One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[wiegeabo]

"Jay, I've gotta go, the Avengers need me. I'll catch up with you later!"

"Wait, Wally!" There's not much use calling after a Flash. And I can't go after him if the Avenger's are on a mission. But as worried as I am that he may be getting into something bad, I'm a little relieved that I don't have to keep deceiving him...or tell him the truth.

"Look, I gotta go take care of some business. Bruce, I'm glad you're yourself again, and I hope you stay that way a while. One word: Vicodin. Bye bye now."

And then my thrusters come to life, and I'm off, heading for the hospital to meet up with Rhodey.

And another one leaves just as quickly. Not quite the way I'm used to doing things.

"I guess if it's not one thing, it's another."

"What do you mean, 'Devil Hulk'? What exactly happened here?"

"I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to that one either. Perhaps you should explain, Fate."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"We're here", Scott said as the jet quickly slowed down.

"I'm putting us down a couple of miles South of his neighborhood in the woods nearby."

Scott softly landed the jet in a small clearing and began shutting down the systems when Xavier's voice echoed in his mind.

X-Men, you must hurry. Young Mr. Terrill is at home, but a group of anti-mutant activists are on their way. I fear they mean to cause the boy harm. You must get to him and get him out before they arrive!

"All right team", Scott said as he quickly unstrapped and opened the landing ramp.
"You heard the Professor. Let's move it!"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

After my little shouting match with Mayor Hill, I head straight home where Barbara fixes lasagna. After a few hours bonding with my daughter, I head back to the office and to the roof of the Gotham Central.

I hit the flood light with the bat-shape on it and lean back on the railing as I look up at the light in the sky.​

 

[Red_Robin77]

I step up behind Robin. "It could have gone better." The smile drops from his face.

"But it could have gone much worse." It's instantly back.

"So, your first piece of detective work paid off and your predicted their pattern. What's next on the agenda?"

"I'm thinking that."

I turn away and point towards the light glowing in the sky, a bat symbol in it's center. I pull out my grapple, ready to move on off towards the GCPD HQ.

 

[Carnage27]

"We're here", Scott said as the jet quickly slowed down.

"I'm putting us down a couple of miles South of his neighborhood in the woods nearby."

Scott softly landed the jet in a small clearing and began shutting down the systems when Xavier's voice echoed in his mind.

X-Men, you must hurry. Young Mr. Terrill is at home, but a group of anti-mutant activists are on their way. I fear they mean to cause the boy harm. You must get to him and get him out before they arrive!

"All right team", Scott said as he quickly unstrapped and opened the landing ramp.
"You heard the Professor. Let's move it!"

I drop down to all fours and blow by the rest of the team, "I'll scout ahead and 'port him out if zhe need arises!"

I'm quickly outside of the boy's home, and see the angry mob outside the house, "Terrific."

I activate my image inducer and slowly approach the back yard. I can hear all the shouts from the bigots, about how we're abominations that shouldn't be allowed to live around "normal people", and some even saying we don't deserve to live at all.

Sometimes I can't believe these are the people we protect. So much hate for their own race, no matter what we do. But this could get ugly quickly.

Jean.

Yes, Kurt?

Tell Scott this could get ugly fast. There's a mob outside the house. I'd port in, but I don't want him to attack me by accident.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Its 10 am and two men lay on a rooftop overlooking a building with a dimmed neon sign that reads "The Cheetah Club".

They silently watch as a skinny white man in a suit leaves out the strip club's back door and climbs into a red SUV.

"10-14 to 10-22," Charlie Fields says into his walkie talkie.

"10-14 go ahead," Sergeant Maggie Sawyer calls back from her car.
"
We've got the eyeball on Parker Robbins. He's leaving the strip club, headed your way."

"10-4."

The SUV speeds down the street, past a dark blue sedan. The vehicle is almost a block away before the sedan starts up and follows.

"Tell you what, Charlie," Driver says as the two men walk across the rooftop.

"I know she be a bit gruff at times, but I would tear that **** up."

Fields chuckles as he opens the door to the building's stairwell.

"What?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Sawyer plays for the other team. Lesbian, man."

"Well, I'll be dammed," Driver shakes his head as he follows Fields down the stairs.

"Maybe she's bi."

*********************​

Skinny Pete is back at home on the Monroe Street corner, watching as his workers serve dope fiends and addicts.

"Hear about Jeff, man?" The young boy Pluck says as the two of them sit on the nearby stoop.

"Yeah. **** is ****ed up."

"Word coming down is that Jeff was getting ready to roll on somebody. Maybe that crazy ass white boy, LaMonica."

"Man, Jeff wouldn't say ****," Pete says as he stands up.

"He was a soldier, through and through. He had a record, who doesn't? But he wasn't snitching on anyone."

Pete shakes his head as his cell phone starts to vibrate.

"Hello?"

*******************​

"Goddammit!" Harvey Bullock says as he and Crispus Allen stand over another dead body.

"Looks like the same shooter from Fayette took this one out," Allen says as he looks at the bullet holes that go up and down Jefferson Skeevers' body.

Allen nods at the forensics team, and they start to take pictures of the small bedroom where the drug dealer met his end.

"We had Skeevers almost dead to rights on that shooting. Who the hell could have took him out?"

"I have a feeling when we get Skeevers down to the morgue, they'll find shells from an automatic 9. Skeevers may have not been the shooter, but he helped the guy who did. Two-Face's men ar starting to feel the heat."
"Probably right," Bullock says as he sticks his hands in his pocket, "Let's get back to the squadroom. Murder like this, the wire has to be blowing up."

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

​

Johnny LaMonica and Max Dillon sit on the edge of LaMonica's car as the Mercedes pulls up next to them in the parking garage.

"You wanted to see me?" Ed Hallman, criminal attorney extraordinare, says as he gets out of his car.

"Yeah, we did what you said. Ain't no loose ends on that shooting Jeff and I did," LaMonica says as he crosses his arms.

"....You call me up and make me drive across town just to tell me you got rid of your gun?"

"No, I called you up and made you meet here to tell you I took care of Jeff."

"You ignorant mother****er!" Hallman cries out as he scowls at LaMonica.

"You get rid of the gun, you get rid of all evidence! The gun, not a living breathing ****ing human being! You wop bastard!"

"What the hell did you call me?" LaMonica says as he approaches the lawyer.

"A wop. You greasy, Italian meatball son of a-," is all the lawyer gets out of his mouth as LaMonica drives his greasy, Italian meatball fist into Hallman's face.

"You bloodsucking mother****er!"

"Back off, Johnny," Dillon says as he grabs LaMonica by the shoulders and pulls him away from the stumbling attorney.

"Robbins needs this guy, so we need this guy."

"You dumb ****," Hallman mutters as he holds his eye.

"Johnny didn't mean anything by it, Hallman. He's just a bit hot-headed."

"Well, next time I talk to your boss, he's finding out about this ****."

The two men watch in silence as Hallman's car speeds off out the garage.

******************​

"Hello?" Skinny Pete's voice comes out of the computer speakers as Captain Essen and Renee Montoya listen in from the MCU Squadroom.

"Sup," A voice replies back.

"Who is that?" Essen asks as she looks at the big board with the members of Two-Face's gang.

"Based on the voice, it sounds like Ant. He runs one of the corners on MLK Boulevard."

Essen nods as they listen to the wire.

"Know who it was that got Jeff?" Ant asks.

"Heard it was goddamn Johnny LaMonica. You know he does muscle for
Face. Him and that other crazy ass mother****er Dillon."

"That's some ****ed up ****. Think he was really snitching."

"Hell no. Jeff and I came up together, we worked on those corners for Ghost. I seen Jeff get popped by the narcos many times, and he never said ****."

Essen does her best to hide the smile on her face as the two men talk for a few minutes longer and hang up.

"Detective Montoya. Get me everything you can on Johnny LaMonica and this Dillon guy right now."

****************​

"There's a Mr. Ed Hallman to see you, sir," the secretary says on the intercom to Mayor Hill as he sits behind his office.

"Send him in."

The short man with gray hair enters Hill's office, briefcase clamped to his hand and a big smile on his face.

"Mister Mayor."

"Ed, how's things?" Hill says as the two men shake hands, "what happened to you eye?"

Hallman shrugs off the mark on his eye that's already starting to bruise.

"You know how it is in the attorney business. You want a friend in this racket, get a dog."

Hill laughs and nods in agreement.

"So, what have you got for me?"

Hallman removes two checks from his pocket and hands them to the mayor.

"Campaign contributions for this week."

"Maxwell Dillon and Jonathon LaMonica," the mayor says as he looks over the two checks, each written out to him in the amount $4,000.

"Friends of yours?"

"Well, paralegals at my law fim."

"Look, Ed. The less I know about where this money is coming from, the better."

"Fair enough."

"I'm already going to be in one hell of a fight against Councilmen Kane, and I get the feeling that Deputy Krohl is up to something. Way he's been asking around lately."

"Well, political opponents aside, you can take these contributions on my good faith that it's good money. I'll be back next week."

Hill nods and smiles as he shakes hands with Hallman.

"Keep up your good work, Ed. When the times comes, all this will pay off."

"No doubt. Here's to four more years, Mister Mayor."

***************​

Parker Robbins looks up in his rearview mirror and notices the blue sedan that's been following him for about ten blocks. He smiles as he goes through a red light, barely avoding being sidewiped by an 18-wheeler.

The blue sedan gets caught up in the conjestion as all the cars in the intersection swerve and collide.

After losing the tail, he heads south towards Slaughter Swamp. Just on the edges of the swamp, he stops his car next to a black car.

"So, you send word through so many different buffers and channels, I almost didn't get the message," Robbins says as he rolls down the window and looks at the tall, blonde man wearing the oak clusters of a Colonel.

"What's this about?"

"What this is about," Colonel Arnold Flass says as he lights up a cigarette, "is the fact that you've got a wiretap on your phone and almost all the phones of your lieutenants."

Flass takes a long drag on the cigarette and holds up a thick case file.

"It's all in here. Read it and weep, Robbins. Gordon's got the Major Crimes Unit after your ass."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Wait, Wally!" There's not much use calling after a Flash. And I can't go after him if the Avenger's are on a mission. But as worried as I am that he may be getting into something bad, I'm a little relieved that I don't have to keep deceiving him...or tell him the truth.



And another one leaves just as quickly. Not quite the way I'm used to doing things.

"I guess if it's not one thing, it's another."



"I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to that one either. Perhaps you should explain, Fate."

"I am still trying to piece the puzzle together myself", Fate admitted.
"But, from what I can tell, Bruce's recent transformation was induced by a magical force."

"Magic", Banner questioned, "I don't...wait."

"When I was captured by Eiling and taken to his desert base", Bruce recalled.
"I was drugged up, but I remember being set free...by a tall blond man."

"But that same blond guy", Banner said as the memories were slowly coming back to him.
"He was in my dream. Or nightmare would be more appropriate. He was leading me through this strange place. I was scared...practically terrified. There was a monster chasing me."

"Do you remember what that monster looked like?"

"I never saw it", Bruce replied with a shudder.
"I just heard it...it sounded angry and positively frightening."

"The blond guy led me to a door that I struggled to open. The monster was getting close...too close. I was panicking", Banner continued as he felt a cool sweat building up on his forehead as he recalled the visions.

"Finally, I was able to open the door. That's the last thing I remember before waking up here."

Fate stood their silently contemplating what Bruce had just told him.
"This man who helped you", Fate said after a few moments.
"What did he look like?"

"He was tall...least six-and-a-half feet...long blond hair, pulled back in a pony tail...and bright green eyes..."

Silence once again fell over the group as Fate's mind ran through the possibilities.

"I believe he is the one who caused you to transform into that creature, Bruce", Fate finally stated.
"But, from how you describe it, it seems the monster was already inside your subconscious mind...he just used you to free it and twist it to suite his needs."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

I drop down to all fours and blow by the rest of the team, "I'll scout ahead and 'port him out if zhe need arises!"

I'm quickly outside of the boy's home, and see the angry mob outside the house, "Terrific."

I activate my image inducer and slowly approach the back yard. I can hear all the shouts from the bigots, about how we're abominations that shouldn't be allowed to live around "normal people", and some even saying we don't deserve to live at all.

Sometimes I can't believe these are the people we protect. So much hate for their own race, no matter what we do. But this could get ugly quickly.

Jean.

Yes, Kurt?

Tell Scott this could get ugly fast. There's a mob outside the house. I'd port in, but I don't want him to attack me by accident.

Scott led the team up the streets towards Ray Terrill's home to see a mob of at least a dozen anti-mutant bigots outside the metal fence surrounding the front lawn. They were screaming, tossing bottles at the home, yelling out threats...it was not a welcoming scene.

Great, Scott thought to himself.
Now what? Come on, Summers, think! There's got to be some way to stop this without ruining half the neighborhood...

Cyclops looked at his two companions, Jean Grey and Multiple Man. A smirk crept across his face as the idea came to him.

"I've got an idea. Jean, can you project the image into their heads of a government van pulling up to the house?"

"Of course."

"Good, do it. And make them see us as armed government officials."

"You got it, Slim", she smiled as she started to realize what he was thinking.

"Jamie, you up for a little crowd control?"

 

[Catman_prb]

Scott led the team up the streets towards Ray Terrill's home to see a mob of at least a dozen anti-mutant bigots outside the metal fence surrounding the front lawn. They were screaming, tossing bottles at the home, yelling out threats...it was not a welcoming scene.

Great, Scott thought to himself.
Now what? Come on, Summers, think! There's got to be some way to stop this without ruining half the neighborhood...

Cyclops looked at his two companions, Jean Grey and Multiple Man. A smirk crept across his face as the idea came to him.

"I've got an idea. Jean, can you project the image into their heads of a government van pulling up to the house?"

"Of course."

"Good, do it. And make them see us as armed government officials."

"You got it, Slim", she smiled as she started to realize what he was thinking.

"Jamie, you up for a little crowd control?"

"What're you thinking boss?" Jamie asked, his voice unusually serious "I'm not psychic,"

Jean frowned.

"Are you alright?" she asked. The teen shrugged, his hands thrust deeply in his pockets.

"I don't like mobs," he mumbled.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Jean, Kurt, and I will go in and get Ray", Scott stated.
"You dupe up and contain that crowd. Jean will make them see you as an armed federal agent, so they should back down."

"Jean, tell Kurt to regroup with us first, and we go in together."

Jean looked blankly ahead for a few seconds, before looking back at Scott.

"He's on his way."

 

[Carnage27]

-edit-

 

[Optikal]

The sewer stank of rot and filth. But Mask had made a promise to the world. He would start from the bottom and build his way up. Of course, bieng so far down had it's advantages. There were people of great value and special abilities down here. Though Mask doubted how much of a person was really left within the creature that he now saught.

A little deeper into the sewer he heard the distant rumble of a throaty growl. With confidence he stepped into the gloom and turned a corner. In front of him hunched a huge figure, it's broad scaled shoulders hunched over in the corner. The sound of bones snapping and flesh being rendered left little doubt as to what the man was doing.

"Waylon Jones, I presume?" Mask asked, folding his arms across the sharp grey suit he wore.

Jones spun around, his yellow eyes glowing and white fangs dripping with gore. he wiped a thick arm across his maw, streaking blood up his arm. "The name's Croc. Killer Croc"he growled.

Mask smiled and tilted his head slightly in acknowledgement. "Of course. Killer Croc".

"Whadda you want? I've told Waller and her goons that I ain't interested. I did what she wanted and I ain't going back".

Mask glanced at the mutilated corpse at the feet of the hulking monster. "Waller? Oh no Croc, I'm not with the law. In fact, I'm very much outside of it. And I have some work for you. You'll be well paid of course..." he glanced again at the body, "...and well fed".

Croc grinned and snapped a leg from the corpse. "Hobo meat. They come down here occaisionally and ain't like anyone is gonna miss 'em. Kinda stringy though".

Mask grimaced and for a second wondered if he'd come to the right man.

"So tell me, a guy in a skull mask comes into my lair offering me employment and the most incentive you've got is money an' food? Why? what makes you more different to anyone else that's done the same? I don't much fancy goin' back in the slammer". He snarled, swinging the leg like a conductor as he spoke.

"Oh, this isn't some half assed bank job or half cocked evil scheme Croc. This is big. Bigger than anything you've been involved in before. Something not even Waller or the capes can stop. We're building an empire, a whole f-cking nation. Not even the Bat can take down a whole empire can he?"

Croc merely smiled in reply.

"I need you to head my muscle. Be my prescence on the street. I have money, resources, men and ambition. Help me out and we'l bring this whole f-cking city to its knees. We'll bleed them dry until they beg us for mercy. You can stay down here in the grime for the rest of your life Croc, or you can share the spoils of a war that none of those ignorant bastards up top are prepared for".

He threw the leg into the filthy stinking water and watched as it sank into the mire. Croc cracked his neck and grinned at Black Mask. "I'll join this gig you've got goin' on one condition... The Bat? when it comes to the Bat, I get to eat his heart".

Black Mask nodded and rubbed his chin. "Consider it done. If he tries to interfere, Batman is yours".
​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 5 ~ Into the Lion's Den - Act 1​

"Holy ****", John Stewart exclaimed with a low whistle.
"Would you look at that thing?"

The massive structure simply called Fortress loomed before the heroes. And it's name was appropriate.
The headquarters of Tyrant, Fortress was a military stronghold out of a Kree's wet dream. Filled to the teeth with armaments and robotic minions loyal to Tyrant, it was a place that no sane being would ever dare to venture.
But the Silver Surfer and his allies had little choice in the matter.

"I don't see any traffic", Hal said in a hushed tone as he gazed at the massive spires.
"I don't know...I've got a bad feeling about this."

"I will not disagree", the Surfer replied.
"But we have little choice in the matter. If we wish to lure Tyrant to the Crunch, we must steal one of his energy spheres."

"Something tells me this isn't going to be easy", Daredevil muttered.

"Never is", Hal stated.
"Come on...let's get this show on the road."

Parallax led the way towards the massive Fortress, as the two Green Lanterns and the Silver Surfer took formation by his side.

"I don't like this. It's way too quiet", John commented as they silently entered the main courtyard.
"No signs of life at all. Like it's deserted or something."

"What do you think, Surfer?"

"I do not know, Hal Jordan", Norrin replied as they flew into a doorway and down a large corridor.
"Something about this place just feels wrong. Like it does not belong in our universe."

"We could be walking into a trap."

"You may be correct", the Surfer replied to Daredevil's comment.
"But we cannot stop, even if that is so. There is too much at stake."

The group traveled down the winding, cave-like corridors, all the while the Silver Surfer homing in on the power source they sought.

"We are here", the Surfer finally said after a minute of silent travel.
Leading the group into a side corridor, the Silver Surfer, Parallax, and the two Green Lanterns entered a massive control room. The room housed a single, gigantic piece of machinery that hummed with power. Sitting at the machine's top with dozens of tubes and wires sticking out of it was one of Tyrant's energy spheres.
The bright globe illuminated the entire room in a bright white light.

"All right", said Hal, "let's grab this thing and get the hell out of here."

"Leaving so soon?"

The heroes turned to see the frightening form of Tyrant blocking the room's sole exit.

Robotic minions poured into the sphere room from behind Tyrant, encircling the heroes and training their weapons on them.

"Please, stay a while. I am nothing if not a gracious host. And I am sure I can provide you with some amusement", Tyrant smiled.

"Slaves", Tyrant called out to his robotic soldiers.
"Kill the Lanterns, but bring me the Heralds alive."

 

[Catman_prb]

"Jean, Kurt, and I will go in and get Ray", Scott stated.
"You dupe up and contain that crowd. Jean will make them see you as an armed federal agent, so they should back down."

"Jean, tell Kurt to meet regroup with us first, and we go in together."

Jean looked blankly ahead for a few seconds, before looking back at Scott.

"He's on his way."

Jamie guessed five dupes disguised as different feds would be enough to quell a crowd.

"Now don't do anything crazy," he told them all as he walked over to the crowd "Or anything too similar. Or punch anyone who doesn't really deserve it,"

"Dude," one of his dupes said "We're you. We know all this already,"

"And let me do the talking. We all sound alike,"

It was actually a pretty typical mob action. Flaming torches, sticks and he even thought he could see one or two pitchforks in there. He could've sighed. At the front was a man with a shaven head, and he could see what looked like a swastika under the sleeve of his shirt. In his hand he held a noose. And all of a sudden it was much more serious.

"People!" he shouted as he sauntered over "We'd like to thank you for your cooperation with the current situation, but you would make this whole operation much easier if you all just backed away and went home,"

"Who the **** are you?" Neo-Nazi asked. Jamie smiled.

"We're the feds you insufferable little ****, and if you speak to me like that again, I'll break your ****ing face,"

 

[Carnage27]

I rush back to the team, who set up shop at the edge of the woods. I also see Jamie and a few of his dupes threatening the mob.

Jean notices my questioning look, "They see them as armed feds."

"Ah, nice," I smile back.

Scott starts to move in towards the house, with me and Jean followed close behind.

We get to the small house's back door, and pause before entering.

"So vhat's zhe plan for not getting sun poisoning?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"We be really polite", Scott said with a smirk as he knocked on the back door.

"Who is it", came the frightened voice from inside.

"My name is Scott Summers, and I'm here with my friends Jean and Kurt. We're here to help, ma'am."

"Bull****! You're with that mob! Get the hell out of my yard before I call the police!"

"Jean", Scott said, "can you give her a little push?"

"I guess I can", Jean said reluctantly. She didn't like influencing the thoughts of others, but it was for their own good. There's no telling what could happen if Ray stays here.

"Please, Mrs. Terrill", Scott asked again, "we're only here to help. Please, may we come in and speak with you and Ray."

There was silence for a few long seconds, then the sound of a lock clicking and the door slowly creaking open.

A short, cute looking middle-aged blond greeted them with a suspicious look.

"Okay...you've got five minutes", she said as she let the three X-Men inside.
She shut the door behind them and led them into the living room.

"Now, who the hell are you people, and what do you want with Ray?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

Rhodey heard the line cut off as Stark spoke to whoever he was with. Fighting the Hulk? that was some heavy stuff. Part of Rhodes wished that he could have been there.

He turned his thoughts back to the suit he was hooked up to and wandered what the hell it could do. As soon as he thought it, the display lit up infront of his cybernetic eye. In that instant he knew everything he needed to about the technology he had been enhanced with. He could jet out of the window right now and put it to work.

But it felt wrong. He wanted to hear it from a human voice. He wanted questions answering. Probably best to wait for Tony to arrive.

I hurry back to the hospital. Trust all the big-time superheroics to get in the way of being with my friend when he needs me. I land on the hospital roof, making my way down the stairwell to the top floor, and somewhat incongruously take the elevator down to the floor where Rhodey's ward is to be found.

Entering Rhodey's room, even though I know what to expect, even though I'm wearing something similar myself, I still can't help but be taken aback when I see him. I'm thankful my mask hides the shock on my features, as that's probably the last thing he needs right about now.

"Hi Rhodey. Now, I guess there's a lot you want to ask me...."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Adam, please..."

"FIGHT ME COWARD!"

Black Adam hit Thor with another punch, sending him hurtling through the sky, before crashing through the roof of a goat farmer's home. Thor apologised to the terrified family, before emerging outdoors, where he found Adam fast approaching.

"What, is Odin's pup afraid to fight the mighty Adam? Would he rather lie and politic than engage in honorable combat?"

Thor did not understand what was going on. But if what Adam believed was true, if his teammates had engaged in a pre-emptive strike when he was so close to finding a peaceful resolution, Thor's fury would be great indeed.

"You are a fool, Adam!" Thor sighed, more with resignation than real Adam, "You see nothing but enemies all around you, and so for all your power, you remain nothing more than a small, small man."

Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir, bracing himself as Adam made his thunderous descent.

"But if it is combat you desire, you shall be granted more than your fill!"

Thor swung his hammer at Black Adam, connecting square in his chest and sending him flying back through a row of settlements.

 

[Byrd Man]

Fate stood their silently contemplating what Bruce had just told him.
"This man who helped you", Fate said after a few moments.
"What did he look like?"

"He was tall...least six-and-a-half feet...long blond hair, pulled back in a pony tail...and bright green eyes..."

Silence once again fell over the group as Fate's mind ran through the possibilities.

"I believe he is the one who caused you to transform into that creature, Bruce", Fate finally stated.

"But, from how you describe it, it seems the monster was already inside your subconscious mind...he just used you to free it and twist it to suite his needs."

Captain America

"Do you have anyway to actually find out who did this to Banner, Doctor?" I ask as I look over at Fate.


Superman

While Captain America approaches Fate with a question, my eyes meet with Kara's. She looks disheveled and exhausted.

Her actions were impulsive and irresponsible....but she managed to hold her own. I feel a sense of pride swelling from somewhere inside me.

I flash the smallest of smiles as I turn away and look at Captain America as he awaits Fate's answer.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Yes", Fate answered Captain America's question.
"But it will take some time. Bruce, if wish to accept, I am extending an invitation to spend some time as a guest in my home. At the Tower of Fate we will be able to figure out who, or what, brought about this change. And it will also provide you with sanctuary from those who are hunting you."

Banner considered the sorcerer's words. He had worked side by side with Fate before, during the Doom Crisis, as a member of the Defenders.
And it would be nice to be able to relax and to stop looking over his shoulder all the time...

"All right, Fate", Bruce nodded, "I accept the invite. Just give me a second, would you?"

Banner walked over to Captain America, Superman, the Flash, and Supergirl, the heroes who still remained to see things through to the end.

"I'm sorry about all this", Bruce said as he averted his gaze to the ground. He couldn't even look them in the eye, his embarrassment over what had happened was too much.
But Banner gathered the necessary fortitude and raised his head up high.

"I'm sorry for all I did to you. Not a second goes by that I don't wish I could take it back."

 

[Carnage27]

"Now, who the hell are you people, and what do you want with Ray?"

I step forward, "Mrs. Terrill, my name is Kurt Vagner, and ve are the X-Men. Ve are...like Ray."

The look of distrust doesn't leave her face. She backs up slightly, "Prove it. For all I know you could be with the government, here to...experiment on him or something."

"Okay...please don't be frightened," I say as I turn off my image inducer and show my true form, as Jean raises her hands and the chairs in the room begin to levitate. "See, ve are mutants as vell."

She jumps a bit at my appearance, "I'm sorry."

I chuckle nervously, "It's okay. Mots people aren't used to seeing boys vith blue fur."

"Ray! Come down here. I've got some people I think you should meet!"

I hear footsteps from up stairs, and quickly Ray Terrill is standing before us, "Who the hell are you guys?"

 

[Blacklight]

The Avengers. The Earth's Mightiest Heroes... are about to become chicken-fried Earth's Mightiest Heroes if Thor doesn't hurry up!

"Diana look out!"

Kyle Rayner, former Last Green Lantern, quickly covered his fellow Avenger Wonder Woman in a protective green shield, powered by his will, to deflect a blast of electricity from one of Black Adam's many metahuman soldiers.

"Thank you, Green Lantern. If you had not been watching out for me, Hera knows what would've happened."

"It's no problem. But..."

"But if it is combat you desire, you shall be granted more than your fill!"

Thor swung his hammer at Black Adam, connecting square in his chest and sending him flying back through a row of settlements.

"... I think Thor could use a little help."

"I agree. I shall go assist him."

Just then, as Kyle continue to shove back their attackers, his ring began to beep and glow emerald bright.

Great. What now?

"KYLE RAYNER LANTERN DESIGNATION: 2814. REPORT TO ATTILAN IMMEDIATELY..."

"Crap..."

Just then, hoping noone would notice, Rayner's protective shield surrounded his whole body as he prepared to take flight, until the Avengers' field leader, Giant Man, in his heightened form, took notice.

"Rayner! Just where the hell do you think your going!? We have a mission to finish!"

"Sorry, Hank. But the Guardians want to see me, and I'm a Green Lantern first, Avenger second. I have a whole galaxy to protect, and last I checked? The US is an anthill compared to the galaxy as a whole."

"Is there a problem here?" Hawkeye, one of the more morally ambiguous Avengers interrupted.

"No. I was just leaving. Right, Giant Man?"

"Fine. Go."

"Be back soon."

Then, without any haste, the Emerald Avenger took off to the atmosphere at lightspeed. His destination: the moon.

* * *​

"Lantern Rayner. There is a very urgent matter that requires your talents."

"My talents? What about Stewart and Murdock? They can't handle it? I was in the middle of something, Ganthet..."

"I quite understand that you have your duties on Earth to attend to, but this matter has consequences much more dire. The universe is at stake, as well as the lives of Lanterns Murdock and Stewart..."

"Ok. Sorry for the outburst. What is it?"

Kyle then studied Ganthet's worried yet cryptic look, as he only muttered one word.

"Tyrant."

"Tyrant?"

"Yes. Son of Galactus, and possible harbringer of the end of the universe. Unless you go assist Lanterns 2814.2 and 2814.3 in defeating him."

"How? If he's as powerful as Galactus, we're gonna have our hands full..."

"It seems that Galactus' former heralds Norrin Radd and Lantern Jordan have learned from their former master that by making Tyrant plummet into the location of where the Universe's primordial energies reside, an area known as the Cosmic Crunch, will he be defeated."

"Wait... did you just say Jordan's there? He's no longer Galactus' herald?"

"It appears so. Kl'rt, the Super-Skrull had offered himself to take his place. His greed for power knows no bounds, so he took his chance at acquiring the power cosmic by replacing Parallax as his servant. So, yes. Harold Jordan no longer serves Galactus. But the time for talk is over. You must go post-haste. I've already programmed the coordinates of Tyrant's Fortress into your ring, and it shall direct you there. You will find the heralds and Lanterns Murdock and Stewart inside."

"Yes, Ganthet. I won't let Tyrant win."

* * *​

In mere minutes, Kyle had finally found himself at Tyrant's Fortess, where his fellow Lanterns were located, and he wasted no time in entering and searching for them. He finally had found them, but it seems Tyrant beat him there.

"Please, stay a while. I am nothing if not a gracious host. And I am sure I can provide you with some amusement", Tyrant smiled.

"Slaves", Tyrant called out to his robotic soldiers.
"Kill the Lanterns, but bring me the Heralds alive."

The robot warriors attacked the group of four, but before they could lay a hand on them, a green construct in the shape of a huge leaf blower had pushed them all back with gale force.

"I don't think so, Tyrant! We're taking you down here and now!"

 

[wiegeabo]

"I'm thinking that."

I turn away and point towards the light glowing in the sky, a bat symbol in it's center. I pull out my grapple, ready to move on off towards the GCPD HQ.

"Lead on." Robin happily swings away, and I follow. It doesn't take much time to reach GCPD headquarters by batline, and I start to think there's a distinct advantage to Robin's selection of patrol route.

Standing on the roof by the signal is a very familiar sight. The graying haired man, wearing glasses, bound in a trench coat, smoke wafting from his mouth as he gazes into the night.

Behind the signal, Robin and I land. "Commissioner." I say from the shadows.

 

[Red_Robin77]

I watch as Jay and Tony arrive and Banner and Fate discuss some Devil Hulk thing, while I just stand there looking blank, trying to understand what Fate's on about, before I feel something vibrate next to me. In a blur I pull out my Avenger's communicator as it buzzes madly in my hand. I play the message, listening carefully to the instructions.



I turn to Jay and jog over to him, ready to head off immediately.

"Jay, I've gotta go, the Avengers need me. I'll catch up with you later!" I call out to him as I start running in the direction of the designated SHIELD Base.

The area around me begins to become faint and blurry as I rush through the country, before skidding to a halt in the briefing room. I look around before rushing around the base and returning to the briefing room in a second. Must have left already. I run out swiftly and out of the base, heading towards the coast. Before I know, I feel the water splashing against my feet as I run across the water, too fast to sink. Heading in the direction of Kahndaq.

I skid to a halt as I see the familiar sight of the group of heroes. I watch as Rayner flies off into the sky, mildly curious. I turn my sights back to the group, as various metahuman soldiers attack. One spots my and blows a large gust of wind at me. With a few simple steps, I dodge the gust and charge at her, smashing into her and knocking her to the ground.

I spin around and run over to Hank's side as I throw a few more punches at a few metahumans.

"Sorry I'm late. What's happening?"

 

[Optikal]

I hurry back to the hospital. Trust all the big-time superheroics to get in the way of being with my friend when he needs me. I land on the hospital roof, making my way down the stairwell to the top floor, and somewhat incongruously take the elevator down to the floor where Rhodey's ward is to be found.

Entering Rhodey's room, even though I know what to expect, even though I'm wearing something similar myself, I still can't help but be taken aback when I see him. I'm thankful my mask hides the shock on my features, as that's probably the last thing he needs right about now.

"Hi Rhodey. Now, I guess there's a lot you want to ask me...."

Rhodey smiled, the human half of his face twisting into a mutilated grimace. "I take it you kicked the Hulks butt then?" he asked placing his hands on his hips.

"Tony, this is some hardcore tech sh-t you've got me wired up to here buddy. Hell, the on-board systems have told me all I need to know about the tech, but what I need to know is 'why' Tone? Why hook me up to this military grade hardware? I mean, you use yours for all your superhero business, but I'm no superhero. I'm just a grunt. Just a soldier".