One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Keyser Soze]

The Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. and Emma Frost carried Adam's unconscious body from the White House and towards a near by helicopter as Lex turned around back to the Avengers with a look of pride to them.

"And once again, Avengers. Thank you. If it hadn't been for your intervention I would n't know how we could have coped with Kahndaq. Now, another rouge nation has been dealt with."

Luthor stood there starring at his new pawns whom gave him nothing more than a stern look, trying to stop the anger and betrayal they felt from him. But still he waited for their response.

"Rogue nation?"

Thor had been silently fuming through the entire debacle, but he could remain quiet no longer.

"In my time - and that covers many a year - I have come to understand that there is no such thing as a rogue nation. Nations are not rogues. People are. People like you, Mr. President. You are a rogue, a charlatan, a lie-spouting schemer, rotten and false, you are an empty charade, a tinpot tyrant. You are a base, petty.... small little man."

He did not raise his voice, talking at a pitch barely above a whisper. But as Thor spoke, the skies darkened, lightning flickered in the sky, and the very thunder in the skies seemed to reverbate with his whispered words. It was then perhaps that Luthor realised he had not merely angered men, but had incurred the wrath of a god, also.

"I would strike you down where you stand were it not for the office you hold, an office I respect, an office you do not deserve. As it stands, the most I can do is sever any kind of allegiance to you or affiliation with you. I am not your servant. If that is what the Avengers are to be now, then I no longer want any part of them."

Thor took his Avengers communicator off his belt, and slammed it into Luthor's chest, just hard enough to knock the President off his feet.

"I believe there is a saying amongst the people of Midgard that can educate you on where you can put that."

With that said, Thor thrust Mjolnir into the air, and flew off into the skies of Washington, quickly disappearing from view.

 

[Blacklight]

"This way", the Surfer shouted as he turned a sharp corner, the entire group evading a volley of weapons fire from the horde nipping at their heels.
Parallax turned and fired a blast of cosmic energy at the ceiling, collapsing it and blocking the hallway behind them.

"That should buy us some time", Hal said as the group continued to race out of Fortress.

"Yes, we should be able to...wait", Norrin said, a puzzled look on his face. There was something else here, a power he senses.

"Go on ahead. I will catch up soon", Norrin said as he slowed his pace and veered away from the group.

"Norrin, what are you doing", shouted Hal.

"There is something I need to do, first. Do not worry, I will meet you back at the Crunch."

"Dammit", Hal grumbled as he took off after Norrin.
"Lanterns! Take the orb to the Crunch and wait for us there! We'll be right behind you!"

"We're on it." Kyle courageously stated.

He surrounded te orb in an aura of emerald energy and summoned it forth into his own hands. He then, as well as Green Lanterns Daredevil and John Stewart, flew towards the Crunch, the orb in tow.

Once there, Tyrants robots finally caught up with them, and the trio started to defend themselves from the hordes of mindless machines, all the while, the frighteningly powerful Tyrant arrived and floated before them, with a sickening smirk upon his face.

"Give me the Orb, Lanterns and I will kill you quickly and painlessly... Deny me and I will take pleasure in hearing every bone in your weak, fleshy bodies be crushed under my MIGHT!!"

"Sorry, Tyrant, but we're not going down without a fight!"

"Yeah! What he said!"

I just wish Hal and Norrin would hurry up! Kyle hoped...

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"So, Hank. How is your new class coming along?" Charles asks as he moves his knight.

Ever since my days as a tudent, our weekly chess matches were something of a ritual. Very rarely have we not played at least a game one week.

"Very interesting. It seems to me that the class enjoys learning about evolution, especially since I told them that we are biproduct of that evolution theory," I say as I move one of my rooks two spaces.

"I believe that Scott and the team have arrived," he says as he wheels away from the table.

"It's your move."

"Well, Bishop to B7. Checkmate."

I look down at the board and frown.

"Yes, it seems you have."

The door opens and the visor clad head of Scott Summers pops in.

"Scott, please come in. Tell me how it went."

"Hello, Professor", Scott nodded.
"Hank."

"It could've been smoother, but Ray and his mother weren't hurt by the mob. Speaking of which..."

"I'd like to introduce you two to Ray Terrill", Scott said as he motioned towards the blond kid standing behind him.

"Hey...uh, how you guys doing", Ray said nervously.

 

[wiegeabo]

I run around the streets, to scared to move anyone and make their injuries worse. The dead almost outnumber the injured. Horrific is an understatement.

So I do what I can. You don't go as many years as I do without getting emergency training. And I'm trained enough to know to leave the worst cases to the professionals. But I'm also trained enough to know how to tell. So that's what I keep busy with. Triage.

I go around tagging people so the EMT's can focus on healing and helping. Green tags for minor injuries. The so-called 'walking wounded' who can make it to the hospital themselves. Yellow for serious but not life-threatening. They're stable and can hold out for a while. Red for needs immediate attention. Life-threatening injuries.

But black is the hardest.

Black stands for morgue. But that doesn't mean they're dead. It can also mean they're hopeless. That they are still alive, but should be taken last because others have better chances of survival. As in, better than zero. My heart tells me to never give them out. But my brain and training tell me for the unlucky, it's just their time. And there are only so many resources to go around.

"It makes me sick, seeing all of this...being part of it all", Superman said as he floated down next to Captain America.

"If we only could've found out about this sooner...maybe we could've saved them", Clark said as he looked about at the destruction around him.

"There's got to be a better way."

"You're right. We haven't been proactive enough. We haven't been much of a League." The air is still thick with smoke, sirens, and cries of pain. "That's going to stop today."

 

[Byrd Man]

"You're right. We haven't been proactive enough. We haven't been much of a League." The air is still thick with smoke, sirens, and cries of pain. "That's going to stop today."

"What can we do? We had no way of knowing the Hulk was going to snap and rampage around L.A. it's almost impossible for us to be anything but reactive. That's how we work."

I see a torn American flag laying on the ground, debris scattered around it.

"No matter how obsolete it may be, that's the only way I can see us operating."

 

[wiegeabo]

I chuckle softly to myself as I cross my arms.

"His Honor loves what Two-Face is doing. Overall, Dent is keeping crime down in the areas he controls with an iron fist. He wants me to back off right now. With the election coming up next year, he likes it when crime is down. No matter how it's being done."

I cross my arms and grunt again. Ousting corruption within the department is going to difficult to say the least without ousting the corruption in City Hall. But until something illegal is done, there's little I can do about that. Besides keeping a closer eye on things.

"I don't really care what the mayor likes. Dent is just replacing one type of crime for another. We need to stop him now before he becomes too big. Too powerful."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"What can we do? We had no way of knowing the Hulk was going to snap and rampage around L.A. it's almost impossible for us to be anything but reactive. That's how we work."

I see a torn American flag laying on the ground, debris scattered around it.

"No matter how obsolete it may be, that's the only way I can see us operating."

"I don't know", Superman spoke, "there has to be a better way. A way we can monitor the world...watch over the planet and spot trouble like this before it can do any harm."

 

[wiegeabo]

"What can we do? We had no way of knowing the Hulk was going to snap and rampage around L.A. it's almost impossible for us to be anything but reactive. That's how we work."

I see a torn American flag laying on the ground, debris scattered around it.

"No matter how obsolete it may be, that's the only way I can see us operating."

"Things have changed, Steve. The world doesn't work that way anymore, and neither should we." Listen to the old man talking about change and the future. Joan's the computer geek in the family, not me. I look around. Still...

"We need to talk with Tony. I think it's time the Brownstone got an upgrade..."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 6 ~ Endgame - Act 1​

"Well, what the ****", Lobo frowned.
"Do I got my fly open or somethin'? You girls just gonna stand there gawkin' or are you gonna get me down?"

"Why should we?"

"Because you're a couple a goody-two-shoes", the Czarnian smiled as he stuck out his tongue.
"You and me both know that you can't leave me here to die. Besides, you're takin' on Tyrant, right?"

"After what that sorry sack did to me, I owe him a good fragin'. And you're gonna need all the fire power you can get ta take that bastich down."

"He is right", Norrin sighed.

"Oh, come on. He's a psychopathic murderer with the Power Cosmic! There's no way we can trust him!"

"Hey, if I may interject...murderers kill for the fun of it. I kill for money. Big difference...though I gotta admit, it is still pretty ****in' fun."

"We do not have much of a choice, Hal. We will need all the help we can get against Tyrant. And, being a former Herald, Lobo has the power to help us."

"Yeah, what Shiney said! For once, you and me are on the same side. So why don't we cut the BS and you get me fragin' down from here! Seriously, my leg's been asleep for an hour now and I need to piss somethin' serious."

"You are a crude creature, Lobo", the Surfer spoke as he began to free the Czarnian.

"Remember, you get out of line and we will put you down."

"Yeah, yeah", Lobo dismissed as he was set free from his imprisonment.
"Heard all that crap before."

Sticking his finger and thumb in his mouth, Lobo let out a loud whistle. Seconds later, the faint sound of a roaring engine could be heard, and then the Czarnian's cosmic hog busted in through the ceiling.

"Aw, did you miss daddy", Lobo said sweetly as he ran his hand down the bike's frame.

"All right, bastichs! Let's ride!"

Lobo hopped onto the bike and the Heralds took off into the Black, heading for the Crunch...

--------------------------------------------------​

The cosmic blast took the head off of the robot nearest to the Lanterns as the three former Heralds of Galactus arrived at the cosmic Crunch. The Lantern's backs were to the cascading blue energy that was the Crunch as they were facing dozens of robot soldiers and their master, Tyrant.

The Heralds blasted their way through the robotic line, making their way along side the Lanterns.

""Hey, hey, hey! Here I come to save the day!"

"Sorry we're late", Parallax says.
"We picked up an old...um..."

"We gathered another ally to help us defeat Tyrant", the Surfer stated.

"Little fools", Tyrant laughed, "you may have freed the Czarnian, but it will do you no good. I shall take back that which you stole from me, and drain the cosmic power from your lifeless bodies."

"Kill them all, and bring me my orb!"

The robot minions charged forward suddenly and attacked.

 

[Byrd Man]

I cross my arms and grunt again. Ousting corruption within the department is going to difficult to say the least without ousting the corruption in City Hall. But until something illegal is done, there's little I can do about that. Besides keeping a closer eye on things.

"I don't really care what the mayor likes. Dent is just replacing one type of crime for another. We need to stop him now before he becomes too big. Too powerful."

"I think, in this case, what His Honor doesn't know won't hurt him. I'll work the case, and make the arrest when the time comes."

I take my glasses off and wipe them on my tie.

"What's he going to do, fire me? For arresting criminals? There's no way he'd do that."

I put my glasses back on and turn to Batman.

"Do I want to even ask where you'll get the irradiated bills from?"

 

[Karem-Knight]

"There was a great miscarriage of justice here today, President Luthor. Every man is accountable for his actions, no matter how noble the intention," the Vision said, watching the SHIELD agents with keen eyes.

He was well aware that he had disobeyed protocal, and there was every chance that they would choose this moment to decomission him. Tellingly, Pym would not meet his gaze, and some of the agents were certainly looking his way. Maybe it was just their first experience of a synthetic. He knew what he would do if they came, though. Run, run, run away to Wanda. To safety.

The S.H.E.I.L.D. agents aimed their weapons calmly at the android, when all of a sudden Lex put his hand in the air telling him to stop and the other Avengers looked confused for a moment.

"Lay down your weapons gentlemen, please! This a country of free speech- and The Vision, as a patriot in allowed them. Let's not become like the rouge nation of Kahndaq."

The second time he had used that phrase and all of a sudden Thor, the God of Thunder came to voice his own opinion.

"Rogue nation?"

Thor had been silently fuming through the entire debacle, but he could remain quiet no longer.

"In my time - and that covers many a year - I have come to understand that there is no such thing as a rogue nation. Nations are not rogues. People are. People like you, Mr. President. You are a rogue, a charlatan, a lie-spouting schemer, rotten and false, you are an empty charade, a tinpot tyrant. You are a base, petty.... small little man."

He did not raise his voice, talking at a pitch barely above a whisper. But as Thor spoke, the skies darkened, lightning flickered in the sky, and the very thunder in the skies seemed to reverbate with his whispered words. It was then perhaps that Luthor realised he had not merely angered men, but had incurred the wrath of a god, also.

"I would strike you down where you stand were it not for the office you hold, an office I respect, an office you do not deserve. As it stands, the most I can do is sever any kind of allegiance to you or affiliation with you. I am not your servant. If that is what the Avengers are to be now, then I no longer want any part of them."

Thor took his Avengers communicator off his belt, and slammed it into Luthor's chest, just hard enough to knock the President off his feet.

"I believe there is a saying amongst the people of Midgard that can educate you on where you can put that."

With that said, Thor thrust Mjolnir into the air, and flew off into the skies of Washington, quickly disappearing from view.

Luthor picked himself up off the ground as Thor flew up into the skies, gritting his teeth the President whispered bitterly. "How...dare he!"

Standing up and brushing the dirt off his suit Luthor looked at the communicator. He passed it to Waller calmly, breathing heavily and shakily he closed his eyes trying to keep his calm; the S.H.E.I.L.D. agents looked stunned and useless as the God of Thunder attacked their Commander in Chief. Looking towards his team of heroes, he was now placed in a difficult position- with one of their most powerful gone, what could he do? One of Lex's best weapons was always of course- speech.

"I know what I did was wrong and you may not believe me but perhaps I was the lesser of two evils!? You may all be gifted with incredible power..but some of us humans are not. What was I supposed to do? Let Adam send out his mutant army against U.S. citizens?

No, I took the initiative. The Sentinels were designed to only handle the mutant or meta human threats, but they had an error in them- which I am fixing right now. Same as Kahndaq, as we speak I have U.S. Army personnel setting up a democracy over there. And I did this without any "super powers"- now if you are all high and mighty as the thunder God up there; then join him! But don't forget the responsibility I hold for the world and this country. You have two choices; stay in or get out!"

The President said as he turned away from the Avengers towards the White House, he had no time for criticisms- and would apologetics for his behaviour another time. But for now, he had to deal with the economy, press and various other scandals.

 

[wiegeabo]

"I think, in this case, what His Honor doesn't know won't hurt him. I'll work the case, and make the arrest when the time comes."

I take my glasses off and wipe them on my tie.

"What's he going to do, fire me? For arresting criminals? There's no way he'd do that."

I put my glasses back on and turn to Batman.

"Do I want to even ask where you'll get the irradiated bills from?"

"...No." It's Gordon's turn to grunt. "Tell me how much you need and I'll have them to you by the end of the week."

"Is there anything else?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"...No." It's Gordon's turn to grunt. "Tell me how much you need and I'll have them to you by the end of the week."

"Is there anything else?"

"How about running for Mayor," I say jokingly as I turn away from him and Robin and look out at the night sky.

"My detectives will need around 10 grand in marked bills for the drug buys."

I turn around to tell him where to deliver the money, only now he and Robin have disappeared into the night.

 

[Carnage27]

I head up from the hanger and plot down on my dorm's bed. It's nice to be back at the Mansion, even for a short while. The past few weeks of recruitment have been hell for relaxation time, but I guess I didn't get into the superhero business to relax.

I flip on the TV, and the news pops up on the screen, "A awe-inspiring, yet horrific scene unfolded today in the nation of Kahndaq. The Avengers and President Luthor's new robotic Sentinels descended upon the country, bringing it's rogue leader Black Adam to justice, averting a large scale conflict."

Images of gigantic robots flash on the screen, the people underneath them running in pure terror. Buildings are crushed under their heels with no regard of who is inside them.

"Zhis is...so wrong," I say to myself. There's no doubt that civilians were killed in the conflict. There has to be a better way of containing meta human conflict.

I get up in a haze and walk towards the Professor's office, and enter to find Scott, Ray, and Professor McCoy standing there.

"Kurt, what's wrong?" Professor X asks.

"Turn on the TV," I respond vacantly. The same images are displayed on the screen. "That."

 

[Carnage27]

Three Minutes Later...

Kara Kent sped through the sky, throwing a hard punch at the multi-coloured mercenary who was on top of Spider-Man.

"Uhm...hi," she said uncertainly.

My vision is almost completely blurred out, but I see a blob of blue and red floating in front of me. I attempt to stand, but my legs give out and I flop back down to the rooftop in a thud.

"Help," is all I can manage to say weakly.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Hello, Professor", Scott nodded.
"Hank."

"It could've been smoother, but Ray and his mother weren't hurt by the mob. Speaking of which..."

"I'd like to introduce you two to Ray Terrill", Scott said as he motioned towards the blond kid standing behind him.

"Hey...uh, how you guys doing", Ray said nervously.

"Hello there, young man," I say as I flash a toothy grin.

He seems taken back by my apperance.

"D-do you teach here?"

"Actually, I work in the cafeteria. I hope that will explain the blue hairs you find in your food in the coming months....jokes aside, I am Professor McCoy. I look forward to teaching you."

"Please, Ray, relax. You are among friends here, I am Charles Xavier and welcome to my school."

I get up in a haze and walk towards the Professor's office, and enter to find Scott, Ray, and Professor McCoy standing there.

"Kurt, what's wrong?" Professor X asks.

"Turn on the TV," I respond vacantly. The same images are displayed on the screen. "That."

"Oh my stars and garters," I mutter as I stare at the television.

"First his own superhumans, now robots. It appears Luthor has put together a fine Gestapo force in his short time as president."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Things have changed, Steve. The world doesn't work that way anymore, and neither should we." Listen to the old man talking about change and the future. Joan's the computer geek in the family, not me. I look around. Still...

"We need to talk with Tony. I think it's time the Brownstone got an upgrade..."

"Is this something we need to run by the whole League? I really don't want another farce like the incident with S.H.I.E.L.D."

I frown slightly as I think back to that. That was my fault, I was a little bit too trusting of Nick and his agency.

But in hindsight, the devil you know turned out to be much better than the one you don't.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Is this something we need to run by the whole League? I really don't want another farce like the incident with S.H.I.E.L.D."

I frown slightly as I think back to that. That was my fault, I was a little bit too trusting of Nick and his agency.

But in hindsight, the devil you know turned out to be much better than the one you don't.

"I say we definitely bring the whole League in. It's time we really started being a team. And not just when the next crisis pops up. All the time."

I gesture around us. "Think of how many we could have saved if we'd only gotten here just a little sooner. If we started to be more proactive than reactive."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Hello there, young man," I say as I flash a toothy grin.

He seems taken back by my apperance.

"D-do you teach here?"

"Actually, I work in the cafeteria. I hope that will explain the blue hairs you find in your food in the coming months....jokes aside, I am Professor McCoy. I look forward to teaching you."

"Please, Ray, relax. You are among friends here, I am Charles Xavier and welcome to my school."



"Oh my stars and garters," I mutter as I stare at the television.

"First his own superhumans, now robots. It appears Luthor has put together a fine Gestapo force in his short time as president."

"What do you want to do about this, Professor", Scott asked, unable to take his eyes off of the horrific images on the television.

"As of now...there's nothing we can do", replied a concerned Xavier.
"We will keep track of the situation as best we can, so that we may be ready to take action if it is needed. Though I pray that it won't come to that."

There was a knock on the door, and a large man with short black hair peeked inside.

"Ah, Peter...come in", Xavier smiled.

"Hello, Professor", Piotr spoke as he entered the room and shut the door behind him.
"Scott, Jean, Kurt, Professor McCoy", the large Russian greeted each of the room's occupants that he recognized.
"You wished to see me, Professor?"

"I did", Xavier replied, "Peter, this is our newest student, Ray Terrill. I'd like you to give him a tour of the mansion, if you please, and show Ray to his room."

"Da, Professor", Colossus nodded, "you may count on me. Come, tovarish. I will give you grand tour of your new home."

Ray said his goodbyes and followed Piotr out of Xavier's office.

"I fear this attack on Khandaq is only the tip of the iceberg", Xavier stated with a look of worry.
"I think it best if you left immediately and completed the mission", the Professor said to his X-Men.
"Something tells me we will need all the help we can get for what is to come."

"Sure thing, Professor", Scott nodded.
"Jean? Contact Jamie...tell him to meet in the hanger bay in ten minutes."

"You got it, Slim", Jean smiled as she sent out the telepathic call to Multiple Man.

"If there's nothing else, Professor, we'll get going", Scott asked as he stood in front of Xavier and Hank.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"I say we definitely bring the whole League in. It's time we really started being a team. And not just when the next crisis pops up. All the time."

I gesture around us. "Think of how many we could have saved if we'd only gotten here just a little sooner. If we started to be more proactive than reactive."

"I agree", Superman nodded.
"We're supposed to be this planet's protectors, but this position of constantly being a reactionary force isn't working."

"We need to be able to stop this from happening before it's too late", Superman continued as he gestured out towards the destruction surrounding them for emphasis.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I fear this attack on Khandaq is only the tip of the iceberg", Xavier stated with a look of worry.
"I think it best if you left immediately and completed the mission", the Professor said to his X-Men.
"Something tells me we will need all the help we can get for what is to come."

"Sure thing, Professor", Scott nodded.
"Jean? Contact Jamie...tell him to meet in the hanger bay in ten minutes."

"You got it, Slim", Jean smiled as she sent out the telepathic call to Multiple Man.

"If there's nothing else, Professor, we'll get going", Scott asked as he stood in front of Xavier and Hank.

"Actually," I say in an almost timid voice as all eyes turn to me.

"I would like to join the team this time. Seeing as how it is Friday afternoon and I won't have another class until Monday....that, and it has been a long time since I saw some field work. I really don't want to get too rusty."

It's a good thing I'm blue and furry, I'm pretty sure my face would be red right about now.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I agree", Superman nodded.
"We're supposed to be this planet's protectors, but this position of constantly being a reactionary force isn't working."

"We need to be able to stop this from happening before it's too late", Superman continued as he gestured out towards the destruction surrounding them for emphasis.

I nod in agreement. My eyes drift down to the League communicator on my belt.

"On that note, let's rally the troops and get to the Brownstone."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

I nod in agreement. My eyes drift down to the League communicator on my belt.

"On that note, let's rally the troops and get to the Brownstone."

"Sounds good to me, Captain", Superman says with a smile.
"Let's send out the signal and get the team together. The sooner we fix the problem the better."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Actually," I say in an almost timid voice as all eyes turn to me.

"I would like to join the team this time. Seeing as how it is Friday afternoon and I won't have another class until Monday....that, and it has been a long time since I saw some field work. I really don't want to get too rusty."

It's a good thing I'm blue and furry, I'm pretty sure my face would be red right about now.

"I don't seen any problem with that", Xavier spoke.

"All right", Scott said.
"We'll meet you in the hanger bay in ten minutes, Professor McCoy."

"Be good to have you along, Hank", Scott smiled.

Cyclops and the others left the office, going off to take care of whatever business they had to before leaving.

Scott was the first one at the Blackbird and entered the large jet, heading to the pilot's chair and beginning his pre-flight checklist.

 

[Keyser Soze]

10 Days Dry

Well, a lot can happen in a day. Yesterday, I followed my breakfast with a battle against a superpowered Nazi in Belgium, got my ass kicked by The Hulk in the afternoon, then told my best friend I'd transformed him into a cyborg killing machine before bedtime. All in a day's work for Tony Stark: inventor, businessman, philanthropist, superhero and all-around sex god. But let's hope today's a little less superhero and a little more sex god...

I pad through my Malibu villa - or, as I fondly call it, my big f**k-off Hollywood CGI-looking motherf**king monolith atop a cliff - and turn on the television. My new least favourite program is on - the news. I used to love the news, see what outrageous crap the gossip columnists were saying about that wacky inventor Tony Stark. Do you know that back in the 90s I slept in a hyperbolic chamber? With Michael Jackson? But now all I seem to see is some new crisis in the world, more senseless violence and bloodshed. Back in simpler times, I could just shrug and say "Not my problem," but now I'm in a position where I can do something about it, should be doing something about it, should be happy I'm able to, but it's getting to the point where I don't know how much more I can handle. I'm not Superman, you know...

"A awe-inspiring, yet horrific scene unfolded today in the nation of Kahndaq. The Avengers and President Luthor's new robotic Sentinels descended upon the country, bringing it's rogue leader Black Adam to justice, averting a large scale conflict."

The news is no better today. I watch as these giant robot monsters rampage through Khandaq, destroying homes and sending innocent civilians fleeing. I feel raw anger welling up inside me, and I spit out one word almost involuntarily.

"Luthor."

There are few things I despise more than the abuse of science and technology to dangerous, destructive ends - particularly because it's something I was guilty of for far too long. But before he became the golden boy of America, and then President, this was the kind of thing I knew Lex Luthor for. Making the biggest and most audacious technological advancements he could to show off to the world, regardless of who he was endangering in the process. This debacle in Khandaq? His fingerprints are all over it.

Just then, my League communicator rings. Looks like it's going to be another busy day...