DC: New Age Volume I IC Thread

[trustyside-kick]

Entirely unintended as Owen merely tried to cross the street to get a closer view at the peculiar gathering of the masses, he has grabbed quite the attention. The commotion of the crowd is bleeding to the ears it is so loud. A news crew, who thought they were done when President Luthor stepped down the podium race to the scene of the accident. They go live in mere minutes on every television station in America that was tuned to Luthor's beautiful speech about a day we all know too well from 20 years ago.

"If you are just tuning in now, this is Chet Anderson with Channel 22 News. Just when things couldn't get more interesting after the daunting return of Superman during President Luthor's memorial speech, a car accident has taken place that has nearly devastated the nearby area. It appears that no one is hurt, say for the young man's truck. Miraculously, the jaywalker the young man had hit stands unharmed and without even the small of scratches."

"What is also so peculiar about the new appearance of this 'Superman' is that he wears the attire of a hero that has not been seen around the world--above or below--for nearly 20 years now. No matter how many years pass by, the classic orange and green will always ring 'Aquaman' to one's ear."

"So has the King of the Deep finally returned to the surface world? Is he the new King, hoping to make his presence known? The man wearing the famous colors looks no more older than a college student so much about him is quite confusing."

"I said, kid...put your hands up!"

"Listen! I--I didn't mean to. I didn't do anything! He just...hit me!"

"That's it, boys. Grab the metahuman tasers. This one sure as hell ain't gonna come easy."

"T-T-Tasers? Woah there--GAHHH!!"

Each of the police officers shoot out their tasers, and as soon as the wires cling to Owen's body, he is charged with an immense amount of electricity. The pain is excruciating, but one Owen can endure somewhat. When Owen drops to his knees, the officers stop.

To their amazement, he is still moving, and starts to get up on one knee.

"Get him again, boys!"

"AAAAAAAAHHH!!"

The shocks continue. The nearby citizens are struck with fear as the young boy before him is struck with one of the worst pains imaginable as the volts of lightning flow through his body. Owen collapses to the floor once again, only this time he does not get up.

"It appears the young boy has finally been apprehended as the officers pick him up, and restrain his hands with handcuffs. Only one thing to say from this reporter: good riddance. I'm Chet Anderson."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

​

"It appears the young boy has finally been apprehended as the officers pick him up, and restrain his hands with handcuffs. Only one thing to say from this reporter: good riddance. I'm Chet Anderson."

Ralph took his eyes off the TV and sighed. Through the years he had become paranoid, tired and alone, and every time he turned on the television or opened a newspaper he saw that the entire world had followed his lead.

He hadn't really been watching the news. Not with any sort of concentration anyway. His mind was firmly on the wall in front of him. Lined with photo albums, the wall hadn't been touched in near 15 years.
Some years after Sue's death, Ralph had tried to go through the albums. But no matter how much he had hoped it would help him, seeing her smiling face again, all reliving their happiest moments together brought him was more pain. It had taken him 5 years to re-build some resemblance of a regular life, but it came crashing down because of a photo album.

It was a bit pathetic, Ralph thought, his living a life that could be derailed by a small, blue book. But then he remembered, he wasn't living much of a life at all.

After what seemed like hours of staring at the album, he raised his hand. Holding his arm outstretched towards the wall, he was close enough to the album to almost feel it's touch on his fingertips. All of a sudden, as if the very touch of the cover turned acidic, Ralph yelped out in fright and yanked his hand back. His eyes wide, he took a few deep breaths before looking back to the television.

"Maybe some other time....Maybe."

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

Waking up in a pool of sweat, Ralph sat up straight in his bed. Another night, another nightmare.
His feet touched the floor and Ralph flicked on the lamp beside his bed and looked over to Sue's side of the bed. It had become something he did by force of habit, almost as if after all these years she'd magically appear lying next to him.
His thoughts and the sound of his own heavy breath were interrupted as the sound of panicked footsteps reached inside his bedroom window. Peering his head curiously up to the glass, he saw the silhouette of a small figure running hurriedly down the street, away from his porch.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Lex meets with his National Security Advisors.

He says, "I have been over each of your reports and they all seem to say the same thing. We are looking at a rise in the cape and mask activity, and there isn't a whole lot of other options we have other than enforce the laws on the books currently in place."

Many of them nod and Lex growls, "Your suggestions are pure crap!"

He throws the report across the room and says, "20 years ago I came up with the Superhero registration act. That was thinking outside the box for that time, what I am looking for is someone else to have that kind of thinking."

Lex regains his composure and says, "I apologize for outburst. I do have to admit that many of your suggestions actually have some potential, but they are lacking a certain quaility. I suggest we meet back here in one week to discuss your new ideas, agreed?"

They nod and Lex dismisses them.

 

[Catman_prb]

"So how do we find Rose?" Vic asked as the group settled into Cassie's van. Tim gave a half smile.
"I think that Rose is probably with Slade by now," he said, leaning against the side of it.
"So how do we find Slade?"
"Slade Wilson? Word on the underground is that he's kidnapping meta humans and experimenting on them," she said matter-of-factly. The group stared at her.
"Word on the underground?" Raven croaked.
"I'm part of an underground network that are helping meta huimans to get out of the States. So what?"
"That's why I'm here. Tim sent me to Cassie's cell, but they got raided and we had to get out of there pretty quickly. I was with her when she got your call," Beatrice Langstrom said.
"...So how do we find Slade?" Duela said, eyes wide. It unnerved Tim that her eyes were always this wide.
"Well that makes it much easier. I've designed a device that will locate metahumans in and around Earth," Tim said with a smile.
"What's the point with detecting metahumans around Earth?"
"Freeze's space prison. I want to find out how many people are there,"
"Why?"
"That's the next point of call. We're doing a jailbreak. After we take down Slade,"
"So turn on your magical doo-mah-hickey and let's go," Duela squeaked, bouncing up and down next to Vic. Tim turned on the device, and a small holographic globe was projected into the air.

"It's based on Bruce's OMAC technology. Every red dot is a metahuman. So that big cluster of dot's near Arizona is most likely Slade's base and even if it isn't it'll be good to check it out," Tim said.
"Dude, you think way too much. Let's just go over there and turn his wrinkled backside into *****," Vic said. Tim looked at the group.
"Okay, who's driving?"

 

[Catman_prb]

Edit

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Over the next few days, Ralph noticed the young boy more and more. During day or night, the boy would stand across from the Dibny house and just stare, to be pulled away by his friends or parents.
At first Ralph didn't pay him any attention, figuring it for morbid curiosity on the boy's part. After all, most of the children in the neighborhood had gone through the phase of being scared and fascinated of the lonely old man simultaneously, resulting in them loitering about outside his house. Usually it lasted for a week, at most two. But days passed by with no discerning qualities to distinguish them from the rest, and all of a sudden Ralph woke up and a month had passed since the boy first stepped onto his porch. Yet still, every day like clockwork, the boy would be there.

And it would be a week still, before the boy knocked on the door.

Peering up with a mixture of fright and wonder at Ralph, the boy spoke up. "Mr..Mr. Dibny?"

"Yes? What do you want?"

"I'm Tommy, sir. Tommy Barker."

"Yes, Tommy, I remember." There was a silence, during which Ralph decided he had had enough of the constant bother of the children of the neighborhood. The running past his house screaming things, the throwing rocks at the windows, the these prank calls. With an edge to his voice, Ralph broke the silence. "You need to leave now, Tommy. And please don't come back, ever again."

Ralph's hand found the doorknob and pushed the door to a near-close, before the boy's voice jumped through the crack in the door. "Uhm, Mr. Dibny sir...I'm sorry I bothered you. I just was, uhm, wondering if.....if you could sign this?"

Swinging the door open again, Ralph's heart sunk when he saw the boy reach a photo out toward him.

 

[Apprentice]

​

The Batman descended from the night sky, his cape-enshrouded figure silhouetted by the moon as it cast its pale silvery gaze over the concrete jungle below. A thin, almost invisible ropeline shot outwards, grappling a stone gargoyle and redirecting his momentum upwards. In a fluid, well-practiced motion, he served the connection and sailed upwards, his cape billowing out at his back, and landed silently on a rooftop. The city was deceptively quiet, its apparent calmness masking the darkness that threatened to consume it; it was a darkness that Batman knew all too well. His even gaze wandered across the vicinity as he strode purposefully forward, mentally re-mapping his patrol route to elude the ever-persistent police forces. Even now, the Dark Knight could almost feel the net of the authorities closing in around him, as tangible as the brisk wind that whipped at the exposed lower half of his face.

There was a familiar shuffle behind him, and he paused as Robin swaggered into the limits of his peripheral vision, his lips curved into a slight smile. "Hey, bro. You okay?"

"It's a school night.You should be at home, doing homework..." Batman paused as Robin snickered, allowing himself a small grin. "...or whatever it is that you do."

"Sorry, Dad. Speaking of dads, mine said that this was okay as long as I'm back before one," Robin retorted, drawing his cape around him.

Batman rolled his eyes behind the cowl. "You forget that he was my Dad for quite a while, as well. And that technically, I'm still your brother - I know when you're lying. Your left eye twitches a little." He returned his focus to the grim sight laid out before him, a sight that concealed the criminals that were slowly wasting away the remnants of good in Gotham. Even John had not yet fully adjusted to hurling himself into such a brutal fray; to take Jason with him was acceptable, but both John and his adoptive father were reluctant to allow it. And if they began to disobey their collective parent figure, then a line would soon be drawn in the sand...and Batman and Robin would be on the wrong side of it. "Come on, Jason. You've got to be sensible about this. Your dad is not that great about this as it is, so for the moment, at least, you've gotta stick to his rules. You should go home."

Robin, seemingly indifferent to everything else, merely commented, "You've got to make your mind up."

Batman frowned. "What?"

"You keep switching. You've said 'Dad' a couple times, and you've said 'your dad' a couple times." The Teen Wonder folded his arms across his chest almost defiantly. "So which is it? Is he your father too, or just mine?"

Batman swallowed hard, struck by his companion's heartfelt, nearly rueful tones. In truth, he could not supply a permanent response. His attitude towards the current Nightwing was trapped in a state of constant fluidity by a blend of bemused emotions: anger, sorrow, love, appreciation, gratitude, bitterness. The revelation of his true heritage and the subsequent events had left their relationship in a strange position, to say the least. "We can discuss this another time," he muttered quietly, straining to keep his voice free from elements of resentment at the question. "Right now, you should be getting home."

"*****," Robin said simply, before turning away and striding towards the roof hatch. "You can only keep dodging for so long, y'know. Oh, and don't let my soul-searing words make you forget about cracking those dealers down there."

Batman remained silent and motionless, allowing his brother to depart without further admonishment or rebuke. He inhaled deeply and stepped into the air; the resultant freefall was comforting. It demanded nothing, made no enquiries. The Dark Knight felt the wind rush up in his masked face and heard the ripple of his cape as it resisted the sudden surrender to gravity. At the last moment possible, Batman once again utilised his grapple gun and skillfully seized control of his descent, falling into a defensive crouch at the opening aperture to a grungy, dirty alleyway. Three rather ordinary figures were congegated at its end, huddled closely together and exchanging small vials of an oddly-hued substance. Heeding the vigilante's presence, they separated, pressing themselves to the surrounding walls as though the concrete would grant them refuge from the wrath of the new arrival. Batman noted one of them jamming the syringe into his arm, and his lips curled in disgust. Addiction was a terrible thing.

"You know why I'm here, and what's going to happen," he growled, stalking forward. "So are we doing this the easy way, or the hard way?"

"**** off!" one of the thugs barked, and charged forward.

"I should have known," Batman murmured dryly under his breath. He allowed his opponent to come to him, his observational skills asserting themselves far too late - a green tinge lacing the veins in his arms and face. A side-effect of the drug? Why does that seem so familiar...?

And then the criminal's fist was jammed into Batman's stomach, and the Caped Crusader was driven across the street and into a car. The windows shattered and the door crumpled, sending arcs of pure pain coursing across Batman's back. He suppressed a groan and stumbled dazedly to his booted feet, a trio of batarangs in his hand...but in a blur of motion, a second foe was launching an assault, a swift backhand sending him sprawling to the pavement. A foot clipped his chest and agony roiled through his stomach; abruptly, his breathing became shallow and his lungs were racked with a bizarre tingling sensation.

Punctured lung, he realised, weakly raising his wrist communicator to his lips. "Reddy, I need you," he gasped, only for something to collide with his head. He was claimed swiftly by unconsciousness...​

 

[Eddie Brock]

THE AMAZON

This small village in the rainforest is just one of a handful of homes that I have used in the past two decades. After the Darkseid War, I found that I simply didn't fit in anywhere. The world lost many heroes in battle that day. They lost one to himself.

The Manhunter became a recluse.

For a long time, I have gotten by pretty well on my own. But constantly moving can wear on people - even people as patient as myself. I find that I much prefer the good ol' days when superheroes were free to be superheroes. Men like President Luthor made that impossible.

Laws will not stop the just - indeed, they never have. I'm sure Lex is fuming that a new Batman has popped up on the scene. Batman, however, is not an isolated case. The cracks in Luthor's foundation are beginning to show. As the old generation of heroes fades away, their kin has picked up the slack. But though the A.V.A. seems weak, it will take more than loose organization to take down Luthor and those like him.

If these new heroes are to stand a chance, they will need to work together. It will take the guidance of the previous generation to get them to that point. And so, we arrive at my newfound purpose. I am sick of hiding - sick of denying my identity.

The new Batman. Hal Jordan. Power Man. Superwoman. And, of course, Superman himself.

They all have one thing common - they all strive for justice. And so help me, I'm going to fight for it with them.

"Señor Jones, ¿dónde vas?"

"Los Estados Unidos."

This is a new age for superheroes. And a new age calls for...

"A new Justice League."

 

[Catman_prb]

They converted the Justice League Satellite into a prison for heroes. That was the worst thing. They made the old symbol of hope a mockery of its former self. That was the thing that almost made it worthwhile fighting. Still. Freeze used the basement as a level for storing the most powerful metahumans. The ones that could easily escape, or easily destroy the prison. He keeps them frozen in cells, where they could cause no harm.

The rest of us they leave alone. There's no escape from a space station, so they let us wander around the halls on our own. Some made gangs and began turf wars. Others just wanted to be left in peace. It's almost alarming how much the prison turned into a normal society. Almost. Whenever the fighting got too much, Freeze would send guards up with freeze-guns to freeze the most roudy inmates. They would then be taken down below. There are rumours that Freeze experiments on them, but they're unfounded.

I sit in the corner of the small room I've claimed as my own, reading through the information that my informants have given to me. I keep the gun in my shoulder holster. I don't know where the weapons appeared from, but I have to make use of them. Otherwise what's the point of me being here? There are a few other heroes scattered over the prison, but I'm the only one that's really active. Freeze makes sure that we get food up here. We may be convicts, but there would be outcry if he let us starve to death. When it all gets too much, I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to die. But then I think to myself; Never give up. Even in the face of Armageddon.


I had been on the run for at least a year when they tracked me down. The AVA had been passed, and I was one of the few that had kept on fighting. Even Bruce had retired...and I had though he would die before giving in to Luthor. But he retired, and it was only me and a few others left. And Checkmate was hunting me down. I had run into a group of them in Moscow, and had barely got out of it with my life. There wasn't much I was doing at the time. Most of the supervillains had been carted off by Checkmate already, to Freeze's Prison. I was only still around to try and take down Luthor. My informants had told me that something was brewing in Gotham, so that was where I headed after Moscow. What I didn't know is that Checkmate had got to my informants first, and they had layed a trap for me.


By the time I had worked it out, the trap was sprung. I headed for the docks, hoping to take the next ferry out of Gotham. But they'd planned for everything. The docks were shut off, and a Checkmate contingent was waiting for me, lead by Rick Flag. I tried to make it back down the street where I came, but it was already blocked. It was around thirty men, and a tank versus myself. Overkill perhaps? Anyway, before Flag could even ask me to surrender I opened fire. I killed one, maybe two, men that day, but I was immediately shot in the calf by snipers.

 

[Karem-Knight]

Somewhere in the Nevada desert

A old gray skinned old man, bruised , beaten and almost dying crawled under the hot son, this man used to be known as the Key, a fearsome super villain back in the old days, now just a withered old man, his powers were failing him and after eighteen years in Mr. Freeze's prison, all he wanted was to hid and live a normal life.

"......must......make, it! to Las vegassss..."

The Key said, using every ounce of strength to reach there, collapsing out of exhaustion every second, his ten senses have been destroyed and looked nothing more then a skeleton.

Soon, after hours of tiring to arrive there, he could just about see the Las Vegas strip. Tiring to smile, he doubled his efforts, ignoring the pain and going there, faster and faster without any faults until.

"Key! Stop where you are, you are under violation of A.V.A. agreement, this Floyd Lawton, rank Knight of the organization known as Checkmate. Surrender now or face the consequences!"

Floyd Lawton, also known as Deadshot, also a former super villain turned agent of Checkmate, he had climbed up the ranks of the agency over the years, and now was one of the specialist in meta human affairs. Him and severeal other soldiers drove in their buggies, Floyd now only had one arm, still a great shot, he let his pawns do all the work.

"...Please.......help me! I'll change....you can change me but please...don't send me back!"

"Oh we won't, because you see..." All the pawns prepared the weapons loading, "You have somehow managed to escape the prison, but no one ever managed to escape it alive. You have once again become a threat to most of Earth, and for that..."

All the soldiers aimed their weapons at the Key "....You must face death..."

"NOOOOOOOO!"

"Fire!"

The solider soon bombarded the key with bullets, when soon they saw something quite unexpected. "Stop!"

Superman said, his hair gray, a few wrinkles, but still able to up show any other man in the room, he stared at the Checkmate soldiers fearsomely. They all stopped firing, Floyd approached the man of steel starring at him.

"Superman, you are violating not one, but three codes of the A.V.A. agreement, one, defending a meta human who is a possible threat to the community, two, interfering with Checkmate meta human situations and the third most important of all.

You yourself, are violating every code of the agreement by using your powers!"

"Maybe so, but until now I have been doing nothing but saving lives, no matter who's in danger, I've made sure I have done everything in my power to make sure they are safe, no matter who or what."

"Thats very cute Superman, and 20 years ago maybe some people would listen to you, but right now I should be arresting you and executing the man you holding captive."

"I don't care what these rules are, they're insane and barbaric. Not to mention you're not helping anyone just enslaving them for no good reason other then Luthor's own paranoia."

"Oh yeah Superman? What about a week after Darkseid destroyed everything on the planet, it wasn't you or any other "hero" on the planet that helped save the day and help re build everything, no, it was Luthor! Where were you when Gotham had the second earthquake? Where were you when Tokyo had the second tsunami? Answer? In space somewhere, so why don't you just go back up there because all you're doing is making life difficult for people like us having to catch you guys day in and day out!"

"It is annoying isn't it?"

Clark said, feeling the need to be smart with the commander, "Right that's it, out of the way or I will call for back....." Soon Superman flew straight into all of the Checkmate troops, knocking them on their feet, including Lawton.

Flying up, Clark held the Key in his hands safely, "....thank you..." he said, "...Where are you taking me?"

Soon they arrived in Metropolis, quite far from where the Key wanted to go to. "Some place I can keep an eye on you, your condition can be quick to heal and I'll be sure to pick up an cure for you soon enough."

Superman said, gliding to a rooftop. "But trust me, I will be sure to keep an eye on you, if you in danger lives or terrorize any part of this city...I will come on down to you like a ton of bricks!"

The Key collapsed on the ground, he could just about walk down the small flight of stares and get some much needed drinks of water that needed, as Superman flew up, he waved his hands saying "...thank you!"

 

[Catman_prb]

My name is Vic Sage. I used to be The Question. Now I'm Inmate No. 1695. Luthor's goons arrested me 18 years ago. Now I'm in the Ice Lounge, Freeze's prison. I'm expected to die here. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'm not that bothered by it. What bothers me is that Luthor got away.


When Checkmate finally caught up with me, I wasn't taken directly to the Ice Lounge. No, they kept me somewhere for a bit. I don't know where, but the cell was concrete and unfurnished. They took my mask and my clothes, and I was forced into prison uniform. I sat in that cell for a long time. Every day Luthor would come in to taunt me. That is until the day I tried to strangle him with the shirt sleeve of my unifrom. That was the day they took me to the Ice lounge. I was drugged, and they took me up in some kind of shuttle with around a dozen other inmates.


I was the first to wake up from the drugging. There were windows in the shuttle, or at least something I could see through. That was when I saw the Watchtower. That was the last defence against the Darkseid invasion; we used it as a platform to launch counter attacks. Bruce and I sat in the control room, planning out assaults. In the end I even got my own pokey little room. But it was worth it, to be a member of the Justice League. So when I saw the Watchtower, I thought it was all over; that I was free. It took me a few minutes to realise that the government had converted it into the prison. But I did work it out. The shuttle pilots ushered us inmates into the docking bay, and then left us there with a months food and supplies.

The other dozen inmates joined what appeared to be some kind of shanty town. As far as I know they're still living there. They have to pay tribute to whatever gang feels like showing them how tough they are. Cos that's the thing about the Ice Lounge. The gangs rule. Whoever was the strongest, made themselves a gang out of the ordinary joes that had been sent up here. Except some, who became loners...like me. But I found my old room, and I set up base camp in there, striking out at the villains while I still could. Because this wasn't justice. This was letting them off.

But I didn't always work alone. A few months after arriving here I met Kirk Langstrom. Back in the day, he's been a Batman Rogue, but he'd been arrested for vigilantism. Apparantly he'd been taking the Man-Bat serum, and then using it to fight meta-villains. But he'd been brought in by a squad led by Floyd Lawton himself. Like I said before, Checkmate goes in for overkill. Anyway, seeing as there was no Man-Bat serum in the Lounge, he was just a regular human. Like me, but without the martial arts skills. So we teamed up, and it worked supprisingly well. Everyone knew Kirk as one of the villains, so they didn't care about giving him information. And I kicked their ass later.

Together we started cracking down on Black Masks gang. It was one of the major players of the Ice Lounge. We'd wait for members to be alone, then jump them. We didn't hold back. That isn't the way that the Lounge works. After a few of these hits, we decided to go big. We decided to strike Black Mask at the centre of his operations. He had based himself near a supply base on the top floor, as far away from Freeze as possible. There was an airlock near by. and we planned to get as many members of his gang in there, then blast them off into space.

So we made the hit. We came up in the elevator, wearing stab-proof vests we had found. Kirk even had a knife, though I can't remember where he got it. We ran in, and a couple panicked and ran away. They're probably food for Croc by now. Kirk stabbed a few, and I broke a few necks; the usual business. We had planned on Black Mask not being there. But of course, we were wrong. Black Mask and the entire gang were there, some were armed with guns. So we tried to make our way back to the elevators, but there were men there waiting for us.

They caught us, took us prisoner. Ironically they were going to put us into the air locks and blast us into space...exactly what we had planned for them. But during his ranting and raving, Black Mask decided it wasn't good enough for an ex Justice Leaguer. So he decided to shoot me. He had the pistol to my head. He was squeezing on the trigger, when Kirk charged into him. The shot went wide, and probably hit a gang member. Either way they scattered. Black Mask and Kirk were grappling with each other, and they fell into the air lock. Kirk grabbed his gun and threw it to me.

"DO IT," he had screamed. So I closed the airlock and jetisoned them into space. I'm sure he meant for me to shoot Black Mask...but that would have wasted a bullet. I could have pulled Black Mask off and broken his neck. But I didn't. I closed that damned airlock door, and fired my only friend in this place into space. So now I've been working alone. I only ever shot two bullets from Black Mask's gun...there are three left. Over the years as my hair fell out of my head, and my beard turned grey I decided that one of those bullets was for Johnathan Crane...one was for Waylan Jones...and that last bullet, that bullet I had given my friends life for, that bullet was for Victor Fries. I am going to kill him, and I am going to get out of this prison. One day.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Rick Flag, III - Bronze Tiger
Part I - "Obeying Orders"

In Louisiana, a small task force of soldiers attempt to aprehend, dubbed villainous, Infinity Inc. Twenty years of fighting has taken place, and there have been times of peace and compliance with the law. But it is only a matter of time until there is another outbreak.

Led by the son of the original Atom of the Justice Society--a group of heroes most famously known for their Patriotic efforts back in World War I--previously known as Damage, Grant Emerson and his group of Rebel Heroes have re-surfaced. After a three month hunt on the group of Rebel Heroes that has been on and off for years and has just re-jolted with life, Rick Flag the third, has never felt so proud to be an American serving his country. His civil service is simple: hunt down the heroes and villains.

He does so proudly.

"Alright, I want Chase, Gomez, and McGuffey to sweep in from the left! Ackerman, Robinson, Wacha, and Ruiz on the right! Brister and Garrison, you come with me. Let's move in!"

As his team spreads out amongst the abandoned building, recently discovered to be a sort of "base" for Rebel Heroes to evacuate to and strategize, the two men following Rick Flag, turn to each other as they swarm in.

"You'd think that these heroes would get a clue already, you know?"

"Yea, I mean, it isn't like they have to exactly give up doing what they love to do, ya know? They just gotta simply enlist as a government official is all! Hell, we could--"

"Shhh."

As each of the three groups now reach the building, Rick Flag calls them all to silence. He signals two of the groups to enter from the left and the right, and as they break through the windows, immediately they open fire. The members of the re-formed Infinity Inc. retaliate back while Rick Flag and his two men wait outside the front door.

The team of Rebel Heroes, led by Damage, find themselves in a struggle. Atom Smasher eventually takes control of the left flank all by himself with the help of Liberty Belle, while the others heroes with their leader Damage attack from the right. The agency executing the AVA (Anti-Vigilante Act) Protocol, advises and equips their soldiers with non-lethal weapons, but should the time arise, they are authorized to engage in lethal force.

"Alright you two, let's give our boys some support now."

"Roger, sir."

But Flag's men do not have to resort to such a thing, as they stun guns and smoke grenades eventually take their toll along with a few other weapons specialized specifically for "unique meta-humans" and their gifts. After kicking the door down in the front, Flag himself along with two of his men join in the fighting, causing the tiring Infinity Inc. to now have to deal with three sides; three flanks. Their formation does not permit them to do so, nor were they able to react quick enough. Within minutes, they are taken down.

After victory and apprehending the Rebel Heroes, Rick Flag interrogates the group. How exactly the Rebel Heroes have been able to hide under the government's radar has remained to be a mystery. Ever since the disappearance of Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, it has been declared possible that they are responsible, since they double-crossed the government as well.

"I'm going to ask you one last time, Damage. Where is Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters? Hmm?"

"Heh, you keep asking the same damn question but you seem to forget that you are only going to keep getting the same answer: I don't know."

"Emerson Emerson Emerson...fine then. Before? You had a better set of options laid out for you. You see, you and your...Infinity Inc., have been a prime Government target for quite some time. However, if you are not willing to cooperate even after tasting defeat...I am simply going to have to change the rules. Gomez."

"Sir?"

"Take out your pistol."

"Sir?"

"Yes? What, are you having trouble hearing, Gomez? Take out your pistol."

"But sir, we are only authorized for lethal combat should--"

"I know the damn rules, Gomez! Damnit! I'm the commanding officer, here. You will do well to obey my orders. Now take out your pistol."

Gomez stands there for a moment, and slowly reaches into his pocket, wearing a face of sheer disapproval. Rick scoffs, and walks over to Damage. With his left hand, he slits his throat with his metal claws mounted to his
gloves. Damage limps over to the floor, and everyone, including his men bear witness in shock. Rick Flag takes out a cloth from his pocket, and wipes the blood off of his claws, and points them at Gomez.

"Learn to obey orders, Gomez. If I tell you to take out someone, you take him out. You got me? Now, be sure to add this into the mission log. Okay? Gomez."

Rick Flag snaps his fingers, and Gomez somewhat jumps as he gets back into reality it seems with the situation and looks at Rick Flag.

"Grant Emerson refused to answer any questions while Chase was interrogating. He eventually pulled a knife on Chase, and I quickly responded, and in the process of grabbing the knife out of Emerson hands, slit his throat. Do you understand?"

Flag stands there for a second, Gomez still giving him that dazed look.

"I said, do you understand?"

Gomez nods his head, and Rick Flag turns back to the other members of the Infinity Inc. Liberty Belle cries in Hourman's arms at the sight of the now dead Grant Emerson.

"As for you all...let that be an example of what will happen to you should you further choose to not comply. We are going to take you to HQ now, where maybe you will finally ta--"

"Finally talk? Is that what you were going to say?"

Atom Smasher stands up, but McGuffey and Brister keep him in check as he outbursts.

"Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, are just that. Freedom Fighters. They fight for a purpose, a purpose you will never be able to stop. Uncle Sam himself said that--"

"He said 'But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security'. Yes, I know what he said. He was only quoted one of the most brilliant men of our history: Thomas Jefferson. But there is something you all are forgetting here...he also said '...But I cannot find it in my heart to do so, Mr. President.', and then he left. Fled. Went into hiding."

"You're making that up."

"Am I? Your so-called 'inspiration' for this movement against AVA said it himself. And then he ran."

"He didn't run."

"Really now?"

"He's gathering the most pow--"

That is when Atom Smasher stops in his emotional rant, and Rick Flag smirks. He walks closer to Atom Smasher, where his two men still hold him still, and removes his helmet.

"Thank you, Al...thank you very much. Take them away."
​

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Spoiler

Over the next few days, Ralph noticed the young boy more and more. During day or night, the boy would stand across from the Dibny house and just stare, to be pulled away by his friends or parents.
At first Ralph didn't pay him any attention, figuring it for morbid curiosity on the boy's part. After all, most of the children in the neighborhood had gone through the phase of being scared and fascinated of the lonely old man simultaneously, resulting in them loitering about outside his house. Usually it lasted for a week, at most two. But days passed by with no discerning qualities to distinguish them from the rest, and all of a sudden Ralph woke up and a month had passed since the boy first stepped onto his porch. Yet still, every day like clockwork, the boy would be there.

And it would be a week still, before the boy knocked on the door.

Peering up with a mixture of fright and wonder at Ralph, the boy spoke up. "Mr..Mr. Dibny?"

"Yes? What do you want?"

"I'm Tommy, sir. Tommy Barker."

"Yes, Tommy, I remember." There was a silence, during which Ralph decided he had had enough of the constant bother of the children of the neighborhood. The running past his house screaming things, the throwing rocks at the windows, the these prank calls. With an edge to his voice, Ralph broke the silence. "You need to leave now, Tommy. And please don't come back, ever again."

Ralph's hand found the doorknob and pushed the door to a near-close, before the boy's voice jumped through the crack in the door. "Uhm, Mr. Dibny sir...I'm sorry I bothered you. I just was, uhm, wondering if.....if you could sign this?"

Swinging the door open again, Ralph's heart sunk when he saw the boy reach a photo out toward him.

Reeling in fright, Ralph felt his heart pounding out of his chest. The child might as well have pulled out a pistol.
Resting has body against the wall, Ralph closed his eyes tightly and took deep breathes.

"W..Where did you get that picture..." he said with great difficulty.

Taking a tentative step inside, young Tommy yanked the picture to his chest and felt a great urge to turn around and run home. "My, uh, My dad gave it to me when I was little. He said that there used to be real heroes. Mr...Mr. Dibny?"

Keeping his eyes fixated on the wall in front of him, hardly even hearing the young boy over the beat of his own heart, he slightly turned his head and looked at the child's face. A kind of face he hadn't seen in 20 years; one filled to the brim with hope.

"..Are you a hero?"

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Somewhere in the Nevada desert

A old gray skinned old man, bruised , beaten and almost dying crawled under the hot son, this man used to be known as the Key, a fearsome super villain back in the old days, now just a withered old man, his powers were failing him and after eighteen years in Mr. Freeze's prison, all he wanted was to hid and live a normal life.

"......must......make, it! to Las vegassss..."

The Key said, using every ounce of strength to reach there, collapsing out of exhaustion every second, his ten senses have been destroyed and looked nothing more then a skeleton.

Soon, after hours of tiring to arrive there, he could just about see the Las Vegas strip. Tiring to smile, he doubled his efforts, ignoring the pain and going there, faster and faster without any faults until.

"Key! Stop where you are, you are under violation of A.V.A. agreement, this Floyd Lawton, rank Knight of the organization known as Checkmate. Surrender now or face the consequences!"

Floyd Lawton, also known as Deadshot, also a former super villain turned agent of Checkmate, he had climbed up the ranks of the agency over the years, and now was one of the specialist in meta human affairs. Him and severeal other soldiers drove in their buggies, Floyd now only had one arm, still a great shot, he let his pawns do all the work.

"...Please.......help me! I'll change....you can change me but please...don't send me back!"

"Oh we won't, because you see..." All the pawns prepared the weapons loading, "You have somehow managed to escape the prison, but no one ever managed to escape it alive. You have once again become a threat to most of Earth, and for that..."

All the soldiers aimed their weapons at the Key "....You must face death..."

"NOOOOOOOO!"

"Fire!"

The solider soon bombarded the key with bullets, when soon they saw something quite unexpected. "Stop!"

Superman said, his hair gray, a few wrinkles, but still able to up show any other man in the room, he stared at the Checkmate soldiers fearsomely. They all stopped firing, Floyd approached the man of steel starring at him.

"Superman, you are violating not one, but three codes of the A.V.A. agreement, one, defending a meta human who is a possible threat to the community, two, interfering with Checkmate meta human situations and the third most important of all.

You yourself, are violating every code of the agreement by using your powers!"

"Maybe so, but until now I have been doing nothing but saving lives, no matter who's in danger, I've made sure I have done everything in my power to make sure they are safe, no matter who or what."

"Thats very cute Superman, and 20 years ago maybe some people would listen to you, but right now I should be arresting you and executing the man you holding captive."

"I don't care what these rules are, they're insane and barbaric. Not to mention you're not helping anyone just enslaving them for no good reason other then Luthor's own paranoia."

"Oh yeah Superman? What about a week after Darkseid destroyed everything on the planet, it wasn't you or any other "hero" on the planet that helped save the day and help re build everything, no, it was Luthor! Where were you when Gotham had the second earthquake? Where were you when Tokyo had the second tsunami? Answer? In space somewhere, so why don't you just go back up there because all you're doing is making life difficult for people like us having to catch you guys day in and day out!"

"It is annoying isn't it?"

Clark said, feeling the need to be smart with the commander, "Right that's it, out of the way or I will call for back....." Soon Superman flew straight into all of the Checkmate troops, knocking them on their feet, including Lawton.

Flying up, Clark held the Key in his hands safely, "....thank you..." he said, "...Where are you taking me?"

Soon they arrived in Metropolis, quite far from where the Key wanted to go to. "Some place I can keep an eye on you, your condition can be quick to heal and I'll be sure to pick up an cure for you soon enough."

Superman said, gliding to a rooftop. "But trust me, I will be sure to keep an eye on you, if you in danger lives or terrorize any part of this city...I will come on down to you like a ton of bricks!"

The Key collapsed on the ground, he could just about walk down the small flight of stares and get some much needed drinks of water that needed, as Superman flew up, he waved his hands saying "...thank you!"

News of the incident in the Nevada desert soon reaches the ears of President Luthor.

Terrific...he is back and making life hell for me again! I didn't work for all these years just to have that alien take it all away, and yet now there are rumors going around that the Super-Hero registration act may be abolished.

Lex rubs his head as though he has a bad headache.

Where the hell are my advisors? Where are the villians to keep the heroes in check...no matter I guess this is how it was meant to be between Superman and I...and if it is...so be it...this time I have had years to prepare for him.

 

[superdude91]

5 Years Earlier

Brian Wayne wiped the sweat from his brow. Training today had been rough. He walked towards the water's edge, planting his sword firmly into the sand. The warm ocean waters felt good against his heated body. He turned back to the shore to see that a majority of the woman had resumed their sparring session. "I'll never understand how they're always ready for battle" Brain said to himself.

"Because we were raised that way from birth. I taught you the same way" said Diana as she walked over to her son. "Just because you are the only boy on this island, do not think you can get out of a sparring session."

Brian let a sly smirk creep on his lips. His mother never sparred with weapons. She was always about hand-to-hand combat."I don't think I qualify as a boy anymore" Brian said as he ran forward.

Being the only male on Themysicara was a daunting task. Even though Brian was one of 'them' he still came from a male that lived in "man's world". From a young age he learned never to slip up, because there was always that one Amazon that would exploit it as a weakness of man. As a youth it was as if his whole life was a trial and if he failed he'd be exiled. Brian had to prove himself countless times not only to the tribe but to the gods. It seemed that when your mother was on her way to the throne, more pressure was put on you. The child of a queen weak? It was unheard of on Themysicara, no matter what gender.

However living on an island full of woman was not all bad. Brian was raised to respect, and appreciate woman in all forms. Of course 'all forms' in Amazon terms meant the pinnacle of perfection. Diana had taught him to respect woman from day one, and every time he sparred with the amazons it only increased that belief. Brain was still a red blooded male, though and sometimes he couldn't resist.

As if Diana had been reading his thoughts, she landed a hard punch to his head. Brian stumbled backwards before steading himself. Head shots always made him dizzy. Brain charged forward and tried a right hook, Diana easily dodged the blow. Aggravated Brain threw an uncoordinated left punch and Diana caught it.

"You should stay focused. Don't let mishaps cause you to fail"Diana instructed.

Brain used her advice and spun around, delivering a round house kick to Diana. She still was holding Brian's left hand and was unable to react as her son caught her off guard. Brain watched as his mom landed in the sand with a 'thump'. He extended his hand to help her up. The match was over, and Brian came out on top.

"You reminded me of your father in that moment" Diana said looking off into the distance, as if she was remembering an event. Brain stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing it's just....that's the first time you've compared me to...dad" Brain said feeling childish for getting emotional about it.

"I think you'll find you're more like your father than you know" Diana said putting an arm around her teenage son.

 

[Catman_prb]

(Changing to third person, because that's the only way I can write for some reason)

Vic wakes up early, and starts his early morning workout. It's kept him sane over these long years, and probably kept him alive. After his workout he dismantles the gun, and cleans it out, to make sure it works, and then re-assembles it. He looks at the large map of the Ice Lounge on the wall. It depicts the territory of every known gangster and gang in the prison. Also, traced in green, was the sewage network. The rumor was that this was where Killer Croc had been hanging out, waiting for some poor unfortunate to stumble upon him. Vic gathered up his gear, and headed to the only section of the sewers he hand't checked out yet.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Luthor settles in behind his desk in the Oval Office and a techincian walks by and says, "Two minutes to air Mr. President, do you need anything sir?"

Luthor replies, "No thank you I am ready to go."

The technician nods and says, "All unnecessary personel clear out. We're going live in 30 people."

Luthor takes a sip of "water" (OOC:it's Vodka) and puts the glass down quickly.

The tech cues him and Lex begins, "Good evening I come to all of you to address a rising concern within our nation that is now spreading to the world. The recent re-apperance of Superman and rumors of a new Batman have given rise to an increase in vigilante activity. These activities are clearly in violation of the AVA, and now there are those who don't have any super-powers to speak of trying to take the law into their own hands. These actions will not be condoned in the eyes of the law and I have recently authorized local and federal law enforcements to use any means at their disposal to enforce the AVA. Including shoot on sight and shoot to kill orders are now in play. I have also authorized the C-I-A and F-B-I to begin working in conjunction with local authorities, and I am also submitting to congress a bull re-authorizating the surveilance acts of 2003 and the Patriot Act."

He takes a deep breath and continues, "I regret taking such Orwellian tactics but this is a threat to not just this country but the world. If we do not act now it is not beyond the realm of possibility of us seeing another invasion on the scale of Darkseid's dreaded attack 20 years ago. We have managed to keep the peace for these years and I will do whatever is necessary to maintain that peace for all of us. Thank you and God Bless all of us."

The technican says, "And we're clear great job Mr. President. Thank you all."

After a few moments the Oval Office is clear Lex pulls out a cell-phone and says, "General Ormond this is the President...I am in need of your services specifically someone who can do a very specific service for our country...."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Rick Flag, III - Bronze Tiger
Part II - "Job Promotion"

Rick Flag is in the gym, alone. He's always alone in the gym when working out. On the field, he has held a reputation, and that reputation transfered throughout the gym and the rest of the army base. A proud soldier, he took his work seriously, and did what was needed to get the job done. To his surprise, one of his men enter the gym, as Flag rests on the bench with a towel around his neck after beating the punching bag practically off the chain it hangs from.

"Gomez?"

Javier Gomez salutes his commanding officer. Rick Flag gives him the signal to go at ease, and he complies.

"What is the meaning behind this visit? Normally I have the gym to myself."

"I understand, sir, and I do not mean to interrupt your vigorous training. It's just..."

"It's just what?"

"...The General wants to see you."

"The General?"

"Yessir."

Rick scoffs, as he pulls the tower off around his neck, and slaps it down quickly at the edge of the wooden bench. Gomez nearly loses posture as he flinches from the crack of the towel as it strikes the surface of the wood. Rick chuckles under his breath for a second, as he reluctantly gets up from the bench. He starts to walk towards the door, and turns around, walking back over to Gomez. He whispers into his ear.

"How did that report turn out, huh Gomez?"

Javier Gomez is silent.

"You can think what you want, 'soldier-boy'. What, you think you're better than me? Do you know how many medals I have, soldier? Hmm? You think this is going to do anything? I do what must be done. I actually serve my country. I don't hesitate when on the battlefield."

Rick Flag expects something. Anything. Anything at all from Gomez. Gomez just smirks for a second, and turns his head, face-to-face with Rick.

"Have a good time with The General, sir."

Rick stands there for a moment, looking at Gomez give him that idiotic smirk of his. Right now, he's thinking of fourteen different ways to kill a man when standing right beside him, and he returns the smirk. But he regresses, and walks out the gym.

He walks throughout the army base. He heads towards the General's office. Even if Gomez did write the report, of what actually did occur after the apprehension of Damage and the other members of Infinity Inc., Rick doesn't walk towards The General's office in fear. He was merely serving his country, and carrying out his civil duties. The dress-up vigilantes are the enemy; not him. His country needs to fear nothing of his work as the Commanding Officer of his unit.

He opens the door, and sees several other Generals and among them and his commanding General, lies the Secretary of Defense to his surprise. Rick Flag looks over at his General.

"S-Sir?"

"Thanks for coming, son. Go ahead, take a seat right there."

Rick obeys his General's orders, and takes his seat.

"You may be wondering why I asked that you come down here. You may also be wondering why the Secretary of Defense is here, along with some of our fellow Commanding Generals. And to be honest, son? I myself am wondering the same thing. But, we talked it over before I had Gomez send word to ya...and I understand completely as to the purpose of their visit."

"Sir, if this is about what happened with Infinity Inc.--"

"It is, son. I'm relieving you of your uniform and rank."

Rick is struck with shock, as his General gets up from his desk. He walks over to his coat rack, and takes off his hat, and places it upon his head. He lights up his cigar, and walks over by Rick Flag. He places his hand upon his shoulder, and Rick looks up at him. To his surprise, his General winks at him with his left eye, and walks out the door.

Rick looks over at the Secretary of Defense, and in walks a figure he most certainly did not expect as his General and the other group of generals leave the office.
​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rick Flag, III - Bronze Tiger
Part II - "Job Promotion"

Rick Flag is in the gym, alone. He's always alone in the gym when working out. On the field, he has held a reputation, and that reputation transfered throughout the gym and the rest of the army base. A proud soldier, he took his work seriously, and did what was needed to get the job done. To his surprise, one of his men enter the gym, as Flag rests on the bench with a towel around his neck after beating the punching bag practically off the chain it hangs from.

"Gomez?"

Javier Gomez salutes his commanding officer. Rick Flag gives him the signal to go at ease, and he complies.

"What is the meaning behind this visit? Normally I have the gym to myself."

"I understand, sir, and I do not mean to interrupt your vigorous training. It's just..."

"It's just what?"

"...The General wants to see you."

"The General?"

"Yessir."

Rick scoffs, as he pulls the tower off around his neck, and slaps it down quickly at the edge of the wooden bench. Gomez nearly loses posture as he flinches from the crack of the towel as it strikes the surface of the wood. Rick chuckles under his breath for a second, as he reluctantly gets up from the bench. He starts to walk towards the door, and turns around, walking back over to Gomez. He whispers into his ear.

"How did that report turn out, huh Gomez?"

Javier Gomez is silent.

"You can think what you want, 'soldier-boy'. What, you think you're better than me? Do you know how many medals I have, soldier? Hmm? You think this is going to do anything? I do what must be done. I actually serve my country. I don't hesitate when on the battlefield."

Rick Flag expects something. Anything. Anything at all from Gomez. Gomez just smirks for a second, and turns his head, face-to-face with Rick.

"Have a good time with The General, sir."

Rick stands there for a moment, looking at Gomez give him that idiotic smirk of his. Right now, he's thinking of fourteen different ways to kill a man when standing right beside him, and he returns the smirk. But he regresses, and walks out the gym.

He walks throughout the army base. He heads towards the General's office. Even if Gomez did write the report, of what actually did occur after the apprehension of Damage and the other members of Infinity Inc., Rick doesn't walk towards The General's office in fear. He was merely serving his country, and carrying out his civil duties. The dress-up vigilantes are the enemy; not him. His country needs to fear nothing of his work as the Commanding Officer of his unit.

He opens the door, and sees several other Generals and among them and his commanding General, lies the Secretary of Defense to his surprise. Rick Flag looks over at his General.

"S-Sir?"

"Thanks for coming, son. Go ahead, take a seat right there."

Rick obeys his General's orders, and takes his seat.

"You may be wondering why I asked that you come down here. You may also be wondering why the Secretary of Defense is here, along with some of our fellow Commanding Generals. And to be honest, son? I myself am wondering the same thing. But, we talked it over before I had Gomez send word to ya...and I understand completely as to the purpose of their visit."

"Sir, if this is about what happened with Infinity Inc.--"

"It is, son. I'm relieving you of your uniform and rank."

Rick is struck with shock, as his General gets up from his desk. He walks over to his coat rack, and takes off his hat, and places it upon his head. He lights up his cigar, and walks over by Rick Flag. He places his hand upon his shoulder, and Rick looks up at him. To his surprise, his General winks at him with his left eye, and walks out the door.

Rick looks over at the Secretary of Defense, and in walks a figure he most certainly did not expect as his General and the other group of generals leave the office.
​

Luthor enters the room leaning on his cane followed by the directors of The FBI & CIA.

They stand behind him and basically guard the door.

Rick stands up and Luthor says, "Please Rick have a seat."

He sits as Luthor does as well and says, "I have been studying your file and asking many questions about you. It seems that you are very strong supporter of the AVA.


"Yes Sir Mr. President,"He replies.

Luthor says, "Excellent and from reading your dosier and talking with General Ormond among others I think I can use a man of your talent and desire to see the AVA enforced. I am here to offer you a postion as the lead enforcer of the AVA. I have consulted with Directors Hilton & Lattier and their organizations are at your disposal. You are granted under executive order #3688.20 to use any and all means at your disposal to enforce the AVA. Use any perosna if you so choose what ever it takes to get the job done."

He tosses him a packet and says, "Any and all information that you need is in that file. Included is my private cell-number, your salary and NSA clearances second only to my own. Do you have any questions Rick?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

Rick Flag, III - Bronze Tiger
Part III - "Job Promotion Pt.2"
​

Rick is blown away entirely by the offer laid out before him. Here he thought he was going to lose it all thanks to Gomez's report, but it seems it actually helped him; immensely. After sitting there for quite some time, dumbfounded, President Luthor's last few words pull Rick back to reality.

"Any and all information that you need is in that file. Included is my private cell-number, your salary and NSA clearances second only to my own. Do you have any questions Rick?"

Rick reads the file, reading all the clearances he has been granted, and is simply astounded even more. He looks up at President Luthor.

"Uh, Sir? What agency will I be working with? I've never heard of one with such clearance and--"

"Checkmate."

The Secretary of Defense interrupts as he answers Rick's question. He continues, expanding on his answer.

"And as President Luthor claims, you will be their lead enforcer. In short, that means you are going to be the Black King's Knight. You are going to be active in Checkmate's Ops program."

"Black King's Knight? What is that? And who is the Black King exactly?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that question for you son. Information on all members of Checkmate is classified. That is, unless you choose accept our offer. The Black King's previous Knight was killed when in pursuit of his target on a mission three days ago. The Black King was given the time-frame to come up with his replacement, and failed to do so."

"Reason being?"

"His Knight was a good friend of his. All that knew him mourn for his death, but things in Checkmate cannot simply falter or stop because of a mission gone wrong; that's life. So, what do you say?"

Rick looks over at President Luthor, who nods at him and smiles. Rick then looks over at the Secretary of Defense, his expression the same the entire time through. He cannot believe it; the offer before him. And the realization that Checkmate the entire time has been the actual agency enforcing AVA, makes Rick even more proud of the offer. Black King's Knight...he likes the sound of it.

"I say...take a good look and say hello to your new Knight in shining armor."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rick Flag, III - Bronze Tiger
Part III - "Job Promotion Pt.2"
​

Rick is blown away entirely by the offer laid out before him. Here he thought he was going to lose it all thanks to Gomez's report, but it seems it actually helped him; immensely. After sitting there for quite some time, dumbfounded, President Luthor's last few words pull Rick back to reality.

"Any and all information that you need is in that file. Included is my private cell-number, your salary and NSA clearances second only to my own. Do you have any questions Rick?"

Rick reads the file, reading all the clearances he has been granted, and is simply astounded even more. He looks up at President Luthor.

"Uh, Sir? What agency will I be working with? I've never heard of one with such clearance and--"

"Checkmate."

The Secretary of Defense interrupts as he answers Rick's question. He continues, expanding on his answer.

"And as President Luthor claims, you will be their lead enforcer. In short, that means you are going to be the Black King's Knight. You are going to be active in Checkmate's Ops program."

"Black King's Knight? What is that? And who is the Black King exactly?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that question for you son. Information on all members of Checkmate is classified. That is, unless you choose accept our offer. The Black King's previous Knight was killed when in pursuit of his target on a mission three days ago. The Black King was given the time-frame to come up with his replacement, and failed to do so."

"Reason being?"

"His Knight was a good friend of his. All that knew him mourn for his death, but things in Checkmate cannot simply falter or stop because of a mission gone wrong; that's life. So, what do you say?"

Rick looks over at President Luthor, who nods at him and smiles. Rick then looks over at the Secretary of Defense, his expression the same the entire time through. He cannot believe it; the offer before him. And the realization that Checkmate the entire time has been the actual agency enforcing AVA, makes Rick even more proud of the offer. Black King's Knight...he likes the sound of it.

"I say...take a good look and say hello to your new Knight in shining armor."

"Excellent," Luthor says.

He looks at the 2 directors and says, "See to it his paperwork is finalized by the end of lunch. I don't want any loop-holes that the ACLU can exploit they're already on my back for the new legislation."

Luthor then looks to Secretary of Defense Coleman and says, "His military paperwork is to be done before I leave for Washington DC."

Coleman nods and Luthor looks at Rick and says, "To you sir good luck with your new assignment, you need anything call me. If you'll excuse I am meeting with General Ormond a base inspection."

He leaves the room.

It's going to be like turning a rabid wolf loose in a petting zoo. Those caped fools don't stand a chance.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Owen sits there, in a room where he cannot see anything at all; except for himself. The room's walls are but mirrors to him, and strong too. He's already tried to make his escape. Several cracks along parts of the mirror walls goes to show for that. Little does he know, that the "mirror walls" he glances at endlessly, except for when they give him food, are double-sided. He's been under surveillance for 36 hours.

36 hours since he hasn't been able to dip his body in the saltwatery home he has known for 20 years. The feeling is odd for him, yet he doesn't falter it seems. Whereas most Atlanteans may have died being away from water so long, Owen does not. Such a thing is something he always found peculiar about himself, growing up as a child. He never did have to do a routine 're-fuel' for water like the other kids when in school, but he did it to not be excluded for such a thing. He was already the Prince of Atlantis, he didn't want anything else to label him to perhaps scare the other kids away from becoming his friends.

But here, upon the surface...nothing like he had imagined...he has no friends. Only government officials and scientists watching from behind the double-sided glass, watching his every move.

"How has the captive responded to the slowly increasing time we extend between his water breaks? Does he show any typically known side-effects characterized with common Atlanteans?"

"No, sir. He doesn't not."

"I see he tried to break out again, huh."

"Yes. And this time we thought he really would. His strength alone is quite interesting, especially with the lack of water. Normally one would think if anything his strength would diminish. This Atlantean--if he is one--is very peculiar."

"Interesting...I'm going in."

"Sir?"

"I'm going to find out just what is so special about him, and why we haven't seen those colors in nearly 20 years, doctor. Here we thought Atlantis dropped off the face of the Earth along with their King Aquaman, and this young punk resurfaces, causing all kinds of property damage and scare among the common people. I'm going in."

 

[Karem-Knight]

Clark stood out in the farm, helping out his mother Martha Kent with the farm work. She had often found it difficult to manage the place when Clark was a teenager, but back then she had her son and her husband to help her. But now things were different for Martha Kent, she was nearing ninety years of age, and Clark was well into his forties, he wiped his hands clean from fixing the tractor.

"Well, that's the tractor done, I don't see why you get a new one, you have enough money for it, not to mention for help around the place."

"Huh?" Martha said, looking at her foster son, her hearing was disappearing, very unlike her son who's was well, let's just say very good.

"I said why don't you get some help Ma? I like helping out every now and again but I can't really do it all the time, people need me." Clark didn't like to post like that, but it was the truth, his mother looked down on the floor.

"Oh, well I don't really know. It just wouldn't feel right having this place being planted by someone else, other then your father, or you."

"Well, I'm sure I could get Chris to help out....I did tell you that me and him have, well, sorted our stuff out."

"Of course you did dear, my memory isn't that bad!" She gave out a slight laugh, her son joined with the laughter. Clark looked round the Kent family farm with his microscopic vision, eye balling each part of the green grass, using his heat vision he trimmed down each part of it with precision.

"Ma, I'm just about to get some coffee would you like some?", "No I'm alright dear!"

He walked into the kitchen and turned on the kettle, getting one coffee mug out from the drawers and placing it on the table, he soon turned around to see the doorbell ring, putting the mug down on the table he walked along to the door way, and to his surprise saw someone very familiar.

"Lana!?" He said shocked, twenty years since he last saw her, she had aged and her hair gaining more gray but she was still the same woman Clark was in love with all those years ago, Lana Lang.

"After all this time, why do you never use your x-ray vision?" They both smiled, twenty years and she still had the same good sense of humor. "Please come in? Take a seat!" He said opening the door wide open, before shutting it and following her to the kitchen.
"Lana, it's so good to see you again." He said, smiling she looked good, and not just for her age, growing naturally, she turned around the smile even bigger on her face. "Same her Clark."

They starred at each other for a while, before Clark broke the ice. "Listen, Lana I'm sorry for not calling sooner...it's just that well, I haven't been in Smallville, well ha, I haven't been on EARTH! For a while either and...." "It's okay Clark, I understand." She said.

"I almost forgot, Ma's out back, let me get her inside for a second." He said walking to the outside, and towards his mother. "Ma, Lana's inside would you like to say hello to her?"

"Lana Lang? Oh I don't know, not yet Clark. Let me just admire the sunset for a few moments, then I'll say hello."

"Umm okay Ma." Walking back to Lana the coffees were ready and he picked them up and carried them to her, "Here you go."

"Thanks." She said, taking a sip. "Wow, it's been so long, tell me what's been happening with you? How's Pete?"

She looked on the table, closing her eyes. "Pete passed away a couple years after D-Day, Clark." "Oh! I'm so sorry.."

The words hit Clark straight into his chest, he could change the course of mighty rivers, deflect bullets off his chest, but nothing pained the man of steel more then the death of a loved one.

"It's okay. I still had Joel with me to keep me company I needed."

"You had a son?" Clark said, feeling the mistake of isolation of 20 years "Yeah, he was born around the time Pete died, he's at University for the performing arts in New York, I'm proud of him and hopefully will see him being a successful actor, or writer."

"How's Chris-" She said, almost instantly regretting that question, and the fact that Clark might just not appreciate it but before she could mutter the words I'm sorry, he came to the rescue and simply said. "He's doing fine, got a job at the Star and well, has the same "advantages" that his father has." Lana smiled, extremely relived.

"That's great." She said smiling, they stared at each other, and looking down on their cups of coffee before Lana finally went. "Twenty years, my god Clark. When was the last time we spoke?"

"Well..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Years Ago, Metropolis, Clark and Lois Kent's apartment:

I wouldn't forget it, You, me, Lois and Pete were having dinner, Chris was in his bedroom sleeping in his room sound asleep, we held our annual reunions, although Lois always got a little edgy around you for some reason, I don't know why, you two still got on pretty well. Lois prepared a potato salad, everyone else knows she wasn't the best cook in the world but oh well. We chatted about casual things, Pete still hadn't figured out my double life and no one would tell him.

Pete was telling us a story, I can't remember what about but I was enjoying it and half way through, my beeper went off.

"Oh no..." I said, looking at my beeper in alarm. "I am so sorry guys I've got to take this, Perry just called and some major news story has come up.." I said it was from the planet, but it was the JLA. Something urgent came up, Br-, Batman called me so I knew something had happened.

"It's alright Clark, me and Lana will still be in the city so we can meet up tomorrow morning?"

"Sure Pete, I'd love to!" I said, unfourtuneltly it didn't happen and I walked out my front door and ran into the fire escape, changed into my costume and flew to Watchtower, inside I saw Wally, I mean the Flash running around like crazy.

"Wally!" I said screaming, "What's going on!?" The silence in his voice gave me the suggestion that something serious was about to happen. "I wish I could joke this time Big Blue, but...." He pointed outside to a site that I'd never expect to see, hundreds upon hundreds of battle ships were coming, I knew this would be the end if we didn't act now, he simply broke it down for me.

"........Darkseid is here!"

 

[Catman_prb]

They had set up camp near the Grand Canyon, the assumed location of Slade's base. During the brief plan they had made, an important question had been raised. Where had Slade gotten the resources to build a base to hold metahumans? And why? That was the biggest question. They all had their own theories, and Beatrice didn't really know who he was, but none of them seemed to work. So they forgot about it and carried on planning.

They had decided that they needed some sleep before they could hit Slade's base. So they had pulled some greying tents out of the back of Cassie's van, and set up on a ridge overlooking the Canyon. Victor had shut down all but his lifesupport systems and was in the least hospitible tent, and Tim was pretty sure that he had seen Duela sneak in there when no one was looking. Raven and Beatrice had reluctantly agreed to share a tent and walked off together, with Raven casting a disapproving look over Beatrice's dark ponytail, leaving Tim and Cassie alone around the dim campfire.

Tim gave her a nervous smile and she did the same.
"Well...this is awkward," Tim said quietly. Cassie chuckled, blanket around her shoulders and mug of coco in her hands..
"It really shouldn't be though, should it?" she said. Tim nodded.
"Did you hear? Apparantly the Key escaped from Freeze's Ice prison a few days back. Checkmate were going to bring him back in, but Superman saved him," she said. Tim looked up.
"How did you hear about that? I thought Luthor was keeping any metahuman information under wraps?" Tim said with a raised eyebrow.
"I heard it on the radio," she said with a sheepish smile.
"What? I don't believe you," he said, laughing.
"
Different radio," she said, pulling a small device with headphones out of her jacket.
"Ah, the famous Underground Resistance..." he said quietly.
"Yes...the Underground,"
"So...did you...get along well with the other Resistance members?" Tim said, scurting around the question he really wanted to ask. Cassie smiled at him.
"No Tim, I didn't meet anyone," she said "You don't make friends in the Underground. The plan was for me to grow old alone,"

"You never expected to see any of the Titans again...never expected to see me?" Tim asked. Cassie gave a sad half smile.
"I said that you weren't half the man Connor was, and you screamed at me to get out of your house. I wasn't expecting to ever see you again. Anyway, you were with Rose...I always felt like I was intruding," Cassie said, looking down into her mug. Tim walked around the edge of the fire and sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders.
"And that turned out to be a great plan didn't it?" Tim chuckled. She put her head on his shoulder.

"We could've been good together, couldn't we Tim?" she asked quietly. He smiled.
"There's still time," he whispered. He could feel her heartbeat quickening, as her head turned to face him. He could hear a booming sound, his own heart beating in his ears as he leaned towards her. Then there was something hard and metal in his forehead. He froze. How had he not heard him. His eyes slowly moved upwards, to see the grinning face of Slade Wilson.

"Getting dumb sonny. Lighting a fire near a known enemy's base, and then not hearing him as he sneaks up on you?" he growled.
"Let her go Slade, and I'll come with you freely," Tim said, his arm still around Cassie.
"That's not an option. The option is who I kill first," he stated. And then Tim heard a voice he had long since forgotten.
"Aw, come on daddy, you never let me get the first kill," said Rose Wilson, ex-wife of Tim Drake and daughter of a murderer.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Batman remained silent and motionless, allowing his brother to depart without further admonishment or rebuke. He inhaled deeply and stepped into the air; the resultant freefall was comforting. It demanded nothing, made no enquiries. The Dark Knight felt the wind rush up in his masked face and heard the ripple of his cape as it resisted the sudden surrender to gravity. At the last moment possible, Batman once again utilised his grapple gun and skillfully seized control of his descent, falling into a defensive crouch at the opening aperture to a grungy, dirty alleyway. Three rather ordinary figures were congegated at its end, huddled closely together and exchanging small vials of an oddly-hued substance. Heeding the vigilante's presence, they separated, pressing themselves to the surrounding walls as though the concrete would grant them refuge from the wrath of the new arrival. Batman noted one of them jamming the syringe into his arm, and his lips curled in disgust. Addiction was a terrible thing.

"You know why I'm here, and what's going to happen," he growled, stalking forward. "So are we doing this the easy way, or the hard way?"

"**** off!" one of the thugs barked, and charged forward.

"I should have known," Batman murmured dryly under his breath. He allowed his opponent to come to him, his observational skills asserting themselves far too late - a green tinge lacing the veins in his arms and face. A side-effect of the drug? Why does that seem so familiar...?

And then the criminal's fist was jammed into Batman's stomach, and the Caped Crusader was driven across the street and into a car. The windows shattered and the door crumpled, sending arcs of pure pain coursing across Batman's back. He suppressed a groan and stumbled dazedly to his booted feet, a trio of batarangs in his hand...but in a blur of motion, a second foe was launching an assault, a swift backhand sending him sprawling to the pavement. A foot clipped his chest and agony roiled through his stomach; abruptly, his breathing became shallow and his lungs were racked with a bizarre tingling sensation.

Punctured lung, he realised, weakly raising his wrist communicator to his lips. "Reddy, I need you," he gasped, only for something to collide with his head. He was claimed swiftly by unconsciousness...[/LEFT]

"Leave him alone."

The three junkies stopped their beating of the unconscious Batman, and turned to look at the new arrival. Edward Nigma stood by his car, leaning on his cane.

"Oh yeah?" one junkie asked, "And what you gonna do to make us leave, old man?"

Nigma sighed, and reached into his pocket. The junkies all tensed, thinking he was drawing out a gun. But instead, he drew out a wad of money.

"I'll give you one thousand dollars. $1000, and you leave The Batman to me."

The drug addicts exchanged glances at each other. Nigma knew what they were thinking. They could get a good bit of merchandise with that money. They approached him, and he tried his best to not look intimidated. The ringleader snatched the money out of Nigma's hands, and then they walked away.

"Batman..."

Nigma approached the unconscious Batman, taking off his sunglasses and crouching over him. It wasn't Bruce Wayne. Obviously it wasn't, Bruce Wayne was long dead. But there was still part of him, the illogical part, that held out some kind of vague hope for a miracle. But there was no miracle here, just an imposter. He was younger than the real Batman was when he battled him as The Riddler, and his chin was a slightly different shape. It wasn't Batman. It was a pretender.

He was sorely tempted to unmask him right now. Unmask him, then haul him off to the police station. That's what he'd been hired to do, right? He extended a hand towards Batman's mask....but then he pulled it away. No. That wasn't the way to solve the riddle. Where's the challenge in that? No, Nigma wanted to talk to this new Batman. If he could do that, he'd get a far better idea of the man behind the mask than he would by looking at his face.

"Right, kid. Let's get you out of here."

With great difficulty, Nigma dragged the unconscious Batman to his car, and bundled him in the backseat. Then, he drove off, heading back to his office.