One Universe: Season III IC Thread

[Carnage27]

I sigh to my self. Not now. Quickly striking out with my hand, I land a blow to a nerve cluster on Wagner's neck. His body instantly stiffens in short-term paralysis, his tail dropping me to the floor.

I try to stand up, but Pryde swings a roundhouse at me. I lift my arm to block, but she phases her leg through my arm, solidifying it just as it connects with my head.

I roll with the blow, minimizing the impact, and using the momentum to right myself. "Not bad," I start to say. But I'm interrupted as the ground quivers beneath us.

"ENOUGH!!!"

We all turn towards the yell and watch Giganta...grow! And when I say grow, I mean grow. Suddenly she's ten feet tall, then twenty, then thirty. The top of her head is now well above the second floor, nearly to the top of the warehouse. And I can only assume that her strength and durability have grown proportionately. So that was Cobblepot's real plan. The five of us were cannon fodder to soften Robin and Logan up for the real fight.

"Mein Gott in Himmel!"

I know exactly what he means...

I completely disregard the thug with the metal hand, and teleport up to the giant woman's face, and slash away with my sword, but I'm nothing more than a mosquito at this point.

As I'm teleporting and slashing, a giant hand swats me with the force of a Mack truck, and sends me flying through a window and into the river outside.

"Ugh, vhet. I hate vhet."

BAMF

Instantly I'm standing between Shadowcat and Robin.

"Aye caramba...I bet you thought I vas going to say something cute in German, didn't you?" I look at Robin, "Any genius plans bird-boy?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

The news was playing on the television at Maroni’s restaurant. Maroni stood there in the middle of the restaurant floor, looking up at the screen. It was a report on Harvey Dent.

“See this guy? Been a world class pain in my ass. He don’t know when to call it quits. He disrespects me, threatens me. I ain’t gonna stand for that. I tell ya, no matter what happens, I’m makin’ sure this punk gets his before it’s all said and done.”

Maroni looked over his shoulder.

“How’s it comin’, Toots?”

Plastic sheets had been pulled down along the floor. Kneeling on them was Toots Leggiero, covered in blood, and looking exhausted. He was in the process of dismembering the corpse of Bookie Benson with a saw.

“My back’s killin’ me, Boss!”

“Ha, no pain, no gain, Toots. You know how the old sayin’ goes. You don’t dump a body in Slaughter Swamp whole, unless you want it comin’ back…”

Just then, the windows crash in, and gas canisters fly through them into the restaurant. For a moment, Maroni thinks it’s an attack by Falcone. But then the SWAT Teams break the door down and swarm in, guns pointed at them.

“POLICE! DOWN ON THE FLOOR! HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!”

 

[Byrd Man]

Just then, the windows crash in, and gas canisters fly through them into the restaurant. For a moment, Maroni thinks it’s an attack by Falcone. But then the SWAT Teams break the door down and swarm in, guns pointed at them.

“POLICE! DOWN ON THE FLOOR! HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!”

The mobsters all freeze as the fully armed SWAT officers surround them.

I click my tounge as I walk through the beaten down door and look at Maroni and his men.

"I had been hoping to catch you red-handed, Maroni." I say as I look at the dead body that's covered in blood and hacked to bits.

"I had no idea I would do it literally."

I walk up to Maroni, he's still calm, cool and collected as he looks at me.

"You're gonna embarrass me in front of my friends like this?"

I hold up the shiny pair of handcuffs in front of his face.

"Don't worry, your friends are coming too....and you have the right to remain silent."

 

[Keyser Soze]

The mobsters all freeze as the fully armed SWAT officers surround them.

I click my tounge as I walk through the beaten down door and look at Maroni and his men.

"I had been hoping to catch you red-handed, Maroni." I say as I look at the dead body that's covered in blood and hacked to bits.

"I had no idea I would do it literally."

I walk up to Maroni, he's still calm, cool and collected as he looks at me.

"You're gonna embarrass me in front of my friends like this?"

I hold up the shiny pair of handcuffs in front of his face.

"Don't worry, your friends are coming too....and you have the right to remain silent."

"Commissioner Gordon, can I take those cuffs from you?"

I step into the restaurant, looking around for a few moments, before my eyes settle on Maroni. His eyes burn with hatred for me. The feeling is mutual.

"I have a promise to keep."

Jim hands me the cuffs. But I don't cuff Maroni right away. I pace around the restaurant floor, my eyes remaining locked intently on Maroni's. I stop over the partially-dismembered body of Bookie Benson, looking down at it, then looking up at Maroni. I can see it in his eyes, he's wildly running through options in his head, desperately trying to grasp onto some way he's going to worm out of this one. I think it's about time I put an end to any such hopes.

I walk over to a table in the restaurant, lean against it. The table where I sat across from Maroni, the last time I was in here. I look down at it, tap its surface. Look back up at Maroni. Then, I lean forward, reach under the table, and retrieve the tracking device I placed under there. Then the realisation hits him, a tumultuous mix of shock, fury and despair. And God, am I happy to see that.

I storm across the room, my eyes wild with vicious triumph, and hold the device right up under his nose. Then I pass it to a cop, who bags it for evidence. I wrap the cuffs around my knuckles, and for a moment I'm tempted to lay him out with a steel right hook. Instead I grab him roughly by the lapels, spin him round, and slam him hard facedown into one of his tables. As I cuff him, I lean forward and hiss into his ear, in a voice laced with such spite I barely even recognise it...

"I've got you!"

Then, aided by Gordon, I haul the handcuffed Sal Maroni out of the restaurant, where a sea of reporters and flashing cameras wait for us.

It's over. At long last, after all the pain and anguish, it's finally over...

 

[Blacklight]

"Two Sides of the Same Coin..." pt.3​

Kyle was more or less surprised at the uncanny timing of this 'Nova' in saving him from Mongul's wrath, but something didn't sit right with Rayner about Richard Rider. He seemed cocky. Arrogant even. But Kyle was still grateful...

"C'mon, Mongul. You're coming with me back to Xandar..."

Or at least he was grateful...

"Hey wait a minute here! What're you doing?"

"What's it look like? I'm taking him in."

"You can't do that!"

"Oh really? Why is that?"

"Because I arrested him first, not you!"

"So? I'm the one who knocked him out. You were too busy getting your green ass handed to you. So you snooze, you lose, Lantern..."

What!?! This guy's about to get a big green hard-light fist in his face if he doesn't watch what he's saying! Mongul may have gotten me against the ropes, but I was handling it. Who is this guy to judge? I've beaten Sinestro for crying out loud! Twice! He hasn't seen me go all out... How dare he base my skill on one fight...

That I just happened to be on the losing side of...

"Now if you'll excuse me, Green Loser. I have a prisoner to transport..."

Loser!? I'll show him!

Rider's suit began to glow with energy as he bagan to levitate himself and his perpetrator off the ground, but as soon as his back was turned towards Rayner, he felt an energy blast bluntly hit him square in the back, and telling by the green light residue that dissappated in front of him after he turned to see what the source was, he could tell it was the Grren Lantern who did it...

"Hey! What's the hell are you doing?"

Kyle did not respond, instead just released another plasma bolt from his construct...



POW!

"You did not just hit me agai--"

POW!

"You little--!"

POW!

"Oh HELL no! That's it!"



Rider dropped Mongul to the ground and then shot out an electric blast of his own at Rayner. The two of them knew it was on...

 

[wiegeabo]

I completely disregard the thug with the metal hand, and teleport up to the giant woman's face, and slash away with my sword, but I'm nothing more than a mosquito at this point.

As I'm teleporting and slashing, a giant hand swats me with the force of a Mack truck, and sends me flying through a window and into the river outside.

"Ugh, vhet. I hate vhet."

BAMF

Instantly I'm standing between Shadowcat and Robin.

"Aye caramba...I bet you thought I vas going to say something cute in German, didn't you?" I look at Robin, "Any genius plans bird-boy?"

Standing behind Wagner, I point my artificial hand at the back of his head. "Best not forget about me, kid."

"I didn't!" Robin pivots on his foot, spins around and plants a kick in my chest. I let him connect, not expecting him to not pull his kick. It sends me flying backwards. One part of my mind admires Robin's technique. That was a picture perfect kick. The other blocks out the pain while making a mental note to talk with Robin about almost cracking my ribs.

Still, I use the kick as an excuse to 'accidentally' fire the knife from my gun up in the air. As I roll away and into the door, I watch the knife fly up and strike Giganta in the shoulder. She swears loudly, but swats away the knife like it was a bee sting. Then she marches towards us.

"Screw this," I saw, feigning fear that Giganta's going to take her anger out on me as well. I burst through the door and out into the cold night air.

***

The floor around me is slick with blood. And I'd be woozy with the lose if I didn't heal so damn fast. As it is, I just have to suck up the pain as yet another boomerang digs deep into my thigh, knowing that this bastard has to run out of the sometime.

I pull the rang out with a loud grunt and look up at the coward. He reaches behind his back for a few seconds, before realization dawns on him. "Oh, **** me." Guess my waiting finally paid off.

Standing up, I sneer lifts my lip as I fire a grapnel up to the second floor. Boomerang goes running as I land behind him. "My turn!" Pulling out a batarang, I launch it him. But the guy just grabs it from the air, spins around, and tosses it back at me with a smile. Except the smile quickly turns to shock because I'm in the air. I plant my knees in his chest and roll as I land. Boomerang just lays there and moans, the loud cracking I heard a good sign I did something to his ribs.

That's when I notice her. "...Holy ****." I look back at Boomerang. "I'd say something clever to you, but I don't think I'm gonna have the time."

What the **** would Wayne do?

***

Outside, I run as fast as I can away from the warehouse and towards the nearest payphone. While I'm running, I open my 'arm' and press a button inside. The batmobile will be here soon.

Grabbing the phone, I slip Alfred's new override device over the mouthpiece. Instantly I have free access to make calls and dial the cell number. It rings a couple of times, and then the familiar voice of his cells message service picks up.

"Jim. Pier 27. Hurry."

I hang up as I hear the batmobile's engine in the distance...

 

[Matt Murdock]

​

Swishhhhh

The dart glides easily through the air.

Thock!

It lands sharply on a picture of Batman taped to my dartboard.

"What're we doing, boss?" A goon asks.

"Keeping the narrative moving." I hiss.

Why does everyone insist on rushing me?

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Recapping tonight's top story: Mob Boss Salvatore "The Boss" Maroni is behind bars after a raid by the Gotham Police Department.

Earlier this afternoon, a SWAT team led by Commissioner James Gordon stormed Maroni's resturant on the west side. Police found the remains of known mob associate Bradley 'Bookie' Benson. This only adds to the already lengthy case District Attorney Harvey Dent has amassed on the mobster. Tonight Maroni is at the Gotham Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing."

The whole Major Crimes squadroom erupts into wolf-whistles and applause as the news story finishes.

"Alright, settle down!" I say to the cops gathered around me.

"I want to read the charges on Maroni. Here we go....two counts of tax evasion, three counts of racketeering, fourteen, count 'em fourteen counts of obstruction of justice, five counts of bribing an offical, one count of carrying an unliscened handgun, and one count of murder one. Which comes to a grand total of, Detective Bullock?"

"Twenty-Six felonies with a maximum prison sentence of 156 years."

"We've shown this city today that justice can be done without the use of a masked vigilante, that there are good cops in Gotham and that justice can and will prevail. Merry Christmas, everyone."

I smile as the officers applaude as I leave the room, heading downstairs to the holding cells and interegation room.

"How's he holding up, Officer Montoya?"

"Surprisingly, he's not sweating. We've had him in the room for close to three hours now, grilling him like a steak. Nothing, nada."

"I think I know the problem, he's used to the cops grilling him. We need a someone to go in there and sweat him."

I look over in the corner at Harvey.

"What do you say, Counselor?"​

 

[Keyser Soze]

Tiiiing-thap.
Tiiiing-thap.
Tiiiing-thap.

I flip my father's coin anxiously, lost in my own thoughts. When Jim speaks to me, it's as if he's hauled me out a trance. Clasping the coin in my fist, I offer him a smile.

"Lemme at 'im."

 

[Byrd Man]

Tiiiing-thap.
Tiiiing-thap.
Tiiiing-thap.

I flip my father's coin anxiously, lost in my own thoughts. When Jim speaks to me, it's as if he's hauled me out a trance. Clasping the coin in my fist, I offer him a smile.

"Lemme at 'im."

I smile a bit and push my glasses back up on my head. I hand my gun and badge to Officer Montoya.

"Alright." I say as I unlock the door into the intergation room.

"Care to play a little good cop/bad cop?"

 

[Blacklight]

Clark smiled when he heard Kara's excitement from the other side of the farm, remembering a time when he too was eager to explore his abilities, so naturally, he could relate to her anticipation.

Then before he knew it, his cousin sped through the door of the barn to where he was standing near the tractor, loose stands of hay lying about being carried into the air from the gusts of wind that followed her.

"Morning, Kara. Have a nice nap?" Clark joked, smiling humbly.

"Very funny, Kal. Why didn't you wake me? We could've already been training by now! We could've bee--"

"Slow down, Kara. Don't worry. Your training starts right now..."

Kara's eyes gleamed with glee. Clark could tell she was nothing less than ecstatic to master her new powers. In some ways, she's luckier than Clark was when he was her age, because unlike her, he had no one who could ever truly teach him how to control his Kryptonian powers. But nonetheless, Ma and Pa Kent did a great job in teaching him despite them not having abilities, and Clark knew this.

"Yeah! So what are we going to do? Have a race? Flight lessons? What?"

Clark then finished up one last wrenching on the tractor before putting it gently down. Afterwards he approached a pile of hay bundles and kneeled down behind it to get something he had picked righ out of the crop that morning.

"Your first lesson, Kara, is one of the most important ones in regards to your powers..."

He stood up and placed on the hat bundles what looked like a huge green and light green striped basketball to Kara.

"Control."

Kara looked puzzled, to say the least.

"Kal, what is that?"

"It's a watermelon, Kara. And I want you to use your heat vision to carve a smile in it. If you can do it with out blowing it up into bits, you pass."

"You can't be serious..."

"I am. Do you even know what kind of chaos your powers could cause if you don't learn to hold back when your abilities? You might end up punching a building into rubble, burn down a park or a school, blow Metropolis all the way to the West Coast...."

Horrific images of General Zod's attack plagued Clark's mind, and he shuddered at what could happen if another Kryptonian let their powers get out of control. It was enough to send a chill down his spine, but he didn't show it. He was Superman. He always knew how to keep the fear unseen, because he needs to be a symbol of hope, and to do that, he must be strong. And he will be, for the people of Earth, the people of Metropolis, and more importantly... for Kara.

Never again will I let that happen... Ever.

"Anyways, try to focus. Conecentrate on not letting all the power out at once, and restraint is key..."

"Alright, Kal. I'll try..."

 

[Keyser Soze]

I smile a bit and push my glasses back up on my head. I hand my gun and badge to Officer Montoya.

"Alright." I say as I unlock the door into the intergation room.

"Care to play a little good cop/bad cop?"

"Am I good cop or bad cop? Maybe a little bit of both."

Flashing Jim a wink, I open the door, and the two of us head into the interview room. There he is. The man who tried to murdered my wife. Prison orange suits him. He stares up at me, chained to the table, venmous hate burning from his eyes.

"Hello, Sal."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Am I good cop or bad cop? Maybe a little bit of both."

Flashing Jim a wink, I open the door, and the two of us head into the interview room. There he is. The man who tried to murdered my wife. Prison orange suits him. He stares up at me, chained to the table, venmous hate burning from his eyes.

"Hello, Sal."

"So, Maroni." I sit down across the table from Maroni.

"You're looking at a lot of jail time, maybe even lethal injection. Now I know you know just about everything there is to know about Gotham's organized crime. Something on Falcone, or Thorne. You help us out with our investigations and we could maybe cut your time down."

Maroni scratches his nose and looks at me.

"I wanna talk to my lawyer, *******."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"So, Maroni." I sit down across the table from Maroni.

"You're looking at a lot of jail time, maybe even lethal injection. Now I know you know just about everything there is to know about Gotham's organized crime. Something on Falcone, or Thorne. You help us out with our investigations and we could maybe cut your time down."

Maroni scratches his nose and looks at me.

"I wanna talk to my lawyer, *******."

I let out a laugh, and give a slow clap.

"Oh, well done. Sal the hard man. Ain't talkin' to no pigs, huh? I'm sure Falcone's gonna appreciate you standing tall for him. You know, before his men stick a knife in your gut and something else up your ass in county lock-up. Because if you're not going to be of any use to us, county's exactly where you're headed. I think we should just tell his lawyer to head right there, huh, Jim? Maybe he'll get to Sal before Falcone does."

 

[Byrd Man]

I let out a laugh, and give a slow clap.

"Oh, well done. Sal the hard man. Ain't talkin' to no pigs, huh? I'm sure Falcone's gonna appreciate you standing tall for him. You know, before his men stick a knife in your gut and something else up your ass in county lock-up. Because if you're not going to be of any use to us, county's exactly where you're headed. I think we should just tell his lawyer to head right there, huh, Jim? Maybe he'll get to Sal before Falcone does."

"Yeah, County is the-"

BZZZT!!!!

I knew I should have left my cellphone outside.

I flip it open whil Harvey keeps on squeezing Maroni.

1 New Voice Message

I hit the button and put the phone to my ear.

"Jim. Pier 27. Hurry."

My eyes go a little wide and I snap my phone shut.

"And they are going to stick it so far up your as-"

"I hate to interupt that lovely sentence, but I just got a call. Something I need to take care of."

I keep Harvey in the dark while Maroni is sitting right in front of us.

"I'll be back shortly."

I quickly leave the interegation room and get my gun and badge back from Officer Montoya.

"I have to go, Barbara's sick. Watch Dent with Maroni, make sure nothing happens."

Montoya nods as I head upstairs and towards my car.

*********
​

I shiver as I wrap my coat up tighter around my chest.

The water laps against the pier as high tides sets in.

"Come on, Batman...where are you?"​

 

[wiegeabo]

"Everbody scatter!!!" I shout as I run and leap off the balcony. SNIKT. My claws extend, ready to rip into the giant lady, but she spins around faster than should be possible, and slams her fist into me. "OOOOOF-!!!

The wind knocked out of me, I fly to the far end of the warehouse and smash into the wall. I fall and hit the floor. My bones should be mush, but they're obviously not. My internal organs on the other hand...

"Do not fear, Darkclaw! We will handle her!" Bolts of energy fly from Starfire's hands, striking the big chick across her back. She shouts in pain and swings for the girl, but misses by a mile.

Damn, she's fast too. I struggle to get to one knee as I cough up a ton of blood. Lungs must not be done healin'. I see Kitty run up. The big redhead just steps on her, but Kitty runs right through her foot. It's all the distraction the others need.

Kurt suddenly appears on the redhead's shoulder, and slices her cheek with his sword. It's probably not more than a scratch, but she shouts in anger and grabs for him. He just teleports away. Which gives Robin enough time to get a line around her legs in an effort to trip her up. But she just takes a step and snaps the line.

I stand up, feeling 100% again. And smiling as the kids really start working together as a team. SNIKT. "Time to get messy."

***

*********
​

I shiver as I wrap my coat up tighter around my chest.

The water laps against the pier as high tides sets in.

"Come on, Batman...where are you?"​

The ungodly noise of the batmobile's engine roars through the night as I rev it up and slam it home through the side of the warehouse. Flipping a switch, the canopy explodes off and the ejector seat initiates, launching me into the air.

Giganta turns around just in time for me to plant my boot against her nose. I hear a sickeningly loud cruch as it breaks from the impact. I flip myself back and away before the spray of blood lands on me.

I land behind Logan. "Darkclaw!" He turns and I through him a gun. "Hulk tranq!" He snatches it out of the air and smiles. But the smile quickly fades as he is cast in shadow.

"Why won't you all die?!"

Giganta's foot falls as Logan looks up. "Oh fu-"

SLAM!!!

Giganta just continues to walk over Logan. "How many Batmen are there?" She drives her fist into the floor infront of me as I roll away.

I hope you brought the enitre SWAT team, Jim...

 

[Carnage27]

He sits alone in an apartment in Manhattan in complete darkness, save for the illumination given off by the small TV in the corner.

"In a recap of our top story tonight, a subway train inexplicably shot through the street and rammed into Times Square One earlier this morning, inflicting heavy casualties. We now go down town where the director of the FBI is prepared to speak..."

The man knew what was coming next. If the human had half a brain, they would know who did this. They would know he was back, and they would know what was coming.

"...We believe today's horrible tragedy is the work of none other than the terrorist known as Magneto. We will bring him to justice for his crimes..."

You have been saying that for quite sometime, fool.

Magneto stands and parts the curtains slightly so he can look onto the humans bustling below him like ants.

*KNOCK*KNOCK*

At the sound of the door he spins around and puts his helmet on.

A simple flick of his wrist and the door swings open, revealing someone Magneto had not expected to see.

"Hello, father."

"Pietro..." Magneto mutters while embracing the boy. "I'm glad you found me. Are you ready to begin?"

"Begin what?"

"The war, son. I have waited too long. It is time to bring the fight to the humans."

Pietro Maximoff shifts uneasily at the mention of the war. His father knew he was unsure of whether it was the right thing to do.

"It is the only way, Pietro. We will never be anything but monsters to them. We need to take the place in society that is rightfully ours."

The boy nods and looks his father in the eyes, "What do you need me to do?"

"Assemble the core of the Brotherhood. Blob, Pyro, Mystique, but not Toad. He has failed me too many times. I shall go to the old mountain stronghold, and formulate our recruiting strategy."

"Recruiting for what?"

"An army," Magneto says with a familiar passion in his voice.

The mutant known as Quicksilver merely nods, and in a blink of an eye speeds away to assemble Magneto's Brotherhood.

 

[Gallagher]

WADE WILSON - DEADPOOL
Jailbird Part 2

"What the hell did I do this time!?" Wade shrieked as three armed guards dragged him, kicking and screaming, into solitary.

"The poor guy isn't going to be able to take a piss properly for three months, the things you did with that fork will haunt my damn nightmares for years you sack of ****."

"Oh come on!" Wade yelled, throwing his hands up. "He said Paul Mcartney was the better Beatle!"

Thrown to the ground with an echoing 'Thud' Wade rubbed his scarred head and cursed under his breath. The door slamming behind the gaurds as they left him there to rot.

"Well walls, it's just you and me for the time being." Sighed Wade, looking almost dissapointed when the walls failed to reply.

"Wade Wilson..." A voice called from a darkend corner.

'Please be Liam Neeson, please be Liam Neeson.' Wade said, closing his eyes tightly as he turned around. Upon opening them however, he was rather dissapointed.

"Hey! You're not Liam Neeson!" He shouted accusingly, thrusting his finger in the strangers direction.

"I am Cloak and you... are needed elsewhere."

Before the Mercenary could protest a blue fabric engulfed them both, darkness spreading like fire. In an instant they were gone.

 

[Carnage27]

"Everbody scatter!!!" I shout as I run and leap off the balcony. SNIKT. My claws extend, ready to rip into the giant lady, but she spins around faster than should be possible, and slams her fist into me. "OOOOOF-!!!

The wind knocked out of me, I fly to the far end of the warehouse and smash into the wall. I fall and hit the floor. My bones should be mush, but they're obviously not. My internal organs on the other hand...

"Do not fear, Darkclaw! We will handle her!" Bolts of energy fly from Starfire's hands, striking the big chick across her back. She shouts in pain and swings for the girl, but misses by a mile.

Damn, she's fast too. I struggle to get to one knee as I cough up a ton of blood. Lungs must not be done healin'. I see Kitty run up. The big redhead just steps on her, but Kitty runs right through her foot. It's all the distraction the others need.

Kurt suddenly appears on the redhead's shoulder, and slices her cheek with his sword. It's probably not more than a scratch, but she shouts in anger and grabs for him. He just teleports away. Which gives Robin enough time to get a line around her legs in an effort to trip her up. But she just takes a step and snaps the line.

I stand up, feeling 100% again. And smiling as the kids really start working together as a team. SNIKT. "Time to get messy."

***




The ungodly noise of the batmobile's engine roars through the night as I rev it up and slam it home through the side of the warehouse. Flipping a switch, the canopy explodes off and the ejector seat initiates, launching me into the air.

Giganta turns around just in time for me to plant my boot against her nose. I hear a sickeningly loud cruch as it breaks from the impact. I flip myself back and away before the spray of blood lands on me.

I land behind Logan. "Darkclaw!" He turns and I through him a gun. "Hulk tranq!" He snatches it out of the air and smiles. But the smile quickly fades as he is cast in shadow.

"Why won't you all die?!"

Giganta's foot falls as Logan looks up. "Oh fu-"

SLAM!!!

Giganta just continues to walk over Logan. "How many Batmen are there?" She drives her fist into the floor infront of me as I roll away.

I hope you brought the enitre SWAT team, Jim...

I haven't done this much teleporting in a while, and the fatigue is starting to set in, but I won't give up, not while my friend's lives hang in the balance.

Our teamwork is impeccable, if I do say so myself. Our little team has turned out to be quite the fighting force, but I don't know how much longer we can last.

I 'port out of the way of a kick from the giant, reappear on the back of her neck, and deliver a stab, hoping it'll hit a nerve ending...or something.

"DAMN! You people are driving me crazy! Just die already!" she screams and flicks me off her, sending me tumbling into a support beam.

"Nightcrawler! Are you alright?!" Kitty yells as she runs to my side.

I shake the cobwebs out of my mind and give her a worried look, "Ve could use some help, Katzchen."

The words are barely out of my mouth when Gotham City SWAT comes crashing through the skylights, windows, and doors, guns at the ready.

I look to the sky smiling, "Ve could also use a beautiful, blue elf-girl!"

Kitty smacks me in the back of the head and gives me a look, "Is this really a time for jokes?"

"Vhen isn't it a time for jokes, fraulein?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

I haven't done this much teleporting in a while, and the fatigue is starting to set in, but I won't give up, not while my friend's lives hang in the balance.

Our teamwork is impeccable, if I do say so myself. Our little team has turned out to be quite the fighting force, but I don't know how much longer we can last.

I 'port out of the way of a kick from the giant, reappear on the back of her neck, and deliver a stab, hoping it'll hit a nerve ending...or something.

"DAMN! You people are driving me crazy! Just die already!" she screams and flicks me off her, sending me tumbling into a support beam.

"Nightcrawler! Are you alright?!" Kitty yells as she runs to my side.

I shake the cobwebs out of my mind and give her a worried look, "Ve could use some help, Katzchen."

The words are barely out of my mouth when Gotham City SWAT comes crashing through the skylights, windows, and doors, guns at the ready.

I look to the sky smiling, "Ve could also use a beautiful, blue elf-girl!"

Kitty smacks me in the back of the head and gives me a look, "Is this really a time for jokes?"

"Vhen isn't it a time for jokes, fraulein?"

I am not even sure at what I'm looking at, but what I do know is that the giant woman is bad.

"Commissioner!" Braden shouts at me.

"What do we do!?"

"Aim for the giant woman! Use your non-lethal rounds!"

The SWAT team lets loose with rubber bullets and beanbags.

"AHHH!" She screams as they keep on firing.

"You *******s! I'm going to make you pay."

She holds her hand up and swats it on the ground.

WHAM!

A thunderclap of a slap roars through the air, knocking myself and about a half dozen of my men to the ground.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Gordon leaves, and it’s just me and him. Sal Maroni. He sits back in his chair, looking up at me with casual contempt.

“You ain’t gonna scare me, Dent. I know if I’m in prison, I’m a dead man no matter what I do. But I’d rather die with my head held high than on my knees bowin’ down to some pretty-boy punk like you.”

I take the seat Gordon had just vacated, sitting across from Maroni.

“You don’t have to die, Maroni. If you co-operate, we can protect you…”

“That’s an uh… generous offer from you, Councillor, but I’ll pass. See, I ain’t gonna be around here for much longer.”

I let out a laugh.

“Oh? And how do you work that out? You planning a great escape?”

“Don’t need to. You see, fear gives you power. When people are afraid of you, they’ll do what you tell them. I’ve got a lot of power in this city. I used it to dig up some dirt on you.”

“Whatever you’ve got, it’s bad info. I’ve been clean as a whistle, my entire law career…”

“Yeah yeah, but I’m talking about before that. How social services had to remove you from your daddy when you were 15. I know they dragged you outta the basement beaten and half-starved.”

Oh no. I keep a dismissive smile fixed on my face, but inside I can feel my gut twisting, like I’m going to throw up. He knows! Maroni leans forward, and whispers triumphantly:

“And I know about your time in the psych-ward.”

It…it wasn’t a psych-ward. It was a…a care facility, where I was housed until I was 18 and free to move out on my own. Not some asylum like Arkham, I’m not crazy, they… they just had counsellors there, if you needed someone to talk to…

No! It doesn’t matter what it was! He’s found out my secret! I thought it was buried! I thought I had finally moved on from my childhood. But that’s the thing the past. It never lets you go, not really. We’re all still caught in its web, and the harder we pull to get away, the more we end up tangled in it, choked by it.

“I…don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Maroni grins rabidly. He’s like a shark that smells blood.

“Sure you don’t. Why are you sweating, then?”

Oh God, I am. My hands are clammy, my palms leaving imprints on the table. And my forehead is dripping, its running off me. I loosen my tie.

“I… we’ll continue this… in a minute…”

I stagger to my feet, stumbling towards the door.

“Yeah, Dent, you go think about what I know. Think long and hard! Think about what I can do!”

I exit the interview room, and collapse against the wall of the station. Some passing officers cast me a sideways glance, but I don’t even acknowledge them. I rush into the observation room, where I find Renee Montoya. She saw everything. I can see it in her eyes, that sickening mixture of pity and fear that I never wanted to see in people’s eyes when they look at me, not ever again.

“Mr. Dent…”

“Could you… leave, please?”

“Commissioner Gordon told me to…”

“LEAVE ME!”

Reluctantly, Montoya leaves the room. I stand in there, by myself, watching Maroni on the small monitor. He’s sitting there like a king on his throne. He knows he’s got me by the balls. No. I’ve got him, bang to rights. I’m so close. I can’t let him beat me now, not by using my own past against me. But… I can’t let anybody know about that time in the… care-facility. They wouldn’t understand. They’d think… padded walls and straitjackets, but it wasn’t like that, it…

I hold my head in my hands. I want to scream, just run out of here screaming, ripping out my hair. Just let out all the madness I’ve strained to keep in check for so long. But I can’t. Maroni needs to fall. Either he does, or I do. I didn’t want to play it this way, but he’s left me no choice. If I’m going to beat him, I have to sink to his level.

I yank off my tie, throw my jacket on the chair, and undo the top two buttons of my shirt. I wipe the sweat off my brow, and get my breathing back under control. Then, I grab a pen and paper from the table, and return to the interview room. Maroni is waiting.

“Welcome back. Had a good think, I see?”

I make no response. Instead, I lock the door behind me, then I reach up and pull the plug out of the camera hooked up in the corner of the room. In the observation room, the picture in the monitor turns to static.

“Ah, I see you’re about ready for a private chat. I thought you’d open up with some encouragement. Everybody’s got a price Dent, everyone.”

Again, I don’t reply. I don’t even sit. I just stand by the door, staring at him.

“How’s it gonna play with the voters, huh? When it leaks out that you’re a nut? Nobody likes damaged goods, Councillor. But luckily for you, I’ve got an offer. Make this go away. Make sure some crucial evidence disappears, that your case against me falls apart… and I keep my mouth shut. How does that sound. Fair?”

“Sounds pretty fair.”

Maroni lets out a hearty laugh. He thinks he’s snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat, that he’s actually going to walk from this.

“Now I’ve got an offer for you, too.”

Maroni raises a bemused eyebrow.

“Oh?”

I sit the pen and paper down on the table in front of him.

“You’re going to write out a full statement about all your criminal dealings with Carmine Falcone. And in exchange you’ll get life in prison instead of the chair.”

Maroni is momentarily confused, but then the smile returns.

“I don’t think you understand what I’ve got on you…”

“No, I don’t think you understand, Sal. What you’ve got is a last desperate bid for freedom, after being caught red-handed for murder, and conspiracy to murder. And that’s exactly what it’ll look like.”

“I’ve got evidence…”

“You fabricated it. I had a happy childhood, I loved my father. That stuff you said, it never happened.”

“Naw, there ain’t nobody gonna believe that…”

“You said that fear is power, Maroni. No. Knowledge is power. And when it comes to you, I’ve got a whole lot of knowledge. You have your resources, and I have mine. Countless hours of observation and investigation, and I’ve called in every last favour I could to get me deep into the most secure, deepest hidden files that exist on you and your family. Everyone leaves a paper trail, nothing ever truly goes away. If you know where to look, you can find anything.”

Maroni simply shrugs.

“You ain’t got nothin’ on me that trumps what I got on you.”

“Really? I know you’re cheating on your wife…”

Maroni throws his head back and lets out a huge laugh.

“Wow! Really? That the best you got?”

“…I know her name is Cindy Strauss, and that she actually works for Falcone. She’s been reporting back to him, everything you say to her. I know she’s also sleeping with your right-hand man, Toots Leggiero, for the same purposes.”

His smile fades.

“Yeah, well screw that b***h, what do I care? It’s just *****.”

“Yeah, *****. Like Sofia Gigante, Falcone’s daughter? I know you had an affair with her that lasted several years. I know she went to jail for a crime you committed, out of loyalty to you. I know that she was shanked twice by a fellow prisoner named Mercedes Erazo. I know the prison where Miss Erazo has been transferred to, and I know the number to call to get Sofia moved into her cell to share a bunk with her.”

Maroni begins to go pale. But still, he shakes his head dismissively.

“You ain’t gonna do that, Boy-Scout like you…”

“I know about your father, and how much you care about him. I know he was run out of Gotham, and allowed to live out the rest of his days in exile. I know about old charges of tax evasion that he had his friends in City Hall bury back in the day. I know how to dredge those up, issue a warrant for his arrest, and drag him back to Gotham to spend the rest of his days rotting in a jail cell.”

Maroni lunges onto his feet, cuffs pulling against the table they’re fastened to.

“You leave my father out of this!”

We stare hard at each other. I don’t blink. He looks down first.

“I know about your 82 year old Aunt who never quite got her immigration papers sorted. I know she lives in fear of being deported out of America, a country she loves. I know who to call to send some folks over there to do just that. I know about your nephew, who’s tried his best to escape the Maroni name and is working on getting a scholarship at UCLA. I know who to talk to in order to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Maroni sits back down. He looks back up at me, with that old hate and anger in his eyes. But now there’s just a touch of fear there too.

“I know about the headaches you get. I know you’ve been having blackouts, dizzy spells, and you’ve tried to cover it up. I know the medication your doctor’s prescribed to you.”

“Yeah? Well I ain’t the only one who’s been on medication, Dent! I…I know all about your time in the nuthouse, in with all the crazies. Dirt don’t wash off, Dent, people won’t be able to look past that…”

“I know about the uncle who molested you when you were 12.”

Maroni’s eyes widen with fear. His lip even trembles slightly.

“I know that your father had him quietly killed, before getting the Commissioner of the time to bury the case file in the deepest, darkest corner he could find. He did just that. But I found it. I know what it would do to your reputation in Gotham’s underworld if that were to be made public.”

“You piece of s**t. You lowdown scumbag, you wouldn’t dare!”

I circle around Maroni. Now it’s my turn to whisper threateningly.

“I know the location of your safehouses. I know where your wife and son are right now. And I know Carmine Falcone’s home phone number.”

I kneel down next to him, and see the full horror emerge in his eyes. He makes no lunge at me, not this time. He’s too afraid to do anything. And now, he doesn’t have anything to say.

“I know that family is important to you. I know that you’re willing to die yourself rather than give in to me. But I know you’re not as inhuman as you like to say you are. I know there are people you love. I know how to make them suffer. And I know that’s something you could never endure.”

Maroni looks down at the desk, saying nothing. I push the pen and paper closer to him.

“Start writing.”

I stand up and walk back over to the door. Maroni finally looks up and speaks again.

“You’re a monster, you know that? I can see it. You’re worse than me. It’s in you.”

This comment hits me in the gut like a sucker-punch. Because he might just be right. The threats I’ve made, the lengths I’ve gone to. I’m sickened by them myself. But I hide any doubts I have as I approach Maroni once more.

“I’m not a monster. After the things you did to me, the things you did to my wife, becoming a monster would have been easy. You haven’t seen the monster inside me, and you don’t want to. I did things the hard way, and brought you in by the book. I’ve showed you that there is such a thing as justice in this world. And you’re not above it.”

Resting my palms on the table, I lean forward and hiss into his ear.

“But just because I believe in justice, doesn’t mean I don’t believe in revenge. And if you so much as utter one word about some crazy tall-tale that never happened… you… the people you love… will find out the hard way about the things I know, Sal. The things… I can do.”

…

Some time later, I emerge from the interview room, with a full written statement from Salvatore Maroni in my hand. I walk into Renee Montoya in the hallway. She follows me into the interview room where, on the monitor, Maroni is slumped over the table, his head in his hands. A beaten man.

I walk over to the recorder. Stop it. Take out the tape. With my eyes locked on Montoya, I rip out the rolls of tape, and crunch it all up in a ball in my hands. She doesn’t say a word.

 

[Carnage27]

Magneto sits, meditating in his mountain retreat, safe from the humans that hunt him in every major city in America. He contemplates every possible move he can make next, every possible opening salvo for his war, and every possible outcome.

The large stone door behind him begins to slide open, and in walks Pietro and four other mutants.

"It's good to see you, Erik," a beautiful blue-skinned woman purrs as she embraces him.

"Mystique, so glad to have you back."

A man in a ridiculous red and yellow jumpsuit comes up to Magneto next, "Finally time to put the humans on the barbie, eh boss?"

"Yes, Pyro, we will finally have our rightful place in the world."

"Good, I was tired of all the waitin," a hideous, humongous, monstrosity of a man says from the door way.

Magneto let's out a small chuckle, "Blob, we wouldn't be able to succeed without you."

The Master of Magnetism's gaze then shifts to the unknown man standing in front of Blob, "And who might you be?"

"Names Avalanche. I'm pretty sure it's obvious what I can do," he replies in a thick Greek accent.

"So it is," Magneto pauses and looks over his reformed Brotherhood.

"My brothers, it is finally time to take what is ours on this world; the place of dominance in society. For too long have we been treated as freaks, embarrassments, and monsters. And for too long have we done nothing about it. Today is that day that we begin our journey to break the bonds that have been placed on us by the humans, today we take the first steps to war."

He finishes his speech and looks down at Pietro, "Son, spread our message. Gather all those that would help us, and bring them here. Even as powerful as we are, we cannot do this alone."

"Yes, father," the boy nods before speeding off.

"The rest of you, begin to prepare. Contact anyone you know who will join us. War approaches."

Mystique struts up behind Magneto and slips an arm around him, "Erik...we need to talk. I found out what you wanted to know from Luthor..."

Magneto's eyebrows raise in surprise, "By all means, my dear, step into my office," he whispers while closing the door to his private quarters.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

In my line of work there are good days and there are bad days.

I am the Flash. The fastest man alive.

And this is a bad day.

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

The Flash stands surrounded. Moments ago there was a man who called himself Mirror Master encased in a mirror. Actually inside the mirror. And this inside a Hall of Mirrors. The Scarlet Speedster had the bright idea of smashing every single one of the mirrors in the room into a million pieces.

That's how many Mirror Masters are currently about to beat on the Flash.

"I think, in the interest of fairness, I should get a do-over."

Every single one of the Mirror Masters smile. The same devious grin. And then, all in chorus, they speak. It's a garbled, almost overpowering mess that's almost inaudible.

"Feelin' a bit outnumbered, are ye? No worries, we promise we won't take more than two hits a piece." the voices laugh wildly, taking great enjoyment in the Flash's peril.

Gotta stall, Wally. Stall until you find a way out.

"I don't suppose we could talk this ovEERAAAAARRGH!" the Flash is cut short by a kick to the knee that sends him tumbling to the ground. Lashing out in anger, he jerks his entire body upwards and sends his fist flying into the copy of Mirror Master that hit him. The moment his hand touches the mirror image it fades.

"One down, Flashy, just a few hundred thousand to go!" the voices all laugh in unison. But this time he hears something different. Something underneath the laughter, underneath the smarminess. Like a crack in a wall.

"Go on, then." Wally stands up straight, smiling on the inside.

"What?" the villain asked, slightly taken aback.

"Kill me. I mean, it'd take me at least 30 seconds to clear all of you and by that time I'd already be dead. I'd rather not die tired." West said, feigning acceptance and shrugging his shoulders pathetically.

Wally, if this doesn't work, I'M going to kill you.

Stunned, the Mirror Master just stares. That's when the first bead of sweat begins trickling down his forehead. The same drop of sweat times a few hundred thousand.

"I ain't killin' ye just yet boyo. I wanna enjoy this." he says, an audible strain on his voice he just can't hide.

"Well sure, there's that. Or maybe it's because you can't do much in the way of moving." the Flash said, no longer able to contain his wry grin. "I've only known you a short while but here's my theory: Your little magic trick is easy peasy when it's the simple stuff. Like jumping out of a mirror. But this..." he continued, gesturing at the thousands of copies around him, all of which had the same expression of shock that grew by each word. "...well, this must be kind of hard, am I right?"

"I...unh...shut..." the sweat was cascading down Mirror Master's face.

The villain gritted his teeth and slowly began to rock on his feet. His body began to tremble slightly.

"Theeeere we go." he said as one by one, then two by two, and eventually, dozens of the mirror images began to quake and die out. Until there was only one left. In the middle of the room, surrounded by tiny shards of broken glass, was the Mirror Master.

Gasping, weezing, sweat pouring off his face, the man took one final look up at the Flash. "You know why you guys never win? You think you're better than me"

 

[Green Lantern]

I haven't done this much teleporting in a while, and the fatigue is starting to set in, but I won't give up, not while my friend's lives hang in the balance.

Our teamwork is impeccable, if I do say so myself. Our little team has turned out to be quite the fighting force, but I don't know how much longer we can last.

I 'port out of the way of a kick from the giant, reappear on the back of her neck, and deliver a stab, hoping it'll hit a nerve ending...or something.

"DAMN! You people are driving me crazy! Just die already!" she screams and flicks me off her, sending me tumbling into a support beam.

"Nightcrawler! Are you alright?!" Kitty yells as she runs to my side.

I shake the cobwebs out of my mind and give her a worried look, "Ve could use some help, Katzchen."

The words are barely out of my mouth when Gotham City SWAT comes crashing through the skylights, windows, and doors, guns at the ready.

I look to the sky smiling, "Ve could also use a beautiful, blue elf-girl!"

Kitty smacks me in the back of the head and gives me a look, "Is this really a time for jokes?"

"Vhen isn't it a time for jokes, fraulein?"

Robin looked up at the giant woman, and then back to the furry blue mutant. He deepened his voice, and glared at him with an intensity that you could see it through his lenses. "When you're about to be made into peanut butter by a two story tall woman. Concentrate Nightcrawler."

The authority rang from his voice, and he looked over to Bruce, hoping his mentor was proud. He reached to his belt and pulled a small ball from it.

"The bigger they come, the harder they fall. Hit her at the knees and it will make the tranq's job easier."

He lobbed the ball right at her knee, and watched with satisfaction as the ball exploded in a bright flash of fire.

 

[Green Lantern]

"Very funny, Kal. Why didn't you wake me? We could've already been training by now! We could've bee--"

"Slow down, Kara. Don't worry. Your training starts right now..."

Kara's eyes gleamed with glee. Clark could tell she was nothing less than ecstatic to master her new powers. In some ways, she's luckier than Clark was when he was her age, because unlike her, he had no one who could ever truly teach him how to control his Kryptonian powers. But nonetheless, Ma and Pa Kent did a great job in teaching him despite them not having abilities, and Clark knew this.

"Yeah! So what are we going to do? Have a race? Flight lessons? What?"

Clark then finished up one last wrenching on the tractor before putting it gently down. Afterwards he approached a pile of hay bundles and kneeled down behind it to get something he had picked righ out of the crop that morning.

"Your first lesson, Kara, is one of the most important ones in regards to your powers..."

He stood up and placed on the hat bundles what looked like a huge green and light green striped basketball to Kara.

"Control."

Kara looked puzzled, to say the least.

"Kal, what is that?"

"It's a watermelon, Kara. And I want you to use your heat vision to carve a smile in it. If you can do it with out blowing it up into bits, you pass."

"You can't be serious..."

"I am. Do you even know what kind of chaos your powers could cause if you don't learn to hold back when your abilities? You might end up punching a building into rubble, burn down a park or a school, blow Metropolis all the way to the West Coast...."

Horrific images of General Zod's attack plagued Clark's mind, and he shuddered at what could happen if another Kryptonian let their powers get out of control. It was enough to send a chill down his spine, but he didn't show it. He was Superman. He always knew how to keep the fear unseen, because he needs to be a symbol of hope, and to do that, he must be strong. And he will be, for the people of Earth, the people of Metropolis, and more importantly... for Kara.

Never again will I let that happen... Ever.

"Anyways, try to focus. Conecentrate on not letting all the power out at once, and restraint is key..."

"Alright, Kal. I'll try..."

Kara grimaced. Her irises went red and two smoking holes appeared in the watermelon. She grinned and spun to face Kal. Forgetting to turn off her heat vision. She jumped startled as a power pole fell nearby, the wood smoldering where her vision had.

"Oh... Rao. What did I do? I'm sorry..."