The "One Universe" Marvel & DC Crossover RPG: Season II

[OneUniverseRPG]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/pitts2003program-perez-one-.png
"One Universe" banner made by twylight



This RPG is similar to almost all others on Superhero Hype boards, except in this continuity, both the Marvel and DC universes are merged as "One Universe".

In the past year, many new champions of the world have been born. Superman, The Last Son Of Krypton. Batman, The Guardian Of Gotham City. Spider-Man, New York's Webbed Wonder. Daredevil, Hell's Kitchen's Man Without Fear. But just as many threats to mankind have arisen in wake of the heroes' spawning. The heroes' first obstacle came when Oliver Queen's benefit party in Star City was disrupted by The Incredible Hulk. Heroes such as Superman, The Fantastic Four, Batman, and Iron Man found difficulty in defeating the beast, but they eventually won out, setting the seeds for a possible forging of allieances. However, Earth's first superpowered danger on a global scale came in the form of Darkseid, an Apokoliptian ruler bent on enslaving Earth and it's inhabitants. Defeated by Reed Richards and many other of Earth's heroes, Darkseid was encased in another demension. With the heroes having defeated the alien warlord, all seemed well... For a short time. But when General Zod, an insane superpowered Kryptonian survivor with Superman's powers, broke free of The Phantom Zone... All was seemingly lost as the monster wreaked havoc upon America in search of the son of Jor-El. But it was The Flash, Jay Garrick, who won the day by inspiring Superman to fight back, resulting in a collosal battle for the fate of the world. The battle ended with Zod's death at the hands of a kryptonite radiation, and the earth was saved once more. With the heroes having defeated the world's greatest threats, the year came to an end, with the formation of a new, powerful super-team, dedicated to protecting all of mankind; Superpowered or not.

How will the past year affect the present? What dangers will the superheroes oppose as they grow within their roles as Earth's guardians? How many new heroes and villains will emerge?

Welcome to "One Universe", The Marvel and DC Crossover RPG: Season II.

Founder & Gamemaster: Olcanucklehead (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/member.php?u=33989)
Assistant Gamemaster: Red X (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/member.php?u=30401)
Moderator: Johnny Blaze (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/member.php?u=8610)
Moderator: Master Bruce (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/member.php?u=33100)

[Batman]

I remember running. Running through the cornstalks of Kansas. And the only thing I could think to myself was ...'how?'.

It was the first day of Spring. Bright and sunny, as clear as day. The air was crisp. And I had never felt better. I had just turned thirteen, and it was going to be the best day of my life. Of course, that was helped by the fact that I was going to meet Lana Lang for a swim at Siegel Creek.

But the moment I started running, everything changed. Suddenly I couldn't stop, no matter how much I wanted to. Then I could barely move. But that didn't make a bit of difference when I realised I was going again. And when I say going, I mean... going. Fast. Faster than I've ever gone... Or ever seen anyone else go. The world became a blur, and suddenly, I was the fastest kid on the planet.

At first I was scared. I mean, that sort of thing doesn't happen to anyone on a regular basis. Or anyone in general, then. How could you explain something like this? So of course, I tried to stop myself. By leaping.

Which... well, didn't help. Because now I was in the air, forty feet off the ground. But I wasn't landing. I was... floating. How does a thirteen year old boy handle something like that? I felt like a freak. But I still felt pretty good, anyway. I could fly. Just like any other kid my age would've wanted to.

So I kept flying. All the way to Siegel Creek, where Lana was waiting for me. She was scared at first, sure. But the moment I took her with me, we were one with the clouds. She had never experienced anything like it. Heck, I had never experienced anything like it. But that's also where I had my first kiss. Up in the clouds. With the girl of my dreams.

Needless to say, I thought right. It was the best day of my life.

*VVVVV*

*VVVVV*

*VVVVV*

...

I always seem to wake up at the best part.

Rolling over between the blankets, I look at the cellphone on my desk, next to my glasses. Putting them on, I pick up the phone, and see who's calling at this hour. Of course, I really don't even need to do that. Only one person on this Earth would even bother at this rather ungodly hour. And sure enough, my suspiscions are proven true...

Lois
5:23 AM

I really should just go back to bed, and pretend she never called. Really should.

"H-Hello?"

"Up and at 'em, Farmboy. Perry's got us on a potential lead in the suicide bombings."

I really should just start taking my own advice.

"Lois, *yawn* it's nearly five thirty in the morning..."

"I don't call the shots. I just suck up my coffee and give it hell. You should start doing the same."

Yeah, that's easy for you to say, Lois. You didn't just fly halfway around the world and back to stop a fire in Asia.

Of course, I'd never actually say that to her. But I've become pretty tempted in these past few months.

"What time should I catch the tram?"

:super:

About an hour and a half later, and I'm rushing through various members of the Daily Planet staff.

"A bit late, aren't you Mr. Kent?"

"Well hey there, Mr. Kent. A bit on the late side, aren't you?"

"Kent! Perry wants to see you ASAP."

I bite my lip, trying to make it to Mr. White's office. I would've gotten here sooner had it not been for the usual morning buzz. Showering, getting dressed, catching a ride on the tram, stopping off at Starbuck's for Lois' favorite mid-morning latte, and of course... the usual groups of diseased maniacs threatening to blow up a school and/or office buidling. Honestly, I don't know why people are so surprised anymore. With that "Intergang" showing up in Metropolis last month, every reporter in the city is scrambling to cover any and every crime just to see if it has a connection. I can't help but wonder if they're leading us all on a wild goose chase, but I guess that's a question for later.

"KENT!"

Right now, I've got an angry editor-in-chief to answer to.

I put the latte on Lois' desk, drop off my overcoat at my own desk, and make my way towards Perry's office. Something of which I'm sure could be classified as suicidal, but it's better I get yelled at now than ruin a potentially good day by delaying it. By that time, however, I notice Lois' frame from inside the office.

Yeah, I'm in for it alright.

Straightening my tie, I walk forward, and calmly open the door.

"GREAT CEASER'S GHOST!"

...And... immediatley regret doing so, considering my eardrums are ringing. I look up at Perry and Lois, who just notice I walked in.

"Um... You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Nevermind that. Lane, here, just saved your sorry butt for the second time this week.", He responds. "She's figured out a potential connection in the Intergang story and the suicide bombings."

Connection? There's a connection? Well, at least we know who we're looking for. I guess. Even though we don't really know who's behind Intergang itself.

"That's... um... great. Yeah."

Lois raises an eyebrow.

"Try not to be over enthused.", She says. "It's just a hunch. But I'm sure we could confirm it by noon if we hurry."

I raise my own eyebrow at that. I just know that whatever she means, it's not good.

"Noon? What do you-"

"I'll explain on the way.", She responds, grabbing my arm as she leaves the office, pulling me with her.

I just should've slept in. I know I should've just slept in...

:super:

"Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Can I get a statement?"

I watch from afar as Lois tries to interview one of the officers at the scene. All the while trying to contemplate what happened myself.

From where I'm standing, all I see is a bunch of charred crates. This used to be the docks, up until an hour ago. Until we got the word that a fire broke out earlier this morning. Took nearly everything on this pier. The firemen were all the way on the other side of the city, so by the time they got here, nothing was left to salvage. Now we're here, trying our best to make sure of that before we go back to Perry with nothing.

"Sorry, lady. There ain't much t' say, here. One of th' tanker trucks exploded... Took everything with it.", The officer responds.

Lois looks back at the scene.

"A tanker did all of this?"

"Well, not all've it. All of the crates were carrying gasoline. Caught on fire and set the whole place ablaze.", The officer responds.

I don't know why... But the way everything's burned, part of me doubts this was just random, like the police are making it out to be. Something doesn't sit right.

As Lois keeps the only surveying officer busy with questions, I turn, and peer at the scene with my x-ray and microscopic visions. Nothing out of the ordinary from what I can see. Just some remnants of some kind of sand, next to one of the crates.

Wait a minute.

I turn to the officer.

"Excuse me, did you say all of the crates were carrying gasoline?"

"That's what we were told."

"And only gasoline?"

"Yes sir."

Now I know something isn't right. I turn back, looking at the substance again. Maybe if I can sneak over and get a sample of-

"Help! Somebody help us! Please!!!"

My eyes widen, as something enters my hearing. A scream for help. Wait. No, multiple screams. Coming from...

...

The sky?

I look up, seeing it. By the time I spot it, so does Lois and the officer. A plane. It's... It's...

"Oh my god. Is that plane spinning?"

Those people are in trouble. More trouble than I or anyone else probably realises. The fire will have to wait... I need to act fast, if I'm to prevent that plane from crashing into the city.

I turn around behind Lois and the officer, and in seconds, the world becomes a blur to me. I loosen my tie and remove my glasses accordingly, preparing for ascension. By the time Lois will turn around and notice I'm gone, I'll probably be ready to take off towards the plane.

"-Kent?"

Yep. Right on cue.

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/multimedia/Wallpaper-Images/for-all-seasons.jpg

The plane's trail isn't hard to pick up. It's leaking fluid. Probably why it's altitude is out of control. Which means the faster I get to it, the better.

Spotting the plane ahead, I immediatley focus my flight pattern to get under it. Takes a few more seconds than I'd like, but I eventually find myself under the plane, matching it's speed. Flying up, I grab the bottom of the plane from behind me, and sink my fingers into the metal. Good thing I can bend it with ease... Otherwise this would be alot more difficult. Pushing up with my back, I give a heave. A thought occurs, as I realise that the craft's towering me.

Holy cow, this is heavy.

But I manage to ignore that long enough to get the plane back into a straight altitude. It's a bit of a trick to actually keep it held up, but I'm managing. Now, I just have to figure out how and where to land this thing.

...

Yeah. No problem.

Spotting Hob's Bay as I fly the plane as far away from the bridge as possible, I shoot down. If I've got this right, the plane should float in the water once I get it in. If I've got this wrong... well, I've just killed both myself and about a dozen innocent bystanders.

...

...

...

Boy, this morning just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

Flying low, I hit the water. I don't know if I should actually worry about drowing, given that I've been able to breathe in space. But the water could still fill my lungs. Not to mention I've got about 30 tons of metal, give or take, arched on my spine. But if I can let go of the plane without worrying about it sinking...

By the time I've realised what's happening, I'm already underwater. The plane lands with a bit of a jolt, and the waves from it's impact send me down a bit. But by the time I stop twirling beneath it, and look up, I see that the plane's still afloat. Good. That's one disaster averted...

Flying upwards, I break through the surface, and fly around the plane, looking for the passenger door. Finding it, I float to it, and rip it off. The pilot looks at me like he's seen some sort of celebrity, or something.

"Excuse me.", I say, before stepping into the plane, and looking at all the passengers. "Is everyone alright?"

They all stare for a moment, before nodding. I give them a smile.

"Glad to know it.", I respond.

Okay, Clark. They called you "The Symbol Of Truth And Justice For Today's Modern Society" last month. Now would be a good time to act the part. Especially if it'll help these people ignore what they just went through, even if for a moment.

"Well, I certainly hope that this incident hasn't steered anyone off of flying. It's actually the safest way to travel, statistically speaking."

...

Real "modern", Clark.

"Welcome to Metropolis,", I finally say. "Folks around here call me 'Superman'. I hope you will, too."

Realising that I've said more than enough, I step back out of the plane, and fly back towards the docks. Better not give Lois time to find my glasses and suit sprawled between those remaining crates. That'd be awful hard to explain, after all.

But I guess I should be pleased with myself. I saved a plane full of passengers from nearly crashing into Suicide Slum. That's definatley not an everyday occurance.

Yet... I can't get my mind off of that fire. It's as if someone wanted the pier to be burned down. Probably did, now that I think about it. Lois and I were originally going to go there in order to find evidence of a trade-off of royalties between Morgan Edge and a Casnian warlord. Edge is the man Lois believes to be involved with Intergang. Put two and two together, and it isn't hard to figure out.

Now I know why I can't get my mind off of it. It digusts me. Disgusts me to know that no matter how many planes I save, or how many terrorists I put down, Metropolis is still a target for danger.

I land, and change, making my way back out to the pier where Lois and the officer is. They don't even notice me as they watch the scene across the bay. With the plane, and all.

"He did it!"

"Who did what, Lois?"

She turns to me, with the same eyebrow raised as before.

"You've got to be kidding me. You didn't see him? Again?"

"Who, Superman?"

"No, The King of Switzerland. Yes, Superman.", She responds, annoyed. "He just saved that plane from crashing into the bridge."

"Wow.", I say. "Did he have help?"

She looks at me like I'm an idiot. Which was more or less the intent.

"He's Superman. He doesn't need help. He's practically a one man army.", She says, looking back towards the plane.

I can't help but wonder that. I mean, if that were true... Metropolis wouldn't be like it is. I should really try to step it up a bit.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/birthright2.jpg

But you know, when all is said and done... This wasn't that bad of a morning after all.

[Byrd Man]

Star City

I lay hidden in the shadows and watch as three men drag a young woman into an alley and start to undo her pants. She screams and the biggest one of the bunch slaps her.

"Shut up! *****!"

I pull an arrow from quiver, string it and pull back on the bow. It whistles through the air as I release it and hit's the big one square in his thigh, he falls to the ground in pain as the arrowhead lodges in his leg. I emerge from the shadows in my new costume, The other one was a tad old and the small mask lead to the goverment finding out my identity.

"Big man, slapping a defensless woman."

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8756/greenarrow2jo8.gif

"Unfortunatley, I fight back."

One of them lets go of the girl and charges at me. I duck his attack, punch him square in the gonads and use his momentum to take him down to the ground. He rolls on the ground and grabs his nuts, He's actually crying.

"I also fight dirty."

The one who's left let's go of the girl and runs off. I grab the shaft of the arrow I buried in the big man's leg and pull it out. He screams even louder and I but my boot heel into his temple, making him black out in the process.

The girl they tried to rape can't be anymore than 16, I help her up and she looks at me through her tearful eyes.

"Thank you, so much."

"You don't have to thank me little lady."

I head off into the shadows and look back at her.

"Just be careful from now on, What's your name?"

"Kate, Kate Bishop."

"They call me, Green Arrow."

And with that, I run off into the darkness and scale a nearby fire escape. I run on the rooftop and into the night. I've got to call it a night. Apparently Old Man Flash wants to talk to me and some more folks in Gotham.

[The Question]

"REALITY SHALL WARP! LIFE SHALL TAKE NEW MEANING! DREAMS AND REALITY SHALL BLEND INTO ONE! AND I SHALL ASCEND TO POWER!!!!"


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/Drdestiny.jpg


"IT IS MY DESTINY!!!

I come to the library to study. I have to deal with this ****. Sometimes I really hate my life.

I duck behind a bookshelf and change into my costume. With this alien suit I found back when that grey skinned wierdo showed up, quick changes are easy. Plus, I can't sew for crap, so it's a major improvement asthetically. I jump out. Now, think of something quippy to say...

"HEY! Skeletor called. He wants his look back."

I suck so very much.

I jump at him, and he grabs a hostage. Wonderful.

"Do NOT come near me, trickster!"

I need to calm this guy down. Fast.

"Okay. Let's not do anything crazy. Who are you?"

"I am the rightful heir to the collective unconscious of the universe. I am the new Lord Shaper to be. I am the doctor who will operate on reality. I am destiny. Yours. Mine. The universe's."

"...I mean what's your name?"

"Dee. John Dee."

"Like the occultist?"

"My mother thought it gave me a level of prestige."

"Alright. Why are you doing this, John?"

"...it...it came to me in a dream. I realized that reality can be influenced by human consciousness. Under the proper circumstances, of course. I tried to make a machine that would allow my to tap into humanity's collective unconscious and rewrite existence. However, I was lacking one piece. A power source, or some secret that would allow me to unlock everything. Or something. I gave up on that quest. Now, if I can convince enough other people of my vision, then our combined psychokinetic energy can alter reality.

"So, you're just trying to get people to listen to you?"

"...yes."

"You don't need to do that. I know the secret you're looking for."

"...really?"

"Of course."

"Tell me."

"Do you really want to know?"

"More than anything."

"Alright..."

I push the hostage out of the way and punch him square in the face.

"Dr. 1337 banged your sister, lol!"

He hits the ground hard.

Nice job, Pete.

I turn around.

"Who said that?!"

Everyone just kind of stares at me. At least, more than they usually would at a guy in a spider costume punching out a He-Man villain.

"...nevermind."

I must be hearing things. I better get out of here. I run out the back door and shoot out a webline.








Crap, I've still got my history report to finish.

[Mr.Valentine]

Remy LeBeau
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q276/Acolyte_01/Gambit/gamble_gambit_mini_first_cover_02.jpg
A few months ago

I walked down the street hand in hand with Bella, she was my angel and meant absolutely everything to me. We were headed down to the pier to watch the sunset but there was a huge Anti-Mutant march downtown so it complicated things alot. I looked at her, she smiled widely and gave me a hug. I was disappointed because I'd promised her we'd go down to see the sunset before we left for Metropolis.

"Don't worry about it baby, We can go another time it doesn't matter does it? We have each other and that's all that matters.."

"I promised you I would Belle, you mean everything to me.. you left your family for me and the day I can't give you what you want is the day I stop being Remy LeBeau"

She chuckled and I walked her through the crowd to go down to the pier, people were pushing and shoving. Shouting abuse at me in the street, But I didn't care just as long as I was with her. A man stepped through the crowd grabbing me by my coat and looking me deep in my eyes, he shouted at the top of his voice "HE'S ONE OF THEM" and I was quickly sorounded on all sides.

"We don't want any trouble guys, just leave us be and no-one will get hurt."

"Remy.. Come on it doesn't matter! Let's just go darling, you're only making it worse lets get out of here!"

A group of bat wielding policemen stepped through and I heard a few insults thrown in my direction. "Mutie" "Freak" "Monster" I'd heard them all and worse of course, but I didn't want it infront of Bella. I pushed her behind me and four of the policemen stepped forward and started to attack me, I dodged all of their pathetic attemps to attack me and unarmed most of them. The crowd grew angry and started to through stuff, I dodged and watched as Bella got dragged off.

"No, leave her be! She's not even a mutant... Bella!"

I felt a heavy crack across my head and blood rushed down over my ears and into my eyes, I couldn't move and was pinned down, one of the policemen pulled a gun out of their holsters and pressed it against my forehead cocking it and smiling. He bent down next to me and looked me in the eye with an evil grin.

"You see that whore of yours? She's going to die. Do you know why she's going to die.. Mr LeBeau? Because you've made some very very bad enemies, we know she isnt a mutant. But the fact that she's been... breeding... with one is disgusting."

He swings round and lets off his entire clip into her, I roared with anger and threw the men holding me off of me. I jumped over him and tried to rip the gun out of his hands but failed. He shot my point blank in the stomach and I fell to my knees..He stood over me once again and gave me the ever-present patronizing grin, blood pouring from my mouth I laugh and touch his body armour. It grows pink and he attempts to tear it off of him, of course he failed and it explodes... Blood splatters everywhere.

Two stumps of remain, splatters of blood over my face I drag my bleeding body over to lay ontop of Bella, slipping away she smiles.

"I'll see you again soon LeBeau, don't you die on me yet Beautiful"

Her eyes slowly faulter and tears run down my cheeks.

"Nooooo!!!!! Bella, Don't leave me!"

I was slowly losing consciousness and I smiled, At least If she died.. I'd go with her. Life isn't worth living on my own.

Today.

I stepped out of Larkham and got on my motorbike. Those ignorant ****s are going to pay for what they did to me, what they took from me.. I intend to make them suffer. And there's only one man who can help me achieve that.

[Green Lantern]

IC: Connor Hawke

My name is Connor Hawke, at least that’s the one I go by. At this point in my life, my name isn’t who I am. My mother was Sylvia Hawke, and she told me that my dad had abandoned her. She died when I was eight years old. For the next four years, I was in and out of foster care, and it drove me nuts. Finally a man by the name of Richard Dragon took me in, and told me he was gonna teach me the ways of the world. We packed up and headed to Tibet, he introduced me to some Buddhist monks… they taught me a lot, over the next several years I became a black belt in several disciplines of the martial arts and well practiced meditation. That whole pacifism s**t, well that never clicked with me. All I really wanted was to bust some heads. When I was sixteen we came back to the states, and I wound up graduating with honors from high school and enrolling at StanfordUniversity. At twenty-two I got my degree in Political Science with an emphasis on foreign governments, and had only one goal in mind. I applied for a job with the CIA, and for months, I heard nothing. Then one day I received a letter. Plain white envelope, no return address.

Mr. Hawke,

We have noticed your application to be an agent of the CIA. Do not worry, it did not go unnoticed. However, we have determined that your talents are too impressive to be relegated to the CIA. We are offering you a job with a covert branch under the acronym of S.H.I.E.L.D. If you are interested, call this number: 650-574-4353. Order a pepperoni pizza, with extra cheese and popblano peppers. They will give you a location and time to pick up the pizza. Be there and you will be briefed. If you are not interested, you have two options. To actively decline our invitation, call the number and order a plain cheese pizza. Or just don’t respond at all. Hope to meet you in person soon.

Gabriel Jones, Director of Recruitment and Training - Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate

Needless to say, it goes against my personal policy to do things the easy way, besides, I did like popblano peppers. I went to the rendezvous point that was given, and met personally with Agent Jones. I’ve been in training for the last year, and finally, I’m getting an official mission. A couple of months ago, they set me up as a new arms dealer to infiltrate an organization that’s been supplying arms to HYDRA. It only took me two months to get an invitation to their annual sales party onboard a private jet.

Connor was seated across from Maria Hill.


“Congratulations Agent Hawke, you have your first official non-recon mission. There’s a list in a safe on that plane. It’s a list of Hydra’s weapons suppliers in the States. It should be in a private safe. John in tech will give you the equipment you need. The mission is oriented around two goals. First, get that list. Second, once in the air we can’t allow that plane to land. The damage a loss of that many weapons dealers will cause Hydra is immense. Take the plane out any way you see fit. Its arms dealers, so take some weapons, they expect that. Good luck, Agent Hawke.”

“I’ll do my best, Lieutenant Director Hill. Thanks for the opportunity.”

Connor got up and went down the hallway to the tech office. John was waiting for him.

“LD Hill said you have some stuff for me?”

“Yeah, but just so you know, not every mission will have all this James Bond type s**t goin’ on. First this little ‘cell phone’ here is actually a safe cracker, in the battery. Pop that out, hold it to the keypad and boom. Open safe easy documents. This pager here? Enough plastique to at least put a sizeable hole in the fuselage of a plane. Better yet, could do significant damage to an engine. Lastly, this jacket, contains a parachute to get you the f**k outta there when that time comes.”

The party is today, I got here early, and these punks make me wanna throw up. All f**king high and mighty about the s**t that they do. So effing proud of the lives they take. Innocent people die because of them everyday, and these f**ks are proud of this. They walk up to me, vodka induced smiles already plastering their faces. Reeking of death and of drunkenness, they held out their hands to me. I put on a fake smile and shook their hands, using my alias of Greg Johnson to introduce myself. As the plane took off I counted the bastards in my head. Seventeen. Seventeen of the most dangerous, and most wanted people in the country. I pretended to drink, and indeed put on a good impression of being hammered as the plane hit cruising altitude and the presentations of the new weaponry started. I stumbled off, in search of the ‘bathroom’ but really looking for the safe. As everyone was in the main room for the power points, I found the safe, hidden in the overhead compartment, above the last seat of what would be the coach department in a standard jet. I popped open the battery compartment and popped out the safe cracker. Four seconds later, gears whirred and the locking mechanism activated. The safe opened and I grabbed the eight sheets of paper it held, shoving them into my right pocket.

“What the f**k are you doing?”

Oh s**t.

I turned around, and was looking right at one of the other arms dealers. A pig by name of Ivan Kozanawlski. Former KGB, came to America and set up his weapons trade shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

“I gotsh ta pee like a raysh horsh man! Where’sh the bathro*hic*m?”

I put on my best drunk impersonation, hoping he hadn’t seen me take the papers, as the safe had shut itself.

“Not up there and not back here. That’s not what you’re searching for. I want those papers back and I may kill you quickly.”

Oh well, like I said before… F**k the easy way, the hard way is more fun. I spun around and unholstered my pistol, an S&W 990L. Nothin fancy, but all that I need. Rounds were already chambered, and the safety clicked off in my hand.

“Drop the weapon Johnson. Before I make you regret that.”

Taking his advice, I dropped the gun to my feet and put my hands up. I pretended to back away, and in doing so ‘accidently’ kicked the gun as far from him as I could. In the split second that he looked away, I swept his legs from him with a kick, and grabbed the arm holding his own Glock. There was a satisfying crunch, followed by a brutal scream as his arm bent at the elbow, in the way that it shouldn’t. He dropped his gun and probably couldn’t think straight in the pain he was in. Knowing my cover was blown, I grabbed both guns. I took aim at the window across the hall and fired a round from each at it. There was a crack in the glass, but nothing more as some of the more inebriated members of the party rushed into the formerly empty section. Some were in the process of chambering rounds when the next two shots I fired shattered the glass. Another half a second and the pressurization of the cabin was gone, and people were dropping their weapons to try to hold onto anything to keep from getting sucked out. Myself, I really didn’t care, I had my safety valve in my jacket. Other less drunk goat f**kers were desperately trying to get to the parachutes at the front of the plane. I let go of the luggage compartment and activated the pager as I fell towards the hole in the wall. I used its magnetic hold as I flipped out of the plane, attaching it near the base of the wing. The window I took out was purposeful, I knew it would grant me that point to blow up. As I freefell through the air, I looked up in time to see the explosive detonate. The wing flew off and the severely damaged plane began to spin into its own desperate fall. I pulled the cord that doubled as a hood fastener and the ripcord for the chute, and drifted slowly back to earth. Hot damn that was fun.

[Byrd Man]

Brooklyn, New York.

It feels good to be back in the old neighborhood. Even though it's changed so much from the last time I was here. Cashman's Deil was demolished and they put up some kind of nightclub in it's place, The empty lot I use to play stickball in has been turned into something called Starbucks, I don't know what a Starbucks is, But I doubt I'll find out today. Today I have a meeting with an old friend. I swing up onto a fire escape with agility and grace seen only in the olympics and do a summersault into a nearby window.

"Nick, It's good to see you again."

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2157/stevecaptainashieldfronyn6.jpg

[wiegeabo]

It's been several weeks since, as the military calls it, 'The Incident,' or as the press calls it, 'The Battle for Earth.' And the world is still trying to heal. Not surprisingly, SHIELD was able to cover up the nuclear attack and keep it from the general public. The cover up was made easier by the fact that most were more concerned with healing from the devistation Zod had reigned down.

Pokolistan-Russian relations were in chaos. Zod had ripped the small country asunder with his coup. So many people had died on both sides. Even now the area is a volatile powder keg.

Chicago had cleaned up what was going to be the future site of the New Sears Tower. The city still hurts, but the people decided they weren't going to let Zod win.

Washington DC had taken some damage as well during the Superman/Zod fight. But now most of the damage had been repaired and, thankfully, no lives lost.

The tidal wave caused when Superman's body hit the ocean damaged coast lines in Eurpoe and Africa, and caused minor damage to the east coasts of both Americas. All totaled, Zod had directly or indirectly caused nearly four billion dollars in damage and taken 18,534 human lives.

The number still haunts me.

I've also been busy these last few weeks. It had taken some time for me to fully recover. And I had gladly spent those days back home with Joan. She hovered over me like I was on the verge of death, but no matter how much I wished she wouldn't, I never complained. We nealy lost the planet, and I was thankful for every moment we had together.

After recovering, I paid visits to everyone I could find. Superman, Zatanna in San Francisco, Olliver Queen in Star City, Ted in Gotham, Spider-Man in New York, and most recently Tony and Dinah. I even happened to run into Juggernaut down in Texas. Why he was in Texas he didn't say, although, honestly, he didn't say much except four letter words as he told me he wasn't interested. I even spoke to Batman again, but he was as indifferent, and frightening, as ever.

I told all of them the same thing. That soon, we would be meeting to create a new group of heroes to make sure that what happened would never happen again. And if they were interested, to meet at the old JSA Brownston here in Gotham on the specified day. And that day...

"...is today."

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

[Watchman]

One bad day...

The body washed up on the shore it look dead. Suddenly the body stirred and begun to crawl forword. The rain started to poured heavily around him.

"he...hehe I feel funny" he throws the red mask off his head which lands in a puddle. "Whhhat's a matter with meee?" both of his hands land in a puddle. Lightning strikes showing off the man's face.

"Oh my....hahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahaha........"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/Jokerkillingjoke.png

[Watchman]

"....and now were back here on MSNBC with the continuing coverage of the mutant riots in Los Angles. Millions of property damages and the death toll has now reached twenty...." the channel changes to another news stations

"....this is CNN and we are showing you live coverage of a mutant protest group. Here we show the mutant leader stiriing anti-human...." a shot of the Lincoln Memorial with about a hundred people around and one at the top shouting.

"Brothers and sister we gather here today to support our new leader. He will lead us into a new age. He will defeat our human oppressors. He will prove that we are the rightful rulers of this planet and his name is...." the channel changes again showing a square with four different heads in it.

"...now back with Fox News and with us here today are Senator Robert Kelly"

"It's good to be here Bill"

"Reverend William Stryker"

"Bill"

"And mutant Dr. Henry McCoy"

"Thanks for having me Bill"

"Now let's start with you Senator. You are the main supporter of the Mutant Registration Bill I guess the question most people want to know is why?"

"Well these mutants have become very dangerous indivials. With more and more being born we need to keep track of..."

"What about the other metahumans?"

"Doctor..."

"People like Superman and Spider-Man have been showing up all over the world and you are not going to to anything with them?"

"Now..."

"Humans are afraid of what the mutants mean to the human race the end"

"Reverend you've been silent"

"These mutants are nothing but aboimations of the devil. They will be struck down with the filthy sinners in the firey pits of hell...."

"Reverend please calm down"

"The act is for keeping track the more dangerous mutants. The ones that have been causing trouble recently"

"You mean the devil incarnated himself..."

"Reverend please. You mean Magneto" the television turns off.

Toad turns off the television as Pyro walks into their Metropolis hideout with food. In the corner sits Magneto. He has decided that the time was nigh for the war to start. It would start here and end in Washington DC. He would show what the mutants where really capable of.

[Batman]

The year was 1996. A year no one in Keystone City would ever forget.

It wasn't because the Unibomber was found and arrested. Or because Clinton was re-elected as the President Of The United States Of America. Not even because possible evidence of life was found on Mars. No, the citizens of Keystone City had a much bigger reason to remember that year. But only one person would carry it with him for the rest of his life. The one person who watched his hero fall. The one person who's sense of innocence and fun would be forever tainted by the darkness of reality.

One person. One little boy. Facing a bright yellow storm. His name was Wallace West. But everyone better knew him as the junior partner of Keystone City's greatest champion.

The boy watched as his and the city's hero was thrown from the storm, before crashing onto the street just behind him. He was visibly weak. Visibly beaten beyond what any normal human could withstand. Yet he was willing to get up again, without hesitation, nor without resistance. Wally grinned, seeing it. Yeah! No one can take down The Flash! Nobody, no how!

Racing to his partner's side, Wally offered a helping hand as the masked figure looked up at him.

"W-W-Wally..."

Wally grabbed his arm, helping The Flash up as he grit his teeth in agony.

"Come on, Flash! You can take him!", The boy said, as confident as one could ever be in a situation like this. "We can take him!"

"N-No..."

Wally turned, his own masked face surprised at what his mentor had just said.

"But he's attacking the entire city! We have to beat him!", Kid Flash yelled, as the winds around them began to blow at the might of the yellow twister in Keystone Plaza.

"I... I will, Wally... But...", The Flash said, getting to his feet, before placing his hands on Wally's shoulders. "But I can't let you."

Kid Flash looked into his hero's eyes, confused.

"What?"

"I can't let you face him, kid. I... I just can't.", The Flash breathed back, looking at the twister with a face of dread.

"But... we're a team.", Kid Flash responded, in a hushed tone.

"Wally, listen. Listen to me carefully. Zoom's found a way to suck power from the Electrical Plant. He's... he's tapped into power I've never even seen before. But he's become too powerful. For either of us.", The Flash said. "I can barely take him on by myself."

"But... But that's why we need to fight him together.", Kid Flash said, with a smile, before it faded. "Right?"

"Not this time.", The Flash responded, kneeling down to Wally's eye level. "I don't want him to hurt you. Or worse, which he's fully capable of. You have too much to live for. Too much that Zoom can take away, if I let him."

The Flash reached up, pulling back his mask to reveal the face of Wally's uncle, Barry. Barry Allen, the police scientist who had been caught in an electrical accident only to gain superpowers to use for the benefit of mankind. Now, he was putting those powers to the ultimate test. And even he had to admit... He wasn't sure if that would be enough.

"I'm going to have to do something I could regret for the rest of my life,", Barry stated, with watered eyes as he looked back at his young protege. The boy who had believed in him so much. "But that doesn't mean that this has to die.", He continued, indicating the emblem on the chest of his costume. "No matter what happens today, I want you to remember that. I can die... I'm just a man. But The Flash never will.", Barry finished, with a slight smile as Wally hung on one word in particular.

D-...Die?

"You've been a brave kid, Wally. And an even braver partner. You're going to make one hell of a hero, one day.", Barry said, standing up and pulling his mask back on. "But take it from me... This is one battle you're going to need to sit out."

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Barryallen-kitson.JPG

With a last smile, The Flash immediatley sped back into the battle, his unparalelled speed at it's peak. Wally could only watch as his hero disappeared into the storm. In some ways, He wanted to go after him. To tell him he was wrong, and help him stop Zoom just like they stopped numerous other criminals time and time again. It's a decision he regrets to this day... But Wally never did. He obeyed his mentor's words.

It would be the last time Wally would ever listen to the words of Barry Allen again.

"Oh, come on! You've gotta be kidding me!"

But now, there were other concerns on the mind of Wallace Rudolph West. He no longer worried about what diabolical plan that Gorilla Grodd would hatch next. Captain Boomerang was nothing but a faded memory to him. He didn't even care to know what The Trickster was doing, these days. Because now... right now... He had the worst possible obstacle ahead of him.

Trying to make it to a history seminar in time.

Wally struggled to get all of his books in order as he picked them up from the sidewalk infront of Central City University. He had overslept. Worse, he had overslept on the morning of the finals. He had told himself that he wouldn't do that the previous, but it was too late for that now. This is definatley the last time I ever take Garth's advice on using his alarm clock. How was I supposed to know that it was set to the Florida coast!?

Mentally cursing himself and his roomie out, Wally ran up the steps to the school, books in arm as he tried with all his might to beat the dreaded bell. HA! Fastest teen ALIVE!

Wally paused, realising the bell had just gone off. His grin faded to a frown.

...My ass.

Hanging his head, Wally sighed and dropped his books on the ground. What did it matter anymore, anyway? At this rate, he wasn't going to graduate. He probably wouldn't even make it to the awards ceremony on time. Sitting on the steps, Wally looked out at Central City ahead of him. Is it me, or did I just blow it even worse than last time? If that's even possible...

A couple of hours later, Wally opened the front door to his dorm, only to be greeted by Garth, who was laying on the couch.

"Dude! There you are! Where the hell have you been?!"

Wally looked at him, for a moment, before taking off his jacket and dropping it onto

"Ask your alarm clock.", Wally responded. "I'm sure it could tell you. I mean, hell, it seems to do everything but WAKE ME UP IN TIME!", Wally yelled, frustrated and annoyed as he plopped down on the couch next to Garth.

"Oh. Damn. I forgot to fix the Florida setting...", Garth stated, as Wally nodded, rubbing his forehead. "Sorry, bro."

Wally sighed.

"Nah. It's not your fault. I shouldn't have gone to Donna's party last night.", He responded.

"Well that's true."

Wally looked at him, further annoyed, before laying his head back on the couch.

"So what's your plan now? Gonna retake the class?"

Wally shook his head.

"Forget it. My life is over as we know it.", Wally said, looking back up. "At this point I'll be lucky to keep a job as a delivery boy."

"Or a janitor."

"..."

"... I'm... not helping, am I?"

Taking the remote, Wally turned on the television in attempt to ignore the day, so far.

"In other news, Billionaire Bruce Wayne landed in New York City, today, in effort to raise awareness of-"

Wally turned the channel.

"Yeah, yeah. He and every Angelina Jolie out there."

"The city of Metropolis was hit today by it's third wave of Intergang related attacks in the past week. Sources are saying that-"

"Organised crime? That's news?", Wally said to himself, turning the channel again.

As Wally turned the channel once more, one story in particular caught his eye. But immediatley, he turned it. Garth raised an eyebrow, noticing this.

"Wait. Turn it back."

Wally smirked, trying to hide his discomfort.

"It was probably just another crappy recap of last night's Letterman."

"No, seriously. It wasn't. Turn it back, I wanna see something."

Wally looked at him, for a moment, before turning it back.

"-olice force was unable to manhandle the escaped convict in 47 year old Leonard Snart, also known as Captain Cold. But thankfully they had aide, as the city's superpowered hero, The Flash, arrived just in time to put his foe on ice."

"Ugh. Ze puns. Zey are unbearable!", Garth jokingly yelled, looking at Wally. But seeing the look on Wally's face as the image of The Flash came up on the television screen, Garth's smile faded. "Hey, you alright?"

Wally didn't hear him, however. He was too fixated on the image infront of him. Of The Flash, staring back at him. It sent a chill down his spine. Worse, it filled him with a combination of resentment and sadness. One of which Garth immediatley noticed.

"Wally?"

Wally looked up, away from the TV.

"Huh? Wha?"

"You alright?"

Wally said nothing, for a moment.

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm good.", Wally said, finally changing the channel. Yeah... Good...

"Huh. You sure? You kinda seemed spaced out there, for a sec..."

Wally nodded.

"Yeah. Just... You know. The stuff this morning."

"Ah.", Garth replied. "You know, we should head out. Grab a bite with a couple of people... It'll get your mind off this stuff."

Wally smirked.

"Alright, but I'm picking the place. The last time I left it to you, you took us to the worst Sushi place this side of the country."

"Oh come on. Trust me. I already know where we'll go."

"Where?"

"Keystone. The Flash Museum. Linda said it had the best fishsticks in the state."

Wally immediatley paused, looking at Garth.

"Forget it."

"...What? Why-"

"Just pick somewhere else!"

Garth's eyes widened, as did Wally's, at his own tone.

"Um... Okay, then..."

Wally sighed.

"Look, I just... I mean, it's Keystone. It's like a thirty minute drive. I'd rather just hang around here, you know?"

Garth nodded.

"Yeah, I see what you mean."

Grabbing their coats, Wally and Garth headed out.

"You sure you're alright, man?"

Wally looked at Garth.

"We picking up Linda on the way?"

"Probably."

Wally smirked.

"Then yeah, I'm alright."

- - -

In Keystone City, however, one person wasn't. Wheeling his chair next to a computer, he began typing up the police report he had been given earlier. His legs had only moved slightly that day, but now, he couldn't feel anything again. And he hated it with a passion. His thoughts of hatred, however, were interrupted as a crimson blur flew into his office.

"Working late again, Barry?", He asked, turning to The Flash, who now stood behind him.

"Aren't I always, Hunter?", The Flash stated, pulling back his mask. "How's the report going?"

"Better than expected.", Hunter Zolomon responded. "Iris?"

"She's doing well.", Barry responded.

A silence draped over the two, before Barry finally spoke up once again.

"How are your legs?"

Hunter sighed.

"Still can't feel a damned thing. As usual."

Barry nodded, pulling his mask back on.

"I... um... I think I'm going to go back out for another run.", The Flash said, before turning.

"Barry?"

The Flash turned.

"Yes?"

Hunter wheeled his chair around, looking up at Barry with desperate eyes.

"There's something I want to talk about."

The Flash nodded.

"Of course.", He said. "What is it?"

Taking a newspaper from his desk, Hunter held it up, pointing to the picture in the top headline. The headline that read "FLASH MUSEUM TO OPEN NEW EXIBIT".

"It's about this."

http://img9.imagepile.net/img9/725treadmill.gif

It was now the year 2006. A year no one in Keystone City would ever forget.

[Byrd Man]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif

It's been several weeks since, as the military calls it, 'The Incident,' or as the press calls it, 'The Battle for Earth.' And the world is still trying to heal. Not surprisingly, SHIELD was able to cover up the nuclear attack and keep it from the general public. The cover up was made easier by the fact that most were more concerned with healing from the devistation Zod had reigned down.

Pokolistan-Russian relations were in chaos. Zod had ripped the small country asunder with his coup. So many people had died on both sides. Even now the area is a volatile powder keg.

Chicago had cleaned up what was going to be the future site of the New Sears Tower. The city still hurts, but the people decided they weren't going to let Zod win.

Washington DC had taken some damage as well during the Superman/Zod fight. But now most of the damage had been repaired and, thankfully, no lives lost.

The tidal wave caused when Superman's body hit the ocean damaged coast lines in Eurpoe and Africa, and caused minor damage to the east coasts of both Americas. All totaled, Zod had directly or indirectly caused nearly four billion dollars in damage and taken 18,534 human lives.

The number still haunts me.

I've also been busy these last few weeks. It had taken some time for me to fully recover. And I had gladly spent those days back home with Joan. She hovered over me like I was on the verge of death, but no matter how much I wished she wouldn't, I never complained. We nealy lost the planet, and I was thankful for every moment we had together.

After recovering, I paid visits to everyone I could find. Superman, Zatanna in San Francisco, Olliver Queen in Star City, Ted in Gotham, Spider-Man in New York, and most recently Tony and Dinah. I even happened to run into Juggernaut down in Texas. Why he was in Texas he didn't say, although, honestly, he didn't say much except four letter words as he told me he wasn't interested. I even spoke to Batman again, but he was as indifferent, and frightening, as ever.

I told all of them the same thing. That soon, we would be meeting to create a new group of heroes to make sure that what happened would never happen again. And if they were interested, to meet at the old JSA Brownston here in Gotham on the specified day. And that day...

"...is today."

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

I smell rubber burning and the squell of tires as my private jet lands at Archie Goodwin Internation Airport in Gotham City. The jet comes to a complete stop and I start to get out before my cell phone rings.

"Ollie's phone."

"Hey honey, It's Jesse."

"Oh I know who it is, baby. What's wrong?"

"It just called to see if you wer busy tonight, maybe we could have some fun?"

"Sorry, babe. I'm in Gotham right now. I'm on offical buissness from Queen Tech."

"Aww..."

"But I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back."

"Alright then, I gotta go. Bye."

"Bye."

I snap my flip phone shut and shake my head. These porn star babes are about as dumb as a rock. Maybe that's why I chased after Dinah Lance a few weeks ago. I'm so desperate for a meaning relationship, But seeing her with that pompus drunk Stark makes my blood boil. I get off the plane and I'm greeted by a man who looks like security and a mechanic.

"Welcome to Gotham, Mr. Queen. If you could just turn out your pockets."

The security screening for the private jets is extremely light. I reach down into my jeans and pull out my wallet and cell phone out of my pockets and smile. He runs a metal detector over my body, starting at my sunglass covered face, all the way down to my combat boots.

"Your clean."

He walks away and the mechanic's still there standing.

"Your the guy who called about the bike?"

"Yep, Did you build it to my specifications?"

"Sure did."

He walks off and returns a few mintues later riding it.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3839/untitlednk8.png


"Nice. Thanks man."

"With the money you paid me, I should be thanking you."

I smile and get on it. He hands me a helmet and I pull it down over my head, zip up my leather jacket and kick start it. I pull out of the airport and head towards that adress Flash gave me a few weeks ago.


I park my bike outside the Brownstone and take off my helmet. It looks like I'm the first to arrive. I head up the steps and knock on the door.

"Hey Flash, Mr. Silver Haired Speedster. Are you home?"

[wiegeabo]

The distinguished, balding gentleman walks into the room and looks around. But he sees no one. "Master Bruce?"

Alfred Pennyworth walks into another room. "Master Bruce?" Still no response. The loyal butler enters a third room in the large penthouse condominium. "Master-"

"Up here, Alfred." Alfred grabs his chest, startled. He looks up and sees me hanging from a rafter by the knees like a trapeeze artist hangs.

"My word, Master Bruce. Whatever are you doing up there?"

"Working on my abs, Alfred." I squeeze my body upwards again, arms tight against my chest. "Two thousand, four hundred, eighty-six."

"I did not think vanity among your various characteristics."

"Ha ha. A strong center improves balance and focus. And it really helps when taking a punch." A squeeze my body again.

"Who could ever lay a hand on you, sir?" Alfred asks as he turns away and walks over to the kitchen area.

"One can never be too careful." Two thousand, four hundred, ninety-one.

"Will you be going out tonight, sir?"

"That's the plan. I'll take a nap for a couple of hours, then hit the town."

"You mean, Bruce Wayne will 'hit the town' again?"

"No, Bruce has gone out every night since I've gotten here. It's time to explore New York, for the first time."

"I see. Is there anything particular you would like for dinner, sir?"

"Something hearty, Alfred. I have a feeling it will be a long night. Two thousand, five hundred!"

I hear Alfred make noise in the kitchen. I grab rafter with my hands, unhook my legs, and swing by my hands a couple of times. As I hit the right position on a downswing with the right momentum, I release and tuck my body tightly. One, two, three! I land perfectly, hands outstretched for balance like a gymnast.

I grab a towel and start wiping the sweat off my body. I walk into the kitchen. "I've got to get Dick to teach my that quadruple he does. I just can't seem to get it."

"You mean there is something you can't do?" Alfred says with mock surprise.

"For now."

Alfred continues to cook as I grab a glass of juice. "You do realize that tomorrow is the day?"

I pick up a newspaper. "Yes," I say nonchalantly.

"Are you going, sir?"

"Like I told the Flash, it's not for me. I have to protect Gotham."

"Which is why you are in New York City."

I throw Alfred a withering stare. "I'm not going."

"So you have said. I finally heard back from Mr. Osborne's office. They can setup a meeting for next week if you are still interested."

"Oh, I'm more than interested. Someone is giving me a bad name."

"Vanity again?"

"If the criminals think that I am one of them, then the symbol of the Bat will have no power in Gotham. The fear will be gone. And if this pretender hit Osborne once, he may do it again." I drop the paper and walk out of the room. "I'm taking a shower."

Yes, more than interested.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"WHAT?!"

I think my ears are ringing again. Of course, by Lois' tone, I doubt that would even register right now.

We came back from reporting the plane incident, only to have our investigation on the docks moved to page 9. While I'm a bit disappointed, I won't lose any sleep over it. Especially since it's an ongoing piece. Lois, however, takes it as an insult, considering who made the front page.

"Perry, for the love of god, you can't be serious!"

Perry looks at her, cleaning out his own ears in response to her tantrum.

"Look, Lane, I know you don't like the guy, but he sells papers. And incase you haven't heard, selling papers is what we specialise in. We're going through with that story tommorow whether you like it or not.", Perry responds.

"But Chief-"

He gives her a stern look. I smile, a little, remembering my first day here. Particularly the whole "Dont Call Me Chief" ordeal...

"-Perry, look. Don't give me that "He's a big star" bull that you give everyone else whenever we run a story on him. You and I both know he's nothing but a money grabbing attention wh-"

"-And that is precisely why we're printing it. He gets attention. The paper gets attention. Everybody wins."

Lois crosses her arms.

"Yeah, everybody but Superman."

I look up, eyebrow raised. I'm no fan of who they're putting on the cover story either, particularly after our last confrontation. But I really couldn't care less about snubbing him out for the front page. I don't do what I do for the glory. I just wish I could make people understand that.

"Superman will live. For once in the past week he gets a break from the front page, anyway. He probably doesn't even read the paper in the first place.", Perry responds.

Suddenly Lois looks up, with a concerned look on her face.

"You don't thnk he reads my articles?"

I smile, but immediatley put the 'boring face' back on as Perry looks at me. I've dealt with this for the past year or so, but it isn't any less awkward; Hearing about myself without being able to comment, especially in regards to Lois' obvious crush on me. For once, I wish I could say something.

"I'm sure he does, Lois.", I finally say.

Lois looks at me, somewhat unamused.

"Well, at least someone in the room is on my side.", She says, looking at Perry.

"Look, Lane, I've already told you. This isn't personal... It's buisness. We're running the story, and that's final.", Perry finishes, placing the headline infront of us.

___
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/images/logos-emblems/dailyp_logo.gif

LUTHOR NAMED AMERICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL
Metropolis Born Billionaire Outranks Gotham's Wayne And New York's Iron Man For TIME Magazine's Yearly List By Cat Grant

http://img9.imagepile.net/img9/82742luthor.bmp
___

I have to say, even seeing the man's picture makes my skin crawl. But I didn't vote on that list, so I guess my opinion lacks validility. But if he's really as influential as they say, I can honestly say that I fear for the future of the world.

Something tells me Lois would agree, from the look on her face.

"At least Superman's decent to look at.", She says, in digust.

...

Wait... Decent?

I ignore that as Lois leaves the office. I turn to Perry. We're both silent for a number of minutes.

"I'll... um... talk to her."

Perry shakes his head.

"Don't bother, Kent. Just take my word for it and don't bother."

Standing up, I walk out of the room myself, before passing Lois. She grabs her coat and begins to put it on.

"Where are you going?", I ask.

"What are you, my mother?", She responds.

I look at her, putting on the 'confused' look. I think I'm starting to get the hang of the mannerisms for around the office that Ma and Pa taught me.

"I'm just going out for a walk. Come with?", She asks.

I begin to answer, when I suddenly realise something. Today. Today's the day. The day that Flash came to me about, a week ago. If I'm to get to Gotham by the time he specified, I should get moving within the next few minutes. And I can't miss it, of course...

"Going to have to take a raincheck, I'm afraid.", I said. "I just remembered that I need to meet someone."

"Let me guess. You finally got a woman in this city to date you?", Lois says, a little amused.

I smirk.

"No, I'm still holding out for when you come around, Lois."

Her amusement fades, well... faster than a speeding bullet.

"You're a sick man, Kent."

"I try."

As she leaves, I sit down at my desk, pretending to begin work. Looking back, I watch as she steps into the elevators. By the time the elevator doors close, I'm already out of the office and to the janitor's closet. I'm really going to have to find an easier method for this. But for now...

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5694/actionpanel0ic.jpg

I've got an appointment in Gotham City to keep.

[wiegeabo]

So many memories

As I walk through the rooms of the Brownstone I am once again overwhelmed. So many things I had remembered, so many things forgotten that now come back to me.

It had been years since I had last stepped foot in the old building. Since the JSA had locked up for the last time and split up on our own paths. We had hoped that the Brownstone would never be needed again. But we were wrong.

Coming here with Dinah had been my first time back. Everything was thick with dust and age, the smell of history permeating the air. And now, here I am again.

I walk passed a picture and stop myself. I look at it. The JSA and the Invaders. It was Bucky's camera. He had been willing to take it, but Steve wouldn't hear of his friend not being in the shot. So another war photographer had taken the shot.

The next week, we lost Steve. Not long after, the war ended. I stand and stare for who knows how long. A lot of good men gave their lives in the war, and no matter how many we saved, it never seemed like enough. Steve is still the only superpowered person to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Posthumously.

And now Steve is back. I was so happy when I heard the news, but that faded once I heard that he was working for Lex Luthor. I shake my head. I've heard stories about Luthor from reliable sources. He's not nearly as clean as most people think. And his attacks against Superman...that was enough for me.

I hear a knock. "Hey Flash, Mr. Silver Haired Speedster. Are you home?"

I smirk. That unmistakable voice shaking me out of my bittersweet fog. I don't really know the man, but I no enough. Oliver Queen may come off as a smug, competitive, and sometimes petty billionaire. But the Green Arrow is a hero through and through.

I'm downstairs in a flash, and groan at my own pun. I open the door. "Well, look who the cat dragged in."

I grab his hand in a firm shake. "Good to see you Ollie."

[Byrd Man]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif

So many memories

As I walk through the rooms of the Brownstone I am once again overwhelmed. So many things I had remembered, so many things forgotten that now come back to me.

It had been years since I had last stepped foot in the old building. Since the JSA had locked up for the last time and split up on our own paths. We had hoped that the Brownstone would never be needed again. But we were wrong.

Coming here with Dinah had been my first time back. Everything was thick with dust and age, the smell of history permeating the air. And now, here I am again.

I walk passed a picture and stop myself. I look at it. The JSA and the Invaders. It was Bucky's camera. He had been willing to take it, but Steve wouldn't hear of his friend not being in the shot. So another war photographer had taken the shot.

The next week, we lost Steve. Not long after, the war ended. I stand and stare for who knows how long. A lot of good men gave their lives in the war, and no matter how many we saved, it never seemed like enough. Steve is still the only superpowered person to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Posthumously.

And now Steve is back. I was so happy when I heard the news, but that faded once I heard that he was working for Lex Luthor. I shake my head. I've heard stories about Luthor from reliable sources. He's not nearly as clean as most people think. And his attacks against Superman...that was enough for me.

I hear a knock. "Hey Flash, Mr. Silver Haired Speedster. Are you home?"

I smirk. That unmistakable voice shaking me out of my bittersweet fog. I don't really know the man, but I no enough. Oliver Queen may come off as a smug, competitive, and sometimes petty billionaire. But the Green Arrow is a hero through and through.

I'm downstairs in a flash, and groan at my own pun. I open the door. "Well, look who the cat dragged in."

I grab his hand in a firm shake. "Good to see you Ollie."

"Same here, Jay. Seems like it was yesterday that your were pulling me like a pack mule while I tried to hold down my lunch and take potshots at an alien despot hell bent on taking over Earth. Good times."

He lets me in and I look around.

"Hmm, some throw pillows and a little lighting. This place could be liveable, dare I say. Cheerful. So I'm the first to arrive huh? Well at least I get to check out the menagire of men dressed in underoos and tights."

I throw him a sarcastic smile and wonder what exactly I've gotten myself into."

[wiegeabo]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif



"Same here, Jay. Seems like it was yesterday that your were pulling me like a pack mule while I tried to hold down my lunch and take potshots at an alien despot hell bent on taking over Earth. Good times."

"You say that like we do it everyday. Hmm, now that I think about it, I used to."


He lets me in and I look around.

"Hmm, some throw pillows and a little lighting. This place could be liveable, dare I say. Cheerful. So I'm the first to arrive huh? Well at least I get to check out the menagire of men dressed in underoos and tights."

I throw him a sarcastic smile and wonder what exactly I've gotten myself into."

"You're lucky Wildcat's not here. He'd punch you square in the jaw for saying that. Then he'd agree with you and offer you a few beers."

I laugh at the thought of one of my oldest friends. Even though he said he wouldn't, I hope he does come. It may be good to have Ted train the recruits, as he called them, but it would be better having him out in the field as well.

"First one here. Always though billionaires arrived fashionably late myself."

[Byrd Man]

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"You say that like we do it everyday. Hmm, now that I think about it, I used to."



"You're lucky Wildcat's not here. He'd punch you square in the jaw for saying that. Then he'd agree with you and offer you a few beers."

I laugh at the thought of one of my oldest friends. Even though he said he wouldn't, I hope he does come. It may be good to have Ted train the recruits, as he called them, but it would be better having him out in the field as well.

"First one here. Always though billionaires arrived fashionably late myself."

"Well, unlike the other billionaire playboys. My home's on the west coast. The soon I get here and rub some elbows, The sooner I get going and back to Star. Who's all on the list anyway? Did you invite Xavier and his merry band of mutants? How about Jim Bean...I mean Tony Stark?"

[Batman]

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After what seems like an endless blur of buildings and skyscrapers below me, I finally reduce my speed of flight upon entering Gotham City. The Flash told me to meet him and the other recruits at the old Justice Society Brownstone building... Wherever that is. I smile to myself, thinking about this. We're really going to do this. Put our efforts together and form a team for the benefit of mankind, I mean. For once, I actually feel like I'm contributing to something rather than being persecuted for it.

I look around at the city, mid-flight. Gotham is... well, it's not as bright or spectacular as Metropolis. Just as big, it seems, but definatley not as bright. Probably fitting, considering all I've heard about it's crime and corruption through the articles at the Planet.

Hmm. I've heard that this is the city that The Batman protects. Makes sense, since this is also the city that The Wayne family was killed in, years ago. And Bruce Wayne... well, is Batman, as I learned from our encounter during the Hulk incident in Star City.

I really should go and try to find him... Maybe even extend an invitation to this meet I'm heading to. Even though he doesn't have any powers, from what I've seen. But if The Green Arrow and Iron Man have taught me anything, it's that special powers and abilities don't define a hero. And if Batman... Bruce Wayne, whatever he wants to be called, can withstand a place like this... He's probably more of a hero than I realise.

But then again, I'm probably late enough as it is; Who knows how many members have already arrived. I should just focus on finding the place.

I think back to Ma and Pa, when I was a kid. When they first discovered my abilities. They told me that one day, I'd make a big difference in the world. That I'd take to the skies and everyone would look up to see it. I didn't think that anyone would, after the things Lex Luthor said about me when Zod was still causing panic. But now I may get to. And with a team of other costumed individuals, no less.

Wow. I'm already getting too excited for this. I should just focus and see how this first meet goes before I start daydreaming about leading some sort of League...

After scanning the city with my x-ray vision, I finally find it. The Justice Society's headquarters. I remember reading about it in comic books I used to get when I was a teenager. Had the original members being led by Captain America. Looking at it now, it's sort of odd to think that it's real. But it's right infront of me.

Alright, Clark. Focus. Hopefully if this works out, you'll be fighting with a full on team to save the world.

I float down to the door, atop the steps. It's like a comic panel come to life. I'm still unsure if I should just knock, or float up to a window. But The Flash strikes me as a man of hospitality. And I am a farmboy from Kansas... So, I guess that makes me one too.

Knocking once, I don't even bother to check the door with my x-ray vision. I simply watch as the door opens, and smile. This is it. We're finally going to do this.

"I hope I'm not too late."

[Andy C.]

Brooklyn, New York.

It feels good to be back in the old neighborhood. Even though it's changed so much from the last time I was here. Cashman's Deil was demolished and they put up some kind of nightclub in it's place, The empty lot I use to play stickball in has been turned into something called Starbucks, I don't know what a Starbucks is, But I doubt I'll find out today. Today I have a meeting with an old friend. I swing up onto a fire escape with agility and grace seen only in the olympics and do a summersault into a nearby window.

"Nick, It's good to see you again."

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2157/stevecaptainashieldfronyn6.jpg

"Believe me, the feeling's mutual...Captain."

Nick Fury grinned widely. It was all he could do not to stand at attention and salute the man, but he had appearances to keep up. After all, Colonel Fury had technically out-ranked Captain America for almost fifty years now. Still, the sheer presence of the man was amazing, every bit as impressive as he was over sixty years ago.

"I realize that being here will make us late for the Flash's meeting....but not too late. We've already got some transportation standing by that'll have us in Gotham within the hour. Till then, we've got some matters to discuss."

The Colonel reached into his jacket, pulling out two cigars.

"Smoke?"

[Byrd Man]

"Believe me, the feeling's mutual...Captain."

Nick Fury grinned widely. It was all he could do not to stand at attention and salute the man, but he had appearances to keep up. After all, Colonel Fury had technically out-ranked Captain America for almost fifty years now. Still, the sheer presence of the man was amazing, every bit as impressive as he was over sixty years ago.

"I realize that being here will make us late for the Flash's meeting....but not too late. We've already got some transportation standing by that'll have us in Gotham within the hour. Till then, we've got some matters to discuss."

The Colonel reached into his jacket, pulling out two cigars.

"Smoke?"

I shake my head and smile.

"Now come on, Nick. Even back in the day when smoking was cool, I didn't smoke. So what's up? I hope it's news of a promotion. I've been a Captain for 60 years now."

[wiegeabo]

"Well, unlike the other billionaire playboys. My home's on the west coast. The soon I get here and rub some elbows, The sooner I get going and back to Star. Who's all on the list anyway? Did you invite Xavier and his merry band of mutants? How about Jim Bean...I mean Tony Stark?"


"Xavier? Who's Xavier?" And then the rest of his comment hit home. The not even close to subtle swipe at Tony. "Yes, Tony has been invited," I say with some heat in my voice. "As has Black Canary, Superman, and several others."


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Knocking once, I don't even bother to check the door with my x-ray vision. I simply watch as the door opens, and smile. This is it. We're finally going to do this.

Ollie hasn't even been here for five minutes before there is another knock at the door. "Want to guess who it is?"

I open the door, and standing before me is a sight to behold. The man stands there with an easy smile on his face, like a boyscout, as if he hadn't just survived being within the center of a nuclear explosion a few weeks earlier. Just his very presence shouts the word 'Hero.' I only know a handful of people who can do that.


"I hope I'm not too late."

I shake his hand firmly, and put my free hand on his shoulder. "Absolutely not, son. Welcome to the Brownstone." I lead him into the same room Ollie stands looking at some of the JSA's trophies.

"I don't think you two met. Olliver Queen, Superman. Superman, meet the Green Arrow."

[Andy C.]

I shake my head and smile.

"Now come on, Nick. Even back in the day when smoking was cool, I didn't smoke. So what's up? I hope it's news of a promotion. I've been a Captain for 60 years now."

"Ah, same old Cap. You really think I'd give up the idea of pulling rank on you?" Fury said, grinning as he put away the second cigar.

"Anyway, I'm not here so the two of us can play catch-up; we can do that after the meeting. What I'm asking for here is a little cooperation. I know that you're probably a little more cautious after getting suckered by Lex Luthor, but I assure you, I am not Lex Luthor.

"As we both know, our old pal Jay is getting a group together in Gotham, some kind of new JSA. Thing is, after the Darkseid invasion and Zod's attacks in the US and Pokolistan, a lot of the people upstairs are worried that things are getting out of control. The American people need to know that their government is taking steps to protect them. And the American government needs to know that the people who are protecting them can be trusted."

Fury lit his cigar, and took in a deep puff.

"After what I did to end the fight against Zod, there's no way that Flash and the others will trust me. But they'll sure as hell trust you, Captain. You and the old Society go way back, and from what I've seen, you haven't changed a bit. In a few days' time, some elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. are going public, and I need you to be the liasion between Flash's new group and mine. Not spying, not going behind anyone's backs. We need to know we can trust them, and they need to know they can trust us.

"After all, if you can't trust the United States government, who can you trust?"

The Colonel extended his hand, waiting for the Captain's response.

[Byrd Man]

"Ah, same old Cap. You really think I'd give up the idea of pulling rank on you?" Fury said, grinning as he put away the second cigar.

"Anyway, I'm not here so the two of us can play catch-up; we can do that after the meeting. What I'm asking for here is a little cooperation. I know that you're probably a little more cautious after getting suckered by Lex Luthor, but I assure you, I am not Lex Luthor.

"As we both know, our old pal Jay is getting a group together in Gotham, some kind of new JSA. Thing is, after the Darkseid invasion and Zod's attacks in the US and Pokolistan, a lot of the people upstairs are worried that things are getting out of control. The American people need to know that their government is taking steps to protect them. And the American government needs to know that the people who are protecting them can be trusted."

Fury lit his cigar, and took in a deep puff.

"After what I did to end the fight against Zod, there's no way that Flash and the others will trust me. But they'll sure as hell trust you, Captain. You and the old Society go way back, and from what I've seen, you haven't changed a bit. In a few days' time, some elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. are going public, and I need you to be the liasion between Flash's new group and mine. Not spying, not going behind anyone's backs. We need to know we can trust them, and they need to know they can trust us.

"After all, if you can't trust the United States government, who can you trust?"

The Colonel extended his hand, waiting for the Captain's response.

"Sounds alright to me."

I shake Nick's hand and smile. It's a chance to work with the US Goverment and not be Luthor's whipping boy, damn I was stupid to listen to him.

"I think we better get to Gotham on the double. Are we going in one of those fancy Helicarrier, or just be airdropped from a B-52 like the good ole days?"

[Batman]

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I open the door, and standing before me is a sight to behold. The man stands there with an easy smile on his face, like a boyscout, as if he hadn't just survived being within the center of a nuclear explosion a few weeks earlier. Just his very presence shouts the word 'Hero.' I only know a handful of people who can do that.

I shake his hand firmly, and put my free hand on his shoulder. "Absolutely not, son. Welcome to the Brownstone." I lead him into the same room Ollie stands looking at some of the JSA's trophies.

"I don't think you two met. Olliver Queen, Superman. Superman, meet the Green Arrow."

...Oliver Queen? The billionaire from Star City? He's the Green Arrow? Wow. I guess it goes to show that every non-powered hero has to have a bit of a financial backing. Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark come to mind...

"Actually we have. Though not formally. He was part of the resistance against Darkseid's invasion a couple of months ago, in New York.", I say.

I extend my hand.

"Your work was quite impressive that day, Mr. Queen. I'd be honored to work with you again."

I quickly notice that he's the only one here, besides Flash. I hope that changes, soon. I'm eager to meet anyone else that's willing to aid in the cause.

[Byrd Man]

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...Oliver Queen? The billionaire from Star City? He's the Green Arrow? Wow. I guess it goes to show that every non-powered hero has to have a bit of a financial backing. Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark come to mind...

"Actually we have. Though not formally. He was part of the resistance against Darkseid's invasion a couple of months ago, in New York.", I say.

I extend my hand.

"Your work was quite impressive that day, Mr. Queen. I'd be honored to work with you again."

I quickly notice that he's the only one here, besides Flash. I hope that changes, soon. I'm eager to meet anyone else that's willing to aid in the cause.

I shake his hand and smile. He seems like a nice fellow, what little we've met.

"Please call me Ollie. I should be the one who's honored. Any man who can shrug off getting nuked is a man I want to be friends with. I also tagged along in the Zod mission, although cirumstances prevented us from actually meeting. You were either under the ocean or turning Zod's face into hamburger meat when I was around."

[The Question]

Right now, I'm sitting in a car, with Aunt May, driving into Gotham City. A few days after The Flash came to me and told me to meet him in Gotham, I told Aunt May that I had been assigned, by my history teacher, a paper on the history of an individually assigned city, and I got Gotham. This is, of course, a bold faced lie, and yes I feel like absolute **** for it. Anyway, I told her that while I had several months to complete it, I wanted to get a head start on it, and do so by imersing myself in the files in Gotham's city hall. The plan is, of course, that she drops me off at city hall, she watches me go in, I wait until I'm sure she's gone, I sneak out of city hall, and I go to the brownstone where The Flash told me to meet him.

"Peter?"

"Hm?"

"You've hardly said a word the whole car ride."

"Just organizing the paper in my head."

"Well, don' worry about it too much. Of course I want you to do well, but it;s only one history paper. Not a big thing at all."

"I wasn't worrying."

"Don't give me that. You always act like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"I guess."

Soon, we pull up to city hall.

"Well, we're here. Now, you sure you have everything you need?"

"Yes."

"I'll be back in four hours to pick you up. Be waiting out here."

"Yes, Aunt May."

"Don't get into any trouble, alright?"

"Of course not. Love you, 'bye."

I give her a kiss on the cheek and step out of the car. She watches me as I walk up the steps and enter the building. Once I get inside, I sit down on a bench and wait until I'm sure she's gone off to that museum tour she's taking. Lucky for me, she's absolutely in love with the Gotham Museum of Art. After about five minutes, I find a bathroom with a window, duck inside, change, and climb out the aformentioned window in full costume. I start swinging.


After a few minutes, I find the brownstone. I let go of the webline and land in front of the door. I knock, albiet a bit more loudly than I intended. But then, I'm a little nervous.

[Batman]

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I shake his hand and smile. He seems like a nice fellow, what little we've met.

"Please call me Ollie. I should be the one who's honored. Any man who can shrug off getting nuked is a man I want to be friends with. I also tagged along in the Zod mission, although cirumstances prevented us from actually meeting. You were either under the ocean or turning Zod's face into hamburger meat when I was around."

On the outside, I simply smile at the comment. But I can't help but think of that day again. The day that Zod was prepared to organise an assault on Earth. I honestly don't think I've ever been as angry as I was that day... And quite honestly, I can't imagine myself being as angry again.

But I have plenty of time to dwell on that later. Infact, I've already had weeks to do so. Right now, I'm going to be apart of something that will hopefully make sure that what happened with Zod never happens again. And that possibility leaves me both relieved and intrigued.

"I'll make a note to do so, Ollie.", I say, remembering his comment about the name. "And hopefully what we're about to do will ensure that I won't have to do that again.", I respond, at the 'hamburger meat' comment.

I turn to the Flash.

"Speaking of which... Who exactly accepted your invitation? I wouldn't mind knowing who to expect today."

It's at that moment that I hear another knock at the door.

...

Well. That was convienant.

[LouFerignoDemon]

"I AM THE WATCHER. IT IS MY SWORN DUTY TO WATCH ALL THINGS IN ALL UNIVERSES AROUND ME, AND CHRONICLE THEM, AND TO NEVER INTERFERE. I APPEAR ONLY IN TIMES OF GREAT INTEREST. AND A TIME SUCH AS THIS IS ABOUT TO PASS."

A large pointed finger extends out towards Earth from the large bald man who lived in the blue part of the moon. Ironically, towards the blue planet of Earth. The white eyes of the cosmic giant narrowed, and focused just inside of Earth's magnetosphere, and witnessed something some would consider spectacular. A bend in time and space. At first, one would not be able to see it, or really even understand it, as it was hidden in some incoming meteors that would most likely burn up in the atmosphere. But if one looked closely enough, this disturbance was visible only across a single inch, and exploded into fifty feet, causing something odd. Rather than blasting it's area apart, it pulled it in. Which was unfortunate, because from that fold, erupted a triangular shaped, silver plated craft, and plowed straight into one of the larger rocks.

"Warning. Matter interference has occurred. Flight path, and landing coordinates unattainable. Primary boosters are non responsive. Atmospheric drop imminent. Commencing emergency protocols: One: Awaken host, artificially age, Two: feed final stores of solar energy, Three: Engage secondary boosters, and try to attain non fatal impact." This was the first sounds the sole inhabitant of the little craft heard, her crystal blue eyes opening for the first time in twenty years. And what a sight to behold, signs and flashes of red lit all around her with a big backdrop of black around her little cushioned area. The young woman raises her right hand into the air. She understood what was being told her, but she was still waking up after a hypersleep. She squinted at her blue gloved hand, and yawned. She closed her eyes and when she reopened them, her face was filled with blue, white and green, and her eyes grew wide. She may not have had any formal education, but she was artificially educated, and she knew exactly what was happening, as the window turned back to black. She was in freefall, and not only that, she was in a flatspin. All the schematics came to mind as lights inside of the ship began to stir to life. She was in a ship constructed by her father to save her life. It wasn't a memory, just...data. And now she knew that she was in imminent danger.

"By the stars!" she cried out, clutching to her arms. She grit her white teeth, her short blonde hair falling about her face. Her skin was on fire, and she believed she was already in the atmosphere. Of course, this wasn't true up until a few seconds later when her ship crashed into the atmosphere, using the disentigrating rock as it's heat shield. Didn't last long, but long enough to make it through. Now it was nothing more than a red hot object with a black smoke tail headed on down. Unfortunately, down toward a fully populated area. More crying, her ship was super heating, and her body was convulsing in pain as the ship shut down all it's functions to keep the lights going. She suddenly knew why, as she opened up her blurry, water filled eyes to look at them. It was giving her the last of it's energy. Why? Why would it do that? And that's when she plowed into the ground.

She opened her eyes again, this time, to a blue sky, yellow flickering lights, black puffy stuff in the air, and large gray, white glinting structures. She almost grunted, but to her surprise, she felt…fine. She began to lift herself up into a sitting position, and from there, into a standing position. Rubbing her eyes with her amazingly clean blue gloved hands, she noticed she was in a hole. More accurately, a crater. Climbing out, the first thing she noticed were people screaming and running around like a bunch of lunatics. She didn’t understand why, but she dived back into her hole, thinking she was under attack or something. Of course, after a few minutes, she peeked her head back out, to see the same crowd, now quiet, looking at her from defensive postures. Climbing slowly out of the hole, she stood up, dusted herself off needlessly, and felt the prick of a few pointy objects bounce off of her back. Turning around, more or less confused by what happened, her eyes opened wide to see a bunch of black bulky people holding what looked like deformed sticks, behind black metal blocks with wheels, continuing to fire these little pointy objects at her in a raining assault. She raised her arms to her face as they bounced off her front side too as she began to back away. Turning around, she took off toward the crowd, which was now fleeing from her. Of course, this didn’t slow her down, she was under attack after all, and plowed straight through a car she didn’t see coming, sending it off into the air in three pieces, and a million shards of glass, unfortunately hurting a few by standers. This group, which had identified itself as the “DEO” began to pursue her through the streets. It wasn’t hard to find her, she wasn’t very used to her body yet, and was basically plowing through things like they weren’t there. Unfortunately, she didn’t care either. Stopping for a moment, and hiding in a dark alley, she felt a few more pricks as someone tried to attack her from the roof. For this, she had but one answer, it was large, it was steel, it was green, and it smelled like hell. The answer of course, was a dumpster she instinctively picked up, and threw at the guy on the roof. She glanced, him, and watched him fly off the other end, as his weapon skidded across the top. Seeing a chance, she scrambled up the three story ladder, to the roof, and attempted to retrieve that weapon when she heard something,

“Too bad. She’s pretty hot,” and then heard a whistling noise. She spun around with the fire arm, not knowing how to operate it, only to not see what she heard. Getting louder and louder, she crumpled with her hands over her ears, the sound too much, and then was suddenly thrust forward in an eruptive motion, her back arching inward from the shock, shrapnels, and fire coming from behind her. She didn’t really understand it at first, but she wasn’t really on the ground, no, she was falling off the other side of the building. She let out a whimper and closed her eyes and turned her face to the side, thinking she was already dead, when the wind stopped blowing. Kind of odd, was this, and she slowly opened her right eye to see a piece of what kind of looked like black paper just kind of lofting downward past her face, back and forth, slowly, and then followed it somewhat, kind of in a daze of confusion. Just about now, she realized she hadn’t finished her decent towards the ground, and immediately froze up clenching her eyes, and reopened slowly. Apparently, she wasn’t going to finish her decent to the ground, she was stuck in the air, just transfixed. This was solved, of course by another large explosion. A pity, really. Her body held up so well before, but in truth, it was still so weak from just waking up, that the abuse was too much, and she finally passed out upon leaving another small dent in the ground.

[wiegeabo]

Another knock.

A sense of relief starts to ease the tension I had been feeling earlier. Despite knowing better, I wasn't sure anyone other than Tony and Dinah would come. I didn't know just how much that had been weighing on me until the others had started to arrive.

"Just excuse me for one second," I say to Superman and Ollie.

I open the door and see a familiar black and white outfit. I look into large covered eyes which somehow seem to have an expression to them. The man, well, almost a man by the looks of him, doesn't stand as tall as me, and he isn't physically big. But I've seen Spider-Man at work before, and heard the stories coming out of New York. He has a good deal of potential.

"Spider-Man. Good to see you. It's been a while. Thanks for coming and welcome to the old JSA headquarters." I lead him in passed a couple of trophies and pictures we have in the foyer. We enter the main room.

"Superman, Green Arrow, let me introduce Spider-Man. Spider-Man, I'm sure you've heard of Superman and Oliver Queen."

[The Question]

"Umm, hi. Wow."

I look around. Superman, who I've met (and am a little wierded out by, for some reason) stands closest to me and Mr. Garrick. He's, well, big. Not that he's got insanely massive muscles or anything. In fact, his muscle's, while noticeble, seem a little under developed for someone as string as he is. He's just big. Tall, broad shouldered, and just generally filling up alot of space. Then there's that other guy, Olliver Queen. He and I were stuck on that alien planet (a sentence that I still can't wrap my head around) with those two psycho assassin guys. Only one here in regular clothes. Probably because he doesn't care about people knowing who he is. Unlike me.


"....am I the only one here who's feeling a little self conscious?"

[Byrd Man]

"Umm, hi. Wow."

I look around. Superman, who I've met (and am a little wierded out by, for some reason) stands closest to me and Mr. Garrick. He's, well, big. Not that he's got insanely massive muscles or anything. In fact, his muscle's, while noticeble, seem a little under developed for someone as string as he is. He's just big. Tall, broad shouldered, and just generally filling up alot of space. Then there's that other guy, Olliver Queen. He and I were stuck on that alien planet (a sentence that I still can't wrap my head around) with those two psycho assassin guys. Only one here in regular clothes. Probably because he doesn't care about people knowing who he is. Unlike me.


"....am I the only one here who's feeling a little self conscious?"

I let a smile escape my lips and laugh.

"Don't worry about it, kid. I'm sure will see alot more stranger than you as the day passes."

From that time we spent together on Apokolips, I found out that Spider-Man's a pretty funny guy. I use the term guy loosely, from the way he sounds he's probably not old enough to shave.

"Will see many a man in tights before we leave here. Look on the bright side, you could have nipples on your suit."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"Umm, hi. Wow."

I look around. Superman, who I've met (and am a little wierded out by, for some reason) stands closest to me and Mr. Garrick. He's, well, big. Not that he's got insanely massive muscles or anything. In fact, his muscle's, while noticeble, seem a little under developed for someone as string as he is. He's just big. Tall, broad shouldered, and just generally filling up alot of space. Then there's that other guy, Olliver Queen. He and I were stuck on that alien planet (a sentence that I still can't wrap my head around) with those two psycho assassin guys. Only one here in regular clothes. Probably because he doesn't care about people knowing who he is. Unlike me.


"....am I the only one here who's feeling a little self conscious?"

Spider-Man. I remember him, from when Reed Richards and The Fantastic Four were attacked by a robot in New York. Had the ability to crawl on walls and shoot some sort of webbing, from what I remember about him. Definatley a unique set of powers...

He doesn't sound much older than Jimmy, when he speaks. But he's apparentally had a change of costume, since we last saw eachother. I think I actually liked his other outfit better, but then again... that's no surprise, considering I'm wearing the same colors that it was.

I smile at his last comment, trying to keep myself from laughing. If only he knew...

"I don't see any reason why. From what I've seen, you've got just as much of a right to be here as I do.", I say, extending my hand. "Glad you could make it, Spider-Man."

[The Question]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif




Spider-Man. I remember him, from when Reed Richards and The Fantastic Four were attacked by a robot in New York. Had the ability to crawl on walls and shoot some sort of webbing, from what I remember about him. Definatley a unique set of powers...

He doesn't sound much older than Jimmy, when he speaks. But he's apparentally had a change of costume, since we last saw eachother. I think I actually liked his other outfit better, but then again... that's no surprise, considering I'm wearing the same colors that it was.

I smile at his last comment, trying to keep myself from laughing. If only he knew...

"I don't see any reason why. From what I've seen, you've got just as much of a right to be here as I do.", I say, extending my hand. "Glad you could make it, Spider-Man."

Wow.

I shake his hand.

"Well...thanks. I'm glad I can be here too."

I let a smile escape my lips and laugh.

"Don't worry about it, kid. I'm sure will see alot more stranger than you as the day passes."

From that time we spent together on Apokolips, I found out that Spider-Man's a pretty funny guy. I use the term guy loosely, from the way he sounds he's probably not old enough to shave.

"Will see many a man in tights before we leave here. Look on the bright side, you could have nipples on your suit."


"...yeah. That would be wierd. 'Course, why anyone would escapes me. Unless it's some kind of sexual statement. Which is in of itself kind of creepy. Not that I'm saying I condem...."

I look around at the others.
"I'm rambling, aren't I?"

[wiegeabo]

Wow.

I shake his hand.

"Well...thanks. I'm glad I can be here too."




"...yeah. That would be wierd. 'Course, why anyone would escapes me. Unless it's some kind of sexual statement. Which is in of itself kind of creepy. Not that I'm saying I condem...."

I look around at the others.
"I'm rambling, aren't I?"
I laugh a little. Was I ever that young? "It's ok," I say, putting a hand on his shoulder. "This is a pretty big thing we're trying to do. We're all a little nervous. Heck, this is the second team I helped form and I've been tense for the last week."

[The Question]

"Okay. So, is there anyone else coming?"

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

I turn to The Flash, trying to both change the subject and save Spider-Man from reaching a panic attack. He may be too young for this. But then again, I remember how I was as a teenager. Moody, impulsive, and even a bit irresponsible with my powers at times. Well, when Pa wasn't around. So far, Spider-Man's proved to be a far more stable hero than I was at his age... So I don't see a reason for him to be excluded. Besides, we need all the help we can get.

Speaking of which...

"I hear this is the city that The Batman protects.", I say. "So I guess that begs the question... Will he be joining us today?"

The only reason I'm asking is because I need to discuss something with him, when given the chance. Particularly how he found out my dual identity, and what he intends to do with that knowledge, if anything.

[wiegeabo]

"Okay. So, is there anyone else coming?"

"I invited a number of people. I expect Iron Man and Black Canary to arrive soon. The rest you've probably never met, and I'm not sure if they will come. One is a young woman out of San Francisco named Zatanna. She has a lot of magical potential and helped me fight Mordru in England. But I don't expect her to show up, she seemed overwhelmed by everything that happened. And I asked another old JSA member to join, Wildcat. He may not go out in the field with us, but he's offered to help train us, get our skills into shape."

I walk into the kitchen area. "Anyone want anything to drink while we wait?" I ask as I grab a bottle of water. "I also asked Batman and Juggernaut. Batman said he wasn't interested, and Juggernaut...said about the same thing, just with more four letter words."

"And Nick Fury may stop by. I trust the man, but I don't really trust shadowy governmental organizations. Not sure how I feel about having S.H.I.E.L.D. involved in the group."

"I think that's about it."

[Byrd Man]

"I invited a number of people. I expect Iron Man and Black Canary to arrive soon. The rest you've probably never met, and I'm not sure if they will come. One is a young woman out of San Francisco named Zatanna. She has a lot of magical potential and helped me fight Mordru in England. But I don't expect her to show up, she seemed overwhelmed by everything that happened. And I asked another old JSA member to join, Wildcat. He may not go out in the field with us, but he's offered to help train us, get our skills into shape."

I walk into the kitchen area. "Anyone want anything to drink while we wait?" I ask as I grab a bottle of water. "I also asked Batman and Juggernaut. Batman said he wasn't interested, and Juggernaut...said about the same thing, just with more four letter words."

"And Nick Fury may stop by. I trust the man, but I don't really trust shadowy governmental organizations. Not sure how I feel about having S.H.I.E.L.D. involved in the group."

"I think that's about it."

"What about Captain America?"

For the first time in a long time, I actually feel a little nervous. Cap was my idol as a kid, I had all the old comic books and loved to read about him in history books. I think he's the reason I became the Green Arrow.

[wiegeabo]

"What about Captain America?"

For the first time in a long time, I actually feel a little nervous. Cap was my idol as a kid, I had all the old comic books and loved to read about him in history books. I think he's the reason I became the Green Arrow.


I little bit of sadness touches me. How wonderful it would be to fight the good fight alongside Steve again. "Last I heard, he was working for Lex Luthor. So I didn't even ask him."

Just saying the words makes me a little sick. The fact that he works for Luthor, and the fact that I didn't trust my old friend enough to ask, or even warn him.

[The Question]

"What about Captain America?"

For the first time in a long time, I actually feel a little nervous. Cap was my idol as a kid, I had all the old comic books and loved to read about him in history books. I think he's the reason I became the Green Arrow.


Those words make me jump a little. He might as well have asked if Jesus Christ is going to join the team.

I little bit of sadness touches me. How wonderful it would be to fight the good fight alongside Steve again. "Last I heard, he was working for Lex Luthor. So I didn't even ask him."

Just saying the words makes me a little sick. The fact that he works for Luthor, and the fact that I didn't trust my old friend enough to ask, or even warn him.


"Um, I know Luthor is a corperate narcicist, but is that really a reason not to ask Captain America to join? I mean, he's Captain America!"

[wiegeabo]

Those words make me jump a little. He might as well have asked if Jesus Christ is going to join the team.

"Um, I know Luthor is a corperate narcicist, but is that really a reason not to ask Captain America to join. I mean, he's Captain America!"

I thought wisdom came with age. But right now, Spider-Man and I are proving that old adage wrong. "You're absolutely right. I should have talked to him. I'll have to make it up to him later. But now, let's focus on getting this team together."

Then something occurs to me. I wonder what's keeping Tony and Dinah?

[Andy C.]

"Sounds alright to me."

I shake Nick's hand and smile. It's a chance to work with the US Goverment and not be Luthor's whipping boy, damn I was stupid to listen to him.

"I think we better get to Gotham on the double. Are we going in one of those fancy Helicarrier, or just be airdropped from a B-52 like the good ole days?"

(OOC: they didn't have B-52s in WWII. You're probably thinking of the C-47)

"Ha! Didn't think you knew about the HeliCarrier; glad to see you managed to catch up with the tech of the times. Anyway, yes, the Carrier will get us there in a matter of minutes. Let's see how Jay reacts to the two of us."

Fury motioned for the Captain to follow him, up to the roof where their transport was waiting.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"I invited a number of people. I expect Iron Man and Black Canary to arrive soon. The rest you've probably never met, and I'm not sure if they will come. One is a young woman out of San Francisco named Zatanna. She has a lot of magical potential and helped me fight Mordru in England. But I don't expect her to show up, she seemed overwhelmed by everything that happened. And I asked another old JSA member to join, Wildcat. He may not go out in the field with us, but he's offered to help train us, get our skills into shape."

I walk into the kitchen area. "Anyone want anything to drink while we wait?" I ask as I grab a bottle of water. "I also asked Batman and Juggernaut. Batman said he wasn't interested, and Juggernaut...said about the same thing, just with more four letter words."

"And Nick Fury may stop by. I trust the man, but I don't really trust shadowy governmental organizations. Not sure how I feel about having S.H.I.E.L.D. involved in the group."

"I think that's about it."

I look away, slightly, hearing the names.

Nick Fury... I don't know what to make of him, quite honestly. On one hand, He's a five star army general and The Flash apparentally trusts him. That should be good enough for me, but I'm finding that it isn't. There's just something about the fact that he had the power to order that nuke that bugs me. Not to mention I don't think he's very trusting himself.

I'll have to wait and see how that goes, I guess. Flash trusts him. That's enough to keep me away from hostility for the moment, because I trust Flash. But Fury... I'm just not so sure I trust yet.

That suit of Iron Man's is well equipped. He should prove to be useful in battle, if and when we go into it. I haven't really heard of Black Canary, but I'm curious as to what that individual can contribute to the team.

Hmm. Zatanna. I've heard a name similar, back when I was working for a paper in New Zeland. Zatarra, I think. An old magician's name... Quite the celebrity around there. Maybe they have a connection? Who knows. I mean, it is just a name, afterall.

I remember The Juggernaut. He attacked The Daily Planet... Almost injured Lois. While he did prove to be an invaluble ally during the assault against that "Mysterio" person in New York... I can't help but think we're better off without him. Especially hearing how he responded to Flash's invitation.

And I guess I'll just have to wait awhile longer to speak with Batman. But I'm sure my identity is safe with him for the moment. Afterall... I know his, aswell.

I hear Captain America's tie to Luthor mentioned. An eyebrow raises. I remember hearing that he was unfrozen... But by Luthor? I should've payed attention more. It's a shame, really, if the Captain has been tainted by Luthor's influence. He was really a great hero, back in World War II. A legend, even. Something I once aspired to be... Of course now, I'm just grateful to be apart of this.

"Sounds like the making for quite a team.", I say, with a grin.

"I find myself in agreement."

We all turn, seeing a woman floating above us. An open window behind her reveals how she got in. She wears a red and blue outfit, laced in gold, with metal armbands and some sort of glowing lasso at her hip. A golden tiara sits atop her head with a star in the middle.

...

And... I just noticed her striking beauty, aswell. Wow. I think I'm suddenly at a loss for words.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/WonderWomanV5.jpg

"Forgive me for the intrusion.", She says. "But I heard you were looking for assistance. I am Diana of Themyscara. But man's world has deemed me the title of 'Wonder Woman'."

...Quite an entrance, if I say so myself. This meeting just reached a new level of intrigue. She descends, landing beside me. I try to say something, but can't find the ability.

Smooth, Clark. Real smooth...

[Byrd Man]

(OOC: they didn't have B-52s in WWII. You're probably thinking of the C-47)

"Ha! Didn't think you knew about the HeliCarrier; glad to see you managed to catch up with the tech of the times. Anyway, yes, the Carrier will get us there in a matter of minutes. Let's see how Jay reacts to the two of us."

Fury motioned for the Captain to follow him, up to the roof where their transport was waiting.

(OOC: Damn you! That was the plane.)

"Yeah, well. It's hard not to notice a freakin battle ship crusing through the sky."

Jay. We weren't exactly on good terms the last time we saw each other. I was blindly following Luthor and he was trying to show me what I was too dumb to see.

"It'll be good to see Jay and all the boys again. I just wish Bucky was here."

I feel something catch in my throat for a second before swallowing it.

"Well, Let's go shall we?"

[Byrd Man]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif




I look away, slightly, hearing the names.

Nick Fury... I don't know what to make of him, quite honestly. On one hand, He's a five star army general and The Flash apparentally trusts him. That should be good enough for me, but I'm finding that it isn't. There's just something about the fact that he had the power to order that nuke that bugs me. Not to mention I don't think he's very trusting himself.

I'll have to wait and see how that goes, I guess. Flash trusts him. That's enough to keep me away from hostility for the moment, because I trust Flash. But Fury... I'm just not so sure I trust yet.

That suit of Iron Man's is well equipped. He should prove to be useful in battle, if and when we go into it. I haven't really heard of Black Canary, but I'm curious as to what that individual can contribute to the team.

Hmm. Zatanna. I've heard a name similar, back when I was working for a paper in New Zeland. Zatarra, I think. An old magician's name... Quite the celebrity around there. Maybe they have a connection? Who knows. I mean, it is just a name, afterall.

I remember The Juggernaut. He attacked The Daily Planet... Almost injured Lois. While he did prove to be an invaluble ally during the assault against that "Mysterio" person in New York... I can't help but think we're better off without him. Especially hearing how he responded to Flash's invitation.

And I guess I'll just have to wait awhile longer to speak with Batman. But I'm sure my identity is safe with him for the moment. Afterall... I know his, aswell.

I hear Captain America's tie to Luthor mentioned. An eyebrow raises. I remember hearing that he was unfrozen... But by Luthor? I should've payed attention more. It's a shame, really, if the Captain has been tainted by Luthor's influence. He was really a great hero, back in World War II. A legend, even. Something I once aspired to be... Of course now, I'm just grateful to be apart of this.

"Sounds like the making for quite a team.", I say, with a grin.

"I find myself in agreement."

We all turn, seeing a woman floating above us. An open window behind her reveals how she got in. She wears a red and blue outfit, laced in gold, with metal armbands and some sort of glowing lasso at her hip. A golden tiara sits atop her head with a star in the middle.

...

And... I just noticed her striking beauty, aswell. Wow. I think I'm suddenly at a loss for words.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/WonderWomanV5.jpg

"Forgive me for the intrusion.", She says. "But I heard you were looking for assistance. I am Diana of Themyscara. But man's world has deemed me the title of 'Wonder Woman'."

...Quite an entrance, if I say so myself. This meeting just reached a new level of intrigue. She descends, landing beside me. I try to say something, but can't find the ability.

Smooth, Clark. Real smooth...

Oh my god. I scoot next to her and wrap my arm around her neck.

"Well hello there little darlin. Name's Green Arrow, but you can call me Ollie."

She smiles, takes my hand and with ungodly strength, flips me off of her and slams me onto the hardwood floor.

"Ow..."

[Batman]

Oh my god. I scoot next to her and wrap my arm around her neck.

"Well hello there little darlin. Name's Green Arrow, but you can call me Ollie."

She smiles, takes my hand and with ungodly strength, flips me off of her and slams me onto the hardwood floor.

"Ow..."

I look down at Queen, making sure that he's alright. She's... got quite an impressive grip, aswell. She flies, wears red and blue, and she's got an amazing level of strength. ...I think I'm in love.

Oh stop it, Clark. You just met the woman.

"Actually, Mr. Queen, we have met previously. I attended your party when I first came to this land.", She says. "You never called."

I try my absolute best to submerse a laugh at that. I think Ollie's been put in his place. Well, Clark, you could always take your mind off of it by saying something...

"Pleased to meet you, erm... Wonder Woman.", I say, extending a hand. "I'm Superman."

She looks at my hand, a bit confused at first. But eventually, she grasps it, and shakes.

"Forgive my ignorance of your traditions.", She says. "I am new to this world."

I raise an eyebrow. Could she be...

"You're not from Earth?"

"Oh, I am. I have just never journeyed outside of Themyscara until recent times forced me to.", She responds.

...Oh. Well, there goes that thought. I had hoped that it was possible that I had found another kryptonian survivor in this... Wonder Woman. But I guess not.

Still, she's definatley left an impression on me.

[wiegeabo]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"I find myself in agreement."

We all turn, seeing a woman floating above us. An open window behind her reveals how she got in. She wears a red and blue outfit, laced in gold, with metal armbands and some sort of glowing lasso at her hip. A golden tiara sits atop her head with a star in the middle.

...

And... I just noticed her striking beauty, aswell. Wow. I think I'm suddenly at a loss for words.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/WonderWomanV5.jpg

"Forgive me for the intrusion.", She says. "But I heard you were looking for assistance. I am Diana of Themyscara. But man's world has deemed me the title of 'Wonder Woman'."

...Quite an entrance, if I say so myself. This meeting just reached a new level of intrigue. She descends, landing beside me. I try to say something, but can't find the ability.

Smooth, Clark. Real smooth...

Say something Jay. Say something Jay. You're too old...no I'm not.

Think about Joan. Think about Joan.

"Hello." It's a start.

Now that I'm starting to regain control of my brain, I can't say I've heard anything about this Wonder Woman, but, for some reason, I can't bring myself to be suspicious of her motives. And it's not just her beauty, because there's no denying that.

There is something...regal about her. Something honest. Something familiar.

Oh my god. I scoot next to her and wrap my arm around her neck.

"Well hello there little darlin. Name's Green Arrow, but you can call me Ollie."

She smiles, takes my hand and with ungodly strength, flips me off of her and slams me onto the hardwood floor.

"Ow..."


"Forgive Ollie, and forgive me for not knowing about you ahead of time. We're always looking for people willing to help make this world a better place Wonder Woman."

"Wait, Man's world?"

[The Question]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif




I look away, slightly, hearing the names.

Nick Fury... I don't know what to make of him, quite honestly. On one hand, He's a five star army general and The Flash apparentally trusts him. That should be good enough for me, but I'm finding that it isn't. There's just something about the fact that he had the power to order that nuke that bugs me. Not to mention I don't think he's very trusting himself.

I'll have to wait and see how that goes, I guess. Flash trusts him. That's enough to keep me away from hostility for the moment, because I trust Flash. But Fury... I'm just not so sure I trust yet.

That suit of Iron Man's is well equipped. He should prove to be useful in battle, if and when we go into it. I haven't really heard of Black Canary, but I'm curious as to what that individual can contribute to the team.

Hmm. Zatanna. I've heard a name similar, back when I was working for a paper in New Zeland. Zatarra, I think. An old magician's name... Quite the celebrity around there. Maybe they have a connection? Who knows. I mean, it is just a name, afterall.

I remember The Juggernaut. He attacked The Daily Planet... Almost injured Lois. While he did prove to be an invaluble ally during the assault against that "Mysterio" person in New York... I can't help but think we're better off without him. Especially hearing how he responded to Flash's invitation.

And I guess I'll just have to wait awhile longer to speak with Batman. But I'm sure my identity is safe with him for the moment. Afterall... I know his, aswell.

I hear Captain America's tie to Luthor mentioned. An eyebrow raises. I remember hearing that he was unfrozen... But by Luthor? I should've payed attention more. It's a shame, really, if the Captain has been tainted by Luthor's influence. He was really a great hero, back in World War II. A legend, even. Something I once aspired to be... Of course now, I'm just grateful to be apart of this.

"Sounds like the making for quite a team.", I say, with a grin.

"I find myself in agreement."

We all turn, seeing a woman floating above us. An open window behind her reveals how she got in. She wears a red and blue outfit, laced in gold, with metal armbands and some sort of glowing lasso at her hip. A golden tiara sits atop her head with a star in the middle.

...

And... I just noticed her striking beauty, aswell. Wow. I think I'm suddenly at a loss for words.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/WonderWomanV5.jpg

"Forgive me for the intrusion.", She says. "But I heard you were looking for assistance. I am Diana of Themyscara. But man's world has deemed me the title of 'Wonder Woman'."

...Quite an entrance, if I say so myself. This meeting just reached a new level of intrigue. She descends, landing beside me. I try to say something, but can't find the ability.

Smooth, Clark. Real smooth...


....wow.


I quickly-yet-subtley sit down in one of the chairs at the meeting table.



Sometimes tights have very serious drawbacks.

[Byrd Man]

I look down at Queen, making sure that he's alright. She's... got quite an impressive grip, aswell. She flies, wears red and blue, and she's got an amazing level of strength. ...I think I'm in love.

Oh stop it, Clark. You just met the woman.

"Actually, Mr. Queen, we have met previously. I attended your party when I first came to this land.", She says. "You never called."

I try my absolute best to submerse a laugh at that. I think Ollie's been put in his place. Well, Clark, you could always take your mind off of it by saying something...

"Pleased to meet you, erm... Wonder Woman.", I say, extending a hand. "I'm Superman."

She looks at my hand, a bit confused at first. But eventually, she grasps it, and shakes.

"Forgive my ignorance of your traditions.", She says. "I am new to this world."

I raise an eyebrow. Could she be...

"You're not from Earth?"

"Oh, I am. I have just never journeyed outside of Themyscara until recent times forced me to.", She responds.

...Oh. Well, there goes that thought. I had hoped that it was possible that I had found another kryptonian survivor in this... Wonder Woman. But I guess not.

Still, she's definatley left an impression on me.

I stumble up and put my back into place. It makes a crack as I straighten it.

"I can take a hint."

I stumble over to the table and sit down next to Spider-Man.

"Note to self, Never try to make it 2nd base with hot Amazon women."

[LouFerignoDemon]

(Sorry for the wait guys, I had something come up right away, such as going to "bed" to keep the fricking doctor off of my back. So I'll finish up my post now.)

Fifteen minutes had passed at first, before the perimeter had been set up, a face down, smoldering Karen on the ground as the DEO was going to collect her. Bad idea, of course, but they didn't know it. They just knew they had an alien, and they know that she was a very high level of strength and durability, and as reported, but not widley seen, flight. Twenty minutes as the set up rig around her was finally completed as she started to come through, though she was heavily restrained with titanium bonds. A small groan as the DEO was setting up some sort of rebreathing device, as she heard someone about thirty yards out over a radio,

"We got her down and about to use the gas on her, you boys at SHIELD ready to recieve?" which was answered with a prompt, "Roger."

And with that, the mask was put on her face, and she passed out again after taking a few breaths, feeling herself being lifted.

Her eyes began to part again, in a bright light, with a large whooping sound around her. The mask was still on her as one of the men said, "Hey guys, she's up, turn up the gas." One of the masked men nodded, and hit a button, and she felt a woosh of air hit the bottom half of her face under the mask. She clenched her eyes and groaned, and the guy who intially reported the event nudged the guy and said, "Higher," to which the other guy said, "Hey man, this is all I can do, any more might be dangerous." Karen had begun to shift, to strain some, in a mild delerium from the gas. "Dude, we're at the base, just hit her with it, they'll take care of her. Imagine what will happen if she gets out of control in the hangar." The guy hesitated, and unfortunately, just a little too late. The time she spent under the sun, as well as the energy given to her by the ship, had finally metabolized into her body which was a virgin to this process, and it was reacting with the gas in a very...negative fashion. The Bands around her arms and stomach went first, straight out the side of the hopper she was in, clipping one of the SHIELD agents. A yell, and her hands gripped at the one around her neck, though she didn't really need it, the strength in her upper body just trying to pull off the table. This was of course followed by the individual leg restraints, which came off with little effort. Apparently, she was a little stronger this time around, and in this crazed state, this was going to be a problem. This became more obvious as the blue clad alien erupted from the side of the craft, using her restrainig device as a medium for her escape, with her following quickly after.

Immediately, she went for the light source, as several projectiles were used ineffectively against her. Running and running, nothing really seemed to stop her at first. People tried shooting, the use of explosives, and even some energy weapons, nothing really seemed to stop her really.

Almost there at the light source, she was basically unstoppable as it was, and was just as ruthless, going so far as to picking up an agent, and throwing him into the second story window of the hangar. And with that, she stepped into the light... Though, to be more accurate, she didn't really step on anything. Because, well, it was a hangar, and the SHIELD base just happened to be one of the helicarriers, and that resulted in her falling out of the helicarrier.

Fortunately, this is where she came to in sobriety, and immediately realized the predicament she was in. Her first instinct was to just curl up, but she had a few minutes to think it out, and remembered the last time this happened, when she flew.

"Calm calm." she kept telling herself, and she closed her eyes, spreading her body out some, trying to relax. She tensed up some, trying to remember, knowing what it felt like, and just trying to feel that way again. Slowly, but surely, she was starting to slow down. And for the first few seconds, that was great, as she was drastically reducing speed. Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention, because forty miles an hour is still forty miles an hour when you hit the ground.

She picked herself up off of the ground, and began to shift into a nearby alley, eventually making her way into someone elses home who wasn't there, and crashing on the couch. Fortunately, since she demolished the primary hangar of the SHIELD helicarrier, she wasn't followed right away, and given the fact that they couldn't flat out stop her the first time, she had some time before round 2.


(Tis a little lame. But I'm TIRED.)

[Batman]

"Forgive Ollie, and forgive me for not knowing about you ahead of time. We're always looking for people willing to help make this world a better place Wonder Woman."

"Wait, Man's world?"

I have to force myself from staring. And the size (or even lack of) of her costume doesn't nessacarily help. They certainly didn't have women that looked like this back in Kansas. Or even Metropolis.

Metropolis...

You know, on second thought, I really shouldn't be thinking this. I mean, while I've chosen to keep my distance for the time being... I already have a bit of something for Lois. I mean, we kissed that night ontop of the Daily Planet, when I was contemplating my surrender to Zod. And while I wish I could say that it was nothing but an act of desperation, I can't. I think I do feel something for Lois.

Still. I don't see Lois wearing something like that anytime in the near future...

Stop it. Stop it right there. Clean thoughts, Clark.

"It's what my mother referred to this world as. Themyscara is both apart of this world and in a state of seperation. We were secluded from men or any other outside elements. Hence 'Man's World'.", She responds to Flash. "I believe she actually once served in this land, when she was much younger. Her name is Hyppolyta."

...Secluded from the rest of the world? Wow. I... I can't imagine that. I guess it's because I've just grown so accustomed to Earth through my upbringing.

"Well, I hope your seclusion hasn't given you any misjudged pre-cognitions about this world,", I say. "I'm actually not from Earth. I originally came from a planet called Krypton. And while I can't say I went through the same seclusion that you did... I know what it's like to feel different from everyone else in this world."

I smile.

"But believe me... It's actually pretty easy to adapt. I'd be happy to teach you anything you want to know."

...

Did I actually just say that?

Oh, brother... Now I'm beginning to wonder what exactly I'm a "Man Of". Man Of Steel, or Man Of Cheese. I really should've just kept quiet.

[The Question]

Think of dead puppies.

Think of dead puppies.

Think of dead puppies.

Think of dead puppies.

Think of dead puppies.

Think of dead puppies.



....okay, now I'm kind of depressed. New tactic: small talk.


"So, Themiscyra? Hippolyta? Let me guess: You're a greek mythology buff."

[wiegeabo]

I somehow keep from laughing as the younger men make fools of themselves. But it's easier knowing that's how I feel every time I'm around Joan. So I've gotten used to it.

Hyppolyta? "Of course!" The others look at me like I'm starting to lose it. "Sorry. It's just that...I should have seen the similarities sooner, since they are obvious." I go into another room and come back holding a picture in my hands. That same picture of the JSA and Invaders.

"I worked with your mother. Fought alongside her in the war. She was a brave woman, and a fierce warrior."

I hand her the picture. "If that's who you grew up under, then I'd be glad to have you join the team."

[Batman]

"So, Themiscyra? Hippolyta? Let me guess: You're a greek mythology buff."

I raise an eyebrow. Not because of the comment, but because I just realised that those are greek names. And to think that class was one of my majors. I guess Spider-Man's a bit smarter than his age attests him to be...

"Actually, I-"

I somehow keep from laughing as the younger men make fools of themselves. But it's easier knowing that's how I feel every time I'm around Joan. So I've gotten used to it.

Hyppolyta? "Of course!" The others look at me like I'm starting to lose it. "Sorry. It's just that...I should have seen the similarities sooner, since they are obvious." I go into another room and come back holding a picture in my hands. That same picture of the JSA and Invaders.

"I worked with your mother. Fought alongside her in the war. She was a brave woman, and a fierce warrior."

I hand her the picture. "If that's who you grew up under, then I'd be glad to have you join the team."

...And this day is just full of surprises, apparentally.

Though I do remember somewhat of a greek goddess character in the original Justice Society comic books they used to sell, back in Smallville. Of course there was no way that they could be 100% accurate to the original source, but part of me bets that Wonder Woman's mother was the inspiration for that character.

Wow. So I guess... I'm standing next to another living legend. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm even in the same league as these people. I mean, the original founder of the JSA, the daughter of one of the original members, Oliver Queen (who's name has been infamous for years), The "Amazing" Spider-Man as Perry once referred to him in one of the bi-lines, and a five star general that's coming here aswell.

If I had entered this line of work any younger, I wouldn't be able to take it. But they accept me as their equal. I've never felt more sure of this team than right now.

"Yes. That is my mother.", Wonder Woman says, with a warm smile as she looks at the photograph. "Though I wish I could say that she has spoken of you. You all seem well aqquainted."

She looks up at Flash, then at me.

"I'd be honored to follow in her example by becoming well aqquainted with all of you, aswell."

Speaking of which... I would've thought the others would've arrived, by now. Of course, then again, I'm more or less standing in a room of legends. The only thing that could really top this is if Captain America himself was standing with us. But I'm sure Lex Luthor has made quick work of that ideal...

[Byrd Man]

I raise an eyebrow. Not because of the comment, but because I just realised that those are greek names. And to think that class was one of my majors. I guess Spider-Man's a bit smarter than his age attests him to be...

"Actually, I-"



...And this day is just full of surprises, apparentally.

Though I do remember somewhat of a greek goddess character in the original Justice Society comic books they used to sell, back in Smallville. Of course there was no way that they could be 100% accurate to the original source, but part of me bets that Wonder Woman's mother was the inspiration for that character.

Wow. So I guess... I'm standing next to another living legend. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm even in the same league as these people. I mean, the original founder of the JSA, the daughter of one of the original members, Oliver Queen (who's name has been infamous for years), The "Amazing" Spider-Man as Perry once referred to him in one of the bi-lines, and a five star general that's coming here aswell.

If I had entered this line of work any younger, I wouldn't be able to take it. But they accept me as their equal. I've never felt more sure of this team than right now.

"Yes. That is my mother.", Wonder Woman says, with a warm smile as she looks at the photograph. "Though I wish I could say that she has spoken of you. You all seem well aqquainted."

She looks up at Flash, then at me.

"I'd be honored to follow in her example by becoming well aqquainted with all of you, aswell."

Speaking of which... I would've thought the others would've arrived, by now. Of course, then again, I'm more or less standing in a room of legends. The only thing that could really top this is if Captain America himself was standing with us. But I'm sure Lex Luthor has made quick work of that ideal...

I manage a smile at Wonder Woman and turn the charm back on.

"Look, I'm sorry if I came off as a little forward. I'd like to become aqquainted with you aswell. Maybe if your not too busy tonight. I could take you around the town and show you the bright spots of 'man's world'."

She shoots me a look and all I can manage is a ***** eating grin.

"Or maybe not. So, Flash. You got some brewskies in this place?"

[wiegeabo]

I manage a smile at Wonder Woman and turn the charm back on.

"Look, I'm sorry if I came off as a little forward. I'd like to become aqquainted with you aswell. Maybe if your not too busy tonight. I could take you around the town and show you the bright spots of 'man's world'."

She shoots me a look and all I can manage is a ***** eating grin.

"Or maybe not. So, Flash. You got some brewskies in this place?"

"Heh. Yeah. There's quite a few in the second fridge. I had figured Wildcat would be here, and that a couple of others may want some. First door on the left, can't miss it."

I turn back to the others. "Glad I stocked up."

I look at the clock. Where are they? "Could you all give me a second?"

I leave in a blur and head up to my old quarters. The walls and room have been bare since we locked up. I grab the telephone and dial. I hear her message and leave my own. "Hi, Dinah. It's Jay. I don't know Tony's number, so I'll only leave this message on your cell. I'm just wondering where you and Tony are at, and picturing you rolling your eyes as I 'check up' on you. Today's the day, and the meeting is starting well. Superman, Oliver Queen, Spider-Man, and someone new who calls herself Wonder Woman are here. I don't want to start without you two, but if you're running late, I will. Just let me know one way or the other. I'll see you later. Bye."

I hang up the phone and rush back down.

"So, did I miss anything?"

[Andy C.]

"Heh. Yeah. There's quite a few in the second fridge. I had figured Wildcat would be here, and that a couple of others may want some. First door on the left, can't miss it."

I turn back to the others. "Glad I stocked up."

I look at the clock. Where are they? "Could you all give me a second?"

I leave in a blur and head up to my old quarters. The walls and room have been bare since we locked up. I grab the telephone and dial. I hear her message and leave my own. "Hi, Dinah. It's Jay. I don't know Tony's number, so I'll only leave this message on your cell. I'm just wondering where you and Tony are at, and picturing you rolling your eyes as I 'check up' on you. Today's the day, and the meeting is starting well. Superman, Oliver Queen, Spider-Man, and someone new who calls herself Wonder Woman are here. I don't want to start without you two, but if you're running late, I will. Just let me know one way or the other. I'll see you later. Bye."

I hang up the phone and rush back down.

"So, did I miss anything?"

"Only the doorbell."

Colonel Fury stood in the doorway, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his cigar. The trip from New York City didn't take long, although he was tempted to stay on the HeliCarrier and lead his troops to capture the target that had escaped. Still, he was more than certain that they'd find her again, and besides, this was a much more important matter.

The Colonel looked back and forth between the costumed folks in the room.

"Superman...Flash....Mr. Queen...glad to see the three of you when there's not an alien warlord on the verge of exterminating us." The three of them, as well as the now-ex-operative Power Man, had not been in the same place since the aftermath of the battle with General Zod. He knew that none of them were going to trust him that easily, but he was here to change that.

The Colonel then turned his attention to the scrawny kid in the black suit.

"You must be the one they're calling Spider-Man. I've seen some of your work, and it's quite impressive. With a little training, you just might make yourself one hell of a hero."

He caught a glimpse of the Amazon, and couldn't help but grin. Sure, she was younger, but there was no doubt in Fury's mind: this woman was the spitting image of Hippolyta.

"And what do we have here? You must be Diana, the new Wonder Woman. It's good to see someone's picked up the old mantle. And the next time you see your mother, tell her that Colonel Fury sends his regards," he said before turning back to the others.

"Most of you know me, but for those who don't, my name's Colonel Nick Fury, executive director of the covert operations group S.H.I.E.L.D. You may have heard of us by reputation, if not by name. I'm not here to try and take over, and I'm not here to make you do anything you'd find immoral. I'm here to extend the cooperation and resources of the United States government and its military in the defense of this nation.

I see some extraordinary people in this room, and every one of you has proven to be a hero. But together, we can do what the old JSA did, and become the stuff of legends."

Fury took another puff from his cigar, and motioned to the door.

"And speaking of legends, I happened to bring one along with me. Everyone, may I introduce to you....Captain America."

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

(OOC: Hope no one minds me 'teleporting' Cap and Fury to Gotham)

[wiegeabo]

"Only the doorbell."

Colonel Fury stood in the doorway, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his cigar. The trip from New York City didn't take long, although he was tempted to stay on the HeliCarrier and lead his troops to capture the target that had escaped. Still, he was more than certain that they'd find her again, and besides, this was a much more important matter.

The Colonel looked back and forth between the costumed folks in the room.

"Superman...Flash....Mr. Queen...glad to see the three of you when there's not an alien warlord on the verge of exterminating us." The three of them, as well as the now-ex-operative Power Man, had not been in the same place since the aftermath of the battle with General Zod. He knew that none of them were going to trust him that easily, but he was here to change that.

The Colonel then turned his attention to the scrawny kid in the black suit.

"You must be the one they're calling Spider-Man. I've seen some of your work, and it's quite impressive. With a little training, you just might make yourself one hell of a hero."

He caught a glimpse of the Amazon, and couldn't help but grin. Sure, she was younger, but there was no doubt in Fury's mind: this woman was the spitting image of Hippolyta.

"And what do we have here? You must be Diana, the new Wonder Woman. It's good to see someone's picked up the old mantle. And the next time you see your mother, tell her that Colonel Fury sends his regards," he said before turning back to the others.

"Most of you know me, but for those who don't, my name's Colonel Nick Fury, executive director of the covert operations group S.H.I.E.L.D. You may have heard of us by reputation, if not by name. I'm not here to try and take over, and I'm not here to make you do anything you'd find immoral. I'm here to extend the cooperation and resources of the United States government and its military in the defense of this nation.

I see some extraordinary people in this room, and every one of you has proven to be a hero. But together, we can do what the old JSA did, and become the stuff of legends."

Fury took another puff from his cigar, and motioned to the door.

"And speaking of legends, I happened to bring one along with me. Everyone, may I introduce to you....Captain America."

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

(OOC: Hope no one minds me 'teleporting' Cap and Fury to Gotham)
"Steve...?"

He's standing there. Large as life. A man I had mourned decades ago. A friend. A brother. Probably the greatest hero this country ever had.

I knew he was back. I cheered when I heard the news that they found him and he was revived. But to see him standing there, with my own eyes. It all hits me at once. I can feel my eyes well up, but I don't really care.

"Steve." I grab his hand in a shake, smiling like an idiot, shaking myself out of my shock. And then I pull him into a quick embrace and hold him by the shoulders, enjoying the fact that one of my best friends was no longer dead.

"You look good, 'old man'. It's damn good to see you again."

[Byrd Man]

"Steve...?"

He's standing there. Large as life. A man I had mourned decades ago. A friend. A brother. Probably the greatest hero this country ever had.

I knew he was back. I cheered when I heard the news that they found him and he was revived. But to see him standing there, with my own eyes. It all hits me at once. I can feel my eyes well up, but I don't really care.

"Steve." I grab his hand in a shake, smiling like an idiot, shaking myself out of my shock. And then I pull him into a quick embrace and hold him by the shoulders, enjoying the fact that one of my best friends was no longer dead.

"You look good, 'old man'. It's damn good to see you again."

Has it really been over six decades since I've seen Jay? It doesn't feel that long, but then again, I was under the atlantic for most of those six decades.

"Same here, Jay. Same here."

I take a chance to scan the room over and see that Supeman Lex told me was the root of all evil, A young guy in a black outfit I assume is Spider-Man, A blonde haired man swigging a beer, and a stunningly georgeous woman wearing next to nothing.

"Hello everybody. Like Nick said, I'm Captain America. I'm looking forward to getting a lot done here today and pave the way for a new JSA."

It's the best I can do, In someways I'm the reason the old JSA broke up. After news of my accident was wired to them it didn't take long for them to disband.

"Like I said, happy to be here."

I take a seat at the table and place my shield on the table and smile at the small group of superheroes.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

...

My god. I mean... my god. Captain America. The Captain America.

It's only a split second into his arrival that I realise my eyes are widened. I look around the room, seeing the faces of the others. The lenses on Spider-Man's mask are visibly lifted. Oliver Queen's look is priceless. Even Wonder Woman seems to be in a state of shock at his prescence.

It's quite clear who the celebrity in the room is.

...

Great Krypton. The Captain America...

I remember as a kid, looking at newspaper clippings... comic strips... old war photos, from Pa's trunk in the attic, about this man. I said to myself that one day, I'd be just like him. An inspiration to people everywhere. I've since given up on that dream, but... wow. Seeing the man in person... I... well, there are no words, I guess.

It's only until a long moment later that I realise that he's been no doubtedly twisted in his perception by Lex Luthor. But if that's the case... Then how does he feel about me? I consider him to be a living legend... Maybe even my own personal hero, considering without his example of selfless battle, I probably wouldn't have chosen to use my powers to protect mankind. But does he know that...?

Nobody moves, for a long moment. Then, finally, I step forward, and extend my hand. I guess now's the time to find out.

"Captain America...", I say, extending my hand. "It... It's a honor, sir. A real, true honor to meet you."

[Byrd Man]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif


...

My god. I mean... my god. Captain America. The Captain America.

It's only a split second into his arrival that I realise my eyes are widened. I look around the room, seeing the faces of the others. The lenses on Spider-Man's mask are visibly lifted. Oliver Queen's look is priceless. Even Wonder Woman seems to be in a state of shock at his prescence.

It's quite clear who the celebrity in the room is.

...

Great Krypton. The Captain America...

I remember as a kid, looking at newspaper clippings... comic strips... old war photos, from Pa's trunk in the attic, about this man. I said to myself that one day, I'd be just like him. An inspiration to people everywhere. I've since given up on that dream, but... wow. Seeing the man in person... I... well, there are no words, I guess.

It's only until a long moment later that I realise that he's been no doubtedly twisted in his perception by Lex Luthor. But if that's the case... Then how does he feel about me? I consider him to be a living legend... Maybe even my own personal hero, considering without his example of selfless battle, I probably wouldn't have chosen to use my powers to protect mankind. But does he know that...?

Nobody moves, for a long moment. Then, finally, I step forward, and extend my hand. I guess now's the time to find out.

"Captain America...", I say, extending my hand. "It... It's a honor, sir. A real, true honor to meet you."

I wait a tick while Superman holds his hand out. He's the real reason I seen past Luthor's charade.

Four Weeks Ago

"Look at that, Rogers. Watch how they swoon for that alien freak."

Lex clicks of the TV and looks at me.

"If you didn't notice, Superman did save the world."

"Cry me a river, It was all staged. Had to be, That lousy good for nothing nusance isn't a hero."

I turn my back and look out into the Metropolis night.

"Your wrong, Lex. He's an even greater hero than me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because he's smart enough to see through a jerk like you."

I toss my shield towards him and see it dig into his exspensive mahogany desk.

"I quit."

I pull my shield out of his desk and walk out the door.

"You can't quit, because your fired. I'm going to sue you and put you back in that damn block of ice where I found you!"

Now

I shake Superman's hand and smile.

"I think I'm the one who should be honored. I'm a big fan of your work. That fight with Zod was just incredible. You were Earth's hero that day."

[Green Lantern]

I thought wisdom came with age. But right now, Spider-Man and I are proving that old adage wrong. "You're absolutely right. I should have talked to him. I'll have to make it up to him later. But now, let's focus on getting this team together."

Then something occurs to me. I wonder what's keeping Tony and Dinah?

IC: Iron Man

It's been a couple of weeks now. She said she needed some time off, that I needed some time off... I know this should be a reason to STOP drinking, to win her back, but it left me an empty shell... no pun intended. The only thing that makes me feel less cold and lonely is the vodka... and the whiskey... and the gin... and the tequila... not to mention the rum, wine and beer. And the only time of day I worry about whether its too much is right now... when I wake up in the mornings... with a splitting headache.

Tony Stark's butler knocked softly on his bedroom door. "Master Stark, I hate to interupt your post-party beauty sleep this early in the morning, but you do have that meeting with Jay Garrick, sir. Shall I fetch the tylenol?"

Oh god. Jay. Last time I saw him... I told him to go f**k himself. Jesus. I'm gonna need liquid courage for this meeting.

"Please, Jarvis. And get me a highball of Crown to wash it down with too, if you would."

As Jarvis returned with a glass of the expensive whiskey, and a bottle of tylenol, Tony glanced over at the clock.

S**t. The meeting's in less than an hour. Son of a.

He threw four pills into his mouth and pounded the glass.

"My armor ready in the garage, Jarvis?"

"Yes, sir."

Tony pulled himself out of bed, still in boxers and a white tank top. Before leaving the room he went to his cupboard and pulled out the half empty bottle of Crown Royal, and took a large swig of it. He then walked down the stairs to the garage. Without pausing to think about it, he put on his suit of armor and fired up the batteries.

He could feel the alcohol start to hit when the suit powered up.

"All systems go."

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

Thirty minutes later, he landed on the doorstep of the Brownstone. Without knocking he let himself in.

"Pardon my tardiness. Was I missed?"

[Byrd Man]

IC: Iron Man

It's been a couple of weeks now. She said she needed some time off, that I needed some time off... I know this should be a reason to STOP drinking, to win her back, but it left me an empty shell... no pun intended. The only thing that makes me feel less cold and lonely is the vodka... and the whiskey... and the gin... and the tequila... not to mention the rum, wine and beer. And the only time of day I worry about whether its too much is right now... when I wake up in the mornings... with a splitting headache.

Tony Stark's butler knocked softly on his bedroom door. "Master Stark, I hate to interupt your post-party beauty sleep this early in the morning, but you do have that meeting with Jay Garrick, sir. Shall I fetch the tylenol?"

Oh god. Jay. Last time I saw him... I told him to go f**k himself. Jesus. I'm gonna need liquid courage for this meeting.

"Please, Jarvis. And get me a highball of Crown to wash it down with too, if you would."

As Jarvis returned with a glass of the expensive whiskey, and a bottle of tylenol, Tony glanced over at the clock.

S**t. The meeting's in less than an hour. Son of a.

He threw four pills into his mouth and pounded the glass.

"My armor ready in the garage, Jarvis?"

"Yes, sir."

Tony pulled himself out of bed, still in boxers and a white tank top. Before leaving the room he went to his cupboard and pulled out the half empty bottle of Crown Royal, and took a large swig of it. He then walked down the stairs to the garage. Without pausing to think about it, he put on his suit of armor and fired up the batteries.

He could feel the alcohol start to hit when the suit powered up.

"All systems go."

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

Thirty minutes later, he landed on the doorstep of the Brownstone. Without knocking he let himself in.

"Pardon my tardiness. Was I missed?"






"About as much as the ebola virus."

Something about Tony Stark has allways rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know if it's the fact that our companies are pretty much neck in neck year after year. Or the fact he won the love of Dinah Lance. It could even be that fact that while were both superheroes, He's the one that has to depend on a peice of scap and some wire to get the job done while I use a bow and arrow, one of the very first weapons invinted. Whatever it was that made me dislike him, he feels the same about me.

"You look pretty fancy in that suit, Stark. Care for a cold one?"

I smile and shake the half empty bottle at him.

[wiegeabo]

"About as much as the ebola virus."

I throw a disapproving look at Ollie. I hadn't taken their competitiveness into account. But they've both proven themselves to be heroes of top calliber, I'm sure they can get over their petty differences.

"You look pretty fancy in that suit, Stark. Care for a cold one?"

Maybe not. Certainly Tony's not still drinking like he was. I tell myself it was just the pressure of Zod's threat that pushed him so far that time. That he didn't really mean what he said. Him being here now proves that. And he seems to be himself again right now...

"It's good to see you Tony. I thing all we're wating on is the Canary to show up. Have you heard from her lately?" I try to keep my question cryptic enough to preserve Dinah's identity like she wants. But I haven't seen or heard from her since yesterday, and I can't help but worry a little. She was so excited about this morning she even called me up last night to make sure I wouldn't be late. Me. The Flash. To say she was nervous and just needed someone to talk to was an understatement.

And now she's the one that's late.

[Green Lantern]

"About as much as the ebola virus. You look pretty fancy in that suit, Stark. Care for a cold one?"

"Thanks, but no Ollie, I'm gonna have a virgin rum and coke" Bout as virgin as my prom date was actually. All six of them. But what they don't know won't hurt them.

Tony went into the kitchen and poured a glass 3/4 full of Coke, and then took a flask off his gauntlet. Have to thank the guys in R&D for the flask, and the odorless Rum. I didn't realize that smug bastard would be here. Jackass, always chasing Dinah.

Tony walked back into the main room, after taking off his helmet. His eyes were bloodshot and it was obvious that he hadn't shaved in days.
"It's good to see you Tony. I thing all we're wating on is the Canary to show up. Have you heard from her lately?"

His face sank at the mention of his fiance.

"About that... Jay... I was hoping you'd heard from her. Can we talk somewhere?"

[wiegeabo]

"About as much as the ebola virus. You look pretty fancy in that suit, Stark. Care for a cold one?"

"Thanks, but no Ollie, I'm gonna have a virgin rum and coke" Bout as virgin as my prom date was actually. All six of them. But what they don't know won't hurt them.

Tony went into the kitchen and poured a glass 3/4 full of Coke, and then took a flask off his gauntlet. Have to thank the guys in R&D for the flask, and the odorless Rum. I didn't realize that smug bastard would be here. Jackass, always chasing Dinah.

Tony walked back into the main room, after taking off his helmet. His eyes were bloodshot and it was obvious that he hadn't shaved in days.
"It's good to see you Tony. I thing all we're wating on is the Canary to show up. Have you heard from her lately?"

His face sank at the mention of his fiance.

"About that... Jay... I was hoping you'd heard from her. Can we talk somewhere?"



Tony looked horrible. I thought...I guess I thought wrong. But he was here and...he didn't know where Dinah was either?

"Sure, Tony." I start to lead him into the main trophy room. "Just give us a minute to talk about a few things," I say to the others. "Make yourselves at home, and get to know each other a little better. We'll be back in a minute."

Once we're in the other room, I close the door behind us. "Tony. You look like hell. What's going on? What do you mean you haven't heard from Dinah either?"

[Green Lantern]

Tony looked horrible. I thought...I guess I thought wrong. But he was here and...he didn't know where Dinah was either?

"Sure, Tony." I start to lead him into the main trophy room. "Just give us a minute to talk about a few things," I say to the others. "Make yourselves at home, and get to know each other a little better. We'll be back in a minute."

Once we're in the other room, I close the door behind us. "Tony. You look like hell. What's going on? What do you mean you haven't heard from Dinah either?"Tony took another swig of his 'Coke' and looked at Jay. He appeared to be at the brink of tears.

"I... I don't know Jay. I uh... she um... I mean... she shaid that we 'Need a break.' And god help me Jay. I don't know what to do. She meansh so much to me, and I f**ked up and I may have lost her. And god help me if that little Robin Hood wanna be in his green tights, prissy little hat and the goatee that looks like something straight out of a down town gaybar tries to make a move on her, I'll kill him where he stands."

It took a moment for everything to sink in.

"Wait, you mean she's not at her mom's? Where the hell is she then?!?"

He took another large gulp of his Coke, finishing off the glass.

[wiegeabo]

Tony took another swig of his 'Coke' and looked at Jay. He appeared to be at the brink of tears.

"I... I don't know Jay. I uh... she um... I mean... she shaid that we 'Need a break.' And god help me Jay. I don't know what to do. She meansh so much to me, and I f**ked up and I may have lost her. And god help me if that little Robin Hood wanna be in his green tights, prissy little hat and the goatee that looks like something straight out of a down town gaybar tries to make a move on her, I'll kill him where he stands."

It took a moment for everything to sink in.

"Wait, you mean she's not at her mom's? Where the hell is she then?!?"

He took another large gulp of his Coke, finishing off the glass.

He hadn't heard or seen Dinah either. But I try and ease Tony's worries."Listen Tony, she'll be here. You know how much this means to her. She's just running late or something. It would be her luck that traffic, or a mugging, or something delays her today of all days." Yeah, it sounds like a thin excuse to me too, but I'm just hoping to get Tony's mind off his problems for a while. "And you know how much she loves you. Nothing you've done will change that. I'm sure you'll work through your problems. Dinah's a great girl, and your smart enough to not lose her. Yeah, you...screwed up, but she's not gone. Not if she loves you half as much as you love her. So the first step in making this work," I take the glass out of his hand and put in on a table, "is to stop using this."

"The next step is to get cleaned up. I know it's hard, but she needs to see the real you."

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know the last time we spoke, it didn't go very well. But I knew that wasn't really you talking. I like you Tony. And Dinah loves you. You can do this. Now, let's go out there and build a team for her to come back to."

[The Question]

"So."

I look around at everyone.

"Where'd you guys get your outfits?"

[Green Lantern]

A piece of the puzzle falls into place. They're on a break. A little relief washes over me. "I think you answered your own question. She wanted some time to herself. Some time away from you, me, her mother, everyone. So Dinah probably found a place to stay, a friend's house or something, where she can be alone with her thoughts." I hope it's true, because my words don't even completely reassure me. But I guess I'll always worry about Dinah, even though she's probably as safe as can be.

"As for losing her. Yeah, you...screwed up, but she's not gone. Not if she loves you half as much as you love her. So the first step in getting her back," I take the glass out of his hand and put in on a table, "is to stop using this."

"The next step is to get cleaned up. I know it's hard, but when she comes back, she needs to see the real you."

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know the last time we spoke, it didn't go very well. But I knew that wasn't really you talking. I like you Tony. And Dinah loves you. You can do this. Now, let's go out there and build a team for her to come back to.""You're right Jay. Whatm I shayin. Of course you're right. You're oneuf the old guys. You guysh are alwayz right. Here, have thish too, I guess. And I'm gonna put back on the helmet to at least look repecable."

He put the helmet back on, and flashing on his HUD were warnings of an extremely high B.A.C. as the suit itself went to overdrive to help correct his buzz. He hit a button on the guantlet and popped off the flask, handing it to Jay.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif


I shake Superman's hand and smile.

"I think I'm the one who should be honored. I'm a big fan of your work. That fight with Zod was just incredible. You were Earth's hero that day."


...

If only Pa could see me now. Shaking hands with his idol and mine, while he praises me. Me, of all people. There's no possible way I could regret coming here, now. This has to be a dream come true.

"Then that makes us even,", I say, my smile growing somewhat wider. "I've followed your work ever since I was a kid. I don't think that day against Zod could've been possible without your inspiration."

It's at that moment that we all turn, hearing the metal clank of footsteps leading into the trophy room. Within a second, we're greeted by the man who was revealed as Billionaire Tony Stark, not too long ago. The Iron Man.

"Pardon My Tardiness. Was I Missed?"

Oliver Queen is quick to respond. There's somewhat of a tension that all of us picks up upon as they speak to one another, but it soon passes once Flash and Stark leave the room. It's only then do I really get a feeling of the building team around me. Most of these people I've met or caught glimpses of before, with the exception being Wonder Woman. If this is anything close to what the final team is going to be, then I'm already impressed.

I guess Flash's invitations were too hard to pass up... Nearly everyone he said he's invited has already arrived. Except for The Black Canary, I noticed. But I'm sure she'll show up soon. Then we can finally proceed with the reason we're all here, today. I can safely say that I can't wait.

Wonder Woman and I both sit down at table where Spider-Man and Captain America are already seated. Then I realised what I just did. I just sat down at the Justice Society Of America's round table, next to one of the country's most legendary champions, in a room full of people who can do what was once classified as "the impossible". These people are heroes, and we're about to work together in order to save mankind. Only one word can really sum the feeling up, for me.

Wow.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"So."

I look around at everyone.

"Where'd you guys get your outfits?"

"My... mother made it for me,", I respond, with honesty. "It's design was inspired by ancient Kryptonian tapestries that were used in effort to inspire peace in times of interplanetary war."

Everyone stares at me, for a moment. I shrug.

"So I'm told, anyway."

[Byrd Man]

A small smile is etched on my face as I run my hands over the table. This was a place where I once sat with the greatest champions this world has ever known. Bucky, Ted, Jay, Namor and Allan were my best friends. I get up from the table and walk around the room. Looking at the pictures and becoming lost in my thoughts.
"So...Where'd you guys get your outfits?"

"The goverment issued it to me in '43. It's older than everybody here."

[Kaboom]

Sometimes, i wake up hours before anybody else in the house, terrified of the nightmares that have been plaguing me with increasing frequency since my parents died one year ago.

they were world-reknowned archaeologists, who were murdered for some trivial discovery that wouldnt even have made the 1:30 am Strange Finds tv show that airs on the Archaeology channel. Yes..there is an Archaelogy channel.

I was there when it happened. unfortunately, the find..the pyramid, the chamber, whatever it was destroyed vanished into histoy. much like my parents murderer. Eventually, i was sent home to the states, but with no family of any kind (except a sister who has all but disappeared), child services stuck me in an orphanage here in Metropolis. They say theyre looking to place me in a home, but let's face it, nobody is going to adopt a sixteen year old emotionally traumatized teenager who can't go a single night wihtout waking up screaming from the nightmares.

I hear them talk about me behind my back, and my loss of innocence. As if its some disease to be treated. but it cant be treated. just like they can't stop the old man in my nightmares from pursuing me as my parents scream in agony.

and so this is what i do everymorning. wait in bed until thel breakfast bell is rung, at which point i throw on a pair of sneakers grab a carton of milk and wait for the bus to take me to school.

sometimes, i wish i would have died with my parents, instead of living alone with a hundred other boys in a place where nobody knows me by name. its simple name to. Billy Batson.

I say it like it matters. But it doesn't, not to anyone. Except maybe the corporation that runs the home, who needs to count every precious body to make sure they take the income tax deduction.

The Breakfast Bell rings.

Another day. Another absolutely dreadful day. As i walk downstairs to the table i see the one sign that greets us all everyday:

You're Special, it says. This Home made possible by LexCorp -Investing in America's Youth.

"Who's special," I mumble as some other kid brushes by me. "Certainly not me."

[Kaboom]

By noon, we were all glued to the television sets as every channel was pumping a steady news feed of Superman's latest derring-do.

"~~~~and then he told us that flying was still the safest way to travel," one of the survivors of the flight announced to the world. the elderly woman was anxious to soak up her fifteen minutes of fame on the local news network.

"now he's a hero," a classmate said. "But i wish the teach would sportscenter on instead of this, I want to hear how much they think the Sharks will beat the Stars by in the upcoming game."

"That's another two demerits, Michael," the teacher said. "You know I'm originallyf rom Fawcett city and don't like hearing bad things about my team."

As i doodled sketches on my loose leaf notebook paper, Michael, or Mike turned his attention back to me. "What's that," he asked.

"Nothing," i said as i anxiously crumbled the paper up.

"That your grandpa or something?"

"Just some old guy," i replied.

"Looks like dumbledore from...."

"It's not.."

"I'm just saying that it looks like.."

"Well don't just say," I said. My eyes gazed up to the tv screens as they showed a clip of Big Blue flying off after the rescue and for a moment i wondered what it be like to be him. Not the things he could do. Not being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Not being faster than a speeding bullet, or more powerful than a locomotive. Just to be him. A person that people looked up to. A person that people loved. That's what I wanted.


I didn't know it at the time but somewhere, high above the sky, and the heavens themselves, a solitary individual stood, listening to every word i said. Somewhere, Uatu cracked the faintest of smiles.

[Kaboom]

In retrospect, it would never be considered any of the heroes "great victories" or "defining moments" but it had an affect on me to say the least.

I was in washing my face in the bathroom when i saw the old man again.

"Billy..." he whispered at me from the other side of the mirror. Startled i splashed water on my face and his image disappeared. I hurried back to class...maybe i shouldn't have.

"Not a word," he screamed at me as I walked into class. Everyone had been pushed up against the back wall of the room, including the teacher.

"Listen to him, Billy," the teacher pleaded as the he pushed me to the back of the class along with everyone else.

as he did, i thought just maybe, for one time in my life i could do those that every normal kid my age does. football. soccer. pool parties. go to school. the innocent things others take for granted.

"I said be quiet," he hollered from the front of the classroom.

have parents who were still alive. innocent things. a place to call home or friends who cared for me. simple things.

"Billy," she whispered so that only i could hear her.

"Not a word," he yelled as he charged to the back wall we had been propped against. All of us in that class were quiet. Even Mike who had just been given two demerits for refusing to stop his incessant goings-on about the Fawcet City Stars and their up-coming grudge match against the Metropolis Sharks.

When he first walked in, nobody paid any attention. Honestly, nobody ever paid any attention to him. He was just one of those kids who sat in the back and would find himself on the receving end of a not-so wayward spitball.

"Don't say a thing," he said, staring down the girl who had the slightest of tears rolling down her cheek. "Crying? Where were the tears two days ago? Two days Ago!"

I didn't know what he meant.

"What happened," she whimpered, as he stood over her, his sweat falling onto her brow.

"You don't know," he thundered, his voice quivering. "Not even important enough for you to know?"

"Sorry," she sighed.

"Not a single word!" he strained. the tension in the room became palpable as she seized hold of my hand.

Ironic, but when this kid, my classmate, had his finger on the button, and he told you to remain silent....you did.

What happened to the simple things? the innocent things?

All over metropolis, switchboards were lighting up.

and a phone at the Daily Planet rang.

"Lois Lane..."

[Byrd Man]

After looking through all the trophies and pictures, I sit back down in my old seat.

*Thump, Thump, Thump.*

My head jerks up as the door swing open.



"I heard about some rooks that need to learn a thing or two."

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jlu/bios/wildcat/m01.gif
He catches my eye and his smile turn into a look of puzzlement.

"Steve?"

[wiegeabo]

A small smile is etched on my face as I run my hands over the table. This was a place where I once sat with the greatest champions this world has ever known. Bucky, Ted, Jay, Namor and Allan were my best friends. I get up from the table and walk around the room. Looking at the pictures and becoming lost in my thoughts.
"So...Where'd you guys get your outfits?"

"The goverment issued it to me in '43. It's older than everybody here."

"My wife made mine," I say, walking back into the room with Tony, well, Iron Man behind me. "Of course, she wasn't my wife at the time."

*Thump, Thump, Thump.* The door opens.
"I heard about some rooks that need to learn a thing or two...Steve?"

I watch as Ted slowly walks up to the man back from the dead. Feels like the gang's all here.

Steve stands and takes Wildcat's hand. Ted smiles, then floors Steve with a single left-hook. Ted extends his hand to pull Steve back up.

"I told you not to volunteer for that damn mission. But it's great to have you back. Beers, Jay?"

"In the fridge, Wildcat. Better get one for Steve too."

[Kaboom]

"Tensions are beginning to reach critical mass as parents have been flooding the courtyard of Metropolis High School anxious to see if their child is one of the fifteen students being held hostage by another unnamed student in a second floor classroom. Police have taped off the area and hostage negotiators are en route, but as of now we have no information why these events are occurring. More information to come as it becomes available."

*

I stood there, still holding her hand, and keeping my eyes fixed to the red cylinders that were strapped around his body, his thumb, continually squeezing down on a button clasped in his right hand.

Soon, the news feed that had just moments ago been showing Superman's rescue of the plane earlier in the day had shifted to pictures of our school, and the throngs of squad cars, reporters, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians that had gathered, not to mention other students and their parents.

He saw me watching the tv.

"Why," i was finally able to whisper.

"Nobody understands....for two days, nobody has understood. For my whole life nobody has understood. And then he came to me...and he told me why, and how, and gave me the means to make my message heard."

"Who did?"

"No more talking!" he hollered as he raised his hand in the air! There was momentary screams as he did so, all of us thinking that this was the moment it would happen.

*

"Something seems to be going on in the classroom," the tv news reporter said as the cameraman shifted to our classroom's window, trying to get a peek inside. "At this time no contact and no demands have been made with the kidnapper, police are of course taking this very slowly. And at least one reporter is wondering, where's Superman?"

*

she was already en route to the high school, listening to the reporter on the radio as she weaved in and out of traffic.

"Where are you Superman?" Lois asked.

*

My hands were trembling, as he kept going on and on about something i couldn't understand. All i wanted was one simple thing.

Superman. But it appeared, he, like everyone else in my life had abandoned me.

Billy.....I heard the voice again. The voice of the old man who haunts my dreams. My name.........

[Andy C.]

Tom and I had been wandering around the streets of Gotham for the last three hours, having left the car in a suspicious-looking parking garage. That isn't to say we just picked the first one we found; all of the buildings here in Gotham City were suspicious-looking. If the guy we're looking for is still here in this city, then he's definitely been slacking off on the job.

"Okay Hal, this is getting stupid. We're wandering around one of the biggest cities in the country, looking for a guy that no one's seen in almost fifty years. We've got no address, no phone number, not even a real name. And it's not like either of us are any sort of detectives; I'm a wrench-monkey, for cryin' out loud! Look, I wanna find this guy just as much as you do, but how can we do it? Whaddya say we just head back to the garage before my car gets stolen?"

I don't want to admit it, but Pie's right. There's no realistic way to find the other Green Lantern without some sort of leads, and most of those leads dried up half a century ago.

"Allright, allright, we'll check one place, then head back. I remember reading about the JSA first meeting at a place called the Brownstone. If there's any evidence of where this guy went, it'd probably be there. C'mon, it's only a couple of blocks away," I say, fumbling with a map of the city.

Pie grumbles under his breath, but follows along anyway. We make our way through the crowded streets, until we find the place we're looking for. It's an old, dilapidated building, which makes it fit right in with the rest of the city. I walk up the front steps, and hear voices from inside.

"Sounds like someone's home. That might make it a little harder to scrounge around for clues, but maybe--"

---holy God.

I open the door, and see what's either a really convincing costume party, or a get-together of all the new superhumans.

"--ummmm, sorry. I think I might've come at a bad time, or....are you guys....are you the real thing?"

[Kaboom]

The classroom's phone rang. Nervously, the young man answered.

"Hi, my name is Detective Roberts, with the Metropolis PD, we were just wondering if we could talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about," he said.

But there is. The voice in my mind said to me. You can save them Billy. My name. Remember my name.

"No! You're just like them all," the boy said, his hand firmly clasping the detonation device. "You don't care about me! All you care about is them!Just like everyone else!"

"We do care," Detective Roberts said. "Why don't you tell us what you wan't"

*

"The stand-off continues outside of Metropolis High School. WHile he has revealed his identity to police, we may not because he is a minor. The assailant has refused to give any list of demands to police negotiators, instead only repeating that he wants his message to be heard."

*

I don't know why but the visions of my nightmares came surging back to me. Maybe it was because my parents had died, maybe it was because I was facing death now. But for whatever reason, I could see myself walking down the halls of the temple, my trembling hand holding the flashlight as we stared at the statutes that had been erected all around us. Their names each inscribed at their bases.

I read the first one..."Solomon," I whispered.

As i spoke the name the walls seemed to tremble, but as we continued down the hall we passed another statute.

"Hercules."

"Whats are you saying, Billy," my mom asked.

"Nothing, mom," I said. "Just reading."

"Light seems to be coming from the end of the hallway, honey," my dad said. "Do you see it."

"Atlas. Zeus. Achilles. Mercury."

*

"I'm speaking to you," my kidnapper yelled as he grabbed me with his left hand. "Or are you to busy to listen to me!"

"No," I said. "Sorry."

"I want you to tell them on the phone exactly what I'm going to do."

"What are you going to do?"

"Kill everyone."

[Byrd Man]

Tom and I had been wandering around the streets of Gotham for the last three hours, having left the car in a suspicious-looking parking garage. That isn't to say we just picked the first one we found; all of the buildings here in Gotham City were suspicious-looking. If the guy we're looking for is still here in this city, then he's definitely been slacking off on the job.

"Okay Hal, this is getting stupid. We're wandering around one of the biggest cities in the country, looking for a guy that no one's seen in almost fifty years. We've got no address, no phone number, not even a real name. And it's not like either of us are any sort of detectives; I'm a wrench-monkey, for cryin' out loud! Look, I wanna find this guy just as much as you do, but how can we do it? Whaddya say we just head back to the garage before my car gets stolen?"

I don't want to admit it, but Pie's right. There's no realistic way to find the other Green Lantern without some sort of leads, and most of those leads dried up half a century ago.

"Allright, allright, we'll check one place, then head back. I remember reading about the JSA first meeting at a place called the Brownstone. If there's any evidence of where this guy went, it'd probably be there. C'mon, it's only a couple of blocks away," I say, fumbling with a map of the city.

Pie grumbles under his breath, but follows along anyway. We make our way through the crowded streets, until we find the place we're looking for. It's an old, dilapidated building, which makes it fit right in with the rest of the city. I walk up the front steps, and hear voices from inside.

"Sounds like someone's home. That might make it a little harder to scrounge around for clues, but maybe--"

---holy God.

I open the door, and see what's either a really convincing costume party, or a get-together of all the new superhumans.

"--ummmm, sorry. I think I might've come at a bad time, or....are you guys....are you the real thing?"

After Ted knocks me down and picks me back up, he hands me a beer and we start to talk about old times while Oliver Queen listens on.

"So there we were in Holland and right before the platoon of Nazi tanks turn the corner, Jay and Bucky get this weird look on their faces. Steve had put a whole bottle of Ex-Lax in their breakfast that morning."

Ollie spits up his beer while I pick up the story in between my fits of laughter.

"You...You think Jay is fast now....You should....You should have seen him that day...He never moved so fast in his whole life."

"Yeah well, at least Jay made it the John, Couldn't say the same for Bucky."

Ollie nearly falls out of his chair from laughter. The door swings open and a young brown headed man is standing at the door. I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes and adress him.

"Can I help you son?"

[wiegeabo]

After Ted knocks me down and picks me back up, he hands me a beer and we start to talk about old times while Oliver Queen listens on.

"So there we were in Holland and right before the a platoon of Nazi tanks turnthe corner, Jay and Bucky get this weird look on their faces. Steve had put a whole bottle of Ex-Lax in their breakfast that morning."

Ollie spits up his beer while I pick up the story in between my fits of laughter.

"You...You think Jay is fast now....You should....You should have seen him that day...He never moved so fast in his whole life."

"Yeah well, at least Jay made it the John, Couldn't say the same for Bucky."

Ollie nearly falls out of his chair from laughter. The door swings open and a young brown headed man is standing at the door. I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes and adress him.

"Can I help you son?"

I shake my head at the memory. It's been decades, and Ted still keeps telling this story. But I can't help but laugh as well. "Poor, poor Bucky." The group goes silent for a second, then everyone bursts out in laughter.

That's when the two young men walk into the room. We've been open for business less than half an hour, and it seems like everyone has heard of the meeting.

"Um, hello there."

[Andy C.]

After Ted knocks me down and picks me back up, he hands me a beer and we start to talk about old times while Oliver Queen listens on.

"So there we were in Holland and right before the a platoon of Nazi tanks turnthe corner, Jay and Bucky get this weird look on their faces. Steve had put a whole bottle of Ex-Lax in their breakfast that morning."

Ollie spits up his beer while I pick up the story in between my fits of laughter.

"You...You think Jay is fast now....You should....You should have seen him that day...He never moved so fast in his whole life."

"Yeah well, at least Jay made it the John, Couldn't say the same for Bucky."

Ollie nearly falls out of his chair from laughter. The door swings open and a young brown headed man is standing at the door. I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes and adress him.

"Can I help you son?"

I freeze in place. Is that---.....there's now way he could---.....but how did he---....God in Heaven, it's Captain America. I'd heard the stories and all when I was a kid, but to have him right in front of me, staring me in the face?

I shake my head at the memory. It's been decades, and Ted still keeps telling this story. But I can't help but laugh as well. "Poor, poor Bucky." The group goes silent for a second, then everyone bursts out in laughter.

That's when the two young men walk into the room. We've been open for business less than half an hour, and it seems like everyone has heard of the meeting.

"Um, hello there."

And there's another one. From what I managed to turn up about the JSA, that's the one called the Flash. I manage to snap out of my daze for a moment to look in at some of the others. There's....oh my God, that must be Superman! And there's another big guy who matches up with the old photos I'd seen of 'Wildcat,' and a skinny-looking guy in a mask who sorta reminds me of that 'Spider-Man' from New York.

Pie mumbles incoherently for a moment or two, until I finally clear my throat and speak. If I'm gonna end up being like these guys, I might as well try and make a good first impression.

"*Ahem* I'm, um....I'm sorry to intrude on your meeting, but if you guys really are who you look like, then maybe you can help me. I'm looking for someone, one of you. He was an old JSA member who disappeared a good while ago, but was last seen somewhere here in Gotham City. He was one of the-- err, that is to say, he called himself 'The Green Lantern.' Is he here?"

[Byrd Man]

I freeze in place. Is that---.....there's now way he could---.....but how did he---....God in Heaven, it's Captain America. I'd heard the stories and all when I was a kid, but to have him right in front of me, staring me in the face?



And there's another one. From what I managed to turn up about the JSA, that's the one called the Flash. I manage to snap out of my daze for a moment to look in at some of the others. There's....oh my God, that must be Superman! And there's another big guy who matches up with the old photos I'd seen of 'Wildcat,' and a skinny-looking guy in a mask who sorta reminds me of that 'Spider-Man' from New York.

Pie mumbles incoherently for a moment or two, until I finally clear my throat and speak. If I'm gonna end up being like these guys, I might as well try and make a good first impression.

"*Ahem* I'm, um....I'm sorry to intrude on your meeting, but if you guys really are who you look like, then maybe you can help me. I'm looking for someone, one of you. He was an old JSA member who disappeared a good while ago, but was last seen somewhere here in Gotham City. He was one of the-- err, that is to say, he called himself 'The Green Lantern.' Is he here?"

Alan? Hmm. The last time I seen Alan Scott was the day me and Bucky left to go after Zemo.

"Jay, You wanna handle this? Cause I'd like to know as well."

[wiegeabo]

Alan? Hmm. The last time I seen Alan Scott was the day me and Bucky left to go after Zemo.

"Jay, You wanna handle this? Cause I'd like to know as well."


I realize I haven't had the time to update Steve with everything that happened while he was gone. And I wonder why Nick hadn't filled Steve in either. But I'm not going to just tell some strangers where Alan is. Hell, even I hadn't spoken to Alan in years.

"Before I tell you anything, son, I need to know who you are. Why do you want to find Al-the Green Lantern so bad?"

[Kaboom]

I stood there, in front of the window gazing out into the throng below, phone to my ear, and my mind continually jumping back and forth between this kidnapping and the vision of myself walking with my parents for the last time.

Eventually the light from the end of the hallway was blinding as we came upon one last statute...the statute of a man...of an old man...THE old man.

*

"Tell them Billy! Tell them what I told you!"

*

Inscribed in the bottom of the statute was a name like all the others. My parents smiled as i squinted to read it.

*

"Say it, Billy..." he screamed at me, as he shook his fist in the air. "Tell them!"

*

"What does it say Billy," my dad asked. "Whats the inscription?"

*

"They're all dead, Billy, all of them, if you don't tell them what i told you."

For a moment I looked over to the other kids propped against the back of the classoom. I wanted to save them. If only there was same way to do it....

*

"Can you read it, Billy," my mom asked. "What does it say?"

*

"Tell them," my assailant screamed.

*
All three worlds converged at once as i opened my mouth. It was the last word i spoke to my parents before they died, and i was spared. The last word.

My name.

*

It barely escaped my lips.

"Shazam."

*

Lois Lane had just steped out of the car when the entire second floor of Metropolis High School exploded in a fiery inferno. The sheer force of the blast knocked her to the asphalt as the rest of the crowd ran in sheer terror from the scene, atempting to avoid the shattered glass of the windows that had been blown out by the sheer concusive force that was generated.

Lois Lane was sprawled on the floor, watching the black smoke billow into the daytime sky, her face smeered with soot.

"There has been some kind of explosion," the tv news reporter said into the microphone.

There was a stillness for the moment...before the fire fighters rushed in.

A stillness.

*

In a small aprtment, not to far away, a man stepped over the body of a man who was currently bleeding out onto the old green carpet.

"I found him," he grinned.

[Andy C.]

I realize I haven't had the time to update Steve with everything that happened while he was gone. And I wonder why Nick hadn't filled Steve in either. But I'm not going to just tell some strangers where Alan is. Hell, even I hadn't spoken to Alan in years.

"Before I tell you anything, son, I need to know who you are. Why do you want to find Al-the Green Lantern so bad?"

Well, it makes sense for him to ask. I mean, it's not exactly like an average Joe just happens to start looking for a super-hero who hasn't been seen in decades. I don't know if it's a good idea to just start waving the ring around right off the bat, but I'm sure these guys have their fair share of secrets they want to keep too. At any rate, there's a ton of other GLs out there, or at least there were.

Well, now or never, Hal.

"Well, I uh, I guess you could say....we have something in common," I say, slowly pulling my hands out of the pockets of my bomber jacket. I hold up my right hand, and show him the ring.

[wiegeabo]

Well, it makes sense for him to ask. I mean, it's not exactly like an average Joe just happens to start looking for a super-hero who hasn't been seen in decades. I don't know if it's a good idea to just start waving the ring around right off the bat, but I'm sure these guys have their fair share of secrets they want to keep too. At any rate, there's a ton of other GLs out there, or at least there were.

Well, now or never, Hal.

"Well, I uh, I guess you could say....we have something in common," I say, slowly pulling my hands out of the pockets of my bomber jacket. I hold up my right hand, and show him the ring.

What in the world...?

"I...I don't understand." I walk closer to the man with the ring so I can get a better look. It has some similarities to Alan's ring, most notably the color and lantern motif, but it's basically different.

"But...GL made his ring. Where did you get yours? Just who are you?" I ask with a little more heat in my voice then I intended. It's basically a not-so-unreasonable concern about Alan that's making me distrust this man, not anything he's actually done.

"Are you saying you're a Lantern too?"

[Kaboom]

"Good Morning, Mister Smith how are you today," the woman from child services said as she stood up from her desk, welcoming the gentleman into her office. "I've got amazing news for you. You've and your wife have been approved to adopt."

"That is amazing thank you. Wendy will be so happy."

"I'm sure. Have you been able to decide which child you would like?"

"We have. Billy Batson."

"He is a wonderful boy, well-mannered, polite, amazing considering his parents were killed last year."

"Yes well both my wife and I lost our parents at a young age. Its part of the reason why we wanted to adopt him. In fact, the only children we looked at were those who had lost both parents."

"Well you and your wife certainly have a big hearts, Mister Smith. Of course, there is the mandatory three month probationary period where Billy will live with you and Wendy before the adoption can be official."

"I look forward to it."

"Great, so theres just a few forms you need to sign and that will be that. I'm so excited for the three of you."

[Kaboom]

I woke to find myself strapped into a hospital bed, with a man sitting next to my bedside. He was elderly, and reminded me of a certain starship captain i had seen on television re-runs.

"Hello Billy," he said.

"Is everyone ok," i asked. "I remember the explosion. After I said..."

"Eveyone except for the boy who well....yes, everyone is fine, because of you. Everyone except for him."

"Me? But how?"

"Sleep for now Billy. I just want you to know that people are here who love you. And when you're well enough I will explain everything."

"You? Who are you?"

"My name is John Smith. My wife Wendy and I adopted you today. And we will tell you everything. You're a special boy Billy Batson. We want to help you see that."

I'm special.

"But first, you need rest."

[Kaboom]

After the doctors were finsihed proking and prodding me, and after the human resource lady finished explaining the situation, John Smith took me home. We left through the hospital's back exit so that none of the reporters would be able to interview me, or shove microphones in my face, trying to get that choice sound bite. Mr. Smith thought it be too much to handle.

Eventually we arrived at his apartment. It was small, two bedrooms, plus a living room and kitchen. It looked like it was still trapped in the sixties, because i could have sworn it reminded me of the Brady Bunch.

"Theres stuff to make sandwiches in the kitchen," he said as he showed me around. "Here's your room. We haven't really decorated it, we hoped you could make it your own. The orphange will be sending your things over in the morning."

"I don't have much. Just a photograph of my parents and Superman poster, and a Flash Tee-shirt. I like how everyone looks up to Superman, and the Flash just looks really sweet."

"I'm sure theyre quite wonderful," Mr. Smith replied. "Get settled in. I will be in the living room and later when Wendy comes home, we'll figure out dinner."

"Mr. Smith," I said. "When are you going to tell me about, you know...being special."

"I can tell you anytime. Some times, though, its best to discover them on your own. What I will tell you now is...don't be afraid. Of anything. Even if you think you caused something terrible, you didn't. Don't be afraid."

"Okay," I said. With that Mister Smith closed the door to my room. My room. It felt nice to have a room again. Don't be afraid. That word though. All my troubles seem to have stemmed from saying that one word.

There were some rumblings in the living room.

"Who are you talking to Mister Smith," I called out.

"Nobody, Billy," he shouted back. "It's just the television."

[Kaboom]

"Who are you talking to Mister Smith," I called out.



"Nobody, Billy," he shouted back. "It's just the television."

IC: John Smith

It is a quaint one room apartment in which I sit, legs crossed hands folded, reading the newsprint. The stench of the recently deceased previous occupant of the apartment still filtering through my nostrils. He was unimportant, insignificant, his old leathery skin had seen darker days than todays.

I have learned many things in my many years, wandering this land of Nod, shamed while my brother was saluted. But if you think vengence is on my mind, you'd be mistaken. I have far more devious plans unfolding.

"Who are you talking to Mister Smith?" Billy called from the kitchen.

"Its the television, Billy," I said.

Yes a far more devious plan indeed.

*

IC: Billy Batson

Later that night, both Mr. Smith and Wendy had retired for the evening. They both seemed to be very nice people and I suppose I should have been happy they had adopted me.

Don't be afraid. I could hear Mister Smith's words echoing in my head. He seemed to know so much about me though, urging me to discover more. I was just afraid that that word, that one word could cause so many problems. That was the last thing I needed to do now. Especially when it had destroyed that temple, and the school. I didn't want to be responsible for destroying Mr. and Mrs. Smith's home also.

So I decided to creep out the window. I walked a few blocks until i made it to Centennial Park, constantly repeating to myself how neither Superman or the Flash would be afraid. Don't be afraid. Just like Mr. Smith had said.

After standing there, in the darkness, and after building up the courage for a good half hour, I finally decided I could say the word, and if anything happened, at least I wouldn't be responsible for destroying any buildings.

So I opened my mouth, and with all the courage I could muster, I shouted into the night:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/shazam-1.jpg

[Kaboom]

I sat in the room with "Wendy" watching everything unfold on the video monitor.

"He's done it," she said.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/Redskullept.jpg

And for the first time that day, I peeled away the latex mask, and smiled.

[Andy C.]

What in the world...?

"I...I don't understand." I walk closer to the man with the ring so I can get a better look. It has some similarities to Alan's ring, most notably the color and lantern motif, but it's basically different.

"But...GL made his ring. Where did you get yours? Just who are you?" I ask with a little more heat in my voice then I intended. It's basically a not-so-unreasonable concern about Alan that's making me distrust this man, not anything he's actually done.

"Are you saying you're a Lantern too?"

"Not just me. There are thousands of us....or at least, there used to be. I hope you don't mind that I keep my personal identity to myself for now," I say, hoping that none of them notice the big obvious "H. JORDAN" nametag on my jacket, "but I can tell you guys about why I'm here."

Tom's finally done being awe-struck, and just has to pipe in.

"Well Mr. Flash, y'know how this last year or so, we've been getting lots of bad guys from outer space? My buddy here's living proof that they're not all bad."

"...yeah, what he said. This story's kind of....well, 'out-there,' but just bear with me. I was picked by this group called the Green Lantern Corps. They're sort of like rent-a-cops on an intergalactic level. They give you a power ring, a battery, and a sector of space to protect. The whole thing was run by people who call themselves the Guardians of the Universe, and the name says pretty much exactly what they do....or did.

"Look, if you think Darkseid or Zod was bad, you haven't seen anything yet," I say, physically shuddering as I think about my encounter with Galactus. "The Lantern Headquarters? It was this planet called Oa, and that's where I was taken to during most of the last year. It was being attacked by this...thing...called Galactus--I don't know even where to begin describing that monster. We held out as long as we could, but in the end, we lost Oa. Only a handful of the Lanterns survived, and only one of the Guardians.

"Which brings me back to Earth. The JSA Green Lantern had a different kind of ring from the rest of the Corps, powered by something called the 'Star Heart.' I'm here because the last Guardian ordered me to find him. With the last of the Corps spread so thin, we need all the help we can get....and I need to finish my training."

I look at them, and see skepticism in most of their eyes. At least, in the ones whose eyes are even visible. I probably shouldn't have jumped into all the outer space stuff right off the bat. But how else could I do it?

"I know I sound crazy. Hell, I'd think I was crazy myself if it didn't happen to me. But it's the truth, so help me God. There's a lot of stuff out there, a lot of really bad things that I can't even begin to explain. If I'm going to be any help at all, I need to find the only other human who's worn one of these rings. I need your help."

[Kaboom]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/cm06.jpg

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

The Green Lantern... I remember that name pretty well. Infact, I think before there ever was a Batman, He was the one who actually protected Gotham City. Aside from his nickname of "Emerald Guardian", though, that's pretty much all that comes up when I think about it. I do wish I remembered more, but I don't. Probably would've helped if I had studied up on the JSA's exploits through the Planet Archives before coming here...

With this man, however, I have no idea what to think. He's only slightly younger than me, but he doesn't wear a costume. Doesn't fly, doesn't emit some sort of laser from his eyes, and judging from his clothes... He's no billionaire philantropist. Does he even have a place, here? Of course, I think that question would be better answered if this "Green Lantern" was here.

We really should maintain a tighter level of security in the near future, if we're going to act as a team opposing grand scale threats towards mankind. That could've been Darkseid knocking at the door. Or worse... Like the sound of that Galactus person that the man was talking abou-

...

Galactus.

I've heard that name somewhere. It wasn't recently... Much farther back then I can remember. But the name. I know I've heard it. And oddly, I can just distinctly remember the voice that said it. It wasn't Ma or Pa, Lana... Nobody I know for sure.

Huh. That's strange.

I step forward towards the person, after he finishes explaining everything about where he came from. It's a bit hard to believe, I admit, but I'm one to talk. I came from deceased planet of superbeings, after all...

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Galactus. What exactly is that? Could you tell us more about it? I actually think I've heard that name before... I just can't remember specifically where I've heard it."

[Kaboom]

With the wisdom of Solomon, i instantaneously developed a super-awareness of everything i could do. Flight, Strength, endurace, the ability to weild magic...but just because i knew what I could do, didn't mean I didn't want to try it out.

"I wonder how quick I could make it to Gotham."

And I was off.

[wiegeabo]

"Wait. Thousands? Green Lantern Corps? This doesn't make any sense. Al-" Watch youself Jay. "GL never mentioned a Corps. I don't think he even knew about such a thing. Yes, his powers come from the Starheart. But that's a meteor he found embued with magic. He forged his own ring and lantern from it. His powers weren't given to him by any...Guardians, is that what you called them?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Galactus. What exactly is that? Could you tell us more about it? I actually think I've heard that name before... I just can't remember specifically where I've heard it."

"Dear lord, you've heard of another planet killing creature out there? It's not, it's not coming here, is it?"

[Kaboom]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/CMflying.jpg

"Holy Moley!" I exclaimed as i soared through Gotham, a mere moments after I left Centennial Park. "I am fast."

[Byrd Man]

"Wait. Thousands? Green Lantern Corps? This doesn't make any sense. Al-" Watch youself Jay. "GL never mentioned a Corps. I don't think he even knew about such a thing. Yes, his powers come from the Starheart. But that's a meteor he found embued with magic. He forged his own ring and lantern from it. His powers weren't given to him by any...Guardians, is that what you called them?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Galactus. What exactly is that? Could you tell us more about it? I actually think I've heard that name before... I just can't remember specifically where I've heard it."

"Dear lord, you've heard of another planet killing creature out there? It's not, it's not coming here, is it?"

I keep my mouth closed as Superman and Jay talk about this kid who claims to be a Lantern.

"Show us."

I look back at Queen.

"Huh?"

"The guy claims he's a Green Lantern. I say the proof is in the pudding. Show us something more than a ring that you could have ordered in the back of a comic book."

[Andy C.]

"Wait. Thousands? Green Lantern Corps? This doesn't make any sense. Al-" Watch youself Jay. "GL never mentioned a Corps. I don't think he even knew about such a thing. Yes, his powers come from the Starheart. But that's a meteor he found embued with magic. He forged his own ring and lantern from it. His powers weren't given to him by any...Guardians, is that what you called them?"

"All I can tell you is what the Guardians and the other Lanterns told me. I know that the JSA's Lantern wasn't a part of the Corps, and he found the Starheart by accident. The Starheart itself was something created by the Guardians, but it wasn't something that anyone was supposed to actually use. I think that's why the Corps never recruited him, but they seem to know an awful lot about him anyway."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Galactus. What exactly is that? Could you tell us more about it? I actually think I've heard that name before... I just can't remember specifically where I've heard it."

"Dear lord, you've heard of another planet killing creature out there? It's not, it's not coming here, is it?"

"I don't know if it's coming here or not. I'm not even sure how to explain what Galactus is, but the other Lanterns called him the 'Devourer of Worlds.' That much I know is true; he's a being so huge, so powerful, that he has to literally feed on the energy from entire planets to survive. I think it might be better just to show you what I'm talking about. Ring, can you create holographic displays?"

"That is well within my capacity, yes."

"Okay, then. I want you to re-create the events surrounding the destruction of Oa."

"NOTE: In order to do so, I will have to greatly reduce the scale."

"That's fine; I want them to see everything."

The room fills with viridian light, creating a three-dimensional illusion of space. Before me float three large images. One is the planet Oa, it skies sparking and crackling with the rings of all the other Lanterns. The next is the Taa II, the ship Sinestro boarded when he betrayed us. The third....is Galactus himself.

Even the hologram makes my blood run a little cold. So much destruction and carnage, all for what?

As the playback continues, the ring shows me everything, all of the data collected from the other rings before they were destroyed. It shows Sinestro teleporting a Shi'ar Nega-Bomb onto Earth, and the Silver Surfer racing across the span of the cosmos to stop it. It shows the desperation of thousands of alien warriors, before they all met their inevitable doom. It shows our last stand at the Central Battery, me doing all that I can to keep the barriers up while the Power Cosmic tore in around us. And it shows me tapping into the Battery itself, and unleashing something horrible.

The hologram shows a huge, golden monstrosity emerging from the Battery....and then it cuts out.

"What the hell....? I don't remember that at all. Ring, can you identify?"

"Negative. The being does not register with any Oan datbases."

I look at the other heroes in the room, the green light drawing back into the ring. And I'm just as confused as they must be.

[Green Lantern]

Jay and Tony walked back in in time to hear Spidey ask his question.

"Where'd you guys get your outfits?"

"Designed it myself. Built by the best weapons builders in America."

"Not just me. There are thousands of us....or at least, there used to be. I hope you don't mind that I keep my personal identity to myself for now,"

"Might wanna not monogram your clothes then kid. H, Harry?"

[Kaboom]

Truly amazing what this city looks like from above. From here it was all so tiny, powerless. Just like how i felt when i lost my parents. But there are good people left. People like John and Wendy Smith. People who are willing to put the needs of others before themselves.I continued to admire the city from above. The people, the animals, the traffic. The strange green light or power signature eminating out of that building?I began my descent to the old brownstone. Something felt strange. I wanted to know what was going on inside...Though I could have just barged in, I decided against it. Superman wouldn't have done that. So I knocked on the door.

[The Question]

"All I can tell you is what the Guardians and the other Lanterns told me. I know that the JSA's Lantern wasn't a part of the Corps, and he found the Starheart by accident. The Starheart itself was something created by the Guardians, but it wasn't something that anyone was supposed to actually use. I think that's why the Corps never recruited him, but they seem to know an awful lot about him anyway."





"I don't know if it's coming here or not. I'm not even sure how to explain what Galactus is, but the other Lanterns called him the 'Devourer of Worlds.' That much I know is true; he's a being so huge, so powerful, that he has to literally feed on the energy from entire planets to survive. I think it might be better just to show you what I'm talking about. Ring, can you create holographic displays?"

"That is well within my capacity, yes."

"Okay, then. I want you to re-create the events surrounding the destruction of Oa."

"NOTE: In order to do so, I will have to greatly reduce the scale."

"That's fine; I want them to see everything."

The room fills with viridian light, creating a three-dimensional illusion of space. Before me float three large images. One is the planet Oa, it skies sparking and crackling with the rings of all the other Lanterns. The next is the Taa II, the ship Sinestro boarded when he betrayed us. The third....is Galactus himself.

Even the hologram makes my blood run a little cold. So much destruction and carnage, all for what?

As the playback continues, the ring shows me everything, all of the data collected from the other rings before they were destroyed. It shows Sinestro teleporting a Shi'ar Nega-Bomb onto Earth, and the Silver Surfer racing across the span of the cosmos to stop it. It shows the desperation of thousands of alien warriors, before they all met their inevitable doom. It shows our last stand at the Central Battery, me doing all that I can to keep the barriers up while the Power Cosmic tore in around us. And it shows me tapping into the Battery itself, and unleashing something horrible.

The hologram shows a huge, golden monstrosity emerging from the Battery....and then it cuts out.

"What the hell....? I don't remember that at all. Ring, can you identify?"

"Negative. The being does not register with any Oan datbases."

I look at the other heroes in the room, the green light drawing back into the ring. And I'm just as confused as they must be.


Holy ****. It....well, I can't really describe. It's like something out of H.P. Lovecraft. He's saying that this actually happened? Jesus Christ. This is too big.


After the shock wears off, I realize that my heart's pounding. I feel really really nervous. Like a rabbit cornered by a fox. That recording is freaking me out. And, for some reason, the guy with the ring. Something about him has me jumpy. My skin itches.


"F..for reasons I doubt I need to explain, I feel very uncomfortable right now. I need some air."

I stand up and dash towards the door, pushing the Inuit guy who came in with the ring guy out of the way.

"Excuse me!"

I step outside and sit on the doorstep.


"Breath Pete. Just breath."

[Kaboom]

"Hello," I said to the wiry fellow in the black leggings who just brushed past me.

[The Question]

There's a body builder in a red military suit from 30s sci fi, a cape, and pirate boots standing next to me.


****in' groovy.


"Hi there. You're just in time for the news about the impending apocalypse. There're beers in the fridge."

[Byrd Man]

"All I can tell you is what the Guardians and the other Lanterns told me. I know that the JSA's Lantern wasn't a part of the Corps, and he found the Starheart by accident. The Starheart itself was something created by the Guardians, but it wasn't something that anyone was supposed to actually use. I think that's why the Corps never recruited him, but they seem to know an awful lot about him anyway."





"I don't know if it's coming here or not. I'm not even sure how to explain what Galactus is, but the other Lanterns called him the 'Devourer of Worlds.' That much I know is true; he's a being so huge, so powerful, that he has to literally feed on the energy from entire planets to survive. I think it might be better just to show you what I'm talking about. Ring, can you create holographic displays?"

"That is well within my capacity, yes."

"Okay, then. I want you to re-create the events surrounding the destruction of Oa."

"NOTE: In order to do so, I will have to greatly reduce the scale."

"That's fine; I want them to see everything."

The room fills with viridian light, creating a three-dimensional illusion of space. Before me float three large images. One is the planet Oa, it skies sparking and crackling with the rings of all the other Lanterns. The next is the Taa II, the ship Sinestro boarded when he betrayed us. The third....is Galactus himself.

Even the hologram makes my blood run a little cold. So much destruction and carnage, all for what?

As the playback continues, the ring shows me everything, all of the data collected from the other rings before they were destroyed. It shows Sinestro teleporting a Shi'ar Nega-Bomb onto Earth, and the Silver Surfer racing across the span of the cosmos to stop it. It shows the desperation of thousands of alien warriors, before they all met their inevitable doom. It shows our last stand at the Central Battery, me doing all that I can to keep the barriers up while the Power Cosmic tore in around us. And it shows me tapping into the Battery itself, and unleashing something horrible.

The hologram shows a huge, golden monstrosity emerging from the Battery....and then it cuts out.

"What the hell....? I don't remember that at all. Ring, can you identify?"

"Negative. The being does not register with any Oan datbases."

I look at the other heroes in the room, the green light drawing back into the ring. And I'm just as confused as they must be.

"So if your what your saying true, Then that means this Glactus pretty muched destroyed this planet called Oa and could be on the way to Earth. Either this is true or you've seen Star Wars way too many times."

"What's Star Wars?"

[Kaboom]

There's a body builder in a red military suit from 30s sci fi, a cape, and pirate boots standing next to me.


****in' groovy.


"Hi there. You're just in time for the news about the impending apocalypse. There're beers in the fridge."
"Beer...Thanks but I'm just...I mean...no thanks....but...um, apocalypse?"

[wiegeabo]

"OK. You're a Lantern. Although I've never seen a ring do that before."

I have to sit down. Take a moment. Spider-Man goes running out of the room. Everyone is silent. It feels as if all the joy and potential we had been feeling earlier was a balloon and someone just poked it with a pin.

I look at Steve's face, and it's a look I recognize. His jaw is set with determination and anger, as if he's already plotting how to fight this...this Galactus. I spy Nick pull out a phone and walk into the other room. Heh, the creatue may never come to this world and he's still going to report the intel to SHIELD. I think I hear Wonder Woman utter a quiet prayer.

"So if your what your saying true, Then that means this Glactus pretty muched destroyed this planet called Oa and could be on the way to Earth. Either this is true or you've seen Star Wars way too many times."

"What's Star Wars?"





There's the sound of two bottles being poped open.

Wildcat walks up to our two newcomers. "Here kid," he holds out two beers, "you look like ya need this."

[The Question]

Beer...Thanks but I'm just...I mean...no thanks....but...um, apocalypse?


"Big alien god of destruction that eats planets killed a bunch of space cops and might be on it's way here. Fun stuff."

[Andy C.]

[EDIT: Dammit, dammit, dammit. I went back to change one little thing about this post, and somehow ended up taking out the whole thing. Back to square one, I guess]

[Kaboom]

"Big alien god of destruction that eats planets killed a bunch of space cops and might be on it's way here. Fun stuff."

"Galactus" I said as a vision of a giant humanoid in purple armor flashed in my mind.

[The Question]

"...where the hell'd you get that from? And, by the way, who are you?"

[Kaboom]

"...where the hell'd you get that from? And, by the way, who are you?"

"Wisdom of Solomon...I am very knowledgeable about things and sometimes it grants me PROPHETIC visions....as for the name..its Bil....Captain. Captain Marvel, and you?"

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif


"I don't know if it's coming here or not. I'm not even sure how to explain what Galactus is, but the other Lanterns called him the 'Devourer of Worlds.' That much I know is true; he's a being so huge, so powerful, that he has to literally feed on the energy from entire planets to survive. I think it might be better just to show you what I'm talking about. Ring, can you create holographic displays?"

"That is well within my capacity, yes."

"Okay, then. I want you to re-create the events surrounding the destruction of Oa."

"NOTE: In order to do so, I will have to greatly reduce the scale."

"That's fine; I want them to see everything."

The room fills with viridian light, creating a three-dimensional illusion of space. Before me float three large images. One is the planet Oa, it skies sparking and crackling with the rings of all the other Lanterns. The next is the Taa II, the ship Sinestro boarded when he betrayed us. The third....is Galactus himself.

Even the hologram makes my blood run a little cold. So much destruction and carnage, all for what?

As the playback continues, the ring shows me everything, all of the data collected from the other rings before they were destroyed. It shows Sinestro teleporting a Shi'ar Nega-Bomb onto Earth, and the Silver Surfer racing across the span of the cosmos to stop it. It shows the desperation of thousands of alien warriors, before they all met their inevitable doom. It shows our last stand at the Central Battery, me doing all that I can to keep the barriers up while the Power Cosmic tore in around us. And it shows me tapping into the Battery itself, and unleashing something horrible.

The hologram shows a huge, golden monstrosity emerging from the Battery....and then it cuts out.

"What the hell....? I don't remember that at all. Ring, can you identify?"

"Negative. The being does not register with any Oan datbases."

I look at the other heroes in the room, the green light drawing back into the ring. And I'm just as confused as they must be.

...

As Pa used to say... Great Scott.

I don't think any of us are any less than floored by the images we witness. That's pretty obvious from the looks on everyone's faces. But I can't even concentrate on them.

"Devourer Of Worlds". I've heard that term before, too. But I can't distinctly recognise it or Galactus outside of his name. He is a pretty intimidating being, though. Probably one of the reasons he earned the title.

But that footage, the things this thing has apparentally done. It's... unspeakable. Almost as if the power of Zod and Darkseid merged to become one spectacular being. The crimes this being has commited are unforgiveable; Something has to be done to stop it. I can already feel my fists close in anger, ready to take this "Galactus" on without a second thought.

-Wait. Slow down, Clark. You're not engaging in battle with an all powerful being just yet. Remember why you're here, after all... You don't have to fight these battles alone.

"Excuse me!"

I turn, seeing Spider-Man run out of the room. His age really shows in that, but honestly, I can't say I blame him. I mean, when I was his age, I was just discovering my powers. That was earth shattering enough. But what he just witnessed is something I can barely contemplate myself.

Still. I should see of the kid's okay.

"I'll go talk to him.", I say to the rest, before hovering out of the room, and making it to the doorway.

"Spider-Man? Look, I know what you just witnessed was... well, in all manner of speaking... overwhelming, but I'm sure we can-"

I pause, opening the door, revealing the figure of a red and gold clad male standing beside him. He has the same figure as me, and I'm pretty sure he's just as tall. Infact... We actually don't look that much different. He must be another one that heard about the recruitment.

"Oh. Um... Hello.", I say to the new stranger, lowering myself to the ground. "Can we help you?"

Of all the costumed vigilantes I've met, I don't think I've seen one as similarly dressed to me as this one. Infact, before now, I don't think I've ever seen him at all.

[Kaboom]

I am totally and completely in awe. He's right there before me. In front of me. He's...he's...i can barely bring myself to say the word...I had his poster hangin on the wall of the orphanage..i saw him rescue a plane hours before....I cant believe it's....

"Superman."

[Byrd Man]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif

I finish off my beer and look around.

"Well, Ladies and Gents. I showed up to say I'm in support of this thing. I think I better get back to Star. Good luck deciding on a team name and all that. I have a suggestion for a name 'The Green Arrow Experience Featuring Spider-Man.' I'm out."

I stand up, shake Captain America's hand. Bow to Wonder Woman, wave at Flash and turn to Stark.

"Now don't drink and fly, tin man."

I grab my leather jacket and head out the door.

"See ya, Webhead and Big Blue. Scuse me Chongo."

I side step the muscely guy wearing the thunderbolt on his chest and crank up my bike. I head off into the Gotham day, watching as the gray clouds give way to the winter's first snowfall.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

I am totally and completely in awe. He's right there before me. In front of me. He's...he's...i can barely bring myself to say the word...I had his poster hangin on the wall of the orphanage..i saw him rescue a plane hours before....I cant believe it's....

"Superman."

The figure simply stares at me, eyes widened. Like a child who's just met Santa Claus. Or... like I probably was, when I saw Captain America. It's like I'm this man's hero, though I can hardly imagine it. Then again, I have been getting alot of praise since the Zod battle. I hope it doesn't go to my head, if it continues.

I nod when he says my name.

"Yes, that's what they call me.", I say, realising what I had heard with my advanced hearing just moments before leaving the trophy room of the Browstone. "I heard the name 'Captain Marvel' on my way down. I'm guessing that's what they call you?"


"See ya, Webhead and Big Blue. Scuse me Chongo."


I turn, seeing that. Wait. Queen is leaving? This early? We haven't even really had a meeting yet. Then again, he is Oliver Queen. I'm sure he's a very busy man when he's not running around shooting arrows at the criminal element of Star City.

"Oh. Well... goodbye, I guess.", I manage to say, even though Queen's already made it across the street and onto a motorcycle.

Well. That was awkward.

[Kaboom]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif




The figure simply stares at me, eyes widened. Like a child who's just met Santa Claus. Or... like I probably was, when I saw Captain America. It's like I'm this man's hero, though I can hardly imagine it. Then again, I have been getting alot of praise since the Zod battle. I hope it doesn't go to my head, if it continues.

I nod when he says my name.

"Yes, that's what they call me.", I say, realising what I had heard with my advanced hearing just moments before leaving the trophy room of the Browstone. "I heard the name 'Captain Marvel' on my way down. I'm guessing that's what they call you?"

He's here, talking to me. ME? Billy Batson. Sixteen year old orphan. But no he doesnt see that he sees....

"Yes, I'm Captain Marvel," i stammer before finally composing myself. "I was coming from Metropolis i saw something green landed door knock the spider-guy...Galactus...coming...Superman."

Yea Ok that was composed.

[Batman]

He's here, talking to me. ME? Billy Batson. Sixteen year old orphan. But no he doesnt see that he sees....

"Yes, I'm Captain Marvel," i stammer before finally composing myself. "I was coming from Metropolis i saw something green landed door knock the spider-guy...Galactus...coming...Superman."

Yea Ok that was composed.



I raise an eyebrow, as he speaks. I'm... not entirely sure I understood half of what he just said. Though one part of his stammering did catch my attention...

"Metropolis?", I ask. "What were you doing there? Do you hail from that area?"

Now I'm definatley curious as to who this "Marvel" is. You'd think that if he hailed from Metropolis originally, we would've met sooner. Especially considering I've lived there for nearly a year, now-

...Wait just a minute. Did he also mention Galactus?

"And... how exactly did you know about Galactus?", I ask, with a deeper curiosity.

[Green Lantern]

I stand up, shake Captain America's hand. Bow to Wonder Woman, wave at Flash and turn to Stark.

"Now don't drink and fly, tin man."

"WHY YOU LITTLE, TWO BIT, ROBIN HOOD WANNABE! YOU GET BACK HERE YOU GODDAMN CLINTON SUCKING SON OF A B**CH!!!"

Tony's gloves started to glow, and if the people could see his face they'd see fire in his eyes.

[Kaboom]

I raise an eyebrow, as he speaks. I'm... not entirely sure I understood half of what he just said. Though one part of his stammering did catch my attention...

"Metropolis?", I ask. "What were you doing there? Do you hail from that area?"

Now I'm definatley curious as to who this "Marvel" is. You'd think that if he hailed from Metropolis originally, we would've met sooner. Especially considering I've lived there for nearly a year, now-

...Wait just a minute. Did he also mention Galactus?

"And... how exactly did you know about Galactus?", I ask, with a deeper curiosity.

"Fawcett City originally,"I am able to say. And finally I am able to talk like a human being for a few minutes. "But in Metropolis for a bit...on business.....As for Galactus, like I was explaining to this guy with the spider on his chest, the Wisdom of Solomon grants me incredible amounts of knowledge..sometimes even prophecy...until I was here, i had never known the name before. But now.....I can't explain it...but I can show you..."

I offer my hands out, palms up.

"Please..."

[wiegeabo]

I stand up, shake Captain America's hand. Bow to Wonder Woman, wave at Flash and turn to Stark.

"Now don't drink and fly, tin man."

"WHY YOU LITTLE, TWO BIT, ROBIN HOOD WANNABE! YOU GET BACK HERE YOU GODDAMN CLINTON SUCKING SON OF A B**CH!!!"

Tony's gloves started to glow, and if the people could see his face they'd see fire in his eyes.

I put a hand on Tony's shoulder and shake my head. "Calm down, son. It's not worth it. There are bigger things to worry about."

I look around the room at those who are left. Steve, Ted, Wonder Woman, Nick, and Tony. A hell of a team right there. And Superman and Spider-Man just outside.

I walk up to the new Green Lantern and his friend. "You've convinced me, Mr. Jordan. I'm not going to sacrifice GL's identity without his permission. Let me get the others together, and once we finish this meeting, I'll take you to him."

I shake Jordan's hand, and his friend's, and walk out the front door.

"Spid-oh...hello there," I say to the unknown man apparently talking to Superman and Spider-Man. Just who knows about this meeting. "And you would be...?"

[The Question]

I think I'm starting to feel better. What the hell's wrong with me.

"Spid-oh...hello there. And you would be...?"

I look up at Mr. Garrick.

"I think they're about to do a mind meld."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"Fawcett City originally,"I am able to say. And finally I am able to talk like a human being for a few minutes. "But in Metropolis for a bit...on business.....As for Galactus, like I was explaining to this guy with the spider on his chest, the Wisdom of Solomon grants me incredible amounts of knowledge..sometimes even prophecy...until I was here, i had never known the name before. But now.....I can't explain it...but I can show you..."

I offer my hands out, palms up.

"Please..."

I look down at his hands, questionably. The Wisdom Of Solomon? Such a being exists? I guess I shouldn't be surprised... I did battle Darkseid alongside the norse god of thunder, The Mighty Thor, afterall.

After a moment, I grasp them. I don't know what I'm about to see, but if it sheds any light on recent events, I guess I should just wait and find out.

A moment passes, and the world around me turns to black, except for myself and Marvel. For a few moments, nothing happens. Strange. I can't hear anything aside from my own breathing, either.

Then... I see something. I... I see...

...

I see myself. A bit older looking, but it doesn't seem to far into the future from now. My costume's changed. The S is bigger, the cape is longer, and I think the blue is darker. But that's not what catches my attention. It's the fact that I'm... leading. Leading a squad of numerous costumed individuals. Some I recognise, others I don't.

I see another Flash race past me, next to the Flash I know. A green man, of some sort, in a blue cape, follows a green and yellow clad man with a red face. And others... A blonde woman in a blue jumpsuit and mask, flying in unison with Wonder Woman. Iron Man, flying over Green Arrow and a purple clad archer aswell. Even Batman's there, running into the fray along with a red clad individual wearing a pair of horns on his head.

This is all a bit strange. Why am I seeing this? What are we running at? And more importantly... why do I look so angry? It's as if I'm entering the battle of my life.

That's when I turn, seeing the image ahead of the group of charging heroes. I... my god. Galactus. On Earth. He's even bigger than I imagined. And with a legion of forces I've never seen, being commanded by some sort of silver figure in the sky. He's looking down at me. I turn, seeing myself look up at him. My eyes burning with red hatred. But... why? I've never seen myself so angry before. And I don't think it's because he's threatening Earth... It almost seems a bit more personal, in the glaces we give eachother.

"KRYPTONIAN,", He says, in a voice louder than anything I've ever heard in my entire life. "YOU DARE DEFY THE WORD OF THE MIGHTY GALACTUS?"

My eyes widen, as the other "me" does something I'd never expect from myself in a million years. I fly at up at him, with a fist held. I've got to stop myself... I could kill me. Or, he could kill himself, I mean.

I don't even know what I mean anymore. I just need to move...

But when I let go of Marvel's hands to stop him, everything fades back, and the only thing I see are Marvel and Spider-Man, looking back at me.

...

"Good lord...", I say to myself, taking a step back.

What in god's name did I just witness? The end? Or...

Or maybe the beginning.

[The Question]

"That the hell'd you see?"

[Kaboom]

"Holey Moley..." I said. "I saw it too."

[Kaboom]

"What! What did they see!...Wanda...."


"I can only imagine....Johann....Galactus is coming...."

"Then nothing could be more perfect."

[Batman]

"That the hell'd you see?"

I turn, looking at Spider-Man. I think my eyes are still widened, from that. I... I'm not even entirely sure of what I saw, aside from a battle of some sort with Galactus. But all those heroes... All those invaders, with the silver person commanding them... And Galactus. It was...

"-It was all too much.", I say, putting my hand on my forehead. "I-I saw him. Galactus, I mean. He was here. And I saw myself. And the three of you, I think. I'm not sure. There were too people to be sure. They were all fighting, but I couldn't see much of it beside Galactus. It... It was just all too much for me to process, I guess.", I say, still a bit overwhelmed by it all as I try to regain my own composure.

[The Question]

"Okay, this is really wierd. First, some space cop shows up and tells us about this guy. Then, some wrestler in red pajamas shows up and confirms that he's headed here. It's just strange. With all these strangely convenient plot twists, I feel like I'm in a Garth Ennis book."

[Batman]

"Okay, this is really wierd. First, some space cop shows up and tells us about this guy. Then, some wrestler in red pajamas shows up and confirms that he's headed here. It's just strange. With all these strangely convenient plot twists, I feel like I'm in a Garth Ennis book."

"Well, if what I just saw has any bit of relevance... You haven't seen anything yet.", I say, crossing my arms as I look at Flash.

"But if this is really going to happen, and all of this prophecy really is true, Then... I think we've just been given even more of a reason to do what we came here to do in the first place."

[Kaboom]

"Well, if what I just saw has any bit of relevance... You haven't seen anything yet.", I say, crossing my arms as I look at Flash.

"But if this is really going to happen, and all of this prophecy really is true, Then... I think we've just been given even more of a reason to do what we came here to do in the first place."

"I dont mean to be rude....but what exactly is everyone here for?"

This was it. The moment when they would either trust me or not...I'm sure i looked nothing like the geeky 16 year old kid trying to fit into the cool crowd at school....

[wiegeabo]

"Ok, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but let's please slow down."

I turn to the new newcomer. "Who are you. What is a mind meld. And who's Garth Ennis?"

[Andy C.]

"Y'know, I always thought I'd end up seeing the end of the world," Fury said, returning to the main hall with yet another cigarette. "And whaddya know, I didn't even cause it."

He'd just been relaying information back and forth with S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence, and a lot of what this new Green Lantern had to offer checked out. He'd never been that familiar with extraterrestrial affairs, but the S.W.O.R.D. branch had encountered evidence of a 'Green Lantern Corps' once or twice. So it would appear that he was in the presence of the very first human being to be inducted.

Not only that, but the subject that his agents had captured previously was still on the loose. Fury assigned Bridge to the mission, and left it at that.

"Well, now that Col. Hal Jordan's shown us how we're all probably going to die, what other things do we have on the agenda?"

Jordan looked at him, stunned.

"Next time you decide to show people you've got a super-weapon on your right hand, you might not want to wear a jacket with your name and rank on it. Not too many H. Jordans to choose from in the service, and you'd be amazed how quickly you can look up information these days."

[Andy C.]

(IC: Green Lantern)

I've never met the man before, but anyone who's ever been in the service has heard the stories. The hundred-year-old soldier who doesn't look a day over forty. The smoking, the eyepatch, the network that reaches everywhere. Even when I'm standing in the same room as Superman and Captain America, I still find it hard to believe that he's real.

'The Colonel,' standing right here with a group of superhumans. So that must mean....the crackpots are right! S.H.I.E.L.D. is for real?! And what's more, he just handed everyone my real name and rank....stupid move on my part to wear the jacket, but it's not like I was expecting any of this.

Superman and Spider-Man (who gave Pie there a nasty bruise when he shoved him) are talking to some new guy, one who's apparently shown them a vision. If what Superman's saying about it is true, then that means....my God....Galactus is following me to Earth.

I close my eyes, and let the ring's energies wash over me. As the emerald light covers me, it replaces my civilian clothing with the uniform of the Green Lantern Corps. I'm a super-hero now, it seems, so it's time I looked the part.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b73/nowhereman716/Comics/GreenLanternII_07.jpg

"If Superman's vision is for real, then I'll do everything I can do help. But I can't do that without finishing my training. I need to know where the other Green Lantern is."

[The Question]

"Ok, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but let's please slow down."

I turn to the new newcomer. "Who are you. What is a mind meld. And who's Garth Ennis?"

"He says his name is Captain Marvel, haven't you ever seen Star Trek, and a writer who you obviously have never heard of and probably want to keep that way."

[wiegeabo]

"He says his name is Captain Marvel, haven't you ever seen Star Trek, and a writer who you obviously have never heard of and probably want to keep that way."

I throw Spider-Man a smile. "Thank you, apparently I should, and I'll take your word for it."

"Now, gentlemen, let's take this inside and fill everyone in on the situation. We've got a team started, so let's use it." Everyone starts to head back in, but I stop Spider-Man before we get in the door.

"Spider-Man, one second." I pull him aside. He didn't react well to seeing Galactus, honestly, I don't know how any of us could. But I had a feeling he especially could use someone to talk to.

"Spider-Man, you know what, can I call you Spidey?" He nods his head. I smile. "Spidey, just how old are you?"

[Kaboom]

The Red Skull walked quickly down a long corridor in an underground lair, The Scarlet Witch quickly in tow.

"We must hurry Johann, Billy cannot return before us."

At the end of the corridor, the Red Skull placed his hand on a keypad and it was quickly biometrically scanned.

ACCESS GRANTED

The two entered the room. It was large and spherical. Execpt for the padded walls which were a vibrant white, there were only three things in the room. The first was a bed. The second, a metallic chair. The third, was a man, dressed in an white gown.

He looked up at the Red Skull.

"It is confirmed. Galactus is coming."

"Then we must move quickly. Have you found the first element yet?" The man in the gown said.

"We have been able to secure TWO elements already."

"Two elements? You have secured the power of Shazam?"

"And the Kryptonian..."

"Then we must double our efforts. Have you been able to secure the information I requested?"

"The plan is in place."

"Then for now, we must proceed accordingly."

"I will instruct our young friend."

"With a little luck, perhaps we can avert the impending disaster."

The Red Skull turned to the Scarlet Witch.

"We don't need luck," Wanda said.

[Byrd Man]

(IC: Green Lantern)

I've never met the man before, but anyone who's ever been in the service has heard the stories. The hundred-year-old soldier who doesn't look a day over forty. The smoking, the eyepatch, the network that reaches everywhere. Even when I'm standing in the same room as Superman and Captain America, I still find it hard to believe that he's real.

'The Colonel,' standing right here with a group of superhumans. So that must mean....the crackpots are right! S.H.I.E.L.D. is for real?! And what's more, he just handed everyone my real name and rank....stupid move on my part to wear the jacket, but it's not like I was expecting any of this.

Superman and Spider-Man (who gave Pie there a nasty bruise when he shoved him) are talking to some new guy, one who's apparently shown them a vision. If what Superman's saying about it is true, then that means....my God....Galactus is following me to Earth.

I close my eyes, and let the ring's energies wash over me. As the emerald light covers me, it replaces my civilian clothing with the uniform of the Green Lantern Corps. I'm a super-hero now, it seems, so it's time I looked the part.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b73/nowhereman716/Comics/GreenLanternII_07.jpg

"If Superman's vision is for real, then I'll do everything I can do help. But I can't do that without finishing my training. I need to know where the other Green Lantern is."

I finally intervene when we all fet off topic.

"Now that you've proven your not crazy, we would be glad to help you look. But first, we need to get back on topic here. If this Galactus comes, he comes. I think we can take him, besides I've been dead once before I found it very....liberating. Let's get back on topic and discuss this...League or whatever we should call it."

[The Question]

I throw Spider-Man a smile. "Thank you, apparently I should, and I'll take your word for it."

"Now, gentlemen, let's take this inside and fill everyone in on the situation. We've got a team started, so let's use it." Everyone starts to head back in, but I stop Spider-Man before we get in the door.

"Spider-Man, one second." I pull him aside. He didn't react well to seeing Galactus, honestly, I don't know how any of us could. But I had a feeling he especially could use someone to talk to.

"Spider-Man, you know what, can I call you Spidey?" He nods his head. I smile. "Spidey, just how old are you?"

"Ah. Well, you see..."

Damn it.

"i'm 16"

[Kaboom]

"Ah. Well, you see..."

Damn it.

"i'm 16"

I give a quick look back, and continue inside.

"You all don't mind if I it in on this do you? I think my talents can be put to use."

[wiegeabo]

"Ah. Well, you see..."

Damn it.

"i'm 16"

I grunt. The kid's shaken up. And I don't blame him. But the potential he shows...I can't let him give up on himself. Not after all the good he's done.

"That's about what I thought." I can see Spider-Man looks ashamed of the fact. "I've seen heroes of all ages in the fight. Some even younger then you. How old do you think Batman's sidekick is?" He seems to perk up a bit.

"And you know, I've seen heroes, seasoned veterans of all ages, breakdown after seeing less that what we just saw in there. 16 or not, you took it pretty well. We just saw a planet die. Heck, I wanted to be sick."

"But look at you. You've got superpowers, and yet you help people when you could easily exploit your gifts. You survive being marooned on the planet of a being trying to enslave the Earth, and you still come back for more. You have great power Spider-Man. And with great power comes great responsibility."

I open the door. "You've still go a lot to learn. And it'll be hard work, there's no denying that. Personally, I think you've got what it takes. How about you?"

[The Question]

....does everyone over the age of 45 have the same writers doing their diologue for them?


Anyway, I look at him and smile.

"Just make sure we find a new headquarters. I can't fly or run faster than sound or afford fancy corperate jets, and the commute from New York to Gotham is murder."

[wiegeabo]

I give a quick look back, and continue inside.

"You all don't mind if I it in on this do you? I think my talents can be put to use."

I turn from Spider-Man to Captain...Marvel was it? After all these years, I can spot a rookie a mile a way. But I can also see when someone really wants to help.

"Listen, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I don't know you. But you're intentions seem good. Come on in, and well see if you can help." I lower my voice. "And maybe you'll learn a thing or two," I say with a wink.

[wiegeabo]

....does everyone over the age of 45 have the same writers doing their diologue for them?


Anyway, I look at him and smile.

"Just make sure we find a new headquarters. I can't fly or run faster than sound or afford fancy corperate jets, and the commute from New York to Gotham is murder."

That makes me smile. "I'll see what I can do about that. Shall we?" I lead the pair into the Brownstone.

[Kaboom]

After everyone was back inside the brownstone, and settled in, there was a drawn out silent pause. As if everyone was waiting for the groups leader to start the meeting. For whatver reason, he...or she, was remaining quiet. So i asked what I thought was a simple question.

"Whos in charge here?"

[Kaboom]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/Mephisto.jpg

"A scheme to add the power of Shazam to my own, and bind the world's mightiest mortal to my will....I am intrigues Johann...what possible benefit could this be to you?"

"I have my own objectives Mephisto...now either the deal is made or you can return to wherever it is you come from."

"A pact then Johann Schmidt....and I look forward to the day you come to me for eternity."

If all goes as I have planned, it is you, Mephisto, that will come to me.

[Watchman]

"News at Six will be right back we are experiencing technical difficulties" a disturbing photo of the Joker shooting a camera man in the back was flashed on the screen as a voice said. Soon most televisions in Gotham now were broadcasting the Joker's show.

"And were back with Joker at six" the Joker now pretending to be an anchorman was sitting next to the anchorwoman who had a giant grin on her face.

"Boy that squirrel can dance can't he Diane? Now back to headlines" a picture of a pourtly man was shown in the corner of the screen. "At eleven o'clock tonight Mr. Edward Harrington will be found dead at his lovely mansion. Police and the Batman will be baffled by the killer and will spend countless man hours and tax payer money to find the killer. Find out more at eleven. Also later tonight more on this mysterious Batman and how the Joker will kill him hehehahaha...now onto weather" a map of gotham was then shown covered in purple paint with Joker standing next to it.

"Thanks Joker it looks Gotham it going to hit by a wave of Joker Venom this weekend. Kids you better still do your homework cause you will still have school this week...maybe not next week though hahahahahahaha" the channel then went to static. Back at the television studio the Joker was gone for some time. That was just a recording hoping to get the attention of the Batman. Although he did leave something behind one big fat bomb. He had to hurry and get ready though he had a date at the Harrington estate.

[Green Lantern]

IC: Connor Hawke:

So I was just beginning some R&R with this hot blonde I met in San Diego... when my goddamned pager went off. It'd been a few days since I'd completed the mission and handed the list to LD Hill. They'd sent it down to the tech guys for examination, to see who we could get out of it. This page meant that they needed me again. Great. Just f**king great.

"Sorry babe, duty calls."

"I thought you said you were in investment banker?"

"I am, one of our clients, well, he just got caught embezzling. I'm crisis management, so I gotta go get this sorted out. Catch ya when I get back to town."

She rolled her eyes at me. Hell, I'd roll my eyes at myself, I can't believe I'm leaving this perfect specimen of the female form to go see Maria Hill. Shudder.

Less than two hours later, and I was at the office.The secretary batter her lashes at me. You'd think a woman that beautiful would be deemed too big a distraction for an international espionage organization...

"Agent Hawke, you're wanted in Dugan's office."

Dugan... s**t what does the director of internal security want from me? I walked down the hallway and gently rapped on his door.

"Well getcher ass in here! What took you so long?"

"I was kind of in the middle of something... sir." I added the sir as an after thought... because I do value my life.

"You needed to see me, sir?"

"Yes, one of the men on that list is of noteworthy attention to us. His name's Clint Barton, ring a bell?"

"Uh, no sir."

"It should. You broke all his records on your way up. He was one of the best agents."

"Uh, sir.. then what's he doing on a list of..."

"That's the problem. He was also one of Hydra's best agents. Then he just disappeared. Now he's turning up again. In New York. Thats the mission I'm putting you on. We need every bit of useful intel you can get out of his penthouse office. Go see John and he'll outfit you again."

And John said that not every mission would be this James Bond/Alias s**t. I'll believe it when I see it.

[wiegeabo]

"Sir."

"Not now." I mumble into the comm link as a nose breaks under my fist. I duck a swinging crowbar and put my legs into the other muggers gut.

"Sir," Alfred says more insistantly.

"Not. Now!" I spin around, grabbing the wrist that holds the crowbar. I twist until there is a sickening crack and scream. I drop the man and turn to the third who had been too scared to fight, but not to scared to try and steal from that elderly couple. The shadow perfectly covers my body, and he can only see the lenses of my eyes. I grab him by his shirt with both hands.

"What are you!?!"

I pull him in close. "I'm-"

"Sir! You need to hear this. Now!"

Dammit!

I slam the mugger against the wall and he slumps to the ground.

I fire up a line and am launched up to a ledge on a building. "What is it Alfred."

"Let me play back the recording, sir."


"News at Six will be right back we are experiencing technical difficulties"

"And were back with Joker at six"

My eyebrow goes up. Joker? Could it be that the one I...

"Boy that squirrel can dance can't he Diane? Now back to headlines. At eleven o'clock tonight Mr. Edward Harrington will be found dead at his lovely mansion. Police and the Batman will be baffled by the killer and will spend countless man hours and tax payer money to find the killer. Find out more at eleven. Also later tonight more on this mysterious Batman and how the Joker will kill him hehehahaha...now onto weather"

That bastard. "Alfred, get me James-"

"There is more, sir."

"Thanks Joker it looks Gotham it going to hit by a wave of Joker Venom this weekend. Kids you better still do your homework cause you will still have school this week...maybe not next week though hahahahahahaha" [/quote]

That laugh freezes me in place, chilling me to the bone. I finally move again and swing down to my cycle where I had hidden it. I jump on it and check the time.

"8:03 pm."

"Yes, sir. Can you possibly make it back to Gotham in less than three hours?"

I rev my bike and peel off down the road. "Well see. In the meantime, get me in touch with James Gordon. Contact Osborne's office and leave a message to postpone our meeting. Then get yourself to Gotham as fast as you can. I'm tired of being unprepared, and that's going to change starting tonight."

[Batman]

Lex Luthor never thought of himself as a man personified by his wealth. But by his achievements for the greater good. And that fact made every decision he made all the more bearable.

Right now, he was staring at Metropolis. The city that birthed him. The city that inspired him. It practically belonged to him. But Lex didn't see it now as an inspiration. He saw it as a city in peril, apart of a world in peril. All held in the grasp of an outside invader, with powers beyond those of mortal men. Lex scowled at the thought that the people of Metropolis didn't talk about the true essence of this "Superman". Oh no, that was much too easy to ignore. They could talk about how he was faster than a speeding bullet. They could marvel at the fact that he was faster than a speeding bullet. They could praise his ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But not one seemingly knew what Superman was truly capable of: The end of human potential.

Lex held the glass of scotch in his hand, holding it up as he took a sip of it's sweet nector. But all the while, his hand shook. Because in a rare moment, Lex Luthor found himself afraid. Afraid that one day, he'd wake up to a world that Superman had destroyed. And the very fact that no one was going to do anything about it made Lex sick. But then again, what were they? Commoners, blinded by a bright crimson cloak in the sky. That's what they were. Blind.

Lex stood, his own image cast across the city in the reflection of his amassing office window. His own achievements stared back at him, reminding him of both his victories and betrayls. But he didn't think of any failings, because it was obvious to Lex that the only people that were capable of failure were the people that surrounded him. The ants, as Lex viewed them. Blind specs of nothing that only served to follow those they viewed as all powerful. When Lex thought about it, that above all was what made Superman dangerous. His influence on the ants. Superman had them wrapped around his alien fingers... And when they'd least expect it, He'd find no more use of them. Then, Lex's nightmare would truly be realised. Staring deeper out at Metropolis, Lex began to wonder if the alien was hovering above it even now, plotting that day.

No. It couldn't be tolerated. Lex wouldn't tolerate it, no matter how much the influence strengthened the blue and crimson monster. He would stop Superman, and all that acted in his image. The costumed "heroes" that asserted themselves above what this country founded with pride. A county of power. Power that did not, and would not belong to them. Lex would make sure of that. But more importantly, he would make sure to not make the same mistakes twice... Starting with his trust.

He had placed it into the wrong hands. A mistake so easily made, yet so unforgiveable to himself. And of all people, it had to be one of them. Because that's what Captain America was, all along. Just one of the ants. Lex had wished he had seen it sooner, but in the end, The Captain had walked away without concequence. And that lone fact made this and every other day just a bit darker for Lex's world. He clenched his fists, nearly breaking the scotch glass as he sat back down, turned, and slammed it down onto his desk. Oh, there would be concequence alright. Rogers would pay for his treachory; They all would. They and their kryptonian guide. Because no one gets to treat Lex Luthor like that. Ever.

Burying his head into his hands, Lex felt an oncoming headache from all the recent stress. Pressing the button on his intercom, Lex spoke out to the ever listening ear of his secretary. At least, it should've be listening. Unless she had betrayed him, too.

"Diane. An asprin, if you would."

"Yes, Sir."

Lex looked to his right, pulling open one of the drawers from behind his desk. He had another check to write for charity, as much as he hated giving to the ants. What was truly the purpose, one would ask? Why, only the best rule in big buisness: To keep up appearances, so as to never lose their loyalty. The ants could not be allowed to see his dispair, no matter how much he felt betrayed. While Superman possessed the power of a God, Lex possessed another power entirely; A power that only his public persona could achieve, with them. And it was that power that kept Lex at the top, no matter how much Superman had managed to sway each and every blind fool of the world. In the end, perhaps it would be Lex's only defense against the alien.

While searching for a pen to sign the check with, Lex immediatley paused, spotting something. A black, velvet covered steel box. Lex hadn't opened it for years, but immediatley upon viewing it, He knew of it's contents. Taking the box, Lex slowly placed it on his desk, and with a combination of slight hesistation and overwhelming curiousity, opened it. Inside rested the metal object... the one that Lex had once used to gain perhaps his greatest achievement, though he had never spoken of it. It weighed very little to Lex as he picked it up, staring at it, remembering what memories it brought. Both good and bad. The object Lex held was a semiautomatic pistol. To be exact, a Walther P99. Once banned in America... However, this token had never left Lex since the day he had last used it.

In some ways, he could've been nothing without it. One of the ants. But Luthor had made sure that didn't happen. Smiling to himself, in a newfound comfort, Lex watched as the door to his office opened, revealing Diane with a glass of water and a bottle of asprin. Lex set the weapon down on his desk, and grabbed the items as soon as she approached. Immediatley throwing two of the pills into his mouth, Lex washed them down, before looking back up at his secretary.

"Well? Why are you standing there? Get back out there and do what I'm paying you for.", Lex said, bitterly, much to Diane's dismay. But not to her surprise, of course.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor."

As Diane turned to leave, Lex looked down at the handgun on his desk. He couldn't quite penpoint it, but something about the way it reflected off the light made Lex feel... differently. As if he was possessed. But he knew for a fact that he was still very much in control. And that, unfortunatley, was what was so strange about Lex's attraction to the weapon.

"I take that back, Diane.", Lex stated, as Diane turned back around, slowly. "There is something else."

Lex reached forward, pulling the handgun closer to himself, never taking his eyes off of it as he spoke.

"Do you know the last thing that my father ever said to me?", Lex asked. Before Diane could answer, Lex looked up at her. "Of course not. I've never told anyone that."

Standing from his desk once again, Lex walked around it, looking back out at Metropolis as he passed the window.

"You see, for all that was said about my father, He was actually quite a brilliant man. Perhaps the only man I will ever deem as being my superior, if I were to be that generous. But the last thing he told me, was something I'll truly never forget.", Lex began, leaning against the front of his desk as he looked Diane, eye to eye. "He told me that the true key to success was tolerance. That finding a balance between both sides of it would truly make or break a man's control on his attained power."

Diane simply stood, staring back at her employer, hanging on his every word. But unbeknownst to her, Lex's hand began to creep behind himself, out of view. All a concious effort, on Lex's part. But then again... No one had to know that.

"It was quite insightful to say the least. I've taken the advice to heart ever since, and it truly has proven useful.", Lex continued. "But there is a darker side to this little tale of success, Diane. Because you see, the day my father told me that... I was something of the opposite. Intolerant."

Lex hung his head, for a brief moment.

"When I became intolerant, I became unstable. Uncontrollable. A true monster exploited by my own desire for that greater power.", Lex said, looking up at her. "And do you know what happened next, Diane?"

Diane spoke, a bit confused by all of this.

"No, Lex, I d-"


*BLAM*


Immediatley, Diane fell to the floor, dead. Her blood poured from the bullet wound, creating a puddle right infront of Lex's feet. And all the while, Lex couldn't stop staring at his hand, which held the semiautomatic. He didn't cry. He wasn't shocked. He didn't even feel an ounce of remorse in his body. Because he knew exactly what he was doing. He didn't even need to worry about the corpse... because he had already thought that through from the beginning she began working under his employment. The corpse would be disposed of in an eastern part of Suicide Slum. One that had been recently attacked by Intergang; an attack Lex himself had kept tabs on for the past week. With no evidence against him, and rather... incriminating evidence against Intergang, Lex knew he would walk away from this like it was nothing.

But first, he desired a final word with his ex-employee.

"Well. Now you do. Consider that your early resignation.", Lex said, placing the handgun back on his desk, before turning, and walking over to the bleeding corpse sprawled out on his marble floor. Kicking the corpse over so it faced him, Lex looked down upon it, as if it were still alive.

"Another thing about my father? He really was quite full of it. And believe me... He was far from my superior.", Lex continued, with a slight smile creeping upon his face as he spoke once more. "I guess in the end, that's really what led to his untimely demise. Ignoring the semiautomatic I held in my hand to kill both him and you, of course."

Lex looked down at the bloodied face of his ex-employee with a mock pity. Even in death, incompetitence and weakness was not to be deserved of a shred of dignity. As Lex's late father would attest, in a tragic form of irony.

"You see, my dearly departed... I have feared intolerance since that very day. But more importantly, I have feared power, in unrightful hands.", Lex said, his mock pity fading as he turned around, looking back at Metropolis.

"This "Superman" possesses power beyond what I'm sure any of us mere mortals could've ever dreamed. Truly, his entire race could have very well been one of God's masterpieces of creation.", Lex said, turning back to Diane's bloodied corpse. "So what happens when he becomes intolerant? We perish. Along with anything and everything we could ever hope to achieve. I'm not about to let that dark day be realised, so I have come to quite a simple conclusion..."

Lex was quiet, for a long moment, as he stared at Metropolis for the final time before he'd dispose of the body. His own reflection stared back at him, as he uttered a phrase that could very well destine the rest of his life. Because now, Lex was more determined than ever to save the world. No matter who opposed him. These freaks would answer to Earth's savior in due time. But it would take alot of planning... Alot of strategy. Something Lex found himself to be particularly skilled at.

"No more games."

http://img10.imagepile.net/img10/777Bright_luthor.png

"It's time to get serious with these people."

[Byrd Man]

After everyone was back inside the brownstone, and settled in, there was a drawn out silent pause. As if everyone was waiting for the groups leader to start the meeting. For whatver reason, he...or she, was remaining quiet. So i asked what I thought was a simple question.

"Whos in charge here?"

I catch my hand halfway through rasing it.

"I am...I was I mean, This is Flash's operation now. It was my fault that the JSA ever disbanded and now Jay's the one here to pick up the peices. Let's begin, shall we?"

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

I casually float in the air, arms crossed, not making any direct eye contact with anyone. There's so much on my mind... So much to consider. I think I only just realised how much this is going to change my routine... even my life, as a whole. Will I even have time to be Clark Kent, if I serve on this?

Stop it, Clark. You don't even need to think about that. You are Clark. There's no question about it; no avoiding it. You're even more Clark than you're Superman. There'll always be time to be him, no matter what.

So I guess the question is... how I'll be able to make time. But that's a question for later, I guess. We still haven't even named the team yet. I'll have plenty of time to consider it all when I get back to Metropolis.

I look up, as Captain America speaks.

I catch my hand halfway through rasing it.

"I am...I was I mean, This is Flash's operation now. It was my fault that the JSA ever disbanded and now Jay's the one here to pick up the peices. Let's begin, shall we?"

Good thing we're on the same page. I'd hate to find myself at odds with this man, of all people...

"I agree. The Flash has put the most effort into this cause... I think it's only fair that he be the one to give us something to go off of.", I say, turning to him.

"Whatever that may be, of course.", I continue, with a smile.

I don't care what that vision meant... I trust The Flash. At least enough to leave myself and the rest of us in his hands. Whatever this team is going to become, it'll be off of his example, and his inspiration. Personally, I couldn't feel better, knowing that.

[Byrd Man]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif

I finish off my beer and look around.

"Well, Ladies and Gents. I showed up to say I'm in support of this thing. I think I better get back to Star. Good luck deciding on a team name and all that. I have a suggestion for a name 'The Green Arrow Experience Featuring Spider-Man.' I'm out."

I stand up, shake Captain America's hand. Bow to Wonder Woman, wave at Flash and turn to Stark.

"Now don't drink and fly, tin man."

I grab my leather jacket and head out the door.

"See ya, Webhead and Big Blue. Scuse me Chongo."

I side step the muscely guy wearing the thunderbolt on his chest and crank up my bike.

The tires squell as the private jet touches back down to the California sun. I step out and look at the bay town of Star City. It's time to get back to work and clean up my city, word has it that Dr. Hook actually survived that little tussle we went through a few weeks ago. Tonight, I hunt

[Kaboom]

"I agree. The Flash has put the most effort into this cause... I think it's only fair that he be the one to give us something to go off of.", I say, turning to him.

"Whatever that may be, of course.", I continue, with a smile.
.

"The Flash? Fantastic." I look around the room, slightly puzzled. "Where is he?"

[wiegeabo]

"The Flash? Fantastic." I look around the room, slightly puzzled. "Where is he?"

"Right here," I say as Spider-Man and I enter the room. "You know, this is the second time I've been 'volunteered' to lead the team. But it's no less flattering. I'll accept the position again...at least until we have a proper election."

I take a seat at the table, and motion for the others to do the same, if they want. "I guess the first order of business should be...well, honestly, I'm not sure what the first order of business should be." I chuckle at that. All this time setting this up, and I'm not sure where to go from here.

"We've seen a lot today, that's for sure. And if Galactus is coming, I think the one thing we're going to need if we're going to face it, or anything else...is training."

"Now you talkin' my language," Ted says as he cracks his knuckles. "Show you guys a thing or two, or three."

[Batman]

"Right here," I say as Spider-Man and I enter the room. "You know, this is the second time I've been 'volunteered' to lead the team. But it's no less flattering. I'll accept the position again...at least until we have a proper election."

I take a seat at the table, and motion for the others to do the same, if they want. "I guess the first order of business should be...well, honestly, I'm not sure what the first order of business should be." I chuckle at that. All this time setting this up, and I'm not sure where to go from here.

"We've seen a lot today, that's for sure. And if Galactus is coming, I think the one thing we're going to need if we're going to face it, or anything else...is training."

"Now you talkin' my language," Ted says as he cracks his knuckles. "Show you guys a thing or two, or three."

I sit back down between Captain America and Wonder Woman, raising my eyebrow at the one they call "The Wildcat".

"But where would we?", I ask. "This building doesn't seem like the best place for us to exert our more powerful abilities. If we're going to train our powers, I think we're going to need alot more space."

[Green Lantern]

I sit back down between Captain America and Wonder Woman, raising my eyebrow at the one they call "The Wildcat".

"But where would we?", I ask. "This building doesn't seem like the best place for us to exert our more powerful abilities. If we're going to train our powers, I think we're going to need alot more space.""I could help that situation. Recently I bought some land in the Nevada desert. Four thousand acres of private land enough for our purposes?"

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"I could help that situation. Recently I bought some land in the Nevada desert. Four thousand acres of private land enough for our purposes?"

...

"I... um... yes. Yes, I think that would be enough."

And to think Perry called me a well spoken reporter. Now I just realised the hint of sarcasm in his voice...

[The Question]

"Umm, how exactly are we going to get there? If you haven't noticed, some of us can't fly or move faster than sound or have expensive corperate aircraft."

[Green Lantern]

"Umm, how exactly are we going to get there? If you haven't noticed, some of us can't fly or move faster than sound or have expensive corperate aircraft.""Some of us DO have expensive corporate aircraft, that I could write off JUST for the purpose of superteam transportation. Or... you could walk. Might get tiring though, and I doubt you'll find buildings in Kansas to websling from."

Tony grinned under the helmet.

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"Some of us DO have expensive corporate aircraft, that I could write off JUST for the purpose of superteam transportation. Or... you could walk. Might get tiring though, and I doubt you'll find buildings in Kansas to websling from."

Tony grinned under the helmet.


...Kansas?

Did he just say... Kansas? The same Kansas that I grew up in for the better part of my life? ...We're going to be shooting lasers and destroying property in the same state that Ma and Pa are in?!

"Where exactly in Kansas, Tony? If you don't mind me asking, that is..."

[Green Lantern]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif



...Kansas?

Did he just say... Kansas? The same Kansas that I grew up in for the better part of my life? ...We're going to be shooting lasers and destroying property in the same state that Ma and Pa are in?!

"Where exactly in Kansas, Tony? If you don't mind me asking, that is..."...Definitely has dumb jock syndrome. "Uh nowhere in particular. Just figured if there is one state with no tall buildings ... or trees... it'd be the great wasteland of Kansas."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

...Definitely has dumb jock syndrome. "Uh nowhere in particular. Just figured if there is one state with no tall buildings ... or trees... it'd be the great wasteland of Kansas."

"As long as we're not putting anyone in danger.", I respond, turning back to Flash.

I guess I really don't have any reason to worry. Four thousand acres is more than enough to cut us off from the rest of civilisation. Maybe I can even stay back at the farm, when we go there. I need to help out more anyway... Even though he doesn't say it, Pa is getting older. He's not as capable of handling all of the farmwork like he used to be. It certainly wouldn't hurt if I began pitching in a little more...

"Amazons were born warriors, trained for combat from mere childhood. I really need no training.", Wonder Woman says.

I turn to her.

"Then we can use the training as a means of seeing what exactly you can do.", I suggest.

She looks at me, for a moment, before giving a nod.

"I suppose that is reasonable,", She responds. "Though I do wonder... why the curiousity?"

I shrug.

"I guess I just want to know how far I should keep my distance in battle.", I reply. "After all, I don't want to end up like Oliver Queen."

[Green Lantern]

"As long as we're not putting anyone in danger.", I respond, turning back to Flash.

Yup... DEFINITELY dumb jock. With emphasis on the dumb.

"Uh Supes, can I call you Supes? You do realize I meant the Kansas thing as a zing at ol' Webfeet here right? We have to pass THROUGH Kansas on the way to NEVADA. Thats where my wasteland is."


"Amazons were born warriors, trained for combat from mere childhood. I really need no training.", Wonder Woman says.


"Then we can use the training as a means of seeing what exactly you can do.",

"I suppose that is reasonable,", She responds. "Though I do wonder... why the curiousity?"


"I guess I just want to know how far I should keep my distance in battle.", I reply. "After all, I don't want to end up like Oliver Queen."

"What? A womanizing, fiancee stealing, Al Gore sucking, liberal jackass with poor fashion taste?"

[Kaboom]

I raised my hand and started speaking.

"Wisdom, flight, speed, strength, and power on near-Superman levels, control of magic, vast amount of inner strength and courage, and the ability to grant portions of my abilities to others, like how I Superman was able to prophecy through me...."

Everyone just kind of looked at me perplexingly.

"You know, in case anyone is wondering."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"As long as we're not putting anyone in danger.", I respond, turning back to Flash.

Yup... DEFINITELY dumb jock. With emphasis on the dumb.

"Uh Supes, can I call you Supes? You do realize I meant the Kansas thing as a zing at ol' Webfeet here right? We have to pass THROUGH Kansas on the way to NEVADA. Thats where my wasteland is."

Oh.

"...I'd rather you not call me 'Supes', but okay. I apologise for the misunderstanding."

I was so focused on when he mentioned Kansas that I didn't realise what he really meant. And I call Lois paranoid...

"After all, I don't want to end up like Oliver Queen."

"What? A womanizing, fiancee stealing, Al Gore sucking, liberal jackass with poor fashion taste?"


I raise an eyebrow. I was actually referring to when Wonder Woman threw Queen over her head, earlier.

It's more than clear that these two don't like eachother... But does that really give him any grounds to badmouth another member of this team, during this proceeding? I mean, surely they can conquer their differences in order to work together; I'm already trying to make sure I can do so with Nick Fury.

"...Actually, I-... You know, we should probably just get back on topic.", I respond. "Is there anything else to discuss, aside from training?"

[Green Lantern]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif



Oh.

"...I'd rather you not call me 'Supes', but okay. I apologise for the misunderstanding."

I was so focused on when he mentioned Kansas that I didn't realise what he really meant. And I call Lois paranoid...



I raise an eyebrow. I was actually referring to when Wonder Woman threw Queen over her head, earlier.

It's more than clear that these two don't like eachother... But does that really give him any grounds to badmouth another member of this team, during this proceeding? I mean, surely they can conquer their differences in order to work together; I'm already trying to make sure I can do so with Nick Fury.

"...Actually, I-... You know, we should probably just get back on topic.", I respond. "Is there anything else to discuss, aside from training?""Membership dues?"

As sharp looks glared at him from around the room, Tony shrugged, though he had been half serious.

I mean all this s**t isn't free...

"Just showing you that I do have a sense of humor. You guys can relax a little. 'Sides, its a nice tax write off."

[The Question]

"Umm, I have a question. As a whole, we could easily wipe a heavly armed third world country off the map in an afternoon. How exactly is the government going to feel about this little team?"

[Kaboom]

Deep in the secret underground conclave sat a man in a white gown, reflecting on the events that were coming to pass. Events that had forced him to forge an alliance with Johann Schmidt, also called The Red Skull and Wanda Maximoff, the mutant terrorist named The Scarlett Witch.

The irony was not lost on him. He was one of the top three influential heroes of the Allies in WWII, though least well-known, and now he was allied with the soldier who had one been one of his greatest foes. Additionally he found himself paired with a mutant who would sooner see him dead. But she was absolutely critical to the events he had planned since he had first recognized that Galactus was coming.

Galactus, the ancient devourer of worlds that had destroyed his first homeworld thousands of years ago, the consequences of which still raged.

Of course, strange times call for strange bedfellows. The man was pleased thus far with how his plan was proceeding. The deal with Mephisto should have been brokered by now, the events leading to the journey to the anti-world should be in place. The plan was unfolding as it must. The Scarlet Witch's influence had already proved invaluable.

But soon, the time would be at hand. Galactus would arrive and as he looked down at his hands he realized, that even if the world never knew of him, he would willingly save his adopted hoomeworld even if it meant having to pay the...

"Ultimate Sacrifice."

[Batman]

IC: Lex Luthor

Metropolis and the world were still in peril. But there was a bit of good news. Superman would not be in Metropolis for the day... Which, whether the alien knew it or not, gave Lex all the time in the world to strategise his attack without unessacary interference. Calling to the alternate scientific division of Lexcorp, which was actually an unknown facility underneath the very building Lex was in now, He watched as the hired specialist in genetic mutation from New York greeted him onscreen of his computer monitor.

"Doctor Connors.", Lex stated, with obvious frustration. "Please tell me you have improved the status of development from the last time called you."

Curt Connors nodded.

"We have, sir.", Connors responded. "Though by only a slim margian, I'm afraid."

Lex raised an eyebrow.

"Well for your sake, I hope that improves rather promptly. Otherwise I can't assure you of the added grant I promised you for your donation to Stark Industries.", Lex responded. "So what exactly is the status of everything?"

Connors paused, for a moment, before continuing. He was obviously a bit nervous. Part of Lex found a slight joy in that. No matter what Superman took away from him, he still had an edge. Prescence.

"Well, on Project M-520, there are slight complications. We've managed to find a volunteer, in a mister Johnathan Corben. But the fuel source for the adamantium cybernetic body we designed may not be sufficiant enough for a long period of use. At least, not long enough for your intent with it.", Conners responded.

"That's exactly what you told me four hours ago, Doctor. I asked for the developments, not what I already know.", Lex coldly responded.

Connors nodded again.

"Well... um, actually... the developments are in relation to the fuel source. When the earlier results came in, we ran tests in using solar powered enhancements to improve the function, but it didn't seem to give us any better of a result. So, we turned to radiation. And in our research, we actually found that one of the samples of a meteorite in one of the other laboratories produces a better, and ultimately longer lasting power source to the metallic structure.", Connors stated.

"Intriguing.", Lex said, curious after the news of the meteorite. "That's the meteor fragment that LexCorp recently attained control of in the Eastern sector of your division, correct?"

"Yes. Though I do wonder how LexCorp managed to get ahold of it.", Connors responded.

A smirk soon came upon Lex's face, at that. He could understand the questioning. It was known throughout that entire division of LexCorp that the kryptonian General Zod's body had been seized by SHIELD, along with the meteor fragments found with it. But even Nick Fury would be surprised at how much Lex held control of. He even had a pawn in Fury's own organisation. Truly, in the end, no one was truly out of reach of Lex Luthor. Not Nick Fury or SHIELD, and especially not Superman.

"Quite the conundrum indeed, Doctor. But I have my ways. We'll leave it at that.", Lex responded. "You were going to say something else?",

"Actually, I was... there is a slight precaution in using the meteorite in this particular proceedure."

"And that is?"

"Due to the meteorite's suspected origin, the level of radiation could affect Corben's brain fuction. Perhaps damage, or even kill it over a long period of time."

Lex remained silent, for a long moment.

"Proceed anyway.", Lex responded. "We'll have plenty of time to worry about that after Corben completes his assigned task."

Lex narrowed his eyes, before speaking again.

"And the other project? The one we enlisted Mr. Jones for?", Lex asked, both intrigued and stern in his voice.

"It was... difficult, getting the subject moved from Stryker's Island to our labs. But so far, his mutagenic improvements have been very impressive. Upon absorbing the energy supply we provided for him, His strength seems to have at least triplified from when he was originally brought in."

A smile slowly crawled Lex's face. But not one of warmth. But rather, pleasure, in knowing this information.

"Excellent. Keep at it, Doctor.", He responded. "And alternatively, I have another project for you to look after."

"Oh?"

"The meteorite.", Lex began. "I want to know everything about it. It's properties, radiation levels... Everything."

"Why exactly would you want to know any of that?", Connors asked.

"I seemed to forget paying you to ask questions, Doctor,", Lex responded, even colder than before. "But if you must know... That rock descended from the heavens along with our alien associate. And since he possesses the power of a god... I'm willing to take the chance in knowing if that meteorite is the reasoning behind it. If that is indeed the case, we may be on the verge to discovering the key to immortality. You want to unlock that pandora's box, don't you, Curt?", Lex asked.

"I... Quite frankly, Mr. Luthor, I'm not sure. I'm not sure about any of this, really.", Connors hesitantly stated.

"Come now. It's not as if I'm asking you to do anything... criminal. We're going to save the world from a valid threat. You do want to save the world, don't you?", Lex questioned.

"I guess..."

"Then you'll be happy to continue development.", Lex stated. "The future of the Weapon Plus program depends on it. Good day."

Turning off the video feed, Lex began thinking to himself once more.

It seemed everything was falling into place. Soon, the world would be rid of not only Superman, but all those of which threatened the world in a similar capacity. Mutantkind, as they were called: Humans with both extraordinary and dangerous superhuman abilities. Lex despised them, seeing them as just the sort of threat Superman was. And because of that, they would all perish. He would make sure of it.

Being alerted of an incoming message on his computer, Lex pressed the button and sat back, seeing the face of a man he would have otherwise chosen not to see. Another type of filth that plagued this planet.

"Mr. Manheim.", Lex greeted, unamused. "So good of you to respond to my little memo."

"Yeah, Yeah... Just what the hell's this about, Luthor?", The mafia leader responded, sounding particularly annoyed. "You got another dock for us ta put on fire or somethin'?"

Lex paused, before answering. He immediatley regretted ever doing buisness with someone of Manheim's mental capacity.

"Actually, I called you to ask a small question.", Lex began, standing up and towering over the computer monitor.

"Precisely two weeks ago, you asked for more weapons for your little 'Intergang' that I had previously put so much effort into funding. I rejected your request, because you did not deserve them yet. Yet yesterday morning, I received a fax from my own personal consigliere of affairs, telling me that you did, infact, recieve new weapons when he visited your warehouse the previous day. Yet... I had not given the approval for you to aqquire such technology."

Lex looked at Manheim, angrily.

"Tell me, Manheim... Is there something wrong with this picture?"

Manheim was suddenly silent, for a long moment.

"Well, I mean... You gotta understand-"

"-No. I don't. You, however, obviously do.", Lex stated. "Understand this. Yesterday, I ended my evening by shooting my secretary at point blank range, right in the head. Needless to say, the wound effectively lead to her immediate expiration."

Manheim's jaw dropped, hearing this.

"Now of course, this begs the question: Why would I, with so much to lose and so little to gain, commit such an act? Well, the answer is quite simple.", Lex continued. "She, like you, undermined my authority. Those weapons came from somewhere, and because of your lacking ability to cover tracks, it didn't take long to figure out where."

Lex peered into Manheim's eyes, with a fury that made the mafia leader turn away, slightly.

"But of course, I couldn't just fire the woman. That would be far too damaging to buisness. She knew too much of my other operations within Metropolis. All for a noble cause, yes, but try explaining that keeping ties to the mafia was a means of controlling the city's crime to the Governor."

"You... used me?!", Manheim asked, angrily.

"The fact that you're suprised by this only confirms your idiocy.", Lex responded. "Yes, I used you. Played you like the pretentious puppet that you really are. Just as I will your replacement."

"MY WHAT?!?!", Manheim yelled. "What replacement?! What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Why, the one that Intergang is going to need for when you're arrested on charges of first degree murder, of course.", Lex explained, with a sick smile now spread across his face.

"THE HELL?! I DIDN'T-"

"Technically, yes, you did. When you coaxed the woman into bypassing my order with your rather... disgusting charm.", Lex stated.

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME DOWN LIKE I'M ONE'A YOUR LACKEYS! I... I'LL TELL THEM ALL ABOUT YOU! WHAT KINDA MAN YOU REALLY ARE, YOU SICK BALD SON OF A-"

"Now that wouldn't be very wise, considering I know every judge in this side of the country, now would it?", Lex asked. "You'll be lucky to recieve anything less than a double life sentance, at this point. Especially after the bald comment."

Lex leaned closer to the screen.

"I don't take too kindly to those types of insults, incase you haven't heard.", Lex finished, angrily.

Manheim's face expressed both shock and a large amount of stress, as he sat back down in his own chair.

"You'll plead guilty. Then you may have a slight chance at parole.", Lex stated.

Manheim was still, for a moment, but eventually nodded. Lex smiled.

"Good man. See you in court. I'll be testifying on behalf of your poor, innocent victim.", Lex sarcastically replied.

Before signing off, Lex turned to Manheim. "Oh, and Manheim? Let this be a lesson to you. Never undermine Lex Luthor."

Cutting off the frequency just as Manheim prepared to punch the screen out, Lex rerouted it to another source, and watched as yet another face appeared infront of him.

"Mr. Edge. Intergang is your's. Do try and meet your expectations."

"Yes, sir. But do you think I'll have any interference from Manheim?"

Lex smirked.

"Doubtful. I'm giving him a triple life sentance.", Lex responded. "After all, we must do everything in our power to keep these ...criminals off the streets."

"Understood. Pleasure doing buisness, Lex."

"Likewise.", Lex stated, cutting off the frequency for a final time.

Getting up, Lex walked over to the window, looking out at Metropolis once again. Particularly, he looked towards the sky, rather satisfied with himself. If you can read minds, alien... know this:

Metropolis belongs to me.

[Kaboom]

Many, many light years away, in a universe nearly identical and yet in every way opposite to our own, The Scarlet Witch floated in its center, dangerously close to its sun, the source of power that sustained it. She opened her mouth and whispered one, tiny word.

"off"

with that one tiny word, the sun, the source of qwards power was negated and the revolt began.

[Kaboom]

it began as a whisper.

"M a r v e l"

that only I could hear. Or at least thought only I could hear. As the rest of the heroes discussed various topics, I recognized that someone, somewhere was calling for me.

"Excuse me," I said as I stood up from where i had been sitting and walked to the television set.
"Marvel"

I flipped it on to a news report already in progress. Footage showed a giant crater in the middle of Centennial park in Metropolis. Climbing from the crater was a beautiful woman dressed in a red unitard and tights who had flowing brown hair. Her costume was ravaged, nearly torn apart, and her exposed skin was covered with soot and ash.
"MARVEL"
The voice thundered again. I watched as the woman inched closer and closer to the screen, until the fullness of her face was in plan view. Words could not describe her beauty.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/witch.jpg

And then she looked directly into the screen and said my name. "Marvel."

"I'm sorry fellows. It appears I am needed."

and I was off.

[Andy C.]

"Umm, I have a question. As a whole, we could easily wipe a heavly armed third world country off the map in an afternoon. How exactly is the government going to feel about this little team?"

(IC: Nick Fury)

"Glad you asked; I was startin' to feel left out," said the Colonel, still pacing back and forth between the super-humans.

While it was good to see Jay and Cap and Ted working together again, as well as people picking up Alan and Hippolyta's roles, there were still quite a few uncertainties about the others. He now knew the identities of Iron Man and Green Arrow, but that did very little to help; Tony Stark and Oliver Queen were both very unpredictable people with a lot of money and power, and it was obvious they didn't like each other. This new Green Lantern was a soldier, yes, but digging up Hal Jordan's information showed a long record of disciplinary charges and time served for a DUI. Despite extensive research, S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to turn up very little about Superman, other than some sort of connection with the Daily Planet. And he still knew next to nothing about Spider-Man or this newcomer, Captain Marvel.

"Every one of you has powers or resources that are virtually unmatched by anything else on this planet. Combined, there very well may be nothing on Earth that could stop you from doing whatever you want. You could easily become the most powerful group of people alive. Quite frankly, that idea is going to scare a lot of people, namely the people who currently have that power. You're going to have enemies in high places, and certain people in certain high places want to be sure that you're not enemies yourselves.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. offers a deal, a sort of unofficial affiliation. We provide funding and information for this team, as well as keep some of the irritants off of your back. In return, you may be called to rein in certain metahumans too dangerous to contain otherwise. You scratch our backs, we scratch yours. And the American people gain the most out of all of it.

"This isn't the old JSA, this isn't the Invaders, this isn't my Howling Commandos. But just because there's no major war on doesn't mean the danger isn't real. You're going to be slinging around some serious power, and there are going to be a lot of people who want it. So before you all set up shop and open up for business, we want to know that you're going to be on the right side...."

Fury took another puff from his cigar, waiting for their response.

[Byrd Man]

I listen as they all talk about training and where to train.

"It doesn't matter if you've been trained are not. Each one of us has been trained in some sort of combat or skill set, but we've trained by ourselves and learned to shoulder the burden alone. The main objective of our training is to learn to work and communicate as one symbiotic being, not as a bunch of confused loners, we need to learn to help each other and watch each other's backs."

I look at Superman and smile.

"Besides, not all of us can be hit with a nuclear bomb and live to tell about it."

(IC: Nick Fury)

"Glad you asked; I was startin' to feel left out," said the Colonel, still pacing back and forth between the super-humans.

While it was good to see Jay and Cap and Ted working together again, as well as people picking up Alan and Hippolyta's roles, there were still quite a few uncertainties about the others. He now knew the identities of Iron Man and Green Arrow, but that did very little to help; Tony Stark and Oliver Queen were both very unpredictable people with a lot of money and power, and it was obvious they didn't like each other. This new Green Lantern was a soldier, yes, but digging up Hal Jordan's information showed a long record of disciplinary charges and time served for a DUI. Despite extensive research, S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to turn up very little about Superman, other than some sort of connection with the Daily Planet. And he still knew next to nothing about Spider-Man or this newcomer, Captain Marvel.

"Every one of you has powers or resources that are virtually unmatched by anything else on this planet. Combined, there very well may be nothing on Earth that could stop you from doing whatever you want. You could easily become the most powerful group of people alive. Quite frankly, that idea is going to scare a lot of people, namely the people who currently have that power. You're going to have enemies in high places, and certain people in certain high places want to be sure that you're not enemies yourselves.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. offers a deal, a sort of unofficial affiliation. We provide funding and information for this team, as well as keep some of the irritants off of your back. In return, you may be called to rein in certain metahumans too dangerous to contain otherwise. You scratch our backs, we scratch yours. And the American people gain the most out of all of it.

"This isn't the old JSA, this isn't the Invaders, this isn't my Howling Commandos. But just because there's no major war on doesn't mean the danger isn't real. You're going to be slinging around some serious power, and there are going to be a lot of people who want it. So before you all set up shop and open up for business, we want to know that you're going to be on the right side...."

Fury took another puff from his cigar, waiting for their response.


"Settle down, Nick. It dobut you'll have to worry about anyone going rogue here. As for your offer, of coruse I'm in. Seeing as how I'm something of a part time agent for S.H.I.E.L.D."

[wiegeabo]

We watch Captain Marvel leave as suddenly as he arrived. Where is he off too?

Then Nick chimes in and I wince at the mention of the group carrying out SHIELD tasks. I know what's coming next.

"Whoa, hold on one damn minute there, Nick. If you were any other man, I'd tell you where you can shove your SHIELD support. No way I'm being SHIELD's little soldier boy, going out on your every whim. That me be fine by Steve, but he's just being a good soldier. My service ended a long long time ago."

I sigh. "In part, I have to agree with Ted. The JSA always worked without government oversight, although we did work with the government plenty of times. Especially during the war. And I'm not fond of the idea of doing SHIELD's dirty work."

I look up at Nick, and then the others. "But we could really use the funding and support. I can't put all of this on Tony and Ollie. As rich as they are, there's a good chance we could end up hurting them professionally, and suck a good deal of their resources dry. And we'd also have governmental protection in case something serious goes wrong."

I look at the group around me. And I notice one face absent. For the first time in a while, I wonder where Dinah is. I realize that things had been happening so fast, I didn't even realize I that I hadn't been concerned she wasn't here. I even tried to convince Tony, and myself, that everything was ok. But she wanted this so bad, to be part of the team, nothing would keep her away. She was so exicted when I asked if I could join too. A little smile tugs at my lips when I think about how she'd claped excitedly. Then the smile fades because she's not here to share in it.

I put the thought aside, for the moment. I'll talk to Ted and Tony after the meeting. I want to know why we haven't seen her today, and why she couldn't make it.

"I'm not sure where I stand, and I think we know where Ted stands."

"Hey, either way I'll help train you, even if you think your already experienced," Ted says, throwing a cocky grin towards Steve, "but I'm not doing the government's dirty work."

"Ok. Where does everyone else stand?"

[Kaboom]

The crater was larger than I imagined as I landed by Centennial Park. To say I was more than slightly concerned that this woman already knew who I was after having only adopted this persona hours ago, would be understatement. Never the less, it was still a situation I was forced to monitor.

She was waiting for me when I arrived.
"Greetings Captain Marvel," she said.

"How do you know who I am?"

"I don't. I mean, I was told to come find you."

"By who?"

"Beings in the anti-verse known as Qward. It is an anti-matter universe that is nearly identical to our own. There was a battle for control between Sinestro, Qward's rightful leader, and that universe's version of you. During the battle, Qward's Captain Marvel unleashed a magic spell that essentially turned off Qward's sun, the source of Qward's power. Sinestro believes only way to restore the sun's power and stop Qward from destruction is to recharge the sun. The only way to do that, would be..."

"Through me."

"The opposite of the spell used to turn the sun off. Yes."

"I'm afraid I don't know the spell though."

"That can be taken care of. Sinestro waits for us. Will you come?"

I thought about it for a few seconds before responding. This is what it meant to be a hero.

"I shall. But first, please, tell me your name."

"You can call me the Scarlet Witch."

I offered my hand. "Let us go and save this Qward."

[Kaboom]

The Scarlet Witch and I floated at the dimensional gateway many light years from earth.

"I appreciate you granting me the portion of your ability allowing you to exist in outerspace without the aid of a suit or space ship."

"Its faster this way. Tell me how did you learn of this gateway."

"An interstellar traveler, whos original homeworld was destroyed by Galctus informed me of its existence. Its how I have made all my journeys to Qward and where I first encountered Sinestro."

"And why must we use this Gateway?"

"As i told you before, Qward is an anti-verse, composed entirely of anti-matter."

"So without reversing our positively charged molecules, if we were to enter the anti-verse..."

"It would be intstantly destroyed. I have contacted Sinestro and he is awaiting us on the otherside of the gateway. He will explain to you the magic needed to re-start Qward's sun. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Passing through the interstellar gateway was unlike anything I had ever imagined. A fuzziness overcame me. It was as if i was a sock coming out of a dryer, infused with all sorts of strange energy. But then we re-immerged in Qward and just as the Scarlet Witch had told me, the man named Sinestro was waiting for us, enveloped in a golden flame of energy.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/sinestro.jpg

[Byrd Man]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3220/greenarrowlogoqy8.gif





The tires squell as the private jet touches back down to the California sun. I step out and look at the bay town of Star City. It's time to get back to work and clean up my city, word has it that Dr. Hook actually survived that little tussle we went through a few weeks ago. Tonight, I hunt

Same old same old tonight. I caught a guy trying to steal a car and stopped a would be burglar from breaking in a house. I'm perched on a building when an alarm goes off, not one alarm but two alarms. It's a fire alarm and a burglar from the sounds of it, it's near the Star First Financial. When I get there I see a maniac with a torch about to cut open the safe.

"Sorry, your overdrawn."

I let my boxing glove arrow loose and it slams him hard to the ground as it hits him dead in the chest.

"You wanna fight, mate? Let's do it."

http://associazioni.monet.modena.it/glamazonia/x-men/gallery/immagini/cards01/pyro.jpg

I dodge a massive fireball and turn back to the man, he's either one of those mutants they talk about, or a human dashboard lighter.

I hit the deck as a wave of flames shaped as a dragon nearly burn me to a crisp.

"Oh damn."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif


"Ok. Where does everyone else stand?"

I...

Well, quite honestly, I really don't know what to say... My thoughts remain indifferent. On one hand, I think getting on the goverment's good side is a wise decision, if we're going to be operating in the manner we always have. On the other... Fury isn't a man I can truly say that I trust. He's been investigating me and my ties to The Daily Planet. I don't take too kindly to being put under a microscope like that... It's what Ma and Pa always feared would happen, when I was growing up.

But then again... Maybe if I earned Fury's trust... He'd be able to earn mine...

"I'm not about to call myself an agent for SHIELD. But...", I say, crossing my arms. "Getting on the Goverment's good side isn't nessacarily a bad strategy for me. Especially after all those rants made by Lex Luthor. I want people to know that they don't need to fear me. And not only that, but we may need the technology and information that the Colonel's offering us."

I turn to Fury, silent for a moment.

"If by doing this, we're letting the people of the world know that we're trying to help them rather than conquer them, then I stand with Captain America. I accept the terms."

[Kaboom]

"Welcome to Qward," Sinestro said as flames of yellow energy engulfed him.

"Hello," I said. Sinestro was a very gangly individual with purple skin and slicked dark hair. Nothing like I expected the leader of a world to look like. "I came as soon as I heard you were in need of assistance. What happened?"

"Our sun. It just turned off. It is the source of Qward's power, and ultimately mine. If it is not activated, I'm afraid this universe will decay and ultimately cease to exist."

"As I told you," The Scarlet Witch added.

"Without power, my people have revolted. Anarhy reigns on the planet's surface. My only hope is to turn our sun back on. The Scarlet Witch here, seems to think you may be able to help."

"She says you have heard the spell by witch the sun was turned off. If perhaps you could tell me."

"Unfortunately it was an ancient spell known only to a select few. I cannot recall it. However, i believe you have the gift insight. Perhaps together we can recall the spell."

How very strange I thought. That others could already know the scope of my powers. Still this universe was dying and only I was able to save it.
I could hear the cries of Qward's inhabitants. There wasn't much time to be wasted.

[Byrd Man]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8235/garrowlogo5bekm5d230x11ci0.jpg


Same old same old tonight. I caught a guy trying to steal a car and stopped a would be burglar from breaking in a house. I'm perched on a building when an alarm goes off, not one alarm but two alarms. It's a fire alarm and a burglar from the sounds of it, it's near the Star First Financial. When I get there I see a maniac with a torch about to cut open the safe.

"Sorry, your overdrawn."

I let my boxing glove arrow loose and it slams him hard to the ground as it hits him dead in the chest.

"You wanna fight, mate? Let's do it."

http://associazioni.monet.modena.it/glamazonia/x-men/gallery/immagini/cards01/pyro.jpg

I dodge a massive fireball and turn back to the man, he's either one of those mutants they talk about, or a human dashboard lighter.

I hit the deck as a wave of flames shaped as a dragon nearly burn me to a crisp.

"Oh damn."

I throw off my hood and put it out as it catches fire, I look up and hit the ground hard as I nearly become barbequed Queen.

"Come on out in fight!"

I root around in my quiver and find a arrow with a stencil of a snowflake on it.

"What the hell does this one do?"

I shrug my shoulder and string it in. I stand up and pull back on the string. I take a deep breath and watch as time starts to slow down.

Okay Ollie, gotta aim...He's got some sort of flamethrower feeding him a fire. If I take that out, it's just him and me."

I let loose and watch as the arrow hits him and starts to freeze this guy's arm, I quickly pull a boxing glove arrow out of my quiver and fire it at his jaw. It hits him in the forehead and he falls back onto a desk and rolls off on the floor.

"You idiot! You broke my nose."

I snatch him up give him a left hook across his broken nose. He howls in pain and I drop him hard on the ground.

"Who are you?"

I reach in the quiver and pull out a regular arrow, the tip of the sharpened peice of metal is aimed right for the robber's throat.

"You think I'll tell? Your dead when Magneto and The Brotherhood find out about this. They'll string you up and-"

I kick him in the chest before he finishes.

"Thanks for the info."

I remove his little fire starters and handcuff him to one of the guard bars covering the vault.

I start to head out the door when something cold and wet slaps me in the face.

"What's the big deal? Tieing up my buddy like that."

http://mutantvault.xmenlegends2.com/assets/Toad1280-thumb.jpg

[Kaboom]

Qward's sun was a giant hulking mass of what appeared to be a lifeless star that hadn't imploded into itself. It did not turn into a black hole. It just appeared to be a giant cooled off rock, that still had mass and gravity.

"Shocking, inst it," Sinestro asked as he offered me his hand without the ring on. "Please Captain Marvel. It is time."

then he added...

"If this is going to work, Witch, we will need your hex."

[Andy C.]

We watch Captain Marvel leave as suddenly as he arrived. Where is he off too?

Then Nick chimes in and I wince at the mention of the group carrying out SHIELD tasks. I know what's coming next.

"Whoa, hold on one damn minute there, Nick. If you were any other man, I'd tell you where you can shove your SHIELD support. No way I'm being SHIELD's little soldier boy, going out on your every whim. That me be fine by Steve, but he's just being a good soldier. My service ended a long long time ago."

I sigh. "In part, I have to agree with Ted. The JSA always worked without government oversight, although we did work with the government plenty of times. Especially during the war. And I'm not fond of the idea of doing SHIELD's dirty work."

I look up at Nick, and then the others. "But we could really use the funding and support. I can't put all of this on Tony and Ollie. As rich as they are, there's a good chance we could end up hurting them professionally, and suck a good deal of their resources dry. And we'd also have governmental protection in case something serious goes wrong."

I look at the group around me. And I notice one face absent. For the first time in a while, I wonder where Dinah is. I realize that things had been happening so fast, I didn't even realize I that I hadn't been concerned she wasn't here. I even tried to convince Tony, and myself, that everything was ok. But she wanted this so bad, to be part of the team, nothing would keep her away. She was so exicted when I asked if I could join too. A little smile tugs at my lips when I think about how she'd claped excitedly. Then the smile fades because she's not here to share in it.

I put the thought aside, for the moment. I'll talk to Ted and Tony after the meeting. I want to know why we haven't seen her today, and why she couldn't make it.

"I'm not sure where I stand, and I think we know where Ted stands."

"Hey, either way I'll help train you, even if you think your already experienced," Ted says, throwing a cocky grin towards Steve, "but I'm not doing the government's dirty work."

"Ok. Where does everyone else stand?"

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif



I...

Well, quite honestly, I really don't know what to say... My thoughts remain indifferent. On one hand, I think getting on the goverment's good side is a wise decision, if we're going to be operating in the manner we always have. On the other... Fury isn't a man I can truly say that I trust. He's been investigating me and my ties to The Daily Planet. I don't take too kindly to being put under a microscope like that... It's what Ma and Pa always feared would happen, when I was growing up.

But then again... Maybe if I earned Fury's trust... He'd be able to earn mine...

"I'm not about to call myself an agent for SHIELD. But...", I say, crossing my arms. "Getting on the Goverment's good side isn't nessacarily a bad strategy for me. Especially after all those rants made by Lex Luthor. I want people to know that they don't need to fear me. And not only that, but we may need the technology and information that the Colonel's offering us."

I turn to Fury, silent for a moment.

"If by doing this, we're letting the people of the world know that we're trying to help them rather than conquer them, then I stand with Captain America. I accept the terms."

(IC: Green Lantern)

So here, I've got two legendary JSA heroes saying not to go with the Colonel, and Superman and Captain America saying I should. I've heard all sorts of rumors of all the things S.H.I.E.L.D. had supposedly done during the Cold War and beyond, and none of them were pleasant. On the other hand, I'm a military man myself, and I'm not sure whether or not that it would count as insubordination. And then on another hand, I've still got my duties to perform for the Green Lantern Corps.

Talk about your divided loyalties.

Pie hasn't said anything in the last twenty minutes, yet right on cue, he's there to chime in right before I open my mouth.

"Look, I don't know a whole lot about what you guys have been talking about, but I've heard all the talk about your organization, Colonel....ummm, sir. Beyond black ops, men in black, all sorts of weird experiments on mutants and everything," Tom could be a bit of a conspiracy-theory nut at times. Guess everyone needs a hobby. "So, err, what exactly is it that you want my friend here doing?"

Fury looks at him quizzically, and it's impossible to get a read on his emotions. He could give him a pat on the back and a cigarette, or put two rounds into his forehead, and that look would be exactly the same. Even with a potential weapon of mass destruction on my finger, the guy give me the creeps.

"Colonel, sir, my friend here's just a little concerned about....well, you know how things like that can spread around in the service. We just want to make sure--"

"That all the nasty little rumors aren't true?"

He takes a few steps towards Tom and takes another puff of his cigar before blowing smoke in his face.

"Well they are. All of them."

I'm pretty sure at this point that he's just doing it for the sake of theatrics. Still, damn if it isn't effective.

"But I'm not asking you all to do what we do. I'm talking about defusing very real and very dangerous threats to the public. Right now, there are at least two dozen metahumans who have been catalogued as not only potentially dangerous, but very capable of and very willing to endanger the public for their own means. Right now, there is a mutant activists' group that is planning terrorist attacks on our own soil. Right now, millions if not billions of innocent lives are on the brink of extermination and they don't even know it.

"Call it 'dirty work' if you like, Ted, but what I'm asking you to do is save lives. That's what you all are known for, isn't it?"

I'm still not comfortable with this, but he's right. The world's getting a lot more dangerous with people like them --people like us-- around. It's only right that I do what I can to help.

"I'm in."

[Batman]

IC: Lex Luthor

For one of the top scientific research centers in the country, Lex Luthor had only begun to notice how utterly dreadful it was to be in this place. Roaming the metallic halls of the discreet underground scientific divison of LexCorp, He only slowed his pace once Curt Connors stepped out from one of the labs to greet him. It had been hours since they had last spoken, and Lex was growing impatient with waiting. It was time to take matters into his own hands.

"Mr. Luthor... I... I didn't expect you to-"

"Unexpectancy was your mistake, Doctor.", Lex scowled, walking past him. "I've come to see one of our dear patients. The one that just completed surgery."

Lex turned to Connors, who checked his notes in response.

"He is ready, is he not?", Lex asked, eyebrow raised.

Connors was silent, for a moment.

"He's in a state of... well, I don't know how to put it for a man under his extreme conditions... but I'll leave it at recouperation."

Lex continued walking. Connors joined him, though a bit hesitantly.

"Which room is he being held in?"

"Room 7-B.", Connors responded, a bit confused at why he had to answer the question. "Sir, I know I have no authority to speak against any of your actions, but might I advise that you allow him to take in the shock of-"

"-You're right, Doctor."

Connors raised an eyebrow.

"I... am?"

Lex nodded, as he proceeded forward.

"You don't have any authority to speak against my actions."

Connors stopped in his steps, watching as Lex walked down the next hall. But unknown to him, Lex was very much aware of Connors' distrust towards him. He took pride in the fact that while Connors had something to say, He knew he couldn't say it. Lex had blackmailed him. And not just with a simple grant... but of certain information that could, in the wrong hands, spread to Connors' own family.

About six months ago, Lex's labs had been intruded in by a rather large and rather monstrous creature. It moved too fast to be I.Ded, but from what Luthor's workers had caught sight of, the creature appeared to be a bi-product of some sort of repiltian mutation. The creature had stolen several chemicals that only LexCorp could've attained, and while it hadn't been sighted, an identification card had been found at the scene shortly after. That of Connors' own.

So in the aftermath of the Darkseid invasion, Lex personally payed the good doctor a visit in New York. Outright confronting him about the stolen chemicals, Lex was determined to see such an injustice as theft become accounted for. Of course Connors denied any involvement, but once Lex stumbled upon the canisters in question while searching in Connors' own laboratory, Lex forced Curt into a confession. It turned out, the creature was Connors himself. Driven into an animalistic rage after an experiment gone awry, Lex learned of Connor's unnatural transformation from good natured scientist into a monster known only as The Lizard.

In the place of filing charges, Lex recruited Curt as a technician for the Weapon Plus program. Curt would work on any given experiments and projects for as long as Lex pleased, and in return, no one would learn of The Lizard. It would've been foolish to turn that deal down, and like Lex suspected, Connors was no fool. But it costed Connors nearly everything... especially his freedom. Lex smiled to himself, finally approaching the door to room 7-B after minutes of searching.

It felt good to know that even the mightiest of beasts had a price. Maybe that was what Lex hated about Superman other than his unmatched power... unlike The Lizard or Captain America, He had no price. And it was time to do away with such a threat.

Stepping into the room, Lex eyed a table covered by a white tarp. It looked from the outside as if a human sized body were underneath it. At first, he was curious. But his curiousity ceased once he caught sight of the object behind him. The frightening image of a metallic, skeleton-esque head that sat on another table would scare anyone else. But Lex showed no sign or trace of fear, as he stepped forward, looking down at the head.

It's eyes glowed an irregular shade of emerald, and it's face expressed no emotion. But Lex was actually growing quite fond of it's appearance, in a sick sort of way. The head spoke no words, nor did it move. But Lex knew for a fact that within it's shell lied a mind. A mind of which was watching and listening to him right now. Lex didn't hesitate to speak, as he stared down into it's glowing eyes.

"You know me by name and reputation only.", Lex stated. "But let me assure you... there is more to me than what meets the eye."

He wondered if the brain within the cyborg truly would be able to process all of this. But Lex wasted no time in continuing. After all... the faster he worked, the faster Superman's destruction became imminent, and the faster the world was truly safe once again.

"I am but a man of vision. That vision is, unlike so many of my peers, to see the world as it was supposed to be... a utopia for all who inhabit it. To put it shortly... I want the world to change. For the better.", Lex continued. "But unfortunatley, certain obstacles prevent my vision from reaching fruition. Obstacles that, make no mistake... do threaten our very way of life. Among them lies a particular threat that's come to my attention, as of the past year. One that needs to be dealt with more... immediatley than the others."

Lex stepped back, reaching into his jacket pocket. Pulling an object from it, Lex held up a photograph within the cyborg's view, not even looking at the picture himself.

http://img8.imagepile.net/img8b/7092superman2.bmp

"Him.", Lex begins. "Don't let his rediculous appearance fool you... He wields inconcievable power. You see, he isn't one of us. Spawned from an alien world, he's adopted our culture... our moralities as his own, when they do not belong to him. And even more appauling, he masks his own evil behind a shroud of symbolism. Truth, justice... hope. He's used all of those pretty words to sway the american public to trust him. And like lambs to the slaughter, they've remained oblivious to what he's truly capable of. They've even gone so far as to dub him 'Superman'."

Lex drops the photograph into a nearby wastebasket, to the left of him, before continuing. Better to not keep filth on his person, after all.

"As a very wise man once told me, know thy enemy to best thy enemy. And I've learned plenty about this Superman. Every new detail, quite frankly, sends a chill upon my spine. He can defy gravity in a single bound. He's incredibly fast. Bullets can't pierce his skin. He's lifted an entire 13 ton battle tank of Apokoliptian design, and threw it into Earth's orbit as if it were nothing. A blinding red heat shoots from his eyes. He can render nearly any object frozen with a simple breath. I have reason to believe he may even be able to hear at far distances, since he always seems to be able to respond to any and all disasters across the world.", Lex went onto explain off of memory, looking particularly uncomfortable as he listed his enemy's unnatural abilities. "I admit, for a time... I even considered if he truly did possess heroic means, abiet only for a brief second. But then I learned of something truly horrific. Mere weeks ago, during a battle with another one of his alien bretheren, a nuclear warhead was dropped right ontop of them both in attempt to cease the battle. But he... he did not die. The alien was spotted less than a day later, aiding the cleanup in Washington... without even a scratch. One of mankind's most powerful weaponry ever concieved, and it did nothing to him."

Lex stopped, realising his pulse had risen at the mere thought of it. Allowing himself a moment of composure, Lex looked back at the cyborg.

"That is why I chose to seek you for this particular matter. You came to me on your beaten and bloody limbs after that unfortunate car accident, wanting power and immortality. I delivered. And as I stated before, there was a price to be paid for immortality.", Lex told the shell, hoping it had taken his every word in. "The price is our freedom. Our livelihood. The fate of the world. I want you to eliminate that very threat who wears a cape once and for all, before he's given the chance to enslave all of us. You and another operative will partake in a crafted strategy that will end with the alien's downfall. Follow the instructions to every absolute detail, and not only will you get to keep your immortality..."

Lex smiled down upon the emerald lenses embedded into the skull.

"Quite a generous ...financial reward will follow, aswell.", Lex finished. "So that begs the question, Mr. Corben... are you ready to take part in the next phase in Project Metallo?"

The robot continued it's silence. After a few moments, Lex nodded, accepting it's current state of mind. If there was one.

"Very well. In due time, we shall speak. For now, rest. Prepare yourself for the battle of a lifetime, because if what I've gathered about our common enemy is true... You're going to need every precious moment."

Lex turned to leave, but was stopped by the bone chilling, machined voice that finally answered him, from behind.

"When Do I Begin?"

Lex smiled even wider. He was truly going to enjoy this partnership.

[Watchman]

6:24-Gotham City

Mr. Edward Harrington sits at Gotham City's most expensive restaurant finishing up his meal. Suddenly, a man dressed up as a waiter appears next to him.

"The bill Mr. Harrington." he takes it from him without looking at him. "How about a tasty after dinner mint"

"I don't see why not" he looks up at the waiter who was holding a small plate with a green mint on it and with a large smile.

"Where the other waiter?"

"Jerry? He's a little tied up at the moment" Harrington takes the mint and eats it. He looks back up but the waiter is no where to be found. The restaurant is soon filled with Gotham's finest surrounding Mr. Harrington.

"Edward Harrington you should come with us"

****

Outside the man takes a cloth a wipes his face revealing the white underneath. The man opens the back of a van and giggles.

"Jerry I have to thank you for the clothes." Inside the van is a person tied up. "I'm going to have to apologies because well I have to kill you now." he places his hand over Jerry's head and he lets out a muffled scream. Joker lifts his hand showing off his hand buzzard.

"Hehe smells like chicken" he throws the body out of the van and drives off. Mr. Harrington has about five hours to live thanks to that "mint" which would keep the police and Batman busy. Soon he was going to make the whole city smile.

[Kaboom]

"SHAZAM!" I yelled, a bolt of lighning erupting through space directly into the heart of the smoldering, blackened sun. The bolt was charged with the Scarlet Witch's purple hex and laced with the yellow energy of Sinestro's power ring.

For a moment, the sun and the three of were connected on an ethereal, mystic, level, and i could feel a connection to Qward-that universe of anti-ness- as if it was growing inside of me. I too could feel the yellow power of the weaponeers, surging through my body, as well as the the Scarlet Witch's mutant power to control chaos.

It was a strange sensation, but when the tether with Qward's sun was broken, the sensation seemed to subside.

"We are in your debt," Sinestro said as the sun burst back into flames. The Scarlet Witch smiled. Perhaps the most important block in the her plan to usurp the ultimate power from the Red Skull had now been effected.

"Glad I could be of assistance," I said. "But if you excuse of me, I must be returning to my own dimension. There is a certain meeting of a" I paused unsure what to call ourselves "legion of superheroes I must be getting back to."

"And who is in this legion?"Sinestro cackled.

"Superman, myself, Flash, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Iron Man...others, someone calling himself a Green Lantern, If i remeber correctly."

Sinestro's face drew narrow.

"I see."

[Kaboom]

"It is time," Mephisto said to the Red Skull.

"Yes, it is."

"Then you shall come with me now to my dimension and pray your precious Captain Marvel cares for you as much as you think."

"I dont believe in Prayer. I believe in action."

[Kaboom]

Just because he had forged this untrusty alliance with the Red Skull and the Scarlet Witch, did not mean he didnt have a back up plan in place to compensate for any treachery on their part.

"Please, tell me," he said through a telepathic link with the other. "What is our status?"

After recieving confirmation, the man dressed in the white gown smiled.

[Byrd Man]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8235/garrowlogo5bekm5d230x11ci0.jpg


I throw off my hood and put it out as it catches fire, I look up and hit the ground hard as I nearly become barbequed Queen.

"Come on out in fight!"

I root around in my quiver and find a arrow with a stencil of a snowflake on it.

"What the hell does this one do?"

I shrug my shoulder and string it in. I stand up and pull back on the string. I take a deep breath and watch as time starts to slow down.

Okay Ollie, gotta aim...He's got some sort of flamethrower feeding him a fire. If I take that out, it's just him and me."

I let loose and watch as the arrow hits him and starts to freeze this guy's arm, I quickly pull a boxing glove arrow out of my quiver and fire it at his jaw. It hits him in the forehead and he falls back onto a desk and rolls off on the floor.

"You idiot! You broke my nose."

I snatch him up give him a left hook across his broken nose. He howls in pain and I drop him hard on the ground.

"Who are you?"

I reach in the quiver and pull out a regular arrow, the tip of the sharpened peice of metal is aimed right for the robber's throat.

"You think I'll tell? Your dead when Magneto and The Brotherhood find out about this. They'll string you up and-"

I kick him in the chest before he finishes.

"Thanks for the info."

I remove his little fire starters and handcuff him to one of the guard bars covering the vault.

I start to head out the door when something cold and wet slaps me in the face.

"What's the big deal? Tieing up my buddy like that."

http://mutantvault.xmenlegends2.com/assets/Toad1280-thumb.jpg

The cold, wet tounge slaps me in the face and I back into the street.

"Bring it!!"

The green skinned man's tounge nearly slaps me in the face again, but I catch it and pull him towards me. I catch him mid air and put an elbow right into his breadbasket.

"I think I just brought it."

He falls to the ground and I bring my boot around his face and hear it smack against his jaw.

"Now I'm sure I brought it."

His eye's cross as he falls to the ground and his long tounge hangs out of his mouth and onto the pavement.

"I guess a tounge like that drives the girls wild."

*wham!*

A gust of wind knocks me down, No that wasn't wind. That was a human hand slapping me in the back of the head.

I pull my self up just in time to feel a pair of feet go up my back as someone or something runs over me.

Whoever the hell this is, he runs like Flash.

"Show yourself!"

I pull an arrow out of my quiver just to watch it dissapear from my hand.

"Here, Human!"

Whoever the owner of that voice is, he throws my arrow at me and it burrys itself in my thigh.

"AAHH!"

I fall to the ground and look up as the silver blur acutally slows down.

http://z.about.com/f/wiki/e/en/thumb/5/5e/Quicksilverdavis.gif/225px-Quicksilverdavis.gif

"Come on you worthless human swine!"

He speeds by and slaps me on the back of the head. I feel his leg slip between my arms and I manage to pull the arrow out of my leg.

"Where are you hiding you son of a b**tch"

"Here."

He slaps me on the back of the head one more, but this time I manage to grab onto his glove.

"Not so fast with me hanging on ya."

I take my right hand and form it into a fist with the middle finger poked out.

"Let's see how you like this, deadarm!"

I punch him hard on the back of his upper arm and watch as his arm breaks out into cramps and spasms.

"Ah."

I take the chance and wrap my arms around his neck and put him in a sleeper hold.

"Good night sweetheart."

He trashes at super speed, but starts to slow down until he's snoring.

I let him fall to the ground and look at my leg wound, it's bleeding but not that bad. With these three down, chances are their buddies will come looking for them and I'll be ready.

[Kaboom]

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I yelled, instantly transforming back into my old sixteen year old self in Centennial Park in the heart of Metropolis. It had been an amazing night. I became Captain Marvel for the first time, I had been to Gotham and met Superman, and traveled to Qward to save their world for being destroyed. Now, i would be coming home, back to John and Wendy, my newly-adoptive parents.

I ran down the street, till I saw the aprtment I had just moved into. It was dark, as I expected it being so late after all. I climbed inside the window, back into my room. As i got back into bed, i saw a green light glowing from underneath the door. ANxious, I crept into the hallway.

Floating in the center of the room was a portalof green light and I could here my adoptive father's screams.

"Help!" he cried. No sooner had I become the world's mightiest mortal, but the only person who had cared for me since my parents' death was now trapped in some energy vortex.

"What have I done," I asked myself. But there was only one word that could be said to help me set this right.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/shazam-1.jpg

[Byrd Man]

(IC: Green Lantern)

So here, I've got two legendary JSA heroes saying not to go with the Colonel, and Superman and Captain America saying I should. I've heard all sorts of rumors of all the things S.H.I.E.L.D. had supposedly done during the Cold War and beyond, and none of them were pleasant. On the other hand, I'm a military man myself, and I'm not sure whether or not that it would count as insubordination. And then on another hand, I've still got my duties to perform for the Green Lantern Corps.

Talk about your divided loyalties.

Pie hasn't said anything in the last twenty minutes, yet right on cue, he's there to chime in right before I open my mouth.

"Look, I don't know a whole lot about what you guys have been talking about, but I've heard all the talk about your organization, Colonel....ummm, sir. Beyond black ops, men in black, all sorts of weird experiments on mutants and everything," Tom could be a bit of a conspiracy-theory nut at times. Guess everyone needs a hobby. "So, err, what exactly is it that you want my friend here doing?"

Fury looks at him quizzically, and it's impossible to get a read on his emotions. He could give him a pat on the back and a cigarette, or put two rounds into his forehead, and that look would be exactly the same. Even with a potential weapon of mass destruction on my finger, the guy give me the creeps.

"Colonel, sir, my friend here's just a little concerned about....well, you know how things like that can spread around in the service. We just want to make sure--"

"That all the nasty little rumors aren't true?"

He takes a few steps towards Tom and takes another puff of his cigar before blowing smoke in his face.

"Well they are. All of them."

I'm pretty sure at this point that he's just doing it for the sake of theatrics. Still, damn if it isn't effective.

"But I'm not asking you all to do what we do. I'm talking about defusing very real and very dangerous threats to the public. Right now, there are at least two dozen metahumans who have been catalogued as not only potentially dangerous, but very capable of and very willing to endanger the public for their own means. Right now, there is a mutant activists' group that is planning terrorist attacks on our own soil. Right now, millions if not billions of innocent lives are on the brink of extermination and they don't even know it.

"Call it 'dirty work' if you like, Ted, but what I'm asking you to do is save lives. That's what you all are known for, isn't it?"

I'm still not comfortable with this, but he's right. The world's getting a lot more dangerous with people like them --people like us-- around. It's only right that I do what I can to help.

"I'm in."

"Well it's 3-2 in favor of working with them. It looks like our young friend and Hippotlye's daughter are the potential tie and tie breaker."

[wiegeabo]

I tear across one of the Gotham bridges. The small clock on my motorcycle reads 10:28. Two hours and twenty-six minutes from New York City to Gotham despite traffic. I'd smile if there wasn't a life on the line.

"Sir, I have Captain Gordon on the line."

Finally. "Put him through." I hear a click. "Gordon."

"It is you, isn't it." It wasn't a question.

"Yes. I've been trying-"

"The phone lines have been tied up. People calling about the threat the 'Joker' made about this weekend."

I grunt. "I assume-"

"That we're in place around the residence. Yes." I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. We worked together briefly last year, but he still doesn't trust me. I understand that. I don't trust anyone.

Except Alfred. And Dick.

"And I assume you are on you're way."

"Yes. I am only a few minutes away from the Heights."

"That's cutting it close."

"I was...preoccupied."

"..." I raise an eyebrow at the silence. He's angry that I've apparently ignore the threat against someone's life for the last three hours. But I can't let him know I've been trying to break my neck getting here from New York.

"I do have an idea."

"...I'm listening..."

[Watchman]

I let him fall to the ground and look at my leg wound, it's bleeding but not that bad. With these three down, chances are their buddies will come looking for them and I'll be ready.

Magneto watch over as the human defeat three memebers including his son Pietro. Pietro had run off with two other members looking for his sister that had gone missing. Time to put a stop to this Magneto thought. Green Arrow fealt a tug against the back of his quiver. The arrows ripped out the back circling him. Magneto took the handcuffs from one arrow and bounded both of Arrow's arms. The tips of his arrows shattered into many metal splinters. Magneto surrounded Green Arrow's head with them.

"Human you are dealing with affairs that shouldn't concern yourself. Give me one reason why I should let you live"

[Byrd Man]

Magneto watch over as the human defeat three memebers including his son Pietro. Pietro had run off with two other members looking for his sister that had gone missing. Time to put a stop to this Magneto thought. Green Arrow fealt a tug against the back of his quiver. The arrows ripped out the back circling him. Magneto took the handcuffs from one arrow and bounded both of Arrow's arms. The tips of his arrows shattered into many metal splinters. Magneto surrounded Green Arrow's head with them.

"Human you are dealing with affairs that shouldn't concern yourself. Give me one reason why I should let you live"

Dammit, Dammit, Dammit. Note to self, from now no more metal arrows. Okay Ollie, talk your way out of this. You can do it, think back to boarding school when that prick Lex Luthor would tell on you for picking on him and you'd just talk your way out of it.

"Well here's the thing, Mr. um...Mr. Red Domed Helmet Man. You got the wrong guy, I'm just here trying to protect my town from a bank robbery. I mean, I hate Humans just as much as you. I'm a Mutant too. Wanna see my powers?"

[Watchman]

Dammit, Dammit, Dammit. Note to self, from now no more metal arrows. Okay Ollie, talk your way out of this. You can do it, think back to boarding school when that prick Lex Luthor would tell on you for picking on him and you'd just talk your way out of it.

"Well here's the thing, Mr. um...Mr. Red Domed Helmet Man. You got the wrong guy, I'm just here trying to protect my town from a bank robbery. I mean, I hate Humans just as much as you. I'm a Mutant too. Wanna see my powers?"

"Very amusing" he seperates the metal and sticks his face close to Green Arrow. He rips the mask off of his face. "Oliver Queen...millionare, human, and now it looks like he is playing superhero." he steps back and makes the metal shards move in back onto Green Arrow's face. Each piece just touching a part of his head.

"Secert identities..." he holds up Green Arrow's mask "...don't worrk Oliver your secert is safe with me. I'll make sure none of my fellow companions tells a soul. Tell me Oliver, do you know how many mutants have to hide behind a 'mask' and pretend they are human? They have to adapt a secret identity to escape from the harm of humans. Why is this Mr Queen? Everyday mutants are beat to death and face the wraith of the humans. Where are the super heroes? Where were you when a young mutant was killed in your city? Who will save the mutants? I will. I will bring the mutants salvation and I will show them that we are the rightful owners of this world." he throws the mask back at Green Arrow's feet. The metal shards refrom into arrows and the handcuffs fall off.

"Let's prove today who is stronger Oliver, human or mutant. You wanted to play hero well you must now that I have been label as a terrorist, number one on the FBI most wanted list. Go ahead stop me"

[Kaboom]

It was an assault on each of my senses. The air, if I could call it that reeked of sulfur and brimstone. The ground, engulfed in flames, scorched my flesh and burned my eyes. There was a deafing cackle of maniacal laughter that pierced my ears.
and there standing before me, dancing in a green flame was a creature even of who I was unaware existed.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/kaboom43/mephisto1.jpg
"I am Mephisto," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "King of Hades, Lord of the Flies and Vindicator of the Fallen. I have a great need of your services, young Billy. A great need indeed."

[Byrd Man]

"Very amusing" he seperates the metal and sticks his face close to Green Arrow. He rips the mask off of his face. "Oliver Queen...millionare, human, and now it looks like he is playing superhero." he steps back and makes the metal shards move in back onto Green Arrow's face. Each piece just touching a part of his head.

"Secert identities..." he holds up Green Arrow's mask "...don't worrk Oliver your secert is safe with me. I'll make sure none of my fellow companions tells a soul. Tell me Oliver, do you know how many mutants have to hide behind a 'mask' and pretend they are human? They have to adapt a secret identity to escape from the harm of humans. Why is this Mr Queen? Everyday mutants are beat to death and face the wraith of the humans. Where are the super heroes? Where were you when a young mutant was killed in your city? Who will save the mutants? I will. I will bring the mutants salvation and I will show them that we are the rightful owners of this world." he throws the mask back at Green Arrow's feet. The metal shards refrom into arrows and the handcuffs fall off.

"Let's prove today who is stronger Oliver, human or mutant. You wanted to play hero well you must now that I have been label as a terrorist, number one on the FBI most wanted list. Go ahead stop me"

I nearly crapped my pants at the mention of his notority, He's that Magneto.

"Can't we just all get along?"

I pull a nitro arrow out of my quiver, string it, pull it back and aim it at Magneto's head.

"Guess not."

I let the arrow loose and wait for the exsplosion.

[Green Lantern]

IC: Connor Hawke:

So I was just beginning some R&R with this hot blonde I met in San Diego... when my goddamned pager went off. It'd been a few days since I'd completed the mission and handed the list to LD Hill. They'd sent it down to the tech guys for examination, to see who we could get out of it. This page meant that they needed me again. Great. Just f**king great.

"Sorry babe, duty calls."

"I thought you said you were in investment banker?"

"I am, one of our clients, well, he just got caught embezzling. I'm crisis management, so I gotta go get this sorted out. Catch ya when I get back to town."

She rolled her eyes at me. Hell, I'd roll my eyes at myself, I can't believe I'm leaving this perfect specimen of the female form to go see Maria Hill. Shudder.

Less than two hours later, and I was at the office.The secretary batter her lashes at me. You'd think a woman that beautiful would be deemed too big a distraction for an international espionage organization...

"Agent Hawke, you're wanted in Dugan's office."

Dugan... s**t what does the director of internal security want from me? I walked down the hallway and gently rapped on his door.

"Well getcher ass in here! What took you so long?"

"I was kind of in the middle of something... sir." I added the sir as an after thought... because I do value my life.

"You needed to see me, sir?"

"Yes, one of the men on that list is of noteworthy attention to us. His name's Clint Barton, ring a bell?"

"Uh, no sir."

"It should. You broke all his records on your way up. He was one of the best agents."

"Uh, sir.. then what's he doing on a list of..."

"That's the problem. He was also one of Hydra's best agents. Then he just disappeared. Now he's turning up again. In New York. Thats the mission I'm putting you on. We need every bit of useful intel you can get out of his penthouse office. Go see John and he'll outfit you again."

And John said that not every mission would be this James Bond/Alias s**t. I'll believe it when I see it.
John was giving me quite the glare. Apparently he didn't WANT to give me all the fancy toys every mission.

"Alright, the easiest way to do what you need to is to scale the building."

"Wait a goddamned minute. SCALE THE BUILDING? Jesus Christ, that is a 74 story skyscraper!"

"Seventy-five actually. What, scared of heights?" I'm definitely going to wipe that cocky ass smirk off his face.

"No, just figured it would be quicker and less resource intensive the way I was thinking of doing it."

"And that would be?"

"Simple, there's a public observatory on the 72nd floor. It closes at ten, well after Barton would be out of his office. I'll hide out there, and then scale the rest of the way up after ten."

"Hide out how?"

"Sorry, John Boy, thats on a need to know basis, and only I need to know." Honestly I have no f**king clue. I'll think of something...

"Alright, here's what I got then..."

I tuned out the least important stuff, and then took the equipment.

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

Finally alone on this god forsaken elevator. Only took twenty two rides up and down. Now I can try this. I used the mini-torch John gave me to cut open the safety hatch on the ceiling of the car, and climbed out, closing the hatch behind me. Good. The floors are labeled, that will make it easier at ten when I jump off this ride... I looked at my watch, 9:30. Almost go time. I can softly hear the closing announcement. I jumped onto the ledge for floor 73, safe to say noone would be coming up or down from this floor, at this time of night.

Time passed and I heard the final closing announcement. The elevator dropped below me, and I connected a caribiner to a hole in the metal at my feet. I repelled down a floor and quickly torched the door open and was back into open air.

Looking up, I could see the balcony of the penthouse I was aiming for. I took out the miniature grappling crossbow that John had provided and shot the magnetic bolt. I heard the click of the magnet activating and started climbing up the building.

Once on the balcony I forced the glass door open, and went inside. I started taking pictures of all the papers that may be missed. The ones I felt I could take I did. I finally found the safe, and decided to save time by torching it open. Inside, I found more personal documents, including his liscense to kill. And... a wedding liscense. Signed by... Sylvia Hawke. That meant... Dear god.

[Batman]

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The room is silent for the longest time, after the new Green Lantern accepts. Maybe I made a mistake in accepting Fury's offer... Maybe this isn't the way to go about saving the world. But I don't want to change my mind, either. There's too much at stake for me to become an enemy of SHIELD. If I get on Fury's bad side, he'll continue to look into my life. Maybe discover who I really am, and who Ma and Pa are. I don't want them being questioned for the rest of their life. That's a penalty I refuse to pay, just because I wanted to help.

It's my responsibility. I'll pay the price.

But the others seem indecisive. I think the only people yet to have made up their minds are Spider-Man, Flash, and Wonder Woman. They all look uncomfortable. And quite honestly, I can't say I blame them.

"No."

We all turn, hearing Wonder Woman speak up for the first time.

"I came to this land in order to aide man's world with it's most dire perils. But I refuse to be controlled by it.", She says, a bit bitterly. But it's a bitterness that she can clearly compose. "It is not the Amazonian way."

I don't say anything. Infact, I don't think anyone is going to. She's made her point. I just wonder if that point is going to be realised... and more importantly, if it isn't, how she and the rest of the opposers react.

[wiegeabo]

Tied. The vote was tied.

I listened to Wonder Woman explain her reasoning, and I couldn't find fault with it. Her mother would have voted the same way when she first came to 'man's world'.

So that left two votes. Tony and Spider-Man. I worry about the pressure this might be putting them under. Tony's not quite stable right now, not as long as he keeps using alcohol as a crutch. And Spider-Man...he's just a kid. It's hard enough being his age with powers, but to vote on such an important decision...

...and then there's Dinah. She should be here voting. Why isn't she here? I've been putting it out of my mind, but now, I find myself starting to worry. Tony, Ted, and I are going to have to figure this out after the meeting.

I force myself back to the moment at hand. "That leaves you," I say to our two remaining members.

[Watchman]

I nearly crapped my pants at the mention of his notority, He's that Magneto.

"Can't we just all get along?"

I pull a nitro arrow out of my quiver, string it, pull it back and aim it at Magneto's head.

"Guess not."

I let the arrow loose and wait for the exsplosion.

The arrow explodes around Magneto with his forcefield glowing. He lowers his arm lowering it.

"Cute Mr. Queen, my turn." he takes four arrows which soars through the air. They stick through his costumes impaling him to the wall. "A war is coming Mr. Queen. After your actions today we know which side you're on. Blob pick up those two we must be on our way" Magneto passes his son "get up Pietro. Letting this human best you today I should leave you here."

"But father Wanda has been missing we need to find her!"

"In due time we have other matters to take care of. One more thing before we go." Another arrow shoots out carving letters into Green Arrow's shrit slightly touching the skin. After Magneto was done the arrow dropped. His message was clear: War.

[Kaboom]

The raw power Mephisto had shocked me as I rocketed backwards through the sulfuric air of this other worldy dimension.

"A simple trade Captain Marvel. The life of your adopted father for one deed I will ask of you at a future time. Is this man not worth it?" Mephisto asked, extending his hand over me.

The green flames began closing in on Mr. Smith--there was only one thing to do. I seized hold of Mephisto's hand. As is I did, there was a transference of our energies-sealing my pledge to him.

"It is done..." Mephisto commanded. And everythign went white.

[Byrd Man]

The arrow explodes around Magneto with his forcefield glowing. He lowers his arm lowering it.

"Cute Mr. Queen, my turn." he takes four arrows which soars through the air. They stick through his costumes impaling him to the wall. "A war is coming Mr. Queen. After your actions today we know which side you're on. Blob pick up those two we must be on our way" Magneto passes his son "get up Pietro. Letting this human best you today I should leave you here."

"But father Wanda has been missing we need to find her!"

"In due time we have other matters to take care of. One more thing before we go." Another arrow shoots out carving letters into Green Arrow's shrit slightly touching the skin. After Magneto was done the arrow dropped. His message was clear: War.

"*****....good going Ollie, getting yourself impaled to a wall and a Mutant terrorist revaling your identity to his gang of loopy mutants...and the police are coming goddammit."

I tug at the arrows, but they don't come loose, I hear something whizzing through the air and four arrows break the four arrows pinning me to the wall, I fall to the ground hard.

"I believe thanks are in order."

I look up from the ground.

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/6339/katebishopny9.jpg

"The name's Kate Bishop, I'm your new sidekick."

"*****."

[wiegeabo]

I pull up on my bike and hide it in an alley two blocks away from the house. Luckily it's a rather upclass neighborhood with only one way in, very large houses, and plenty of cover from the light. Gordon told me they had found Edward Harrington at diner a few hours earilier. And now, they had him in protective custody at his house, trying to lay a trap for the Joker.

I can't count on that working. To go through all this trouble, I think the Joker is too smart to fall for that.

So I sit on this roof at the entrance of the neighborhood and wait. There are no police guarding this area anymore. I'll have to thank Gordon later, even though it's not really my style. Hopefully he won't take too much heat from the commissioner for pulling his men back to the house in the guise of better protecting Harrington. Neither of us can afford for the rest of the force to know we've worked together. Gordon would lose his job, and probably go to prison for working with a vigilante. And all the cases I worked on would be thrown out, the criminals released.

I won't let either happen.

So I sit here, in the dark, and wait.

A nondescript car pulls onto the street. I quickly glance around and take notice if anyone is paying attention. But there is no one around. No one looking out of windows since the police told them to stay safely inside. The car slows down as it passes the house. A package drops out of the driverside window and the car resumes its cruising speed.

A grapnel pierces the dark and grabs the package, pulling it up to me. I put the grapnel away and glance inside the package. I nod in satisfaction, glad that Alfred and I had begun to stock up on various medical supplies and other...necessities.

So now, as I run from rooftop to rooftop, I just have to pray that I arrived in time

Twenty-three minutes...

[wiegeabo]

Eight minutes and twenty-three seconds before the deadline and I finally am able to make the final leap to Harrington's roof. I couldn't wait anymore and had to push my luck. I was almost seen by a couple of officers, but it looks like I made it.

I slip into the house silently and make my way downstairs until I'm near the library they are keeping Harrington in. I pull out a small transmitter and press the button twice, creating two quick and quiet clicks.

I hear Gordon respond to the signal. "Bullock, Sanders, go out and help watch the grounds."

"But Captain-"

"It's more important we catch this madman before he gets in the house and does something we can't stop."

"...Right. C'mon Sanders."

The two men walk past me as I blend with the shadows. I hear the front door open, then close.

"I'll be back in a moment," Gordon says.

"But-!"

"I'll be just outside the door. I need to make sure everyone is in position." Gordon leaves Harrington alone, giving me the opportunity I need, and giving him deniability when asked about me.

I open the door and slip in the room "Is everything all-ahh!!" is all he gets out when I grab his mouth to silence him. With my other hand, I set the package Alfred dropped off onto a table.

"I'm here to help. You know who I am?" Harrington nods. "Good."

I let Harrington fall down into his chair in shock as I put a finger to my mouth. "Stay quiet. If the police find us before I finish, you will die."

"WHA-" he cringes out the loudness of his own voice, then drops to a whisper. "W-what t-t-the hell is g-going on?"

"The Joker said you will die in," I glance at the time, "just over six minutes."

"I-I know." I can see the fear in his face.

I open the package. "But there's no way he'll be able to get inside this house with the police coverage outside."

"You did."

I grunt "He can't take that chance. Now, answer my questions or I can't help you. He did something to you. What did you do today. Start with the most recent thing."

"Well, the police found me just as I finished up a dinner date."

Food. Interesting. "Joker may have poisoned you at one of your meals."

"How-"

"It's the easiest way to time your death you death so precisely, especially since he'd know we'd protect you at the specified time. What did you have for dinner? We'll work back from there."

"Um...um..."

Five minutes. Can't waste time. So I use my 'voice'. "What. Did. You. Have?"

His eyes go wide. "Tomato soup. Medium rare Porterhouse steak. Baked potato. Grilled baby carrots and sauteed mushrooms, waffer-thin mint, a fairly sweet red wine...and a hot lemon custard."

I shake my head. "The samples of the poison he uses that I've studied are unstable. They breakdown when heated, and clump into a solid in the presence of alcohol. Which means he couldn't put it on your food, or in your drink. He couldn't use an airborne version since it acts too quickly and would effect others, and he...why did you say waffer-thin?"

"What?"

"Why did you specifically say 'waffer-thin' mint?"

"T-that's what the second waiter said."

"What second waiter?"

"The one that replaced our first. Said he wasn't feeling well."

Dammit. A waffer-thin mint. Just like the one that killed the glutton in the Monty Python sketch. Death and humor, exactly the Joker's style. "The mint was poisoned. He probably created a variation of his toxin. One with a built-in time delay."

"What does the poison do?"

I think about the people in that theater. The grotesque smiles on their faces. "You don't want to know." Three minutes.

"There's no time for a blood sample." I pull a needle out of the case and begin plunging it into various vials, building the necessary anti-toxin. "I've studied the substance Joker uses. Rather advanced, but easy to treat if there's enough time."

"Hey, there's no way I'm letting you give me anything. How do I know you're not him pretending to be the Batman."

"You don't. But you don't have any choice. Two minutes," I say as I pull a small amount from the last vial. "This will block the poison from binding to the cells in your body, if I inject it in time."

Harrington's eyes dart around nervously. I hear faint voices outside the door. The police are coming back. "We're out of time, in more ways then one." I step up to him, holding the needle. "I inject you now, or you die."

...

The door to the library bursts open. Two officers and Sergeant Bullock aim their guns into the room, with Gordon standing behind them. But all they see is Harrington rubbing his arm where his sleeve is rolled up, and the curtains blowing in the wind from the open window.

[Kaboom]

"John Smith" sat in the bedroom which had become a makeshift base of operations while his adopted son, Billy Batson played video games.

Earlier he was "trapped" by Mephisto and being the noble individual that he was, young Billy had offered part of his power of shazam in order to "Free" his adopted dad from the sulfuric prison.

The red skull's plan had been executed perfectly so far. He had already assimilated the Kryptonian, Qward, and the power of Mephisto. But there was so much more yet to do. If the stranger was right, even the combined might of what had been taken would not stop Galactus.

"How is the surveilance going?" Wanda asked. "Are we ready to strike?"

"Not yet," the Red Skull replied. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can wait, especially with our unwitting mole. For now, i think we should concentrate our efforts on obtain a different power."

"Which one?"

That one, the Red Skull said as he pointed to the monitor.

Standing there, addressing a fleet of "heroes" was Jay Garrick...The Flash.

[CorporalHicks]

I'll be thing if he's not taken yet.

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[Byrd Man]

"*****....good going Ollie, getting yourself impaled to a wall and a Mutant terrorist revaling your identity to his gang of loopy mutants...and the police are coming goddammit."

I tug at the arrows, but they don't come loose, I hear something whizzing through the air and four arrows break the four arrows pinning me to the wall, I fall to the ground hard.

"I believe thanks are in order."

I look up from the ground.

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/6339/katebishopny9.jpg

"The name's Kate Bishop, I'm your new sidekick."

"*****."

She follows me all the way back to my place.

"Nice spread you got here, Oliver."

I put my bow on the couch and point a finger at her.

"Look! I work alone okay? How old are you anyway? Like 14 or 15?"

"I'm 18."

I perk up alittle. She's of legal age eh?

"Still, it's dangerous work. How do you know how to shoot like that?"

"Let's just say, I had to learn how to survive. I'm something of an orphan.."

She throws me a pair of puppy dog eyes.

"Please? I'll listen to every word you say, please, please? I got no where else to go, plus I know your secret identity, imagine what will happen if I go to the press with this."

"Fine Dammit! You can sleep on the couch tonight. It's almost 2 A.M. we can discuss this in the morning."

I pick up my bow and head off towards my bedroom.

"Thanks Oliver."

"It's Ollie."

I don't giver her time to respond as I shut the door behind me.

[Johnny Blaze]

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Norman Osborn stood and stared out his office window of the thirtieth floor of OsCorp Tower. It was a glorious day outside. The sun was beaming it's golden rays down upon the waking world as the people below scurried like ants about their business in the morning light.
The view did not fill Osborn with joy though. His mind was still on the Goblin and how that criminal had robbed him of the alien technology from the invasion he had reverse-engineered.
Now Morrow and his scientists had to start from scratch again.

No, it was time Osborn did something about this Goblin once and for all. Make an example of him to all the other costumed criminals out there who would dare defile the great Norman Osborn.
And he would accomplish this task by bringing about a Project that he had been slowly cultivating for years now. In a way, he'd have to thank the Goblin for finally lighting the fire under him to bring the Project about.

It was another reason he was preoccupied this morning. He had a meeting that would take place in mere moments in which another brilliant scientist would join his Project.

As if on cue the intercom buzzed with his secretary's voice, "Mr. Osborn, your eight O' clock is here."

Norman walked towards his desk and took a seat. Pressing a button on the intercom that sat on his desk next to the laptop and the pen holder, Osborn responded, "Very good, Ms. White. Send him in immediately."

Norman stood and smiled as the short, thin man entered the room.

"Professor Ivo", smiled Norman as he walked over and shook the man's hand, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"Yes", replied Ivo with a look halfway between boredom and disdain, "I would imagine it is."

"Please", replied Osborn, ignoring Ivo's attitude, as he motioned for a chair in front of his desk, "have a seat."

"Thank you", Ivo said as he calmly sat down and crossed his legs.

Osborn, once again taking his seat behind his desk, began the dialogue in a more serious tone, "I am happy that you have decided to accept OsCorp's offer over the competition's. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. You, like all the other scientists of the Project will have the unlimited resources of OsCorp and beyond at your disposal. I expect big things, and trust that you will be one of the ones to deliver them."

"With what we discussed a few days prior, Mr. Osborn, you will not have to worry about that. As long as you keep up your end of the bargain I will most certainly keep mine."

"Ivo, if there's one thing I do is keep my word", Osborn stated bluntly as he slid a small stack of stapled papers to Ivo with a pen on top of them.

"Just sign in the appropriate box on page seven and we can make it official."

Ivo stared at Osborn for a few second as if trying to get a read on the man. With a sigh and a nod, Ivo picked up the pen and made his mark in the appropriate place.
Osborn smiled and stood, extending his hand to Ivo who stood and received it.
"Excellent", exclaimed Osborn.

"Professor Ivo, allow me to officially welcome you to STAR Labs, a new division of OsCorp."

[Johnny Blaze]

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The stars blew past Norrin as he soared through the spaceways as though they were long streaks of white fire stretched to infinity.
Norrin did not notice them. No he was too preoccupied with his coming confrontation with his former master, Galactus. Oa had been the final straw. No longer could he be party to such acts of cosmic destruction. He would tell his master that he is finished. He would act as Herald no longer.

Norrin steeled himself to the coming confrontation. He knew Galactus would not be pleased with his new-found rebellion. And the anger of Galactus was not something Norrin wished upon him. Still, even if he was killed Norrin would not shy away. It would be fitting for him to die anyway, after all the terror and death he had caused himself. He deserved worse after all he had brought about.
Norrin, sensing his master was near, began to drop out of hyperspace and came to a stop. Searching the system he was horrified, but not shocked, to see his former master's ship descending towards a lush green world. His cosmic senses buzzing, the Surfer knew this world teemed with innocent life.

Streaking towards the planet, the Surfer arrived in time to see the panicked populace fleeing for their lives while Galactus began to set up his machinery.

The Surfer maneuvered himself so that he hovered right in Galactus' face.

"Surfer", boomed the Cosmic Lord, "Your prolonged absence had begun to both worry and anger me. Lucky for you that I was able to discover this world without your help, for the Hunger is upon me once more. Still, I will decide your punishment later. For now, my Herald, you will assist me by keeping the inhabitants from pestering me as I set up my machines."

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The Surfer tightened his jaw as he responded simply, "No."

The eyes of the World Devourer narrowed. His back still facing Norrin as he had turned to continue to set up his machines, Galactus, anger rising in his voice, answered just as simply, "What?"

"I am through being a party to cosmic genocide. I can no longer serve you, Galactus. I am sorry, Mighty Galactus, but I am your Herald no longer."

Galactus spun around to face the Surfer, eyes flaring with cosmic energy as bright as the sun.

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"Insolent whelp! You dare to demand to Galactus! We made a deal, Norrin Radd of Zenn-La, a deal to which I upheld! You dare to break your vow to Galactus!?"

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"I am sorry, my former Master", replied Norrin as he readied himself for what he knew was coming, "but I can no longer in good faith serve you. I beseech you to find it within your great wisdom to allow me to leave my servitude to you. For I will never again bring you to a planet filled with life."

"Foolish creature", roared the World Devourer, the vibrations of his booming voice shaking the foundations of buildings for miles around as though a giant earthquake had struck, "You will be released from your place as Herald when I say it fit! After I have consumed this world I will deal with you most harshly."

"I am sorry, Great Galactus, but I cannot, in good conscious, stand idly by while you ravage another planet teeming with intelligent life", stated the Surfer as his body glowed with cosmic fire.

"You dare defy the will of Galactus!? The will of the very cosmos!? Your treachery knows no bounds, Norrin Radd. Maybe you are correct. Maybe it is time I find a new Herald. One without the shortcomings you hold dear."

"Very well, Silver Surfer", continued Galactus as he outstretched his hand and fired a titanic blast of cosmic energy at Norrin Radd, "I release you from my service."

[Johnny Blaze]

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The Surfer swooped low and barely avoided the energy blast launched by Galactus. Norrin dipped between a pair of ruined building as another blast of energy blew them to atoms.
Galactus was angry, and the Surfer was the focal point for this anger.

Still, Norrin was smaller and quicker than Galactus, his only real advantage, and he aimed to use it. Ducking his head down and turning about, the Surfer screamed towards the Devourer who loosed cones of cosmic fire from his fingertips at Norrin. The heat from the flames felt as strong as the heart of a star. Luckily for Norrin, he could easily survive such unpleasant environments.

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Maneuvering around the flames, Norrin unleashed a barrage of titanic cosmic bolts. The blasts, which had the power to level an entire Kree flagship in one single shot, nailed Galactus dead in his face.

The Surfer did not wait around for Galactus to recover (in truth he knew his attack did little save annoy and delay his former Master's next attack). Using the power cosmic bestowed upon him by Galactus himself, Norrin Radd charged at the Devourer and phased right through his chest and out his back between his humongous shoulder blades.
Stopping and turning on a dime, the Surfer unleashed a blast of pure force that could topple a mountain...and Galactus lurched and stumbled forward.

But the Devourer did not fall. Instead, the Devourer spun with amazing speed and back-handed Norrin squarely and sent him flying off a few miles deeper into the city.

After crashing through a series of buildings, the Surfer came to rest in the center of a giant crater of his creation, rubble surrounding him on all sides. The sky became covered in black clouds the color of night, save the tint of reddish orange that signaled the Devourer's machines were beginning to perform their function.

"Damnation", exclaimed Surfer as he realized that he would be unable to stop Galactus from taking this planet. Calling his board back to him, which had landed another half mile away, the Silver Surfer once more rushed to try and stop the will of Galactus.

"Galactus", screamed the Surfer over the din of the Devourer's machines as he neared, "this is madness! You must stop! Their are other, unpopulated worlds that can sustain you. Don't do this!"

Galactus turned and unleashed a potent blast of cosmic energy at the Surfer from his eyes. The blast caught the Surfer off guard and sent him slamming into the ground. Again coming too in a smoldering crater, Norrin Radd found himself being raised from the ground in the crushing grip of Galactus.

"Do you think I do this by choice? Do you think I take joy in the death and destruction I cause? You know better than anyone, Norrin Radd, that I do what I must to survive. It is an unfortunate matter, but one day I will give back to this universe far more than I have taken from it. Thus is the destiny of Mighty Galactus."

"There must be other ways, Galactus, other paths you can take to sustaining your life force", replied the Surfer as the grip of Galactus squeezed tighter.

"Do you think that I have not tried exploring other venues? Believe me, Surfer, I have tried. This is the only way. And now, to end this foolishness once and for all."

The World Devourer pulled the Surfer close to his face as his eyes began to glow white hot and crackle with cosmic energy.
Norrin Radd knew his end was near, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it.

[Watchman]

All over Gotham television were going to static and then replaced with the horrible smile of the Joker.

"Gooooood evening Gotham! How are you? Because I can tell you don't let the smile fool you..." his voice changed the laughter was gone and so was the smile "...I am not a happy camper. When I stole my paper today what did I read today? That a certain someone was not dead and that a certain someone probably saved him. Since the poison didn't work I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands" he grabbed something from off camera and wheeled it into view.

"Wave to the camera Eddie. Now if you have younger viewers around..." he pulls out a gun and blasts a hole through the man's head. "Whoopsies....hahahahahahah. What I really wanted to tell you Gotham is this may be my final message for a while but don't fret the Joker will be around...maybe in your house hahahahaha...." the television goes to static and back the news. It was time for the nightmare to begin.

[The Question]

Tied. The vote was tied.

I listened to Wonder Woman explain her reasoning, and I couldn't find fault with it. Her mother would have voted the same way when she first came to 'man's world'.

So that left two votes. Tony and Spider-Man. I worry about the pressure this might be putting them under. Tony's not quite stable right now, not as long as he keeps using alcohol as a crutch. And Spider-Man...he's just a kid. It's hard enough being his age with powers, but to vote on such an important decision...

...and then there's Dinah. She should be here voting. Why isn't she here? I've been putting it out of my mind, but now, I find myself starting to worry. Tony, Ted, and I are going to have to figure this out after the meeting.

I force myself back to the moment at hand. "That leaves you," I say to our two remaining members.


.....dang.


"Well, on the one hand, I watch the X-Files. On the other hand, it's probably safe to say that even Stark and Queen's resources have limits. We could use the help."

[wiegeabo]

Since saving Edward Harrington's life, I've been very busy. And I haven't even left the mansion.

The next day, the 'packages' started arriving. Actually, most of them were crates. Large crates for companies that did not exist. All delivered to various location around Gotham before winding up here.

And Alfred and I have been working nonstop getting the new equipment ready. I haven't even gone on patrol for three days now. Or is it four? I shake my head and rub my face, feeling the growth of stubble under my fingers.

"Juice, sir."

I greedily grab the tall glass like a wild man and drain the tall glass in one go, not caring what kind of juice it is. I drop the glass and wipe my mouth. "Thank you," I say once I catch my breath.

"Indeed." Alfred looks up at the tall machine before us. "Is it working now?"

"It damn well better be," I reply. I press a few keys and initiate the startup sequence. A few seconds tick by and then the screen says in red letters...

"Initial startup 100% complete. Booting primary Bat-computer operating system."

"Bat-computer?"

I almost see a smile on Alfred's face. "Apparently, someone has altered the original programming."

I shake my head with a grin. I usually don't smile much, but ever since Dick joined the group, it seems to be easier. And, even though he would never admit it, Alfred makes sure it stays that way.

I sit down and rub my eyes as the 'Bat-computer' screen flashes with text and images as files load and software executes. I look around at the lab we've put together. Analysis equipment, diagnostic systems, and database storeage centers. The analysis equipment isn't much more advanced than what the police have access to, but it's still much better than breaking into a hospital lab to do my work. And it is only just the beginning.

I have plans. Lots of plans.

Then my chair turns to a project I'm very excited about. My cycle, or Bat-cycle if we keep to Alfred's naming convention, has served me well. But I need something with four wheels. Something much better than the standard car I started with last year. And with a week or so of work, it'll be up and running.

Guess I should think of a name for it.

I head upstairs, but take a look back at the cave. It's a long way from the old cavern my ancestors used for the underground railroad, but it still had a long way to go. I remember falling into the well as a child and finding this place, and I'm very glad I did.


In the mansion I grab a shower and a few hours of sleep. When I wake up, it's late at night. I go downstairs into the kitchen to grab some juice. After pouring myself a glass, I walk into the living room that Alfred favors. As is usual with most nights, he sits in the recliner with a small snifter of brandy sitting on the small table next to him as he works on a puzzle in the paper and watches the late night news.

He notices me. "Planning a late night 'out' sir?"

"Not tonight Alfred. Just habit. I might just go back to bed." The look of surprise on his face is priceless. "Anything interesting on the news?"

"Nothing of note on a local level. Nationally-" the screen goes to static.

All over Gotham television were going to static and then replaced with the horrible smile of the Joker.

"Gooooood evening Gotham! How are you? Because I can tell you don't let the smile fool you..." his voice changed the laughter was gone and so was the smile "...I am not a happy camper. When I stole my paper today what did I read today? That a certain someone was not dead and that a certain someone probably saved him."

I can't help but smile slightly at the thought of beating him.

"Since the poison didn't work I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands" he grabbed something from off camera and wheeled it into view.

"Wave to the camera Eddie. Now if you have younger viewers around..." he pulls out a gun and blasts a hole through the man's head.

I jump at the noise, my eyes wide in horror at the scene. Alfred mimics my reaction, his newspaper falling to the floor.

"Whoopsies....hahahahahahah. What I really wanted to tell you Gotham is this may be my final message for a while but don't fret the Joker will be around...maybe in your house hahahahaha...." the television goes to static and back the news. It was time for the nightmare to begin.

Pure and absolute anger and hatred grips my face as it twists into a snarled version of myself. The glass in my hand shatters and juice goes flying. I don't even feel the blood dripping onto the floor.

"Master Bruce!"

I ignore Alfred and stomp out of the room.

I head downstairs...

[wiegeabo]

.....dang.


"Well, on the one hand, I watch the X-Files. On the other hand, it's probably safe to say that even Stark and Queen's resources have limits. We could use the help."

I nod my head. Not at the X-Files comment, since I've never watched the show, but at the mention of resources. It's not fair to ask Tony and Ollie to put up all the money for the group. Especially since I remember my promise to Spider-Man about a salary and medical care. And if one of us gets it, we all should have the opportunity.

Although, looking at this group, I think we'd all fight even without any compensation. In fact, I know we would.

"That just leaves you Tony." Either he'll vote for SHIELD, confirming the new partnership, or against, placing us into a deadlock. And if we do deadlock...we'll handle if and when it happens.

Although one person should be here to break that tie.

Where is she?

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/GreenGoblin-9.jpg

Osborn moved through the halls of the hotel with determination, black briefcase in hand. His entourage was order to wait for him lobby while saw to his business. His bodyguards were not pleased by this order, but there was nothing they could do if they wanted to keep their jobs.
Some people who recognized the famous industrialist stopped and gawked at him as simple folk would. Norman paid them no heed though, and continued his trek towards conference room twenty-one where his prize waited.

Moving quickly around a corner, Osborn nearly ran into a pair of men in brown suits carrying clipboards.

"Pardon me", exclaimed one of the men.

Osborn said nothing and kept walking. He didn't have time to deal with the small fish. He was here for the bigger game.
Entering a large room marked "Conference Room: Twenty-One" Osborn noticed that he had apparently just missed the conference as the room was half empty and people were still clearing out via the room's three exits. Scanning the place, Osborn saw the man he had come to see on the stage talking to two young men.

Making his way to the stage, Osborn caught a few tidbits of their conversation. Little things that mainly consisted of brown-nosing, such as how they loved his lecture on graviton particles and physics in general.
Osborn sneered. How he hated suck-ups. They were spineless trash as far as he was concerned. A waste of good oxygen. Still, Norman stood by and waited for the conversation to end. When it continued to go on, Osborn cleared his throat audibly to interrupt their banter.

The man he came to see looked over to him and smiled and then turned back to the two young men, who were still students at MIT, and bid them farewell.
Osborn met the man halfway as he walked towards him and shook his hand.

"Mister Osborn", he said with a smile, "a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"The feeling is mutual Professor Hall."

"Please", spoke the man in a modest tone, "Franklin will do."

"Of course", replied Norman with a respectful nod, "Do you mind if we sit down as we go over the final procedures?"

"Certainly", exclaimed Professor Franklin Hall as he led the way to a small round-top table behind the stage.

Taking a seat across from the Professor, Osborn opened his briefcase and produced a small stack of papers joined together along with a pen.
"I believe you will find that the contract is in perfect order to what we discussed, Franklin. You will heading the physics division of STAR Labs. All of the resources of OsCorp will be at your disposal."

"Yes", replied Hall, absent-minded, as he read over the contract. After a few minutes of reading Hall placed the contract down on the table and signed it.

Osborn smiled, "Excellent. Good to have you aboard, Professor Hall."

"As I said, just Franklin will do. And, from the creative freedoms you've promised along with the chance to work with some of the other top scientific minds in the world, how could I refuse?"

"STAR Labs will be all about scientific creativity and moving towards the future. You will be able to conduct your own research and experiments on your own time, provided you follow the guidelines of the contract. However, I do expect results on all projects. If I find that your personal agenda is getting in the way of you doing your job...", Osborn answered and he left the sentence to trail off. It didn't come out as much of a threat as it did as a simple fact. This was business after all.

Hall chuckled, "Mr. Osborn, you certainly won't have to worry about that from me. I will hold up my end of the contract provided you hold up yours."

"You don't have to worry about, Franklin", responded Osborn with a smirk, "contracts and my word are two things I do not break."

Osborn placed the contract and the pen back into his briefcase and stood.
Professor Hall followed suit and the two men shook hands as both a "goodbye" gesture and one to "seal the deal" as it were.

"Welcome to the future, Franklin", said Osborn with a smile before turning and walking out of the room.

[Johnny Blaze]

The Surfer did not close his eyes as his final fate drew near. He would meet his end like man. Staring death right in the face.
Galactus' eyes burned with cosmic fury as his hand which held the Surfer glowed with a crimson light. The crimson aura that emanated from Galactus' hand enveloped the Surfer and Norrin knew pain. His body burned, as if his very soul was on fire.
To his credit though, Norrin did not cry out.

The pain was excruciating now. The world began to spin, and Norrin, try as he might, could not hold back any longer. He screamed in agony as the energy coursed through his body and then the world went dark...





Opening his eyes, Norrin found himself still surrounded by blackness. But, this was a blackness he knew well. The stars shone like white hot candles all around him. A large nebula could be seen to his left. He was laying on his board in deep space. Norrin slowly rose to his feet, his body still throbbing from Galactus' deadly grip.

Galactus, thought Norrin his eyes widening in horror, the planet!

Quickly Norrin found his bearings, and, with his cosmic senses, pinpointed Galactus' unique signature.
It was many light years away.

It seems my former master is not without some sense of mercy. He stayed his executioner's hand and simply banished me from his presence. But those poor creatures on that doomed world...

No! I cannot let it end this way, thought Norrin as he firmed his jaw and took off like a streaking comet towards his former master.

The Surfer knew that the planet, along with all who inhabited it, were already gone. There was nothing he could do about that now. Still, he needed closure. He needed to put things to rest with Galactus once and for all.

After hours of traveling, Norrin finally arrived at his destination. He maneuvered through the debris field that was once the planet as he approached Galactus' mighty ship.
As he neared, Norrin saw Galactus standing outside his vessel on one of it's many mechanical platforms.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Galactus-1.jpg

"I knew you would not relent in your pestering, Norrin Radd", boomed the Devourer, "so I took the only course of action I deemed necessary to allow me to proceed with my feeding unhindered."

"You teleported me light years away when you could have easily killed me. Why", asked a confused Norrin.

"You are no longer my Herald, Norrin Radd. Your pacifist heart would not allow you to perform your task any longer, despite my inner workings of your psyche", explained Galactus.
"However much your treachery infuriates me", continued the Devourer as his eyes narrowed and began to crackle with cosmic energy. The Surfer prepared himself for the attack which was coming. But, to Norrin's surprise, no attack came. Instead the Devourer's posture slouched ever so slightly and his rage subsided.
"It is my fault for your rebellion, Surfer. I always knew that I could not keep you in my service forever. It was only a matter of time before you turned on me", stated Galactus. As much as Galactus tried to hide it, Norrin could hear a bit of sadness in his voice. As though Galactus was actually saddened by this turn of events.
Still, the Devourer would not show any kind of weakness for long. His gaze steeled as he glared at Norrin Radd.
"Still, it does not deny the fact that you betrayed me. No, Surfer, you will not be destroyed today. I grant you your request and relieve you from your service and spare your life. But, you have still angered me Norrin Radd, and next we meet you may not be so fortunate."

"Now", said Galactus as he stretched out his hand and pointed to the distant stars, "leave my presence, my former Herald, for the Hunger is creeping upon me once again and I must soon feed."

Norrin hesitated for a second before slowly turning on his board and leaving his former master floating amidst the rubble that was once a planet.
Soaring the spaceways, Norrin silently thought to himself all that had transpired and began to decide what his first move as a free man might be.

[Kaboom]

The man in the hospital gown lurched forward as the vision enveloped his every sense. Galactus was much closer than he thought and his chasis was yet to be complete.

He had to contact the Red Skull and and Wanda quickly...as well as the other.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Osborn-1.jpg

Norman stood in his bedroom as he put on his tie. He had only one hour until his private jet would leave for Oxford, England where the final piece of his scientific puzzle waited for him. One Herbert Wyndham, one of the world's top biologists. With the man the scientific community dubbed "Lord Evolutionary" on his team of lab coats, the sky would be the limit.
Norman almost salivated at the money he'd make from all of the defense contracts. Hell, Ivo's designs for his android super-soldier alone would garner billions of dollars. Just think of everything they could accomplish with Norman at the forefront.

A soft knock on the door snapped Norman from his day dreams.

"Yes", asked Osborn as he put on his suit jacket.

"Dad", asked Harry as he entered the room, "you got a minute?"

Norman sighed as he turned to face his son. "I suppose I can spare a minute, but I'm running late as is for my trip to England. You'll have to make it quick, Harry."

Harry sat down on the bed, taking off his jacket and placing it in his lap.
"I...there's this...I'm...", Harry stumbled over the words as he tried to explain his dilemma to his father. Norman seeing his son's problem cut in.
"Let me guess, girl troubles?"

Harry looked up at his father, "Yeah, how'd you know?"

Norman smiled a genuine smile of sincerity, "Because I know that look. It's been on my face before when I was your age."

"So", continued Norman as he sat next to his son, "What's her name?"

"Gwen", answered Harry, "her name's Gwen. We've been friends for a few years now, but..."

"But you think it may be leading into more than friendship", said Norman, knowingly.

"Yeah. I like her, Dad, I really do. But I don't think she sees me as anything other than a friend."

"Harry", smiled Norman as he put his hand on his son's shoulder and gave it a loving squeeze, "if you feel that strongly about this girl, then you need to tell her."

"I would", replied Harry, "but I don't want to say something that would end up ruining our friendship, or make things awkward between us."

"Son, you'll never get anywhere with that attitude. You're an Osborn. You need to start acting like one. If you like this girl, tell her. Be strong. Be confident. But, most importantly, be careful, Harry. You're at a prime age, Harry, and many women will be trying to trap you for your money. You've got to be careful who you let into your life, son. You say this girl and you have been friends for a few years, right?"

"Y-yeah", stammered Harry, "since freshmen year."

"That still does not mean you can trust her, boy. Never let your guard down. As soon as you do, that's when they pounce like the Jackals they are."

"Now", continued Norman as he rose to his feet, "I'm not saying you shouldn't pursue this Gwen girl, or stop being friends with her. Who knows? She may be a genuinely good person. I'm simply telling you to be wary of who you let into your life."

"Thanks, Dad", smiled Harry as he stood up and hugged his father, "you've been a big help."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for, kiddo", answered Norman with a smile. Breaking the moment Norman grabbed his suitcase from the side of the dresser and made his way for the door.
"I've got to run, Harry, but I want to know how things go with this Gwen girl when I get back."

"Sure thing, Dad", smiled Harry as he waved goodbye, "Have a good trip."

"Oh, I most certainly will", smirked Norman as he put on his sunglasses and walked out the bedroom door.

Harry was making progress, albeit slowly. Still, Norman was confident he could make a man out of his son eventually. Someone worthy to take over the Osborn Legacy when he was gone. Now was not the time to think about that though. No, now he had to concentrate on his trip to England and acquiring the final piece to the puzzle that is S.T.A.R. Labs. He had a date with the "Lord Evolutionary", and he dare not be late.

[wiegeabo]

"Where the hell is he!!!" I shout in the man's face.

"I-I-I..."

"ANSWER. ME!"

"I-I-" His eyes roll up into his head and he passes out.

I drop him to the ground. "Dammit. Dammit! DAMMIT!!!" I shoot up a grapnel line and fly up to the roof of a building. I stand there, fury eating at my mind until I unleash it with a punch to the wall. Two bricks explode under my attack. If it wasn't for my training, the bones in my hand would be mulch. As it is, I barely feel the bruise that's forming.

Two days. Two damn godforsaken days without one solid lead. I've been cracking my knuckles on broken faces for nearly forty-eight hours straight. Every time I tire, I see that mad clown murder the man I saved infront of my eyes. Infront of the eyes of the entire city. Alfred even told me the video has made it's way onto the internet. It only make me angrier.

But, for the first time since it happened, my mind is momentarily clear. The pain from breaking the bricks snapping it into focus. With a few moments to think, I realize that I've played right into the Joker's hand. He got to me, twisted me. The bastard won another battle.

But he's nowhere near winning the war.

I focus on my training, forcing my mind clear. I slow my breathing and heart rate, letting the tension and anger slip from my body. I meditate lightly for a minute, and when I open my eyes, it's as if I am waking from a long nightmare.

I realize I had been going about this all wrong. The Joker doesn't seem like the type to rely on hired thugs, or at least keep them around for very long. If the warehouse was any indication. So it's likely few, if any, criminals would even know where to find the madman.

Besides, the Joker murdered a man on live tv and effectively called me out. No matter how insane other criminals may think he is, that is going to earn him no small amount of respect and fear. So much, that it's unlikely I'd be able to beat the information out of anyone.

If I'm going to find him, I need to try a different tactic.

[Green Lantern]

Tied. The vote was tied.

I listened to Wonder Woman explain her reasoning, and I couldn't find fault with it. Her mother would have voted the same way when she first came to 'man's world'.

So that left two votes. Tony and Spider-Man. I worry about the pressure this might be putting them under. Tony's not quite stable right now, not as long as he keeps using alcohol as a crutch. And Spider-Man...he's just a kid. It's hard enough being his age with powers, but to vote on such an important decision...

...and then there's Dinah. She should be here voting. Why isn't she here? I've been putting it out of my mind, but now, I find myself starting to worry. Tony, Ted, and I are going to have to figure this out after the meeting.

I force myself back to the moment at hand. "That leaves you," I say to our two remaining members.

.....dang.


"Well, on the one hand, I watch the X-Files. On the other hand, it's probably safe to say that even Stark and Queen's resources have limits. We could use the help."

I nod my head. Not at the X-Files comment, since I've never watched the show, but at the mention of resources. It's not fair to ask Tony and Ollie to put up all the money for the group. Especially since I remember my promise to Spider-Man about a salary and medical care. And if one of us gets it, we all should have the opportunity.

Although, looking at this group, I think we'd all fight even without any compensation. In fact, I know we would.

"That just leaves you Tony." Either he'll vote for SHIELD, confirming the new partnership, or against, placing us into a deadlock. And if we do deadlock...we'll handle if and when it happens.

Although one person should be here to break that tie.

Where is she?
"I don't trust SHIELD as far as I can spit. In this helmet."

He pauses. He can feel the tension in the room as people realize that the vote will be tied.

"BUT, money doesn't grow on trees, and I'm not going to be able to provide adequate funding for this team alone. I think we really don't have much of a choice, we take their offer."

[wiegeabo]

"I don't trust SHIELD as far as I can spit. In this helmet."

He pauses. He can feel the tension in the room as people realize that the vote will be tied.

"BUT, money doesn't grow on trees, and I'm not going to be able to provide adequate funding for this team alone. I think we really don't have much of a choice, we take their offer."


Then, that's it. The vote passes. Looking around, I can see some faces agreeing with the decision, like Steve, and some upset with the vote, like Ted and Wonder Woman. And if there isn't somekind of compromise, I can see this team pulling itself apart with distrust before we really get started.

And none of us want to see that.

"I guess we work with SHIELD...but," that gets looks from everyone. "We don't trust SHIELD, at least not completely. And they don't really trust us, or else Nick wouldn't be here making the offer in the first place."

"So I suggest we compromise and make this a limited partnership. At least for now. I propose that the group, or any single member, has the right to turn down any SHIELD assignment. In return, SHIELD gets a liason into the group in Captain America."

I give everyone a moment to let the idea sink in. "Well? Any thoughts?"

[Byrd Man]

Then, that's it. The vote passes. Looking around, I can see some faces agreeing with the decision, like Steve, and some upset with the vote, like Ted and Wonder Woman. And if there isn't somekind of compromise, I can see this team pulling itself apart with distrust before we really get started.

And none of us want to see that.

"I guess we work with SHIELD...but," that gets looks from everyone. "We don't trust SHIELD, at least not completely. And they don't really trust us, or else Nick wouldn't be here making the offer in the first place."

"So I suggest we compromise and make this a limited partnership. At least for now. I propose that the group, or any single member, has the right to turn down any SHIELD assignment. In return, SHIELD gets a liason into the group in Captain America."

I give everyone a moment to let the idea sink in. "Well? Any thoughts?"


"Sounds good to me, Jay. It's the best of both worlds, we get free reign with this 'League' of superhumans and S.H.I.E.L.D. gets an inside man in the form of me. Don't worry, I don't tell if any of you are reds."

[Andy C.]

"You've made the right decision, believe me," Fury said, grinning as best as he could without losing his cigar. "The American people thank you."

He eyed the metahumans carefully, particularly the ones who were against it. This decision must have been killing Stark, and Fury couldn't help but enjoy that. On the other hand, he knew better than to test Ted's patience, and he sure as hell didn't want an angry Amazon to deal with. So with his victory secured, Fury began walking towards the door.

"Oh, and before I go," he said, reaching into his pocket as he turned around, "You may want this."

The Colonel produced a small portable hard-drive from his pocket, placing it on the table.

"This contains information on over a hundred mutant/metahum criminals and terrorists operating within the United States. If you're really serious about protecting people, then these are the bogeymen you need to go after. Our agents will contact Captain America for the specifics of mission briefing, but in the meantime, I suggest you do some reading."

With that, Nick Fury walked out the door of the Brownstone and into the busy Gotham streets, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-13.jpg

Norrin soared past a comet, the bright blue light of it's tail shimmering off of his silver body, as he weighed his options. It had not been long since Galactus had released him from his servitude, and he was undecided about what to do now that he was a free being.
He thought about returning home to Zenn-La, to Shalla-Bal, but he could not face her as he was, after all the destruction he had caused in Galactus' service.
He was slowly running out of options when he remembered the Green Lantern he had saved from death, Hal Jordan of Earth. Despite his misgivings, he had decided to travel to the Terran's planet and seek out his advice.

Still, he had a long way yet to travel. At least one more galactic week at the pace he was going, which was fine by him. He did not want to rush things. After all, the more time he spent out here in the Black, the more time he had to his thoughts.

It was then that he caught a flash of light out of the corner of his left eye. Turning in the direction, the Surfer, with his cosmically enhanced sight, spied a runaway starscruiser being chased by three short-ranged fighters.
Norrin turned sharply as he changed his course to intercept the spacecrafts. As he got closer, the one of the fighters broke off of it's pursuit of the cruiser and came at him, cannons firing.
Norrin did not intend to get involved in the matter so quickly, he was planning on sizing up the situation first before getting involved. But this pilot was not allowing him that luxury. The Surfer weaved in and out of the cannon fire deftly, and, with a wave of his hand, transmuted the inner parts of the cannons to make them inoperable.
Zooming past the fighter, the Surfer closed in on his wing-mates who were still on the cruiser's tail. With the Power Cosmic at his disposal, the Surfer easily destroyed their weaponry as well. And it was a good thing too, since the cruiser appeared to be on it's last legs. The ships, unable to continue the assault, broke off the pursuit and began to depart the system. Meanwhile, Norrin wanted to have a closer look at the damaged cruiser as well as question the passengers inside.

Soaring up to the ship's hull, Norrin phased himself into the main cabin of the ship.
It was a wreck inside. Broken machines and parts of the cruiser were littering the floor along with at least a dozen dead alien bodies, some women and children. Norrin looked over the fallen, a pang of sadness welling up within him.

If only I had arrived sooner, he thought to himself.

A small cough from one of the children brought Surfer out of his sorrow and back to reality. Leaping off of his board, Norrin moved over to the child. From his appearance, the boy seemed human like Hal Jordan of Earth, but a voice in his head told differently.

"P-plea...please...don't hurt...us", the boy's voice whispered in Norrin's mind, "don't...take us...back."

Norrin smiled at the young Titanian telepath, trying to ease the fright he saw and felt emanating from the child.
"It is all right, child, I will not harm you. I am...the Silver Surfer and I am here to help."

Reaching out his hand and placing it on the boy's forehead, Norrin called upon the Power Cosmic to heal the boy's wounds. Cosmic energy surrounds the child, and in moments the boy appears to have suffered no harm at all.

"Back off Tin Man", barks a voice from a corridor followed by the click and hum of a blaster rifle powering up.

Norrin, not wanted a confrontation, slowly gets to his feet and moves away from the child. Turning to see this new threat, Norrin notices another humanoid male holding a blaster rifle aimed directly at his head. He was the size of a standard humanoid and has a deep blue tone to his skin signifying that he was definitely a Kree.

"I mean you no harm", spoke the Surfer slowly as he raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture.

"So you say", was the only reply he got. The Kree turned to look at the child, and it seemed to Norrin that they were carrying on a mental conversation.
The Kree scoffed, "Pfft, you're just a boy. You do not know what lengths he would go to to get any of his "people" back."

Curious, thought Norrin to himself, these people are obviously on the run from something or someone. Could this be my first test in my road to atonement? Still, I have to convince this Kree that I am no enemy.

"I know not this "He" you speak of", spoke the Surfer as he broke the silence, "I am Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer. I come in peace and offer my assistance in any way I can."

The Kree's eyes went wide, "You! You are the herald to destruction! Your coming brings death to entire worlds! Maybe you can help us. You can go to the world we came from and summon your Master to destroy it!"

Norrin face grew grim as he looked on at the Kree, "I am sorry, but I no longer am Herald to the Devourer. My servitude to Galactus ended just days ago. And even still, I would not willingly bring about death upon an entire planet ever again."

The Kree lowered his weapon and stared at Norrin for what seemed like minutes.
"We must find a safe port soon to fix our ship. If you really want to help, you can escort us to the planet Braal."

"I can do better than provide escort to get your ship repaired", replied Norrin Radd as he moved to stand on his board and rose off the floor, cosmic energy beginning to flow from his being and into the ship around him. The entire ship began to glow with an eerie silver light, and slowly began to mend itself of the damage it has suffered in the recent attack. Within minutes the entire ship was restored to perfect working order.

"There", said Norrin as he powered down and once more touched down upon the ships floor, "I think you shall find all is in order. If you still wish to travel to Braal I can escort you there."

The Kree looked on dumbfounded, the Titanian child as well. They couldn't believe what they had seen. There ship which they had stolen to escape hell had been ready to expire, but this being, the Silver Surfer, had restored it back to life. It was the most amazing display of power either had ever seen. And that was saying something, given their former master.

"I-I don't believe it", stammered the Kree.

"The damage to your ship was most severe, but the repairs were nothing for one who wields the Power Cosmic."

"I don't think I've ever said this to anyone before, Surfer", said the Kree, "but...thank you. If you hadn't had showed up, we'd be space dust right now."

"It was nothing, but...why were those ships chasing you?"

The Kree sighed and closed his eyes as if recalling painful events, "It is a long story, Surfer, but, after you hear it, maybe you can return to the world we escaped from and free its people from a life of slavery under the rule of a mad tyrant."

[Byrd Man]

She follows me all the way back to my place.

"Nice spread you got here, Oliver."

I put my bow on the couch and point a finger at her.

"Look! I work alone okay? How old are you anyway? Like 14 or 15?"

"I'm 18."

I perk up alittle. She's of legal age eh?

"Still, it's dangerous work. How do you know how to shoot like that?"

"Let's just say, I had to learn how to survive. I'm something of an orphan.."

She throws me a pair of puppy dog eyes.

"Please? I'll listen to every word you say, please, please? I got no where else to go, plus I know your secret identity, imagine what will happen if I go to the press with this."

"Fine Dammit! You can sleep on the couch tonight. It's almost 2 A.M. we can discuss this in the morning."

I pick up my bow and head off towards my bedroom.

"Thanks Oliver."

"It's Ollie."

I don't giver her time to respond as I shut the door behind me.

The smell of something cooking hits my nostrils as I wake up. I sit up in the bed and pull on some jeans. When I walk into my kitchen, she's cooking something in a frying pan.

"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey."

I just roll my eyes and sit down at the table.

"So you want to do what I do. Stay out all night tracking down drug dealers, arsonist, rapist, and god knows whatever kind of nutball that's out there."

She hands me a plate full of eggs and sausage and nods enthusiastically.

"Uh huh, you bet. That night you saved me, it inspired me to want to do something with my life."

She sits down across the table from me and I feel something creep up my pants leg and head towards my inner thigh. It's her barefoot.

"I'll let you work with me if you stop trying to play footsie with me."

"Aww, your no fun."

********

"Again."

She picks herself off the mat, sweat dripping of her face. It's the third time I've knocker her down in three hours. Pretty good.

"Please, Ollie. I need a break. I can't go on anymore."

"Too bad. Those monsters out there won't pity you and neither will I."

She gets up, with a look of firey determination and fierce resolve.

"Okay, one round. Winner take all. If you win, we keep on."

"And if you win?"

"Then we quit and you have to have sex with me on the mat."

Hmmm. A win win situation.

"Deal."

She get's into some kind of karate pose and prepars to strike at me. I crouch down into my Aikido defensive pose. I barely dodge her foot, I grab her ankle and do a Kata-dori, slinging her to the mat with a thump.

"I win. Get some rest."

Before I can leave, her foot sweeps me off my feet and I fall to the mat. In a flash she's ontop of me.

"No I win, never turn your back on an opponent."

Like a wild woman, she bites my neck.

"No, this isn't right. I'm 26 for god sake."

"So. It's not like were getting married or something and besides. If were going to be partners. We need to get all the sexual tension outt the way."

"Your right, dammit."

And just like that, I give in. So what if I'm 8 years older than her? We need to build a trusting relationship. Don't look at me like that, you would have done the same damn thing.

[wiegeabo]

I walk into the bar, quickly assessing my surrounding. It's the sterotypical criminal low-life thug gin joint. An aroma that can only be described as a combonation of sweat, peanuts, and vomit attack my nostrils. Men in various stages of decay sit at the bar, trying to lose themselves in drink after drink, or play pool in the back, or sit at the table telling jokes to each other that would make a sailor turn away in embarrasement. Only a couple of them look at me as I step in. Then they nudge their friends, and more look at me.

By the time I reach the bar, my flashy suit has every eye in the house on me. I lay a ten dollar bill down. "Beer."

The bartender gives me an odd look, but plants a bottle of beer down infront of me. I take a sip, grateful he didn't put it in a glass. Dozens of eyes still stare at me. "Ah, hell." I slap a hundred on top of the ten. "Beers all around! Gotta celebrate the new promotion, after all." I get a few suspicious looks, and a lot of cheers, as the bartender starts pulling battles up from under the counter and puts them on the bar. Greedy hands grab the bottles and pass them around almost faster then the barkeep can keep up with.

I hear some clinks of bottles and a few more laughs as the mood in the bar lifts somewhat. A half full glass slams onto the bar beside me. I glance up at the very, very large and drunk man standing next to me.

"I ain't never seen you before," he says.

I shrug my shoulders. "Ain't never seen you either."

That sees to momentarily confuse him. I assume he's not the brightest bulb. "You tryin' to make fun of me?" he asks, starting to get angry.

"No, no. Just trying to celebrate. Big day for me, and all that." I give him wink, although I'm not sure he can see it under my glasses.

He towers over me, not very amused. "Yeah, right. Big job and all that. Some kind of hot shot or somethin'. Who you workin' for anyway?"

"Oh, maybe you've heard of him. His name's Fisk."

A hush comes over the crowd. The guy sitting on my other side says, "Y'know, Falcone runs this town."

****! Did that punk lie? "Uh, uh, I heard that..."

He smiles. "Good thing you're in one a Fisk's bars then," he says with a slap on my back. He starts laughing, and so does everyone else. Except for the tall guy who seems a little nervous now.

"Uh, I didn't mean nothin', mister. Didn't know you was with Mr. Fisk and all."

"That's ok, we're all friends here, right?" I shout to the crowd. They cheer in agreement. "What's you're name pal?"

"Alex O'Hirn," he says proudly. The name means nothing to me. "Some folks call me Rhino."

I smile and nod, reminding myself to check when I get home. "If you say so. The name seems to fit you. Let me buy you a drink." I nod at the bartender, and he starts pouring into O'Hirn's glass.

I feel a bump against my side and a slap on my shoulder. "Hey pal, I like yer style," a man almost too drunk to stand says. "Whasss yer name."

"Me?" I say innocently. "Oh, well, they call me Matches. Matches Malone."

[Green Lantern]

Then, that's it. The vote passes. Looking around, I can see some faces agreeing with the decision, like Steve, and some upset with the vote, like Ted and Wonder Woman. And if there isn't somekind of compromise, I can see this team pulling itself apart with distrust before we really get started.

And none of us want to see that.

"I guess we work with SHIELD...but," that gets looks from everyone. "We don't trust SHIELD, at least not completely. And they don't really trust us, or else Nick wouldn't be here making the offer in the first place."

"So I suggest we compromise and make this a limited partnership. At least for now. I propose that the group, or any single member, has the right to turn down any SHIELD assignment. In return, SHIELD gets a liason into the group in Captain America."

I give everyone a moment to let the idea sink in. "Well? Any thoughts?"
"Any thing else we need to do here? If not, I have some upgrades for the suit I've been workin' on."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

"Any thing else we need to do here? If not, I have some upgrades for the suit I've been workin' on."


I glance over at Iron Man, briefly. How he could upgrade that is beyond me. But then again, I'm no expert at highly priced military grade armor weaponry... I'm just a journalist.

...

A journalist with a deadline. Oh, great...

"As much as I'd love to stay and go over the information Fury gave us, I share Stark's sentiments. I need to get back to Metropolis as soon as possible... especially with Intergang still on the loose."

[Byrd Man]

I glance over at Iron Man, briefly. How he could upgrade that is beyond me. But then again, I'm no expert at highly priced military grade armor weaponry... I'm just a journalist.

...

A journalist with a deadline. Oh, great...

"As much as I'd love to stay and go over the information Fury gave us, I share Stark's sentiments. I need to get back to Metropolis as soon as possible... especially with Intergang still on the loose."

"I third the sentiment...Jay? Why don't you and me help our young friend find Alan. He's still in Gotham right?"

[wiegeabo]

"Yes, he is," I say to Steve. "I think he'll be more than a little interested in meeting our new Lantern."

"Well, if no one has any objections...I think we accomplished a lot for our first meeting. And learned a lot too," I say, looking at the pilot and his friend who joined us with his shocking news.

I pick up the tape Nick dropped on the table. Over a hundred. And just in this country. It's more than a little depressing. But I keep up a brave face. "I'll make sure if of you get a copy of this tape. You can either come by and pick one up in a couple of days, or let me know where I can leave it for you."

Everyone stands up, and I can't help but feel more than a little pride. We have that makings of a strong new group, and I can't wait to see us in action as a team.

"We'll meet again soon, once we've all had a chance to look through the files. Then we'll discuss where to go from there."

"Training. Lot's of it," Ted says.

"I knew that was coming. But it might be a good place to start...Might also be a good time to come up with a name," I say with a smile.

As everyone gets ready to leave, I motion to Tony to get his attention, then walk by Steve. "Give me a moment, Cap. Then we'll go find Alan."

I walk up to Tony, and pull him away so the others can't hear. "Tony, do me a favor." I hand him Nick's file. "Run this through your computers and get the copies ready." I lower my voice. "And see if you can track down Dinah. There has to be a reason she didn't show up today. I'll join you once we meet up with Alan."

[wiegeabo]

Everyone gets up and mills about for a couple of minutes saying their goodbyes and see you laters, shaking hands with their new teammates. Superman and Wonder Woman take off into the air. I remember Spider-Man mentioning his troubles getting around and offer him a lift back to New York, but he politely declines. Nick walks off down the street going...where ever he's going. And Tony heads out to find Dinah, and I wish I could help him.

When the room clears, only Ted, Steve, and I remain behind with the 'new' Green Lantern and his friend.

"Well," I say, "shall we go see Alan?"

[wiegeabo]

For the past couple of weeks, Matches Malone has been making a name for himself around Gotham. I've visited more bars then I can remember, and thrown around a lot of money. Not enough to make people suspicous. Just enough to make a lot of small time friends in the right places that can vouch for me.

I've even been asked to do a couple of small jobs. Just run a couple of packages for punks too drunk to do it themselves. It's not much, but it's a start.

Problems is, not a damn one of them could give me any information on the Joker. Either they were too low on the totem pole to know anything, or the Joker is good at covering his tracks. I'm betting on the latter because I haven't even found anything on my own during patrol.

I'm annoyed, to say the least.

During the day, Bruce Wayne has been confined to his mansion, only making a couple of appearences at Wanye Enterprises to sign a few papers and attend a couple of board meetings. I've come to rely on Lucius Fox more and more to run the business. And, although he doesn't approve of the lifestyle he thinks I lead, he's very loyal. I've known him for years, ever since I saved his life in Paris during my training, and I trust him completely. It's a relief to know the company is in such good hands.

The reason I've been so absent is the work Alfred and I have been doing in the cave. We finally got the last of the computer systems online and loaded with data. The files from every police and civilian database I could access legally or hack into undetected is available to me. I still haven't tried Federal or international systems, but I'm not quitre ready to try those just yet. And I still need to get digital versions of hardcopies not online. But I'm content with what I have.

The lab is a joy to use. Well, it would be if it wasn't being used to solve horrible crimes. But I've got to admit, the car...I love the car.

But tonight, I was finishing up patrol. And it had been a good night. Three stopped muggings, two robberies, and I stopped a rapist...by breaking his legs.

Like I said, it was a good night.

I pull the car into the cave, its engine roaring with power. I was tired, but in a good way. I walk up to the batcomputer (rolling my eyes at its name), and tilt my head to the side to crack it into place. I press a couple of keys, and the screen comes to life. I bring up a crime report summary from the night. My hand moves silently inside my cape to my belt. In a fast smooth motion I whip around, the batarang flung from my hand at the presence I feel.

Just before it hits the face of the man standing on the other side of the platform, a large hand grabs the 'rang from the air. I continue my spin, pulling two more batarangs out of my belt as I take an attack stance.

Standing before me is a lean, powerful-looking, distinguished man holding a cane. Next to him a large bald man who pulls the batarang out of his hand, letting his blood drip to the floor. "Impressive," the older man says.

"Who are you!" I demand.

He stands there calmly, as if he didn't almost take a bladed weapon to his face. "I am here to discuss something with you, Detective. But I doubt you have ever heard of me."

"My name is Ras Al Ghul."

[wiegeabo]

I search my memory for the name. Ras Al Ghul. I come up with nothing. But that doesn't change the fact that this man is in my cave. And if he's in the cave...

...then he knows who I am.

The problem is, I'm not sure what to do about it. I won't kill. I'll never cross that line. But how can I stop this man from announcing to the world that-

"You are no doubt contemplating the fact that I know who you really are. Am I correct, Mr. Wayne?" My stare gets even thinner, if that's possible. But I admit to nothing. "Believe me, exposing you're secret means little to me. I am content to let you continue your...nocturnal activites."

"How did you get in here?" I demand.

His face softens as he shrugs one shoulder. "That is of little importance at the moment. However, I will say that your security is...lacking."

He walks over to the lab are of the cave and casually examines the equipment. I just watch, knowing this is all for show. I have no doubt he carefully examined all my equipment when he first entered the cave. He's just trying to get under my skin now, throw me off my game.

And, dammit, it's working.

I calm my mind down and decide to analyze the situation logically rather than let anger cloud my judgement. For the moment, I'll have to play this by ear. I stand up straight, putting the batarangs back into my belt. Then I let my cape cover my whole body like a shroud, which has the advantage of cloaking my hand movements should I need to pull the 'rangs out again.

I walk over to the lab. My boots make no noise on the ground, and my cape covers my legs and feet. For all intents, it looks like I am floating. A rather effective way of frightening criminals and adding to my mystery that I perfected months ago.

It doesn't phase him one bit.

"Why are you here?" I'm tired of this game and go stright for the heart of the matter.

Al Ghul picks up an empty beaker and appears to examine it. "Always the questions. Ever the Detective." He sighs, the first real sign that he's used to being in control, but at the moment isn't. "My daughter was abducted several weeks ago. My efforts to locate her have been ineffective. I require assisstance."

That surprises me. A man who can figure out who I am, and likely has significant resources, can't find his missing daughter? "Are you sure she was abducted?"

"Of course. I was sent a photograph as proof of life." He puts the beaker down.

"Why me?"

"I have been watching you for sometime now. During the last year, you have proven yourself a capable detective and fighter. And that was without the equipment you have acquired within the last few weeks."

The amount of detail he knows about me is frightening. But I ignore it. "You call me a detective, but I am not. I'm not for hire."

"Every man has his price."

"Not me."

Ras smiles."Oh, I know money means little to you. You already have more billions then you know how to spend, and money isn't a motivator for your type."

My type?

"But I assure you that you still have a price."He reaches into his coat pocket. I move my hands to my belt and tense the muscles in my legs. He pulls out a piece of paper. No, not paper. A photograph.

"Here is the picture that was sent to me. I am sure it will grab your interest."

I look Al Ghul in the eye. Then at his large bald friend whose expression of distrust hasn't changed. Neither has mine. I slowly take the photograph from Al Ghul's hand and unfold it.

The first thing I see is a striking woman. Her dark brown hair ruffled up probably because she had been fighting against the ropes that bound her wrists and ankels, as well as the blindfold over her eyes. But the woman's appearance is lost on me when I see a similarly bound boy laying next to her. My heart stops and my eyes widen.

"DICK!"

[Andy C.]

Everyone gets up and mills about for a couple of minutes saying their goodbyes and see you laters, shaking hands with their new teammates. Superman and Wonder Woman take off into the air. I remember Spider-Man mentioning his troubles getting around and offer him a lift back to New York, but he politely declines. Nick walks off down the street going...where ever he's going. And Tony heads out to find Dinah, and I wish I could help him.

When the room clears, only Ted, Steve, and I remain behind with the 'new' Green Lantern and his friend.

"Well," I say, "shall we go see Alan?"

(IC: Green Lantern)

Tom is still squirming after his encounter with The Colonel. I can't say I blame him; completely by accident, I've found myself joining up with Superman, Colonel Fury, and the old Justice Society. I mean, I've got an alien super-weapon at my disposal, but Pie's just along for the ride. No wonder he's so jittery.

I should probably feel overwhelmed myself, but I'm finding myself more and more strangely comfortable with it. Ever since the battle on Oa, ever since I put on the ring, I've been thrust into events beyond imagination, and I guess I'm getting used to it.

"Tom, maybe you should go back to the car," I say to Pie, who looks like he's on the verge of passing out. He nods, and heads for the door, then I turn my attention back to Flash and the others.

"Gentlemen, it's an honor to be working with you. I'm ready to find the other Lantern when you are."

[Byrd Man]

(IC: Green Lantern)

Tom is still squirming after his encounter with The Colonel. I can't say I blame him; completely by accident, I've found myself joining up with Superman, Colonel Fury, and the old Justice Society. I mean, I've got an alien super-weapon at my disposal, but Pie's just along for the ride. No wonder he's so jittery.

I should probably feel overwhelmed myself, but I'm finding myself more and more strangely comfortable with it. Ever since the battle on Oa, ever since I put on the ring, I've been thrust into events beyond imagination, and I guess I'm getting used to it.

"Tom, maybe you should go back to the car," I say to Pie, who looks like he's on the verge of passing out. He nods, and heads for the door, then I turn my attention back to Flash and the others.

"Gentlemen, it's an honor to be working with you. I'm ready to find the other Lantern when you are."

I pick my shield off of the table and strap it onto my back. I look over at Jay and Ted.

"You guys ever stay in touch with Alan? The last time I seen him was the day Bucky and I left for Germany. He didn't seem too pleased by my actions."

"What the hell did you expect, Steve? It was a suicide mission. Bucky died and you nearly did."

I wish he hadn't have brought up Bucky....god he was just a kid. I quickly start towards the door.

"I'll be outside waiting on you."

I hurridly shut the door and sit down on the Brownstone's steps. I sit there alone with my thoughts......

[wiegeabo]

As Steve rushes out of the room I give Ted a glare.

"What?" I just keep my eyes locked. "Yeah," he scratches the back of his head. "I know."

Ted walks out the front door to talk to Steve. I turn Captain Jordan. "Sorry about that. It's...well. War and fallen comrades. I'm sure you understand."

I start to lead him outside. "Anyway, since we're going to see him, I might as well fill you in. Alan Scott is the Green Lantern. Well...the first Green Lantern." We walk outside and join Ted and Steve. "He still lives in his old house about a mile from here. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. Told him about the new group forming and the meeting. He wished us luck, but basically said he wasn't interested."

"But I have a feeling, once he meets our friend here, his interest will be piqued."

[Byrd Man]

I pick my shield off of the table and strap it onto my back. I look over at Jay and Ted.

"You guys ever stay in touch with Alan? The last time I seen him was the day Bucky and I left for Germany. He didn't seem too pleased by my actions."

"What the hell did you expect, Steve? It was a suicide mission. Bucky died and you nearly did."

I wish he hadn't have brought up Bucky....god he was just a kid. I quickly start towards the door.

"I'll be outside waiting on you."

I hurridly shut the door and sit down on the Brownstone's steps. I sit there alone with my thoughts......

I sit out on the stoop and watch as a kid plays with his basketball. Though I'm here in Gotham my thoughts are else where, in a diffrent time all together.....

Gotham City
March 1944

"I'm sorry gentlemen and lady, but that's the way it is."

Ted looks at me like I just shot his mother, Jay starts to shake his head while Alan turns his back and looks out the Brownstone windows.

"Steve? What's wrong with you? This mission can mean your life and Bucky's life..."

"...And the end of the war. If Bucky and I succed, then Zemo can't proudce his drone planes and it will cripple the Axis once and for all. There'll be no need for an Atomic Bomb."

"You bastard, you crazy bastard. What if you die?"

"Well that's a risk I'm willing to take."

" Jay, Ted, Alan. If that is Steven's choice. Then it is his to make it."

Hippolyta finally speaks up. He words silence everyone else.

"Thank you and as for Bucky."

I turn to the then sixteen year old kid. He's all smiles amid his pimples greasy skin, that smile still haunts me to this day.

"What do you say son?"

"Let's go, Cap!"

I hear Ted mumble something under his breath while Alan finally turns and scowls at me.

"That's finishes it. We'll see you four when we get back from Germany."

[wiegeabo]

Before leaving the Brownstone, we all change into some 'civilain' clothes. No need to attract any attention. It doesn't take long for us to make our way to Alan's house, and for some reason I'm feeling a little nervous. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because Alan may not help us. Or maybe it's because he will.

Or maybe it's because of Steve.

Whatever the reason, we need to see Alan. Hal's bosses wanted him to find the original Green Lantern. And if it has anything to do with that being Hal fought in space, we can't afford to waste any time.

When we get to the front door, I knock a few times. We stand outside and wait for a minute. Then I knock again. There's the sound of a lock being turned and the latch moves. The doors opens.

"Hey Jay. Impatient as ever I see," Alan says with a smile.

I'm at a loss for words for a couple of moments. Even though we've talked over the years, I haven't seen Alan in person in quite some time. And time didn't look like it had been good to him. I have to force myself to remember that he's only young when he's using his powers. And I wonder when the was the last time he did that.

"And you're as slow as ever, Alan," I say, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you. I brought an old friend." I step out of Steve's way, hoping for the best.

[Byrd Man]

Before leaving the Brownstone, we all change into some 'civilain' clothes. No need to attract any attention. It doesn't take long for us to make our way to Alan's house, and for some reason I'm feeling a little nervous. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because Alan may not help us. Or maybe it's because he will.

Or maybe it's because of Steve.

Whatever the reason, we need to see Alan. Hal's bosses wanted him to find the original Green Lantern. And if it has anything to do with that being Hal fought in space, we can't afford to waste any time.

When we get to the front door, I knock a few times. We stand outside and wait for a minute. Then I knock again. There's the sound of a lock being turned and the latch moves. The doors opens.

"Hey Jay. Impatient as ever I see," Alan says with a smile.

I'm at a loss for words for a couple of moments. Even though we've talked over the years, I haven't seen Alan in person in quite some time. And time didn't look like it had been good to him. I have to force myself to remember that he's only young when he's using his powers. And I wonder when the was the last time he did that.

"And you're as slow as ever, Alan," I say, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you. I brought an old friend." I step out of Steve's way, hoping for the best.

"Ste...Steve? My god man. I heard there was a Captain America, but I thought he was an imposter running around."

"Nope Alan, it's me. in the flesh."

"Look Steve, I know we didn't end on the best terms, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of that day."

He swallows and his throat clicks.

"Aww, boo hoo. Get a tissue, ya pansy."

"Well good to see your still fiesty, Ted. All of you come on inside. So who's your young friend here?"

[wiegeabo]

"Ste...Steve? My god man. I heard there was a Captain America, but I thought he was an imposter running around."

"Nope Alan, it's me. in the flesh."

"Look Steve, I know we didn't end on the best terms, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of that day."

He swallows and his throat clicks.

"Aww, boo hoo. Get a tissue, ya pansy."

"Well good to see your still fiesty, Ted. All of you come on inside. So who's your young friend here?"

"Uh, yeah. About that, Alan." We all walk in, and Alan looks at me with a question in his eyes.

Might as well get this started. "Hal, this is Alan Scott. Alan, this is Captain Hal Jordan of the U.S. Air Force."

Alan and Hal start shaking hands.

"The new Green Lantern."

[wiegeabo]

"What did you do with him!" I shout. Anger errupts in me as I pull out a 'rang and fling it at Al Ghul. He surprises me when he snaps his cane straight up infront of his face with almost inhuman speed, embedding it into the wood of his cane.

The moment of surprise distracts me enough so that his friend can grab me by the front of my costume and fling me away. "Infidel!" he shouts as he charges after me. "No one may touch the master!" I land smoothly on my feet in a crouch and whip two more 'rangs at the big guy. He doesn't even flinch as they embed into his shoulders.

"ENOUGH!" Ras shouts. His friend instantly comes to a halt, but it's plain on his face that he didn't want to stop.

Ras calmly walks up beside his friend. "Please forgive Ubu," Ras says as 'Ubu' pulls the 'rangs out of his flesh. "He is an excellent servant, but sometimes takes duties as bodyguard too far." Ubu just stands there staring at me, both seething and apologetic at the same time.

I stand up straight again, once more allowing the cape to surround me, as I put on the appearance of calm. But inside, I'm twisting over the thought that Dick had been captured, possibly...tortured. And for how long? He was supposed to be training in Japan!

"Who..." I regain control of my voice, "Who has Robin, and your daughter?"

"I do not know. They have not yet made their demands."

"Why would they take them?"

"In my case, likely to exploit my wealth and influence. I have no clue as to why they took your protégé, unless they also know who you are."

I stand there a moment contemplating everything. First the Joker, now Robin. And to top it all off, our identities have been compromised.

"Look closer," Ras says.

It takes me a moment to realize what he's talking about. Then I look at the picture. There is Ras' daughter, and Dick...and a third person. How did I not notice before?

The picture tugs at my mind. I know this person. But...from where? When? I reach back into my past, searching my trained memory for...that's it! I do know this person!

Realization dawns on me. Dear God...

Calm, remain calm. Think this through, Bruce. Logically.

An idea pops into my mind. I rush over to the lab and place the photograph into a digital analyzer. Before turning the machine on, I snip off a small sample and put it into a small tube. While the analyzer runs, I fill the tube with liquid and put it into the mass spectrometer.

"What are you doing?" Ras asks.

"Finding a lead."

After a few tense minutes, the digital analyzer finishes. I bring the picture up on the computer and being filtering the image, running any analysis I can think of.

"Well," Ras asks.

I ignore him while I try a few things. Brightening the image again, I notice something I had missed before. A small puddle of water in the corner...a puddle with a reflection. I zoom in and sharpen the pixelation with a filter. The image becomes clear. The moon. But not just any moon. A waxing moon.

"This picture was between ten and twelve days ago." I assume it was last month's waxing moon. I don't want to think about Dick being imprisoned for months.

The spectrometer finishes. I bring the results up on the screen. "Interesting..."

"What?"

"The paper this photograph was made on..." I bring the image back up on another screen and magnify on the unprinted part, zooming in until I can see the fibers that make up the paper.

"What is it, Detective?"

"Either stop interupting, or leave." I can hear Ubu's heavy footfall as he steps closer, but Ras stops him with a motion.

I turn away from the screen. "They're in India. Or, they were when this picture was taken."

"How can you possibly-"


"The paper. This type of wood pulp is indigenous to south and southeast Asia. The trace materials and elements within the paper and photographic ink limit it down to India. Specifically, the southern part of the country. And the relative concentrations of the trace narrow it down to..." I load a picture of India, and a small section in the southern region is highlighted.

"I know that area," Ras says. "I have had business dealings with several individuals there."

"Then those are also our first suspects."

Ras nods in agreement. "Excellent work, Detective. Shall we go?"

I walk to my new car. "There is a stop I must make first."

[Batman]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n304/RPG_MB/supermanlogo.gif

I emerge from the storage closet, adjusting my tie just when I finally get my glasses on straight. Honestly, I really need to stop making such a habit out of this. Someone could catch me. And how would I explain it? "Oh, hello. I was just looking for a broom. Don't mind me...". Then again, given the fact that my hair's always a mess from the rush, I can imagine I have one possible alibi...

As I walk back towards the newsroom, combing my hair back, I think of where I just came from. And it nearly floors me, everytime I've thought about it. Even before I actually went, in the weeks leading up to it. I just met some of the greatest heroes this world has to offer. And they're willing to work with me. Me, of all people. I definatley didn't shoot that high when I was compiling my list of career oriented goals back in Smallville High... Would honestly could've thought a Kansas farmboy would stand side by side with both Captain America and a greek goddess, one day? And better yet, on the same day...

Boy, it's getting hard to keep my excitement down. Better think of something else. But as I finally enter the newsroom, I immediately find that next thought with ease...

"Lois!", I exclaim, at even the first glance at her. "What on Earth happened to you?"

She turns around, with the same unamused look on her face that I've grown accustomed to in the past month. Well, at least I think. It's kind of hard to tell with the bag of ice she has held above her right eye...

"Me? Oh, nothing. I'm fine.", She sarcastically remarks. "Except for the fact that, you know... MY ENTIRE HEAD HURTS LIKE HELL!"

I pause. So does the rest of the newsroom. She sighs, going back to typing up her article. I grab a nearby seat, and sit beside her. That always manages to annoy her into an elaboration...

She stops, turns, and looks at me, angrily.

"I can really hate you, sometimes...", She begins. "It happened during a story Perry sent me to cover at the High School. The whole place went to kingdom come right infront of me... So yes, I'm a little banged up from the experience."

"Huh.", I respond, curiously. "No one was hurt by the blast, right?"

"I... don't know.", She responds, absently.

My head lowers, slightly, thinking of the possibility. An explosion. And in a highschool, of all place. Maybe, just maybe if I had been in the city... Stop it, Clark. There are some things in the world that are beyond even your control. Guilt has never helped.

I look up as my mind wanders, noticing something.

"Uh, Lois..."

"Look, Kent, no offense... but I'm really not in the mood to discuss this.", She responds.

"Lois..."

"I told you, I'm not in-"

"Lois..."

"End. Of. Discussion."

"Lois..."

She finally turns around, even angrier than before.

"WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT?!"

...

Yep, there's the pause again. But this time, I make sure to be the first one to respond.

"You're bleeding down the side of your face."

Her eyes widen, as she immediately digs into her purse and produces a compact mirror. I can see the dread on her face, as she views her wound. It's minor... I've already scanned her forehead with my x-ray vision. The bleeding's about to stop on it's own.

"Oh, great...", She answers, closing the compact. "Who knows how long that's been there, for everyone and their damned mother to see..."

"Here.", I say, grabbing a tissue. "Let me get that for you."

"No, no, it's fine...", She dismissively argues.

But I apply the tissue anyway, and she pauses, and sighs. As I wipe away the blood, she looks at me, bitterly.

"I'm not a child, you know."

"Then quit acting like one.", I respond.

She raises an eyebrow, as her anger begins to fade.

"Did you just actually defend yourself? That's a first.", She says, curiously.

I look at her, confused, for a moment. But eventually, I just smile a little.

"I guess you're starting to rub off on me.", I respond. "...Unfortunatley."

"Wow. Color me impressed.", She responds, with a smirk as I wipe away the last of the blood. "Was that friend you went off to visit a backbone specialist?"

I return her smirk, throwing away the tissue.

"Well, I'm not going to lie. Maybe I did come back with a little more... well, confidence in myself.", I answer.

She turns back around, going back to her story.

"Maybe there's hope for you yet, Kent.", She answers. "I'm almost sorry to tell you what our next assignment is."

I raise an eyebrow.

"...Assignment?"

"One of our favorite people has requested an interview. And needless to say, Perry didn't hesitate to accept...", She says, a little annoyed in between her sarcasm.

I think, for a moment, wondering what exactly she's talking about. Then it hits me. Wow. In between my meet with Captain America and the other heroes in Gotham, I almost forgot about my troubles with...

"-Luthor."

[Kaboom]

the flash....i was just with him...now i have to find him again.but how am i supposed to do that? i happened upon the first meeting by chance. and then it hit me...one man knows how to find all of us.

fury.

[wiegeabo]

It's been about two weeks since We introduce Hal to Alan. And Alan took the news...well, he took it how he took it. Really, what are you going to do when you find out you're not alone with your abilities?

But I was very glad to see Alan and Steve get along again. I was more than a little afraid they might start going at it. Even come to blows over they it ended all those decades ago. But I guess it's true: time heals all wounds.

And it doesn't hurt as much when your friend comes back from the dead.


But that's really the least of my concerns right now. For the last two weeks, Tony and I have been going crazy trying to find Dinah. No word, no messages. Through some not-so-legal hacking, Tony even found out that none of her credit cards have been used, and her bank account is untouched. To say this is completely out of character for her is a severe understatement.

I've lost count of the times I've run around the world, flashing a picture of Dinah to anyone who would listen to me. And Tony, well, I guess he's coping. He had every available computer working on finding her trail, but nothing. And lately, I think he's started drinking again. I mean drinking. And the business is starting to suffer.

But I can't blame him. The only reasons I'm not in a bottle is that I'm not much of a drinker, and I have a feeling Dinah really needs me. Call it paranoia, but I can't shake the feeling.

I've been able to keep it from Ted, Joan, Alan, and everyone else. No need for them to worry. But there was no hiding it from Dinah's mother.

I shutter at the memory of that conversation.

Which is why I'm here at the Brownstone again. I come by everyday at this time to get an update from Tony, and yelled at by Diane. And hoping beyond hope that Dinah will be there.

But once again, I walk out of the Brownstone, with nothing to show for our work. I'm going to have to bring the others in on this to help look for her. I should have done it a long time ago, but...

I set the lock on the front door and turn arou-

"Flash."

"Mother of-!!!" I jump back, grabbing my chest as my heart jumps a thousand beats. Literally.

Out of the shadows steps a man I haven't seen in quite sometime. Although I've been hearing about his exploits in the city. "Is that your job now, scaring old men into a heart attack?"

The Batman just looks at me with those cold, empty eyes. It's not he first time he's snuck up on me, and I still can't figure out how he does it. I'm a speedster for goodness sake.

Another man, distinguished looking, steps out from the shadows as well. Even thought he's not dressed as darkly as Batman, somehow he blends into the background just as well. "Mr. Garrick," he says with a nod.

"Um, hi," I nod back. "Who's your friend?"

"His name is Ras Al Ghul. But that is not important. This is." He pulls out what looks like a photograph, and hands it to me.

I unfold it. It is a photograph. I look at the people on it. There's a lovely young brunette woman, bound and blindfolder. A young boy I feel I should recognize, tied up the same way. And...and...

Oh god! NO!

"DINAH!!!"

[wiegeabo]

The world spins around me. My heart is in my throat. I can't think straight...

I lean heavily against the door, not believing what I'm seeing.

"What...what is-"

"We do not know. Who ever took Ms. Lance also took Ras' daughter, and Robin. The reasons are still a mystery."

Robin. That's why i seemed to know him.

But my eyes go back to that image of Dinah. Bound. Helpless. I start to get mad.

"Where is she?!"

Batman just looks at me calmly. It's maddeningly frustrating. I grab him by the front of his costume with my free hand. "WHERE-"

Before I realize it I'm laying on the ground, my arm twisted behind me. How-?

"We. Do. Not. Know," Batman says deliberately. "But we intend to find out." He let's go of his grip, and I stand back up, rubbing my shoulder.

All I can do is breath heavily. "Calm down," he says. "You're not doing her any good like this."

Dammit, he's right. I nod my head. "What are you two planning?"

"We have a lead."

We are going to follow it. Hopefully it will lead us to them," the Bat's friend says.

"Ok. I'm coming with you. I'll bring the whole team in if I have to."

"No."

"What!"

"The Detective is correct. If their captors realize they are being chased, they may take it out on our loved ones. I, for one, will not risk that. Will you?"

"The smaller the group looking for them, the better the chance we can surprise those who did this and get them back."

"Ok, then just me. I'll go with you."

"No. You're position is too public. If you disappear, it will raise questions. And the captors undoubtedly know about you relationship with Ms. Lance."

"I can't just sit on the sidelines. I'm a speedster. They'll never see me."

"Can you guarantee that? Can you maintain your speed twenty-four hours a day for however long this takes? Can you be sure they don't have ways to detect you?"

"...No. I can't."

"The Batman and I can be absent without being noticed for some time. You cannot have the same anonymity."

I shake my head. "The group is new. We've only met once. Before that I mostly stayed in Keystone City."

"But you were active. And public. I am not. I am a ghost. Even missing, me presence will be felt. Whoever these people are, they will never be sure I'm gone. But they'll know that you're missing."

"But-"

"There is no other choice."

"Then why did you come here?"

Batman takes the photograph from me. "There was a chance you would have some idea who the captors were."

"I don't."

"We know that now. Do not try to follow us."

"Wait-"

Batman looks at me again. "When possible, I will make contact." He extends his hand. I look down, and shake it.

"You better." He nods. Batman and Ras turn and walk away. I hear a loud engine roar and tires squeal.

I look down at my hand at the small box the Batman put there.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-4.jpg

The stars zooming around him began to slow to a crawl as Norrin Radd entered the Mizar System. Norrin was normally a contemplative being, losing himself in his many layered thoughts as he soared the spaceways alone. Now was a different story though. Now he had one single thought on his mind.

Days ago he had saved a small cruiser from annihilation at the hands of a clutch of fighters. After convincing the ship's surviving crew and captain, a Kree named Kur-Bee, that he meant no harm, Norrin went about healing who he could and repaired their ship.
Then Kur-Bee began to tell him their tale. A tale of pain, anguish, and an impossible escape.

Kur-Bee himself had been captured when his Kree patrol ship was attacked. He was taken to the world with two other surviving Kree soldiers and placed into servitude the the planet's master, an powerful, ego-maniacal conqueror.

The story went on and, after it ended, the Surfer was compelled to aid those still trapped on the planet. It would be his first step in atonement and had been his driving thought since hearing the tale.

It had taken some time and questioning, but the Surfer eventually found a lead to the where-abouts of the world he sought. A lead that brought him to the Mizar Star System.
Norrin looked around the system, searching the Black with his cosmic senses. Searching for anything that might give away the position of this unique world.

There, Norrin exclaimed to himself silently.
It was a faint signal, strange that such a large mass could cloak itself so well, but it was there none-the-less.
Taking off in the direction of his target, Norrin prepared himself for the dangers that the Kree had warned him about. This was no ordinary planetoid, and, to the Surfer, seemed to hold as many dangers as Galactus' ship, if not more.
Norrin put the worry out of his head. He could not let his thoughts distract him. Not here.

And "here" he was. The planetoid was small at first, but quickly grew in scope as the Silver Surfer neared.
Norrin felt an energy net surrounding the planet and paused right outside it's range. If he breathed, he would of taken a long, deep breath as he stared at the monstrosity in front of him. Never had he seen destructive power in such a grand form.
Pushing the unease completely out of his mind, the Silver Surfer cloaked himself against both physical and technical detection devices and began his descent into Warworld.