, gone to college, and done so many things. He remembered those days. Back when the Mystery Men were little more than a memory, when the world seemed so normal. Then he'd come around, flying about and righting wrongs. Back then, Superman was unique, too. Nowhere else but Metropolis could you see the Marvel of the world. A man who could fly! He remembered the articles he'd written about himself, and those early adventures. Everything had seemed so simple.

Now things were complex. Almost every city had a superhero to its name. Wally West in Keystone. Hal and Kyle in Coast City. Bruce in Gotham. Superman wasn't even unique any more. He remembered the period after he returned, the three men and a boy who had attempted to take his name and station. One was an enemy, one a relic, one a hero, and one a boy. Even now, Steel and Superboy continued honoring the S-symbol that adorned his chest.

That's when the thought hit him. Maybe it was time for Superman to stop. He'd damaged the world and everything he held dear with his recent actions. Everything from the mindwiping to the Unity debacle. He'd tarnished his own legend, and let himself down. Maybe he really was losing it. He could recall a time where allying with an alien super-mind intent on conquering Earth would never have entered his mind. Where mindwiping, an essential betrayal of everything he stood for, would never have been thought about. But he'd done it all, now.

More than that, Clark Kent had everything he'd ever wanted. More awards than he could shake a stick at, even a Pulitzer or two. He was married to the most beautiful, intelligent woman in the world. He'd never really been able to spend the time with her that he felt she deserved. She'd waited so long to marry her Man of Steel, and now that they were, he was always on the run, always busy galavanting about the world, dealing with threats that other heroes could handle.

His mind was clear, for just a moment. The solution came to him. He would ensure that Metropolis would be seen to, and then he would retire. Nothing fancy. Just there one day, and gone the next, like the Lone Ranger, riding off into the sunset. That's what he'd do. He lay there quietly for long minutes, plotting out exactly how he'd do it, and who among his friends he'd call upon.

Satisfied, he pushed himself into a sitting position. He then threw himself off the cliff face, and began free falling. He swooped lower until he was but a few feet from the ground, then turned up, up and away, soaring towards the Titans Tower in San Francisco. He'd need to meet with Superboy first, and then reveal his identity to Steel still in the arctic. Then he would need to contact Captain Marvel and pick up Lois in Metropolis, before returning to his home in Smallville and telling everyone his plan.

[MST3K 4ever]

Captain Marvel circled Metropolis for what felt like hours. He stopped a few crimes here and there, heard murmurs of the bus accident but no sign of Superman. He was even hearing some people suggesting it might be time for Superman to go. That he never really was human and that this was all a sign of things to come with Superman. Marvel felt heartache and pain...this was not only a man he faught along side many times, but someone he felt was a hero to him personally. He climbs higher and higher and finally just hovers in the clouds and gathers his thoughts.

Holy Moley I hope Superman didn't cut and run without telling any of us goodbye at least. I can't watch both Fawcett City & Metropolis at the same time. I wish I knew what I could to help him out I still can't believe that he knowingly did any of this. Best I can do is hope for the best and be there for my friend.

Marvel dives back towards Metroplis and continues his patrol.

[Johnny Blaze]

McCulloch disappeared from the piece of glass and reappeared in the reflection inside the back door of the van.
Solomon Grundy was already in the back eating ice cream, and the rest of the crew was beginning to pile in. As Mirror Master watched the procession, he silently wondered just what the Rogues were getting into by agreeing to join Luthor's new Syndicate. Yes, Joker's partner was Luthor. At least, that's who the letter the Rogues had received pointed to. They'd find out for certain later.

Speaking of the Rogues, it was time for McCulloch to check in. His image still fixed in the van's back door, McCulloch appeared in the reflection of the TV screen at the Rogues' hideout. Cold was not around, but James Jesse, the Trickster, was getting ready to play some Street Fighter on the Playstation when McCulloch appeared suddenly.

"Jesus, McCulloch! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Sorry, lad. Is Cold about?"

"No, he's went off with Mardon to have a few drinks. Should be back later. What's up?"

"Just let him know that we successfully broke Grodd out of Iron Heights...as well as every other inmate. A lot of the Rogues 'r comin' home."

"Awesome news. I'll be sure to pass it along."

"Also, tell him that this group of Luthor's seems ta be gettin' more powerful by the minute. First it was the clown and his woman, Scarecrow, and Grundy. Now not only has Groddy joined up, but so has Zoom."

"Zoom", said Trickster with a frown, "I hate speedsters."

"Aye, I'm not too fond of 'em either. Just tell Cold what I said and that I'll report back again later."

"No problem, McCulloch. Watch your back man."

"Always do, lad."

McCulloch vanished from the TV and took his place in the back door of the van once more as the group left Iron Heights.

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker hopped into the driver's seat of the ice-cream van. He looked over his shoulder - everyone was present and accounted for. Time to move on. Time to really get things moving!

"Hold your noses, everyone," The Joker said, "We're heading to Metropolis! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

With a screech of the tires, The Joker took his crazy road trip out of the wreckage of Iron Heights.

[Nightwing]

"Alright. First, we've got to figure out where this Merlyn guy's operating from. Venom's a coctail of steroids and other stimulants, so the process of making it would be quite complex. They'll probably need a very large space to keep up production. Or, if they're smart, they probably have smaller labs scattered across the city. Could be either."

"See thats where it gets confusing. I found out he's working through Star and Hub back and forth. One of his goons told me so. We need a game plan."

The only thing I could think of, was that Question would have to stay here while I head back to Star and we can contact eachother if we found any strong clues. Considering Merlyn has the best trained assassins in the world, he can have them follow us without us knowing. The more time I waste, the more innocents I get on the death bed.

"I got it, do you know where some of Hub's biggest ware houses are? I'm taking a wild guess that Merlyn could be stationed there. It's the onyl place where he can store that big number of venom. Not exactly inside the ware house, but under. Think about it."

That had to make perfect sense, to me atleast. Where else could he hide? I was willing to give it a shot. Thats when Cortez finally decided to open her mouth after all those minutes went by.

"Wait, I think we could be on to something. I was supposed to do a report on Hub's biggest sugar depot which is just east of the city! Thats also where two of the biggest ware houses are! That also could be why I was kidnapped in the first place. Because they didn't want anyone snooping around there, so they had to get rid of me."

"Now I actually am glad you stuck around."

I smiled as I said that to her. I know I'm not that great of a detective, but if I put my mind to it I feel like I can solve anything. Tonight, I didn't need that at all. Cortez just answered all the questions to this whole mess. Now Question and myself know where we have to go.

"Cortez, listen you've been a great help. But I can't risk having you put your life in danger again, do you understand? You were kidnapped once, I won't let you get kidnapped twice. You're not in any condition to go with Question and myself. We have to go now, and I'm dropping you off to a hospital for a check up. You have some bad cuts and bruises."

After I spoke, there was a long pause. Question was just looking at us with his hands in his coat,and wasn't moving an inch. Probably already thinking about what we'd do when we got to the docks where the ware houses are located. Cortez opened her purse and then handed me something.

"Take this, it's the numbers to the two ware houses. There are tons of them circling the area, and each have a specific number. It'll be very useful to you both. I understand you perfectly, and I do admit that my knee is in alot of pain. Just don't take me to a hospital, I hate doctors. I can take care of myself, I was a pre med student in college before coning here. I just wanted to give you a proper thankyou for saving me and really talking some sense into me. I'm a stubborn girl, always have been."

She leaned next to me and grabbed my right shoulder. She then planted a big one on my cheek.

"Go get them hero."

I tipped my hat and took the paper. Now it's time to kick some ass. An hour and a half later is when we reached her house, looked pretty decent. When she went to open her front door is when I told her to stay safe. I flipped the key's to Roy's bike and gave them to Question.

"You know this city better then I do Sage, we've got to get to the docks asap. I never thanked you for assisting me on this by the way. Oh and try not to scratch it, I've got a promise to live up to....."

[The Question]

I take the keys.

"Alright. Let's go"

I grab the spare helmet and put it on. Then, we drive off towards the sugar depot.


********


We arrive at the depot. I get off of the boke and turn to Queen.

"We should look through the windows, to see what's going on in there."

I take out the grappling gun, shoot up a line, fasten the reel to my belt, and zoom up the lone towards the top.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Kyle sighed, and picked up his battery. He gave his own ring a full charge before handing it to Sinestro.

"Fine. I was getting a little freaked out around here anyway. Wierd agents and cute strippers following me everywhere."

[wiegeabo]

With my ring charged, I turn back towards the window to leave for Keystone City. That's when Kyle's words finally register...

Kyle sighed, and picked up his battery. He gave his own ring a full charge before handing it to Sinestro.

"Fine. I was getting a little freaked out around here anyway. Wierd agents and cute strippers following me everywhere."

Indeed? Being a hero has certainly changed since my day. I had agents of various nefarious purposes follow me, but never strippers. Interesting. I must...look into this more closely, excuse the pun.

"That is an...intriguing...situation you find yourself in. I would help you look into it once we have journeyed to Keystone."

[White_Howling]

"Word," I try saying with a straight face.

***

We're in the Tower, lounging about, just ol' Beast Boy and the Second Coming of Krypton.

"So, really, how's it goin between you and Cassie? Bad times? I'm thinking of taking Bette to Smallville High's prom, you know, as chaperones and all that jazz."

“Do you have a special interest in her or something?”

Turning over to face Gar.

“Did she say something? It’s not my fault I’ve just been so busy these days.”

Turning my attention back to the tube, “I’ll make it up to her this valentines day.”

[LibrarianThorne]

He soared through the midwest, doing somewhere around three times the speed of sound. In moments, the clear fields of the midwestern United States had been replaced with the jumble of major cities that made up its West Coast. It took him a moment to find San Francisco and the Titans Tower, and he hovered in the air for a moment, composing his thoughts. He'd have to be honest with Connor, and he'd always felt odd talking to the boy. In many ways, it was just like talking to himself, only twenty years younger. That never failed to unnerve him, if only slightly. He sighed. He knew what he had to say, and he knew why Connor would be the first one he would contact tonight. Connor Kent was Superboy, and was the heir apparent to his legacy. Besides that, Connor was his clone, an almost exact match for him in terms of genetics, but that hadn't stopped Connor from becoming his own person. He'd never felt comfortable telling Connor what he was going to tell him, but on tonight of all nights, it would be the best time. Maybe the only time.

He swooped down through the clouds, slowing only to wave at a passing United Airlines flight. In scant seconds, he was above Titans Tower, scanning it with his X-Ray vision. Inside, he saw Garfield Logan and Connor, talking and watching TV. Had he wanted to, he could have known what Connor and Gar were talking about, but there were some things that were better left between friends and team mates. After all, how would he have felt if Pa had been spying on him when he was a kid?

He smiled to himself. Connor had always felt more like a little brother to him than just about anybody. He'd have to keep that in mind when talking to the boy.

He landed in front of the tower. By now, no doubt, they'd already have detected him. He stood outside the door and waited. Tonight, he had all the time in the world.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis wandered throughought the next few days. He didn't quite know what he was looking for or where he was going, all that was important was that he was searching, because he had to find his daughter, his Alice.

He wandered by a store window with tv's blaring about a breakout at some high security prison, and a side comment about the murder of a little girl and her daughter. Jervis frowned a bit, it was sad...and for some reason it made his stomach squirm, he hated to hear about tragid murders like that...and it seemed so familiar.

"No," the little girl again. She always appeared when his stomach made little jerks like that, her read eyes boring into him, the eyes reminded him of something too but everytime he thought about that....
"Find Alice, it's time for tea!" the little girls squealed, "and you know the Queen doens't like it when you're late!"

Jervis nodded his head and started on again, keeping his head low and his eyes shaded under his large tophat. He didn't know why but he didn't like to be looked out, the stares hurt him, they seemed to creep into him. He didn't like them.

"Where are all our heros?" One man was saying to his friend as he passed Jervis, "mass breakout with all these phsychos and not one damn one of them shows up? And now Superman is chuckin busses into goddamn buildings? What's next? Batman leaving Gotham?"

"Who knows," the other said, "you hear about that one mother and her daughter? Murdered, a few feet away from the store they walked out of! Not one damn person helped, don't know what this world is comin too."

They both fell silent as they noticed Jervis, they stared for a moment, taken aback by his odd appearance. Jervis suddenly leapt forward, he couldn't take the stares! They hurt him! Screaming and failing his arms he charged the two men, who backpedaled quickly and sprinted away from him.

"See!" one yells to the other, "Goddamn world's gone nuts, crazies round every corner."

[White_Howling]

Not bothering to hear Gars response. There was one thing he was sure of. Superman was here. It was a feeling I would get whenever he was around. Maybe it had something to do with me having his DNA, or just plain paranoia. But he sure does have that effect on people.

"Sups is here."

Standing up I started walking towards the main hall.

“Come on Gar, lets see what he wants.”

Close call, all this questions about Cassie got me thinking about our relationship. I’m soo not in the mood to get into it right now. Thank god Sups dropped by.

[LibrarianThorne]

OOC: Forgive the small bunny, batnkevlar and White Howling!

Gar and Connor stepped out of the Titans building. He wasn't as experienced with the Titans or Outsiders as Bruce was, but he did know it was a pretty hefty honor for Superboy to be included in their ranks. He'd often thought that Superboy must feel much the same in the Titans as he felt in the JLA. At least, when the JLA was still together.

"Superboy, can you spare some time to fly with me for a bit?"

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel had been flying through the city for hours stopping crimes whereever he could, and yet he saw no sign of Superman. Maybe I should go by his apratment or wait for him on the roof of the Planet building. No if nothing else I should respect his right to privacy and to deal with this on his own...in his own way...I am sure he will contact me if he needs me. For now though I could use some rest.

He lands in an alley near his apartment and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Billy emerges from the alley and heads into his apartment. He cuts on the TV and watches as all the news seems to be about Superman and the bus accident. The public is very much divided as to their opinion on Superman. As Billy hears the negative things about Superman....he feels one single tear run down his face.

Superman if I ever needed some answers or guidance form you it's now. With that he cuts off the TV and begins to stare out at Metropolis. Maybe I am needed here more than in Fawcett City maybe I...NO! this is Superman's city...I need to think...need to clear my head.
He leaves his apratment and walks down the alley. He sees no one around and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Marvel takes to the skies and climbs higher and higher above the clouds and just hovers. Enjoying the solitude he smiles.

[Keyser Soze]

Metropolis. God, The Joker hated this dump. But it was a nice central location, so The Joker decided to bring the gang to the base here. Of course, there were hideouts in many of the major cities, but the Metropolis HQ would do for now.

The ice-cream van jingled through the Suicide Slums. Without even slowing down, The Joker hurtled into a derelict building. Before anyone could protest, he brought the van to a screeching halt at the crumbling brick wall at the back of the structure. The Joker got out of the van, pulling away a brick to reveal a keypad. He typed in a number, and suddenly, a whole block of the floor began to lower. A trap-door.

The hidden elevator travelled downwards for over a minute, before coming to a halt. They were in an underground bunker. But it didn't look like a bunker. Instead, it seemed to bear more in resemblance to a luxury penthouse suite, complete with lush sofas, a widescreen TV and a mini-bar. Boy, Lex sure knew how to treat his cronies well!

"Home sweet home, boys and girls! HA HA!"

[Spike_x1]

Seeing all of the news broadcasts once his budget meeting was adjourned, Luthor poured himself a brandy and chuckled softly. Superman performed flawlessly and the incident at Iron Heights was marvelous!

He had received word from the dark recesses of Gotham City that Roman Sionis had obtained his weapons and was prepared to spill war onto the streets of Gotham.

The Rogues were loose and Gotham City would soon be a crater. So that takes care of Gotham and the twin cities of Keystone and Central. Now, as for Metropolis...

With the City of Tomorrow on the brink of panic after the Alien "madly" hurled a bus into a building, many people were clamoring that authorities bring him in for questioning at the very least. Well, even if Superman had fled the scene as any other guilty assailant would, a cell would always be reserved for him in Stryker's Island. Speaking of which, "Computer: Re-establish comm link with contact M.J." Luthor said as he put his empty glass onto the coaster at the corner of his desk.

"CONNECTION CONFIRMED," the computer replied.

"Mr. Draper, can you hear me okay?"

"I can hear you just fine, Luthor," said the man on the other end of the line.

"Fantastic. Now, Is it safe to assume that your place in the prison is firmly established and concrete? You've gained control of the island without anyone detecting you?"

"Correct Boss, Stryker's Island is in the palm of my hand."

Lex stepped to his office window and looked out at the island in the distance. If the prison was in Carl Draper's control, then in return, it was once again in Lex Luthor's control. Along with every single prisoner in it. "Well, Master Jailer, when I give you my signal, we'll let all of you 'poor victims of society' exact your revenge."

[Batman]

Power is something that you earn.
Power is something you SEIZE.

Two-Face stepped out of the Rolls Royce, and surveyed the chaos infront of him.

His stock building ...His stock building... had been attacked by a rival gang. Harvey's first suspicion was Oswald Cobblepot, But he quickly got rid of that notion, considering Cobblepot didn't have the spine to carry out this sort of damage. A rough-up, maybe. But a massacre? Harvey doubted it. It almost sounded like something he himself would carry out. IF, naturally, it wasn't his own stock building.

Two-Face walked inside, along with five other of his 'employees', and greeted their contact for this particular area. Luckily, He wasn't in at the time of the attack. Otherwise, Harvey probably would've not known about it until the following day.

"Well?", Two-Face asked, with obvious anger in both of his voices.

The contact looked back at the damage.

"They weren't lookin' for you, boss. So it wasn't an assasaination attempt. Some punks were just sendin' ya a message."

Two-Face pushed the contact out of the way, before walking deeper into the corpse filled building, before spotting something on the walls. The message was written in the workers' blood, on every wall of the room...

DENT IS DEAD

Next to the message on one the walls was a mask, with two halves, nailed to the wall through the forehead area. Two-Face sneered at the message, as rage boiled inside him. The mask was a dead giveaway.

Roman Sionis.
Black Mask.

Harvey reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out his coin. Gritting his teeth, He flipped it, and watched as it landed back into his hand.

"Boss?"

Harvey immediatley turned around, taking out a magnum.

*BLAM* *BLAM*

One of Two-Face's employees fell forward, and landed on the floor, dead. Two-Face looked up at the remaining men.

"Hear This, And Hear This Good. Roman Sionis Has Declared War On Us. If It's War He Wants, It's War He Gets. Do You Hear Me? BLACK MASK IS DEAD! HE AND ALL HIS OTHER FREAKS! Got It?!"

The terrified men all nodded, simultaneously. Two-Face scowled.

"Spread The Word. And Get The Hell Away From Me."

As the men exited, Two-Face took his magnum, and threw it at the wall angrily, leaving a crack next to the blood message. He then walked over, and ripped the crude mask from the nail it was attached to. Roman Sionis would wear this mask as he was being buried, by the time Harvey was through with him.

Clutching the mask in his fist, Two-Face took out his cell phone, and called Ricky, His consigliere.

"Tell Our Newest Employee That I Have A Job For Her. NOW."

Roman Sionis would pay. He and his band of freaks would pay dearly for this. This was Harvey's city, Not his. TWO-FACE'S.

[Watchman]

Metropolis. God, The Joker hated this dump. But it was a nice central location, so The Joker decided to bring the gang to the base here. Of course, there were hideouts in many of the major cities, but the Metropolis HQ would do for now.

The ice-cream van jingled through the Suicide Slums. Without even slowing down, The Joker hurtled into a derelict building. Before anyone could protest, he brought the van to a screeching halt at the crumbling brick wall at the back of the structure. The Joker got out of the van, pulling away a brick to reveal a keypad. He typed in a number, and suddenly, a whole block of the floor began to lower. A trap-door.

The hidden elevator travelled downwards for over a minute, before coming to a halt. They were in an underground bunker. But it didn't look like a bunker. Instead, it seemed to bear more in resemblance to a luxury penthouse suite, complete with lush sofas, a widescreen TV and a mini-bar. Boy, Lex sure knew how to treat his cronies well!

"Home sweet home, boys and girls! HA HA!"

Scarecrow entered what looked like some room of a fancy hotel. He noticed the large improvement over Blackgate and the back of Joker's ice cream truck. He went over to the mini bar and made himself a drink. He tipped the glass and most of the drink went through the mask.

"I needed that" he said to himself and slammed the glass down. Scarecrow wiped his mask and turned his attention to the Joker.

"Now my dear friend I have the feeling you didn't bring us all this way to spend some quality time in an underground hotel room so what is the purpose of this?"

[Green Lantern]

After the ice cream truck sped off, Arsenal rolled over and gasped in pain.
Ugh... three ribs... and I'm pretty sure my left shoulder's dislocated...

He pulled his JLA/Titans com from his belt. "This is Arsenal... need back up... Gotham area... Joker... Grundy... Scarecrow... headed to Keystone... I'm immobilized. All heroes in or near GC please respond. Arsenal out" As he passed out from the pain, visions of the past entered Roy's head....

~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f125/arsenal-fan-21/Speedy/Roy.gif

"Hey! Gill-Head! Short-Pants! Wing Head Jr! Wait up you guys! Oh, hey Donna... uh... I didn't know you were with em...."
The young archer looked sheepishly at his feet when he tried to talk to the beautiful young Amazon princess. While he was distracted the other Titans took advantage almost immediately. Dick threw a batarang at the back of Roy's head, knocking him to his knees, just in time for Wally to use centrifigul force to throw him from the beach into the ocean. Then it was Garth's turn... telling all the sand crabs in the area to attack him.
"OW OW OW OW OW!!!! What the heck was all that for?"

"Oh, I don't know... do you know Wing Head Jr?" Dick looked at Wally.

"Not a clue... got any ideas Gill-Head?" Wally replied looking at Garth.

"I coulda sworn that Short Pants over here knew," Garth looked back at Dick.

"OH THAT'S RIGHT! It's payback for the stupid nicknames Arrowbreath!"

"You're just jealous that I'm not only better looking, and have a girl, but am also ingenious when it comes to making funny nicknames."

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

Roy smiled, still unconscious, as the memories went from good to bad.

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

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f125/arsenal-fan-21/junkie.jpg

Busted... I can't believe I just got busted... It'd be bad enough if it were normal parental figures... but I've got full fledged super-heroes about to come down on me... But dammit Ollie... If you would pay a litlle tiny bit of attention to your 'child's' life you would have done something sooner. I've been needing attention from you since Donna and I broke up and the damn JLA shut down the Titans. That was my time to relax and just be one of the guys. It's hard being a teenage superhero... especially when all your friends are too, and all your 'Parents' say that you can't hang out anymore.

"YOU'RE A LOUSY JUNKIE!!! NO BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE SNIVELING PUNKS!!!" Ollie screamed as he backhanded Roy accross the face.
"If thats the way you see it Ollie, go head and hit me. Maybe it'll make you feel better."

"Maybe you're right!"

"Want to do it again? Or have you proven to yourself that you're stronger than us weaklings? A big man like you doesn't need drugs, does he? You get by on your own self righteousness!"

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

Roy's eyes fluttered slightly and he consciously thought for the first time since passing out... I was lucky to have Dinah there to help me out. If not for her I'd probably be dead right now. But instead of me, it's her that went to a premature grave...

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

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f125/arsenal-fan-21/roydna3.jpg

His dreams went back to the other woman who had meant the world to him... Donna. More than Kory and Dick, or Babs and Dick... there's was a relationship that always seemed to rebuild itself. Almost like... Ollie and Dinah really... no matter how much womanizing Roy did during the times they were together.... Donna always forgave him. If he were ever going to settle down, it would almost certainly be with her.

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

With that Roy slowly reawakened... gasping in pain from his broken ribs he checked his communicator... no replies... nice to see how he rated among Gotham's finest... He rolled his eyes slightly. However he had yet another voice mail from Ollie.



"Roy, it's me Ollie. The Harley is right here in front of me, and I've got to say she's a beaut. Dont worry I'll have her back in tip top condition, I'll even clean her up when I get back from Hub City. I'll take a rain check on that New York outing, you know what Im going through. I have alot to take care of, including this lead I got on Merlyn. He's up to something that could lead to being disaterous. We've faced him together numerous times, so you know what he's capable of. I'll call you if I need back up of any sorts. We'll talk later."


HUB CITY?!?!? HUB FREAKING CITY!?!?!? home of that sociopathic paranoid couch-job The Question?!?! Ollie, I'm going to freaking kill you....

At that moment a teenager on a Kawasaki motorcycle pulled off to the side of the road near Arsenal. "Hey man, you look like you're in bad shape... you look familiar, I seen you before?"

"Prolly kid, I'm a former Teen Titan. Name's Arsenal. Mind if I borrow your bike? Hell, I'll buy you two of em if you let me, just put your name and addy into my phone, and they'll be at your house later today if you want." Ollie, I hope you know this is coming out of one of your Swiss accounts you got goin' Roy grinned.

"Are f**king serious? Hell yes you can have it if I get two bikes outta the deal!" The kid grabbed the phone from Roy, and promptly put all his info in it.

"Thanks kid, I just need a ride to get me to Hub. Some Clown trashed my Porsche" He pointed at the remains of his once beautiful car, as the kid tossed him the keys.

"That sucks man... well good luck"

Roy gunned the engine and took off towards Hub City, Nightwing would have to wait til later. As he rode he dialed his personal 'cycle customizer and told him that he needed two bikes delivered to the kid's house in Gotham, and he also called a taxi for the kid.

I'm on my way Ollie, and when I get there you better have a damned good reason for jacking the Harley...

[Johnny Blaze]

Metropolis. God, The Joker hated this dump. But it was a nice central location, so The Joker decided to bring the gang to the base here. Of course, there were hideouts in many of the major cities, but the Metropolis HQ would do for now.

The ice-cream van jingled through the Suicide Slums. Without even slowing down, The Joker hurtled into a derelict building. Before anyone could protest, he brought the van to a screeching halt at the crumbling brick wall at the back of the structure. The Joker got out of the van, pulling away a brick to reveal a keypad. He typed in a number, and suddenly, a whole block of the floor began to lower. A trap-door.

The hidden elevator travelled downwards for over a minute, before coming to a halt. They were in an underground bunker. But it didn't look like a bunker. Instead, it seemed to bear more in resemblance to a luxury penthouse suite, complete with lush sofas, a widescreen TV and a mini-bar. Boy, Lex sure knew how to treat his cronies well!

"Home sweet home, boys and girls! HA HA!" The Mirror Master appeared in the TV set as he looked around the hideout...if you could call it that. It looked more like a presidential suite. The whole place was lavashly furnished with some the best furniture and equipment he's ever seen. This settled it. Luthor had to be the Joker's partner, or boss. The LL on the letter was the first sign. The Joker heading to Metropolis instead of Gotham was the second. And this whole place was definitely not decorated by the clown. Even if he had stole this bunker from Luthor, the Joker would have given it his own...unique touch. No, all signs pointed to Luthor running the show.
Still, it was apparent that Lex wanted to remain behind the curtain, so McCulloch would keep his mouth shut about it all...for now.
"Heh, like the damn Wizard of Oz", McCulloch said to himself with a chuckle.

"Time ta take me a tour o' the place first hand", McCulloch stated with a smile as he stepped out of the TV and into the suite. Looking around, he noticed Scarecrow heading towards a well stocked liquor cabinet. With his smile growing wider, McCulloch strolled towards the bar.

Moving behind the counter as the Scarecrow downed his drink and resumed his questioning, McCulloch got himself a glass and began to pour himself a drink of some imported Irish whiskey. Downing his drink, McCulloch poured himself another shot as he sat back and watched how the confrontation between the Scarecrow and the Joker would play out.

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker watched as Mirror Master emerged from the television.

"That gives me an idea..."

He pushed the developing thought to the back of his mind as Scarecrow asked his question. Ol' straw-head had a point. It was about time to tell them what was going on.

"Welcome, my friends! Gorilla Grodd, Solomon Grundy, Zoom, Mirror Master, Scarecrow and - of course - my Harley Quinn. Along with me, The Joker, you make up the core group of a huge network of supervillains. This Syndicate was my brainchild, and is being organised and funded by Lex Luthor."

The Joker glanced knowingly at Mirror Master. Some knew already. But he wanted to get them all here before he told them of Luthor's involvement.

"For obvious reasons, Luthor will not have a personal hand in the running of our operation. That job has been assigned to yours truly. And our goal? The annihilation of Earth's so-called superheroes. They have stood in our way, hindering us, tormenting us, for far too long. Once we reach our endgame, they will all be gone. And then...it's PARTY TIME! HAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker was not about to go into specifics. Luthor had instructed him to keep things on a need-to-know basis.

"But now, let's get down to business. We all have tasks to complete. Tasks that may seem chaotic and random to some of you, but will work towards our ultimate goal. Harley, you will take our hulking friend Solly to the toilet known as Hub City. Cause lots of random chaos - destroy everything in sight. Let's see how a city "protected" by B-listers fares against a heavyweight like Solomon Grundy. HA HA!"

The Joker turned to Zoom.

"As for you, Zoom, I have a very special job for you, a task that is...close to my heart. I want you to go to Gotham City. Track down Batman, and beat the hell out of him. Don't kill him, just humiliate him in battle. I want people to see that Batman is not some invincible creature of the night. I want them to see that he is just a man, who is out of his depth playing the part of a superhero. If you can't find him, bullying one of his little sidekicks will suffice. Or, you could just start killing people. That's what I do to get Batsy's attention."

The Joker walked up to Gorilla Grodd, motioning for the Scarecrow to join them.

"Scarecrow, Grodd, I have a more...delicate mission in mind for you two. The pair of you are part of this team because of your ability to manipulate the mind. Your target will be millionare playboy Bruce Wayne. Don't ask why - all you need to know is that he will play an important part in our plans. Anyhoo, Brucie is attending a charity gala at Gotham's Grand Avenue later tonight. You will infiltrate the party in disguise - Grodd, I trust you'll be able to pull off one of your Jedi mind tricks - as waiters. Scarecrow, you will slip a small dose of your fear toxin into Bruce Wayne's drink. I still have some samples of the slow-acting varient you were producing from our last team-up. Use that - he can't know he's been poisoned. Meanwhile, Grodd, I want you to establish a mental link to his mind. Make a connection that will allow you to screw with his head, even once you leave the party. We're going to drive Gotham's favourite son INSANE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker took a deep breath. Boy, that was a lot of exposition! The Joker walked behind the bar to get himself a drink. He put his arm around Mirror Master's shoulder, and whispered in his ear.

"As for you, Mr. McCulloch, you'll be coming with me. We have some errands to run..."

[SuperFerret]

I turn to the Scarecrow. "It seems we are to be partners tonight, Dr. Crane. I trust you can hold up your end of the plan."

[Watchman]

A smile spread over the face of Scarecrow. He was finally going to make one of the most powerful man of Gotham into one of the weakess.

"Of course you can trust me Grodd. Now I think we start as soon as possible because its time for Mr. Wayne to take his medicine".

[MaskedManJRK]

I reconized a long time ago that my life is...very strange and very, VERY, complex, but in times like these, where I'm fighting a whole room full of cult ninjas trained by an ecological terrorist known as Ra's al Ghul, where it feels like I had discovered this fact all over again.

I use the swords I have taken from the other ninjas I had taken down and either disarmed them of their swords, or gave them a nice slice--not enough to kill, but enough to keep them on the ground for a good long while.

Finally, with a hilt to the face and a kick into the solar plexus, the final ninja goes down in a sickening thud.

I make a mental note, a post-battle scorecard--no armor punctures, though the suit is cut up quite well (I believe even a part of one of the "horns" were sliced off), and I can taste the faint copper of blood in my mouth and around my lips. Besides from that, things appeared normal.

I turned over to Ra's, the two swords pointed towards him at my sides, with my might-as-well-trademarked "evil psycho grin."

"Anybody else?"

[White_Howling]

OOC: Forgive the small bunny, batnkevlar and White Howling!

Gar and Connor stepped out of the Titans building. He wasn't as experienced with the Titans or Outsiders as Bruce was, but he did know it was a pretty hefty honor for Superboy to be included in their ranks. He'd often thought that Superboy must feel much the same in the Titans as he felt in the JLA. At least, when the JLA was still together.

"Superboy, can you spare some time to fly with me for a bit?"

"Sure its not like I'm busy or anything."

Great....... What does he want now..

Turning my head slightly to face him."Cya Gar."[/COLOR]

Raising slowly off the ground I followed Clark to the sky.

After we reached a certain altitude. I choose to break the silence first.

"So. Whats sup?"

[Hyper Venom]

Gotham City would be a cakewalk for Zoom. A part of him had wanted to face Batman. The "hero" was self-righteous. He needed to be beaten down.

"Baaaaatmaaaaan willnotbe a problem..."

Zoom glanced across the room at Grodd. He had resisted the urge to kill the ape the entire time they were in the same room. But once again, he had a mission to focus on. Leaving a gust of wind behind him, Zoom dashed to the elevator where the ice cream truck sat and skipped up the walls until he reached the top. Once he reached the room at the top, he ran in the direction of Gotham City.

[Franklin Richards]

...later in Hub City


Pretty Eyes said Grundy could start the pain. Grundy like Pretty Eyes.



The Ice Cream Van rolled into Downtown Hub City. The Van's PA screamed loudly with Harlequin's voice.

"Ice Cream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!"

Solomon Grundy exited the back door of the Van.

"Solomon Grundy born on a Monday!"


...and then Chaos ensued.

With the strength of a titan, Grundy began to rape City Hall. The outer wall of the edifice crumbled at Grundy's touch. The outer wall was little more than tissue paper at the hands of the zombie. Several Hub City police officers surrounded Grundy after the initial onslaught.

"STOP! PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!"

Pain. Grundy like pain.


Solomon Grundy slapped his hands together and a force equivalent to the power of a hurricane blew the cadre of officers into the rubble of the outer wall of the City Hall. Grundy didn't let up. He grabbed the nearest officer and began to pulverize the other cops with the limp form of the now dead policeman. He then discarded the corpse and began to reduce the once proud building to a pile of dust. Several SWAT officers began to fire advanced particle weapons at the behemoth. Grundy never even slowed down. After the building was reduced to rubble Grundy turned on the remaining security.

"Grundy no like cops. Grundy share the pain."

With an unearthly speed never before seen in an incarnation of Solomon Grundy, the juggernaut destroyed the last vestige of hope the officers had. Several corpses lay on the ground as Grundy turned his attention to Harlequin.

"Me did good?"


"Oh yeah, Solly! You did real good. Now lets play some more."

Goody. More pain.


:marv: :marv: :marv:

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Well then, let's get going Mellonhead."

Kyle powered up and took off out of the window of hsi apartment.

[MST3K 4ever]

All-right...it's time to face the facts...Superman is not here right now and Metropolis is going to need someone to watch over it until he gets back.

Marvel swoops down from the sky and flies into the heart of downtown Metropolis, and flies low enough for the people to see him.

Okay if anyone is going to try anything they had better watch out because Captain Marvel is ready for anything.

[wiegeabo]

"Well then, let's get going Mellonhead."

Kyle powered up and took off out of the window of hsi apartment.

Although I'm not sure what Mellonhead means, I seriously doubt it was a term of endearment. Shrugging my shoulders, I fly through the window and follow Rayner towards Keystone City. We arrive in very little time, but it already appears we are too late. The attackers seem to have left, and any trace of them has likely been demolished by the riot continuing below. It appears that we will have to be the cleanup crew.

I lower myself down and survey the area. Rioting prisoners are attacking those guards that remain. Some prisoners have escaped and are fleeing the area. It looks like any superpowered beings have fled as well. And bodies, guard and prisoner alike, lay everywhere.

I quickly erect a patch in the wall, sealing the breech the prisoners were escaping from. I then extend a field from the center of the patch, creating a wall between guards and prison mobs. The guards look up at me and wave as they finally get some relief. The prisoners attack my wall, which has now extended throughout the open grounds, sealing them off. It is no more than a nuisance.

I look back up to Rayner. "I'll hold them off if you'll grab the escaped prisoners and return them. Then we can help the guards secure them back in their cells."

[Johnny Blaze]

The Joker took a deep breath. Boy, that was a lot of exposition! The Joker walked behind the bar to get himself a drink. He put his arm around Mirror Master's shoulder, and whispered in his ear.

"As for you, Mr. McCulloch, you'll be coming with me. We have some errands to run..."
McCulloch was a tough minded hitman. He was one of the few Rogues able to keep a level head in the most pressure situations. But, he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel uneasy about having the Joker's arm around him. Still, he rolled with it and acted like it didn't bother him at all as he poured another shot.

"Sounds like a plan. Whatcha have in mind?"

[LibrarianThorne]

"Sure its not like I'm busy or anything."

Great....... What does he want now..

Turning my head slightly to face him."Cya Gar."[/color]

Raising slowly off the ground I followed Clark to the sky.

After we reached a certain altitude. I choose to break the silence first.

"So. Whats sup?"

He sighed to himself, and turned north, heading towards the Fortress.

"There's been a lot of things on my mind lately, Connor. I've been thinking about the events of the past few years, and frankly, about failure."

They were crossing the Canadian border now, about ten minutes after leaving San Fransisco.

"I think it all started when Lois died. Something in me just snapped, and in the years since I don't think I've ever been able to recover that part of myself. Not even when she came back."

He sighed.

"And all this time, I've been watching the world around me. When I started being, well, Superman, there weren't any other heroes around. The mystery men of the '40s and '50s were dimly remembered, and the world went on. Then I showed up, and other heroes followed. To be fair, it seemed like only a few weeks after I started operating in Metropolis that all of these 'supervillains' showed up too. That's something that's always weighed heavy on my mind. Would Lex Luthor be the man he is now if I never flew? Would Darkseid have showed such an interest in Earth if I'd just stayed as Clark Kent and not used my powers in public?"

The next part would be the hardest to talk about with the boy, but it had to be said.

"And then, Doomsday killed me. I still don't remember all of it, truth be told. When I came back, of all the people that had worn my shield while I was gone, it was you that interested me the most. After all this time, I wasn't the last Kryptonian. I've never told you how much that changed the way I thought about things. It was... comforting, in a way I don't think I can ever describe properly. I know that you don't think I have a high opinion of you, but I do. All the time you've worn the big red S, you've honored it. Honored me. I don't care what Batman or Robin or Wonder Woman say, Superboy. You're one of the greatest heroes on Earth, and it makes me proud to know that you will continue my legacy."

He stopped himself short. He mustn't tell the boy what he had decided to do. Not yet. Not until everyone was gathered in Smallville.

"Anywho, don't mind the ramblings of an old fool. I just want you to know that I'm proud of you, Superboy."

They were coming across the arctic tundra now. In moments the Fortress would be in sight.

[White_Howling]

The way Clarks behaving it seems like he’s going to die. Clark getting all emotional on me is quite unnerving. I mean he’s the man of steel. Everyone looks up to him. I was supposed to the depressing one in the family.

Another of couple miles and we would reach the Fortress. Its best to keep my mouth shut until he tells me what’s going on.

Not looking at him I continued to fly at a decent speed. There was something in his eyes that made me avoid contact.

I wonder what brought up the legacy. The way he’s talking, it sounds like he’s going to quit.

[Red]

I reconized a long time ago that my life is...very strange and very, VERY, complex, but in times like these, where I'm fighting a whole room full of cult ninjas trained by an ecological terrorist known as Ra's al Ghul, where it feels like I had discovered this fact all over again.

I use the swords I have taken from the other ninjas I had taken down and either disarmed them of their swords, or gave them a nice slice--not enough to kill, but enough to keep them on the ground for a good long while.

Finally, with a hilt to the face and a kick into the solar plexus, the final ninja goes down in a sickening thud.

I make a mental note, a post-battle scorecard--no armor punctures, though the suit is cut up quite well (I believe even a part of one of the "horns" were sliced off), and I can taste the faint copper of blood in my mouth and around my lips. Besides from that, things appeared normal.

I turned over to Ra's, the two swords pointed towards him at my sides, with my might-as-well-trademarked "evil psycho grin."

"Anybody else?"

“Just one more,” Ra’s looked over to corner of the cave “Come my child.” He whispered softly.

A young boy no older than 6 or 7 appeared. His small feet tapped the floor and echoed throughout the cave. The boy had long dark black hair and wore a simple black suit. He stood in front of Ra’s, and looked worryingly around the cave.

Ra’s gently placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders “Allow me to introduce you to Ibn al Xu'ffasch, your son.”

[Franklin Richards]

"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news. The KBEL studios are under attack. Claude Legosi reporting from control central. I won't lie to you. I am scared for my life. We've barricaded the doors here in control central but after viewing the way the super villain Solomon Grundy destroyed the front doors and the south wall of the lobby, I'm not sure anything will be able to stop him. If my wife is watching, I want her to know that I love her. Wait a second. There seems to be some sort of singing coming from the outer hall. Carl are you getting that?"


"I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!"

"Oh god. Harlequin is right outside the door. Carl! Lou! Push those metal cabinets onto the barricade! We've got to..."



<static>





:marv: :marv: :marv:

[The Question]

I look into the wharehouse. There are a bunch of thugs brewing chemicals. I count....

What the hell is that noise?

I turn towards the city. I can barely hear a woman's voice.

"I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!"

What the hell? Wait, that sounds like The Joker's girlfriend. Harleen something. What....

Oh god.

I see right where city hall's supposed to be.

And I see a pillar of smoke.

I lower myself to the ground and run towards the bike. I take out my cell phone and call the station.


The line's dead.

I turn to Ollie.

"We have to go back into the city! NOW!"

[Green Lantern]

As he rides the borrowed cycle into Hub, Arsenal sees the pillar of smoke.Sunuva... what am I getting myself into?

He grabbed his communicator, "Ollie, Question, any hero in or near Hub, this is Roy, I'm in the area, now what the f**k is going on here? It looks like a damned war zone!

[Nightwing]

I look into the wharehouse. There are a bunch of thugs brewing chemicals. I count....

What the hell is that noise?

I turn towards the city. I can barely hear a woman's voice.

"I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!"

What the hell? Wait, that sounds like The Joker's girlfriend. Harleen something. What....

Oh god.

I see right where city hall's supposed to be.

And I see a pillar of smoke.

I lower myself to the ground and run towards the bike. I take out my cell phone and call the station.


The line's dead.

I turn to Ollie.

"We have to go back into the city! NOW!"

"What the hell is going on?"

Question turns to me, and I start seeing a pillar of smoke coming up from behind him into the city. Could this be Merlyn doing this? Just a second ago everything was quiet as a mouse.

"But what about the drugs? We have to get them before it's to late!"

My belt starts shaking.....

"Now whose calling? Roy?"

I activate my messages and see that Roy left me two of them.
I'm on my way Ollie, and when I get there you better have a damned good reason for jacking the Harley...

Was Roy nuts? The kid is still getting on my case for borrowing one of his precious bikes. I said I wouldn't but a scratch on it, and I've lived up to that promise. I'm the one who taught him how to ride them in the first place....

After I click to the second one.

"Dammit".

As he rides the borrowed cycle into Hub, Arsenal sees the pillar of smoke.[COLOR=sienna]Sunuva... what am I getting myself into?

He grabbed his communicator, "Ollie, Question, any hero in or near Hub, this is Roy, I'm in the area, now what the f**k is going on here? It looks like a damned war zone!


"Roy (static), can you hear me? I'm with Question as we speak. We're as confused as you are. Something it happening and we're going to find out what it is. But watch your back out there. Question informed me he heard the voice of Harley Quinn, she could have some goons with her. My guess is that Merlyn's involved aswell. Meet us as soon as you can."

I close the phone, now it's time to head back the city and figure out what exactly is happening now.

I see Question with his binoculars scoping out to see if he can get a closer look. That's when I prepare my bow.

"Sage, lets move."


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/23/Green_arrow15.png/230px-Green_arrow15.png

[The Question]

"I'll drive."

Ollie and I hop on the bike, and I drive towads the city. As we enter it, we see more and more chaos around us.

Jesus, how could one sociopath in a cloun suit cuase this much destruction?

I drive towards the station. There, I see that it's in ruins. My co workers are all running away from the scene. I can't blame them. I get off the bike and walk ovr to the building. There, I can see a very large, very pale, and very angry man smashing thinsg inside, with the clown girl standing next to him, laughing.

"Ollie, you wouldn't happen to have a giant albino freak of nature killing arrow, would you?"

[Franklin Richards]

Pain. Pain. More Pain.


"Jeez Solly! I knew you were a killing machine but this is just getting redundant. What is that? Two buildings and over five thousand corpses? Even Mr. J takes a break from time to time. Whoops! There he goes again! And they say there's a Starbucks on every corner. Well not this corner!"

More. More!


"Solomon Grundy born on a Monday."


:marv: :marv: :marv:

[Nightwing]

"I'll drive."

Ollie and I hop on the bike, and I drive towads the city. As we enter it, we see more and more chaos around us.

Jesus, how could one sociopath in a cloun suit cuase this much destruction?

I drive towards the station. There, I see that it's in ruins. My co workers are all running away from the scene. I can't blame them. I get off the bike and walk ovr to the building. There, I can see a very large, very pale, and very angry man smashing thinsg inside, with the clown girl standing next to him, laughing.

"Ollie, you wouldn't happen to have a giant albino freak of nature killing arrow, would you?"

"Holy."

We arrived at the building and got a little surprise. Looks like Quinn had come prepared for this, since her boyfriend also known as The Joker wasn't around for the time being. Half my arrows were gone from the previous ventures I just had....

Suddenly, that thing comes roaring and running towards us.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

"Sage, look ou....!"

Too late. As I tell Sage to move, I end up getting hit right in the jaw and fly across the room. Felt like getting hit with a really BIG baseball bat. How the hell are we going to this guy down?

[The Question]

I hate my life.

I take out my gun and fire at the big guy.

The bullets don't even phase him.

I really hate my life.

I call out to the thing.

"HEY!!! DUMBASS!!! YOUR MOM'S A WHORE!!!"

And people say I'm crazy.

I hop on the bike and drive off, hopping the big freak follows me.

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel swoops in and around the buildings stopping any crimes that he sees all the while one thought keeps going through his head....where is Superman?

He sees the people pointing to him and some clap while others smile. He sees one person in particular is Angela Chen from "Eye on Metropolis". She motions to him and he lands next to her. As he looks around he sees nothing unusual except that her broche has a tiny wire sticking off to the side. Ahhh I am not exactly a super-detective like Batman but I think I am able to see a set-up coming a mile away all-right I'll play along for a while.

He says, "Hello Miss Chen." She says, "Hello Captain Marvel. I have been noticing that you've been around here in Metropolis a lot lately why is that are you trying to to muscle out Superman" Marvel replies, "Not at all Miss Chen Metropolis is Superman's home. I am here as a favor to a friend of mine and I am just trying to help out where I can." Chen asks, "Who is your friend?"
Marvel says with a smile, "My friend is humanity....I am here to help anyone I can." Angela rolls her eyes slightly and shakes her head slowly. She then asks, "What do you think of Superman's involvment in the recent bus accident?" Marvel answers, "It's not my place to get involved in an on-going invsetigation. I am sure that the fine men & women of the Metropolis Police Department are more than capable of doing their job without my help." Angela nods and says, "Well I am sure that you have other duties to take care of Captain Marvel thank you for your time." She turns and walks away as she does she gets out her cell phone and says, "Do you all believe that guy? He gave us nothing to work with but a bunch of sickeningly sweet junk. We can't even use the editing machine and have fun with his answers. The rumors are right this guy really is 'Leave it to Beaver' in disguise and probably hasn't kissed even his own mother. He makes Superman look like Ozzy Ozborne."

Marvel watches Angela walk away and smiles as he continues his patrol around Metropolis.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Although I'm not sure what Mellonhead means, I seriously doubt it was a term of endearment. Shrugging my shoulders, I fly through the window and follow Rayner towards Keystone City. We arrive in very little time, but it already appears we are too late. The attackers seem to have left, and any trace of them has likely been demolished by the riot continuing below. It appears that we will have to be the cleanup crew.

I lower myself down and survey the area. Rioting prisoners are attacking those guards that remain. Some prisoners have escaped and are fleeing the area. It looks like any superpowered beings have fled as well. And bodies, guard and prisoner alike, lay everywhere.

I quickly erect a patch in the wall, sealing the breech the prisoners were escaping from. I then extend a field from the center of the patch, creating a wall between guards and prison mobs. The guards look up at me and wave as they finally get some relief. The prisoners attack my wall, which has now extended throughout the open grounds, sealing them off. It is no more than a nuisance.

I look back up to Rayner. "I'll hold them off if you'll grab the escaped prisoners and return them. Then we can help the guards secure them back in their cells."

"Whoa whoa whoa, cowboy. You may be tryin' to help here, but your not team leader yet. I'm the Green Lantern around here. Now, you hold the prisoners off while I gather them up. After that's taken care of, we should be able to help the guards put them back in their cells."

Kyle floated to the prison yard below. Several bonfires burned throughout as inmates threw suspicious looking yellow and brown substances at the wall constructed by Sinestro.

"Gentlemen, we apologize for the extra slippery soap that was accidently delivered here, but violence will not solve the problem. Rest assured though, a new shipment of soap on a rope is on its way, along with special belts that will prevent any kind of unique prison friendships...."

The mob had turned, and began stalking towards Kyle. Several brandished crudely made weapons or buring torches.

"Oh man, crappy little weapons carried by fat hairy men with learning disabilities. What ever am I going to do?"

Kyle extended his arm and fired, sending a glowing green net over the crowd of oncoming prisoners. Kyle fired another net for safe measure before tying the end off and flying back up to Sinestro.

"See, now aren't you glad we went with MY plan?"

[Franklin Richards]

I hate my life.

I take out my gun and fire at the big guy.

The bullets don't even phase him.

I really hate my life.

I call out to the thing.

"HEY!!! DUMBASS!!! YOUR MOM'S A WHORE!!!"

And people say I'm crazy.

I hop on the bike and drive off, hopping the big freak follows me.


"Oooooohhhh! There's one of the ones Mr. J wants us to pulverize. Go get 'em Solly!!!"

Grundy begins to chase after The Question on Harley's command. His newfound speed keeps him just behind the crotchrocket. His face contorted in rage.

"Grundy will CRUSH stupid No Face Man!!!"


:marv: :marv: :marv:

[The Question]

I'm sure I've done stupider things than this before. I mean, helping that hired thug who was trying to kill me survive a hurrcane was rather idiotic. Although, he wasn't an eight foot tall albino hulk wannabe.

I zoom through the streets as moby dick chases right behind me. This bike is a custome model. Can go up to and over 200 mph when you push it, and still stay in control. And I'm sure as hell pushing it. And yet, the big guy keeps up.

I head towards the wharehouse district. I know I've seen....

Yes.

A yard full of propane tanks.

I drive into the yard. As I drive out the other side, I take out my gun and shoot one of the tanks.

Boom.

The shock wave from the blast sends the bike hurtling forwards through the air. I brace for impact, and land. Hard. Not waiting to see if that worked, I get back on the bike and start driving again.

[wiegeabo]

"Whoa whoa whoa, cowboy. You may be tryin' to help here, but your not team leader yet. I'm the Green Lantern around here. Now, you hold the prisoners off while I gather them up. After that's taken care of, we should be able to help the guards put them back in their cells."

Kyle floated to the prison yard below. Several bonfires burned throughout as inmates threw suspicious looking yellow and brown substances at the wall constructed by Sinestro.

"Gentlemen, we apologize for the extra slippery soap that was accidently delivered here, but violence will not solve the problem. Rest assured though, a new shipment of soap on a rope is on its way, along with special belts that will prevent any kind of unique prison friendships...."

The mob had turned, and began stalking towards Kyle. Several brandished crudely made weapons or buring torches.

"Oh man, crappy little weapons carried by fat hairy men with learning disabilities. What ever am I going to do?"

Kyle extended his arm and fired, sending a glowing green net over the crowd of oncoming prisoners. Kyle fired another net for safe measure before tying the end off and flying back up to Sinestro.

"See, now aren't you glad we went with MY plan?"


His plan, eh? I think as I seal another batch of prisoners into open cells. Someone has obviously been taking lessons from Gardner on how to push people's buttons.

I'm starting to miss Jordan...What the hells am I thinking?!?

I see Rayner and some guards lock away the last of the escapees. Finally. I create a massive shovel and pile up the debris to repair the outer wall breached in the initial attack. There are still damaged areas throughout the prison, and the bodies still lay everywhere. But in the distance I can hear sirens. The authorities will arrive soon.

Floating in the air, I wipe my hands together and look at Rayner. "What should we do now, master planner?"

[Infinity9999x]

Tetch was lost within his mind. If a part of the man that was once human still resided within him, it had burrowed down deep into the dregs of his mind, too appauled at what he had become to disloge itself from its hiding place.

The girl was always with him, driving him, he had to hurry, to where he did not know, and truth be told he did not care. All that mattered was finding his daughter. Jervis was doomed to search forever for the one thing he could never find.

"Must hurry, the tea will grow cold, the Queen does not like cold tea. We must not be late, must find Alice, but I'm late....late..." Jervis mumbled, his frantic eyes lit with the fire of a fanatic. They suddenly halted on the form of a small homeless girl, her pale blonde hair reflecting in the moonlight. Jervis cocked his head to the side, his eyes suddenly confused and hopeful.

"A...Alice?" The girl stirred and froze as she noticed the man staring at her. She glanced around herself, but no help was near. As Jervis walked towards her he felt a flash of wind, and he noticed a blur of red out the corner of his eye. The wind stopped abruptly, and Jervis felt for a moment as if someone was watching him, then with another wave of wind the feeling was gone.

"Alice...go...tea time," the girl of his mind said, her eyes, the horrible red eyes. Jervis walked towards the little figure.

"It's time for tea," he said holding out a china cup, "we must not be late."

[Spike_x1]

Cameras flashed as Lex Luthor walked up to the podium. He waved his hands to get the enamored women to stop cheering his name and for the crowd of reporters to listen carefully. "Ladies and gentlemen of the great City of Tomorrow, our great Metropolis, it pains me to tell you this deeply disturbing news that I have for you. It's indeed a sad day when a man has to choose between what his heart tells him and what the law says we must do," Lex took a moment to breath deeply and wipe away a tear. "As a member of the city council, it is my duty to give to following announcement; A warrant is out for Superman's arrest."

The crowd gasped quite audibly and mumbled to themselves, conversing about the news.

"I know what all of you are thinking, but it has to be done. Yes, Superman has saved all of us countless times in the past, and two years ago he and the Justice League helped me turn my life around after I became involved with Injustice Society. I am forever indebted to him for helping me through that difficult time and giving me inspiration to keep going on with my life." Several cameras flashed. "But I'm sure that Superman himself would wish us to arrest criminals. Afterall, despite everything that the Man of Steel has done for us, if it had been someone like the Silver Banshee or Neutron who had thrown that bus and injured dozens of innocent bystanders, the Special Crimes Unit would pursue and arrest them without a second thought. Whether we like it or not, the same laws hold true for Superman."

Lex leaned forward into the cameras and gave his best 'concerned' expression that he had spent hours upon hours practicing to perfection. "If you can hear my voice, Superman, please turn yourself in. I hope that we can clear up this horrible mess you've gotten yourself into before you hurt anyone else."

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/2642/lex0017hh.jpg

[Ash Loomis]

I lay back and listen to the radio as I drive the Beetle out of Gotham. I sure hope Batman’s okay. Whatever made him dash off like that wasn’t to be taken lightly. I guess the police must have called him in to help out with one of those many crises. I flick a few channels, hoping for news. Maybe I’ll hear what Batman’s up to, I could lend a helping hand. Teeny bopper music. Teeny bopper music. Rap crap. Jeez, who puts this garbage on the airways? Ah, finally! The news.

I seem to be picking up some sort of audio from KBEL. Sage works there, I wonder if he’s reporting tonight.

"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news. The KBEL studios are under attack. Claude Legosi reporting from control central. I won't lie to you. I am scared for my life. We've barricaded the doors here in control central but after viewing the way the super villain Solomon Grundy destroyed the front doors and the south wall of the lobby, I'm not sure anything will be able to stop him. If my wife is watching, I want her to know that I love her. Wait a second. There seems to be some sort of singing coming from the outer hall. Carl are you getting that?"


"I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!"

"Oh god. Harlequin is right outside the door. Carl! Lou! Push those metal cabinets onto the barricade! We've got to..."

My god. I know that voice; that inhuman, sadistic howl. The sound of the woman…no… the thing that screeched with laughter and an innocent child’s life was stolen away forever.

I turn the Bug around and head straight to Hub City. The Question’s going to need backup for this one.

[Watchman]

He sat on the cross legged on the couch flipping through the channels. He came across the channel showing Hub City live. Grundy destroying everything in his path.

"Look at them" he said to his new partner "look at them run, scared and frighten. How I love it so", he turned the volume up to hear the screams coming from T.V. "Well Grodd, shall we head for Gotham?"

[MaskedManJRK]

“Just one more,” Ra’s looked over to corner of the cave “Come my child.” He whispered softly.


A young boy no older than 6 or 7 appeared. His small feet tapped the floor and echoed throughout the cave. The boy had long dark black hair and wore a simple black suit. He stood in front of Ra’s, and looked worryingly around the cave.


Ra’s gently placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders “Allow me to introduce you to Ibn al Xu'ffasch, your son.”


It took me about five seconds to fully realize what he just said.

My...son? How...

Talia.

The memory starts playing back in my head, like a bad movie you don't want to watch but you've seen it to the point where you can speak along with it...

***

It must have been no more than five or six years ago. Ra's and I had a mutual enemy in an international terrorist known as Qayin--for me, he created a hostage crisis and murdered a man in my city, for Ra's, Qayin was the murderer of Talia's mother. We combined forces, becoming Ra's second-in-command, and was given Talia's hand in marriage.

Before we mounted an attack against Qayin, Talia told me that she was pregnant. I have never considered myself much of a "family man," but...I don't think I've ever loved anyone as much as I did Talia at that moment.

Later on, Qayin and his forces attacked our stronghold, us barely beating him. Soon after, Talia told me that during the battle, she had lost the baby. I have lost many people in my life, but unlike the others, this one felt...different; it couldn't possibly be the same. With my parents, or Jason, it was painful because I knew them. With my lost...child, it was painful because I would never know him (yes, I was wishing for a boy).

Soon after our forces defeated Qayin, Talia broke off the marriage (looking back, it wasn't really much of a concrete "bonding" marriage. I was wearing the costume, for Christ's sake). Maybe she thought I was mad because she no longer had my child. Maybe she thought I would have left after the conflict with Qayin was all said and done. Regardless, I walked away.

***

But you can't walk away from your past. The proof of that was staring at me with hatefull eyes.

"My son? I thought...I thought Talia lost him..."

[SuperFerret]

He sat on the cross legged on the couch flipping through the channels. He came across the channel showing Hub City live. Grundy destroying everything in his path.

"Look at them" he said to his new partner "look at them run, scared and frighten. How I love it so", he turned the volume up to hear the screams coming from T.V. "Well Grodd, shall we head for Gotham?"

"I strongly dislike your obsession with fear, Jonathan, but I agree, it is slightly entertaining on the most primal level." I reply, "As for Gotham, I think that our journey to the city of the Bat should begin."

"You are able to drive an automobile, correct? I lack the specific anatomical proportion to do it correctly."

[batnkevlar]

I sit back on the couch, just watching a blank TV screen. Superboy's left, and I never thought I would take it so personally. Oh well, life goes on. I pick up the phone and dial the number of the one person I can have a good time with.

"Bette? How's it going? Hey, you doin anything today? Cuz, you know, if you wanna go out and do something... oh, you do? Uh, cool. I'll see you in an hour. Oh ok. Yeah. It'll be fun. I'll meet you there then."

I hang up the phone and I lay back in the couch. God, that girl... so amazing...

I get in to the shower when I hear the front Tower door knock. I pull on a towel and race downstairs. I hope it's not a salesman.

I open the front door and it's Flamebird herself. Wow, that was quick. But she's wearing her red and yellow suit.

"Hey, Bette..."

"Hi," she says, keeping things short.

"I thought we were going to meet there, not here," I said, not noticing I'm still in my towel. A surprised look falls over her face, then quickly goes away.

"Yeah, well..."

"It's awrite, c'mon in, I suppose. I need to get dressed but you can watch TV downstairs. Cool?"

"Yeah, Beast Boy, I'm fine."

I head upstairs and head to my room before i realize what she called me. Bette and I, were never on a codename basis. In fact, we were, ahem, on a mouth to mouth basis...

I jump from the stairs to the bottom floor, my gorilla feet hitting the ground, cracking it. I roar, and that's when Flamebird's arms strecth thirty feet across the hallway and hit me square in the chest.

[MST3K 4ever]

Cameras flashed as Lex Luthor walked up to the podium. He waved his hands to get the enamored women to stop cheering his name and for the crowd of reporters to listen carefully. "Ladies and gentlemen of the great City of Tomorrow, our great Metropolis, it pains me to tell you this deeply disturbing news that I have for you. It's indeed a sad day when a man has to choose between what his heart tells him and what the law says we must do," Lex took a moment to breath deeply and wipe away a tear. "As a member of the city council, it is my duty to give to following announcement; A warrant is out for Superman's arrest."

The crowd gasped quite audibly and mumbled to themselves, conversing about the news.

"I know what all of you are thinking, but it has to be done. Yes, Superman has saved all of us countless times in the past, and two years ago he and the Justice League helped me turn my life around after I became involved with Injustice Society. I am forever indebted to him for helping me through that difficult time and giving me inspiration to keep going on with my life." Several cameras flashed. "But I'm sure that Superman himself would wish us to arrest criminals. Afterall, despite everything that the Man of Steel has done for us, if it had been someone like the Silver Banshee or Neutron who had thrown that bus and injured dozens of innocent bystanders, the Special Crimes Unit would pursue and arrest them without a second thought. Whether we like it or not, the same laws hold true for Superman."

Lex leaned forward into the cameras and gave his best 'concerned' expression that he had spent hours upon hours practicing to perfection. "If you can hear my voice, Superman, please turn yourself in. I hope that we can clear up this horrible mess you've gotten yourself into before you hurt anyone else."

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/2642/lex0017hh.jpg


Well might as well check in at the station and see what's going on in the media.

He lands behind the station and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Billy walks into the station just as Perkins is bolting around the corner. He shoves a cell phone and an audio box at Billy. He says, "Get to Lex Towers A-S-A-P. Lex Luthor is getting ready to make a statement concerning Superman. Sounds like it could be big. We'll go to you live for reaction and to get the statement straight from Lex."

Billy grabs the phone and box and leaves the station. He realizes one thing...Lex Towers is quite a bit away and I need to get there fast. Generally I hate using my powers like this but sometimes you gotta do what gotta do.
He heads down the alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!
Marvel takes off and within seconds he lands in an alley about two blocks from Lex Towers and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Billy gets to Lex Towers and calls the station. He says, "Ready whenever you guys are I can see Lex coming out right now." He hears the lead anchor throw the braodcast to him and Billy says, "That's right Dave I am here at Lex Towers where Mr. Luthor is preparing to make a statement concerning Superman...let's listen now."
Once Lex has finished his speech Billy is just stunned...Superman being sought for an arrest...I...I...I can't believe it.

[LibrarianThorne]

They fly in silence the scant few miles to the Fortress of Solitude. He has decided to take the long route to the Fortress, for it will be one of the last times he will ever see it.

They soar in through a patch of arctic water, the chill serving to sharpen his thoughts. Already, he hears a distant clanging, and in moments he sees the source. Underneath the statue of his parents, Jor-El and Lara, Steel works away at an iron girder. Around him swarm the Fortress robots, continuing the repairs.
"Steel! Good to see you!"
Steel looks up, seeing Superman and Superboy, and waves at them. He is in full armor, wearing the red cape with the yellow S-shield on the back.
"John, we came by because I need you to come with me, just for a little bit. It's important to me, John."
Steel looks at Superman quizzically. "All right, Superman. The robots can handle it from here, anyway." He hammered away at the girder one final time before stopping, and then he strode forward towards Superman and Superboy.

"So, where are we headed?"
"Metropolis," said the Man of Steel as he turned away, flying out of the Fortress the same way he had come.

[Hyper Venom]

It wouldn't be fun, but it had to be done.

He snapped his fingers.

*BOOM!*

And a tenth of Gotham's tallest buildings crumbled to the ground.

Zoom's rampage would only take about two minutes to complete. He zipped through the city, snapping his fingers and knocking over buildings as fast as he could. Eventually he stopped and stared up at a building.

Gotham City Police Department.

He knew the place. Coming up in the police department himself, he came to respect Jim Gordon. He studied up on GCPD Central. They were just getting back to a sense of normalcy after the massacre that had been caused by Black Mask.

Zoom almost felt bad for what he was about to do...

*BOOM!*

The building crumbled to the ground with the officers still inside. Zoom stood around long enough to watch it fall.

This wouldn't be enough...he had to do something to really draw out the Batman. Something horrible...

He ran. As he ran through the city, causing sonic booms and knocking over buildings as he built up speed, he contemplated a number of options. Eventually it hit him. He would need a calling card.

Eventually he stopped in an office building. There were two dozen people in the building. Appearing in the middle of a top floor office, he grabbed the person nearest to him. It was an older man with thinning gray hair in a business suit.

"Wh...what are you? What do you want?" the man asked.

"Btmn"

"What? I can't understand..."

"BATMAN!"

"I'm not Batman!"

"Dntnsltme!"

"What?"

"I SAID DON'T INSULT ME! I KNOW YOU'RE NOT BATMAN, YOU FAT OLD FOOL!"

Zoom lifted the man up by his throat.

"I need to get his attention. You're going to help me."

"Wha....how?"

"You'll see..."

In what seemed like an instant, Zoom and his captive were several blocks away, standing outside of a movie theater. Zoom produced a knife out of seemingly nowhere.

"Wh...where did you...?"

"Grabbed it along the way."

Zoom held the knife up to the cowering man's throat.

"Doooo meeee aaaaaa favoranddont struggle..."

With just a flick of his wrist, Zoom cut the man's throat open.

Moving as only he could, Zoom ran several blocks away and into a hardware store. Grabbing the largest mop he could find, he ran back to where he had cut the man's throat. The body hadn't even hit the ground yet. He shoved the mop onto the bleeding wound and soaked it in blood. Then he placed the mop against the wall and wrote a message.

ZOOM

He wrote the message all over the building, going back to the body to gather more blood to do so, until the wound stopped bleeding. Afterwards, he ran back to the office building. He stopped at the receptionist's desk and stared down at a young woman who sat behind the desk.

"Next."

Before she could protest, the woman found herself being snatched out of her chair. Her coworkers were dumbfounded. They looked around, trying to figure out where she had gone. Two seconds later, they all screamed in horror as the windows were covered in blood. One by one they were snatched up, not knowing where their captor was coming from or who would be abducted next. But each of them suffered the same fate. They served as an easle, and Gotham City was the canvas.

Zoom would continue this bloody rampage, running into random buildings, grabbing people at random, slitting their throats, and using them to write his message across Gotham City. This would catch the Batman's attention for sure. If not, then he'd only be proving Zoom's point. He wouldn't deserve to be Gotham's protector.

By the time he was done, his message had been completed. All over Gotham, in the poor section and the rich section, in the suburbs, the slums, the big city, the industrial district, the theater district, all over the city, his message was written. You really would have to be blind as a bat to miss it.

ZOOM

Zoom stopped on a desolate street and leaned against a lamppost. It was the one street that he hadn't tainted with the blood of the innocent. He figured Batman would be able to find him in the one place in Gotham that he hadn't covered in blood.

Unbeknownst to him, he was waiting for Batman in Crime Alley.

[Infinity9999x]

Jervis stared up at the strange red letters displayed on a large building some distance froom him proclaiming ZOOM. He wondered if it had anything to do with the odd red wind that he had felt moments before.
"No imprortance," the girl of his mind told him, "tea time."
"Yes," Jervis said turning back to the small girl he had found, "tea time." He reached down and pulled the frightened girl up and led her inside the abandoned building she had been lying against.

Inside, he put two crates toghether, forming a makeshift table, and seated the girl and himself down at it. Handing her one of the china teacups he asked,
"Tea?"

The frightened little girl was at a loss of what to do. She looked down at the empty tea cup, and then back to the crazed face of her abductor.
Jervis waited, Alice always loved her tea, he didn't know why she was taking so long to drink it.

"Don't you wan't you tea?"

"N...no..." the little girl said in a quavering voice. No tea? But the Queen hadn't even arrived yet, and Alice loved her tea..Alice always drank her...tea....what was wrong with Alice?

"IT'S RUDE NOT TO DRINK YOUR TEA!" Jervis yelled, leaping to his feet. At this the little girl completley lost whatever composure she had left. She screamed and turned to run, but tripped on a strand of ripped fabric from her dirtied pants and was sent sprawling on the hard floor.

It wasn't Alice! A trickser! AGAIN! WHY!?! WHY DID THEY HIDE ALICE FROM HIM? All he wanted was his daughter! Jervis stormed over to the little girl and lifted her off the floor by her collar harshly.

"WHeRE IS ALiCe?" He yelled, his eyes holding a fanatic gleam. The little girl could only cry in fear. With a strangled yell, Jervis hurled the little girl from him, headlong into a stack of wodden crates. With a sound like a mellon splitting open, the girl collided with the heavy wodden containers. The pile wavered, and then came crashing down with crushing force upon the little girl. Once the dust cleared all that was seen of the frail body was a protruding hand under the pile of smashed wood.

WHY? The tricksers....the sneEkers...thEy wAnted thEm apart. The RaBit hOlE was a dangerous place...but he had to find her...must find Alice. Jervis turned away and noticed a table with teacups. He might as well have tea he supposed.

He sat himself down, and then turned to look at the large pile of broken wood in the corner. People should really clean up after themselves, it was quite rude, especially when a guest like himself was over.

He glanced out the window and noticed strange red paint all over the city buildings...how odd...but then again, Wonderland was never normal.

[Spider-Man9X17]

His plan, eh? I think as I seal another batch of prisoners into open cells. Someone has obviously been taking lessons from Gardner on how to push people's buttons.

I'm starting to miss Jordan...What the hells am I thinking?!?

I see Rayner and some guards lock away the last of the escapees. Finally. I create a massive shovel and pile up the debris to repair the outer wall breached in the initial attack. There are still damaged areas throughout the prison, and the bodies still lay everywhere. But in the distance I can hear sirens. The authorities will arrive soon.

Floating in the air, I wipe my hands together and look at Rayner. "What should we do now, master planner?"

"I dunno. I'm feelin' a little tired after all that hard work. Why don't you think of somethin'? Get your feet wet with this whole hero thing."

[wiegeabo]

"I dunno. I'm feelin' a little tired after all that hard work. Why don't you think of somethin'? Get your feet wet with this whole hero thing."

"Very well," I say. I pace through the air for a few moments while Rayner impatiently waits. By the time I've turned back to him he is already keeping himself entertained with a construct of sometype of game. Sigh...

"You mentioned earlier something about being followed. Well, why not follow up on that lead? Unless something else more important arises, we could determine who is following you and their purposes."

[Watchman]

"I strongly dislike your obsession with fear, Jonathan, but I agree, it is slightly entertaining on the most primal level." I reply, "As for Gotham, I think that our journey to the city of the Bat should begin."

"You are able to drive an automobile, correct? I lack the specific anatomical proportion to do it correctly."

"Of course I know how to drive" he got up from the couch "but since the ice cream truck is gone we need to find our own vehicle....be right back" he went to the above ground and to the streets. There were not that many cars on the streets. What caught Scarecrow's eye was a man heading towards a white van. Scarecrow didn't want to waste any fear gas on this man so he looked for anything useful. He found a steel pipe laying in some trash and he picked it up. Scarecrow started to sneak up on the man

"Who does that women think she is?" the man felt someone tapping his shoulder so he turned around slowly. "MOTHER OF..." Scarecrow swung the pipe striking the man in the face. The man fell to the ground.

"God isn't here right now" Scarecrow said and walked toward the man brandishing the pipe. The man was reaching for something in his coat and Scarecrow smashed the man's kneecap and his hand as it came out of his coat. Scarecrow knelt down by the man and stole the keys from him. "Thank you very much". The man couldn't get up and his head was laying on the curb.

Scarecrow started the van and lined the wheels up with the man's head. The man looked up and the lights shined right in his face. Scarecrow reved the engine and heard a scream. Scarecrow pushed down on the gas and then fealt a bump. He pulled into the bunker and beep the horn. "C'mon Grodd we don't want to be late for the party".

[SuperFerret]

"Of course I know how to drive" he got up from the couch "but since the ice cream truck is gone we need to find our own vehicle....be right back" he went to the above ground and to the streets. There were not that many cars on the streets. What caught Scarecrow's eye was a man heading towards a white van. Scarecrow didn't want to waste any fear gas on this man so he looked for anything useful. He found a steel pipe laying in some trash and he picked it up. Scarecrow started to sneak up on the man

"Who does that women think she is?" the man felt someone tapping his shoulder so he turned around slowly. "MOTHER OF..." Scarecrow swung the pipe striking the man in the face. The man fell to the ground.

"God isn't here right now" Scarecrow said and walked toward the man brandishing the pipe. The man was reaching for something in his coat and Scarecrow smashed the man's kneecap and his hand as it came out of his coat. Scarecrow knelt down by the man and stole the keys from him. "Thank you very much". The man couldn't get up and his head was laying on the curb.

Scarecrow started the van and lined the wheels up with the man's head. The man looked up and the lights shined right in his face. Scarecrow reved the engine and heard a scream. Scarecrow pushed down on the gas and then fealt a bump. He pulled into the bunker and beep the horn. "C'mon Grodd we don't want to be late for the party".

I climb into the van alongside Crane, and we begin the drive to Gotham.

OOC: What else am I supposed to post?

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Very well," I say. I pace through the air for a few moments while Rayner impatiently waits. By the time I've turned back to him he is already keeping himself entertained with a construct of sometype of game. Sigh...

"You mentioned earlier something about being followed. Well, why not follow up on that lead? Unless something else more important arises, we could determine who is following you and their purposes."

Kyle cocked an eyebrow, staring suspiciously at Sinestro.

"Really?"

The villian, former villian, whatever, nodded.

"Um, ok. But I don't have a lot of leads. The one guy I did get my hands on wouldn't talk, and was able to slip away pretty easily. He looked official though, and had a few high tech little toys....Come to think of it, this kinda stuff happened before, right after I got this ring. They came after me, sent Major Force to my home and....." Kyle trailed off solomnly.

"Any way, two heads are better than one, especially when one looks like a swollen....nevermind. Let's go."

[wiegeabo]

Rayner takes to the air and I follow. I consider what he has told me.


"Um, ok. But I don't have a lot of leads. The one guy I did get my hands on wouldn't talk, and was able to slip away pretty easily. He looked official though, and had a few high tech little toys....Come to think of it, this kinda stuff happened before, right after I got this ring. They came after me, sent Major Force to my home and....." Kyle trailed off solomnly.

"Any way, two heads are better than one, especially when one looks like a swollen....nevermind. Let's go."

It was an interesting situation he found himself in. And although he is trying not to show it, I can tell it is weighing heavily on his mind. Otherwise, he would likely have finished his insult. Gardner would have. Maybe there is some hope for the young Lantern afterall.

I catch up to Rayner. "Where are we headed?" I ask.

[Electro UK]

Black Mask laughed as he plunged his knife into Two-face's guard once more. "Please! I don't know nuthin!"

"Oh I don't want information!" Roman replied with glee. "I was just bored. Besides, you wanted to be spared back at the docks." he raised his knife for another swing.

"Sir!" a guard said, running down the steps to Black Mask and wiping the blood away from his face as Black Mask cut his hostage's neck.

"What is it now?"

"We've been looking in on the docks, Dent got the message."

"Good." Black Mask replied, an evil grin spreading across his face. "Tell the guards to be on full alert, we never know where he'll spring, but we'll be ready."

Roman walked up out of the basement. "Harvey Dent is going to die by my hands. You are to take him alive when we next strike. We're going to get back a vital position in this war, my home, where Two-face threw me out of not long ago."

[Franklin Richards]

I'm sure I've done stupider things than this before. I mean, helping that hired thug who was trying to kill me survive a hurrcane was rather idiotic. Although, he wasn't an eight foot tall albino hulk wannabe.

I zoom through the streets as moby dick chases right behind me. This bike is a custome model. Can go up to and over 200 mph when you push it, and still stay in control. And I'm sure as hell pushing it. And yet, the big guy keeps up.

I head towards the wharehouse district. I know I've seen....

Yes.

A yard full of propane tanks.

I drive into the yard. As I drive out the other side, I take out my gun and shoot one of the tanks.

Boom.

The shock wave from the blast sends the bike hurtling forwards through the air. I brace for impact, and land. Hard. Not waiting to see if that worked, I get back on the bike and start driving again.

The explosion rocks Grundy. HARD. Fire and force blast the area and Grundy can't be seen. When the fire starts to dissipate a gigantic figure walks from it's depth. The figure is smoking and begins to pat his clothes to put them out.

"Heheh. No Face Man wants to play. Grundy like to play."

Solomon sees The Question racing off in front of him. He strikes the ground with the force of a nuke. The ground begins to erupt and begins to lash out towards the bike. A trail of destruction begins to gain on the bike.

Grundy smiles and waits to see if the eruption catches The Question.


:marv: :marv: :marv:

[Green Lantern]

"Roy (static), can you hear me? I'm with Question as we speak. We're as confused as you are. Something it happening and we're going to find out what it is. But watch your back out there. Question informed me he heard the voice of Harley Quinn, she could have some goons with her. My guess is that Merlyn's involved aswell. Meet us as soon as you can."

"Ollie? Ollie? Damnit! He must of lost his connection... what in the hell am I walking into?" Quinn? Wasn't she with... Grundy?!? Oh f**k me running...

As Roy rode into Hub City, he began to look for clues to where his former partner was, and exactly what kind of trouble him and the Question were in. About three minutes after Ollie's phone call he heard a large blast and saw smoke coming from the warehouse district of Hub. Now, that looks promising... well, I guess it's all or nothin' eh?

He gunned the engine and flew down the road towards the explosion, when all of a sudden the ground shook like he was in L.A. The shockwave threw him from the bike and he skidded across the pavement as the bike itself slid into a nearby fire hydrant and its gas tank exploded, showering the area with metal and water.

Ugh... thank god for body armor, or I'd have one severe case of road rash right about now... but dammit, can't I keep a vehicle for more than a day? Now I'm gonna have to hoof it to the fight... and I'm willing to bet my freak of nature zombie pal had somethin' to do with that quake...

Just then a Hub City PD officer pulled up. "Kid, how fast were you goin, and you know how much that hydrant's gonna cost you? I'm afraid I'm gonna have to see your licsense, registration, and insurance, son."

Heh... this should be funny... "Officer, am I GLAD to see YOU! You see, I'm on important business, for the UN, JLA, and CBI*"

"Yeah, sure ya are kid, and I'm freaking Santa Easter Tooth Bunny Fairy Claus!"

Roy pulls out his wallet from his quiver and pulls out six cards. "Name's Arsenal. CBI, DEA, and Checkmate agent governmentally. Official founding member of the Teen Titans, Justice League reserve member, and former leader of the Outsiders. I have more security clearance than you'll have in six lifetimes. Now I just commandeered your cruiser. Any questions? Feel free to call Alan Scott for my government, UN sanctioned clearance. His number is (476) 526-8376. Thank you and have a nice day."

As Roy took the keys from his hand, the cops jaw dropped. Roy just grinned as he sped to the scene of the explosion.


OOC: * CBI stands for Central Bureau of Intelligence, and DEA is Drug Enforcement Agency. If you don't know what Checkmate is, I suggest you catch up on the last year of the DCU :o and I assure you all of those credentials I spewed (except maybe the JL reserve thing) are true for Roy ;)

[Keyser Soze]

McCulloch was a tough minded hitman. He was one of the few Rogues able to keep a level head in the most pressure situations. But, he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel uneasy about having the Joker's arm around him. Still, he rolled with it and acted like it didn't bother him at all as he poured another shot.

"Sounds like a plan. Whatcha have in mind?"

The others were gone. Now it was just The Joker and The Mirror Master.

"Well, first, take your pants off."

McCulloch drew back from him, his eyes wide with shock. The Joker burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm kidding!," he chuckled, "What I really want you to do is to use one of your...nifty mirror portals to take us into Lex Luthor's office in Lexcorp Towers. There's a gold-framed mirror in his bathroom. Fancy crapper too. HA HA!"

The Joker finished his drink, sitting the empty glass on the counter.

"After all, we can't exactly walk in through the front door, can we? HA HA!"

[Johnny Blaze]

The others were gone. Now it was just The Joker and The Mirror Master.

"Well, first, take your pants off."

McCulloch drew back from him, his eyes wide with shock. The Joker burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm kidding!," he chuckled, "What I really want you to do is to use one of your...nifty mirror portals to take us into Lex Luthor's office in Lexcorp Towers. There's a gold-framed mirror in his bathroom. Fancy crapper too. HA HA!"

The Joker finished his drink, sitting the empty glass on the counter.

"After all, we can't exactly walk in through the front door, can we? HA HA!"

Mirror Master downed his whiskey and slammed the glass on the table. He did not feel comfortable with the Joker as a partner. Too damn unpredictable and too off his rocker. But, this was business. And, apparently, he had been correct in assuming Luthor was the puppet master pulling the strings.
Still, McCulloch would not have put it past the Joker to have gone to all this trouble to make one think Luthor is behind it all.

Only one way to find out.

"Alright, Joker...let's be off", said McCulloch as he lept on top of the bar and melted into it's reflective surface with the Joker in toe.

Next stop, Luthor's office.

[The Question]

The explosion rocks Grundy. HARD. Fire and force blast the area and Grundy can't be seen. When the fire starts to dissipate a gigantic figure walks from it's depth. The figure is smoking and begins to pat his clothes to put them out.

"Heheh. No Face Man wants to play. Grundy like to play."

Solomon sees The Question racing off in front of him. He strikes the ground with the force of a nuke. The ground begins to erupt and begins to lash out towards the bike. A trail of destruction begins to gain on the bike.

Grundy smiles and waits to see if the eruption catches The Question.


:marv: :marv: :marv:


Oh ****.

The shockwave hits me, and the boke flips over. I jump off, and try and role when I land. I take out my grappling gun and shoot up a line towards the rooftops. I reel in the line and start running across the roof. I jump down the fire escape and hit the ground in the alleyway below.

What the **** am I going to do?

[Nightwing]

I hate my life.

I take out my gun and fire at the big guy.

The bullets don't even phase him.

I really hate my life.

I call out to the thing.

"HEY!!! DUMBASS!!! YOUR MOM'S A WHORE!!!"

And people say I'm crazy.

I hop on the bike and drive off, hopping the big freak follows me.

"The guy really is crazy."

I see Question drive off on Roy's bike, while Grundy starts smashing and running his way toward him. If I don't do something, he could wide up hurt. I'm almost out of arrows, so I better be wise of what I'll do with them.....

Thats, when my phone goes off all of a sudden, and hit the message button while I run as fast as I can.

"Ollie? Ollie? Damnit! He must of lost his connection... what in the hell am I walking into?" Quinn? Wasn't she with... Grundy?!? Oh f**k me running...

I press call back.

"Jeez kid you're freaking psychic....YES she's with Grundy, and Sage is trying to dispose of him. I'm running after them both right now. Just follow all the wreckage that's being thrown across the streets and you'll find your way toward us. Get your ass here asap."

The phone is closed, and I make my way closer to Grundy while dodging all the trash coming in my direction. I get a closer look and see Sage fly up in the air...With Roy's back totally thrashed when Grundy smashes the floor with his huge fists.

"Roy is gonna to be so pissed."

Can't think about that now, have to see if Sage is ok. Just then I see Grundy making his way back to the city, seems like he's going to do some more damage. I think I know how to take him down. Those power lines he knocked down should be of good use. It's one hell of a risk, but that's all we have right now.

I head over to where Question landed, and fine him in the alley.

"You ok?"

I lend him a hand, and see him holding his arm. I think he's hurt, but knowing him, he'll tough it out.

"I've got one hell of a plan, and it's going to take us both to do it."

[The Question]

I turn to Ollie.

"I sincerely hope it involves running away and caling Superman."

[twylight]

~Two Days ago~

*VVVvvvvVVVVVvvvVVVVVVvvv*

The sound of vibrations shattered the silence of the room. Rising from her position of meditation the woman walked over to the coffee table, her socked feet making soft noises on the floor and flipped open her cell phone.

“Yes?.......Yes……Yes….” She folded it shut softly as she thought, her eyes staring off into space. Something seemed to click in her head and she quietly walked to her bedroom.


~~~~~~~~~~~`

~Tonight~


*ZZZZTT* the sound of the door ringer pierced the empty lobby as a dark clad figure stood in front of the penthouse elevator.


Floor’s above there a man tilted his head and spoke into the air.

“Is she? Send her up.”

Minutes later the elevator opened and a woman stepped out. Her black boots thumping on the shiny tan marble flooring of the hallway. A long black jacket covering her from the head to foot. She kept her head down.

The man gave a smug look his voice hard and mocking.

“You must be the..*Gluck*”

The woman raised her head, as her hand held firmly around his neck.

“The what?” She asked her voice low and daring.

His face turned red and he grasped at her hand before she dropped him.

Clap..clap…clap…

The woman turned at the noise, finding her self facing a tall stately graying man in his 50’s. He was fit and trim and stood in a wide arc way that opened from the hallway to the living room.

The woman tilted her head. He reminded her of someone.

“Glad to see they sent a feisty one.” He said, motioning her in.

“You must be…”

“The client yes.” He cut her off as she entered the large open and modern living room through the arc way.

She keeping her back to him she turned her head towards him.

“Is this is?” She asked as he stood smiling at her with a predatory gaze.

“Right to business? No drinks?” He asked.

She smiled at him.

“We shouldn’t delay the inevitable, and I hardly guess you called me for drinks.”

His lips turn up in a hungry smile.

“Wise woman, I shall ask for you again…This way…” he lead her back into the hallway and past the unconscious guard laying on the floor. As they passed him the woman knelt down quickly and checked him pulse, it was steady. She quickly rose and fallowed the man, not losing any ground. He stopped at the door at the end of the hallway, and pushed it open. The woman raised her eyebrow.

While the rest of the pent house, from what she’d seen was decorated in tans and creams, with splashes of black. This room was done in dark tones of blood red and black, with only a few splashes of tan. A large departure was also the large gothic style furniture, but all that was dwarfed by the large, gothic canopy bed which occupied the center of his bedroom.

“Welcome to your office...” He says smiling placing a hand around her waist and guiding her in.

She stands in the middle of the room and looks around as he takes a seat on the bed.

“How shall we start?” He asks, an evil gleam in his eye. The woman gives him a sly smile from behind the hair covering half her face, as she lets her jacket slip off, revealing an ensemble of black leather, held together with straps, on her waist hands a black whip. She sets down her black bag, she’d been carrying.

“What did your old Domme do?” She asks.

He smiles.

“Nothing good.”

The woman smirks.
“Well, we’ll have to change that then won’t we?” She leans over and whispers in his ear, and he gives a wicked smile.

“Very well..” He say’s as he starts preparing himself.

The woman turns away and looks over the room, along the wall are what look like historical artifacts, yet she recognizes them for what they are. Instruments of torture, and in the right hands, instruments of pleasure.

A grunt comes from behind her and she turns.
“Start with a little light flogging shall we?” He asks.

“Don’t presume.” She says harshly as she leans over and pulls out a small flogging whip and leather straps.

Half an hour later she steps back, her hair a little stringy from slight amount of sweat she’d worked up. Her ‘client’ moans as he smiles in pleasure.

“More….”

The woman smiles and holds up her whip.

Do you know what the difference between pleasure and torture are?” She asks softly. Her client to high in ecstasy to notice the tone of her voice change.

“It’s all the same….pain is pleasure.” He grins at her wickedly. She smiles and straddles him on his lap.

“Hey...wait…this isn’t…”

“It’s my turn to have fun.”

His face goes straight.

“I was told you were from a reputable establishment, not some common hooker.”

“I’m not either.” She jabs her hand into his middle and he keels over in pain. As she steps back from him and watches. Seconds later he vomits his last eaten meal.

“What the…” He sputters


“’You’ve been a very bad boy.’” She mocks as he continues to dry heave.

The heaves slow and she pulls his head back by the thin grey hair, her voice turning hoarse.

“You shouldn’t be so trusting of women who want to hurt you.”

“What is this? What’s going on Damn it who are you! Nick! Nick!”

The woman let his head drop and walked over to a wall, knocking on it.

“Don’t think he can hear you. Even if he wasn’t unconscious on the floor.” She said.

“Now, I think we have some business.”

“We have no business, you *****. Untie me! Right now!”

She tilted her head, her face covered in the shadows. This had been to easy….the grossest part had been him enjoying her hurting him. It was beneath her to do this, dressing like a common dominatrix. Even Geisha’s had more honor. All she wanted now was a shower. She focused her mind.
Don’t focus on the materialistic sick American. Focus on the job.

“NO!” She said, her voice hoarse.

“I want to know about the Black Mask. Where is he, and what does he have planned next?”

Shock registered on the mans face.

“How..”

“When does he plan to take Two-Face down? “

The man’s shocked look turns into a smile.

“I don’t know, and what are you going to do to get it out of me? Torture me? I thrive on that.” The word dripped from his mouth in his expectation of what he called pleasure.

The woman stepped out from the shadows. Her hair tied back and a mask covering then lower part of her face.

She leaned over and hit him on a pressure point. His head flops over. She slaps him back to consciousness.

“I read your file. You like pain…not disorientation. If you’d have asked I’m sure the ‘establishment’ would have told you there was a break in a few day’s ago.”


“You can’t hurt me.” He spats
“And you can’t threaten me either, listen here young woman. I can give you anything you want.”

She raises her eyebrow and sets her bag on the bed and pulls over a side table, quietly she pulls out bottles and sets them on the table. Carefully she pulls out and places on her fingers claws, their shiny tips glinting in the dim light. Picking up one of the bottles she says

“There are many ways to bring people pain, one of the way’s is internal.”

She stands over him, unscrewing the bottle.

” Do you know anything about the art of poison?”

[Nightwing]

I turn to Ollie.

"I sincerely hope it involves running away and caling Superman."

"FAR from that, you see those powerlines?" Grundy knocked down quite a few, and I have about 4 more arrows that pack a whole lot of blinding power. He's a huge freak of nature, but he's got to have some sord of weakness. Lets just hope it's his eyes."

The ground shakes for about 5 seconds.

"And there goes another one."

I can hear Harley's laughter even with what's being destroyed, as she barks some more orders at Grundy. Can't let her get away, but have to focus on the people at risk. Suddenly a car nearly lands on Question and I, this is going to be hell...

"Lets get to it."

We run towards Grundy and I see him pick up another car, I quickly pull pack 2 arrows and point them at him. He turns around, and I angerly yell out...

"SAY AH DIRT BAG!"

The arrows are gone out of my fingers without pause, and strike directly in his face. Sparks fly out of them as they slowly take effect, and he's blinded for a couple minutes.

[Spider-Man9X17]

Rayner takes to the air and I follow. I consider what he has told me.



It was an interesting situation he found himself in. And although he is trying not to show it, I can tell it is weighing heavily on his mind. Otherwise, he would likely have finished his insult. Gardner would have. Maybe there is some hope for the young Lantern afterall.

I catch up to Rayner. "Where are we headed?" I ask.

"L.A. would probably be the best starting point. Whoever this is will be on the lookout for me snooping around, but not for you...."

Kyle looked Sinestro over.

"Though, we may have trouble making you fit in. The again, it is L.A., so you should be fine."

[wiegeabo]

"L.A. would probably be the best starting point. Whoever this is will be on the lookout for me snooping around, but not for you...."

Kyle looked Sinestro over.

"Though, we may have trouble making you fit in. The again, it is L.A., so you should be fine."

I'm surprised to learn there are that many Korugan's roaming his city. Then I realize he was making a joke at my expense and the citizens of 'L.A.' as he called it. So be it. Besides, what Korugan would be caught dead on this backwater world? Except for me?

"Then let us return." We take to the air. "Since these agents apparently are following you, then I believe the first task we should take upon our arrival is to get their attention. Make them come to us in a location of our chosing, in a situation we can control. Any ideas?"

[MST3K 4ever]

Billy's mind is still reeling from the announcement Luthor has just made. Superman...arrested...Holy Moley! Great now what do I do? Do I try to warn Superman? Considering I have no idea where he is, and if I do that I could get in just as much trouble. Boy if ever I needed the Wisdom of Solomon it's now.

Just then Billy hears Dave at the station, "Billy can you hear us?" Billy is now snapped back into reality and says, "Ahh yeah Dave everyone here is just stunned at the moment. Some people actually look happy." Then looking at Luthor he says, "Some look happier than others" Looking away from Luthor he says,"I'll get some crowd reaction excuse sir Billy Batson WKLS what's your opinion of what Luthor has just announced?" The man begins talking but Billy's mind is about a million miles away...Superman has no idea how much trouble he is in.
Billy continues and once the interviews are done he leaves the area. He goes into an alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!
Marvel takes to the sky as quickly as he can. I have always said I was a hero...well looks like that is being put to the test now more than ever...maybe Superman will come quietly...he has always been reasonable...I just have hard time believing any of this is real. Just then the Solomon Wisdom remindw Marvel that....Things are not always as they appear...think this through Marvel.

[White_Howling]

They fly in silence the scant few miles to the Fortress of Solitude. He has decided to take the long route to the Fortress, for it will be one of the last times he will ever see it.

They soar in through a patch of arctic water, the chill serving to sharpen his thoughts. Already, he hears a distant clanging, and in moments he sees the source. Underneath the statue of his parents, Jor-El and Lara, Steel works away at an iron girder. Around him swarm the Fortress robots, continuing the repairs.
"Steel! Good to see you!"
Steel looks up, seeing Superman and Superboy, and waves at them. He is in full armor, wearing the red cape with the yellow S-shield on the back.
"John, we came by because I need you to come with me, just for a little bit. It's important to me, John."
Steel looks at Superman quizzically. "All right, Superman. The robots can handle it from here, anyway." He hammered away at the girder one final time before stopping, and then he strode forward towards Superman and Superboy.

"So, where are we headed?"
"Metropolis," said the Man of Steel as he turned away, flying out of the Fortress the same way he had come.

Hummm why did we even bother going to the fortress? Its’ not like Steels a child. He could have just met us in Metropolis. Feels like I’ve been flying forever.

Its not like I could argue with Clark, he is the man of steel.

Best to just shut up and tag along for the ride.

I decided to slow down a bit and let Clark and John have own private talk together. Its going to be a while before we hit Metropolis. Might as well admire the view.

[Red]

It took me about five seconds to fully realize what he just said.

My...son? How...

Talia.

The memory starts playing back in my head, like a bad movie you don't want to watch but you've seen it to the point where you can speak along with it...



It must have been no more than five or six years ago. Ra's and I had a mutual enemy in an international terrorist known as Qayin--for me, he created a hostage crisis and murdered a man in my city, for Ra's, Qayin was the murderer of Talia's mother. We combined forces, becoming Ra's second-in-command, and was given Talia's hand in marriage.

Before we mounted an attack against Qayin, Talia told me that she was pregnant. I have never considered myself much of a "family man," but...I don't think I've ever loved anyone as much as I did Talia at that moment.

Later on, Qayin and his forces attacked our stronghold, us barely beating him. Soon after, Talia told me that during the battle, she had lost the baby. I have lost many people in my life, but unlike the others, this one felt...different; it couldn't possibly be the same. With my parents, or Jason, it was painful because I knew them. With my lost...child, it was painful because I would never know him (yes, I was wishing for a boy).

Soon after our forces defeated Qayin, Talia broke off the marriage (looking back, it wasn't really much of a concrete "bonding" marriage. I was wearing the costume, for Christ's sake). Maybe she thought I was mad because she no longer had my child. Maybe she thought I would have left after the conflict with Qayin was all said and done. Regardless, I walked away.

***

But you can't walk away from your past. The proof of that was staring at me with hatefull eyes.

"My son? I thought...I thought Talia lost him..."

As Batman stood bewildered and confused, a ninja awakened from the ground beside him. The ninja’s eyes narrowed. He tightened his fist and smashed Batman over the back of the head.

As Batman fell to the ground the ninja reached to his sword and raised it above Batman’s head

Ra’s stretched out his hand “No.”he left his sentence hanging and he looked down at Ibn “No child deserves to see that.”

Several other ninja’s that littered the cave floor began to regain consciousness. Ra’s gazed down at Batman’s body “Bring him…. and don’t forget what we came for”.

*******

Ra’s matched outside the ruins of Wayne manor the ninja’s followed obediently behind dragging Batman with them. He came to a stop and a large helicopter descended from the sky. Ra’ and his men climbed inside the helicopter.

As the copper began to rise into the air Ra’s placed his hand on young Ibn’s shoulder “Come son, let’s go home.”

[The Question]

"FAR from that, you see those powerlines?" Grundy knocked down quite a few, and I have about 4 more arrows that pack a whole lot of blinding power. He's a huge freak of nature, but he's got to have some sord of weakness. Lets just hope it's his eyes."

The ground shakes for about 5 seconds.

"And there goes another one."

I can hear Harley's laughter even with what's being destroyed, as she barks some more orders at Grundy. Can't let her get away, but have to focus on the people at risk. Suddenly a car nearly lands on Question and I, this is going to be hell...

"Lets get to it."

We run towards Grundy and I see him pick up another car, I quickly pull pack 2 arrows and point them at him. He turns around, and I angerly yell out...

"SAY AH DIRT BAG!"

The arrows are gone out of my fingers without pause, and strike directly in his face. Sparks fly out of them as they slowly take effect, and he's blinded for a couple minutes.




Dumbass left without giving me a chance to tell him how he's being a dumbass.

Great.

I run up to Ollie.

"I don't think this powerline trick'll work. I mean, I blew up an entire stockyard of propane with him in it and all it did was singe his eyebrows."

[Spider-Man9X17]

I'm surprised to learn there are that many Korugan's roaming his city. Then I realize he was making a joke at my expense and the citizens of 'L.A.' as he called it. So be it. Besides, what Korugan would be caught dead on this backwater world? Except for me?

"Then let us return." We take to the air. "Since these agents apparently are following you, then I believe the first task we should take upon our arrival is to get their attention. Make them come to us in a location of our chosing, in a situation we can control. Any ideas?"

"We could beat each other up. If we do it outside Warner Brothers studio, we might even get a film deal out of it."

[wiegeabo]

"We could beat each other up. If we do it outside Warner Brothers studio, we might even get a film deal out of it."
Very tempting.

Actually...that's not such a bad idea. It would certainly draw attention, and those following Rayner would be unaware we were working together. We could take them by surprise.

"I agree. How real should we make it look?" I ask with a sly smile.

[LibrarianThorne]

Hummm why did we even bother going to the fortress? Its’ not like Steels a child. He could have just met us in Metropolis. Feels like I’ve been flying forever.

Its not like I could argue with Clark, he is the man of steel.

Best to just shut up and tag along for the ride.

I decided to slow down a bit and let Clark and John have own private talk together. Its going to be a while before we hit Metropolis. Might as well admire the view.

As they flew out of the Fortress, his superhearing detected Luthor's announcement in Metropolis. He frowned. Why did it always have to be Luthor? Luthor discovered kryptonite. Luthor became President. Luthor had done everything he could to harm him over the years, and he had hoped that the problem had been solved with the mind wipe, so long ago.

And now, on this night of all nights, Luthor hounded him again. Superman's return to Metropolis wouldn't be easy. In fact, Luthor had just changed the whole situation.

He sighed to himself. He wouldn't get the goodbye he wanted. Now it would have to be public, and it would further disgrace him. But it was like Pa always told him, "Most of the time the right choice and the easy choice aren't gonna be the same thing."

"Hey Supes, something wrong? Brainiac attacking Metropolis or something?"

"Not tonight John, no."

His mind ran with thoughts, and plans. What would he do now? It seemed like there was only one choice he could make.

"Before we get to Metropolis, there's something I need to tell you both. Firstly, John, I've got a secret that I've kept hidden from you. It was a secret you should've known from day one. My name is Clark Kent, and I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet."

He looked at Steel, who bore an almost comical expression on his face. "You- you're Clark Kent? For real?" Superman nodded. "I'd always thought about it, to be honest. Too many facial similarities between you two. But to have you say it, I mean wow. Now, why do I get the feeling the next announcement won't be good?"

"Because it isn't. Steel, Superboy; I'm retiring."

For a long few minutes, only the whipping of the wind could be heard. Then Steel started laughing. "That's a good one, Superman. What, you're just going to give up the whole never-ending battle? Yeah, right."

"I am. I've been thinking about it for a long time, at any rate. Some days I just know that the world doesn't need me any more. There are so many heroes now, all over the world. It's their time and their era. My time is done and over with."

They flew along in silence for what seemed like an eternity, until the twinkling spires of Metropolis could be seen in the distance. He stopped there, hovering the sky. He looked at it with what seemed like a great sadness. It took Steel and Superboy a moment to realize that Superman had stopped

"And then I've thought about the fact that this world needs heroes, but more than that, it needs inspirations. Of every hero I've ever met, it has been you two that have impressed me the most. You are both great heroes, true enough. But I see in both of you the potential to be more than that. Steel, you are an ordinary man gifted with an extraordinary mind, but even greater than that is your sense of duty. Superboy, you are at times rash and impetuous, but you always end up doing the right thing. I would appreciate it if the two of you, together, would watch over Metropolis in my stead."

He then turned to Superboy, addressing him directly. "Connor, I'm going to need you to tell Ma and Pa all about this. I don't think I'm going to be able to, at least not for a while."

He sighed, and gazed out at Metropolis again. "But for tonight, I need both of you to stay out of Metropolis. There's something there that I need to take care of."

Without further word, Superman raced towards Metropolis.

[Spike_x1]

As the Joker and the Mirror Master emerged from the mirror, the Bodyguard was waiting for them on the other side of the restroom door. The moment that the newcomers opened the door out of the bathroom and into the main office, Joseph grabbed both the clown and McCulloch by their necks and held them in the air effortlessly.

"What are you doing here Joker?" Lex's voice came from all directions in the vast shadowy office at once.

[Watchman]

After a few hours of driving Scarecrow pulled into the back of where the party was. He parked the van and looked around no sign of Mr. Wayne he thought and why was he so important to the scheme. He turned his attention to Grodd.

"Well then it's time to work your magic"

[Spider-Man9X17]

Very tempting.

Actually...that's not such a bad idea. It would certainly draw attention, and those following Rayner would be unaware we were working together. We could take them by surprise.

"I agree. How real should we make it look?" I ask with a sly smile.

"As real as you can handle, little man. I'm always up for a good scrap."

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel gently guided towards Metropolis. If I were Superman and I was coming back to Metropolis where would I go...the closest thing that I have to a home here. His apartment is too obvious and too close that someone might...see...but his other home. That Solomon wisdom always comes in handy.
Marvel lands on top of the Daily Planet globe and begins looking for Superman...this might be one place Superman would come to...hopefully he and I can work something out without coming either of us throwing punches.

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel gently guided towards Metropolis. If I were Superman and I was coming back to Metropolis where would I go...the closest thing that I have to a home here. His apartment is too obvious and too close that someone might...see...but his other home. That Solomon wisdom always comes in handy.
Marvel lands on top of the Daily Planet globe and begins looking for Superman...this might be one place Superman would come to...hopefully he and I can work something out without coming either of us throwing punches.

He glided into Metropolis. The sun was about four hours away from rising, at his guess. The steel canyon of skyscrapers surrounded him. He looked down at the night time population of Metropolis, and saw people looking up at him with an odd expression. It took him a moment to realize what it was. Fear.

If anyone were to observe the face of the Man of Steel in that moment, they would have seen a great sadness come upon him. Regret and sorrow welled up within him like an unstoppable tide, and brought him to the edge of despair. He knew now that the course he had decided on was best. He wouldn't have the people of Metropolis look to the sky with fear in their eyes. Not ever.

He then began searching for Captain Marvel. He had doubtless heard Luthor's announcement, and doubtless also sought to arrest Superman. The Man of Steel thought it fitting that Marvel would be the one to bring him in.

It was only when he was a few thousand feet above Metropolis that he finally saw Marvel, standing atop the globe of the Daily Planet. He sighed, and finally committed himself to what he knew in his heart he had to do.

In a moment, he stood hovering in front of Marvel.

"Billy, I think it's time we had a talk."

[MST3K 4ever]

He glided into Metropolis. The sun was about four hours away from rising, at his guess. The steel canyon of skyscrapers surrounded him. He looked down at the night time population of Metropolis, and saw people looking up at him with an odd expression. It took him a moment to realize what it was. Fear.

If anyone were to observe the face of the Man of Steel in that moment, they would have seen a great sadness come upon him. Regret and sorrow welled up within him like an unstoppable tide, and brought him to the edge of despair. He knew now that the course he had decided on was best. He wouldn't have the people of Metropolis look to the sky with fear in their eyes. Not ever.

He then began searching for Captain Marvel. He had doubtless heard Luthor's announcement, and doubtless also sought to arrest Superman. The Man of Steel thought it fitting that Marvel would be the one to bring him in.

It was only when he was a few thousand feet above Metropolis that he finally saw Marvel, standing atop the globe of the Daily Planet. He sighed, and finally committed himself to what he knew in his heart he had to do.

In a moment, he stood hovering in front of Marvel.

"Billy, I think it's time we had a talk."

Marvel sees the look on Superman's face. He bows his head, shakes his head and says, "I am so sorry that this happening to you. In case you haven't heard by now Luthor and the city council have issued an arrest warrant for you." He looks back up at Superman and says,"I would almost prefer you punch my lights out, because it can't feel any worse than this does right now."

Marvel hovers next to Superman and says, "I may be the one who brings you in, but know this much I don't like what I am doing not one bit. You're the one who set the standard for the rest of us to follow and I refuse to believe that you knowingly did this. I will do everything I can to watch over Metropolis. I have heard a lot lately things are not as they appear. This looks too easy I smell a frame up with a rat named Luthor at the center of it all. I can't prove it..." and he smiles a bit and says, "yet. But know this much I will be devoting as much of my time and energy to helping clear your name." He takes a deep breath and asks,"Anything you'd like to say before we get on with this?"

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel sees the look on Superman's face. He bows his head, shakes his head and says, "I am so sorry that this happening to you. In case you haven't heard by now Luthor and the city council have issued an arrest warrant for you." He looks back up at Superman and says,"I would almost prefer you punch my lights out, because it can't feel any worse than this does right now."

Marvel hovers next to Superman and says, "I may be the one who brings you in, but know this much I don't like what I am doing not one bit. You're the one who set the standard for the rest of us to follow and I refuse to believe that you knowingly did this. I will do everything I can to watch over Metropolis. I have heard a lot lately things are not as they appear. This looks too easy I smell a frame up with a rat named Luthor at the center of it all. I can't prove it..." and he smiles a bit and says, "yet. But know this much I will be devoting as much of my time and energy to helping clear your name." He takes a deep breath and asks,"Anything you'd like to say before we get on with this?"

OOC: Feel free to bunny Superman after this post, MST3K!

Superman shakes his head. He believes the most amazing thing about Marvel isn't the powers. It's that a boy gifted with so much power could do so much good with them.

"Billy, I fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. In order to fight for them, I must believe in them with all my heart and all my soul. And I do. I believe in truth, which is why I work at the Planet. I believe in justice, which is why I ensure that the bad guys get arrested and leave the rest in the hands of the justice system. And I believe in the American Way, too. I believe that democracy and freedom are the cornerstones of civilization, and I would lay down my life to defend them."

He sighed, turned away from Billy and gazed out at Metropolis. The biggest, grandest city on Earth. At night like this, all the lights on in the city shone out into the sky, like a giant beacon of light stretching into the long night. He smiled a sad sort of smile.

"I do this now because I can't honestly fight for and believe in those things if I don't do this. And, in my heart, I know this is the right thing. I've made so many mistakes these past few years, Billy. Done so many things I just can't reconcile with myself. So, now it's time I accepted justice for what I've done. Let's get this over with."

[MST3K 4ever]

OOC: Feel free to bunny Superman after this post, MST3K!

Superman shakes his head. He believes the most amazing thing about Marvel isn't the powers. It's that a boy gifted with so much power could do so much good with them.

"Billy, I fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. In order to fight for them, I must believe in them with all my heart and all my soul. And I do. I believe in truth, which is why I work at the Planet. I believe in justice, which is why I ensure that the bad guys get arrested and leave the rest in the hands of the justice system. And I believe in the American Way, too. I believe that democracy and freedom are the cornerstones of civilization, and I would lay down my life to defend them."

He sighed, turned away from Billy and gazed out at Metropolis. The biggest, grandest city on Earth. At night like this, all the lights on in the city shone out into the sky, like a giant beacon of light stretching into the long night. He smiled a sad sort of smile.

"I do this now because I can't honestly fight for and believe in those things if I don't do this. And, in my heart, I know this is the right thing. I've made so many mistakes these past few years, Billy. Done so many things I just can't reconcile with myself. So, now it's time I accepted justice for what I've done. Let's get this over with."


OOC: If I do bunny it'll be minimal and only to advanced the plot along. It won't be like "Superman sees an elevator shaft full of Kryptonite and takes a dive down it."

Marvel nods and says. "All-right let's go." The two men fly side by side and land on the steps of the Metropolis Police Station. The people who are out and about stop and stare. Marvel sees most of them just stairing in silence.

Marvel opens the door for Superman to walk through. Superman walks to the door and looks at Marvel, smiles as though to say, "Thank you" and walks in as Marvel follows behind him.

The place is a beehive of activity phones ringing, keyboards being tapped on, people talking when suddenly just about everything stops and all eyes are on the two heroes who entered the room. Marvel says, "The warrant issued against Superman has been carried out." The desk officer calls for another officer and says, "Bring the box from Luthor with you" Looking at another office he says, "Collins, call the P.R. department tell them Superman has been brought in by Captain Marvel. Then call the Mayor, I'm sure he'll call the Governor and she'll call the President." The desk officer says, "We are well aware that a normal cell won't hold you, so Mr. Luthor had a special one built for you in the basement. It has the spectrum of a Red-Sun. You'll be kept in there until your hearing and eventual trial. This box I'm guessing you know what's in it. If you try anything during your booking or enroute to your cell we will use it and there won't be a need for a trial." The desk officer took a deep breath and shook his head and says, "I never thought I'd say this but Henson take Superman away and book him." Marvel goes to follow and the desk officer says, "Sorry Captain Marvel this is as far as you can go." Superman looks at Marvel and says, "Thank you Captain Marvel." Marvel says, "Remember everything in my power." Superman nods as he is led away.

The desk officer looks at Captain Marvel and says, "Well looks like you're the no.1 hero in Metropolis now." Marvel says, "I don't want to be the no.1 hero anywhere I just want to be a hero like him." The officer says, "Look Captain I admire the guy as much as anyone else but he is guilty and it's time to accept that reality." Marvel asks, "Who in SCU is in-charge of this case?" The officer replies, "Detective Sawyer she should be here in about 2 hours." Marvel says, "Then so will I. Thank you Officer for your help."
As Marvel exits the station a crowd with various media outlets has already gathered. Some people are cheering as several reporters begin shoving microphones and cameras at Captain Marvel. Marvel feels almost sickened by what he is seeing. The crowds that once cheered for Superman are now holding up signs denouncing him, yelling hateful things about Superman, and the assembled media have the look of blood in their eyes. He holds up his hands and says, "Please everyone calm down please. I have one thing to say..." Careful don't say anything you'll regret later he finally says, "no comment" and takes to the skies.

Marvel flies above Metropolis. Whether he liked it or not he was their new hero. He began remembering talking to Superman about how Metropolis was Superman's city, all the battles they faught together, and how Marvel felt that Superman was his one true friend. Finally overcome with emotion Marvel screams, "NOOOOOOO!!!!" His anger and rage finally subside and he realizes Perkins is probably trying to reach me right now. He lands near his apartment and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!
Billy enters his apartment just as the phone begins ringing. He answers it and Perkins says, "Hey Billy sorry to wake you up but we got a huge story. Captain Marvel just brought in Superman. Get here right now grab the phone, the box and get to the police station. Get some crowd reaction, and see if you can get a word with the police." Billy replies, "You got it Mr. Perkins let me grab some breakfast first and get cleaned up." Perkins says, "Just get cleaned up we have doughnuts and coffee here." Billy says, "All right I'm on my way."

Billy gets cleaned up and heads to the WKLS. He gravs a couple of doughnuts and a cup of coffee and begins walking back to the police station.

[LibrarianThorne]

He was escorted by a cavalcade of officers into a holding cell. Silently, one of them, a lietenant at his guess, opened the cell. Inside it were a group of men who looked astonished at their new cellmate. Superman nodded to the lieutenant and walked into the cell. Finding an open spot on the bench, Superman sat down on it.

He then looked to his cellmates. It was odd to think of himself as being actually incarcerated. One of the men wore a deeply stained brown trenchcoat. His beard and hair were unkempt, and he smelled of alcohol. The other man looked to be in his mid-30s and wore a white muscle shirt. The last man looked at him in fear. Blonde hair, purple jacket, stained khaki pants. He looked like a mugger Superman had stopped earlier in the day.

He then looked at the solitary guard over his cell. The cop looked to be an older man, maybe his mid-40s. He looked at Superman with a sympathetic expression, but said nothing.

He sighed again, feeling depression overtake him. Lois would be furious that he didn't tell her, but some things just couldn't be helped.

[Johnny Blaze]

As the Joker and the Mirror Master emerged from the mirror, the Bodyguard was waiting for them on the other side of the restroom door. The moment that the newcomers opened the door out of the bathroom and into the main office, Joseph grabbed both the clown and McCulloch by their necks and held them in the air effortlessly.

"What are you doing here Joker?" Lex's voice came from all directions in the vast shadowy office at once.
First instinct was to strike back...but McCulloch held off. The Bodyguard was, apparently, superhumanly strong, but he was not putting any pressure on them. At least not too much.
He was simply making sure he and the Joker weren't going any where. And they weren't.

"Well...I imagine...we...come in...peace, Luthor", said McCulloch in a strained voice, "so ye mind...havin' your...man here...ease off a wee bit?"

[MST3K 4ever]

Billy arrives at Police Headquarters where Detective Maggie Sawyer is standing on the front steps where she is preparing to hold a news briefing. there is a large crowd of on-lookers and media personnel from all over Metropolis. Some of the on-lookers are holding signs demanding justice others are showing support for Superman. Some are yelling that Superman should leave the planet, others are yelling Superman is a hero. One thought kept crossing Billy's mind....If there is any justice in this situation at all Lois Lane won't be assigned to this story.

Billy calls into the station and tells them he's ready to go live. The morning news anchor Dave Burton says, "We are now going live to a news briefing being held by Detective Maggie Sawyer our own Billy Batson is standing by live...Billy what can you tell us?"

Billy says, "Dave the scene right now is something I have never seen before. There are some poeple that are holding signs that say, 'alien go home', 'eat a chunk of kryptonite you freak' 'Free Superman' 'I believe in you Superman'. Clearly this issue has divided the city of Metropolis...oh I believe Detective Sawyer is getting ready to speak...let's listen in."
Detective Sawyer says, "Good morning...Early this morning Captian Marvel brought Superman" some of the crowd boos while others cheer. Detective Sawyer shouts, "Let's keep it DOWN PEOPLE!!!! OTHERWISE I'll CALL IN THE RIOT COPS AND END THIS BRIEFING!" The Crowd settles down and she continues, "Superman was booked and is curretnly being held here under guard. The mayor is hoping to move things along as quickly as possible to help the city of Metropolis get beyond any possible distractions. Superman will give his statement to us once his lawyer arrives here later today. I will take a couple of questions at this time."

Detective Sawyer answers a few questions with a lot of, "no comment" and "I don't have that information at this time." Finally Billy asks, "Detective Sawyer how is Superman holding up?' She replies, "He is holding up as well as can be expected although you can tell this is a difficut time for him. Thank you all very much." She isn't buying this...she thinks something is up...I just know it...maybe Captain Marvel can get some answers.
Billy signs off from the news briefing and gets back to the station. I have got to find a way to get some time off to help Superman, but how? I got it! Billy walsk into the Perkins' office trying to look more visibly tierd and worn out than he really is. Perkins ays, "you've been at it pretty good these last few days with this story. Take a couple of days off...well manage...you're doing a great job Billy but you look like death warmed over...go get some rest."

Billy walks out of the station looks around and sees no one looking. Yes! It worked now I got some time to help Superman. He sprints down the alley and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!

Marvel takes flight...Now to get to Detective Sawyer and have a little chat with her.

[batnkevlar]

I sit back on the couch, just watching a blank TV screen. Superboy's left, and I never thought I would take it so personally. Oh well, life goes on. I pick up the phone and dial the number of the one person I can have a good time with.

"Bette? How's it going? Hey, you doin anything today? Cuz, you know, if you wanna go out and do something... oh, you do? Uh, cool. I'll see you in an hour. Oh ok. Yeah. It'll be fun. I'll meet you there then."

I hang up the phone and I lay back in the couch. God, that girl... so amazing...

I get in to the shower when I hear the front Tower door knock. I pull on a towel and race downstairs. I hope it's not a salesman.

I open the front door and it's Flamebird herself. Wow, that was quick. But she's wearing her red and yellow suit.

"Hey, Bette..."

"Hi," she says, keeping things short.

"I thought we were going to meet there, not here," I said, not noticing I'm still in my towel. A surprised look falls over her face, then quickly goes away.

"Yeah, well..."

"It's awrite, c'mon in, I suppose. I need to get dressed but you can watch TV downstairs. Cool?"

"Yeah, Beast Boy, I'm fine."

I head upstairs and head to my room before i realize what she called me. Bette and I, were never on a codename basis. In fact, we were, ahem, on a mouth to mouth basis...

I jump from the stairs to the bottom floor, my gorilla feet hitting the ground, cracking it. I roar, and that's when Flamebird's arms strecth thirty feet across the hallway and hit me square in the chest.

"****" I yelled, smashing into the wall behind me. I changed into a Rhino and charged. "Who the **** are you? You're not Bette!"

"Such detective skills. Such language. Who am I is a base question," she said, still looking like Bette. She grabs me with her long arms and smashes me on the ground, over and over again until i turn into a cockroach to get out. I fly and land on the TV.

SMASH! She aims for the TV and misses me, electricity sparking around. I fly over her and turn into an anaconda. I wrap her up and start squeezing.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Don't you remember? Green monsters, stars dying, fear, loathing."

"Yeah, I remember," I replied, the thought suddenly striking me. I squeeze harder and she sifts out of my grip, like liquid, kinda like honey. She oozes onto the floor and forms a new body.

She's a girl, my age, more or less. She has black hair and she wears all black. SHe reminds me of her mother.

"Of course you remember," she replied. "I'm Gemini."

[MaskedManJRK]

As Batman stood bewildered and confused, a ninja awakened from the ground beside him. The ninja’s eyes narrowed. He tightened his fist and smashed Batman over the back of the head.

As Batman fell to the ground the ninja reached to his sword and raised it above Batman’s head

Ra’s stretched out his hand “No.”he left his sentence hanging and he looked down at Ibn “No child deserves to see that.”

Several other ninja’s that littered the cave floor began to regain consciousness. Ra’s gazed down at Batman’s body “Bring him…. and don’t forget what we came for”.

*******

Ra’s matched outside the ruins of Wayne manor the ninja’s followed obediently behind dragging Batman with them. He came to a stop and a large helicopter descended from the sky. Ra’ and his men climbed inside the helicopter.

As the copper began to rise into the air Ra’s placed his hand on young Ibn’s shoulder “Come son, let’s go home.”

I woke up God knows how long later in a small, cramped, barren cell with only a foot-wide window for light when I realized what happened and why I'm here.

Ra's al Ghul, for what seems to be the infinitive time, snuck into the Batcave, gave his traditional "join me" speech, and fought his ninjas in the traditional sword fight, when he revealed a young man named Ibn and it transformed into anything but traditional.

It turns out that I am a father, to a son that his mother, Talia, told me she lost.

Not just that, it turns out that my son has been raised by one of my mortal enemies, the zealot Ra's al Ghul.

I'm a father. I still can't fathom this. I've seen some very strange things in my life--I've seen staggeringly murderous clowns, men that can fly, more aliens you can think of, I've even met God's right hand man, The Spectre, and was only a fingertip away from the Pearly Gates. Despite all these outlandish things, I still cannot fathom this.

All I know is that I'm not a good father. I've known that I wouldn't when I first put on the cape and cowl, that even if I found the one woman who I want to bear my child, that he or she would not have a full parent, and that I will always be more commited to Gotham then to my child.

The closest thing I've had to a son was Dick Grayson--perhaps because we were both alike and he was in both of my lives. Nevertheless, I can't shake the thought that I had cursed him with my letting him become Robin. I could have done all that I could as Bruce, take him to councelling, have him lead a normal life. I could have been a real father. But I didn't; I allowed him to walk out in public dressed like a Christmas tree and punch out thugs.

Then there was Jason Todd, who I actually adopted, who died because I let him follow Dick's footsteps. There was Barbara Gordon, who is like a daughter, who was paralyzed by The Joker (it doesn't matter if she can walk now, it still happened, it doesn't change the past). There was Tim Drake, who feel into the abyss and became the Red Hood and, like Barbara, the fact that he has come back to the side of good doesn't stop the pain.

Now, my real son has been brainwashed and trained by a zealot who idea of creating world peace is to commit mass genocide.

I am a bad father.

[Keyser Soze]

As the Joker and the Mirror Master emerged from the mirror, the Bodyguard was waiting for them on the other side of the restroom door. The moment that the newcomers opened the door out of the bathroom and into the main office, Joseph grabbed both the clown and McCulloch by their necks and held them in the air effortlessly.

"What are you doing here Joker?" Lex's voice came from all directions in the vast shadowy office at once.

"Hey Alexei!" The Joker cackled, "Where's the love, homie? HA HA!"

There was no answer, and The Joker and Mirror Master remained in the clutches of Luthor's henchman. Obviously, there wasn't any love.

"Just came here to check in, give you an update, and make use of that fabulous toilet of yours," The Joker continued, "You might like to know that our all-star roster now includes you, me, Harley, Gorilla Grodd, Solomon Grundy, Scarecrow, Zoom - frickin' Zoom! - and my good friend here, the one and only Mirror Master."

The Joker's grin widened.

"But that's not all. Have your lackey put us down, and I'll tell you a piece of news so juicy it'll make you cream your £10000 diamond-encrusted panties! HA HA!"

[Spike_x1]

"I already know all about our progress." Lex stepped out of the shadows and motioned to the Bodyguard to release the two men. "I have cameras situated throughout the installation that I provided you and the others with."

Luthor folded his arms behind his back and almost sneered at the Joker, ignoring the Mirror Master. "Now, what... juicy news could you possibly have for me?"

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker brushed himself off once Luthor's goon had released him from his grip. He walked across Luthor's office, taking a deat on his sofa.

"Well, I should have known that you would know who I had recruited," The Joker said, "But what you may not know is exactly how easy it was to do my...recruiting at Iron Heights."

The Joker paused for a moment, trying to build up a theatrical suspense in the room.

"You see, T-Lex, throughout the entire breakout, even after a hefty bodycount, not a single so-called "superhero" showed up to save the day. Not one. We were left to our own devices, to kill as we please."

The Joker took out a yo-yo, and casually began zipping it back and forth.

"I'm sure that a... resourceful chap such as yourself would be able to put that information to good use."

[Spike_x1]

Lex paused a moment, pondering what the Clown was saying "Hm.. Keystone's apparent lack of superheroes at the moment does present a rather rare window of opportunity that may be used to our advantage."

Luthor glanced at the Bodyguard, the simple look was enough to tell Joseph to leave. As the Bodyguard walked away, into the shadows, Luthor turned back to others. "Gotham City is in the middle of a gang war, not to mention our friend, Mr. Zolomon's rampage. Metropolis is without her favorite extraterrestrial flying around and her notorious 'villains' are waiting in the wings. Now all we have to worry about in my kingdom is the World's Mightiest Mortal. He'll be no problem to deal with, of course."

He stepped away from Joker and looked at the Mirror Master. "McCulloch, tell Snart and the other Rogues to take Keystone. Get the Weather Wizard out of police custody and establish a beachhead against any of the speedsters for when they come back from whatever's distracting them at the moment."

Lex eyed both of the men in front of him. "Gentlemen," he hesitated to use the adjective, "I have a good feeling about this."

[LibrarianThorne]

He sat in his cell, contemplative. In another day or so, he would face arraignment, he'd been told. He had denied himself the right to a state appointed lawyer, and so had prepared himself for the trial. He would plead guilty at the arraignment, and the trial would be held to determine the extent of his guilt.

He sat alone in the cell, no doubt a courtesy from the police department. His cellmates had left earlier that morning, and no others had been put in his cell. That left him time to think, and consider all that he'd done in his career as Superman and where it all went wrong. What troubled him the most is that he couldn't identify that point. That, he thought, is precisely why I'm in here. He laid down on the bench in the cell, closed his eyes, and thought of the people he missed. No one was allowed to see him, save the old guard that stood watch over him. He missed Lois. He missed her kiss and the way she made him feel, like sitting on a cloud and knowing nothing but joy. He wanted to talk to Ma and Pa, explain to them all that had gone on, but he couldn't. This solitude would eventually get to him, he knew.

"Aw, Super, Super, Super, whattaya doin' in here?"

Superman sat up with a start, and gazed at the oddly garbed being in front of him. A 1940s style suit coated him, and his bald head was topped by a purple bowler hat. He knew immediately who it was that floated in front of him.

"Mxyzptlk."
"Well, at least ya know who I am, Super. I thought when it came down it it'd always be you an' some big nasty guy like Darkseid, in a final grand clash. See, that's how I always thought it would end." He floated closer to Superman, and whispered in his ear. "Oh, an' don't tell Lexy I told ya this, but that's how he wanted it to end too. Big fisticuff fight between the two o' ya. I always thought he was too wimpy, myself."
Superman waved his arm, shooing the imp away. "Mxy, I'm in no mood for your games today. Can't you just say Kltpzyxm and head back to the Fifth Dimension now? Or do you derive some sick pleasure from seeing me incarcerated like this?"
Mxyzptlk threw up his hands and waved them in front of Superman. "Hey big guy, it ain't like that, I swear. What, all the help I been recently ain't proved to ya I turned over a new leaf?" he said, a golden halo appearing above his head.
Superman rubbed his temples dejectedly. "I'm... sorry, Mxyzptlk. It must have slipped my mind."
"Aw, that's alright Super. I understand your three dimensional brain can only hold so much. But hey! I can get you out of here and fix all this with a snap of my fingers! Don'tcha want me to?"
Superman looked up at Mxyzptlk, the halo fading from Mxy's head slowly. He smiled a sad kind of smile. "No Mxy, I don't think anyone's going to get me out of this mess. I know you could, but I want all this to happen. I want it to end."
Mxyzptlk, to Superman's astonishment, actually started tearing up when he said it. "Awww Super, you can't mean that! You're the big guy, the boyscout, the hero of this whole piece. You just can't quit! I mean, without you, what're all us mooks gonna do?"
Superman stood up, and rubbed Mxyzptlk's head. The humor that an essentially omnipotent guy like Mxy could be so childish never escaped him. "Things'll turn out alright in the end, Mxy. We both know that."
Mxyzptlk looked at Superman and wiped a tear from his eye, then blew his nose loudly with a handkerchief. "You mean it, Super?"
"Yeah, Mxy. Yeah I do."
Mxy hugged Superman, a move that caught Superman off guard. "An' all the other guys wonder what I'm talkin' about when I say you're the best an' the greatest ever."
Mxyzptlk then backed off and floated in front of Superman. "I gots ta be leavin' soon, big Fifth Dimension business somewhere outside of the Fourth World. But I came here ta tell ya, things ain't always what ya think they are, Super. And some things don't take like ya want 'em to. If I were you, I'd bust outta prison now, but I ain't. So, all I can tell ya is, a whole lotta bad stuff is gonna happen soon, an' yer gonna want ta hurt a certain guy so bad it scares even me! But ya can't. As evil an' bad as this guy is, ya can't kill him Super. 'Cause if you do, all yer doin' is provin' him right, an' nothin' would make this guy happier. So don't do it, ok?"

Then, in a flash, Mxyzptlk was gone. Superman stood there, scratching his head and feeling odd. What had Mxzptlk been talking about? The imp was annoying and aggravating, but he hadn't done anything truly evil ever, and recently he'd been trying to help out Superman. So what now was he warning him about?

With a start, Superman sat up. He looked around him. The old guard still stood there, and he didn't look concerned at all. Hadn't he seen Mxyzptlk? Then the thought hit him. A dream. All a dream. He'd fallen asleep.
"Everything okay in there, Superman?" said the guard in a raspy voice.
"I'm... fine, officer."

He laid back down, and continued thinking. He didn't know what was going on any more, and he couldn't find out. He hated this sense of frustration, and his own inability to do anything about it.

[Johnny Blaze]

Lex paused a moment, pondering what the Clown was saying "Hm.. Keystone's apparent lack of superheroes at the moment does present a rather rare window of opportunity that may be used to our advantage."

Luthor glanced at the Bodyguard, the simple look was enough to tell Joseph to leave. As the Bodyguard walked away, into the shadows, Luthor turned back to others. "Gotham City is in the middle of a gang war, not to mention our friend, Mr. Zolomon's rampage. Metropolis is without her favorite extraterrestrial flying around and her notorious 'villains' are waiting in the wings. Now all we have to worry about in my kingdom is the World's Mightiest Mortal. He'll be no problem to deal with, of course."

He stepped away from Joker and looked at the Mirror Master. "McCulloch, tell Snart and the other Rogues to take Keystone. Get the Weather Wizard out of police custody and establish a beachhead against any of the speedsters for when they come back from whatever's distracting them at the moment."

Lex eyed both of the men in front of him. "Gentlemen," he hesitated to use the adjective, "I have a good feeling about this."
"Sounds good", said McCulloch with a smile, "I'll pass the word onto the boys. Maybe see of Groddy wants to join in seein' as how he's still a Rogue an' all."

McCulloch was about to say something else when Luthor's words finally hit him.
"Wait a sec...Mardon got pinched? When the hell did this happen", McCulloch said with a surprised look.

[Red]

I woke up God knows how long later in a small, cramped, barren cell with only a foot-wide window for light when I realized what happened and why I'm here.

Ra's al Ghul, for what seems to be the infinitive time, snuck into the Batcave, gave his traditional "join me" speech, and fought his ninjas in the traditional sword fight, when he revealed a young man named Ibn and it transformed into anything but traditional.

It turns out that I am a father, to a son that his mother, Talia, told me she lost.

Not just that, it turns out that my son has been raised by one of my mortal enemies, the zealot Ra's al Ghul.

I'm a father. I still can't fathom this. I've seen some very strange things in my life--I've seen staggeringly murderous clowns, men that can fly, more aliens you can think of, I've even met God's right hand man, The Spectre, and was only a fingertip away from the Pearly Gates. Despite all these outlandish things, I still cannot fathom this.

All I know is that I'm not a good father. I've known that I wouldn't when I first put on the cape and cowl, that even if I found the one woman who I want to bear my child, that he or she would not have a full parent, and that I will always be more commited to Gotham then to my child.

The closest thing I've had to a son was Dick Grayson--perhaps because we were both alike and he was in both of my lives. Nevertheless, I can't shake the thought that I had cursed him with my letting him become Robin. I could have done all that I could as Bruce, take him to councelling, have him lead a normal life. I could have been a real father. But I didn't; I allowed him to walk out in public dressed like a Christmas tree and punch out thugs.

Then there was Jason Todd, who I actually adopted, who died because I let him follow Dick's footsteps. There was Barbara Gordon, who is like a daughter, who was paralyzed by The Joker (it doesn't matter if she can walk now, it still happened, it doesn't change the past). There was Tim Drake, who feel into the abyss and became the Red Hood and, like Barbara, the fact that he has come back to the side of good doesn't stop the pain.

Now, my real son has been brainwashed and trained by a zealot who idea of creating world peace is to commit mass genocide.

I am a bad father.

Ra’s gazed on from afar through a one way mirror at an encaged Batman. Batman lay silent in a clear plastic prison, in an empty and barren room. A ninja approached from the dim painted corridor.

“Forgive my intrusion master, but we have received word from Ubu, he is position”

Ra’s continued to stare through the mirror “Good.” He Hissed.

Ra’s placed his hands behind his back and elegantly paced into the room. He made his way to the prison and crouched down.

“Do not mistake my mercy for weakness Detective, I simply did not want for Ibn to carry the same ghosts as his father.”

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel hovers in front of Detective Sawyer's office window. He taps on it and she looks away from her computer screen. She shruggs her shoulders and goes back to work. Marvel taps again and she looks at the window and her eyes widen as she opens the window. She says, "You flying Superheroes need to learn that I have a front door." Marvel says, "Sorry to startle you detective but I don't exactly blend in with the your fellow officers, and I don't want to deal with the media out front."
She says, "Let me guess why you're here. It has something to do with Superman and enough charges against him to get him locked up for 6 life sentences and that's if he's lucky."

Marvel says, "I noticed something during your press briefing. You don't believe that Superman is gulity you think he's being framed."
She replies, "What I believe and the evidence before me are two different things. The evidence is there in black & white and that cannot be ignored. I admire Superman like a lot of people but I am called to protect and serve the population of Metropolis. Right now the only way to do that is to..." she sighs and says, "Lock up Superman. I can't believe I said that."

Marvel says, "Answer me this Detective...why would Superman do this? What is his motive? As powerful as he is...why something as simple for him or as a bus accident? He could turn Metropolis into a parking lot in a matter of seconds. Looks aren't always everything things aren't always as they appear."

Maggie replies, "I know that Obi-Wan I know. As far as motive goes that's something for D.A. Carson to wrestle with, and a pretty good point too, but the evidence is too strong to ignore at this point in the investigation."

Marvel asks, "At this point...you haven't closed this investigation yet?"

Maggie says, "Well some of us in the department are working on this very quietly and on our own time. Everything is just too nice and neat...it looks like a paint by numbers frame up job." She looks at her desk and hands Marvel an office envelope and says, "We have been looking at this thing for so long we need fresh eyes. This is a copy of everything we have reports, eyewitness accounts, even computer renderings of the accident you name it it's in there. There is a detective in Gotham by the name of Harvey Bullock. He looks like Oscar Madison from the 'The Odd Couple' and smells like a land-fill, but as you said looks aren't everything. The man is a good cop and a phenmoninal detective take this stuff to him and let him look it over. If we've missed anything he'll see it in a heartbeat."

Marvel takes the envelope and says, "Thanks detective Sawyer I'll be back as soon as I can. Tell Superman keep the faith I won't let him down"

She says, "You really are an overgrown boy-scout, but I also see why Superman trusts you as well. Good luck...Captain Marvel."

Marvel puts the envelope inside of his tunic, smiles and speeds off to Gotham City.

[MaskedManJRK]

Ra’s gazed on from afar through a one way mirror at an encaged Batman. Batman lay silent in a clear plastic prison, in an empty and barren room. A ninja approached from the dim painted corridor.


“Forgive my intrusion master, but we have received word from Ubu, he is position”


Ra’s continued to stare through the mirror “Good.” He Hissed.


Ra’s placed his hands behind his back and elegantly paced into the room. He made his way to the prison and crouched down.


“Do not mistake my mercy for weakness Detective, I simply did not want for Ibn to carry the same ghosts as his father.”

"Well, wasn't that 'kind' of you. Now, if you would 'kindly' answer me some questions, then we can talk about what you're latest Brain-esque scheme is--it doesn't take much of a detective to dicipher that she lied about her losing our child. My question is, how did you find him?"

[Spike_x1]

"Sounds good", said McCulloch with a smile, "I'll pass the word onto the boys. Maybe see of Groddy wants to join in seein' as how he's still a Rogue an' all."

McCulloch was about to say something else when Luthor's words finally hit him.
"Wait a sec...Mardon got pinched?"Luthor rolled his eyes slightly. "Aye," he sighed mockingly."When the hell did this happen", McCulloch said with a surprised look.
As if on que, several large monitors composed of hard light appeared around the three of them. They were all playing the news coverage of Superman defeating the Weather Wizard.

"Yesterday. Er, well, I guess it really depends on the timezone you prefer to look at it by, but the point is that our Kryptonian friend apprehended our dear Mister Mardon and he is currently in custody and on his way back to the Twin Cities for incarceration in a temporary facility until Iron Heights is back in business."

[Johnny Blaze]

Luthor rolled his eyes slightly. "Aye," he sighed mockingly.
As if on que, several large monitors composed of hard light appeared around the three of them. They were all playing the news coverage of Superman defeating the Weather Wizard.

"Yesterday. Er, well, I guess it really depends on the timezone you prefer to look at it by, but the point is that our Kryptonian friend apprehended our dear Mister Mardon and he is currently in custody and on his way back to the Twin Cities for incarceration in a temporary facility until Iron Heights is back in business."
"Well", said McCulloch as he turned to Joker, "if ye've got anything else ta say, say it now. I've got a friend ta spring and I've gotta be going."

[Red]

"Well, wasn't that 'kind' of you. Now, if you would 'kindly' answer me some questions, then we can talk about what you're latest Brain-esque scheme is--it doesn't take much of a detective to dicipher that she lied about her losing our child. My question is, how did you find him?"

"It seems my daughter as inherited my art of deception. Like you she betrayed me and told me she had miscarried. When in secret she had left my heir to an orphanage in Nepal. There he was adopted by a farmer and his wife.”

“When I learned the truth,I could not allow a child of my bloodline, to be raised by a “mere farmer”. It took me 2 year’s to locate him. And Soon after his “parents” were removed and I revealed to Ibn the duality of his legacy.”

[Batman]

He's out there. You know he is.
Shut Up, Dent!

Two-Face sat in his office, flipping his coin. It was the only time he could allow himself solitude, even though that, in itself, was virtually impossible.

He stopped, and looked around. This office... This place used to belong to Roman Sionis. Harvey had kicked him out, and taken control over it. Half of him smirked. It was a victory well-deserved, after all that Two-Face had to go through, up to that point.

Now, Roman Sionis was back. He had sent a message... Two messages to Two-Face recently, making Harvey feel as if he should be afraid. But he wasn't. Even if Black Mask came and tried to take back his territory, Two-Face would beat him again. As strange as it sounded, Harvey felt somewhat safe, having Two-Face as apart of him.

Two-Face, on the other hand, would be more than willing to strangle Dent within an inch of his life if he kept bothering him with these thoughts of puny, insignificant fears. It made him sick. And yet, part of the reason for his existance was to make Harvey's life all the more better, Which is why Harvey Dent had power in the first place. Which is why either of them had power.

Two-Face got up. There was no telling when Black Mask could strike. But he wasn't about to let Roman have a chance to take all of this away from him. He won it, fair and square. And if he had to fight to keep it, there wasn't a chance in hell he was going to back down.

Fine. Black Mask Is Out There. I Get It. You Wanna Get A Medal For Tellin' Me That? If He Thinks He Can Take All This Back, He's Got Another Thing Comin'.
You seem confident. That's going to be the end of you, you know.
The End Of Me? You're One To Talk About ENDS, Dent. You Were Brought Back To Humanity. You Had Your Chance At A Second Life. And What Happened? You Failed. Face It, Dent, You Need Me.
I need you like I need a hernia.
Really? That So? Then Why Don't We Just End It Right Here? I'll Take That Gun And Blow My Brains Out. You'll Be Rid Of Me. We'll See If You Really DO Need Me Or Not.

Two-Face reached into his pocket, and pulled out a gun. Without one word, He held it to the scarred side of his face.

WAIT!
HA! I Was Right. You Whimp. You Stupid ****ing Whimp. You Need Me Even More Than You Realise...

Two-Face smirked, putting the gun back into his jacket. He had Harvey right where he wanted him. Admitting he needed Two-Face. Because, as much as either admitted, they needed eachother. Without Harvey Dent, Two-Face would have no purpose. And without Two-Face, Harvey Dent wouldn't survive.

They were stuck with eachother.

Just then, Harvey turned, hearing a knock on the door. He walked over, and pulled the door open. One of his lowly henchmen greeted him.

"What?"

"Uh... Sir... Mr...Er... Two-Face, Sir... The newest operative..."

"YEAH?"

"She's...um... here, sir."

Two-Face looked at the thug for a long moment. He then pulled out his gun, and shot the man though the forehead. He smirked again, watching the man fall to the ground, limp.

I hate stuttering.
I hate stuttering.

Harvey turned to one of the other thugs.

"Send Her In. And Clean Up The Mess Beforehand. Don't Want Our New Golden Girl To Be Offended, Do We?" , Two-Face said, slamming the door.

The woman had proved to be a valuble asset to Two-Face's gang. Now, Two-Face was about to meet her once and for all. Face, To Face... To Face.

Little did he know, he was also about to be faced with someone else...

[twylight]

*VVVvvvvVVVVVvvvVVVVVVvvv*

The woman picked the phone up, the glow from the buttons illuminating her face.

“Yes.






I’ll be there.”

She hung up and changed her clothes, putting on a black body suit, grabbing the silver ‘O’ ring of the zipper she pulled it to just above her cleavage, letting it show a little in the ‘V’. Clasping a belt on she let it rest on her hips and pulled her long dark hair over half her face, hiding her features.
She paused looking at the sword on the wall before leaving.
If her abilities were pressed into service she could handle it on her own. She quickly made her way down to the street and stopped.

“Hello there.” The man said as he leaned against a black car.

She nodded her head and smiled
“My ride?”

Ricky pushes himself from against the car and smiles, his handsome face lighting up.
“In all different meanings of the word.” He winks as he opens the door and lets her slide into the back seat.

Sitting down next to her he pulls the tail of his black trench coat in and closes the door with a dull ‘thump’ before nodding to the driver.

“Are you nervous?” He asks as the car moves forward gently.

She shook her head, hiding her features, her back straight and her chin up.
“No, I have met with much more important men in my life.” She tilts her head forward and looks at him, giving him a sexy smile.

He looks at her confused and then smiles back.
“He is very anxious to met with you and learn what you discovered from your last assignment.”

She nods and lets the car lapse into silence as it drives on. Soon it slides to a stop and Ricky jumps out, holding the door for her. She steps out and looks up at the building as Ricky hovers his hand behind her back and motions for her to follow his lead, keeping her face covered as they walk through the building.

They reach what she could only describe as a lobby and here Ricky leaves her side and moves over quickly to a mousey looking man. To announce her arrival no doubt, she turns and looks around. Her eyes studying every way in or out of the room.

“He’s ready.” Ricky says leaning over her. Looking up she follows him as he opens the door, standing in the middle of it she looks straight into the room as she enters, her back straight and hair in waves over half of her face.

“Two-Face.” she says with as much respect as if she were meeting a King.

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel arrives in Gotham City and finds police headquarters. He notices begins flying around the building looking for anyone who looks like Oscar Madison & might smell like a land-fill. In a window he sees an office with a desk that looks like a table at diner that hasn't been bused in a year with a slob to match the desk. That has to be Bullock.

Marvel taps on the window as Bullock looks up from his desk. He looks at the window and sees Marvel. Bullock opens the window and asks, "Why are you outside my window?" Marvel replies, "Well I came here because Maggie Sawyer of the Metropolis Police Department said that you might be able to help me, and I can't just walk through the front door." Bullock says, "oh yeah she called me not long ago...get in here that hovering thing is kind of freaky."

Marvel enters the office and says, "Thank you detective I really think that..." Bullock interupts, "Yeah yeah let me see what you got. Maggie is lucky I like her...then again she is a real knock-out. I bet she could rock your world eh Cap?" Marvel hands him the folder and looks at him with a questioning look and asks, "Rock my world Detective?" Bullock then looks up and says, "Oh yeah she is just beautiful I'll bet she can..."seeing Marvel's ever-increasing lost look says, "Ahhh forget it." He begins reading the information as Marvel watches Bullock who says, "You got something better to do than watch me read...like move a mountain or save a sack of kittens or something." Marvel says, "Well detective I would hate for Batman to think I am intruding in his city. I mean he is a good detective and a hero, but at times I think he has control issues and he's bit creepy." Bullock chuckles, "I can't argue with you about creepy that's for sure. I'll go read this stuff in another room I'll be back. Make yourself comfy...well as comfy as you can."

Bullock leaves the room for a short time, When he comes back into the room he says, "Okay I...what happened in here?" He looks around and Bullock's office and desk are spotless. Marvel replies, "I figured you were helping me so I decided to help you. I cleaned your office and your desk. Your obviously so busy with things in Gotham that you don't have time to really keep a clean office like everyone else here." Bullock opens his file cabinets and sees that even the files are neatly organized and slowly says, "Yeah yeah that's it I'm just so busy" He looks at Marvel as though he is a strange plant form and says, "Anyway I made some notes on the reports somethings Maggie may want to look at herself. There a few things I'd question if I was her. She should take some of these things to the D.A. No offense but she might have a little more pull with the D.A. than you do. She's right though it's too nice and neat." Marvel asks, "What does that mean?" Bullock says, "He is being set-up is my gut reaction too. This is just too easy...your thing about a motive might be enough to get the jury to have doubts right now. But the evidence is pretty good right now. Either case I did my part for Maggie tell her she owes me a night I won't forget the next time I'm in Metropolis. She had better be ready for a long night out." Marvel asks, "You mean a date? or police work?" Bullock looks at Marvel and begins to rub his head as though he is trying to lose a headache. Bullock then says, "Maggie is right you are a boy-scout dressed up like an adult." Marvel says, "Well I am just trying to do my part to help in the war on crime. Oh the Martin case file....I couldn't the jelly-doughnut stain off of the front page. I'm sorry about that...and you might want to correct some of the typos." Bulock takes a deep breath and says, "You know something Marvel I never thought I'd say this but your whole 'leave it to beaver' vibe might be really okay with the other costumed nut jobs...but right now you are making me miss old tall, dark and pointy-eared a whole lot." Marvel says, "Well I am sorry Detective I am just trying to be..." Bullock says, "I know a good guy, a role model and hero and all that jazz...great...fine but it's just not something I'm used to."

He hands Marvel the file back and says, "There you go now go out the same way you came in I got work to do" Marvel places the files in his tunic, opens the window and begns to leave when Bullock says, "Hey Marvel" Captain Marvel looks at him and Bullock says, "If this thing really is a conspiracy you better watch yourself...whoever is behind it will be coming for you next. If you need any help...tell Maggie to call me." Marvel says, "Thank you for your help." Bullock says, "Yeah...yeah" As Marvel steps out the window he hears Bullock under his breath say, "Good luck Marvel...good luck." Marvel smiles and flies back to Metropolis.

[Batman]

*VVVvvvvVVVVVvvvVVVVVVvvv*

The woman picked the phone up, the glow from the buttons illuminating her face.

“Yes.






I’ll be there.”

She hung up and changed her clothes, putting on a black body suit, grabbing the silver ‘O’ ring of the zipper she pulled it to just above her cleavage, letting it show a little in the ‘V’. Clasping a belt on she let it rest on her hips and pulled her long dark hair over half her face, hiding her features.
She paused looking at the sword on the wall before leaving.
If her abilities were pressed into service she could handle it on her own. She quickly made her way down to the street and stopped.

“Hello there.” The man said as he leaned against a black car.

She nodded her head and smiled
“My ride?”

Ricky pushes himself from against the car and smiles, his handsome face lighting up.
“In all different meanings of the word.” He winks as he opens the door and lets her slide into the back seat.

Sitting down next to her he pulls the tail of his black trench coat in and closes the door with a dull ‘thump’ before nodding to the driver.

“Are you nervous?” He asks as the car moves forward gently.

She shook her head, hiding her features, her back straight and her chin up.
“No, I have met with much more important men in my life.” She tilts her head forward and looks at him, giving him a sexy smile.

He looks at her confused and then smiles back.
“He is very anxious to met with you and learn what you discovered from your last assignment.”

She nods and lets the car lapse into silence as it drives on. Soon it slides to a stop and Ricky jumps out, holding the door for her. She steps out and looks up at the building as Ricky hovers his hand behind her back and motions for her to follow his lead, keeping her face covered as they walk through the building.

They reach what she could only describe as a lobby and here Ricky leaves her side and moves over quickly to a mousey looking man. To announce her arrival no doubt, she turns and looks around. Her eyes studying every way in or out of the room.

“He’s ready.” Ricky says leaning over her. Looking up she follows him as he opens the door, standing in the middle of it she looks straight into the room as she enters, her back straight and hair in waves over half of her face.

“Two-Face.” she says with as much respect as if she were meeting a King.

Two-Face glared at the woman, sitting behind his desk. He had his hands clasped together. Half of him looked like a buisnes mogul. The other half of him looked like something out of some child's demented nightmare. Neither half of his face showed any sign of any particular emotion.

"So You're The Woman I've Been Waiting To Meet, Eh?", was all he could say, to break the silence.

Social ability wasn't one of Two-Face's strong points. But before the woman could answer, Two-Face stopped her.

"Of Course You Are. That's The Only Possible Reason Someone Like You Would Be Here."

Two-Face looked back as Ricky shut the door behind them. Faint stains of blood was still on the floor. He looked back at the yet to be unnamed woman.

"Excuse The Mess.", He said, with one eyebrow arched.

Two-Face noticed half of the woman's face was covered by her hair, making her features somewhat discreet. For some reason, He liked that. It was as if a mirror of himself.

"Now Look Here. I Know Your Preferences As Far As Secrecy Goes. I Know You Don't Want To Give Out Your Name To Anyone. Most Of The 'Buisnessmen' In Gotham Wouldn't Find That Acceptable. But I'm Not Most Buisnessmen. I Want To Make That Perfectly Clear From Here On Out."

As far as he was concerned, She could keep her identity. It didn't matter to him. All he wanted were results. And so far, the woman had yet to disappoint. Two-Face looked at her for a long moment.

"By Now Ya' Probably Already Know About Roman Sionis. About Black Mask. He And I Don't Get Along... At All. He's Planning To Take This City From Me, And Take It Into His Own Hands. If There's One Thing I Understand About Ya, It's That You Want To Help This City. Well... So Do I."

Two-Face stood.

Enough stalling. Get it over with.
Yeah, Yeah... I Heard Ya The First Time. Don't Get Your Panties In A Twist...

Two-Face then pulled out his coin, and flipped it, once. He looked at the woman, both eyes focused on her face, and nothing else.

"Now's Your Chance. What Did You Find Out About Black Mask?"

[Electro UK]

Two-Face glared at the woman, sitting behind his desk. He had his hands clasped together. Half of him looked like a buisnes mogul. The other half of him looked like something out of some child's demented nightmare. Neither half of his face showed any sign of any particular emotion.

"So You're The Woman I've Been Waiting To Meet, Eh?", was all he could say, to break the silence.

Social ability wasn't one of Two-Face's strong points. But before the woman could answer, Two-Face stopped her.

"Of Course You Are. That's The Only Possible Reason Someone Like You Would Be Here."

Two-Face looked back as Ricky shut the door behind them. Faint stains of blood was still on the floor. He looked back at the yet to be unnamed woman.

"Excuse The Mess.", He said, with one eyebrow arched.

Two-Face noticed half of the woman's face was covered by her hair, making her features somewhat discreet. For some reason, He liked that. It was as if a mirror of himself.

"Now Look Here. I Know Your Preferences As Far As Secrecy Goes. I Know You Don't Want To Give Out Your Name To Anyone. Most Of The 'Buisnessmen' In Gotham Wouldn't Find That Acceptable. But I'm Not Most Buisnessmen. I Want To Make That Perfectly Clear From Here On Out."

As far as he was concerned, She could keep her identity. It didn't matter to him. All he wanted were results. And so far, the woman had yet to disappoint. Two-Face looked at her for a long moment.

"By Now Ya' Probably Already Know About Roman Sionis. About Black Mask. He And I Don't Get Along... At All. He's Planning To Take This City From Me, And Take It Into His Own Hands. If There's One Thing I Understand About Ya, It's That You Want To Help This City. Well... So Do I."

Two-Face stood.

Enough stalling. Get it over with.
Yeah, Yeah... I Heard Ya The First Time. Don't Get Your Panties In A Twist...

Two-Face then pulled out his coin, and flipped it, once. He looked at the woman, both eyes focused on her face, and nothing else.

"Now's Your Chance. What Did You Find Out About Black Mask?"

At that moment the door fell down with a bang. A small squad of troops burst into the room, screaming their heads off, firing commands at Harvey as they opened fire on a guard that reached for his weapon. Harvey and the woman turned their attention to the door as Black Mask slowly and proudly walked into the room, demanding the complete and utter attention of everyone with his huge, toothy smile.

"Well well, Harvey Dent in my home. And who's this? A little girlfriend? Maybe I won't kill her, the last I rememberof this place it had and awful big bed and I could get really lonely in there at times." he laughed to himself as he calmly sat down on a couch and picked at a grape.

"So tell me Two-Face after kicking me out of this city, did you really think I'd never return? Did you think I'd stand by with my thumb up my ass while you were collecting my profits and living in my home?" he chuckled to himself as he slipped another grape into his mouth.

"Two minds about everything? Must give you an awfully big head ache. Maybe I'll do you a favour and cut you in half, one mind for each side. Oh no wait, that'd make your headache even worse, it'd be a splitting one!" he laughed at his own, unfunny joke as he got to his feet and produced a coin.

"Heads or tails? You win, maybe I'll spare your pathetic life... you lose and I'll cut the skin from your face and staple it onto a tropy. What a mask that'd make!"

[Batman]

At that moment the door fell down with a bang. A small squad of troops burst into the room, screaming their heads off, firing commands at Harvey as they opened fire on a guard that reached for his weapon. Harvey and the woman slowly raised their hands as Black Mask slowly and proudly walked into the room, demanding the complete and utter attention of everyone with his huge, toothy smile.

"Well well, Harvey Dent in my home. And who's this? A little girlfriend? Maybe I won't kill her, the last I rememberof this place it had and awful big bed and I could get really lonely in there at times." he laughed to himself as he calmly sat down on a couch and picked at a grape.

"So tell me Two-Face after kicking me out of this city, did you really think I'd never return? Did you think I'd stand by with my thumb up my ass while you were collecting my profits and living in my home?" he chuckled to himself as he slipped another grape into his mouth.

"Two minds about everything? Must give you an awfully big head ache. Maybe I'll do you a favour and cut you in half, one mind for each side. Oh no wait, that'd make your headache even worse, it'd be a splitting one!" he laughed at his own, unfunny joke as he got to his feet and produced a coin.

"Heads or tails? You win, maybe I'll spare your pathetic life... you lose and I'll cut the skin from your face and staple it onto a tropy. What a mask that'd make!"

Two-Face looked at Black Mask with disgust. The nerve this clown had, coming into his home, Taking out his guards... Insulting his gimmick?!

Harvey was ready to rip his head off. What a mask that'd make. The skull of Black Mask, sitting on a sword, across from his desk. Bones, teeth and all, with an expression on his face of horror from when he was torn apart of Two-Face, The REAL Owner Of Gotham.

This guy didn't even deserve to have Two-Face spit on him.

"You're A Real Piece a' Work, Roman. Only You Would Be As Pathetic As To Offer Me A Coin Toss.", Two-Face said, almost spitting on Roman with every word he spoke.

Two-Face looked around the room.

"You Think These Clowns Scare Me, Sionis? We All Know You'd Do Anything To Take Me Out Yourself. You Wouldn't Dream Of Letting These Guys Get Me. Otherwise You Wouldn't Have Offered The Toss."

You're stalling.
Shut Up. I Know What I'm Doing.

Two-Face glared at Black Mask.

"So Why Don't You Drop The Goddamned Act And Settle This Like A Man. You And Me. One On One. Winner Takes All. Winner Takes Gotham."

Black Mask seemed utterly unamused. He wasn't going to take it. He simply held up the coin, seemingly unphased by Harvey's words. Two-Face sighed. This was pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

"Fine. Heads."

Are you crazy?! He'll kill you! He'll kill US!
QUIET!

[Electro UK]

Black Mask flicked the coin instead of tossing it. He laughed as it rebounded off Harvey's head and hit the floor. They both watched as it span round. Finally, it landed on heads.

Two-Face grinned as Black Mask frowned. "Oh shut up Dent, some stupid coin toss isn't going to get you out of this." he said, almost sulking. He pulled a knife from underneath his jacket and picked up the coin. "How could anyone have an obsession with coins? What a dumb obsession. What, can you communicate with them? Pick them up with your mind?"

He sliced into the coin. "This isn't painful or anything is it?" he laughed once more before pulling out a pistol. "You like games? I love Russian Roulette. Let's play the Harvey Dent edition! Flip a coin, head, you pull the trigger, tails, you don't." he produced another coin, and dropped it on the floor, heads facing up.

A guard went to pick it up, but Roman put his foot and pressed down on it. "No no, I insist that Two-Face flips the coin." he pointed his gun at Harvey, who lent down to get the coin. Grabbing it, he raised his arm, but the coin didn't come with him. He tugged at it again then groaned at Black Mask's trick, it was a fake coin, designed to stick down to the floor.

"Gotcha!" Roman burst into laughter. "Oh my that was funny.What do you wanna play next?"

[wiegeabo]

I fly over Los Angeles, trying to find a place where Rayner and I can battle and be sure to draw attention without risking innocents. Then I find it. A large stadium. No one occupys it, but traffic around the area is rather heavy. It is perfect. A large open area to fight in with plenty of people around to see the spectacle without being endangered by it. Excellent.

Floating over the stadium, I do a quick scan to ensure no one is nearby. Then I point my ring up to the sky and create the image of a giant yellow lantern. I amplify the volume of my voice.

"Green Lantern! Come and meet your doom!"

That should do it.

Let the show begin...

[Nightwing]

Dumbass left without giving me a chance to tell him how he's being a dumbass.

Great.

I run up to Ollie.


"I don't think this powerline trick'll work. I mean, I blew up an entire stockyard of propane with him in it and all it did was singe his eyebrows."

"So what do you propose we do? The powerline to me seemed like our best shot, but you have a point."

Just as I answer Question, I turn so see Grundy back on his feet. The arrows only took effect for about 2 minutes.

"Oh ****, look out!"

I push Sage and myself aside to dodge the truck Grundy just threw at us, nearly killed us both right then and there.

"Argh!"

Luckily, we landed near a dumpster, but I hurt my leg while doing so. I drag myself closer to it, and quickly turn to Sage.

"We have about 5 seconds to think of something fast, or our ass's are long gone."


I lay back, and slightly peak around the corner. Grundy's footsteps are like two trains colliding together...

http://www.stumblebumstudios.com/images/features/greenarrow053.jpg

[MaskedManJRK]

"It seems my daughter as inherited my art of deception. Like you she betrayed me and told me she had miscarried. When in secret she had left my heir to an orphanage in Nepal. There he was adopted by a farmer and his wife.”

“When I learned the truth,I could not allow a child of my bloodline, to be raised by a “mere farmer”. It took me 2 year’s to locate him. And Soon after his “parents” were removed and I revealed to Ibn theduality ofhis legacy.”

"Removed? You killed them? I wouldn't be surprised, what's a few more bodies in the mind of a mass murderer?"

[The Question]

"So what do you propose we do? The powerline to me seemed like our best shot, but you have a point."

Just as I answer Question, I turn so see Grundy back on his feet. The arrows only took effect for about 2 minutes.

"Oh ****, look out!"

I push Sage and myself aside to dodge the truck Grundy just threw at us, nearly killed us both right then and there.

"Argh!"

Luckily, we landed near a dumpster, but I hurt my leg while doing so. I drag myself closer to it, and quickly turn to Sage.

"We have about 5 seconds to think of something fast, or our ass's are long gone."


I lay back, and slightly peak around the corner. Grundy's footsteps are like two trains colliding together...

http://www.stumblebumstudios.com/images/features/greenarrow053.jpg


I look up at Grundy.

"I'd say, call the national gaurd and move to Mexico. But I'd settle for you using that goddamn JLA comunicator of yours and calling Superman or Wonder Woman or somebody."

[Nightwing]

I look up at Grundy.

"I'd say, call the national gaurd and move to Mexico. But I'd settle for you using that goddamn JLA comunicator of yours and calling Superman or Wonder Woman or somebody."

He's right, someone in the League is our only safe bet. ALOT of people there could make quick work of Grundy. I'm going to go with Wonder Woman, unless she's not to busy saving the world....Again. I pick up the communicator, but get distracted as Grundy draws closer.

"We've got to move NOW!"

I hook up to arrows and direct them straight at the roof, I hand a line to Question and we climb like no tomorrow. Thats when I quickly see Grundy grab to buses as easy as carrying to feathers...

"THOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!"

"Holy....****."

Grundy whammed in both buses directly into the lower level of the building. Immediatly it starts shaking and it's about to collapse, I look over at Sage and see him holding his hat and trying to keep his balance. I yell at him....

"JUMP!!!"

We both jump to the next building next to the one we were standing on, and it blows with us in the air. Like when Ethan Hunt jumped off the helicopter he was on with the explosives deployed in Mission Impossible.

"Uhh!"

I grab my leg which was already hurt is now even WORSE, but safely rolled during the landing to prevent even further injury. Sage got up as quick as he could and helped me up, I think he was injured aswell.

"Look, you and I both know we can't do this alone. We don't have the strength, I'm going to call Wonder Woman right now. But first, we've got to get to safe grounds, I don't think my leg can take anymore abuse."

"AHHHHHHRGH!!!!!!"

I looked down from the building and saw Grundy looking up at us. He suddenly then starts driving his fists into it and climbs toward us. The people of Hub are going insane, fires every where around the city. And I have no clue where Harley went.

[The Question]

Dammit Vic, think!

I got it.

"Ollie, give me an explosive arrow, a glue arrow, a flare arrow, and a mace arrow if you've got one."

[Franklin Richards]

Dammit Vic, think!

I got it.

"Ollie, give me an explosive arrow, a glue arrow, a flare arrow, and a mace arrow if you've got one."

Arrow Man and No Face Man are puny. Grundy will put an end to them now.


Grundy climbs up the building, digging his powerful hands into the side of the building. He finally reaches the top and bellows with rage.

"YAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH"

Just then the roof door explodes and a giant boxing glove appears attached to a spring. Harlequin waltzes onto the roof.

"Can you believe they actually lock these things? Heh. Now Solly. Time to put these Second Class Heroes six feet under. We gotta get back to Mr. J."

Solomon Grundy walks slowly and with purpose towards the two heroes.

"Now Grundy make Pretty Eyes happy."

:marv: :marv: :marv:

[The Question]

Oh, this is getting rediculous.

I grab a bunch of Ollie's arrows out of his Quiver and throw them, along with a few of my gas canisters, at Grundy's face. I then take out my gun, and shoot Harley in the kneecap. I grap her, and put the gun up to her head.

"Alright, Grundy. You just calm down, or pretty eyes ain't gonna be very pretty anymore."

[Franklin Richards]

Grundy stops cold. He then sits down immediately. Grundy begins to do the unthinkable.

He cries.


"Please No Face Man. Don't hurt Pretty Eyes. Grundy will leave if you let her go. Just don't hurt her. Please?"

:marv: :marv: :marv:

[The Question]

"DON'T LISTEN T....."

I clamp my hand over her mouth.

"Okay, Grundy. Let's make a deal. You promise to never hurt anyone ever again, and to turn yourself over to the police, and I'll let go of pretty eyes. Do we have a deal?"

[Franklin Richards]

Solomon Grundy Born on a Monday

"No Face Man make Grundy's head hurt. Grundy no like police. Just give Pretty Eyes to Grundy and Grundy will leave this stupid city and never come back. Please No Face Man. Just give Pretty Eyes to Grundy. Deal?"

:marv: :marv: :marv:

[The Question]

"Fine."

I let go of Harley. I'd have added more to the whole agreement thing, but I didn;t want to make him any more angry.

[Nightwing]

Solomon Grundy Born on a Monday

"No Face Man make Grundy's head hurt. Grundy no like police. Just give Pretty Eyes to Grundy and Grundy will leave this stupid city and never come back. Please No Face Man. Just give Pretty Eyes to Grundy. Deal?"

:marv: :marv: :marv:

I watch Question make his move and decide whether or not to give Harley to Grundy. He's done so much to this city already, that I would'nt want to anger him again thats for sure. Amazing though how Sage was able to calm him down like that. I stand up straight and wipe the dust from all the wreckage that fell on me, and go easy with my leg. I prepare my bow incase something goes wrong.....

"All on you Sage."

Thats when he makes his decision, and thank god it was the right one.

[Franklin Richards]

"Fine."

I let go of Harley. I'd have added more to the whole agreement thing, but I didn;t want to make him any more angry.

"Don't think this is over. I'm gonna... Yulp!"

Grundy takes Harley into his grip and then shocks everyone. He jumps four miles towards the horizon.

"Dammit Solly! Don't forget the Van!"

Harlequin takes an old time television remote out of her pocket while two miles up and presses a button. Somewhere an Ice Cream Van starts up and begins to head towards Metropolis.

"Grundy never come back to this city again."

Grundy lands with a crash and jumps another unbelievable distance towards Metropolis.

"Grundy and Pretty Eyes go home. Grundy want more of Clown Man's ice cream."

The behemoth and the beauty vanish in the distance.

:marv: :marv: :marv:

[Green Lantern]

Arsenal pulls up in his "commandeered" cop car, just as Grundy leapt into the distance.

Looking at the battered crime fighting duo, he asks, "Awww did I miss all the fun? Darn... HEY... Wait a second... is that MY BIKE?!?! OLLIE!!!!!"

As he catches sight of his demolished Harley, Roy glares at Ollie, and has one hand on his quiver...

"What did I tell you, OLD MAN?!?"

[LibrarianThorne]

OOC: If anyone wants to have their characters make an appearance here, PM me and I'll edit my post.

There was a phalanx of reporters from all over the world outside the Metropolis courthouse. As Clark Kent, he'd worked with many of them over the years. There was Kyosuke Kenji from Japan. He'd been one of the leading reporters following the Mageddon disaster. There, Richard Hensley, from the BBC. He'd been covering the affects of unity in the UK and Europe, the last he heard. Now, the greatest reporters in the world congregated around the courthouse. It was a sea of microphones and cameras, questions being shouted at him in a dozen different languages. He was flanked on either side by a dozen of the Metropolis SCU in full riot gear. They'd driven past crowds of supporters, waving flags and bearing signs. The closer they got to the courthouse, the more detractors he'd seen. It depressed him to see the people of his city so divided, so against each other.

All over him.

He walked slowly up the old stone stairs to the courthouse. Every footstep was like hauling a planet. He'd never done anything quite so difficult. Finally, they were at the massive oaken doors leading into the courthouse. The building itself was a relic of Metropolis' past, constructed in the early 1800s. It was one of the last wooden structures in the entire city. With a creak and a groan, the doors opened. He strode into the courthouse, and he could hear the throng of reporters surge behind him. Each of them questioning, wanting to know. "Superman, how do you feel?" "Superman, how has the MPD been treating you?" "Superman, do you feel any guilt about your actions? " "Superman! Are you willing to give an exclusive interview?"

He was like some prize cattle, like back home on the farm. The big county fair ward always went to the farmer who had the biggest cow who could make the most milk. Pa never much liked going to the fair, but when he was a kid, he couldn't get enough of it. Now, he wondered how the cows felt.

There was another set of oaken doors that led into the courtroom with the arraignment judge. Other accused criminals swarmed over the place, as did the police. There, he saw Blackrock being taken out of the room. He gazed with burning hatred at the Man of Steel as he was led away.

"Hah. Always knew you weren't no better than the rest of us."

He didn't respond to Blackrock's jibe. It didn't matter, he knew. Not much would, after this.

As the he walked into the courtroom, his escort filed into the back of the room, leaving him to walk up to the lonely podium. The judge, an elderly woman, sat behind the bench, while the bailiff read off the charges against him. It was a laundry list of charges. There was an assault charge for every person on the bus, and more besides. The charges all blended together, and it seemed like an eternity before the bailiff was done. The judge, with kind, matronly eyes, turned to Superman and said, "how does the defendant plea?"

Superman looked around then. The courtroom was packed. He saw Ma and Pa Kent, holding each other, Pa supporting both Ma and Lois. There was Bibbo Bibbowski and Emil Hamilton and the rest of the gang, with Perry White sitting in the front row.

Taking up five whole rows was an assemblage of heroes he'd known throughout his career. He saw Diana, the Challengers of the Unknown, Doctor Fate, Zatanna, J'onn, the Atom, Captain Atom, Mr. Terriffic, and a whole host of others. He looked at all of them and sighed. They would, perhaps, be the most let down by what he was about to say. He turned back to the judge, and steeled himself. He'd addressed nations and planets and groups of beings all over the galaxy. Why now was it so hard?

"I plead guilty, your honor."

She nodded. "Trial to determine extent of guilt will be held in two weeks' time. Until then, suspect is to be held in Metropolis County Jail. Next case," she said, sounding almost sad as she did so.

Leaving the courtroom was much the same as entering it. The same medias circus, the same escort. It all seemed so pointless. More than anything, he wanted it over with. Maybe, just maybe, he could find the peace he sought for himself in this whole process. As he boarded the police van, he took one last look at the courthouse, and the mob surrounding it. In the halls of justice, his fate would be decided.

[PFunk2]

Meanwhile back on earth GL John Stewart has returned to his Detroit brownstone home after a long space patrol. Phasing out of his GL uniform into normal clothes and grabing a beer from the fridge. He grabs the remote as he plops into an easy chair and switches on the TV.

"I wonder what has gone on during my absence." he replies to himself

(sorry for the lame post but I'll hopefully try to correct that in the next post. I'm still trying to get a handle on what's happening gamewise. Right now I just wanted to post something to get the ball rolling. BTW anything happenting here that would have made the news at this time?)

[The Question]

Arsenal pulls up in his "commandeered" cop car, just as Grundy leapt into the distance.

Looking at the battered crime fighting duo, he asks, "Awww did I miss all the fun? Darn... HEY... Wait a second... is that MY BIKE?!?! OLLIE!!!!!"

As he catches sight of his demolished Harley, Roy glares at Ollie, and has one hand on his quiver...

"What did I tell you, OLD MAN?!?"

"Actually, that was my fault. Sorry about that."

[Spider-Man9X17]

Kyle's ring crackled with energy, sheathing him in a brilliant green glow as he flew towards Sinestro.

"Huh, baseball stadium," he mumbled to himself. "Bout time something cool happens here."

"Bring it on, freakshow," Kyle goaded, a sword and a shiled forming in his hands.

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel arrives back in Metropolis. He once again hovers outside of Maggie Sawyer's window and taps on it. She opens the window and says, "Come in Captain Marvel."

Marvel flies into Maggie's office and she says, "I hope your day was better tan my day was." Marvel asks, "What happened?" He sees a box on top of her desk with personal items in it. She says, "The City Council and the guys upstaris found out what some of us were doing. They weren't impressed to say the least that we we're continuing with an investigation that has been deemed closed by one and all." Marvel is stunned until he hears Maggie say, "Especially since Superman entered a guilty plea. Once he did that we were all called in and suspended pending a formal hearing and the way things are going now it's better that I clear out now than prolong the inevitable."
Marvel shakes his head and says, "No it can't end like this. Detective Bullock did some research and he thinks Superman is being set up as well." Maggie says, "Look Marvel I agree but without any hard and fast proof there is no way Superman can win this case. Any evidence that we obtain outside of out investigation is inadmissable the case is closed."

Marvel looks like a child who has just seen the end of the world as the words "No way Superman can win" & "case is closed" ring in his ears. She says, "It's hard for any of us to continue any of this with Superman acting the way he is. He is usually the most optimistic person, but now I don't see that spark in his eyes right now. Can I see the folder from Harvey?" Marvel hands her the folder and she shakes her head. She says, "He's right these are some good questions that should be raised at his trial, but I cannot ask them. Maybe Superman can though." She hands the folder back to Marvel and says, "Since he is his own council he has right to these materials why don't you take them to him. Right now the only person that can really save Superman is Superman. I'll call down to holding and tell them to expect you. Go to the side door and they'll let you in. Superman should be on his way back from the courthouse by now. Keep something in mind Marvel Superman right now needs a friend more than anything else not someone to tell him what he is doing is wrong. Superman has to figure this out on his own. You can't force him to fight if he doesn't want to."

Captain Marvel nods and flies out the window as Maggie calls down to holding. Marvel enters the holding area awaiting the return of Superman.

[Red]

"Removed? You killed them? I wouldn't be surprised, what's a few more bodies in the mind of a mass murderer?"

“It was not simple murder; I could not stand by and watch the heir to my empire live such a pitiful existence, he is destined for more than the life of a simple farmer.”

[Green Lantern]

"Actually, that was my fault. Sorry about that."

Roy looks like he's on the verge of tears, as he whips an arrow into the notch on his bow and pins the Question to the nearest wall, through his trench coat.

"Goddammit! I loved that bike! Ollie, that's comin out of one of your accounts damnit!"

[The Question]

"I hardly think there's a need to be shooting me. I was being chased by Grundy. It's not like I meant for it to happen."

I rip the arrow out of my coat, walk up to Harper, and start waving it in his face.

"YOU need to calm down about a motorcycle. It was just a bike. It was probably expensive, but hey, you could get it fixed. It's not that badly dented."

[Green Lantern]

"I hardly think there's a need to be shooting me. I was being chased by Grundy. It's not like I meant for it to happen."

I rip the arrow out of my coat, walk up to Harper, and start waving it in his face.

"YOU need to calm down about a motorcycle. It was just a bike. It was probably expensive, but hey, you could get it fixed. It's not that badly dented."
"Its the principle of the thing Q! And the freaking gas tank is leaking! It's not fixable!"

As he said that, a stray spark hit the pool of gas, and the remnants of the bike exploded.

"SEE?!?! NOT FIXABLE!!!"

He grabbed the arrow out of Q's hand and turned around. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go take out my anger on some random punks... freaking lost three damned vehicles today... my Porsche, and my Harley... and that kid's bike that Ollie paid double for..."

[The Question]

I turn to Ollie.

"Cranky, ain't he? So, what should we do now?"

[Nightwing]

I turn to Ollie.

"Cranky, ain't he? So, what should we do now?"

"Ha, the kid will get over it, just like he does after the latest girl he sleeps with dumps him after only 10 days or more days. He just takes alot of pride in what he collects, I'll buy him a new one...."

I pack back my bow, and then pull out my spare first aid kit. Now that this whole Grundy situation is over with, I can relax. I start wrapping my leg with the bandage, and then start talking with Sage again.

"First we should start cleaning up these streets, and make sure the people caught in all this wreckage is ok. But after that is all said and done, what do you think about this offer Batman has for this new team he's assembling?

[The Question]

"From what I could find on the old Outsiders, it seems like the kind of group I could be apart of. I've tried the whole 'team up' thing before, but I'm a bit out of place fighting giant mosnters and the like. Fighting gangsters, that's more my speed."

[Green Lantern]

"From what I could find on the old Outsiders, it seems like the kind of group I could be apart of. I've tried the whole 'team up' thing before, but I'm a bit out of place fighting giant mosnters and the like. Fighting gangsters, that's more my speed."Even as he walked away, mumbling obscenities under his breath and saying things that wouldn't be printable in Penthouse, Roy's ears perked at the word Outsiders.
He turned back around.

"Wait... what's this about the Outsiders?!? If somebody's reforming the team, they best invite me. I don't care if I don't lead em this time around, but I'm not going to just get excluded from it."

[Nightwing]

"From what I could find on the old Outsiders, it seems like the kind of group I could be apart of. I've tried the whole 'team up' thing before, but I'm a bit out of place fighting giant mosnters and the like. Fighting gangsters, that's more my speed."

"Just before I left Star for Hub, Batman left me a message about the whole thing. Saying he would need a long ranged hero like my caliber to sniper down the enemies up in higher ground, for specific missions ofcourse. I'm still waiting for him to call me back...."


"Wait... what's this about the Outsiders?!? If somebody's reforming the team, they best invite me. I don't care if I don't lead em this time around, but I'm not going to just get excluded from it."


Roy comes back after hearing our little conversation about the reformation of the Outsiders. He's right, he could be useful if he were offered to rejoin. Especially if I'm not able to help 'em out at times, he could replace me.

[The Question]

I turn to Roy.

"Batman's forming it. Although, he hasn't said too many specifics yet. We should probably call him to hammer out the details. Either of you have a means to contact him?"

[Nightwing]

I turn to Roy.


"Batman's forming it. Although, he hasn't said too many specifics yet. We should probably call him to hammer out the details. Either of you have a means to contact him?"

I turn to Sage.

"Like I said, I already contacted him before this whole thing started. I told him I was interested and would wait for answer as to if he really needed me or not. I'd be glad to join, we could do alot of good. He's probaly busy with Ra's Al Ghul or god knows who, so I'll give him a chance. But if he doesn't reply back to me soon, I'll call him again."

[The Question]

"Alright. Now, we should probably help the people in the disaster zone. However, I'd suggest ditching the costumes while doing so."

I hit the button on my belt, release the gas, and take of my mask.

"Cops around here don't tend to look the other way when it comes to vigilantes like they do in Star or Gotham or Metropolis."

[Keyser Soze]

"Sounds good", said McCulloch with a smile, "I'll pass the word onto the boys. Maybe see of Groddy wants to join in seein' as how he's still a Rogue an' all."

McCulloch was about to say something else when Luthor's words finally hit him.
"Wait a sec...Mardon got pinched? When the hell did this happen", McCulloch said with a surprised look.

"Maybe he got arrested by the fashion police! HA HA!"

The Joker walked over to the drinks cabinet, pouring himself a glass of wine.

"So, we've got a gang war and a psychotic speedster in Gotham City," The Joker said to Luthor, "And we're going to have The Rogues lay siege on Keystone City. What are your plans for good ol' Metropolis?"

[Nightwing]

"Alright. Now, we should probably help the people in the disaster zone. However, I'd suggest ditching the costumes while doing so."

I hit the button on my belt, release the gas, and take of my mask.

"Cops around here don't tend to look the other way when it comes to vigilantes like they do in Star or Gotham or Metropolis."

Questions right, Hub is far different then any another city I know. Best not to exploit our identities, good thing I had my shirt under my costume. Except I dont have any other pants but my green ones....My mask and hat along with my equipment are left behind, I dont have any room to bring all that with me. We use the ladder of the building and climb down to the alley back into the streets.

"Lets just hope this isn't the first time people see a man wearing green pants in public."

Vic and I make our way quickly down town, sirens sworm the area all around us. People still screaming after what just happend, can't even imagine what the could have lost. Even if it's someone close to them, I know the feeling.....

[SuperFerret]

Crane was driving along the highway from Metropolis to Gotham at a speed that caused the van's motor to make noises. I don't think that would be good for the machine to run like that much longer, but whatever.

What am I doing here? Driving from Metropolis to Gotham with the Scarecrow to drive the Batman insane? Yes, the Joker freed me from the prison, but why am I feeling beholden to help the clown and his cronies? I do have plots of my own and....

What the hell?

I look out the window towards the odd looking vehicle that was tailing us, and then, I recognize it.

Plastic Man. In the shape of a smiling Volkwagen Beetle.

What have I done to deserve this?

"Crane, I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I have pressing matters to attend to."

And then I jump out of the van, as it's moving, and leap onto Plastic Man's windsheild, battering it with my fists.

[TheCorpulent1]

Keystone Ciy
Days earlier

Wally West got up from under the hood of KCPD cruiser 660 and wiped the motor oil and sweat from his hands. God, it felt good to be back in the city he loved, doing what he loved. A smile crept across his face as he switched on the TV to take a break.

"Don't take too long there, West. We got a backlog a mile long today. Quicker we get these cars out of here, the quicker we can get the detectives off our backs. You know how they get."

"That I do, Wheeler. Don't worry, I'll only take about ten minutes. I just want to see what's going on in the world--sitting around in here all day, I almost forget there even is a whole world out.. there..." Wally's voice trailed off as he stared at the screen. His smile was instantly replaced with a look of confusion, then transfixed with revulsion. His eyes saw the horror unfolding just fine, but his mind simply couldn't comprehend it all at once: Iron Heights was burning.

"No..." Wally mouthed breathlessly. "This wasn't... Jay was supposed to be able to handle it. Keystone was still supposed to be protected... still supposed to be safe..." Wally's mind reeled, then went to his wife as it always did in times of stress. Oh, God, he thought. LINDA! And for the first time in weeks, Wally did the unthinkable: he turned, he planted his feet, and he ran.

As Wally raced towards Keystone's mental institution slowly--oh, so slowly--his mind wandered to how things had gotten to where they were now...

New York City
Shortly after the Unity's defeat

Wally waited for his stomach to settle, then took a look around. He was in the hallway of his apartment building in New York, about 3 feet directly in front of his door. Wow, Wally thought, Superman's teleporter is even more precise than the old JLA version.

Wally opened the door, his mind still buzzing from the events of his part in the Unity's defeat. He and the Parasite--talk about unlikely allies!--had run together, combining their speed, to blanket the world in Speed Force energy and break it free from the Unity's malevolent grasp. Unfortunately, though Wally's mind still raced, his body could no longer follow. The Speed Force had abandoned him again, burned out this time in his final, fateful race for the sake of humanity. A terrible loss for someone like Wally, to be sure; yet that loss was doubly painful because his fight with the Unity had reawakened the heroic instincts that dwelled inside him. He wanted nothing more than to take up the mantle of the Flash again, to fight evil, to right wrongs, to make up for all the time he'd wasted wallowing in his own despair in this filthy little apartment. He felt alive in a way he hadn't since Zoom reappeared all those awful weeks ago.

"Dude, where the hell have you been?" Wally's roommate Ted pondered sleepily as he rose from the couch. The term "roommate" applied to Ted in only the most loose sense; "freeloading cohabitant" would have probably been more apt.

"I had something to take care of with some old friends," Wally replied tersely. He didn't feel like talking to Ted. He didn't feel like doing much of anything normal. He felt like tearing through the streets at mach-3 again, manipulating the Speed Force in the subtle, almost arcane ways necessary to mute sonic booms and keep the winds in his wake down. But I can never have that again, it seems, Wally lamented. He took another look around the apartment--"pig sty" didn't quite seem to convey the fullness of its odor. There is one thing I can have again, though...

Wally suddenly rushed into his room, startling Ted (who'd fallen back asleep on the couch in the intervening seconds) with the door's slam. Minutes later he opened the door just as harshly, only this time he was wearing a duffle bag on his shoulder.

"Dude, keep it down, will ya? I'm tryin' to get some sleep here."

"Sorry, Ted. Here--" Wally stuck a check onto the fridge and pinned it in place with a magnet. "This is enough for rent through the rest of the year. Enjoy the place; I'm outta here."

"What?" Ted poked his head above the back of the couch. "Where're you goin' now?"

Wally looked at his roommate--ex-roommate, he thought with a smile--and laughed. "I'm going home." Without another word, Wally dropped his key on the counter and left in a hurry, not even bothering to close the front door behind him.

Ted got up from the couch. "Didn't even know he was married," he muttered as he made his way over to the fridge. He looked at the check and his eyes widened. "Holy--I'm RICH!"

---

"What can I do ya for, pally?" the clerk said from behind a window of bulletproof glass.

"One ticket, please," Wally said. Ahappy couple boarded the bus ahead of him and Wally couldn't help smiling. "For Keystone City."

[The Question]

Questions right, Hub is far different then any another city I know. Best not to exploit our identities, good thing I had my shirt under my costume. Except I dont have any other pants but my green ones....My mask and hat along with my equipment are left behind, I dont have any room to bring all that with me. We use the ladder of the building and climb down to the alley back into the streets.

"Lets just hope this isn't the first time people see a man wearing green pants in public."

Vic and I make our way quickly down town, sirens sworm the area all around us. People still screaming after what just happend, can't even imagine what the could have lost. Even if it's someone close to them, I know the feeling.....



"Don't worry about the pants, Ollie. Hub has just as many gay pride parades as any other city. We're used to it."

I climb down what's left of the fire escape and walk into the city. I get to the main part of the destruction, and walk over to one of thefiremen.

"What can I do?"

"....aren't you that Vic Sage guy?"

"Yes. Now, what can I do to help?"

"Well, you can start by helping us dig through the rubble for survivors."

I walk over to one of the damaged buildings and start sifting through the fallen peices of concrete.


Harley is going to pay for this.

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel arrives back in Metropolis. He once again hovers outside of Maggie Sawyer's window and taps on it. She opens the window and says, "Come in Captain Marvel."

Marvel flies into Maggie's office and she says, "I hope your day was better tan my day was." Marvel asks, "What happened?" He sees a box on top of her desk with personal items in it. She says, "The City Council and the guys upstaris found out what some of us were doing. They weren't impressed to say the least that we we're continuing with an investigation that has been deemed closed by one and all." Marvel is stunned until he hears Maggie say, "Especially since Superman entered a guilty plea. Once he did that we were all called in and suspended pending a formal hearing and the way things are going now it's better that I clear out now than prolong the inevitable."
Marvel shakes his head and says, "No it can't end like this. Detective Bullock did some research and he thinks Superman is being set up as well." Maggie says, "Look Marvel I agree but without any hard and fast proof there is no way Superman can win this case. Any evidence that we obtain outside of out investigation is inadmissable the case is closed."

Marvel looks like a child who has just seen the end of the world as the words "No way Superman can win" & "case is closed" ring in his ears. She says, "It's hard for any of us to continue any of this with Superman acting the way he is. He is usually the most optimistic person, but now I don't see that spark in his eyes right now. Can I see the folder from Harvey?" Marvel hands her the folder and she shakes her head. She says, "He's right these are some good questions that should be raised at his trial, but I cannot ask them. Maybe Superman can though." She hands the folder back to Marvel and says, "Since he is his own council he has right to these materials why don't you take them to him. Right now the only person that can really save Superman is Superman. I'll call down to holding and tell them to expect you. Go to the side door and they'll let you in. Superman should be on his way back from the courthouse by now. Keep something in mind Marvel Superman right now needs a friend more than anything else not someone to tell him what he is doing is wrong. Superman has to figure this out on his own. You can't force him to fight if he doesn't want to."

Captain Marvel nods and flies out the window as Maggie calls down to holding. Marvel enters the holding area awaiting the return of Superman.

The police van pulled into the station house. Superman looked at one of his escorts with a quizzical expression on his face.

"I thought I was being sent to County?"

"New orders from high up. Somebody's waitin' for you in your cell, Superman."

The Man of Steel furrowed his brows. Visitors weren't allowed. Unless Maggie Sawyer or someone had pulled some strings...

In handcuffs, he walked into the precinct, and when he came to his cell, he saw Captain Marvel sitting on one of the benches. The cell door opened, and Superman walked in. Behind him one of the guards closed the door with a clang.

"Marvel, I assume there's something you want to talk about. So, talk."

[wiegeabo]

Kyle's ring crackled with energy, sheathing him in a brilliant green glow as he flew towards Sinestro.

"Huh, baseball stadium," he mumbled to himself. "Bout time something cool happens here."

"Bring it on, freakshow," Kyle goaded, a sword and a shiled forming in his hands.


I create a shield of my own and extend it to block Rayner's sword strike. I then blast him with a beam of energy. I can't help but smile.

This should be fun.

[Watchman]

Crane was driving along the highway from Metropolis to Gotham at a speed that caused the van's motor to make noises. I don't think that would be good for the machine to run like that much longer, but whatever.

What am I doing here? Driving from Metropolis to Gotham with the Scarecrow to drive the Batman insane? Yes, the Joker freed me from the prison, but why am I feeling beholden to help the clown and his cronies? I do have plots of my own and....

What the hell?

I look out the window towards the odd looking vehicle that was tailing us, and then, I recognize it.

Plastic Man. In the shape of a smiling Volkwagen Beetle.

What have I done to deserve this?

"Crane, I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I have pressing matters to attend to."

And then I jump out of the van, as it's moving, and leap onto Plastic Man's windsheild, battering it with my fists.

"Where the hell are you going" but it was too late Grodd was gone. Scarecrow pulled the van over to think about what to do next. He paced back and forth thinking. He couldn't go back Joker and Lex would probably kill him and he couldn't waltz up to the party because he would probably shot on shot. Then it hit him.

"Maybe I should go pay Mr. Wayne a visit at his wonderful mansion" he got back into he van and headed for Wayne Manor.

[MaskedManJRK]

“It was not simple murder; I could not stand by and watch the heir to my empire live such a pitiful existence, he is destined for more than the life of a simple farmer.”

It started from the pit of my stomach, tap-danced onto and around my spine, and finally came out from my mouth--I laughed. I did not laugh the laugh of joyeous celebration or the laugh or a knee-slapping quip, though--it was a bitter laugh, the type you hear from people who have seen so much in their lives and is questioned about life despite it.

"It was nothing but simple murder. Just because his foster parents were 'simple farmers,' you decided to kill them?

"You're a monster. None of your pitiful excuses or accusations can prove to me otherwise. You're worse than almost any of my enemies--at least they know they're crazy. You're a raving lunitic and you think you can master the Earth despite.

"You couldn't kill me in front of the child, yet you were willing able to kill his foster parents, most likely in the same house? You're a hypocrite, that's all.

"You didn't leave me alive to protect the child, you kept me alive so you could monologue about your plans, and then torture me, your arch-nemesis, to death.

"He would have been better off away from you then to live life as a farmer. At least he would have the love of good parents, and not have to be brainwashed by a hypocritial, monsterous, f**king ZEALOT!"

[SuperFerret]

Crane was driving along the highway from Metropolis to Gotham at a speed that caused the van's motor to make noises. I don't think that would be good for the machine to run like that much longer, but whatever.

What am I doing here? Driving from Metropolis to Gotham with the Scarecrow to drive the Batman insane? Yes, the Joker freed me from the prison, but why am I feeling beholden to help the clown and his cronies? I do have plots of my own and....

What the hell?

I look out the window towards the odd looking vehicle that was tailing us, and then, I recognize it.

Plastic Man. In the shape of a smiling Volkwagen Beetle.

What have I done to deserve this?

"Crane, I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I have pressing matters to attend to."

And then I jump out of the van, as it's moving, and leap onto Plastic Man's windsheild, battering it with my fists.

Plastic Man (err...Plastic Car? I don't know, whatever) swerved off of the road as the sinister simian Gorilla Grodd pounded on the plastic windshield, the resulting crash sending Grodd flying onto the pavement.

"YEE-OUCH!" Plas yelled as he gathered his usual, humanoid, form together. He stood, shaking his head, chuckling, "Guess you really can't drive with a monkey on your back."

Before he could look up, he was hit in the face with a piece of concrete that Grodd tore from the divider in the middle of the highway. Plastic Man's neck stretched with the attack, allowing him to keep standing while his head was pulled twenty feet away from the rest of him.

Jeez, he thought as his head snapped back to his body like a rubberband, everyone's a critic.

Grodd was dangerous, as Plas found out when he fought the gorilla the last time he threatened people, and he shouldn't really take any chances by mouthing off when he could be sending Kong back to Skull Island, but this is Plastic Man we're talking about here, so that's not gonna happen.

"Is that all you've got Mighty Joe Young?" he says, inflating his fists into overly large boxing gloves, "C'mon, tough guy, fight me like a man... or a monkey, whatever."

[Batman]

Black Mask flicked the coin instead of tossing it. He laughed as it rebounded off Harvey's head and hit the floor. They both watched as it span round. Finally, it landed on heads.

Two-Face grinned as Black Mask frowned. "Oh shut up Dent, some stupid coin toss isn't going to get you out of this." he said, almost sulking. He pulled a knife from underneath his jacket and picked up the coin. "How could anyone have an obsession with coins? What a dumb obsession. What, can you communicate with them? Pick them up with your mind?"

He sliced into the coin. "This isn't painful or anything is it?" he laughed once more before pulling out a pistol. "You like games? I love Russian Roulette. Let's play the Harvey Dent edition! Flip a coin, head, you pull the trigger, tails, you don't." he produced another coin, and dropped it on the floor, heads facing up.

A guard went to pick it up, but Roman put his foot and pressed down on it. "No no, I insist that Two-Face flips the coin." he pointed his gun at Harvey, who lent down to get the coin. Grabbing it, he raised his arm, but the coin didn't come with him. He tugged at it again then groaned at Black Mask's trick, it was a fake coin, designed to stick down to the floor.

"Gotcha!" Roman burst into laughter. "Oh my that was funny.What do you wanna play next?"

Two-Face snarled at him. This clown wasn't fit to be the ruler of Gotham. He wasn't even fit to be ranked above The Joker, in Dent's book. And Dent hated The Joker.

"Go To Hell, Sionis. I May Have Two Minds, But Even I'm Sane Enough To Tell Who's Really Nuts In This Room."

Two-Face smiled to himself, sadistically. He wasn't about to let this amatuer make any more of a fool out of him than he already did, at this point.

"Tell Me... 'Black Mask'... What Drove You To Be The Looney You Were Today? Parents Get Killed? Girlfriend Raped? Mommy Didn't Buy That Pony For Ya When Ya Were A Kid? Guess It Really Doesn't Matter. Cause In The End, You're Still The Same Screw-Up. You Think Any Of These Guys Really Pay Attention To You Because They're As Messed Up As You Are? Think Again. They're Just Doing It For The Payroll. But Deep Down, Every One Of Them Knows What Kinda Nut They're Really Working For."

As Two-Face said this, He began moving back, slowly, so as to not attract attention to what he was doing.

"It Takes A Real Man To Run This City, Roman. A Powerful Man. One Who Knows What He's Doing. And Even Though We're Not Exactly The Sanest People In Gotham, Both Harvey Dent And I Are Much More Qualified For The Job Than You. We Know Power. We Seize Power. You? You Collect Masks. MASKS, For Godsakes. What A Pathetic Hobby..."

Two-Face reached back, slightly, and pressed a button on the side of his desk, twice, all the while keeping his arms behind his back and his eyes on Black Mask.

This won't work. You're going to get us shot. You have to understand that.
Have a little faith, will ya?

Two-Face looked straight at Black Mask. Black Mask's guards never left sight of him. Luckily, though, They didn't notice Harvey swiftly press the button behind him. His words was what Two-Face wanted them all to focus on.

"You Really Think Killing Me Is Gonna Get You Power? Maybe It Will. But I'll Be Damned If I'm Gonna Let You Make Me Out To Be The Real Freak, Here, Sionis. That's Why You Lost Your Place Here. Because You're Too Much Of A Freak To Keep Control Of What You Had."

Suddenly, numerous clickings of a gun could be heard, around the room, simultaneously. Black Mask's men turned as the windows around the room shattered, and various armed men jumped in, guns pointed at the False Face Society Of Gotham. Or the ones in the room, at least.

Two-Face smiled. Even if Black Mask had alot of power, Harvey still had more. This wasn't Roman's city. Oh no. Not anymore. The days of Black Mask were history.

"That's Why You Lost. That's Why You'll Lose Again. Because You're Too Much Of A Freak. This Is Your Failure, Sionis. Your Second Defeat. Your Loss."

With one hand, Two-Face presented his coin. The true coin, not Black Mask's pretentious mock-up. And with another, He presented his own gun, as his men prepared to open fire on Black Mask's gang. Two-Face flipped it, and watched as it landed on the 'Good Heads' side. But it didn't matter. Because Harvey Dent wanted Roman Sionis as dead as Two-Face did.

Two-Face smiled to himself. On both sides. Black Mask was going to die, tonight. By Harvey's hands. Or his gun. Whichever came first.

"...MY CITY."


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/Master_Bruce/13p23.jpg

[MST3K 4ever]

The police van pulled into the station house. Superman looked at one of his escorts with a quizzical expression on his face.

"I thought I was being sent to County?"

"New orders from high up. Somebody's waitin' for you in your cell, Superman."

The Man of Steel furrowed his brows. Visitors weren't allowed. Unless Maggie Sawyer or someone had pulled some strings...

In handcuffs, he walked into the precinct, and when he came to his cell, he saw Captain Marvel sitting on one of the benches. The cell door opened, and Superman walked in. Behind him one of the guards closed the door with a clang.

"Marvel, I assume there's something you want to talk about. So, talk."

Marvel removes the folder from his tunic and puts it on the bench. He is not looking at Superman as he says, "That is the ballistic reports, eyewitness accounts, a computer simulation of the accident and everything concering the charges against you. since you are your own attorney Detective Sawyer thought you should have it. The notes scribbled on there by what looks to be a second-grader are courtesy of Detective Harvey Bullock. Detective Sawyer thought the case needed a fresh set of eyes so I flew to gotham city and had him take a look at it, and he raises some good questions. They both think you're being set-up. Anyway I'll be going now....I won't be at your trial too much mainly because certain elements of this city might see your trial as the perfect time to cause some serious trouble. I hope to be there at some point though. It wouldn't surprise me if Perkins has me covering it for WKLS. "

As Marvel gets to the door he turns and finally looks at Superman and screams, "WHY?" He recomposes himself and says, "Why Aren't you fighting back against all of this? You are the greatest hero this planet has ever seen. I know you don't want to be lectured but...but...." Tears begin to build in Marvel's eyes as though his favorite athlete had just told him he'd give him his autograph for a thousand dollars. He says,"I have fought along side of you, I have seen you care for humanity more than any human being ever could in a thousand years, I have seen the joy in people's faces when they see you save the day, but I never thought I would see the day that you just gave up so easily. Maggie Sawyer and 3 other detectives have put their careers on the line for you. They were working behind the scenes to try and clear your name, but once the City council and the Chief got wind of that they were suspended and more than likely will lose their jobs. They did it because they believe in you. Just as I believe in you Superman." He wipes away the tears and continues, "You're not just a hero to the ordinary people on this planet but you're a hero to each of us who wears a costume as well. In some ways I think even Batman admires you, and when my day is done I hope that my impact on this planet is even one-tenth of the amount of yours. Do you have any idea the pain that so many of us went through when you had died? You're not Superman just because you can fly or lift a car with no sweat but what makes you Superman to me is the greatest power of all." He points to Superman's chest and says, "your heart...your belief in fighting until there is nothing left in the tank, and even then looking a creep like Darkseid in the eye and saying, 'is that all you got?' I can't begin to tell the number of times so many of us thought we were done for in so many battles and yet you always believed that we would win. There are a lot of us who believe that you can win again..the question is though..do you believe it? I don't believe for a second that you just woke up one day and decided to throw a bus around, but I do believe in the man behind that S."

Marvel takes a deep breath and says,"I know I had no right to say any of those things to you and I am sorry that I lost with you there in the beginning. You probably hate me now, and that is your right I won't blame you if you did Superman but I dread the thought that you are leaving this all to fate to decide, because someone and I think we all know went through a lot of trouble for all of this. I wish you would show the world one thing once again, and that is hope. Hope that the truth will win out, that justice will be served and the American way can work. You may never want to see me again, but just so you know when not if but when you win I would be honored if I could have the privlige of continuing to fighting the never-ending battle with you. I would ask one last favor of you though, please look over that information in that folder. A lot of people went through a lot of trouble for it."

Marvel knocks on the door and says, "Guard I'm ready now."

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel removes the folder from his tunic and puts it on the bench. He is not looking at Superman as he says, "That is the ballistic reports, eyewitness accounts, a computer simulation of the accident and everything concering the charges against you. since you are your own attorney Detective Sawyer thought you should have it. The notes scribbled on there by what looks to be a second-grader are courtesy of Detective Harvey Bullock. Detective Sawyer thought the case needed a fresh set of eyes so I flew to gotham city and had him take a look at it, and he raises some good questions. They both think you're being set-up. Anyway I'll be going now....I won't be at your trial too much mainly because certain elements of this city might see your trial as the perfect time to cause some serious trouble. I hope to be there at some point though. It wouldn't surprise me if Perkins has me covering it for WKLS. "

As Marvel gets to the door he turns and finally looks at Superman and screams, "WHY?" He recomposes himself and says, "Why Aren't you fighting back against all of this? You are the greatest hero this planet has ever seen. I know you don't want to be lectured but...but...." Tears begin to build in Marvel's eyes as though his favorite athlete had just told him he'd give him his autograph for a thousand dollars. He says,"I have fought along side of you, I have seen you care for humanity more than any human being ever could in a thousand years, I have seen the joy in people's faces when they see you save the day, but I never thought I would see the day that you just gave up so easily. Maggie Sawyer and 3 other detectives have put their careers on the line for you. They were working behind the scenes to try and clear your name, but once the City council and the Chief got wind of that they were suspended and more than likely will lose their jobs. They did it because they believe in you. Just as I believe in you Superman." He wipes away the tears and continues, "You're not just a hero to the ordinary people on this planet but you're a hero to each of us who wears a costume as well. In some ways I think even Batman admires you, and when my day is done I hope that my impact on this planet is even one-tenth of the amount of yours. Do you have any idea the pain that so many of us went through when you had died? You're not Superman just because you can fly or lift a car with no sweat but what makes you Superman to me is the greatest power of all." He points to Superman's chest and says, "your heart...your belief in fighting until there is nothing left in the tank, and even then looking a creep like Darkseid in the eye and saying, 'is that all you got?' I can't begin to tell the number of times so many of us thought we were done for in so many battles and yet you always believed that we would win. There are a lot of us who believe that you can win again..the question is though..do you believe it? I don't believe for a second that you just woke up one day and decided to throw a bus around, but I do believe in the man behind that S."

Marvel takes a deep breath and says,"I know I had no right to say any of those things to you and I am sorry that I lost with you there in the beginning. You probably hate me now, and that is your right I won't blame you if you did Superman but I dread the thought that you are leaving this all to fate to decide, because someone and I think we all know went through a lot of trouble for all of this. I wish you would show the world one thing once again, and that is hope. Hope that the truth will win out, that justice will be served and the American way can work. You may never want to see me again, but just so you know when not if but when you win I would be honored if I could have the privlige of continuing to fighting the never-ending battle with you. I would ask one last favor of you though, please look over that information in that folder. A lot of people went through a lot of trouble for it."

Marvel knocks on the door and says, "Guard I'm ready now."

He grabs Captain Marvel's shoulder. "Marvel. Sit down."

Billy looks at him with anger first, but then complies, sitting down on the bench opposite Superman's. Superman then looked to the guard. "Could you please leave for a few minutes? I have to talk with Captain Marvel personally for a few minutes. I won't escape, I promise."

The guard rubbed his forehead with an exasperated look on his face, then nodded and walked away. Superman sighed, then sat down on his bench, and looked at Captain Marvel.

"I should've told you this earlier, Marvel. I should've told a lot of people, but I didn't get that chance. I just need you to be quiet while I get this off my chest."

He looked out the window, barred as it was with iron. Still, some meager sunlight filtered in.

"I haven't given up. And you're right, the bus incident was manufactured. It's related to someone very powerful in Metropolis. I knew something was wrong after that fight that you saw. Something in my head. I didn't think it mattered too much, but I was wrong. The bus incident is the result of my mistake. That's what this trial is about."

He rubbed his eyes, and at that moment it looked like he still bore the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I could fight it, if I wanted to. It's obvious that I wasn't acting under my own will. But it happened because of me. And this mistake was just the most recent in a long line of mistakes. I can't keep doing this, Marvel. It's never sat right with me that we aren't held accountable when we screw up, and I've screwed up very badly. I helped that Unity monster, for God's sake! Do you understand what that means to me, Billy?! Do you?!"

He stood up, and paced around his cell, eventually resting his hands on the cell window. "I should've been imprisoned then. I was a threat to the world I swore to protect. I've been running from my guilt ever since. But a very wise man once told me that running won't solve my problems, and he was right. So, I'm facing them. I need to be here. I need to let the people know that not me or any other superhero is above the law, and that they still matter in this world. Like I said when this whole thing began, Billy, I haven't given up my fight. I still fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. But this is a different kind of fight, and in the end it may matter more than any other battle I've ever had."

He stayed silent then for a few moments, looking out at the clear blue Metropolis sky, what little he could see of it through his cell window. "While I've been locked up in here, I've had plenty of time to think, too. To think about the nature of my fight. And I wonder, what if Lex Luthor is right? He's probably the smartest man in the world, Marvel, and he believes that I am a genuine threat, not to this world, but to everything I care about. You see, I've come to the realization the he and I fight for the same thing. In his way, he fights for his own truth and justice. He sees me as a limiter to the potential of humanity. My very existence belittles any human achievement. Look at what he's created! This city, the towering buildings, jobs for millions of people. He's helped to bring the entire country out of a recession, almost on force of will alone. And yet he still believes that I have more power than he does? It's almost a joke, when you think about it. So maybe, I hope, when all this is over, Lex Luthor can be the hero I know he can be. Maybe if he can stop comparing himself to me, he'll realize just how powerful he really is. He could be an amazing force for good, I know it."

He sighed, and pulled his hands off the bars as he turned to face Captain Marvel. "Have I answered your question, Captain?"

[TheCorpulent1]

Keystone City
Weeks earlier

Wally turned the key in the ignition, pulled it out, and stepped out of his car--a customized '67 Mustang (red, of course). Keystone City's mental institution loomed large before him. He walked to the clear plastic doors and put his hand on the handle, but he stopped before going in. Memories of Linda as she was before--wild, unreasonable, madness replacing the familiarity in her eyes when she looked at him--and he felt like he couldn't go on.

Since coming back to Keystone he had moved back into his old apartment, gotten himself a mechanic job at the Keystone City Police Department garage, and bought the aforementioned Mustang--everything but this. Seeing Linda again...

Wally forced the thoughts out of his mind and pushed on the handle. "The problem with stopping to think," Hal Jordan had once told him, "is that you never move forward." Barry Allen was his mentor, but Barry was a scientist; for all his speed, his first instinct was always to stop and think things through from every angle. Wally was never one for science. Like Hal, he was a man of action--it's why Hal's words had stayed with him through the years. It's funny; being raised by the likes of Barry Allen and Hal Jordan for part of his childhood had prepared him for the worst that superheroing could throw at him--villains, death, constant peril--and he had seen his share of alien worlds and impossible happenings during his time as the Flash. But nothing could prepare him for this. Nothing was as alien to him as how to weather this moment.

"Hi, I'm here to see Linda Park-West," he told the receptionist.

"Mrs. West is in our high security wing," she said politely, with a touch of sadness in her voice. "Just sign here and an orderly will take you to her."

Wally signed the log and, seconds later, a burly orderly appeared. He opened a door and said, "This way, sir."

"Thanks," Wally said, entering the door ahead of the orderly. The orderly lurched ahead of him once past the door himself and led him down a hallway of doors with small, square windows to one door with a small, square window in particular. On the other side was Linda, huddled in a corner of her padded cell, her eyes ringed with red as if she hadn't slept in days. Wally turned to the orderly. "Can I... can I talk to her?"

"Sure. Just press this button to switch on the intercom--"

"No, I meant... Can I go inside? Talk to her face-to-face?"

A look of consternation passed over the orderly's face. "I dunno, sir," he replied dubiously. "It's not against procedure or anything, but Mrs. West has had some... episodes."

"Look--" Wally glanced at the orderly's name tag for the first time. "--Jake. She's my wife." Wally didn't know how else to explain his need to physically be near Linda, so instead his eyes just searched Jake the orderly's face pleadingly.

"All right, sir. I'll be right out here the whole time. Just hit the intercom and I'll let you back out. Just be careful. Sometimes when people end up in places like these... well... sometimes they're not entirely like you remember them."

"Thank you, Jake. I'll keep that in mind." Jake slid a card key through the reader on the doorframe and the lock clicked loose while a buzzer sounded. Wally turned the doorknob and entered the room, shutting the door behind him. The woman who was his wife--still was his wife; he needed her to be--stared up at him blankly through glassy eyes. "Hey, Linda. It's me. It's Wally."

[Red]

It started from the pit of my stomach, tap-danced onto and around my spine, and finally came out from my mouth--I laughed. I did not laugh the laugh of joyeous celebration or the laugh or a knee-slapping quip, though--it was a bitter laugh, the type you hear from people who have seen so much in their lives and is questioned about life despite it.

"It was nothing but simple murder. Just because his foster parents were 'simple farmers,' you decided to kill them?

"You're a monster. None of your pitiful excuses or accusations can prove to me otherwise. You're worse than almost any of my enemies--at least they know they're crazy. You're a raving lunitic and you think you can master the Earth despite.

"You couldn't kill me in front of the child, yet you were willing able to kill his foster parents, most likely in the same house? You're a hypocrite, that's all.

"You didn't leave me alive to protect the child, you kept me alive so you could monologue about your plans, and then torture me, your arch-nemesis, to death.

"He would have been better off away from you then to live life as a farmer. At least he would have the love of good parents, and not have to be brainwashed by a hypocritial, monsterous, f**king ZEALOT!"

Ra’s smiled and stroked his beard.

“Think what you like Detective, but in the coming months, you will thank me for your salvation.”

[Hyper Venom]

Zoom stood against the lightpole for what seemed like an eternity. He was growing bored, waiting for Batman to arrive.

"What's taking him?" he asked himself.

Suddenly, there was a blur of purple light beside him. Zoom had grown quite accustomed to this. He had opened a window in time. He stared casually at the purple light and waited to see what vision from the past would appear to him.

He saw a family. Husband, wife, child. Well dressed, probably wealthy. They were walking through the very alley that Zoom was standing in.

A man in dark clothing approached them. He pulled a gun and demanded whatever they had on them. Money, jewels, the like. The father complies and handed over his wallet. It wasn't enough. The gunman reaches for the pearls around the wife's neck. Zoom continued to watch the image from the past.

The father tries to fight the gunman off. They struggles for a few seconds. The woman and child are petrified, but the child looks on. He's scared, but also looks hopeful. He's sure his dad will protect them. His dad was invincible to him. Dad would make everything alright.

A gunshot.

The father hit the ground. His wife screams briefly before being shot down herself.

A tense moment. The child and gunman stare at each other in silence. Then the gunman runs off.

The child is left alone. He drops to his knees, cries, stares at his hands. They're soaked in the blood of his parents.

FZzzz-FFF-zzzzz!!! The image changes. These windows have a tendency to skip back and forth in time without warning. Zoom continues to watch.

The child stares silently at a pair of caskets as a priest prays for the souls of the deceased. An older gentleman pats the child on the shoulders.

"Be strong, Master Bruce."

"Yes, Alfred," the child replies.

ZZZZfzzzfZZZ! The image changes again.

The boy stands alone before the headstones of the deceased.

Thomas Wayne

Martha Wayne

FzzzfZZZ!!! And again, time zooms forward.

The boy is now a man. He stands in a dark cave. There are bats everywhere. Thousands upon thousands of them. In his hands is a picture of his parents, as well as his younger self. The young man places the picture on a table.

His hands raise up. He lifts a cowl over his head and pulls it down.

He is no longer Bruce Wayne. He is...



The window in time disappears.

Zoom simply smiled to himself.

"Batman...interesting..."

Normally, Zoom cursed his ability to open windows in time. It was more of a side effect than anything. He could never actually do it on purpose. He would attempt to learn to control it. In the meantime, this newfound knowledge would certainly be of some use to him. He wouldn't share it with the others in the Society. This information would be his to keep, for now.

Still, Zoom had grown bored with waiting and decided to head back to the hideout to see what was going on. Standing up, he took off toward Metropolis. Seconds later, he was back in the hideout. Everyone was gone. He glanced around and noticed a very slow ripple in the mirrored surface of the bar. It had probably been used as a portal by Mirror Master. Moving as fast as he had, Zoom had gotten there seconds after Mirror Master used the portal. Deciding to follow and see what everyone else was doing, Zoom leapt into the portal just as it began to close.

Zoom found himself in a large, lavishly decorated building. His movements seemed normal to him, but he had moved too fast to be seen by the large guard that stood nearby. He opened the large double door nearby and stepped inside the room.

Inside the room were the Joker, Mirror Master, and Lex Luthor. So it would seem that Luthor was the brains behind this operation. Zoom didn't particularly care. He heard the Joker mention that they were laying siege to Keystone City, as well as ask Luthor what his plans were for Metropolis.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, do share."

Predicting what everyone would say at his sudden appearance before they even had a chance to react, Zoom explained himself.

"Got bored waiting for Batman. Left a calling card. What's this about Keystone and Metropolis?"

[MaskedManJRK]

Ra’s smiled and stroked his beard.

“Think what you like Detective, but in the coming months, you will thank me for your salvation.”

"...And people say I'M egotistical..." I mutter under my breath.

"So, what do you have planned this time? Shooting a laser from the moon? Freeze people to death with a satallite?"

[MST3K 4ever]

He grabs Captain Marvel's shoulder. "Marvel. Sit down."

Billy looks at him with anger first, but then complies, sitting down on the bench opposite Superman's. Superman then looked to the guard. "Could you please leave for a few minutes? I have to talk with Captain Marvel personally for a few minutes. I won't escape, I promise."

The guard rubbed his forehead with an exasperated look on his face, then nodded and walked away. Superman sighed, then sat down on his bench, and looked at Captain Marvel.

"I should've told you this earlier, Marvel. I should've told a lot of people, but I didn't get that chance. I just need you to be quiet while I get this off my chest."

He looked out the window, barred as it was with iron. Still, some meager sunlight filtered in.

"I haven't given up. And you're right, the bus incident was manufactured. It's related to someone very powerful in Metropolis. I knew something was wrong after that fight that you saw. Something in my head. I didn't think it mattered too much, but I was wrong. The bus incident is the result of my mistake. That's what this trial is about."

He rubbed his eyes, and at that moment it looked like he still bore the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I could fight it, if I wanted to. It's obvious that I wasn't acting under my own will. But it happened because of me. And this mistake was just the most recent in a long line of mistakes. I can't keep doing this, Marvel. It's never sat right with me that we aren't held accountable when we screw up, and I've screwed up very badly. I helped that Unity monster, for God's sake! Do you understand what that means to me, Billy?! Do you?!"

He stood up, and paced around his cell, eventually resting his hands on the cell window. "I should've been imprisoned then. I was a threat to the world I swore to protect. I've been running from my guilt ever since. But a very wise man once told me that running won't solve my problems, and he was right. So, I'm facing them. I need to be here. I need to let the people know that not me or any other superhero is above the law, and that they still matter in this world. Like I said when this whole thing began, Billy, I haven't given up my fight. I still fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. But this is a different kind of fight, and in the end it may matter more than any other battle I've ever had."

He stayed silent then for a few moments, looking out at the clear blue Metropolis sky, what little he could see of it through his cell window. "While I've been locked up in here, I've had plenty of time to think, too. To think about the nature of my fight. And I wonder, what if Lex Luthor is right? He's probably the smartest man in the world, Marvel, and he believes that I am a genuine threat, not to this world, but to everything I care about. You see, I've come to the realization the he and I fight for the same thing. In his way, he fights for his own truth and justice. He sees me as a limiter to the potential of humanity. My very existence belittles any human achievement. Look at what he's created! This city, the towering buildings, jobs for millions of people. He's helped to bring the entire country out of a recession, almost on force of will alone. And yet he still believes that I have more power than he does? It's almost a joke, when you think about it. So maybe, I hope, when all this is over, Lex Luthor can be the hero I know he can be. Maybe if he can stop comparing himself to me, he'll realize just how powerful he really is. He could be an amazing force for good, I know it."

He sighed, and pulled his hands off the bars as he turned to face Captain Marvel. "Have I answered your question, Captain?"

Marvel stands up and looks at Superman. He says, "Thank you Superman I'm honored that you told me what you did. I should've known better than to have doubted you. For that I'm sorry I guess I am guilty of what so many others have done to me....underestimating someone strictly on outward appearances."

He looks out at Metropolis through the bars and says, "You're right this really is a beautiful city. Luthor has done an amazing job of building it it up, but without the people and the humanity that they bring then this city is just as cold and lifeless as space itself, and they need someone to show them that there is more to this city than just the buildings and their jobs. They need what you bring to them hope. Hope that there is more to life than just what they see around them. Hope that someone will always be there someone to show them that this can be a beautiful world if we all work together and for one another, and hope that no matter how bleak things look someone will will do everything in their power to fight the good fight no matter the odds. Luthor has his moments of genuine compassion. Moments where he shows his humanity so brilliantly that I begin to believe that anyone can change, but unfortunately he is ultimately concerned with one thing himself. Even as the President he was out for one thing...to get his name in the history books. If he could ever overcome his own selfish nature he could achieve true greatness. "

Looking back at Superman he says, "Don't punish yourself for your mistakes. One thing you've taught me... it's not the mistake that matters but the lesson to be learned is far more important than the mistake itself. That no matter what powers we have we are to never believe that we are God, but that we should use our powers to learn about ourselves, humanity and that maybe the hardest thing we have to live with...our own limitations. Again Superman I'm sorry I doubted you. "

Moving to the door he says, "Guard I'm ready now." Looking back at Superman he hods and says, "I'll do everything I can to hold down the fort... until you get back."

[Red]

"...And people say I'M egotistical..." I mutter under my breath.

"So, what do you have planned this time? Shooting a laser from the moon? Freeze people to death with a satallite?"

“I will merely be a stepping stone in humanities end.”

“For year’s I have acquired resources to purge humanity, but for the past few year’s I have had my men work on a new project, a virus. Perpetrations began to release the virus, but then fate intervened. The being known as the Unity started its own conquest of earth. I knew this would benefit my cause so I watched and observed. My deduction was correct; man is at its weakest hour afraid, distrusting and without hope. My actions in Washington have throne the world further into anarchy. The time is right to strike.”

And ninja entered the room and knelt at Ra’s feet. He opened the palm on his hand and revealed a small vile holding a green liquid. Ra’s snatched it from the ninja and raised it level with his face.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/713/e44374747fg2ca.png (http://imageshack.us)

“The virus kill’s in 7 day’s, but there are no affects or symptoms until the 6th day, until then it is undetectable. In 5 days time the united nation’s world summit will occur in Metropolises. Their one of my loyal men will sacrifice his life and infiltrate the summit, infecting the world leader’s who will return to their countries and unwittingly spread the virus. In a matter of months 90% of humanity will have been eradicated. And a new Eden can begin.”

[LibrarianThorne]

Marvel stands up and looks at Superman. He says, "Thank you Superman I'm honored that you told me what you did. I should've known better than to have doubted you. For that I'm sorry I guess I am guilty of what so many others have done to me....underestimating someone strictly on outward appearances."

He looks out at Metropolis through the bars and says, "You're right this really is a beautiful city. Luthor has done an amazing job of building it it up, but without the people and the humanity that they bring then this city is just as cold and lifeless as space itself, and they need someone to show them that there is more to this city than just the buildings and their jobs. They need what you bring to them hope. Hope that there is more to life than just what they see around them. Hope that someone will always be there someone to show them that this can be a beautiful world if we all work together and for one another, and hope that no matter how bleak things look someone will will do everything in their power to fight the good fight no matter the odds. Luthor has his moments of genuine compassion. Moments where he shows his humanity so brilliantly that I begin to believe that anyone can change, but unfortunately he is ultimately concerned with one thing himself. Even as the President he was out for one thing...to get his name in the history books. If he could ever overcome his own selfish nature he could achieve true greatness. "

Looking back at Superman he says, "Don't punish yourself for your mistakes. One thing you've taught me... it's not the mistake that matters but the lesson to be learned is far more important than the mistake itself. That no matter what powers we have we are to never believe that we are God, but that we should use our powers to learn about ourselves, humanity and that maybe the hardest thing we have to live with...our own limitations. Again Superman I'm sorry I doubted you. "

Moving to the door he says, "Guard I'm ready now." Looking back at Superman he hods and says, "I'll do everything I can to hold down the fort... until you get back."

The guard, at the sound of Captain Marvel's voice, came back and opened up the cell door. Marvel strode out of the cell, and Superman picked up the folder that Marvel had brought in. He flicked through the pages, but when he saw a name, he stopped and began reading more thoroughly. The evidence was circumstantial, and that's if he was being generous. But there was more to this, he knew. The Weather Wizard in London. The breakout from Iron Heights. Him in jail. It was too coincedental. Too... no. This wasn't how he was going to fight any more. Steel or Superboy or Marvel or any one of a host of heroes could deal with it now. This was his fight.

"Um, Superman, sorry ta disturb you, but you've got more visitors." The guard appeared almost sheepish as he told Superman the news.
"Oh? I thought no visitors were allowed?"
"Well, somebody very high up got these two in. Here they are." The guard walked away, and Superman was then faced by two government agents. A quick x-ray scan proved his suspicions right. Leadlined body suits concealed anything important, but he could still see their IDs. CIA agents.

"Agents... Johnston and Keeley? Something I can do for you?"

The two agents, wearing sunglasses and earpieces looked at each other for a moment before Johnston spoke up. He had close cropped blonde hair, and behind the sunglasses were piercing blue eyes.
"The director of the CIA is extending you a courtesy, Superman. He believes that the winds of change are blowing, and he thought it appropriate that you knew. With this trial and the failure of anyone to stop the breakout of Iron Heights, the hero registration bill is all but certain to pass. He thought that we should offer you the choice to give up your identity now, and save yourself further public embarassment. We also fully expect you to divulge the identities of other heroes you know, such as the Batman in Gotham. In exchange, we can make this trial go away."

Superman set the folder down, and stood up, facing the two agents. "I should begin by saying there's absolutely no chance of me betraying the trust my friends and family have placed in me. Not for anything you or anyone else could offer. Secondly, this bill is unconstitutional and everyone knows it. It will be challenged and overturned."

Keeley, a woman with a severe face and short brown hair cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really, Superman? You think people will be just fine living with vigilantes who can hurl buses and destroy cities with a thought? You really think the American people will let your kind off the hook?"

"Agent Keeley, I have every faith in the American people to do the right thing. It may take them a while, I'll grant you. But they will eventually make the right choice. They won't let us off the hook, and they shouldn't. We need to be accountable for our actions. But I do not think they will single us out and persecute us."

"An... interesting viewpoint you have, Superman," Johnston said. "Keeley, I think it's time we left. We're not going to get anything out of him now. Maybe after he's transferred to Metropolis County he'll be more receptive to our offer."

[Johnny Blaze]

Zoom stood against the lightpole for what seemed like an eternity. He was growing bored, waiting for Batman to arrive.

"What's taking him?" he asked himself.

Suddenly, there was a blur of purple light beside him. Zoom had grown quite accustomed to this. He had opened a window in time. He stared casually at the purple light and waited to see what vision from the past would appear to him.

He saw a family. Husband, wife, child. Well dressed, probably wealthy. They were walking through the very alley that Zoom was standing in.

A man in dark clothing approached them. He pulled a gun and demanded whatever they had on them. Money, jewels, the like. The father complies and handed over his wallet. It wasn't enough. The gunman reaches for the pearls around the wife's neck. Zoom continued to watch the image from the past.

The father tries to fight the gunman off. They struggles for a few seconds. The woman and child are petrified, but the child looks on. He's scared, but also looks hopeful. He's sure his dad will protect them. His dad was invincible to him. Dad would make everything alright.

A gunshot.

The father hit the ground. His wife screams briefly before being shot down herself.

A tense moment. The child and gunman stare at each other in silence. Then the gunman runs off.

The child is left alone. He drops to his knees, cries, stares at his hands. They're soaked in the blood of his parents.

FZzzz-FFF-zzzzz!!! The image changes. These windows have a tendency to skip back and forth in time without warning. Zoom continues to watch.

The child stares silently at a pair of caskets as a priest prays for the souls of the deceased. An older gentleman pats the child on the shoulders.

"Be strong, Master Bruce."

"Yes, Alfred," the child replies.

ZZZZfzzzfZZZ! The image changes again.

The boy stands alone before the headstones of the deceased.

Thomas Wayne

Martha Wayne

FzzzfZZZ!!! And again, time zooms forward.

The boy is now a man. He stands in a dark cave. There are bats everywhere. Thousands upon thousands of them. In his hands is a picture of his parents, as well as his younger self. The young man places the picture on a table.

His hands raise up. He lifts a cowl over his head and pulls it down.

He is no longer Bruce Wayne. He is...



The window in time disappears.

Zoom simply smiled to himself.

"Batman...interesting..."

Normally, Zoom cursed his ability to open windows in time. It was more of a side effect than anything. He could never actually do it on purpose. He would attempt to learn to control it. In the meantime, this newfound knowledge would certainly be of some use to him. He wouldn't share it with the others in the Society. This information would be his to keep, for now.

Still, Zoom had grown bored with waiting and decided to head back to the hideout to see what was going on. Standing up, he took off toward Metropolis. Seconds later, he was back in the hideout. Everyone was gone. He glanced around and noticed a very slow ripple in the mirrored surface of the bar. It had probably been used as a portal by Mirror Master. Moving as fast as he had, Zoom had gotten there seconds after Mirror Master used the portal. Deciding to follow and see what everyone else was doing, Zoom leapt into the portal just as it began to close.

Zoom found himself in a large, lavishly decorated building. His movements seemed normal to him, but he had moved too fast to be seen by the large guard that stood nearby. He opened the large double door nearby and stepped inside the room.

Inside the room were the Joker, Mirror Master, and Lex Luthor. So it would seem that Luthor was the brains behind this operation. Zoom didn't particularly care. He heard the Joker mention that they were laying siege to Keystone City, as well as ask Luthor what his plans were for Metropolis.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, do share."

Predicting what everyone would say at his sudden appearance before they even had a chance to react, Zoom explained himself.

"Got bored waiting for Batman. Left a calling card. What's this about Keystone and Metropolis?"
Well, the kept getting better and better. Now Zoom had arrived. He wasn't a Rogue, so Mirror Master didn't really trust him. But, he was an enemy of the Flash, so that was a plus.
"Apparently, the Rogues are ta have some fun in Keystone City soon. Cause some trouble an' all that. Ye may not be a Rogue, but you're more'n welcome to join in on the fun."

"In any case let's get to the answer", said McCulloch as he turned his attention back to Luthor, "I need to be leavin' ta help a friend."

[MaskedManJRK]

“I will merely be a stepping stone in humanities end.”

“For year’s I have acquired resources to purge humanity, but for the past few year’s I have had my men work on a new project, a virus. Perpetrations began to release the virus, but then fate intervened. The being known as the Unity started its own conquest of earth. I knew this would benefit my cause so I watched and observed. My deduction was correct; man is at its weakest hour afraid, distrusting and without hope. My actions in Washington have throne the world further into anarchy. The time is right to strike.”

And ninja entered the room and knelt at Ra’s feet. He opened the palm on his hand and revealed a small vile holding a green liquid. Ra’s snatched it from the ninja and raised it level with his face.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/713/e44374747fg2ca.png (http://imageshack.us)

“The virus kill’s in 7 day’s, but there are no affects or symptoms until the 6th day, until then it is undetectable. In 5 days time the united nation’s world summit will occur in Metropolises. Their one of my loyal men will sacrifice his life and infiltrate the summit, infecting the world leader’s who will return to their countries and unwittingly spread the virus. In a matter of months 90% of humanity will have been eradicated. And a new Eden can begin.”

Good God. Can't give Ra's the satasfaction of that shutting me up. C'mon, Bruce, be the bastard...

"A virus that kills in seven days? Good you, Ra's, you should put a shirt that says "I am God" on top of your cloak."

[Spike_x1]

"Maybe he got arrested by the fashion police! HA HA!"

The Joker walked over to the drinks cabinet, pouring himself a glass of wine.

"So, we've got a gang war and a psychotic speedster in Gotham City," The Joker said to Luthor, "And we're going to have The Rogues lay siege on Keystone City. What are your plans for good ol' Metropolis?"Before Luthor could utter a response, they all turned at the sound of Hunter Zolomon's voice, repeating the Joker's question.

Lex paused and gritted his teeth. He couldn't tell whether he hated the mentally disturbed company he was keeping or if he took pride in pointing out the obvious to their infantile minds. Clenching his fist, he replied, "My friends, in case you've failed to notice, this kingdom on the edge of tomorrow is already firmly in my grasp. Superman will soon have a permanent cell in Stryker's, complete with a series of specialized restraints, courtesy of LexCorp."

Lex turned to look out the floor to ceiling windows and opened his arms wide, taking in the entire city's skyline. Several small droplets of blood fell to the floor from his right hand after clenching it so tightly. "I hold the fates of both Metropolis' human population and her metahuman residents in the palm of my hand. Including Superman. Gentlemen, my kingdom is already won."

Lex Luthor turned back to his associates. He noticed something akin to surprise on their faces. He couldn't quite tell what the expression was precisely. What Luthor would never understand was that his cohorts finally began see the true madness that was boiling in his green eyes.

http://img305.imageshack.us/img305/5539/lexcorp3ci.jpg

[Watchman]

Scarecrow turned on the radio to hear if any of his partners were doing their jobs by what caught his attention was the report on Hub City.

"Well ladies and gentlemen Hub City has survive the brutal attack from the hands of the monster known as Solomon Grundy. Hub City own hero the Question was joined by...."

The rest of the report didn't matter anger filled inside of him when he heard that name....The Question. He decide to finish off what Solomon Grundy started. He was going to destroy The Question and have Hub City on it's knees. He got off at the next exit and headed for Hub City Gotham and Wayne could wait but revenge couldn't.

[Green Lantern]

I turn to Roy.

"Batman's forming it. Although, he hasn't said too many specifics yet. We should probably call him to hammer out the details. Either of you have a means to contact him?""I see. Well, I've got unfinished business with our Zombie pal. He kinda ruined my two favorite rides today. So if you'll excuse me..."

Roy jumped into the cop car and drove off in the direction that Grundy had jumped. As he drove he fumbled with his communicator.

"Hey, Bats, it's Roy. I heard through the grape vine that you're starting another run of the Outsiders. I want in. I don't care if you think you can use me or not, I've got the creds and you know it. I'm on this thing whether you like it or not, you'd have to kill me to keep me from it."

[TheCorpulent1]

Keystone City
Weeks earlier

Linda crept over to the man in her cell and looked up into his eyes from her crouched position. She turned from his eyes and took in the rest of him. Something about his fiery red hair stirred memories long stagnant. When she looked in his eyes again, she looked into the eyes of her husband. "W... Wally?" she said weakly. Recognition flashed in her eyes.

"Yeah, Linda," Wally replied with a beaming smile. Tears welled up in his eyes and his something caught in his throat. His wife remembered him again. "It's me. I'm here. I'll be here fore--"

"You ABANDONED me!" Linda pushed Wally back so hard that he stumbled and fell. She rose to her full height, reversing their previous positions. "How dare you come back here?!"

"Linda, baby, I don't--I didn't..." The words were racing through his mind at a hundred miles a minute--a thousand explanations flashing blinding neon in his head--I didn't leave... I meant to come sooner... I just couldn't face... But try as he might, his mouth just couldn't form the words. He knew why: because when all was said and done, he did leave. He did abandon her. And suddenly the tears in his eyes carried a whole different meaning.

Linda was crying, too, and hard. Between sobs she managed to squeeze out, "What's wrong?" More sobs. "The great... hero..." She wiped her nose in her gown. "... fast-talking savior... suddenly has nothing to say?"

"Linda, please, honey..."

"'Linda' what?" Her crying had stopped, replaced with burning rage. "What are you going to say?!" Wally's mouth worked wordlessly. "After... After Zoom..." She stopped and snapped her eyelids shut to hold back the tears. "... I was a wreck. I couldn't even say anything other than to ask where you were... why you weren't there. With the doctors' help, I finally managed to move past that; I knew all along that there was no way you could've known... nothing you could've done. When I finally accepted that I had a moment of lucidity. Do you know what my first question was? 'Is my husband here? I need to see him.' 'Need,' Wally. I needed you... only to find that, again, you weren't there. And this time you did know... you could have done something... but you didn't." She looked down at Wally, cold fury just barely masking the fragility of her mind. "These last, long weeks have been hell to me, Wally. What could you possibly say to me now that would make up for that?"

Wally looked up at Linda, his eyes red and burning from the tears. He didn't care; he wished his eyes would burn out completely--that Linda's cold, hard stare could suddenly manifest literally and lance through him, washing away his sins with the release of death. But all he could manage to say, after seconds that seemed like an eternity, was: "I love you."

Linda scoffed. "You love me? How does love account for running away when I needed you most, Wally? How does love fix anything?"

Wally got up off the floor's padding. "I don't know, Linda. I don't know. But I know I screwed up those months ago; after everything that happened, I just couldn't--" Wally cut himself short and shook his head. "No. I'm not going to try to excuse it, and I know it's impossible to justify it. All I can say is that I do love you, Linda, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Zoom... I'm sorry I left... I'm sorry about everything." He reached out to touch Linda's face, but she recoiled, her stare still cold as ice and searing hot at the same time. Wally let his hand drop. "I'm here now, Linda. I can't take back the past--God, I wish I could. But all I can do is be here, the way I am now, and show you each and every day that I will never leave you again.

"Linda... you are the single best thing that has ever come into my life, and I won't give you up without a fight. So I don't care how long it takes or what I have to do; I will show you that I love you, so much I can't even put it into words--so much that it tears me apart and makes me weep and gives me the strength to go on all at once. I get that you hate me right now--believe me, I hate me even more--but you loved me once, and I hope, with time, you can forgive me and love me again."

He turned from Linda slowly--it felt as if he were physically tearing himself away--but he found his way to the intercom button and pressed it. The door buzzed and Jake opened it from the outside. Wally turned back to Linda one last time. "You're the only woman I'll ever truly love, Linda. I'll wait a lifetime and more if I have to." Linda just shook her head and sat back down in the corner, but Wally could see that the layer of coldness in her eyes had fallen away and her body jerked with sobs again. Wally walked out of the room struggling to keep his own tears in check. It would be a long, hard road and things might never be the same between them again... but it was a start.

[SuperFerret]

Plastic Man (err...Plastic Car? I don't know, whatever) swerved off of the road as the sinister simian Gorilla Grodd pounded on the plastic windshield, the resulting crash sending Grodd flying onto the pavement.

"YEE-OUCH!" Plas yelled as he gathered his usual, humanoid, form together. He stood, shaking his head, chuckling, "Guess you really can't drive with a monkey on your back."

Before he could look up, he was hit in the face with a piece of concrete that Grodd tore from the divider in the middle of the highway. Plastic Man's neck stretched with the attack, allowing him to keep standing while his head was pulled twenty feet away from the rest of him.

Jeez, he thought as his head snapped back to his body like a rubberband, everyone's a critic.

Grodd was dangerous, as Plas found out when he fought the gorilla the last time he threatened people, and he shouldn't really take any chances by mouthing off when he could be sending Kong back to Skull Island, but this is Plastic Man we're talking about here, so that's not gonna happen.

"Is that all you've got Mighty Joe Young?" he says, inflating his fists into overly large boxing gloves, "C'mon, tough guy, fight me like a man... or a monkey, whatever."

It wasn't the most epic battle, nor was it very long either. Basically, after the little exchange detailed above, Plas leaped at Grodd and used his rubbery form to encase the gorilla's head. And do we all remember why it's not a good idea to put a plastic bag over our heads, children? Yep, that's right, since Plas is immune to Grodd's telepathic might, all the felonious fuzzball could do was try and punch our valiant hero, which just resulted in two things:1) he wasted effort by exerting himself, and 2) prompting the ever-witty Plastic Man to quip "Stop hitting yourself. Stop hitting yourself."

Finally, after about five and a half minutes, Gorilla Grodd passed out from lack of air. Ten points for Plastic Man!

"Now, what am I going to do with this guy?" Plastic Man pondered, looking down at the unconscious primate and scratching his head.

[PFunk2]

Meanwhile back to John....

"Damn. It's amazing how much 'stuff' can pile up when you're gone for awhile." John Stewart said outloud to himself while web searching the news. Having long since abandoned the TV. "But, this superman in jail thing still gets me. It just doesn't seem right!"

"My thoughts exactly" said a female voice behind him as he turned to find Meryian leaning on his shoulders behind him. "From what you and others told me about him it's just not his style. Thinking about giving him a quick visit" she asks.

"Yeah. If it's okay with you. After all I just got back."

"Don't worry dear. This time I'm here to stay." and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Besides I'm sorta currious about his too-beyond what this so-called news on your planet has been presenting."

John thinks about debating her about the news thing for a second. Then decides against it and nods. "Point taken." and gets up and Phases back-on his GL outfit. Gives Meryian a hug and says "Be back soon." before he launches himself out of the house skyward.

"Hopefully in one piece." Meryain thinks to herself as she watching him go.



(OOC: Yeah during my 'absense' John and Meryain got back together again as IMO the way they broke up was kinda idotic and they seem to work well together as a couple)

[Red]

Good God. Can't give Ra's the satasfaction of that shutting me up. C'mon, Bruce, be the bastard...

"A virus that kills in seven days? Good you, Ra's, you should put a shirt that says "I am God" on top of your cloak."

I am no god; if such a being existed he would have eradicated the filth of humanity millennia ago. But instead “I” will bring the world back to peace. Ironic isn’t it? mankind will die on the same day it was written to have been created.

[LibrarianThorne]

He sat in his cell. The lat night in his precinct cell before he would be transferred to Stryker's.

He knew what awaited him there. He would have a cell to himself. In the center of it was a massive, unbreakable harness, made of a metal so rare that every portion of it yet discovered had been used in the making of the harness. It was inescapable, designed by the Justice League (mostly Batman and Mister Miracle) and built by LexCorp. It was built specifically to hold him, in the case that it would ever need to be used.

He laid down on the cold steel of the bench that was his only comfort now, and wondered. Was this the right thing? Who knew what could happen while he was imprisoned? What if Darkseid invaded, or a colossal meteor was headed for Earth? What if Doomsday returned? How could everyone else cope with his absence?

It used to be so simple. Put on the tights an hour before work at the Planet, do some heroing, then wait until lunch or a major crisis to go out and save the day. Head back to the apartment, rest up for a bit and check up on international news, see where he was needed and go there. Saving the day. He hadn't done that in a long, long time. Now it was all so complicated. You had to worry about so many things. What international laws you could break. Whose toes you would step on. What extent you could go to to get the job done.

He had to admit the truth to himself. Somewhere along the way, he'd gotten lost. Somewhere, somewhen, something had gone wrong, and now he was here, in a cell like any other criminal. Maybe Marvel was right. Maybe what he was doing now wasn't what he should be doing. Maybe he should just leave, and patrol the city before going back to Lois.

And maybe he was right, too. This trial needed to happen. The superhero registration bill needed to be fought. He'd leave Green Arrow to do it vocally. This was how he was going to fight it. He was going to show everyone that no one was above the law. Not even him.

[LadyVader]

OOC: Still no word from Franklin so I'm just going to post. Please, if anybody spots any inconsistencies with what's been said already (like they already rebuilt Gateway City or other stuff related to it), please let me know. I tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Washington City, Pentagon
Department of Homeland Security

"I’m sorry madame Ambassador, I just don’t see why you would need extra funds. We have already been more then generous with the Gateway Restoration Project."

Diana nodded her head in understanding but insisted:
"We’re not asking to double or triple the budget, but if we want our people to settle back in by the end of the year…"
"Settle back in?" the deputy secretary wondered out loud. "You think anybody will want to go back to that place, the place where their worlds literally crumbled to pieces. We’ve seen this before. Nobody moved back to Coast City. Nobody will live in Gateway City."

"What happened was terrible but it has passed. It's now time to rebuild and prove that we are stronger for it. If we don’t stand united on this issue, then we have admitted defeat"

"How can we admit defeat since we weren’t involved in the conflict to begin with, madame ambassador", the head secretary explained. "We are merely humans. Everytime you and your kind run amock, the superpeople, the metahumans, whatever designation you have this week, we are the ones left behind who have to do the clean up."

"You are not thinking of the people…"
"Oh, but we are" Chertoff continued. "We are thinking of the people and we will not subject them to what you are requesting. You only want to rebuild Gateway City because it is the place of your failure. "
Diana twitched at the sound of the words. A myriad of emotions ran across her face, from anger, to regret to fear.
"Oh, I have upset you. What are you going to do? Throw a bus at me? "

A wave of bitter laughter swept the conference room where the discussions were being held. Directors, secretaries and officers exchanged awkward looks and then looked back at the dark haired, fair skinned woman to observe her reaction. The conference tables were arranged in a perfect pentagon, and Wonder Woman along with her group occupied an entire side, facing the entire Departement of Homeland Security. It was a clear day outside and the sun’s rays fell on the mahogany tables.

“Why do I feel this is turning into a Second Inquisition?” Diana wondered, but responded calmly to the secretary’s comment:

"I wasn’t aware the Metropolis incident was on our agenda for today. "
"Let’s just say that Gateway isn’t the only emergency we had to handle in recent times." the secretary remarked.

"What happened was most regrettable, but it has nothing to do with the reason I am here today, nor is it fair of you to let it cloud your judgment"
"My judgment is quite clear as is that of my colleagues. Gateway city is a lost cause and the superheroes of today are no longer worthy of our trust. And they obviously think so themselves, otherwise how do you explain the dissolution of the Justice League? "
"We have been more then open to the public with any information regarding their safety, but private matters are private matters. I don’t have to give any further explanations, nor should I, since I cannot speak on anyone’s behalf but my own. "

"Well, I don’t have to live in fear because of those like you, nor should I" the secretary said getting up. "You may have physical power, but that doesn’t automatically win my respect."

A loud noise shook the room as Wonder Woman’s hand snapped on the table and caused it to crack.
"If you want to respect something, mister secretary, she said getting up, respect life, in all its forms. Now sit down… "

The secretary couldn’t help but be intimidated by the amazon and he sat down on reflex.

"I feel my welcome here has expired. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your time, the princess addressed the board of DHS director. It is obvious this wasn’t the best of times for my request, but I thank you for listening either way. I hope you shall reconsider once the media frenzy dies down. "
Wonder Woman hurried out of the room and out of the Pentagon. She felt her civilian clothes suffocate her. She changed into her uniform and soared to the sky.

When she reached the Themysciran embassy in New York she jumped in the shower letting the hot water wash over her body. She replayed the events of the day in her head, realizing that she hadn’t acted in the best of ways.

“They are just scared, I should’ve been more understanding. Should’ve reasoned with them more. But the world is in such a state of disarray. Somehow I feel reason would be more of an irritation then a solution.”

She watched the water drip from her face and an errand thought crossed her mind.
“Mother would know what to do…"

A knock on the bathroom door broke her chain of thoughts.
"Yes?"

- It’s me. Ferdinand’s voice was muffled by the door. How did it go?
- You desire the long version or the short version.
- Short.
- It went bad, Diana answered turning off the water.
- And the long version?
No reply came for a while but then the door opened and Diana came out wearing a bathrobe.
- It went very bad. She opened a cabinet, grabbed a brush to comb her hair. They are more interested in placing blame then they are in saving Gateway.
- Must be frustrating.
- Yes.
- You probably want something to hit now.
- Does that make me a bad person?
- Depends on what or who you’ll be hitting…

OOC: So this is the part where I either join an ongoing plot or create on of my own to get more of a feel of the character. :D I await suggestions!

[twylight]

The woman stood slowly, watching the drama between the two Mob Bosses unfold. Her arms crossed under her breasts she stood like a statue.

The coin...it seemed to be an emblem of some kind, she obviously knew how important coins were to Two-Face, the simple duplicity of a coin reflected his own shattered psyche. However Black Mask’s interest in it caused her to pause.

Her eyes taking in everything, she watched as Two-Face pressed the button, and didn’t blink an eye as the glass raind horizontally into the room, it’s glistening shards spraying out on either side from behind her as dozen’s of armed men landed in the room.

She smiled, how foolish they both were, to think that mere numbers and force would intimidate each other.

"...MY CITY."

That was her cue, whether he liked it or not, she refused to stand here, it was time to level the playing field.

Her limbs moved and her body followed.
The willow branches leading the slender willow’s trunk.

The ones closest were first, a round house kick took three of them out at once, she dodged and dived as all the guns in the room trained on her, yet never had a chance to fire. Rolling on the ground she grabbed a gun from a fallen man, and rolled into a kneeling position before shot a line across the room, taking out the kneecaps of both Black Masks men and Harvey Dent’s, or so it seemed.

She aimed higher up the leg on Dent’s men, decreasing the permanent damage to them. Dropping the spent revolver she spun, catching the group men behind her with a single thrust of her arm. They fell over and she stood, brining her hands down on the back of their necks quickly. Picking up the guns before they warmed the floor she threw them in the corner before running and launching herself from the wall, taking out the last group in a single arc kick.

Scooping up the guns she tossed them in the pile before spinning between the two men and grabbing their guns from them. Releasing the clips she tossed the guns on the floor, to either side of her, and glared at the two standing men through her hair.

50 seconds, not a personal best but it was good. Her lips turned up in a smile.

A moan came from the corner and she quickly dispelled it with a quick hand chop to the back of the head, before walking to the corner and digging through the guns. She pulled out two of the same kind and weighted them in her hand before walking back to the Mob Bosses and held them out, one in each hand.

“They are not swords, yet they are suitable for the way you wish to proceed with this meeting.
Intimidation and ultimately death. ”

[MST3K 4ever]

Marvel stood outside of the Police Station with a renewed sense of hope. Maybe Superman knows what he's doing....things just might work out after all. If for nothing else I saw one thing in Superman I hadn't seen in a long time...hope.

Marvel takes flight and begins patroling the city. He sees a robbery in progress at liquor store. He hovers near the scene as the police are already in front yelling with a bullhorn, "Come out the front with hands up! You have to the count of 3." Marvel hears the robber yell, "OH yeah...if you shoot at me the old guy in here gets it!" Marvel swoops to the back door and with the speed of mercury gets into the store. The robber felt a blur knock him over and the next thing he sees is that his gun is gone. Marvel looks at him and asks while crushing the gun, "I wonder what makes a man want to harm an innocent old man trying to make a living?" The robber is stunned he looks at the police, raises his arms and says, "I give up!" Marvel escorts the robber outside.

One of the police offiers says, "Thanks Captain Marvel. Sure hope you're still around once that bill is passed." "What bill?" Marvel asks. The officer says, "The registration act it's all but certain to pass." Marvel is doing everything he can to avoid being visbily shaken. He says, "Well I hope I am too. Thank you officers for all of your hard work...if you'll excuse me."
As he takes to the sky once again Marvel is stunned. He had heard rumors of it in the past. Holy Moley! If that thing passes none of us are safe...that thing could create more problems than it'll ever solve. Maybe I can help out in Washington DC. First I got to cover Billy Batson's tracks..


Marvel lands behind WKLS and says, "Shazam!"

KABOOM!!!

Billy walks into the station and tells Mr. Perkins about the bill that is coming up and the hearings going on. He replies, "Well with Superman getting ready to go to trial I need you here. Tell you what you can cover the hearings for the first couple of days, however when Sperman's trial starts up I want you back pronto. Okay?" Billy replies, "You got Mr. Perkins." Perkins says, "Go talk to Les in accounting he'll make your travel arrangements. Be sure to call in if you got in major news...remember when Superman' trial starts you get back here." Billy says, "Well sir I had a feeling you might say yes so I've already got my transportation worked out I just need a hotel room." Perkins smiles and wishes Billy good luck in DC

Once Billy makes his stop he goes to the back alley and says, "Shazam!'

KABOOM!!!

Marvel takes off to Washington DC...maybe I can talk some sense into President Ross. I can't imagine he'll be unreasonable Superman speaks very highly of him. As he is leaving Metropolis he sees the Lexcorp tower he flies slowly by it and smiles. I feel so sorry for you when Superman gets out of jail.. He speeds up and heads to Washington DC

[Spider-Man9X17]

Kyle dodged Sinestro's attack, quickly turning around and bringing the flat of the shield down the former Lantern's back. He pulled the attack at the last moment to aviod any serious damage, but Sinestro would still feel it in the morning.

"Heh, cool," he mummbled to himself.

-

"Sir, target is over Dodgers Stadium engaged with another meta-human. Sources identify him as Sinestro, former Green Lantern."

"Yes. His ring seems to cause problems for certain Lanterns. His may also be a power worth harnessing."

"What are our orders?"

"Hold position. I'm sending in our secondary weapon."

[wiegeabo]

Kyle dodged Sinestro's attack, quickly turning around and bringing the flat of the shield down the former Lantern's back. He pulled the attack at the last moment to aviod any serious damage, but Sinestro would still feel it in the morning.

"Heh, cool," he mummbled to himself.

-

"Sir, target is over Dodgers Stadium engaged with another meta-human. Sources identify him as Sinestro, former Green Lantern."

"Yes. His ring seems to cause problems for certain Lanterns. His may also be a power worth harnessing."

"What are our orders?"

"Hold position. I'm sending in our secondary weapon."


I barely feel the strike on my back. I appreciate the concern Rayner, but we need to make this look as real as possible.

I create a massive sword. I'm thinking more along the lines of something like this...


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/wiegeabo/24.jpg

[Green Lantern]

Hmmm, he went off to the east... not like that helps much considering we're in the middle of bum-f**ked nowhere... wait I mean southern Illinois... where even the corn gets bored... oh well may as well hit the big cities first... chance are they're holed up either in the big G or the big M... Metropolis is the closer of the two, but thats still gonna take a good four hours in this hunk a junk... I'm gonna take those bikes and my car outta that thick skinned gray freak of natures hide...

Arsenal drove off to the east, occasionally seeing one of Grundy's landing patches where the earth was shattered, knowing he's going in the right direction.


OOC: For info purposes I used this brilliant and helpful site: http://www.karridian.net/dcatlas.html :up:

[Ash Loomis]

The devastation in Hub is horrific. The remnants of buildings lay scattered across the pavement. The structures that took years of work have been snuffed out in an instant. But that’s not what concerns me. These offices are roads can be replaced. They don’t have any real value beyond money. I shutter when I think about the people underneath the rubble. I feel like falling to the ground with the rest of the destruction and weeping when think about the twisted mangled bodies; their souls literally crushed out of them.

But I shutter even more when I think about the people who still cling to their lives under that damnable dust, savoring every breath of their rapidly depleting oxygen supply. If only I had arrived here sooner. I may have been able to help stop at least some of the damage. But from the news reports, it looks like the Question and Green Arrow managed to handle that OK.

Now my priorities have shirted from getting the bad guys, to getting these people out of the ground. It’s not that hard a task actually. The Bug is more than capable of doing a far more sophisticated job of digging people out and putting out fires than the equipment that these people have on hand is. In only half an hour, we’ve managed to get out twenty people. But for some reason, the lives I help save do little to comfort me. It just reminds me of all the others who I have yet to rescue. All the others who could be dying while we’re digging in the wrong spot.
I look out from the Bug’s window, close my eyes and let out a long sigh. A face catches my eye for a moment

“Is that Vic…?” I question.

[The Question]

I help an old lady out of the rubble. She thanks me in some language I'm not familiar with, and walks over to the E.M.T.s. I look up, and I see Kord's flying beetle thing.

Yeah, go ahead and show up after you could have done anything to prevent this.

Well, at least he's helping now.