One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Carnage27]

"Nyah! You'll never take me in, coppers! Nyah, y'see?"

He heaved down on the trigger of his gun, mowing the police down one after another, laughing giddily as he did so.

"You sick son of a *****!"

Sure, not my usual, witty banter, but this psycho has pushed my last button. Going after me for the job is fine. I mean I'd rather he didn't, but at least this is understandable. Mowing down innocent men and women just doing their job? Over the line, and hits close to home with what happened to Uncle Ben.

He turns the guns on me, and I quickly roll under is gun fire and grab him by his wrists, breaking both of them and delivering a hard headbutt to his nose, which snaps under the pressure.

He sends a combo of kicks my way, one which catches my chin and sends me sliding back. I spring of the balls of my feet and vault over Deadpool's head, delivering a kick to the small of his back once I've cleared him.

"Stand down, Deadpool. You've gone over the line. SWATs probably already on their way."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Hi, Ray", Scott smiled.
"My name is Scott Summers, and these are friends of mine, Jean Grey, and Kurt Wagner."

"Whoa", Ray shows his surprise on seeing the appearance of Nightcrawler.

"So, Scott...what's your angle", Ray's mother asks as she sizes up the X-Men's field leader.
"Why are you here?"

"We're here on behalf of a man named Charles Xavier, ma'am", Scott replies.
"Professor Xavier is the Headmaster of a school in Westchester, New York."

"A school for the gifted", Jean adds with a smile.

"Gifted?"

"Yes", Cyclops nods, "a school were mutants, like us and Ray, can go and get an education without worrying about being persecuted by classmates."

"And a place where young mutants are taught to control their powers and the responsibilities that come with them."

"So, what? Are you all saying you want Ray to attend your...school for the gifted, was it?"

 

[Byrd Man]

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

I turn and see Batman and his young partner by his side.

"Gentlemen," I say as I shut off the signal.

"I know both of you are busy, so I'll be brief. Something has come up in the Major Crimes Unit's investigation. We believe Two-Face is laundering his money in one of the local banks. What they need to trace it is a little bit out of the budget reach for the cty police."

I look at the masked man with a small smile on my face.

"What do you know about irradiated bills?"

 

[Carnage27]

"Gifted?"

"Yes", Cyclops nods, "a school were mutants, like us and Ray, can go and get an education without worrying about being persecuted by classmates."

"And a place where young mutants are taught to control their powers and the responsibilities that come with them."

"So, what? Are you all saying you want Ray to attend your...school for the gifted, was it?"

"Yes that's it."

I shift my feet a little uneasily, "Zhat...and to possibly join zhe X-Men."

"The X-Men? What's that?" Ray asks.

"Vell, ve are zhe X-Men. We are Professor Xaviers trained team. Ve recruit other mutants to the school, as vell as...Vell let's just say ve know how to get out of a jam," I chuckle.

 

[Catman_prb]

Uh, guys...

What Jamie?

This ain't working.

The Neo-Nazi's huge fist slammed into the side of his nose breaking it. The mob swarmed over Jamie and his dupes, heading once more towards the house.

 

[Karem-Knight]

United States Military Airbase, Location unknown

Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller, Director of S.H.E.I.L.D. sat quietly in the United States Airbase. As one of Luthor's Presidential Staff came walking in through the door, Lex turned back knowing immediately what he would be saying.

"Mr.President, the press have learnt about the Kahndaq situation. They are asking for a statement from you, sir."

"Dammit..."

"I can handle it from here Sir, you can talk to the press right away."

Luthor thought for a moment, carefully. He then just simply gave a smile, The Avengers were in mist of a tough battle that could destroy Luthor's chances of re-election or even see him out of the White House. As he stood there thinking; Waller was busy on the com-link to none other than Hawkeye.

"Barton! What's the update on the situation?"

"It's not looking good, Green Lantern has just left to go on some sort of space adventure; and it even looks like Thor needs some help. Wonder Babe has gone to help him out, but don't know if she can do much against Black Adam and his minions. Over."

Luthor turned back to his Presidential staff.

"Tell the press, I'll release a statement as quickly as I can. But that I have a quick and simple solution to this situation."

He nodded and walked off, as Waller turned around in a haste- shocked to hear what came out of Lex's mouth.

"A solution!? With all due respect sir, The Avengers are outnumbered by the amount of meta humans and mutants Black Adam is holding in Kahndaq. If this goes sour, and if we lost an Avengers; things won't look good and the press will eat you alive!"

"Oh Amanda..." Lex chuckled, his trademark smirk always exposing his true plans. "...do you really believe, I would allow the Sentry to run a muck in Kahndaq and think The Avengers would solve it by themselves? They're only human...well, you know what I mean. But I always, always; have a plan B."

"What do you mean by "plan B"?"

"Why do you think I asked to meet here to settle the Kahndaq situation? Sure; they're are a mass example of my technology, but that is the same story all over the country. No, I asked for this meeting to commence here for one important reason; follow me please.

General Ross, you're in charge while we are gone."

The Director of S.H.E.I.L.D. and the President walked out of the military base near the main elevator area. Lex got out his security card and swiped it on the elevator door key as it came up to their floor and walked in.

"When LexCorp first started I had a brilliant but very odd scientist under my employment named Bolivar Trask. He was heading a robotics project, built to withstand any threats sustained from mutants or even metahumans. I did not necessarily agree with his view point of keeping them under such strict control, however as the world changed; I saw his point of view much more clearly and decided to adjust his project.

Originally he conceived this to be one massive machine, but as my company grew I knew that I would be able to make this into a mass-production project for the military. But now that I'm in control of the government and own the military- I knew that this project would be very helpful to us indeed, especially for this situation, if the metahumans working for us were not enough this would aid them and could well evenutualyl replaced them."

The elevator stopped at the very bottom floor of the base, many miles underground as Lex oprned the doors and turned on the lights to reveal a shocking sight to Amanda Waller.

".....Miss Waller, I present The Sentinels."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Yes that's it."

I shift my feet a little uneasily, "Zhat...and to possibly join zhe X-Men."

"The X-Men? What's that?" Ray asks.

"Vell, ve are zhe X-Men. We are Professor Xaviers trained team. Ve recruit other mutants to the school, as vell as...Vell let's just say ve know how to get out of a jam," I chuckle.

"I don't know if I like the sound of that", his mother questioned.
"Trained team? I like the idea of Ray being able to get an education without having to deal with the prejudice of a normal school...but you've got another thing coming if you think I'd let my baby get placed into harm's way."

"Mom", Ray said embarrassed as his cheeks flushed red.

"It's all right, ma'am", Scott interjected.
"You don't have to worry about that. The only trouble Ray would have to worry about is making sure his homework is done on time for Dr. McCoy's science class."

Uh, guys...

What Jamie?

This ain't working.

The Neo-Nazi's huge fist slammed into the side of his nose breaking it. The mob swarmed over Jamie and his dupes, heading once more towards the house.

"Guys", Jean interrupted, "we've got a problem."

A beer bottle came smashing through the window, sending shards of glass all across the living room floor.
The sounds of the mob outside grew to a fever pitch, their hateful slurs echoing throughout the house.

"We have to get out of here", Scott shouted as he led them to the back door.

"Jean, tell Jamie to fall back! Tell him to meet us back at the Blackbird!"

Opening the door, a bullet smashed into the wooden frame, splintering it, and forcing Scott to duck back inside.
"Damn lunatics", Scott shouted as he shielded Ray and his mother.

"Kurt", Cyclops looked up to Nightcrawler, "disarm him if you please."

 

[Carnage27]

Opening the door, a bullet smashed into the wooden frame, splintering it, and forcing Scott to duck back inside.

"Damn lunatics", Scott shouted as he shielded Ray and his mother.

"Kurt", Cyclops looked up to Nightcrawler, "disarm him if you please."

"Vill do."

BAMF

I drop down in the middle of the mob, most of whom scatter at the sight of me. One takes a swing at me with a baseball bat, which I grab with my tail and fling it far away.

I roll towards the man with the gun, spring off my tail, and plant a devastating kick to his back, "Don't you know you could shoot your eye out vith those things?"

I scoop up the gun, while ducking out of the way of a pitchfork stab, "You all reeeaaallly vent overboard on the Frankenstein theme, didn't you?"

BAMF

Instantly I'm back inside, "Gun's secure. Shall ve get out of here?"

 

[Catman_prb]

Jamie, the missions over, get back to the Blackbird right now.

Ya think?

The British teenager struggled with the thugs that were pinning him down. As another blow landed on his face, he gritted his teeth and kicked out, popping one man's knee cap. He brought his fist up, smashing the teeth of the man that was pinning his shoulders. He struggled and broke free of the grasp of the rest of the men, hauling himself up. He gasped as he felt coarse rope being drawn around his neck, choking him. He turned and saw the Nazi holding the noose, pulling on it and choking him. Jamie leapt, knocking the burly man to the ground and slamming his fist into his face.

"Screw you you mutie ****," he growled through his broken mouth.

Jamie headbutted him and pushed him into the floor, running off towards the Blackbird. He sprinted up the ramp, wiping at the blood that was running down his cheek with his sleeve. He winced; he was going to have a black eye in the morning. He pulled at the rope around his neck.

"Well that could've gone better," he gasped.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"So now I must destroy you both."

Enraged, Black Adam held his ground, facing both Thor and Wonder Woman. Already he had fought Thor to a standstill, and now he seemed ready to take the fight to Diana too. But all three were distracted by a darkening of the skies. Thor had summoned no storm clouds, so was as curious as the others to see what else could blot out Khandaq's blinding-bright desert sun. Confusion soon gave way to shock when he saw what now filled the skies:

"HOSTILES DETECTED: ELIMINATE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE."

 

[Catman_prb]

The Vision was fighting with the Khandaqi metahuman forces, using his superior skill to weather the soldiers without actively killing them. He noted the Green Lantern leaving and the Flash arriving with no action, merely focusing on fighting with the ever massing metahumans. Then the air was full of blinding lights. The Vision looked up.

"HOSTILES DETECTED: ELIMINATE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE."

"No!" the Vision shouted as the new robots started to tear through the rank and file of Black Adam's army "They'll kill them!"

He made to fly towards the lead construct but a hand gripped his shoulder.

"Easy robot," Barton growled "They're on our side,"

"But they're killing civilians on the ground," Vision said, mouth slightly agape in an expression he had learnt from examaining Wanda.

"And isn't it marvelous," Hawkeye said with a grin "I think these things are based off of some of your designs. So, what, that would make them your brothers?"

"This all could have been done peacefully," the Vision whispered, then looked for Giant Man in amongst the chaos.

The Avenger's leader was talking casually with the Flash, as though the events transpiring were not in fact occurring at all. He looked to the sky and saw Thor and Wonder Woman in combat with Black Adam. He gritted his teeth, an unfamiliar sensation in the pit of his stomach. He made a decision and kicked off from the ground.

"Thor!" he shouted over the sound of destruction as the Sentinels cut through the crowd "They're killing the civilians! And Pym is letting them!"

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Vision was right. These man-made monstrosities were not just killing the enemy combatants, but were instead attacking Khandaqi civilians indiscriminately. The fight had taken Thor, Wonder Woman and Black Adam into the midst of a crowded village, and now all around them, men, women and children were being annihilated by the robots' deadly energy beams.

"This is... madness!"

Thor's voice was quiet, trembling with fury. And The Vision was also correct about Pym. Whatever these things were, Pym had no interest in stopping them, and that could only mean that he viewed them as being on their side. What kind of people had Thor agreed to work with?

"Look!" Thor hissed, turning to Black Adam, "Is this what you wanted? Your angry petulance has brought fire raining down on the heads of your people."

Letting out a roar of rage, Adam lunged at Thor. But Thor stopped him in his tracks, gripping him firmly by the shoulders.

"No! Your country is under attack. Innocent people are dying. This... is not just. Our battle can be resumed later. But now, will you let us fight by your side to ward off this menace?"

After several moments' thought, Adam reluctantly nodded.

"Very well. Now these abominations shall feel the might of the storm!"

Throwing himself into the air, Thor tossed Mjolnir through the head of a Sentinel, watching it falter and tumble to the ground.

 

[Keyser Soze]

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".

"No, Rhodey, you're not just a soldier. You're the most capable, loyal, brave soldier I know."

The visor on my helmet retracts, revealing my face below. That was the short answer to Rhodey's question of why. But something tells me it's the long answer he's looking for.

"As you well know, given all the fights we've had about it, after escaping from Afghanistan I made the decision that Stark Industries would no longer manufacture weapons for the military. Something the military is none too happy about, given that they view the Iron Man as the ultimate weapon. Even now I'm at odds with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. over their attempts to sieze some of my designs for government use. I've heard every argument under the sun from these people, but there's one that really stings me. That I'm being selfish, the billionaire playboy flying around protected in my suit of armor while our soldiers die in Afghanistan and Iraq."

I let out a sigh, pressing the bridge of my nose between my metal-clad fingertips. It's not something I'm happy about. I've read the tabloids, the dirt rags with their inaccurate lies about me gladly sending ill-equipped young men off to die on foreign land, as if I was the one sending them. Of course I don't want that. But I know the alternative is so much worse, but it's hard finding the word to justify myself to someone as pragmatic and level-headed as James Rhodes.

"I'm a futurist, Rhodey. I can envision the three Ps and the W of the future: the possible, the probable, the preferable, plus a wildcard or two. Everything I've done, everything I've built, has been an attempt to interpret the future, see where we're headed as a society, and create the things that I believe will serve us best in that future. It is my job to look into the future, and when I do... I can't see one single scenario where any one country - even ours - possessing an army of Iron Men is a good thing."

Even now, even looking at one other person in an armor like mine, even when it's Rhodey, I can't help but getting that sick feeling in my gut, the sensation of witnessing a nightmare made flesh.

"One of my biggest fears is that the Iron Man becomes cheap. That it becomes something affordable, accessible, replaceable.... expendable. Something that anybody can pilot. The thought of squadrons of soldiers wearing the armor takes me to black ops mercenaries in the armor, which takes me to hired killers in the armor, and from there it's not a huge steps to gang members on the streets decked in Iron Man armor. I don't want the secret of the Iron Man out there, and for the longest time I thought I was the only one I could trust with it."

I look up at Rhodey, stepping towards him.

"But I see the other side of the argument, Rhodey. I know there are kids dying for their country. I know that a lot of the time I'm too busy kicking The Hulk's butt to help fight insurgents in the Middle East. Though I've vowed not to put any more weapons into this world, I can see why the army could use the help of Iron Man. But no more than one, and I wouldn't be giving the armor to the army. I'd be giving it to someone I trust, perhaps the only person I trust as much as myself. You, Rhodey."

I put my hand on his shoulder. Telling this story, I realise it sounds a bit homoerotic, but if you were here, you'd see it was totally... manly, and stuff. A very powerful moment, I thought.

"This wasn't about pity. This was something I had been wanting to ask you for a long time, and yes, your accident forced my hand. But I chose you because you're the only person I can trust with this responsibility. My armor's sleek, designed for the superhero business, as you call it. Yours is designed for the battlefield. It's bulkier, more durable, it's packed with more weaponry than you could dream of. Your suit is like an ejaculation of all that weapon-making skill I repressed and tried to turn away from, every negative impulse drained from my mind and into a suit of armor. You're going to do the jobs I can't, go the places I can't. I know you're a soldier through and through, that's who you are, so I made you the ultimate soldier. The military wanted Iron Man, well I gave them more than that. I gave them a... a..."

And then the words come to me. As I say them, they seem to hang solid in the air with an ominous ring of finality.

"War Machine."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Scott led the group out the back door and into the woods, the sounds of the front door being kicked in echoing out across the neighborhood.

As they made the trek towards the Blackbird, the sounds of sirens approaching blew in through the trees.

"Thank Christ", Ray's mother sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Scott", she said as she stopped.
"I appreciate what you all did back there. You saved our lives. Thank you."

"It was nothing, ma'am", Scott replied as the sounds of sirens drew louder and remained stationary as the squad cars pulled up to the Terrill's house.

"I'm going back home."

"Mom, are you nuts!?"

"Ray, watch your mouth", she said, giving Ray a look.

"Sorry."

"The police are there taking care of those thugs. I'll move up through the Andersen's yard, and come home the long way. If there's still trouble, I can go hide at Peggy's house until it's over."

"But, Mom, I-"

"No 'buts', Mister", she said as she leaned forward and wrapped him in a tight hug.
Ray returned the embrace and she kissed him on the forehead.

"I'll be fine. What you have to decide is what you want to do now."

"I don't know", Ray said thoughtfully as he looked over the X-Men.
"I think I'd like to check out this school. See if they can help me with my powers."

"If that's what you want, sweetie, then go", she said with a loving smile.

"And you, Scott...I expect him to get a good education too. And if anything happens to him, I'm holding you personally responsible."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Terrill", Scott replied, "he'll be in good hands."

"Come on, Ray", Jean said as they moved up the ramp into the Blackbird.
"We've got to go."

"You be on your best behavior, young man", she shouted as Ray waved goodbye and followed the X-Men up the ramp.
"I want you to call me as soon as you get situated!"

The landing ramp closed shut and the Blackbird silently rose straight up into the air. Once it got high enough, the engines came on and the jet rocketed off into the clouds.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 5 ~ Into the Lion's Den - Act 2​

"Another Lantern", Tyrant laughed.
"It makes little difference. . .kill them."

The horde of robots attacked, and the heroes gave their all as they fought back. Tyrant's minions were tough though, and it took much more than Norrin could have imagined to defeat them.
But they seemed almost endless.

"I do not know who you are", the Surfer said to the newcomer as he blasted the head off of an approaching robot.
"But you have my thanks!"

"I've got it", Hal shouted as he grabbed hold of the energy sphere and tore it from it's resting place.
Robot soldiers went after Parallax, but the Herald was able to fend them off with the help of Daredevil.
The heroes were holding their own against the overwhelming odds, but it wouldn't be long before they were overrun.

"We need to get out of here, now", the Surfer shouted as he dodged an incoming energy blast.

"Lantern", he spoke to the newcomer.
"Can you blow a hole in that side wall!? It should lead us back out to the main corridor!"

 

[Catman_prb]

"Very well. Now these abominations shall feel the might of the storm!"

Throwing himself into the air, Thor tossed Mjolnir through the head of a Sentinel, watching it falter and tumble to the ground.

"Father!" the Vision shouted as he descended from the sky to Hank Pym's side "Will you really stand by and let these monstrousities kill the people?"

Pym was silent, a look of mingled shock and curiosity upon his face.

"They are murdering women and children!" the android shouted, his fists clenching as rage boiled inside him.

"Vision, we're only following orders. And they did start it," Pym said, confused at what he was supposed to have done wrong.

The Vision grabbed his creator's shoulders, shaking him passionately "You would stand impedently by whilst there was killing?"

"Listen here-"

"No!" he shouted, removing his hands as though they had been scalded "You are no father of mine,"

The Vision fled from his creator to the skies.

 

[Optikal]

"No, Rhodey, you're not just a soldier. You're the most capable, loyal, brave soldier I know."

The visor on my helmet retracts, revealing my face below. That was the short answer to Rhodey's question of why. But something tells me it's the long answer he's looking for.

"As you well know, given all the fights we've had about it, after escaping from Afghanistan I made the decision that Stark Industries would no longer manufacture weapons for the military. Something the military is none too happy about, given that they view the Iron Man as the ultimate weapon. Even now I'm at odds with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. over their attempts to sieze some of my designs for government use. I've heard every argument under the sun from these people, but there's one that really stings me. That I'm being selfish, the billionaire playboy flying around protected in my suit of armor while our soldiers die in Afghanistan and Iraq."

I let out a sigh, pressing the bridge of my nose between my metal-clad fingertips. It's not something I'm happy about. I've read the tabloids, the dirt rags with their inaccurate lies about me gladly sending ill-equipped young men off to die on foreign land, as if I was the one sending them. Of course I don't want that. But I know the alternative is so much worse, but it's hard finding the word to justify myself to someone as pragmatic and level-headed as James Rhodes.

"I'm a futurist, Rhodey. I can envision the three Ps and the W of the future: the possible, the probable, the preferable, plus a wildcard or two. Everything I've done, everything I've built, has been an attempt to interpret the future, see where we're headed as a society, and create the things that I believe will serve us best in that future. It is my job to look into the future, and when I do... I can't see one single scenario where any one country - even ours - possessing an army of Iron Men is a good thing."

Even now, even looking at one other person in an armor like mine, even when it's Rhodey, I can't help but getting that sick feeling in my gut, the sensation of witnessing a nightmare made flesh.

"One of my biggest fears is that the Iron Man becomes cheap. That it becomes something affordable, accessible, replaceable.... expendable. Something that anybody can pilot. The thought of squadrons of soldiers wearing the armor takes me to black ops mercenaries in the armor, which takes me to hired killers in the armor, and from there it's not a huge steps to gang members on the streets decked in Iron Man armor. I don't want the secret of the Iron Man out there, and for the longest time I thought I was the only one I could trust with it."

I look up at Rhodey, stepping towards him.

"But I see the other side of the argument, Rhodey. I know there are kids dying for their country. I know that a lot of the time I'm too busy kicking The Hulk's butt to help fight insurgents in the Middle East. Though I've vowed not to put any more weapons into this world, I can see why the army could use the help of Iron Man. But no more than one, and I wouldn't be giving the armor to the army. I'd be giving it to someone I trust, perhaps the only person I trust as much as myself. You, Rhodey."

I put my hand on his shoulder. Telling this story, I realise it sounds a bit homoerotic, but if you were here, you'd see it was totally... manly, and stuff. A very powerful moment, I thought.

"This wasn't about pity. This was something I had been wanting to ask you for a long time, and yes, your accident forced my hand. But I chose you because you're the only person I can trust with this responsibility. My armor's sleek, designed for the superhero business, as you call it. Yours is designed for the battlefield. It's bulkier, more durable, it's packed with more weaponry than you could dream of. Your suit is like an ejaculation of all that weapon-making skill I repressed and tried to turn away from, every negative impulse drained from my mind and into a suit of armor. You're going to do the jobs I can't, go the places I can't. I know you're a soldier through and through, that's who you are, so I made you the ultimate soldier. The military wanted Iron Man, well I gave them more than that. I gave them a... a..."

And then the words come to me. As I say them, they seem to hang solid in the air with an ominous ring of finality.

"War Machine."

Rhodes listens to his oldest friend retell his story with a rare show of openess and honesty.

War Machine.

It had a nice ring to it. One thing still bothered him though. "Hey Tony, One more question... how come your suits cod-piece is bigger than mine?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

Rhodes listens to his oldest friend retell his story with a rare show of openess and honesty.

War Machine.

It had a nice ring to it. One thing still bothered him though. "Hey Tony, One more question... how come your suits cod-piece is bigger than mine?"

"It's got a compartment. I used to keep a hip-flask of bourbon stored in there."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Father!" the Vision shouted as he descended from the sky to Hank Pym's side "Will you really stand by and let these monstrousities kill the people?"

Pym was silent, a look of mingled shock and curiosity upon his face.

"They are murdering women and children!" the android shouted, his fists clenching as rage boiled inside him.

"Vision, we're only following orders. And they did start it," Pym said, confused at what he was supposed to have done wrong.

The Vision grabbed his creator's shoulders, shaking him passionately "You would stand impedently by whilst there was killing?"

"Listen here-"

"No!" he shouted, removing his hands as though they had been scalded "You are no father of mine,"

The Vision fled from his creator to the skies.

"This does not make us friends, Odinson!" snarled Black Adam as he battled a Sentinel, "When these beasts have been destroyed, we have affairs to settle."

Thor deflected the energy blast of another Sentinel with his hammer.

"We shall cross that bridge when we come to it, Adam. For now, saving Khandaq is all that matters."

 

[Optikal]

"It's got a compartment. I used to keep a hip-flask of bourbon stored in there."

"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me". Rhodey muttered. "Listen Tony, I wanted to thank you. Not just for this, but for everything. I appreciate you giving me a second chance".

It was true. After the accident, Rhodes had given up on everything. Now he stood there, broken, but somehow whole. He had a job still to do and now he had the equipment, the tech and the firepower to do it more effectively than ever before. Let Stark be the hero. Rhodes was a soldier and right now, a soldier was exactly what the world needed.

 

[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."

"It's okay, Bruce", Superman says dismissively, though there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"You weren't in control, and it wasn't your fault."

Yes, that much was true, but still...all this destruction. Clark felt sorry for Bruce, he truly did. He was a good man, but every time he had an outburst...well, whether he meant it or not, something had to be done. And Fate, of all people, should be able to help Bruce get rid of the monster.

"Hopefully, Fate will be able to help you find some peace", he smiled as warmly as he could.

"Thanks, Superman", Banner nodded, a little bit of the guilt seemingly off his shoulders.
"Cap, Flash...thanks for everything."

"All right, Fate", Banner nodded, "I'm ready."

"Then let us depart", the Doctor stated as he weaved his hands in a spell, summoning a shining white ankh behind them.

"Until we meet again, my friends", Fate said as the ankh engulfed both he and Banner and they disappeared.

Superman let out a sigh as he looked out across the crater that marked the end of the fight with the Devil Hulk.
In the distance, many miles away, he could already here the sirens and chatter of the clean-up crews as they began sorting through the wreckage of Los Angelas.
He still had a few hours before he had to get ready for his date with Lois...

"Flash, Cap...I think I'm going to stick around for a bit and lend a hand", the Man of Steel said, indicating towards LA.
"Lord knows they're going to need all the help they can get."

 

[Byrd Man]

Superman let out a sigh as he looked out across the crater that marked the end of the fight with the Devil Hulk.
In the distance, many miles away, he could already here the sirens and chatter of the clean-up crews as they began sorting through the wreckage of Los Angelas.
He still had a few hours before he had to get ready for his date with Lois...

"Flash, Cap...I think I'm going to stick around for a bit and lend a hand", the Man of Steel said, indicating towards LA.
"Lord knows they're going to need all the help they can get."

I reach down and pick my shield off the ground, I nod in agreement with Superman as I wipe off the dust.

"I'll help out. We helped to make that mess, the least we can do is clean it up."

 

[Catman_prb]

"This does not make us friends, Odinson!" snarled Black Adam as he battled a Sentinel, "When these beasts have been destroyed, we have affairs to settle."

Thor deflected the energy blast of another Sentinel with his hammer.

"We shall cross that bridge when we come to it, Adam. For now, saving Khandaq is all that matters."

The Vision stuck his hands throough the eye sockets of a sentinel that had miniguns hanging down from it's arms. Solidifying, he pulled the face plate off, throwing it into the chest of another robot. He slammed his fist into the circuitry, sending up sparks. The lights inside powered down and the sentinel collapsed onto the ground.

"RISK ASSESSMENT: PRIORITY TARGETS DESIGNATED; BLACK ADAM, THOR, VISION,"

The sentinels took their sightless gaze away from the civilians and turned to the skyward heroes.

"I think we've got their attention," the Vision said, preparing himself for the onslaught that was to follow.

-THUNK-

Vision looked down at his leg, where an arrow was protruding. Looking at the ground he saw Hawkeye, bow pointed in his direction. He frowned; this didn't look like a regular arrow. He gripped the shaft, and then let out a resounding scream as thousands of volts of electricity coursed through his body. Thor and Adam were engaged in combat, he thought with his rapidly weakening facilities, and the rest of the team were against him. Save perhaps one.

"DIANA!" he screamed.

 

[wiegeabo]

I turn and see Batman and his young partner by his side.

"Gentlemen," I say as I shut off the signal.

"I know both of you are busy, so I'll be brief. Something has come up in the Major Crimes Unit's investigation. We believe Two-Face is laundering his money in one of the local banks. What they need to trace it is a little bit out of the budget reach for the cty police."

I look at the masked man with a small smile on my face.

"What do you know about irradiated bills?"

"Enough to know that it's a good idea. And don't worry about the cost, I can get us what we need."

I step out of the light while Robin fills the time practicing some acrobatics. He's showed me significant growth tonight, but he's still a boy. And children bore easily. "How close are you to Harvey?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Enough to know that it's a good idea. And don't worry about the cost, I can get us what we need."

I step out of the light while Robin fills the time practicing some acrobatics. He's showed me significant growth tonight, but he's still a boy. And children bore easily. "How close are you to Harvey?"

"Close. Very close. We've got a wiretap on his top lieuteanant, as well as taps on other members of his gang."

I give Batman a slight smile as I stick my hands in my pockets.

"I feel like, once we start to follow the money we can find out exactly who all he has working for him."