One Universe: Season III IC Thread

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"Something I don't get, maybe it's just the cop in me, but how did you and Barbara meet? I mean I know Gotham and New York aren't that far away, but pretty far for two teenagers."

I put my gun up and shrug my shoulders.

"I guess I'm just paranoid, I'm sorry. Barbara is all I have now, ever since her mother left and took her brother, it's been just the two of us. I'm very protective over her...but enough about that, what do you think of Gotham?"
"I actually came out here for a project a little while back, and while I was in the library, I ran into Babs," I explain. Of course, I also ran into Superman, Wonder Woman, and others during that trip to Gotham. But something tells me that I shouldn't bring that up in this conversation. Seems a bit out of place.

"On appearances alone, I think Gotham gets a bum rap," I reply honestly. "It's clearly a beautiful city and all. I absolutely love the Gothic architecture. Being a police officer, I guess you know first-hand the truth about the crime situation here."
 
"I actually came out here for a project a little while back, and while I was in the library, I ran into Babs," I explain. Of course, I also ran into Superman, Wonder Woman, and others during that trip to Gotham. But something tells me that I shouldn't bring that up in this conversation. Seems a bit out of place.

"On appearances alone, I think Gotham gets a bum rap," I reply honestly. "It's clearly a beautiful city and all. I absolutely love the Gothic architecture. Being a police officer, I guess you know first-hand the truth about the crime situation here."

"I won't lie, Peter. Crime here is bad, very bad. But it's nowhere near as bad as it was, thanks to the help of honest police officers, the new DA Harvey Dent, and a certain associate of mine that I won't really name." I say with a smirk.

"And speaking of masked men, Barbara tells me you're something of Spider-Man's photographer. What's he like? I'm sure you two have met."
 
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Season III

Horns bellowed beneath Daredevil and Dent as the night pressed on.

"I have to go, Harvey." Daredevil said quietly. "If the underworld, folks like Kingpin, heard I was in Gotham, they would think I had run away, thrown in the towel."

He looked at Harvey as he slowly drew his mask off.

His eyes were blank, glazed over, as he looked at Dent.

"You've become something good to this city, Harvey, something great. You're a hero, like me, only you don't hide behind a mask, horns, or lenses. I can't let the people I've backed into a corner get one inch of ground. It's not that I want to go back. It's that I have to."

Thunder clouds rolled in, and a light drizzle began over Gotham.

"I won't leave yet, though. I still have some things to take care of."

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For a moment, I just sit there, staring at him. I thought I'd come to terms with it, but seeing my old friend, Matt Murdock, standing there in the Daredevil costume... it was just so... surreal!

"Matt, I just want you to know that I... appreciate all you've done to help this city, and all you've done to help me. I couldn't ask for a better friend. I hope that one day I can help you as much as you've helped me, somehow repay the... the debt I owe you."

Not that I ever could. Quite simply, Matt had saved my life. How do you repay that? Brushing the thought aside, I extend my hand to my friend.

"Just go back to New York knowing that you have done good here, and that many people are grateful for that."
 
Maroni's jovial smile vanished.

"Leave...leave him be? Doc, what ah... medication they been given you in that nuthouse? Harvey Dent has been a thorn in my side. Harvey Dent humiliated you! Every day he's out there, walkin' around, breathin' in air, it's a slap in my face. He's got to fall. One of us has got to fall!"

Crane stared Boss Maroni as the old man ranted, his face wrinkling with rage.

He really had it out for Dent, to the point of walking the edge of madness. The Don was practically seething with hate for Dent. It was almost enjoyable for Crane to see.
And all it would take is a little nudge to push him over the edge.

Crane smiled a hockey player's grin.

"Well, if you put it that way."

"What do you have in mind?"
 
I pull my last glove on as Gray-Robin tells us what he found. It ain't much, but it's more than I got.

Apparently there's a warehouse over on pier 29 that's been busy lately. Funny thing is, the pier hasn't received any shipments in the past couple of days. Yet there's plenty of activity out there. At least, that's what the people Robin 'spoke' to said.

"Still," I say as the kid finally takes a breath. "It's not much to go on." I pull my mask on.

"Except, I did some digging on the computer." He taps a couple of buttons. "The company that owns the warehouse is owned by a company, that's owned by a company, that's owned by one Carmine Falcone."

"...And?"

"...And what?"

"...Who the hell is Carmine Falcone?"

"..." So Robin gives me the spiel. How Carmine Falcone and Sal Maroni have Gotham pretty much carved up between them. And how he and Kurt payed Falcone a visit recently.

I mull over the info for a few seconds, letting Robin and Kurt stand there and wonder what I'm thinking. "Ok." I start walking to Wayne's fancy car. "Let's go." Robin and Kurt look at each other for a second, then follow.

"Oh, and kid?" Robin looks at me as I leap in the car. "Good work."
 
"Well, I'd have showed up sooner, but the last thing I wanted to do was challenge the fastest man alive to a matter of time tables."

The two heroes within the conference hall of the Brownstone turned, in surprise, as the fully clad armored figure of Iron Man rounded the hall just ahead of them, surprisingly silent despite the hundreds of pounds of armor he was literally carrying on his shoulders. Tony smiled to himself, at their surprise. It's the upgrades like these that really give you those moments.

Reaching up to his golden faceplate, Iron Man pressed a side-button located just above his earpiece. Instantly, the faceplate slid back into the crimson helmet, as the helmet itself began to rivet and become a folded compact brace, just behind Tony's neck. The sweat drenched face that greeted the two was far more serious than he had sounded, however, whenever he looked at them.

"Jay, Steve, always a pleasure. Let's get down to buisness, shall we?"

"Way to make an entrance, Tony," Steve says with a smile. He extends his hand, but Tony doesn't shake it. He just looks at it for a moment before looking back up at Steve. Steve lets his hand drop. "Beer then?"

"Ok Tony. Enough of the mystery. You're angry, so tell us what's going on?"
 
Crane stared Boss Maroni as the old man ranted, his face wrinkling with rage.

He really had it out for Dent, to the point of walking the edge of madness. The Don was practically seething with hate for Dent. It was almost enjoyable for Crane to see.
And all it would take is a little nudge to push him over the edge.

Crane smiled a hockey player's grin.

"Well, if you put it that way."

"What do you have in mind?"

Maroni grinned back, giving Crane three light slaps on the cheek.

"You'll find out soon enough, doc. But in the meantime..."

Maroni clicked his fingers, and two beautiful women emerged from a black sedan parked in the warehouse.

"Josie and Candy here will escort you to one of my safehouses, and see to it that you're... nursed back to full health."

As the two women approached Crane, Maroni patted him on the shoulder, and headed back to his own car. He had some business to take care of.
 
For a moment, I just sit there, staring at him. I thought I'd come to terms with it, but seeing my old friend, Matt Murdock, standing there in the Daredevil costume... it was just so... surreal!

"Matt, I just want you to know that I... appreciate all you've done to help this city, and all you've done to help me. I couldn't ask for a better friend. I hope that one day I can help you as much as you've helped me, somehow repay the... the debt I owe you."

Not that I ever could. Quite simply, Matt had saved my life. How do you repay that? Brushing the thought aside, I extend my hand to my friend.

"Just go back to New York knowing that you have done good here, and that many people are grateful for that."
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Season III

Daredevil smiled silently to himself.

"She's not out of the woods yet, but with you at the helm, Gotham is well on her way to being saved."
 
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Season III

Daredevil smiled silently to himself.

"She's not out of the woods yet, but with you at the helm, Gotham is well on her way to being saved."

And with that, he was gone. Vanished as suddenly as he'd appeared.

"Goodbye, Matt."

I fall back onto the bed, and feel my eyes close once more. Maroni, he can wait. After all I've been through today, sleep's the one thing on my mind.
 
Kurt and I peel out of the cave in Wayne's car. Robin is right behind us on his bike. When we hit the main road, we veer off in different directions.

"It won't take me long to get them," Robin says.

"Good. I have a feeling we can use Kitty's power. And...what did you say the other one's name is? Coriander?"

I hear the kid chuckle on the other end of the line. "Heh. No. Koriand'r," he says with emphasis.

"...That's what I said."
I swear I can hear Grayson shake his head over the radio. "Well, whatever she calls herself, get over to the warehouse as quick as you can."

"Just wait for us. You know what happened last time we moved to quickly."

I grunt as the kid reminds me when we busted in on Maroni's birthday party for his kid, or niece, or whatever. "No guarantees. So get your ass moving, kid."

"What do you think I'm doing?"


"Wasting time talking to me." I flip the radio off.

"You don't like Dick, do you Logan?" Kurt asks.

I smile as I think about. "Heh. Actually, he reminds me a bit of myself."

"...Somehow, I don't zhink he'd be vhery happy to hear dat."
 
"Here's something that might interest you. That papperdelle, comes from a recipe made by my sainted grandmother, Lucia Maroni. You're tasting the heat of Italy here..."

Maroni leaned over the table of a wealthy, influential Gotham businessman and his wife, making sure that they felt at home in his restaurant. He had to work hard to rebuild the reputation of his restaurant among Gotham's high society, in the wake of The Joker's murderous visit a few months back. And so he liked to make some face-time here. He still liked to get hands-on in the running of his various business interests. Legitimate or otherwise...

"Mr. Maroni, sir?"

Toots, one of his right-hand men, stood nervously by the kitchen door of the restaurant. Excusing himself from the couple's table, Maroni followed Toots through the kitchen, and out the restaurant's back entrance. A black limousine with tinted windows was parked there. As he approached, the back window rolled down, revealing one of the car's occupants.

"Carmine Falcone! Nice of you to come pay me a visit..."

Maroni was interrupted by the car door opening, and a well-built man with balding grey hair stepping out to face him. Ray "Bookie" Benson. He wasn't an Italian, so he wasn't and could never be a made guy, but his longtime friendship with Falcone had ensured him a permanent position in Falcone's network as a low-level enforcer. And Falcone trusted him a lot more than even some of his senior lieutenants.

"Benson."

Making no response, Benson checked Maroni for guns and recording equipment. He found none of either. One of the only times Maroni didn't carry a firearm was during business hours at his restaurant.

"Come on, Carmine, I'm insulted!"

"Get in," Falcone said.

Maroni stepped into the limo, followed by Benson. They drove in silence for several minutes, with the car finally coming to a stop somewhere in the East End.

"Nice area."

"Shut up, Sal," snapped Falcone, "You talk, I listen. I want to tell you what happened to me, the other day. A group of masks and mutants broke into my penthouse, entered my bedroom, and tried to threaten me. If they'd had the inclination, they very well could have killed me."

Falcone was angry, certainly. But looking closely into his eyes, Maroni could make out sometihng else, lurking under the surface. Fear.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Carmine, but I don't see how..."

"I hold you responsible."

Maroni blinked with surprise.

"Umm...what? I didn't send no freaks to..."

"No, but you antagonised them. Cops, feds, I can handle them. But these masked weirdos and mutants... they don't play by the rules. I never had these freaks breathing down my neck before. But you... you seem determined to make an enemy out of every last one of them!"

"Now just wait a..."

"I told you, Sal! I told you to leave Harvey Dent alone, to forget about him! But you just can't let it go, can you? You keep on going after him, and worse still, you keep on making a mess out of it! And in doing so, you make this cycle worse by bringing in more masked freaks to work with you, which in turn brings in more of these... superheroes to fight them. You are screwing this city up with your petty little pissing contest with the DA..."

"Watch your tongue, Carmine! Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Yes, I know exactly who I'm talking to. The screw-up son of a screw-up father. I ran your fat, bloated old daddy out of town, and the only reason you're still breathing is because of your connections with The Kingpin. That restaurant, your territories, you only have them because I'm generous enough to let you have them. Don't you forget it."

And then a silence fell within the car. Falcone had finally given voice to the lurking hatred that had existed between them for years. Maroni stared bullets into Falcone's eyes, seething with fury at the older, more powerful mobster's remarks. Falcone stared right back, not breaking the gaze.

"It's funny, Falcone," Maroni finally said, "You're right about my father. He was a fat old man, too scared and small-minded to move forward with the times, and he got pushed out by a younger, hungrier player sick of playing second fiddle. But see, if you ain't careful, history might end up repeating itself. And not everyone is as ah... generous as you... old man..."

Falcone whacked Maroni with a backhand slap across the face, taking him completely by surprise. He held his hand to his cheek, shocked at such brazen disrespect.

"You rotten sunnova..."

Maroni made a move to lunge at Falcone, but Benson pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Maroni.

"Sit your ass down," Benson said.

Maroni turned his attention to Benson.

"You dare point a gun at me? At ME!?"

"Listen to me, Maroni," Falcone said, "Here's what you're going to do. You're going to end this fight with Harvey Dent. I don't want to see another attempt on Dent's life, and I sure as hell don't want to see another Dent press conference for after you screw up again. The amount of free press you give this guy, and ammunition to use against us, unbelievable. So...you, Dent, it's over. And if you don't end it, I will. See, you've become such a pain in my ass, I'm starting to think maybe having beef with The Kingpin would be worth it, if it meant finally flushing you out of my life like the nugget you are. Are we clear?"

Maroni's face had gone bright red. He glared at Benson - who was still pointing the gun at him - then he looked back at Falcone. Finally, letting out a gulp, he forced a nod.

"Sure, Carmine. We're clear."

"Good. Now get the hell out of my car. You're stinking it up."

Maroni let out a disdainful laugh.

"Yeah right. Look outside, this area is full of..."

"Garbage," interjected Falcone, "I think it suits you just fine."

Maroni didn't move. Benson motioned the gun at him, finally forcing him to step out the car door.

"Heh heh, have a nice walk," Benson chuckled.

Maroni slammed the door shut violently, and the limo sped off, leaving him standing alone, unarmed, in Gotham's poverty-stricken East End. The place teemed with crime, drugs and prostitution. It wasn't a pleasant place to be in the daytime, and now it was dark. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Maroni began walking briskly in the direction of his restaurant.

More than the nerves of being in this area, it was humiliation that burned in Maroni's mind. The way Benson had made a flippant remark. Benson! A lowly enforcer! Falcone had a whole lot of say about who had respect in this city. And Falcone had now decreed that Sal Maroni merited none. His reputation - and in his line of work, with it his safety - now hung by a thread. He had to take drastic steps to reclaim it. It was time to make his move...
 
"I won't lie, Peter. Crime here is bad, very bad. But it's nowhere near as bad as it was, thanks to the help of honest police officers, the new DA Harvey Dent, and a certain associate of mine that I won't really name." I say with a smirk.

"And speaking of masked men, Barbara tells me you're something of Spider-Man's photographer. What's he like? I'm sure you two have met."
"Spider-Man?" I croak, trying to keep my eyes from bulging. Why, oh why, did he have to bring up Spider-Man? The one topic I'd rather avoid when possible...

"Yeah, he's, uh, he's a big guy," I begin. "I'd say 6'4" - at least, y'know? And he, uh, he..." My eyes dart around the room as I try to think of more lies. "He has these really long fingers for crawling and stuff, and he...he has this deep voice - kind of like the movie trailer guys."

Mr. Gordon just sits quietly with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, and I think he's black."
 
Kurt and I peel out of the cave in Wayne's car. Robin is right behind us on his bike. When we hit the main road, we veer off in different directions.

"It won't take me long to get them," Robin says.

"Good. I have a feeling we can use Kitty's power. And...what did you say the other one's name is? Coriander?"

I hear the kid chuckle on the other end of the line. "Heh. No. Koriand'r," he says with emphasis.

"...That's what I said."
I swear I can hear Grayson shake his head over the radio. "Well, whatever she calls herself, get over to the warehouse as quick as you can."

"Just wait for us. You know what happened last time we moved to quickly."

I grunt as the kid reminds me when we busted in on Maroni's birthday party for his kid, or niece, or whatever. "No guarantees. So get your ass moving, kid."

"What do you think I'm doing?"


"Wasting time talking to me." I flip the radio off.

Robin rolled his eyes as he sped down the road. As he hit 90, he shot his grapple at a lamp post and used the line to hurl himself around the corner. The rubber of the tires burned black lines on the road as Dick eased off the throttle the bike rolled to a stop in front of Kitty's house. He shot another grapple to the roof and used the toe of his boot to knock on Kitty's window.

"Who's there?"

"Just a little bird. Who would you think?"

"Well, I do have all sorts of gentlemen callers..."

 
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THE ODYSSEY

The silver streak soared through the spaceways, nimbly avoiding the obstacles in it's way. But this was no stray comet or shooting star...he was Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer! Sentinel of the Spaceways and Guardian of the Galaxy!

And, judging by the look on his face, Norrin was troubled.

It seems that misery is the only constant in this universe, he frowned.
Even after I left Galactus' service, everywhere I go I find it waiting for me. From the tyrant Mongul, to the Earth and her crisis, to the planet Rann, and Zenn-La.

It seems that this universe has nothing to give save pain
, Norrin thought as he moved around the gravity well of a small moon, surfing across it as though it were a cosmic wave.

The large red sun's light danced brilliantly off of the Surfer's metallic body, making him appear as a burning ball of fire streaking across the darkness of space.

No, the Surfer scolded himself, I refuse to believe that. There is always hope. Mongul was defeated, and his former slaves set free. The Earth was spared a dire fate from the hands of my former master. Rann was saved from Kree invasion, and knows peace once again.

Now all that is left is to set things right for Zenn-La. And I am close...I can feel it
, Norrin's eyes narrowed as the visions of the destruction inflicted upon his homeworld played out in his mind.

You are near, Galactus, and when I find you I shall make you fix all that you...

"By The Source!"

The Surfer, so lost in thought, did not notice the star ship until it rocketed over his head.
The ship lurched back and forth as it quickly lost speed. From the ion particles leaking from it's stern, Norrin immediately knew that the engines were damaged.
And when the ship finally came to rest just outside the fourth planet of the system, the Surfer moved in to investigate.

Cautiously Norrin approached the ship, and his keen eyes immediately saw dozens of scorch marks.

Blaster fire...this ship was attacked, and recently.

Norrin circled around to the engines, brushing his hand across the cold metal hull.

It is as I thought, the engines are completely destroyed.

There may be injured people inside
, Norrin thought to himself.
Hopefully, I am not too late.

Summoning the Power Cosmic to him, Norrin Radd easily phased through the ship's hull and found himself silently floating in a large cargo hold.

It was an empty room, save for a few scattered crates and tools laying about. And it was silent and still, almost like a grave...

The swishing sound of a door opening brought Norrin's attention to the room's only exit into the ship. Standing just inside the doorway was as motley a crew as Norrin had ever seen.

"Greetings. My name is-"

"I know who you are, and I don't care. If you think that you can loot my ship, then you've got another thing coming", spoke the grave-faced human.

Before Norrin could even begin to respond, the man drew his sword and the crew rushed to the attack...

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Chapter 2 ~ The Good Samaritan - Act 1
 
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The interchange was -much- to good to walk in on, so Barbara Gordon, in all her sneaky glory, stood inside the doorway to the kitchen and listened to her dad grill Peter. It wasn't until he got to the part about Spider-Man that she tensed up and figured it was time to make her entrance.

Holding two big bowls of popcorn, she waltzed into the room, grinning at Peter and Jim. "Hello fellas. Popcorn?" Setting the popcorn down on the coffee table in between the two men, she turned towards the TV and the shelf of movies next to it, going through the list.

"What are you in the mood for, Peter?" she asked pointedly, hoping her dad would get the hint and leave them alone.
 
Robin rolled his eyes as he sped down the road. As he hit 90, he shot his grapple at a lamp post and used the line to hurl himself around the corner. The rubber of the tires burned black lines on the road as Dick eased off the throttle the bike rolled to a stop in front of Kitty's house. He shot another grapple to the roof and used the toe of his boot to knock on Kitty's window.

"Who's there?"

"Just a little bird. Who would you think?"

"Well, I do have all sorts of gentlemen callers..."


"Do you really?" Kory asked with interest.

Kitty just blushed and coughed; obviously, sarcasm and joking were not within Kory's grasp of the language quite yet.

"We're coming, little bird," she smirked, pulling on her gloves and stepping up towards the window sill. Kitty peeked her head out the window and then flashed a wide grin at Robin. "Starfire will be out shortly."

Presently Kitty - no, Shadowcat, practically melted through the wall of the house and out onto the street, tapping her foot impatiently as she crossed her arms over her chest. She gave Robin a look that said "I'm waaaaaiiiiting." His eyeroll was almost audible.

Kory stepped towards and then out of the windowsill, barely dropping an inch as she let herself hover in the sky. She turned towards Robin and flashed a very bright grin, her skin positively glowing. "Hello, Robin! Where are we off to?"
 
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Wally West smiled as Kyle Rayner encase the Weather Wizard in an emerald prison.

"You know..." he said, out of breath, as he clutched his knees beside Green Lantern. "..there's something to be said for team-ups. Thanks, man."

"No problem, Flash. I'm always here to help out a friend..." Kyle reassured his fellow hero, offering his hand to the Flash.
 
Kurt and I peel out of the cave in Wayne's car. Robin is right behind us on his bike. When we hit the main road, we veer off in different directions.

"It won't take me long to get them," Robin says.

"Good. I have a feeling we can use Kitty's power. And...what did you say the other one's name is? Coriander?"

I hear the kid chuckle on the other end of the line. "Heh. No. Koriand'r," he says with emphasis.

"...That's what I said."
I swear I can hear Grayson shake his head over the radio. "Well, whatever she calls herself, get over to the warehouse as quick as you can."

"Just wait for us. You know what happened last time we moved to quickly."

I grunt as the kid reminds me when we busted in on Maroni's birthday party for his kid, or niece, or whatever. "No guarantees. So get your ass moving, kid."

"What do you think I'm doing?"


"Wasting time talking to me." I flip the radio off.

"You don't like Dick, do you Logan?" Kurt asks.

I smile as I think about. "Heh. Actually, he reminds me a bit of myself."

"...Somehow, I don't zhink he'd be vhery happy to hear dat."

Logan swings the car to a screeching halt near the docks, far a enough away where any guards won't be able to see.

"I'm going to go check it out. I vill be back shortly."

Before Logan can say anything, a puff of sulfur-smelling smoke fills the Batmobile, and I am on the warehouses roof.

I can see 6 heavily-armed guards patrolling the outside perimeter, but nothing else...

BAMF!

Instantly I'm back in the car with Logan, who jumps at my reappearance, and makes a sour face. My teleports must have an extra effect on him due to his heightened smell.

"Yes, I know I don't smell like roses, Logan. Zhere doesn't seem to be that much resistance. I counted six guards. Easy enough for an animal and fury, blue devil-boy to take care of, dah?"
 
And with that, he was gone. Vanished as suddenly as he'd appeared.

"Goodbye, Matt."

I fall back onto the bed, and feel my eyes close once more. Maroni, he can wait. After all I've been through today, sleep's the one thing on my mind.
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Season III

And that was that.

Dawn had come, and Daredevil's ordeal with the more colorful characters in Gotham's underworld had finally drawn to a close. The success of his evening could be measured in the fact that he had stopped the death of one of his oldest friends, a feat in and of itself.

However, despite this fact, Daredevil's purpose in Gotham hadn't yet been fully realized. Saving Dent, while noble, was not what Matt Murdock had in mind when he came to Gotham.

The city air was hot from car exhaust and steaming manholes already as Daredevil drifted gracefully along the skyline.

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<"I thought he was from New York!"> He heard a voice say.

<"One more costumed freak. Just what this city needs."> Cried another.

Their surprise wasn't unwarranted. With papers like The Daily Bugle running national coverage of Daredevil's heroics in Hell's Kitchen, people surely thought that his work would be, and remain, in the darkest corner of the Big Apple.

They thought wrong. Daredevil's face would undoubtedly be plastered across every newspaper in the country, in one form or another. The goons in the Kitchen would think themselves safe and slowly come out of hiding, trying to fill the vacuum left by the perceived absence of a masked vigilante.

By the time he arrived back in New York the next day, Daredevil would have his work cut out for him.

Daredevil hurtled over rooftops and alleyways, headed for his next stop: the ruined remains of Harvey Dent's office. His suit from the prior evening was still waiting for him there.

The office was abandoned. The police investigation had stopped hours earlier, and a few strips of yellow police tape were all that separated the shattered window from the outside world.

Daredevil swung easily through the tape and rolled through the remnants of the office. His suit lay inside his briefcase, tossed aside in a corner.

He rose to his feet, slid his mask off, and, soon, was Matt Murdock again.

Flopping into Dent's desk chair, Murdock focused his senses on the building around him. Three police officers stood outside the doorway. Two stood on either side of the door, while the third walked through the hallway, shotgun in hand.

Murdock rose to his feet; attacking members of Gotham's finest wasn't an option.

A few short steps brought Murdock to the precipice of the demolished window.

"I hate doing this." He said, planning his fall from four stories up.

Murdock adjusted his suit and tie, sliding his red-tinted sunglasses off of his nose, placing them in the pocket of his jacket.

His billy club was a few feet away, still on the carpet. Rolling his feet under it, Murdock flicked the device into his open palm. With the push of a button, it extended into a metal staff.

Murdock glanced downwards. Two stories below him was another rooftop with an exterior fire escape that led to the street. The jump would be awkward, but no impossible.

He gripped his briefcase, now empty, and tossed it sixty feet downward onto the rooftop below him. It skidded to a stop a few feet from the edge.

Murdock stepped backwards into the office lightly. Gripping his staff, he sprinted forward, planting it into the carpet just before he hit the edge, vaulting out of the building and into the air.

For a few brief seconds, he was lighter than air. His dress shoes collided with the rooftop and he took a few steps to slow down and found himself next to the briefcase he had tossed aside moments earlier.

BZZT-CLICK!

The staff soon withdrew itself, and he tucked the club under the handle of his case.

Taking a step off the roof, Murdock made his way down the fire escape and into an alleyway.

He jogged into the sidewalk, with an arm extended.

The sound of screeching tires echoed through the street as Murdock slid his tinted glasses on again.

"Where to, pal?" The cabbie asked as Murdock slid onto the black, greasy leather.

"Wayne Manor." The lawyer replied, adjusting his crimson tie. "Step on it."
 
Logan swings the car to a screeching halt near the docks, far a enough away where any guards won't be able to see.

"I'm going to go check it out. I vill be back shortly."

Before Logan can say anything, a puff of sulfur-smelling smoke fills the Batmobile, and I am on the warehouses roof.

I can see 6 heavily-armed guards patrolling the outside perimeter, but nothing else...

BAMF!

Instantly I'm back in the car with Logan, who jumps at my reappearance, and makes a sour face. My teleports must have an extra effect on him due to his heightened smell.

"Yes, I know I don't smell like roses, Logan. Zhere doesn't seem to be that much resistance. I counted six guards. Easy enough for an animal and fury, blue devil-boy to take care of, dah?"


I open the canopy to the car as I think. "No." Kurt looks at me surprised. I'm surprised myself. It's not like me to not take action. But, even though I'd never admit it Batman's kid, I did actually learn something last time we moved too fast. Besides, I don't like movin' without getting my own intel.

"Meet me up there." I fire up a line and let it pull me to the roof. By the time I get up there, Kurt's waiting for me. I crouch down and pull out a pair of binocs. My eyesight's already pretty damn good. But these couldn't hurt. "We're going to sit here a while, wait for your friends. Last thing we need is to take out those guards and not have any backup if things go bad."

I watch as a couple of guards talk to each other. Then they quickly walk off on their routes. I lower the binocs. Somethin' doesn't feel right. I only counted six guards for that whole warehouse. You'd think with all the pressure we've been puttin' on Cobblepot, he'd have ramped up his protection a bit.

Maybe he has. Maybe these guys are serious professionals. They seem to be acting like it. Or maybe he's got a couple of dozen guys on the inside watching the kids. Last thing we need is for children to get caught in a crossfire.

"Still, can't just sit here forever. They better hurry their asses up or we'll do it ourselves."
 
"Why aren't you resting?"

I look away from the window. Trickster sleeps on a cot, holding what looks like a Trickster shaped teddy bear. Digger is kicked back in a char, feet propped up on a table, dozing lightly. On the other side of the warehouse, Trapster looks out another window.

"Enjoyin' the quiet," I say, answering Giganta's question.

"It is refreshing."

"Besides, we're takin' on Batman, right? He don't come out in the daytime."

She raises an eyebrow. "Who said anything about Batman?"

I shake me head and hope I can shake her up, put some fear into her. "Oh, come on. This is his town. And it's his little punk runnin' around causin' the boss trouble. You think he ain't gonna show up? I'm makin' sure I get my fifty grand."

"What the-!" Giganta and I turn towards Toad.

"What?"

He looks at us, and at Trapster. Digger pokes his hat up, glancing at the young mutant. Trickster just rolls over in bed, mumbles, and starts snoring. "Um...I-Um..."

"Spit it out, kid."

"I, uh, think I saw something."

"What did you see?"
Trapster asks, suddenly on the alert.

"I-I don't know. It was dark. But I though I saw something blue just...pop inside a shadow. Then it was gone."

My senses all go on alert, but I keep calm. "Prob'ly nuthin'.

"Think so?" Harkness asks. "Didn't they boss say all this trouble was first caused by some blue demon who could disappear?"

Everyone except the sleeping Trickster looks at him for a moment. Then they all jump into action. Damn. I was hoping they wouldn't remember that. Robin could have used that element of surprise.

Trickster sits up on his elbows and wipes at his eyes. "What's going on?..."
 
The interchange was -much- to good to walk in on, so Barbara Gordon, in all her sneaky glory, stood inside the doorway to the kitchen and listened to her dad grill Peter. It wasn't until he got to the part about Spider-Man that she tensed up and figured it was time to make her entrance.

Holding two big bowls of popcorn, she waltzed into the room, grinning at Peter and Jim. "Hello fellas. Popcorn?" Setting the popcorn down on the coffee table in between the two men, she turned towards the TV and the shelf of movies next to it, going through the list.

"What are you in the mood for, Peter?" she asked pointedly, hoping her dad would get the hint and leave them alone.

I fake a yawn and check my watch.

"Well, I should be going to bed. I can go toe to toe with killer clowns and masked vigilanties all night, but Barbara's taste in movies scares even me. Don't stay up too late. Peter, it was nice meeting you."

I start to walk up the stairs, I stop and look at the two teens.

"I should also mention that, as a police commissioner and the father of a teenage girl, I don't expect you two to be saints, but you should know that I have listening devices all through this house. So, whatever you do, I'll find out about it...I always find out. Well, good night!"

I finish on a cheerful note before bounding up the stairs, I have a smile on my face.

Like I said, too much fun.
 
flasbanner.jpg

"Well, by my count this makes us even" West said with a wry smile as people began to creep out from wherever they had hid from the raging fight and storms.

Both heroes took a look around at the crowd that began to amass, as they hear the howl of sirens approaching.

"FLASH! Are you and Green Lantern best friends?!"

"Are you guys going out together?!"

"Can I get your autograph!"

The Scarlet Speedster winced at the flurry of questions. Rubbing the back of his head he turned to Kyle. "We should probably take a raincheck on the whole male bonding thing. Tell you what, give me a call if you're ever having a slow night. Since Wally and Kyle aren't destined to hang out, the Flash and Green Lantern can go patrolling together."

"You got it." Kyle replied with a smile as a green aura enveloped his body and he began levatating.

"Just don't go dragging me on any space adventures. I get homesick like crazy." the screech of police tyres ended the conversation, as the two heroes each went their own way.

----------

A red blur zipped through the heavy traffic of Keystone City. Drivers felt their cars rock gently from side to side as a flash of scarlet shot past them, and smiled.

It's a beautiful day to be the Flash.

Wally West grinned from ear to ear as the wind came rushing up to meet him. So far he was 3 for 3. In the last month, three superpowered criminals had popped up in Keystone, and all three of them were now resting comfortably in Iron Heights. Wally sure hoped supervillains in Keystone wasn't becoming a trend, but he had to admit...

Even if it is, they don't stand a chance.

Keystone City was a beauty, on this day as well as any other. The sun was setting slowly, blanketing the buildings with a warm, orange glow. It was one of those few moments were Wally West wasn't running. Coming to a dead halt, Wally smiled as he drew a deep breath of chilly evening air. With his hands on his hips he looked up as the final piece of the sun sank below the city skyline.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!"

Wally's head snapped to his side as the high pitched scream echoed through the streets, chilling him to his core. He took a fast glance around, trying to decide where the scream had come from, when his mind was made up for him by another, identical scream. It was coming from a large, old looking building that looked like it was barely standing on it's foundation.

Not a moment's rest, huh?

The Flash clenched his fists as he dug his heel into the ground and kicked off. With lightning speed, the scarlet speedster made his way to the big front door of the place, kicking it open with enough force to almost splinter the door into a million pieces. Looking at the interior of the house, it wasn't exactly what he had expected.

"Woah.."

houseofmirrors800.jpg


"Now, I'm, like, 99% sure I didn't take a wrong turn and end up at the carnival."

SHUNK

Wally immediately turned on his feet. Where once there was an entrance to this decrepit house, there was now a large, very obviously massive steel wall blocking the way.

Flash, old cad, I believe this is what they call a trap.

"Glad ye could finally make it, boyo." the voice came from what seemed like every direction.

Flash turned to face whoever it belonged to but was met with a direct punch to the face. And the stomach. And both his legs. And his neck.

"GYAGH!" he screamed out in pain as he collapsed to the floor.

159194-71724-mirror-master_large.jpg


"There're some awfully rich people wantin' you dead, Flash."

Guess I'll be going 4 for 4.

 
Amanda Waller
Deputy Director of SHIELD
The Sentry. Bob Reynolds.

He was, in a way, the very worst of the superpeople. In the palm of his hand he held the power to destroy our world. But the Sentry...what made him different... what made him 'better' than the others was that Amanda Waller controlled him.

"Come on, Bob, let's talk about your first mission." she said with a faked smile as she ushered him out of her office and onto the platform overlooking the command center. She noticed that Reynolds had seemed somewhat uncomfortable when she called it a 'mission'.

"There are some bad people out there and we can't stop them. See, Bob, SHIELD is an orginization. And as such it has rules. Rules we can't break. The Sentry, however, doesn't need to abide by those rules. You can stop the bad people, Bob. You can stop the villains."

She enjoyed every word she said, taking great joy in how her choice of words brought back the simple days of black and white morals for Reynolds. He turned to her with grim determination.

"Our intelligence agenst have just told us of a weapons manufacturing facility in the country of Kahndaq. Now, they're making weapons that go directly onto the streets or to whoever pays the most. They're murderers, Bob. Plain and simple. And we need you to helps us bring them to justice."

Amanda took one last look over the command center. HER command center.

"Come on, let me introduce you to your new partner."


 
The Sentry. Bob Reynolds.​

He was, in a way, the very worst of the superpeople. In the palm of his hand he held the power to destroy our world. But the Sentry...what made him different... what made him 'better' than the others was that Amanda Waller controlled him.​

"Come on, Bob, let's talk about your first mission." she said with a faked smile as she ushered him out of her office and onto the platform overlooking the command center. She noticed that Reynolds had seemed somewhat uncomfortable when she called it a 'mission'.​

"There are some bad people out there and we can't stop them. See, Bob, SHIELD is an orginization. And as such it has rules. Rules we can't break. The Sentry, however, doesn't need to abide by those rules. You can stop the bad people, Bob. You can stop the villains."

She enjoyed every word she said, taking great joy in how her choice of words brought back the simple days of black and white morals for Reynolds. He turned to her with grim determination.​

"Our intelligence agenst have just told us of a weapons manufacturing facility in the country of Kahndaq. Now, they're making weapons that go directly onto the streets or to whoever pays the most. They're murderers, Bob. Plain and simple. And we need you to helps us bring them to justice."

Amanda took one last look over the command center. HER command center.​

"Come on, let me introduce you to your new partner."
"You didn't say anything about a partner Waller," Bob said warily as they walked together towards the area that Bob knew to be highly classified. They walked through the main doors, Waller giving some high level authorisation code, and into a smaller lab. She typed in a large number keycode and large hydraulic bulkheads began sliding open.

"Well it is now. Bob, meet the Vision," she said, waving towards the figure emerging from the confined room.

203558-182205-vision_thumb.jpg


Bob immediately felt incredibly awkward.

"Nice to meet you?" he said.
 
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