"One Universe" RPG thread.

[twylight]

Dinah watched as Jay left, his red form getting swallowed up in the mass of media outside the door. She sighed, for his sake. If it wasn’t for her he wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for Tony sh…Dinah turned and walked back into the room, closing the door with a *click* behind her. Pulling the hospital around to the other side of the bead she perched in it and picked up Tony’s hand. It was bruised and red. A few cuts along the surface of it. She touched it to her cheek, her lower lip quivering.

“I don’t know what to do…”

Her eyes filled with tears and her sight grew hazy.

“I don’t know what to do…” She whispered, her tears flowing. She buried her face in the sheets and cried. Her back rising and falling in silent tears until she’d cried herself to sleep.

. . . .

Dinah fluttered her eyes open. The dried tears around them pulling on her skin as she did so. The light was dimmer no and she lifted her head slowly, her arms feeling cold and her face wark. The steady *beep…beep…beep…* of the monitor in her ear. Peaking over Tony’s still form she looked out the window. The evening sky was painted with orange and pink as the sun set.

“Jay should have been back by now. Or at least should have sent Jarvis.” she reached for the phone and dialed.

“Stark Residence.”

“Hey Jarvis.” she spoke softly.

“Miss Lance. I have heard nothing from you all day. Is Mr. Stark alright?”

Dinah glanced at the figure in bed. The tubes running in and out of his nose, chest and arms.

“He’s…Jarvis did The Flash arrive there?”

“You mean the gentleman with the World War I Helmet and red shirt?”

Dinah smiled at the helmet comment.

“Yes.”

“No miss, he hasn’t ‘arrived’. Should I expect him?”

Dinah furrowed her forehead and touched it with her fingers.
“No…don’t expect him.”

“How is Mr. Stark?”

“He’s in critical condition, with a broken arm and leg. And..he’s in a coma.” She waited for Jarvis’s reaction.

“I see.”

“They’re going to move him as soon as he’s stable.”


“Very good.”

“Jarvis, have they found the families of Mia and Roy?”

“No, they have been unsuccessful.”

“How are they?”

“They are quite well. Occupied with the news stories and the like. A tremendous help around the house. Sometimes.”

Dinah smiled.
“Alright. Thank you Jarvis. Good-bye.” Dinah placed the phone back into it’s cradle.

“Jay went home…to mom. Which means she’s on her way.” Dinah glanced at her watch and calculated time. Jay’s speed, the rate her mother would pack her things, cab drive from Gotham City to New York. Her mother would appear at any minute. Knowing Jay he’d probably explained everything which meant she’d have to soothe both fronts.

She turned to Tony and touched his hand,
“I wish you were awake.”

A knock came on the door and Karen peeked in.

“Miss Lance?”

Dinah turned.

“Yes?”

“Your mother is here.” Karen pushed the door open and Dinah could see her mother behind the nurse.

Dinah’s mother slipped past Karen and Karen closed the door quietly as Mrs. Lance embraced her daughter.

Dinah rested her chin on her mothers shoulder, waiting for the inevitable. Diana moved her hands to her daughters shoulder and pushed her away, looking her in the eye.

“What do you think your doing?” She whispered harshly.

Dinah looked at her steady.
“Mom! Don’t start now. We’ve had this discussion. Remember? We had it before I left.”

“I know what we did. However, at the time I didn’t know Tony was mixed up in this.”

“Mom…”

“Dinah..I’m serious. This is NOT the life for you. I had it all..”

“I know. You had it all planned out. Mom, I’m not you. Tony isn’t Dad.”

Diana Lance dropped her hands from Dinah’s shoulders and turned to looked at the man on the bed, tubes in and out of his body.

“Looks like he is to me…” She said her voice far away and soft.

Dinah looked from her mother to the bed, before grabbing her by the shoulders.
“MOM! It’s not dad.. he’s going to get better. He is” She said.

Her mother turned and looked at her, a hurt expression on her face.

“And then what? You’ll go back to crime fighting? No Dinah I won’t stand for it.”

Dina dropped her arms from her mother.
“I am not having this conversation. I have him to worry about, first and foremost. After he’s better we can discuss this. For now just know that I will not be leaving his side.”

The older Black Canary sighed.
“I know…” She kissed her daughters forehead.
“I picked up some books for you about a coma.” She handed her the overnight bag and a sack of books.

Dinah smiled and gave her a hug.
“Thanks..”

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

Sitting on the soft couch relieves the pain slightly, but when Logan brings his claw to my side I flinch. Both the nearness of the shining blade and fear that he might touch my skin. Mostly the second, strange that I am more afraid of the mental pain that would bring than being cut. He cuts my top and examines my side. He seems to know his stuff, the way he talks.

I'll need to go shopping soon, I don't have hardly any clothes left that aren't shredded or mud soaked. I sigh and lay my head back, staring at the ceiling, consdering my drastic change of circumstances. Only a day ago I was treking down a road, now I've broken ribs and am staying in a mansion.....my life is so weird.

I jump at the voice of a boy I didn't realise was sitting on the couch. He seems to be blind or something. I try not to gawk, but think I fail.

Logan switches on the news and I hear that Iron Man was Tony Stark.....I got nothing.

"Uh, who's Tony Stark?"

Gambit jumped over the back of the couch and landed beside Rogue, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Whats it matter, when you got ol' Remy right here?"

 

[Electro UK]

"Yes. All we need now is a plan of attack. Then we can take that scum down. Do you have any ideas Lex?"

"I think its a high chance this place will be crawling with super villains, Fisk might be on high alert if he knows Lex is still alive." I give Lex a quick, cold look. "I think its best me and Cap go in and find Fisk, taking a more stealth like approach, the last thing we want is a bunch of super powered idiots tearing through F.B.I. agents."

 

[Noon]

Gambit jumped over the back of the couch and landed beside Rogue, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Whats it matter, when you got ol' Remy right here?"

The couch bounces sarply as he lands beside me, sending a shooting pain up my side. I reach out and grab his bare arm to balance myself on the overstuffed sofa.

"Arggh, watch it cajun"

Then I notice my hand on his arm, just looking at it, I can't find the will to remove it.

 

[Trigger]

Morph sat up straight, something was a bit off in his environment. Morph morphed his head into that of a hound's. He sniffed and listened quietly.

"Ok guys, this is gettin' annoying. None of you would happen to be magic users, would ya? Might be the only thing to stop these guys."

Morph let out an excited yelp. He could feel a horrible burning sensation in his left side near his spleen.

"Oooh, my wallet sense is killing me! My money-maker is in trouble....."

Morph looked around and frowned. What fun was a joke if you're then only one laughing? What fun is anything when you're alone....? Morph dusted off his costume and flew towards the sound of the commotion, the park.

When he arrived Big Juggy and Stupes were tussling with a pack of civilians. Shaping his hand into a giant pooper scooper. With the slightest of ease he scooped a pack of civies and slung them a few yards away from Big Jugger.

"Hey, I'm no magician, but.....I'm a ....So how about that Mortimer, huh? I take it things didn't go so well?"

 

[wiegeabo]

"Hey, I'm no magician, but.....I'm a ....So how about that Mortimer, huh? I take it things didn't go so well?"

"Oh, you could say that." I throw another woman off me. If only she'd jumped on me in the good way, and in her right mind...well, at least in the good way. "I'd say went ****ing horrible. I mean, I took a pipe and..." I pick a guy off my neck and toss him away, "I took a pipe and shoved it through his head. The guy just got up and laughed." I shake my head as two people try to jump on me. I catch them in the air and toss them behind my back.

"If you can't even kill a guy, how the hell are supposed to stop him?"

 

[Trigger]

"Oh, you could say that." I throw another woman off me. If only she'd jumped on me in the good way, and in her right mind...well, at least in the good way. "I'd say went ****ing horrible. I mean, I took a pipe and..." I pick a guy off my neck and toss him away, "I took a pipe and shoved it through his head. The guy just got up and laughed." I shake my head as two people try to jump on me. I catch them in the air and toss them behind my back.

"If you can't even kill a guy, how the hell are supposed to stop him?"

Morph enlarged his fist and then smashed several men at once. He was finding it hard to do so without fatally injuring somebody.

"Hell if I know, I've never been assaulted by magically controlled beings before. Maybe we should just turn back and retreat? Ouch!"

A mob of men began to smack Morph with bats.

 

[spartin2008]

Spoiler

(Electro)

I wake up to find myself in a hospital bed as a nurse walks in to do a quick check.

Spoiler

"How long have I been out."

"About a day and a half" the nurse replies "You should be ready for release soon."

Spoiler

"Thats good"

All I can remember is me working on some electric wires and BOOM, and now I'm here. Well i guess i will sleep till I can go home.

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

I walk inside my house, which I have lived here alone since...since my Mom. But thats no matter to me anymore. I walk up the stairs into my room. I feel like I have a lot of extra energy, I don't know why either. 2 minuets later my phone rings and its my boss, he said that he was sorry about the accident but he had to fire me. I was pissed, i slammed the phone down and the lights flickered. I take my hand of quickly and the lights go back to normal. I go over and grab hold of the metal base of my lamp and it goes out. I suddenly feel more energy than I have ever had. I walk out to the balcony on the second floor and carefully grab hold of a wire going into my house. All the lights in the house go out and I feel the energy flowing through my body.

Spoiler

"I wonder..."

I say as i look to a bird in the air. I point my finger right to it and a bolt of energy burst from my finger, shooting the bird right out of the air.

Spoiler

"I could do a lot with this."

I grab a ski mask as I leave my house. I walk for a few minutes when I walk past a bank that is just closing. I go to the ally way right beside it and begin to think...

Spoiler

"I lost my job, i have to get money some how. I think i know how i will take care of that."

I jump up from wall to wall bouncing up to the top of the bank and sit on top of it. I jump on a power-line and i begin to glide around the block at extreme speed. I go around the block a few times when i get back to the bank and i jump back on top of it. I grab hold of the wire and I feel like I have super strength. I've made my decision. I jump down from the roof right in-front of the bank that just closed. The doors are locked. Feeling as strong as I do, with one swift punch I slam through the doors. I run in there and start grabbing piles of money as quickly as I can. I grab 2 pocket fulls of money and 3 great big bags and start to run out when i get surrounded by cops...there had to be at least 10 of them.

"DROP THE MONEY FREAK" one of them say to me.

Spoiler

"You asked for it."

I drop the money and begin shouting beams of electricity out of my hands while spinning. Shouting 2 at a time, with only 3 left I grab the bags off the floor and run outside. Jumping up on the power-line I begin to glide off at least going 100mph.

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

I get back to the house and I empty the bags and my pockets.

Spoiler

"I should make a suit, the ski mask isn't working for me."

So I start to rummage through my clothes when i come across a green, and a yellow jumpsuits.

Spoiler

"How do you like my new job now...Mom."

 

[twylight]

Dinah sighed and unfolded from her curled up position on the chair as Karen walked in. She stood up careful to hold onto the books surrounding her. It had been a day already and while Tony showed signs of stabilizing he showed none of returning to consciousness.

Karen smiled.
“Reading up on coma patients?” She asked softly as she checked Tony’s vitals. Dinah nodded.

“Yes, I figured if he was going to be in it long, I might as well know what to do.” Karen smiled.

“Nothing better than talking to them.”

“Yes...I read that.”

Karen straightened up.

“He’ll be ready to move in about a day or two and I do think the desk nurse will be happy. It’s practically a forest out there.” Karen said commenting on the large amount of floral arrangements that had arrived.

“I haven’t seen.” Dinah admitted as Karen tossed a look at the hospital chair Dinah had converted into a bed and living space in the short period of one day. A blanket was folded up on it with a fluffy pillow on top. Next to the chair was a large leather bag of clothes, food and toiletries.

“Once we get him into a bigger room you can have a hospital bed to sleep on.”

“A day or two?” Dinah asked, putting her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

Karen smiled and nodded.
“In the mean time you should get out. Or at least keep up on current events.”

Dinah looked at her puzzled and Karen reached up flipping the TV on, scanning a few channels she stopped and lowered the volume, before quietly leaving the room. Dinah looks up at the television and listens.

“...Zombies. No word as to what caused them and if it’s a disease, however the United States Government has grounded all international flights until this crisis is resolved. Again all flights in and out of the European states have been frozen.”

The screen cuts to a picture of what looks like mindless human drones. Their skin pale and eyes dark.

“In the wake of events in North America and around the world a week ago, heroes have arisen. A phenomena not seen since World War II in which the Justice Society of American and other teams were established. Here, in this unfolding situation in Europe these ‘heroes’ have once again made a show.”

Dinah puts her hand over her mouth as the screen shows footage of the Juggernaut, and Jay as well as two others she doesn’t know the names of. She bowed her head and sent out a silent prayer.
“Please protect them...protect Jay..”

 

[Keyser Soze]

"I think its a high chance this place will be crawling with super villains, Fisk might be on high alert if he knows Lex is still alive." I give Lex a quick, cold look. "I think its best me and Cap go in and find Fisk, taking a more stealth like approach, the last thing we want is a bunch of super powered idiots tearing through F.B.I. agents."

"Good thinking, Daredevil."

Of course, Lex Luthor could care less if Daredevil was wiped out. It would actually be beneficial to him, if anything. However, he couldn't afford to let a cash cow like Captain America shuffle off his mortal coil quite yet.

"You two both know what you're doing," he continued, "I'll leave this in your capable hands. It's time to bring Fisk to justice."

 

[Batman]

<Superman>

I'm hit with what looks like a bottle for alcohol of some sort. It doesn't hurt, naturally... But considering I don't drink, I feel it as somewhat of an insult. My eyes swell up with heat, as I fire a blast of heat vision infront of me, making the bystanders back away, for a minute. But due to their current state, I fear that won't help me for much longer...

I look over, seeing Juggernaut and Morph dealing with this the best they can. If I don't do something, one of them may grow a temper and do something they'll regret. And I know they could be willing to, if properly provoked...

I turn to the yellow clad one. Sentry, I think, is his name.

"You said you had an idea of using my heat vision to rid them of this. While I don't know who you are... I'm willing to trust you, for the time being. I just hope you know what you're doing..."

I look up, feeling more heat behind my eyes. Except, I'm holding this one back, first... letting it grow...

And then, I fire a massive blast into the air. I don't think I've ever fired it, this hard. Maybe once, during Darkseid's invasion... But otherwise, never.

I can't hold it for long...

"Hurry!"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Anger welled up in Thor. Who was this creature to decry him so? He gripped his hammer Mjolnir tightly, and lightning cracled around his hand and arm. Wind picked up, whipping his cape and hair madly.

"Thou shalt not speak to me thusly, conjuror. Thou would be wise to heed mine warning: end the insanity that plagues Europe or face mighty Thor in combat. The choice, evil one, is thine."

"Insanity that plagues Europe", said the Dark Lord with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, you must mean my children. They've grown into quite the large troop of late, haven't they?"

"No, I don't think I'll be ending any plagues today", replied Mordru cockily.

The Dark Lord turned his attention to the quiet Jay Garrick, "It's a pleasure to see that you are a part of this world, Flash. I wonder...is Hector here in this reality as well?"

 

[LibrarianThorne]

"Insanity that plagues Europe", said the Dark Lord with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, you must mean my children. They've grown into quite the large troop of late, haven't they?"

"No, I don't think I'll be ending any plagues today", replied Mordru cockily.

The Dark Lord turned his attention to the quiet Jay Garrick, "It's a pleasure to see that you are a part of this world, Flash. I wonder...is Hector here in this reality as well?"

Thor bristled at Mordru's dismissal of his demand. No mortal could talk to a god in such a manner! At Thor's quiet command, lightning struck into his hammer Mjolnir. Thor turned to the Flash.

"Friend Flash, see what thine enchanted amulet can do for Europe. I believe battle must be brought to yon evil being, and I do not wish to see thee harmed in such a conflict."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"ARH!" I turn and place my fists on the kitchen counter, my back to Druid.

He was pulling the "World is in danger" card..still what if it is true, and the world does need me? What a sick twist of fate. Truely ironic. I rub my eyes.

"Okay.." I say not turning around.
"I'll help you. But.." I turn around and hold my finger up.

"You have to promise to leave me alone after this and I have to get back by tomorrow morning..I have a show at 10:00. Also I am not becoming a mage, nor will I become one. I can't even make the stupid plant grow." I motion to the almost dead plant I tried to revive last night.

"I don't even know what good I'll be." I say sulking.
"Let's go...wherever we're going..."

Druid looked at Zatanna as she stood looking at the plant in a sulking manner.
"The first thing you must learn in order to be a sorceress is to cast aside all self doubt."

Anthony moved towards the plant and picked it up. Walking towards Zatanna, Druid placed the potted plant on the table.

"Magic is a force that exists all around us, Zatanna. It exists everywhere, woven into the great tapestry that is existence. It takes wisdom and confidence to be able to manipulate these forces. It also requires one to have a...natural affinity with these forces. And that is something you have in common with your father. We just need to take care of the confidence and the wisdom."

"Now", said Druid as he walked into the middle of the floor and took a meditative position on the ground, "first you must clear your mind."

"Have a seat", Anthony said as he motioned for Zatanna to sit down on the floor across from him.

 

[twylight]

Druid looked at Zatanna as she stood looking at the plant in a sulking manner.
"The first thing you must learn in order to be a sorceress is to cast aside all self doubt."

Anthony moved towards the plant and picked it up. Walking towards Zatanna, Druid placed the potted plant on the table.

"Magic is a force that exists all around us, Zatanna. It exists everywhere, woven into the great tapestry that is existence. It takes wisdom and confidence to be able to manipulate these forces. It also requires one to have a...natural affinity with these forces. And that is something you have in common with your father. We just need to take care of the confidence and the wisdom."

"Now", said Druid as he walked into the middle of the floor and took a meditative position on the ground, "first you must clear your mind."

"Have a seat", Anthony said as he motioned for Zatanna to sit down on the floor across from him.

I raise my eyebrow and walk over, I sit on the floor, My black skirt covering my black clad legs. I push my still "bed-head" hair from my face and take a meditative position.

"Okay." I shrug.

 

[wiegeabo]

The Dark Lord turned his attention to the quiet Jay Garrick, "It's a pleasure to see that you are a part of this world, Flash. I wonder...is Hector here in this reality as well?"

How the hell does he know me and Hector? And where is Hector?

Thor bristled at Mordru's dismissal of his demand. No mortal could talk to a god in such a manner! At Thor's quiet command, lightning struck into his hammer Mjolnir. Thor turned to the Flash.

"Friend Flash, see what thine enchanted amulet can do for Europe. I believe battle must be brought to yon evil being, and I do not wish to see thee harmed in such a conflict."

"I don't want to see me harmed either. But you take care of yourself too." I take one last look at the spellcaster who somehow knows about me and Fate. Where are you Hector?

"Ok, sounds like we got a plan. You take the big one, I'll take on a million zombies. Let's get to work."

A flash of red, and I'm off. Before I get very far, I notice news crews setting up near Thor and the other one. Before they even realize it, I've grabbed them and moved them to a safer location. "Trust me, you do not want to be there right now," I say. I leave before they can ask any other questions.

Running across the English Channel only takes a second or two, and then I'm on the European mainland. For a moment, I wonder where I should start looking for these undead, but I don't wonder long as I find myself smack dab in the middle of a pack of a thousand. They begin to swarm towards me, but they're easy to evade. I get into a clearing and watch as they come after me.

Gripping the amulet in my hand tightly, I ready myself. Hope this still works Hector. I hold the amulet out and speak the words...

"illud haud diutius somnus dormio iterum!"

...and hope this works.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

I raise my eyebrow and walk over, I sit on the floor, My black skirt covering my black clad legs. I push my still "bed-head" hair from my face and take a meditative position.

"Okay." I shrug.

"Good. Now...close your eyes and take a deep breath. Clear out your thoughts. Focus on the plant and what you wish it to do. See it in it's form of life and beauty, not the withered husk it is now."

Druid closed his eyes and began meditating alongside Zatanna.
"Concentrate, Zatanna. Feel the mystical energies all throughout this room as they surround you and the plant. Concentrate and bring the plant back to it's former life."

"You can do it. Just believe in yourself."

 

[twylight]

"Good. Now...close your eyes and take a deep breath. Clear out your thoughts. Focus on the plant and what you wish it to do. See it in it's form of life and beauty, not the withered husk it is now."

Druid closed his eyes and began meditating alongside Zatanna.
"Concentrate, Zatanna. Feel the mystical energies all throughout this room as they surround you and the plant. Concentrate and bring the plant back to it's former life."

"You can do it. Just believe in yourself."

I sigh and take a deep breathe. The world is in danger and I'm meditation. Does he expect me to do this everytime I need or want to use a spell?
I close my eyes. Green seens to swarm my vision and an image of the plant appears. It's pretty, just like it was when I first got it. Green and lush with life. Little pale pink flowers. But, it was real, it wasn't just a visual image, I feel like I can touch it. It seems to falter a little and I can feel my concentration failing. I squeeze my eyes shut more and focus.
I need to focus on something.

"Worg tnalp"

I whisper focusing on the words. The image seems to spring to life, if that was any more possible than it already was, but it did...

"Tnalp nruter ot efil ."

 

[wiegeabo]

Nothing's happening. The zombies are still limping towards me, moaning in that awful way. I swear, if they start calling out for my brains, I may just go back home.

Alright. They want to do this the hard way, then that's how we'll do it. I don't feel like breaking my knuckles on them if I don't have to, so I look around and find a nice hefty branch.

"Let's go!" I run at them and start swinging. Some I just knock away to get room, others I knock off their heads. I have to keep reminding myself that they are already dead. I'm just putting them at peace. That's what I keep telling myself.

For each head I knock off, or zombie I hit hard enough, their bodies fall to the ground and turn to dust. After taking out a couple of dozen of the thousand around me, something odd happens.

Everything goes quiet.

The moaning stops. I look around, and none of the undead are moving. They are frozen inplace. Then, those nearest me explode into dust. Like an expanding circle of explosions, the bodies of the zombies turn to dust around me.

I look at the now quiet landscape. Pulling out the amulet, I see that it is gently glowing blue. "About time," I say to it. If Hector had been using it, they would have fallen apart instantly. Probably took so long because I'm not a magic user, except for the little Hector taught me.

I take a moment to gether my wits. I need a plan because running around, randomly stopping these groups, will take too long. Even for me. More innocents could be taken if I don't get organized.

I run towards the nearest large city. Someone in Paris should know what's going on, and where the rest of the zombies are.

 

[LibrarianThorne]

How the hell does he know me and Hector? And where is Hector?



"I don't want to see me harmed either. But you take care of yourself too." I take one last look at the spellcaster who somehow knows about me and Fate. Where are you Hector?

"Ok, sounds like we got a plan. You take the big one, I'll take on a million zombies. Let's get to work."

A flash of red, and I'm off. Before I get very far, I notice news crews setting up near Thor and the other one. Before they even realize it, I've grabbed them and moved them to a safer location. "Trust me, you do not want to be there right now," I say. I leave before they can ask any other questions.

Running across the English Channel only takes a second or two, and then I'm on the European mainland. For a moment, I wonder where I should start looking for these undead, but I don't wonder long as I find myself smack dab in the middle of a pack of a thousand. They begin to swarm towards me, but they're easy to evade. I get into a clearing and watch as they come after me.

Gripping the amulet in my hand tightly, I ready myself. Hope this still works Hector. I hold the amulet out and speak the words...

"illud haud diutius somnus dormio iterum!"

...and hope this works.

As the Flash runs off, wind blows hard and strong around Thor and Mordru. Thor's cape is drawn taught, and lightning strikes the ground around him. Energy from the bolts contained in his hammer travel through his body, giving his skin an eerie glow.

"Thou hath brought pain and suffering to this plane, evil one. Now by the hand of mighty Thor wilst thou know defeat."

Thunder boomed in the sky, a sound as loud as anything, and Thor charged at Mordru.

 

[Midnight Ice]

"Good thinking, Daredevil."

Of course, Lex Luthor could care less if Daredevil was wiped out. It would actually be beneficial to him, if anything. However, he couldn't afford to let a cash cow like Captain America shuffle off his mortal coil quite yet.

"You two both know what you're doing," he continued, "I'll leave this in your capable hands. It's time to bring Fisk to justice."

"Great, sounds like a plan. Ok Devil, how do we get there. I doubt taking this jet is stealthy enough."

 

[wiegeabo]

I can best describe Paris as...organized chaos. The people were holding up better than I expected with a horde of marching undead heading towards their city. The evacuation to the west was actually proceeding smoothly, and the police and military were busy putting up a defensive perimeter on the east. I took all this in after just a few seconds of running. It was time to find someone in charge and practice my French, which I haven't really done since the war.

After asking around various police stations and temporary military posts, and getting a lot of strange looks, I finally track down the operations command center. It takes a few minutes to convince the guards I'm not insane and let me through. Luckily the news of heroes around the world rising to stop the invasion has opened up everyone's minds to the possibility of help from outside sources. Apparently, there's several heroes operating in Europe as well. Wouldn't mind meeting some of them when this crisis is over.

I'm taken to the main office of the center where the police chiefs, military generals, and a few government officials are gathered.

<Sirs, this man wishes to speak with you about the undead. He claims to be a hero from the United States.> At least, I think that's what the guard says. My French is rusty.

<Is that so?> The general looks me up and down, skeptical. <And you would be?>

I take off my hat and extend my hand. <My name is Flash. I helped fight invasion in United States. Maybe heard of me you have?> I grimice as I say that. Even I know I'm screwing up pretty badly. <My French, excuse please. Speak little since World War.>

One of the older police chief's eyebrows go up as I say that. "You fought in France against the Germans?" he asks in heavily accented, yet very good English.

I breath a sigh of relief. It's not like I couldn't have spent a few minutes brushing up with some French language books, but I didn't want to use up any time that we probably didn't have. "Yes, sir." I say to the chief. "I was a member of the Justice Society as we fought against the Nazi's."

"That's all well and good," one of the civilians says, "but we have no time to waste on history. We need to protect this city."

The chief keeps staring at me. "Just a moment." Recognition seems to pop into his eyes. "Flash...is that you? He grabs me by the shoulders and kisses each of my cheeks. "Flash! It is so good to see you again! I had heard you were once again active."

I am completely confused. "Um, do I know you?"

"Of course, but it has been so many years. It is me, Robert."

Robert? Robert? "ROBERT!" I grab him by his shoulders. "My God I never knew what happened to you! We thought you had been killed!" I hadn't seen him since he was a child working for the Resistance. A bomb had exploded, cutting his group off from ours. We never could find him.

"No, no," he laughs. "We were injured, but the four of us survived."

"And now you're a chief of police!"

"Of course. I joined the military as soon as I was old enough, then became a police officer."

"Can we please focus on the situation at hand," the government official says again, exasperated. "If you'll excuse us...Flash, is it? We're very busy..."

"Do not be rude!" Robert says. "This hero can help us so much."

"Maybe you better give me a rundown of the situation. I'm sure I can help."

The official still looks at me skeptically. "I do not think that would be appropriate!" Robert just stairs him down. He sighs heavily. "Very well."

They begin to tell me just how bad it is.

 

[Watchman]

"The great thespian Al Pacino once said you must keep your friends close but enemies closer" Mysterio told two of his robots. In his hands he was stroking something small. "One of the rules of war is to know thy enemy and thats is what I intend to do". He walked over to the door and opened it up. He released from his hands a small mechanical bird that went flying into the air. Mysterio turned around his cape flowing in the wind and went back inside and to a computer screen. He took off his helmet and placed it down. He turned on the computer and started to eat some food which was running low. He took out a joystick and control the flight of the bird.

The bird flew through New York City at high speeds. The eyes of the bird contained cameras that recorded everything. It was easy to find the hospital all he had to do was follow the media. The bird finally made it to the hospital.

"Now for the difficult part" Beck said to himself. The bird flew around the hospital looking through each window. After a while the bird made it to its destination. He saw Stark there laying in his bed in a coma he could kill him then and there but what fun would that be he had to have his epic. But his attention diverted from Stark the blond in the room.

"Oh...my" he was particularly speechless "You must be Miss. Lance". He placed his green glove to the screen. Suddenly the screen went blank battery power had been depleted. Back at the hospital the bird landed on the window still with a small crash.

"NOOOO!" Beck scream slamming his fist against the table. He put his head down on the desk and covered it with his hands. "No...come back" he said quietly. His robots gathered around him they seemed to be comforting him. "He must pay" he whisper and raised his fist in the air which lite up "Stark will be destroyed!".

 

[wiegeabo]

"And that is the plan."

It was an a sound enough plan to say the least. The Parisian forces would take up position at key locations at the edge of the city. Positions that the zombies would pass through and be bottlenecked. It would basically be a duck shoot.

"And you have enough weapons for this?"

"Yes," Robert says. "But our intelligence indicate that the zombies are quite resistant to gun fire. While bullets slow their progress, they virtually have to be destroyed to be stopped. The current plan will focus on using explosives in the attack."

"That could do a lot of damage to the city."

"We are well aware of the risks," the government official, who I learned worked under the Minister of Defense, says. "But the damage will be acceptable given the number of undead we are facing."

"And how many is that."

"According to the latest figures," Robert says, "Somewhere around ten to twelve thousand."

"Good lord." All those people killed and turned against the living. "Can we expect more support from the military."

<That is not possible,> a general says. <The military's resources are divided between helping support a number of other cities within, and outside of, France.>

"Just how many zombies are we talking about?"

Robert face drops. "Approximately 6 hundred thousand...and growing."

"I...I..." can't believe it. Words won't come out of my mouth. "I had no idea."

Just then, a soldier bursts into the room. <Sirs!> he says, giving a salute. <New intelligence has arrived.>

<Excellent,> the general says. He takes the paper. <It is the latest unded population numbers from the other countries.> He glances over them, then suddenly stops and sits down. Not a good sign.

Robert steps up and takes the message, reading it. "Our numbers were off." We all look at him, not wanting to hear what was next. "Latest reports from arial surveillance report there are approximately two to three million undead." We are all absolutely stunned.

"And there are not ten thousand approching the city. There are nearly one hundred thousand!"

...No words are spoken for the next few moments. One hundred thousand...I can't wrap my mind around the number. It almost has no meaning.

"We..we cannot hold off that size of force," the official says. "We must...we must implement the secondary plan."

"God help us," Robert says quietly.

"Secondary plan?"

Robert looks up at me. "While they are still far enough away...we would strike at them from the air."

"You could never be sure you got them all using bombs."

"We are authorized to use low level nuclear devices."

"...What!"

"I know, but..."

"You can't! The environmental damage alone would be catastrophic. And the international treaties you'd be violating. You'd be risking peace."

"We are well aware of that! It's better then being killed, then being turned into one of them!" the official says. "We have no other options."

"Yes we do." I take out the amulet. "This is why I sought you out. The magic in this amulet stops the zombies."

"You have tried this?" Robert asks.

"I stopped a few hundred of them in seconds. I don't have the magical power to stop the number approaching the city, but I may be able to reduce that number. At least drive them down enough for you to be able to hold them off."

"You can't be serious," the official says.

"You're talking about nuking your own country. You're damn right I am serious."

"Then go, Flash," Robert says. "Take whatever and whoever you need, and we'll support you."

"I won't put any of your men at risk. They'll need to stay here and protect the city for any that get passed me." I put my hand on Robert's shoulder. "I'll be alright." I'm not as confident as I sound

...

A few minutes later, and I'm ready to go. Even though I don't want to, I'm wearing some light body armor. It may slow me down a little, but they say a bite from one of those things turns you. The last thing the people need to worry about is a zombie speedster. I also take a metal staff. I haven't practiced with a staff in a long while, but it will still work much better than a branch. I refuse any guns.

They want me to appear at the press conference they are going to give to warn the people of the impending danger. But there isn't time. If I can't slow or stop the undead force, then they are going to use nuclear weapons.

And I will not let that happen...

 

[Logan Howlett]

<Superman>

I'm hit with what looks like a bottle for alcohol of some sort. It doesn't hurt, naturally... But considering I don't drink, I feel it as somewhat of an insult. My eyes swell up with heat, as I fire a blast of heat vision infront of me, making the bystanders back away, for a minute. But due to their current state, I fear that won't help me for much longer...

I look over, seeing Juggernaut and Morph dealing with this the best they can. If I don't do something, one of them may grow a temper and do something they'll regret. And I know they could be willing to, if properly provoked...

I turn to the yellow clad one. Sentry, I think, is his name.

"You said you had an idea of using my heat vision to rid them of this. While I don't know who you are... I'm willing to trust you, for the time being. I just hope you know what you're doing..."

I look up, feeling more heat behind my eyes. Except, I'm holding this one back, first... letting it grow...

And then, I fire a massive blast into the air. I don't think I've ever fired it, this hard. Maybe once, during Darkseid's invasion... But otherwise, never.

I can't hold it for long...

"Hurry!"

Well, here goes nothing! As the blast eminates from his eyes I do all that I can to focus the energy, seperating its ions from the magnetic and harmonic frequencies, scientificaly this should work! But only theoreticaly...........I realy hope I know what I'm doing! I feel the energy flowing through me, I absorb the more harmfull rays into myself, almost increasing my own energy, and with a loud blasting, booming sound, I hurl the energy a the civilian zombies near by.

SHPWEEEEURH!!

Spoiler

"Wow.......I.....I think it worked! YES!"

As I say this I feel.....something strange....something behind my eyes, and then it hapens. A huge, yellow, hurling beam of heat burts from my eyes and ito the sky. I DIDN'T KNOW I COULD DO THAT!

Spoiler

" O...k.....Um.....aparently I have heat vision too.......or at least now I do.....um.....I think......maybe.....you gave it to me?"

Ok this is awkward, what do I say now, what do I do? Superman, Jugnuts and Morph are just standing there looking at me strangley. Suddenly from behind me one of the civilians speaks,

"Thank you......Thank you, who are you? Are you two brothers?"


Ok this is starting to get weird, maybe I should have chosen a name that DIDN'T start with S!

Spoiler

".......No.....My name.....is Sentry! The Gold Guardian of Good! You should be safe now, thanks to the valient efforts of these fine heroes!"

"No, it was you, all you! I saw it, all they did was tear up the city! Your the only one who actualy DID ANYTHING!"

Oh crap, what do I say to that? Thats not true, if anything I was the idiot tearing apart the city and throwing Jugnuts through a building! But I can't make myself look like an idiot, they would'nt trust me.

Spoiler

"Ma'am, I can assure you that these fine heroes did all they could to save your lives, in fact if it weren't for Superman..."

"Ah, hes just some alien freak, YOU are the real Hero! Come on everyone , SENTRY! SENTRY! SENTRY! SENTRY! SENTRY! SENTRY!"

Oh no.....this is not good......the intire crowd is cheering! I turn to the rest of the heroes, not knowing what to say. I just know Morph is gona think this was planned!

Spoiler

Uh......I....I'm...