One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Byrd Man]

​

New York

After watching Iron Man beat the pants off Lex's robotic monsters on live TV, I decide to head to the rooftops of the city - my idea of soul-searching.

The events of the last few months are slowly catching up with me. Between Luthor's election, the shake-up at S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and being threatened with jail time for trying to help my country, I sometimes wonder if I wouldn't be better off still inside that block of ice.

I can live with the many different changes this country has went through, and some of the changes, like Civil Rights, makes me fully believe this America is a better country than the America I was part of 1945, but I can't fully support this so called "Patriot Act" that allows our government to spy on its citizens. It seems that this country is at a crossroads, standing on the precipice of freedom and-

"Pardon me," a voice calls from behind me. I roll on the roof to avoid an attack, my shield raised and prepared to strike.

"I'm sorry, Steve, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Is this a bad time?"



​

 

[Carnage27]

"Joker," one of my men runs in, panting and holding his sides, "the Bat found the tape. The boys say he's on the way here with the brat."

"Ah, terrific! The guest of honor is on his way!" I say clapping my hands together. "But we seem to be missing some of his dearest friends. While I go get them, prepare the rest of the boys to greet Batsy, and don't forget the lovely party favors I've set up for him!"

I get up, and place a long overcoat and a hat on, and skip out to my car, two of my men waiting for me there, "Well boys, let's paint this town red...with blood! HAHAHAHAHA!"
​

 

[Carnage27]

Mrs. Gordon brings us into the house, sits us down at the kitchen table, and feeds us some pot roast for dinner. I take a huge mouthful, and the meat melts in my mouth, "Wow, Mrs. Gordon, this is great. You could give my Aunt May a run for her money."

"Why thank you, Peter. It's so nice to finally meet you. Barbara has told me everything about you on the phone," she smiles back.

"Well...I hope not everything," I smile at Babs and give her a wink. "Where's Commissioner Gordon tonight?"

"Oh, I'm sure he's at work. You know Gotham, the scum never take time off."

"Yea, believe me, I know all about scum," I reply with an understanding look.

"What are you and Barbara going to do tonight?"

"I was hoping to go to the movies, and then maybe just hang out?" I ask looking over to Babs.

"Well," Mrs. Gordon replies, "I hate to ask you this. Barbara could you take Jimmy with you? I'd like sometime tonight to talk to your father."

 

[Red_Robin77]

"Because he isn't trained. We are." I continue to check the body.

"I've been doing this since before you were born."

"I respect what you've done, Flash. But you haven't been doing this. A single piece of evidence overlooked or compromised, and the Joker is free to kill more."

"I can still help."

I finish checking all of Engel's pockets and clothes. Nothing. "You can by not being a distra-"

I look back at the body.

"What is it?"

I think about the broadcast. Joker using Engel's body as a ventriloquist's dummy. And Engel hanging their, lifelessly, his mouth gaping open in a horrific silent scream.

...so why is his mouth closed now?

Kneeling by the body again, I pull down on Engel's chin. I reach my fingers into his mouth and pull out a micro digital cassette. "Evidence." I reach into my belt and pull out a mini player. Turning the volume all the way up, I hit play.



I stare at Robin and Garrick as the music plays.

"Only he could make that theme sound disturbing..." I muttered, looking down at the tape curiously.

"Heeeeeyyyyy Bats! I'm guessin' your there with the little brat too. We seem to keep missing each other, and that's a real shame. Soooo much has happened since our little go 'round in the Big Apple and I've been dying to catch up."

"Actually, that's a lie. Everyone else has been dying for us to catch up. Heh. Get it? Did you see what I did there? HAHAHAHA. I'm going to have to write that one down." "I squeeze the player tightly, my blood boiling.

"Anyhoo, since you seem to be a step or two behind in our little dance...Now, now, don't get upset. You're just out of practice. Nothing to be ashamed about. Don't let all those dead bodies get you down. Let me help cheer you up. Why don't you come on over for a visit. We'll catch up, have a couple of drinks, talk some politics, it'll be a grand ol' time. But don't take too long, Bats. You know how I get when I'm bored. See ya soon."

What the hell was wrong with this guy? He just won't stop. I can tell that Bruce is fuming. I guess that's what the Joker wants. To touch a nerve.

I rewind the tape for a second and play again.
"Don't let all those dead bodies get you down."

I rewind and play again.
"Don't let all those dead bodies get you down."

I rewind and play again.
"Don't let all those dead bodies get you down."

I know that sound in the background. The harbor buoys. And that particular combination of buoys is only outside one area of Gotham.

"He's somewhere on the Narrows waterfront."

That can be annoying sometimes. The way he just figures something out in about two seconds. Hearing it back now, I can hear it too, but still. Helpful though. I pull out my grapple from my belt and get ready to fire off a line. One thought keeps nagging me though.

"This is probably going to be a trap, right?"

If it wasn't, The Joker wouldn't have let something like that disturb the recording. He knew Bruce would figure this out. Still, it's not like it'll stop us.

 

[wiegeabo]

"I'll meet you down there."

"You can't go."

I just stare at the bat. "You're jok-"

Glare.

"No, I suppose you're not. But I don't understand why."

"This isn't your fight."

I roll my eyes. "That's a load of bull. I'm here, and I can help. Even Robin sees that."

"You can help by patrolling the city while we take care of the Joker. But you aren't prepared to fight him. One of the worst things you can do going against him is rush in. Your speed will be more dangerous than helpful."

I consider his words, trying to decide if he's right, or if he doesn't want me around because he's got a grudge against the Joker. I'm guessing it's a bit of both. "Fine. I'll look over the city so you can focus on the madman. But you'll owe me."

"We'll see..."

***

That can be annoying sometimes. The way he just figures something out in about two seconds. Hearing it back now, I can hear it too, but still. Helpful though. I pull out my grapple from my belt and get ready to fire off a line. One thought keeps nagging me though.

"This is probably going to be a trap, right?"

If it wasn't, The Joker wouldn't have let something like that disturb the recording. He knew Bruce would figure this out. Still, it's not like it'll stop us.

"Oh, it's most definitely a trap."

The batmobile gets us to the Narrows in little time. And there's really only one place the Joker would wait for us. The old amusement park. It went out of business a decade ago during the last recession, and because Gotham is Gotham, no one's come forward to do anything with the property. So the park stands in ruins, the once happy getaway for families twisted into a dark version of its former self.

Joker might as well have shined a spotlight into the sky saying 'Here I am!'

Robin and I get out of the batmobile, and look up at the first sight before us.

"We go in extra cautious. There could literally be traps anywhere."

 

[Red_Robin77]

"I'll meet you down there."

"You can't go."

I just stare at the bat. "You're jok-"

Glare.

"No, I suppose you're not. But I don't understand why."

"This isn't your fight."

I roll my eyes. "That's a load of bull. I'm here, and I can help. Even Robin sees that."

"You can help by patrolling the city while we take care of the Joker. But you aren't prepared to fight him. One of the worst things you can do going against him is rush in. Your speed will be more dangerous than helpful."

I consider his words, trying to decide if he's right, or if he doesn't want me around because he's got a grudge against the Joker. I'm guessing it's a bit of both. "Fine. I'll look over the city so you can focus on the madman. But you'll owe me."

"We'll see..."

***



"Oh, it's most definitely a trap."

The batmobile gets us to the Narrows in little time. And there's really only one place the Joker would wait for us. The old amusement park. It went out of business a decade ago during the last recession, and because Gotham is Gotham, no one's come forward to do anything with the property. So the park stands in ruins, the once happy getaway for families twisted into a dark version of its former self.

Joker might as well have shined a spotlight into the sky saying 'Here I am!'

Robin and I get out of the batmobile, and look up at the first sight before us.

Woah. An amusement park. That's sure as hell is a surprise. This could well be the most obvious trap ever known to mankind. Saying that though, I'll probably still find myself surrounded before the day is out. It has a tendancy to happen. I guess it's lucky I'm acrobatic.

"We go in extra cautious. There could literally be traps anywhere."

"Heh. Isn't there always when it comes to people like him? That's if you call him people, but that's an open debate..." I remark as I make my way up to the rusting gate.

I put my hand on the rail and bound over it carefully, landing inside the grounds of the decaying amusement park. Well, this should be different.

"You coming?" I ask Bruce with a slight smirk before strolling off further into the grounds carefully.

 

[Carnage27]

​

I put my hand on the rail and bound over it carefully, landing inside the grounds of the decaying amusement park. Well, this should be different.

"You coming?" I ask Bruce with a slight smirk before strolling off further into the grounds carefully.

As soon as the Boy Blunder steps foot in the park, the entire place comes to life. Background music springs from the speakers, lights flash, rides come to life, and a automated message of my voice blares over the music.

"Hiyah, Bats! Didn't take ya long to figure this one out did it? Not surprising. Well, anyway, have some fun would ya? You're always so gloomy. Go on some rides! Play some games! I'd stay away from the corn dogs, though. Who knows what's in them. Or who's in them! HAHAHAHA! Anyway, I'll be waiting for you!"

As the message ends, the fun house on the complete opposite side of the park springs to life, and my laugh can be heard echoing from it.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"So wait... he's a cop, but he also kills people?"

Tom scratched his head in confusion as he watched television with Jane Foster. Donald was working late at the clinic tonight, so it was just the two of them.

"Uh-huh," she replied.

They watched in silence for a while. It was Tom who again broke the silence.

"Thank you."

"Sorry?"

"Thank you, for taking me into your family. I miss my mom and dad, but... but you've really helped me. You and Donald."

Jane put her arm around Tom.

"Tom... there's no need to thank me. We're happy to do whatever we can to help you. And to be honest, having you here with us has made me a lot happier too."

There was another brief pause, before Tom spoke again.

"Why don't you have any children? I think you'd be a good mother."

The words seemed pretty simple and straightforward, but they really had an impact on Jane. She had to turn away, fighting back a sudden desire to cry.

"What's wrong, Jane?" Tom asked.

"I.... I had a child, once," Jane answered, "A boy. But... I was young. I gave him away."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, it's okay. I'm sorry. Believe me."

Tom put a hand on Jane's arm.

"You should try and find him. Your son. I think he would love to meet you."

Jane looked down at him, and she smiled.

"Maybe I should..."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Evelyn Stowe. He loved her. Every time he closed his eyes, are beautiful face was all he could see. She dominated his thoughts, fed his most primal of urges, she was the light that gave his life meaning. So devoted was he to Evelyn, that he knew everything about her. Her job, her family, where she grew up, the restaurants she liked to eat in, the shops she bought her clothes from. He had her daily timetable worked out down to the minute. She had never met him, she didn't know that he existed, but he loved her. He loved her just like he loved all the others before her.

He walked around now, in her bedroom, like he lived here. He sat on her bed, and ran his hands along her sheets. He closed his eyes, and imagined being welcomed in here willingly, as a lover. That of course would not happen, he was a monster. His hulking, unnatural form disgusted them all. But they did not understand that he was a work of art, he was special and he was unique, and he would make her love him. He would make her love him like he had made all the others love him. They were his now.

His massive hand gripped onto the top drawer of the bedside table. He slid it open, and between two of his stubby fingers lifted up a pair of Evelyn's delicate undergarments. He rubbed them in his face, taking in her scent, letting out an obscene moan of ecstacy. I love you Evelyn Stowe, he thought to himself, I love you so much.

He loved her so much, that he had chosen her. She would be due home from work in a few hours. She would come home, kick off her shoes, walk upstairs, turn on the television here in the bedroom, go for a shower, return into the room naked (yes, YES!) and then open her walk-in wardrobe to retrieve a change of clothes. This is what she always did. Tonight would be the last time she would ever do it, because tonight, he would be waiting for her. A few hours was nothing, he would wait right here, in this room. He loved Evelyn Stowe. And soon, she would be his...

...

22 Days Dry

Normally I would have no complaints about having a shapely lady's thighs wrapped around my head, but this situation is quite different.

"Here lies the great Tony Stark," whispers Madame Masque, presing her gun against the side of my head, "Beaten, helpless. I think I'll kill you right now."

Oooookay, perhaps I should explain...

About 1 Hour Ago

*EMERGENCY! THE STARK INDUSTRIES RESEARCH CENTRE IN NEW ORLEANS IS UNDER ATTACK!*

"Oh my God! We have a research centre in New Orleans?"

Heeding the warning from my home security system, I suited up and headed for New Orleans. I made a stealthy entrance - crashing through the roof - to find the scientists that worked there being held hostage. The hostiles were about half a dozen masked heavies, carrying high-tech weaponry by the looks of it, and a woman with a small handgun, wearing a gold mask. She appeared to be the leader.

"If you wanted the guided tour of the place, you should have called my secretary."

"Mr. Stark, so good of you to arrive. My name is Madame Masque. I've been waiting for you."

The voice was filtered through some system built into the mask, making it project out automated, any human inflection or accent obliterated. It made her cold, glacial. Kinda sexy, too.

"I do hate to keep a lady waiting..."

As I talked to Masque, my automatic targeting system had locked onto all her henchmen, and now I fired sleeping darts into all of them, knocking them out almost instantly.

"...so why don't you tell me why you came here? Who sent you?"

Madame Masque did not appear intimidated by the fact that it was just me and her now. That should have set the alarm bells ringing, but I was thinking with the wrong head at this point, methinks.

"I sent myself. When I heard that the man behind the Iron Man was TONY STARK....oh! I just had to see it for myself, up-close. I had to see just how good you were at playing superhero."

"Well, honey, curiousity's going to cost you dear. You broke into a secure facility, took these innocent people hostage. I'm pretty sure that's a jail term, so I hope I lived up to your expectations."

The only thing visible behind the golden mask was her eyes, and now they narrowed with a mischievous glint. With a flick of her hand, she produced a small trigger. Before I could react, she pressed it...and nothing happened. But then my armor froze, turning into scrap metal in an instant, and I fell to the ground hard, trapped in a mass of dead weight. Oh crap, an electromagnetic pulse! Why wasn't I prepared for this!?

"No, you've fallen considerably short of them, I'm afraid."

At a leisurely pace, she strolled over to me as I lay there, immobile on the floor. She stood over me, one leg positioned at either side of my head, looking down. I have to admit, in spite of my dire situation, it was quite a few. Then she kneeled down, straddling my head, and pulled off my helmet, tossing it aside like it was nothing.

"Mmmmmmm, so it is you in there after all, Tony."

Teasingly, Masque ran a hand through my hair. I could barely lift my arm off the ground, never mind throw her off. But just as I started to struggle, the gun pressed against my cheek.

"Here lies the great Tony Stark," whispers Madame Masque, presing her gun against the side of my head, "Beaten, helpless. I think I'll kill you right now."

And.... I think that brings us up to date.

"Well if you're going to kill me, at least take off the mask....let me see a pretty face before I go off to the next world."

Masque tilts her head, and I hear faint laughter underneath the mask.

"On second thoughts.... I think I'll let you live, and puzzle over why I chose not to kill you. I'll be seeing you, Tony Stark."

With that, Madame Masque dismounts me and, taking her sweet time, makes her way out of the research centre, leaving me lying there on the floor. My head cranes round as far as it can to see her make her exit. After about a minute, my back-up system kicks in and the suit comes alive again. I can move again, and I immediately rush to the exit. But she's long gone. Returning to the lab, I untie the scientists.

"What did she steal?", I ask.

"Nothing," replies one of the scientists, "She didn't ask for anything. Just tied us up and said we were waiting for you."

So this woman goes to all the effort of breaking into one of my labs, just to get the chance to humiliate me? A masked master criminal, with access to advanced, high-tech weaponry, and an unhealthy obsession with me?

"I think I'm in love..."

...

She was home! Oh, he had been waiting so long for this! The time had come, now she would be his. He would have his love. He stood there, massive, barely fitting inside the wardrobe, watching her enter the bedroom through the narrow slits in the wardrobe door. She had already kicked off her shoes, padding around her home in her stockingfeet. Oh, how sexy she looked, dressed like the successful city lawyer that she was. That's what attracted him to her, even more than her beautty. The sweet smell of success, of power, of a woman in control of her life. She turned on the television. The news was on. And then she disappeared into the bathroom. The shower turned on. Oh God! It felt like an eternity, standing in that cramped little space, listening to the water running, imaging it running over her lithe naked body. Oh, he loved her, he loved her, he loved her.

Then the water stopped running. His breath was heavy, raw and panting. He struggled to keep it in check, not wanting to give himself away too soon. He didn't want to intrude, to spoil the pure beauty of this moment. YES! She strode back into the bedroom, naked. Oh, he looked just how he had fantasized she would, even better in person than through hidden camera footage. I love you Evelyn Stowe, he thought, you are beautiful, you are a princess, and I love you so much. I love you so much, that I am now going to take everything away from you. All that you are, will now belong to me.

Humming to herself, Evelyn walked across the room, and opened the wardrobe door. Then she screamed, and screamed, and screamed. Enormous arms lunged out of the wardrobe and gripped her comparitively tiny frame, forcing her to the floor. Inhuman, guttural moans came from his throat as he rubbed his rough, metallic hands across her body, feeling nothing, but imagining he could. Still she screamed, but no one would hear her. He turned her round onto her stomach, and pinned her onto the floor, naked and writing.

Now she would belong to him. He loved her, and she would belong to him. He drew his gun out from his holster, pressed it against the back of her neck. He inserted the disk, and immediately, the screaming stopped. She ceased her struggling, and lay still. He let out a long, deep sigh of elation, eyes rolling up in his head. This was ecstacy, sweet release. He lay himself down on the ground next to her, and looked into her blank eyes. He held her hand in his, and relished in the delicious sensations washing over him.

Power.
Dominance.
Love.

"Control."

 

[wiegeabo]

As soon as the Boy Blunder steps foot in the park, the entire place comes to life. Background music springs from the speakers, lights flash, rides come to life, and a automated message of my voice blares over the music.

"Hiyah, Bats! Didn't take ya long to figure this one out did it? Not surprising. Well, anyway, have some fun would ya? You're always so gloomy. Go on some rides! Play some games! I'd stay away from the corn dogs, though. Who knows what's in them. Or who's in them! HAHAHAHA! Anyway, I'll be waiting for you!"

As the message ends, the fun house on the complete opposite side of the park springs to life, and my laugh can be heard echoing from it.

This is all utterly not surprising. The garish colors and lights simultaneously make everything easier and more difficult to see. Shadows move on their own, and the noises help muffle the approach of any would be attackers.

"Tight formation, 5 meters max. You take high, I'll take low." Robin nods and reaches the top of a concession stand in a couple of leaps. I pull two batarangs out in each hand and start forward.

I get two steps before I hear the first shout of anger...

 

[Carnage27]

Babs, Jimmy, and I sit in the Imax theater as Avatar's trippy 3-D springs into our faces. I look over and smile as Babs and her baby brother seem to be having fun for the first time in a long time.

I sit back and take in the movie, feeling like a normal kid for the first time in a long time. I give Barbara's hand a squeeze, and she looks over at me, returning the smile.

Yea, life is good.

*******

*Knock*

I lean up against the railing of the house I'm at, making sure the brim of my hat covers my face. My two associates flank each side of me, watching out for any police entanglements. I hear someone rustling about inside coming to the door.

It swings open, and the elder Barbara Gordon says, "Jim is that-"

*BANG*

My silenced revolver goes off, ripping through her abdomen. I can see the pain and surprise as she collapses into the house, and my friends and I move inside, closing the door behind us. I reveal my face to her, and the look of surprise turns to terror. I smile, "Now, now, Mrs. Commissioner, no need to look so worried. I'm not going to kill you. At least not yet."

"You...monster...," she says weakly.

"Mrs. Gordon! I'm no such thing. Boys, put her in the van, and let the doctor take care of her. We need her alive," I smile as I dial a nuber on my cell phone.

It rings twice before a voice answers, "This is Gordon."

"Evening, Commissioner," I whisper.

"What do you want?" he answers curtly. "Got more bodies for me you maniac?"

"Oh, Jim, come on now. I'm just trying to have a friendly conversation here. It's been so long since we've talked, so I decided to pay you a visit at home. Mrs. Gordon and I have had a lovely conversation, and now we're headed out on the town! We'd love for you to join us."

"What have you done to her you sick son of a-"

"Now, now Commissioner, there's no need for that kind of talk. I'm sure you'll be able to find e. Just track this phone. But I warn you Commiss, if you don't come alone, your wife will die."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

April 21st, 1944
London, England

"General Eisenhower," I say with a salute.

"Cap," Ike says with a smile. He's sitting behind his desk inside the small office. The unimpressive building is home to the Supreme Allied Command. While the Nazis think General Patton is running the show in Northern England, Eisenhower and his troops prepare to make history.

"You can call me Steve, sir."

"And you can call me Dwight."

Ike lights up a cigarette and stands up.

"Let's take a walk. I have some people I want to introduce you to."

Ike leads down the HQ's narrow halls. He introduces me to General Bradley and RAF Chief Air Marshal Leigh-Mallory. Inside the reception room down stairs, a skinny man with a thin moustache and stern look on his face greets us.

"Monty, this is Captain Steve Rogers. Captain America to most of the world. Steve, this is General Bernard Montgomery."

Montgomery gives me a cold stare as I salute.

"Captain America," he says as he returns my salute.

"Cap is here to help finalize where he'll be during Operation Overlord."

Monty shoots Eisenhower a look and stares at me with the same disdain.

"General, I was under the impression that I was to be in command of all the ground troops during Overlord."

"And you are. Which is why we want your opin-"

"To be honest," Montgomery says curtly, "I do not see the need to include a walking piece of propaganda involved in the largest invasion in world history."

I shift my weight on my feet and Ike remains silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"General Montgomery. While you were in North Africa, Captain Rogers was in the Pacific. He has been fighting the good fight. Rest assured, he is more than propaganda."

Monty finally clears his throat and nods.

"Very well. I will allow him to participate in the landings at either Omaha or Utah beach."

"Actually," Eisenhower says. "We were thinking of deploying Cap with the paratroopers. Captain Rogers along with a few...other individuals."

"Ahh. So Normandy will be the debut of the ghastly Invaders?"

"With all due respect, General," I finally speak out. "I've been training with the Invaders squad for a few weeks now. We may be many things, but 'ghastly' doesn't apply."

"We shall see, Captain...we shall see."

Now

"Steve....Steve?"

I snap of it and shake my head. Diana crosses her arms and stares at me.

"I'm sory. I was just lost in the fog of the past."

"I was saying that we should go. There's a fire alarm two blocks over."

I'm already spinning on my heels with my shield clamped in my grip.

"Let's go. I need something to bring me back to the here and now."​

 

[Carnage27]

"Hello!? Show yourself you sick bastard!" Jim Gordon yells from about three feet away. It's pitch black in a warehouse downtown. He came alone, I know surprising, and he's been searching for me, or his wife, ever since.

I spring out from my hiding place and smack him in the back of the head with a 2x4, sending him sprawling to the ground, "Oh good you made it! I'm so thrilled."

Two of my boys emerge from the darkness at strap the Commissioner to an old electric chair in the middle of what is otherwise a basically empty room, "Where is she? What have you done to her?"

"Oh, relax, Gordo. You'll see her soon enough. But I want to show you what we've been up to!" I smile to him and shake an old polaroid camera in his face. "Her and I have been having so much fun!"

I sweep my hand and a projector from above springs to life, and the bloodied figure of his wife is displayed onto the far wall, "No! You'll fry for this clown!"

"Relax, Jim! Enjoy the show this is just the beginning!" I laugh as a slide show begins and carnival music begins to blare into the room. As the pictures change, Mrs. Gordons clothes are seen being removed, and I walk into the office in the back of the warehouse.

"You think it'll work, boss?" one of the hired help asks.

"Of course it will. Insanity works just like gravity. All it takes is a little push."
​

 

[wiegeabo]

In ten minutes, we're halfway into the park. There's two dozen men laying in the dirt, marking our trail to the Fun House. He could be somewhere else in the park, but I seriously doubt it. This is where the Joker would be.

"We go in together." Robin nods in determined agreement. The first time we went against the Joker, we did it separately. And Joker nearly beat Robin to death. The second time, we went separately again, it worked out much better, but was still too close.

This time we're doing things differently.

Robin presses himself beside the entrance. I stand in front of the doors, and kick them in, instantly covering myself behind the other side of the door. Machine gun fire tears up the ground where I was just standing. Robin and I wait until it finishes, then toss in a couple of gas pellets for cover, and to take out who ever is inside.

Donning our gas masks and night vision, we duck inside, but there's no one waiting for us. Only a lone turret.

"Automated."

A television screen clicks to life.

"So. Much. FUN!!!" That grinning face is almost enough to make me lose control. "I hope you both made it. I'd be so disappointed if one of my cannon fodder did the job for me. I'd also have to kill the one who did it, taking that away from me." His face turns angry for a second, before the smile returns.

"But I know I don't have to worry about that. Can't wait until you reach the end, I've got a doozy of a surprise waiting for you." The screen flips itself off, and lights come up, showing us that we're at the start of a Hall of Mirrors maze.

I pull my cape around me and move forward, Robin just a step behind.

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...

The Hidden Valley
Home of the Idylists

"Wowee, Aquaman! Mera is pregnant? Oh boy! Do you guys know if it is a boy or a girl yet?!"

The amount of energy in the young Atlantean Garth never ceases to amaze Orin. Normally Aquaman would tell him of his adventures across the vast and various seas, and the boy would practically drool at the thought of being there when they happened. But even something so very simple, as it is common among all people, such as the coming of Aquaman's unborn child excites the boy. It's almost like he thinks himself as a big brother already, and Aquaman is not even the boy's father. Garth's father, King Thar of the Idylists, is always busy with the every day errands and duty of the King that Aquaman rarely, if ever, sees him play or spend time with his son.

Orin was King once, but no matter what, he'd make time for his child. But, all parents are different, and all kings are different. Aquaman has made a point to stay out of the affairs and politics of the peaceful people of the Hidden Valley as he has simply chosen refuge here.

"Actually, Garth, it is too soon to find out. But whether the child be a boy or girl, I will love them the same."


Brooklyn, New York
The Aparment of Donald Blake

A figure just outside of the apartment building lingers in the night. He does not make an effort to try to conceal himself or even change his appearance. Aside from proudly adorning his colors and garments, he will not even be here for long. There is but one simple task for him here. Such a task, that it will take no effort but the flick of his magical wrists.

"What's wrong, Jane?" Tom asked.

"I.... I had a child, once," Jane answered, "A boy. But... I was young. I gave him away."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, it's okay. I'm sorry. Believe me."

Tom put a hand on Jane's arm.

"You should try and find him. Your son. I think he would love to meet you."

Jane looked down at him, and she smiled.

"Maybe I should..."

*BOOM*

The front door of the apartment flies off its hinges and crashes into the opposing wall. Entering the apartment doorway, with magical energies surging in his hands as he grasps his staff, the Ocean Master is confronted by the two people living inside the apartment, unaware of what had caused the destruction until they laid eyes upon him.

The brave soul of Jane Foster stands as strong as she can as a young boy by the name of Tom clings to the back of her, peeping around the corner of her waist as the proud and powerful Ocean Master stands firmly.

"Wh--what do you want? Why are you here?"

"I've come for the boy. Now, please, do not make this difficult. Because I can assure you I can make this not difficult for me at all by simply vaporizing you where you stand. Make it difficult, and I will end your life it a much more slow and painful way. There is a third option of course: give me the child."

"Y-y-you can't have him!!"

Trying to guide the boy behind her as Tom keeps wanting to peek around the corner of her waste, Jane's firm stance starts to quiver and tremble as Orm Marius sighs and starts to take intimidating steps forward. Raising his staff, and pointing at her, magical energies start to emanate at its tip.

"When you wake up...you will remember that this once, and just this once, the Ocean Master was merciful."

Shooting a beam of magical light, striking Jane Foster at the chest, soon her entire body becomes enveloped in the light. It does not do any harm to her as it simply paralyzes the frame of her body, petrifying her as the bright lights fade and she slips into unconsciousness.

"Now...come here little boy."

 

[Carnage27]

Babs and I walk hand in hand home from the movies, with little Jimmy following close behind. I look over at my girlfriend, the streetlights shining off of her red hair. I can't help but smile to myself. Thins are finally going good between the two of us. I lean over and give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Ewwwwww!" Jimmy laughs. "That's gross."

"Come here you little munchin," Babs laughs as she scoops him up and begins to tickle him. The tussle and laugh as we turn the corner, and then the three of us become dead silent.

Out front of the Gordon's home, three cop cars are standing guard with their lights on, and police tape covering the perimeter.

Instantly, Babs runs to the nearest officer, with Jimmy and I close behind, "What happened? Where's mom and dad?"

I get to the front of the house quickly, and see a small pool of blood almost immediately inside the front door.

No. Not tonight. Not when everything has bee going so well. Not when Babs is happy.

I see Jimmy being taken into one of the cars as the officer Babs addressed says, "You're mothers been taken by Joker, Barbara. And your fathers gone after him. Alone."

"Just like dad not to think," she says looking over at me.

I nod her over, "I'm gonna go after him. I can help."

"Peter," she says, grabbing my elbow as I turn to head to change into my Spider-suite, "you make sure my parents are okay."

I nod, but she doesn't let go, "And then you hurt that clown. Hurt him."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

France
August 2nd, 1941

"So you're Captain America?" The gray-haired man asks. His steely gaze lingers.

"Yes, sir, General Patton."

"Let me get something straight right away," he says while turning away from me. "You may have the neat little outfit and the amped up speed and strength. You may be all over the film reels and recruitment posters, but to me you're no different than any other private from Pig****, Nebraska. They are the ones who will win the war, not you and you group of freaks."

"I'm in total agreement, sir."

"Good. Why exactly are you riding with my men again?"

"I'm riding with the Third Army until we reach Paris. I'll break off and continue with my mission. The mission specs are classified, sir."

"On who's orders?" Patton's gray eyebrow arches. "Ike? Bradley? You know I commanded both of them once upon a time."

"My orders come from General Marshall, sir."

The curt nod Patton gives me is the closest thing to an acknowledgement he'll drop his inquiries.

"We're busting through the Kraut line. I intend to be in Berlin by Christmas."

Patton's hands go to the revolver on his hip.

"I plan to shoot Hitler in the heart with my personal sidearm."

I fight the temptation to roll my eyes. I dealt with a primadonna in McArthur in the Pacific.

"Now, report to Major Capshaw's tank group. I think he's in need of a gunner."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for letting me ride along, General."

"You kill a few Krauts along the way, you won't have to thank me. Now, let's move out!"

All the men under Patton's command scramble for their tanks and trucks, preparing to take the fight to the Germans and give the Nazis a taste of American Rolling Thunder.

Now

I leap into the firey building, using the shield on my arm to bat away the flames. A floor up, a child screams. Running across the burning wood floors, I leap over flames and land on the stairwell leading up.

A little black girl is crying her eyes out and breathing in the smoke by the time I crash through her room.

"Come on."

I grab her and wrap the girl safely in my arms behind the shield. With the burning floorboards starting to give way, I run towards the apartment window and leap out. Flames explode around me as I fall to the ground, landing on my back with a hard thud.

Firefighters and paramedics swarm on the girl and I, taking her from my arms and helping me to my feet.

"I'm...I'm alright," I say as I manage to catch my breath. "Just got the breath knocked out of me. Where's Wonder Woman?"

"I'm here," a voice from behind calls out. I turn to see Diana floating to the ground with a woman and man in her arms.

"That's the last of them."

"Thanks for your help," one of the paramedics says. "You two really helped us out."

"No thanks needed, we just try to do our best."

With Diana wrapping it up perfectly, we both disappear into the night.

"That's what it's all about," I say once we're a good distance from the fire.

"No politics, no picking sides, just helping people."

"What are you trying to say, Steve?"

"What do you think? This mess with the Avengers has gone on long enough."

"The Avengers are no different than your Justice League."

I stifle the chuckle that I feel rising in my throat.

"Just a like...except we don't work for a mass murderer."

"That's not fair."

"Oh, is it? I fall into ice and the world's biggest threat is a dictator with a little mustache. When I wake up, the biggest threat to the world is a dictator with no hair."

"Don't forget you once worked for the government yourself."

"It was war. The forces of evil were threatening to take over the world. Now? It seems like they've won."

"Luthor is the only reason you're no longer in a block of ice."

I turn away from Diana and shake my head in disgust.

"Sometime I wish I still was in that ice."

With that, I leap off the rooftop and leave Diana to ponder her thoughts.​

 

[Keyser Soze]

The front door of the apartment flies off its hinges and crashes into the opposing wall. Entering the apartment doorway, with magical energies surging in his hands as he grasps his staff, the Ocean Master is confronted by the two people living inside the apartment, unaware of what had caused the destruction until they laid eyes upon him.

The brave soul of Jane Foster stands as strong as she can as a young boy by the name of Tom clings to the back of her, peeping around the corner of her waist as the proud and powerful Ocean Master stands firmly.

"Wh--what do you want? Why are you here?"

"I've come for the boy. Now, please, do not make this difficult. Because I can assure you I can make this not difficult for me at all by simply vaporizing you where you stand. Make it difficult, and I will end your life it a much more slow and painful way. There is a third option of course: give me the child."

"Y-y-you can't have him!!"

Trying to guide the boy behind her as Tom keeps wanting to peek around the corner of her waste, Jane's firm stance starts to quiver and tremble as Orm Marius sighs and starts to take intimidating steps forward. Raising his staff, and pointing at her, magical energies start to emanate at its tip.

"When you wake up...you will remember that this once, and just this once, the Ocean Master was merciful."

Shooting a beam of magical light, striking Jane Foster at the chest, soon her entire body becomes enveloped in the light. It does not do any harm to her as it simply paralyzes the frame of her body, petrifying her as the bright lights fade and she slips into unconsciousness.

"Now...come here little boy."

Donald Blake walked down the hallway, headed towards his apartment. It had been a long, hard day at the clinic, and he was eager to get home to his family...

"Oh my God!"

The front door had been blasted off its hinges. He broke into a half-run-half-limp towards his home, pain shooting through his body with every heavy impact of his bad leg on the floor. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was that his family was okay.

"Jane!"

Oh no. There she was, lying on the ground. Donald dropped by her side. She was alive, thank God, just unconscious.

"Jane, can you hear me? Jane?"

As Donald cradled her in his arms, she lurched back into consciousness. She looked up at Donald, confusion clouding her features. Then she remembered.

"Tom! Tom!"

"Where's Tom, honey? Where is he?"

"No! He's got him! I let him take Tom!"

"Who, Jane? Who took Tom?"

"He... he called himself the Ocean Master."

Him. Thoughts rushed through Donald's mind. I should have known this wasn't over. How did he find me? Does he know about me and Thor? But above all else, he knew that he had to find Tom. He had to save him. But Donald Blake wouldn't be able to stop Ocean Master. He raised his cane, and slammed it into the floor of his apartment.

KRAKADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Lightning crashed through the window. Donald Blake was gone, and Thor stood in his place.

"Jane Foster, I will find the boy, and I will return him to you."

And then Thor hurled himself out of the shattered window, taking to the skies in search of the missing boy before Jane Foster could say a word. She never had time to ask Thor about what happened after he stopped Ocean Master. What happened when Tom faced his parents' killer?

 

[Carnage27]

​

"Terrific, this is just what I needed a psychotic clown kidnaps my girlfriend's parents right as we're fixing our relationship. Seriously, the life of a teenage super hero is terrific," I mumble as I web swing through the city, searching for any sign of Joker.

*****

"Joker," one of my goons says as he enters the office, the music from the room with Commissioner Gordon blaring in behind him, "one of our eyes in the city says Spider-Man's been spotted in Gotham!"

I sit up abruptly, "Well that's...unexpected."

I stand and begin pacing in the room. The spider-brat being here could throw a wrench into my plan...but it's also another opportunity to rid the world of another annoying pest.

"I was saving these for Bats, but what the hell," I say pressing a few buttons on a console in the room, and somewhere in Gotham, two apartment buildings burst into flames.

*******

"Oh my god," Harry Osborne whispers as the news flashes up on the TV screen.

"What is it, son?" Norman asks, looking up from a book.

"Pete's girlfriend's mom has been kidnapped by the Joker in Gotham! And Spider-man's been spotted at the scene!" Harry says as he sends a quick text to his best friend.

Norman's brow furrows, "That's...too bad. I'm going to head to bed, Harry."

The billionaire walks briskly to his bed room and begins pacing back and forth before a voice echoes in his head, "The boy is Spider-man, Normy!"

"No...it's not possible. Peter is a good boy. He's not Spider-man material!" Osborne pleads with his alter ego.

"Face it, it's Parker. First the cut on the shoulder after the bank battle, and now this. Our arch enemy is your would-be adopted son," the Green Goblin sneers as Norman Osborne breaks down and weeps.
​

 

[Red_Robin77]

In ten minutes, we're halfway into the park. There's two dozen men laying in the dirt, marking our trail to the Fun House. He could be somewhere else in the park, but I seriously doubt it. This is where the Joker would be.

"We go in together." Robin nods in determined agreement. The first time we went against the Joker, we did it separately. And Joker nearly beat Robin to death. The second time, we went separately again, it worked out much better, but was still too close.

This time we're doing things differently.

Robin presses himself beside the entrance. I stand in front of the doors, and kick them in, instantly covering myself behind the other side of the door. Machine gun fire tears up the ground where I was just standing. Robin and I wait until it finishes, then toss in a couple of gas pellets for cover, and to take out who ever is inside.

Donning our gas masks and night vision, we duck inside, but there's no one waiting for us. Only a lone turret.

"Automated."

A television screen clicks to life.

"So. Much. FUN!!!" That grinning face is almost enough to make me lose control. "I hope you both made it. I'd be so disappointed if one of my cannon fodder did the job for me. I'd also have to kill the one who did it, taking that away from me." His face turns angry for a second, before the smile returns.

"But I know I don't have to worry about that. Can't wait until you reach the end, I've got a doozy of a surprise waiting for you." The screen flips itself off, and lights come up, showing us that we're at the start of a Hall of Mirrors maze.

I pull my cape around me and move forward, Robin just a step behind.

A hall of mirrors. Figures. I watch the mirrors cautiously, standing behind Bruce. There must be something behind the mirror. Or maybe that's what he wants us to think. Maybe there's something stupidly obvious for us to spot. Of course, maybe I'm just thinking into this too much. If I keep doing that, I'm just going to get paranoid.

"I say we smash every mirror in this place and take down whatever's behind them. It'd be reckless, but y'know, reckless is more fun," I suggest to Bruce, reaching for a batarang from my belt.

I throw it at one of the mirrors randomly, smashing into the glass, sending shards flying everywhere. Nothing behind that one. I pull another batarang out, and ready to throw it at the next mirror.

"This better not take forever..."

 

[Byrd Man]

I stand in the studio's backstage, fiddling with my tie.

"Is Tony sure about this, Miss Potts?"

"One thing I've learned working for Tony, Captain Rogers, it's that he's sure about everything he does...regardless if the decisions are right or wrong."

As part of Iron Man's massive PR campaign against Luthor and his Avengers, I'm being used as the Justice League's public face, along with Stark himself. While he's doing his job through flash and substance, I'm the voice of good old fashioned reason. This is why he's set it up for me to appear on this show. Some sort of political show called The Daily Show.

"My next guest is someone you may have heard of," the host announces. "He helped win something called the Second World War. Please welcome, Captain Steve Rogers better known as Captain America."

I enter through the stage to applause and shake the hosts hand. I sit down on the couch and wait for the applause to die down.

"Captain America," he says once the applause ends. "How old are you again?"

"I'll be ninety-three years old in a few months."

"Wow. You know, my great-grandmother lived to be ninety-five. I don't think she could have taken on the Hulk at her age."

"Well, I did have the benefit of spending almost six decades in suspended animation."

"That's right. I wanted to ask you...how bad did you have to pee when you woke up?"

"I had to go, yes," I say with a chuckle.

"I see your friend Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man, on the news slamming our President Luthor. Now, you and Luthor were close...and he's even the man who found you at the bottom of the ocean. What are your views on the president?"

"My mother used to say that if you can't say anything nice about someone, then maybe you shouldn't say anything at all."

"So that's a...'**** you' to the president."

"You can say that on television?"

"It's Comedy Central. They'll bleep us out. It's not HBO, it's just regular TV."

"Okay. Well, back to the Luthor question...people's views and opinions change as time goes on. While I believe we should do all our ability to support our president...we don't have to exactly like them."

"What's your view on this superhuman registration that everyone is kicking around?"

"I think it's unconstitutional. These people who are born or created a special way have a right to protect this country as much as our fighting men and women do."

"But there are laws against vigilantes. As much as I want to dress up as the Hebrew Hammer and fight, I can't. And these people who work for the government can receive proper training on what and how to use their abilities."

"Training by who? SHIELD? The Army? I believe the new administration is training people not to ask question."

"Don't you think that's little hypocritical? You're sitting here right now only because you were experimented on by the army."

"That was different."

"Now you sound like my wife."

"I was operating during war time, against hostile enemies that had declared war on the United States and its allies. As soon as the war was over, I would have resigned my commission with the army."

"Yes, but how do you know that? Before Luthor was sworn into office, you actually assisted SHIELD in missions back when Nick Fury was the director. You were an individual agent doing what the Avengers are doing now."

I pull at my necktie. "I was told this was a comedy show."

The host and audience laugh.

"Yes, I did assist with SHIELD on occasion. This was because Fury was and still is a close friend who I can trust and rely on the same was the case with the previous president."

"Okay. We'll move on. Do you think that the Justice League can help police the superhuman community from its own kind?"

"I understand that there are people out there who are...unstable, but I believe the people best equipped to handle these threats are members of the superhuman community."

"Look at the collateral damage it does. A few weeks back, you and the Justice League tore up LA to stop the Hulk."

"Yes, and President Luthor ordered an attack on Kahdaq that constitutes mass murder."

Suddenly, the room is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The host clears his throat and chuckles.

"Wow. I'm trying to wrap my head around this...the leading liberal voices against our president are a weapon dealing billionaire with booze problems and a super-soldier created by FDR to fight the Nazis."

"If there's one thing I learned in the forties, it's that war does make strange bedfellows."

"Is the use of the word 'war' on purpose?"

"Not necessarily. The last time I spoke with the president, I was in the oval office offering him an olive branch of peace. I was told that if I or the Justice League interfered with US government business, we would be locked up for crimes of high treason."

"I just hope you enjoy being followed by the FBI, Cap. I also find it intriguing that you and Iron Man are also against the registration act, but you two have you identities publicly known."

"We fight for those who can't come forward themselves. Every American citizens deserves to have their privacy."

"But if they can leap over tall buildings in a secret bound, maybe we should know who these people are. Isn't that kind of like having your cake and eating it too?"

"Well, this is America. We should be able to have two cakes."

"Are you sure the Justice League isn't a front of the ACLU?"

"I'm not familiar with that."

"We have to go to break now. I'll explain during the commercial. Captain America, everybody."
​

 

[Keyser Soze]

Donald Blake walked down the hallway, headed towards his apartment. It had been a long, hard day at the clinic, and he was eager to get home to his family...

"Oh my God!"

The front door had been blasted off its hinges. He broke into a half-run-half-limp towards his home, pain shooting through his body with every heavy impact of his bad leg on the floor. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was that his family was okay.

"Jane!"

Oh no. There she was, lying on the ground. Donald dropped by her side. She was alive, thank God, just unconscious.

"Jane, can you hear me? Jane?"

As Donald cradled her in his arms, she lurched back into consciousness. She looked up at Donald, confusion clouding her features. Then she remembered.

"Tom! Tom!"

"Where's Tom, honey? Where is he?"

"No! He's got him! I let him take Tom!"

"Who, Jane? Who took Tom?"

"He... he called himself the Ocean Master."

Him. Thoughts rushed through Donald's mind. I should have known this wasn't over. How did he find me? Does he know about me and Thor? But above all else, he knew that he had to find Tom. He had to save him. But Donald Blake wouldn't be able to stop Ocean Master. He raised his cane, and slammed it into the floor of his apartment.

KRAKADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Lightning crashed through the window. Donald Blake was gone, and Thor stood in his place.

"Jane Foster, I will find the boy, and I will return him to you."

And then Thor hurled himself out of the shattered window, taking to the skies in search of the missing boy before Jane Foster could say a word. She never had time to ask Thor about what happened after he stopped Ocean Master. What happened when Tom faced his parents' killer?

Hovering over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Thor summoned a mighty storm. Not severe enough to cause any major damage, but with enough crashing lightning and booming thunder to perhaps attract the attention of the monarch he desired an audience with...

 

[Karem-Knight]

I stand in the studio's backstage, fiddling with my tie.

"Is Tony sure about this, Miss Potts?"

"One thing I've learned working for Tony, Captain Rogers, it's that he's sure about everything he does...regardless if the decisions are right or wrong."

As part of Iron Man's massive PR campaign against Luthor and his Avengers, I'm being used as the Justice League's public face, along with Stark himself. While he's doing his job through flash and substance, I'm the voice of good old fashioned reason. This is why he's set it up for me to appear on this show. Some sort of political show called The Daily Show.

"My next guest is someone you may have heard of," the host announces. "He helped win something called the Second World War. Please welcome, Captain Steve Rogers better known as Captain America."

I enter through the stage to applause and shake the hosts hand. I sit down on the couch and wait for the applause to die down.

"Captain America," he says once the applause ends. "How old are you again?"

"I'll be ninety-three years old in a few months."

"Wow. You know, my great-grandmother lived to be ninety-five. I don't think she could have taken on the Hulk at her age."

"Well, I did have the benefit of spending almost six decades in suspended animation."

"That's right. I wanted to ask you...how bad did you have to pee when you woke up?"

"I had to go, yes," I say with a chuckle.

"I see your friend Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man, on the news slamming our President Luthor. Now, you and Luthor were close...and he's even the man who found you at the bottom of the ocean. What are your views on the president?"

"My mother used to say that if you can't say anything nice about someone, then maybe you shouldn't say anything at all."

"So that's a...'**** you' to the president."

"You can say that on television?"

"It's Comedy Central. They'll bleep us out. It's not HBO, it's just regular TV."

"Okay. Well, back to the Luthor question...people's views and opinions change as time goes on. While I believe we should do all our ability to support our president...we don't have to exactly like them."

"What's your view on this superhuman registration that everyone is kicking around?"

"I think it's unconstitutional. These people who are born or created a special way have a right to protect this country as much as our fighting men and women do."

"But there are laws against vigilantes. As much as I want to dress up as the Hebrew Hammer and fight, I can't. And these people who work for the government can receive proper training on what and how to use their abilities."

"Training by who? SHIELD? The Army? I believe the new administration is training people not to ask question."

"Don't you think that's little hypocritical? You're sitting here right now only because you were experimented on by the army."

"That was different."

"Now you sound like my wife."

"I was operating during war time, against hostile enemies that had declared war on the United States and its allies. As soon as the war was over, I would have resigned my commission with the army."

"Yes, but how do you know that? Before Luthor was sworn into office, you actually assisted SHIELD in missions back when Nick Fury was the director. You were an individual agent doing what the Avengers are doing now."

I pull at my necktie. "I was told this was a comedy show."

The host and audience laugh.

"Yes, I did assist with SHIELD on occasion. This was because Fury was and still is a close friend who I can trust and rely on the same was the case with the previous president."

"Okay. We'll move on. Do you think that the Justice League can help police the superhuman community from its own kind?"

"I understand that there are people out there who are...unstable, but I believe the people best equipped to handle these threats are members of the superhuman community."

"Look at the collateral damage it does. A few weeks back, you and the Justice League tore up LA to stop the Hulk."

"Yes, and President Luthor ordered an attack on Kahdaq that constitutes mass murder."

Suddenly, the room is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The host clears his throat and chuckles.

"Wow. I'm trying to wrap my head around this...the leading liberal voices against our president are a weapon dealing billionaire with booze problems and a super-soldier created by FDR to fight the Nazis."

"If there's one thing I learned in the forties, it's that war does make strange bedfellows."

"Is the use of the word 'war' on purpose?"

"Not necessarily. The last time I spoke with the president, I was in the oval office offering him an olive branch of peace. I was told that if I or the Justice League interfered with US government business, we would be locked up for crimes of high treason."

"I just hope you enjoy being followed by the FBI, Cap. I also find it intriguing that you and Iron Man are also against the registration act, but you two have you identities publicly known."

"We fight for those who can't come forward themselves. Every American citizens deserves to have their privacy."

"But if they can leap over tall buildings in a secret bound, maybe we should know who these people are. Isn't that kind of like having your cake and eating it too?"

"Well, this is America. We should be able to have two cakes."

"Are you sure the Justice League isn't a front of the ACLU?"

"I'm not familiar with that."

"We have to go to break now. I'll explain during the commercial. Captain America, everybody."
​

"I've heard enough!" Lex snapped on-board his helicopter while he fled to the S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellcarrier to discuss with Amanda Waller the status of the Avengers and how to rid the world of the Justice League. Of course, he would need the public on his side; he needed to prove to the world that his registration act was justified and absolutely necessary for the benefit of the people, right now he seemed like a bumbling fool much like the last President had imposing these laws on people without justification would be out right fascism.

Landing on the hellcarrier, Luthor continued on his journey to the main hallways to meet his chosen Head of S.H.I.E.L.D., Amanda Waller. Coming to the main hallways he greeted her, lacking the charm that he usually employed most of his gatherings with other people.

"Did your agents pick up those Latverian objects I asked for?" He walked past Waller and looked at the files on his database with heavy interest. "Nice to see you're in the best of moods, Mr. President..." Lex was busy writing down details required for his plan in mere minutes to which Waller seemingly did not notice as she went on with her conversation.

"I don't see why you wanted these components so badly, my Intel tells me that these arn't even Doom's plans they were another scientist named Ivo."

"I know that! He was one of my professors when I studied in Latveria- he of course exceeded anyone else in android genetics, but I was the best at all other fields. Oh, and please...Doom is a good scientist but he is nothing compared to me! He made some adjustments to this design...but of course mine are better!"

"Why are you building this machine again, Lex? Don't you know the damage it nearly caused....what are you thinking unleashing it on the world!?"

http://www.**************.com/images/users/uploads/11043/Lex%20Luthor%20Gary%20Frank.jpg
Luthor looked at her with a smirk on his face and simply said, "That's the point!" he finished the notes he had completed in the space of a few minutes and handed them over to Waller who was confused to what the President is planning.

"Once the people see what destruction the League can cause, or what people like them can cause then they will start to be scared. And when people are scared they turn to a leader....and instead of looking up to some patriot in a costume or an alien in a cape...."

Lex walked out of the main office and back towards his helicopter before finishing his sentence.

"...they will look to Luthor!"

 

[Karem-Knight]

Byrd Man;18121327]

I stand in the studio's backstage, fiddling with my tie.

"Is Tony sure about this, Miss Potts?"

"One thing I've learned working for Tony, Captain Rogers, it's that he's sure about everything he does...regardless if the decisions are right or wrong."

As part of Iron Man's massive PR campaign against Luthor and his Avengers, I'm being used as the Justice League's public face, along with Stark himself. While he's doing his job through flash and substance, I'm the voice of good old fashioned reason. This is why he's set it up for me to appear on this show. Some sort of political show called The Daily Show.

"My next guest is someone you may have heard of," the host announces. "He helped win something called the Second World War. Please welcome, Captain Steve Rogers better known as Captain America."

I enter through the stage to applause and shake the hosts hand. I sit down on the couch and wait for the applause to die down.

"Captain America," he says once the applause ends. "How old are you again?"

"I'll be ninety-three years old in a few months."

"Wow. You know, my great-grandmother lived to be ninety-five. I don't think she could have taken on the Hulk at her age."

"Well, I did have the benefit of spending almost six decades in suspended animation."

"That's right. I wanted to ask you...how bad did you have to pee when you woke up?"

"I had to go, yes," I say with a chuckle.

"I see your friend Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man, on the news slamming our President Luthor. Now, you and Luthor were close...and he's even the man who found you at the bottom of the ocean. What are your views on the president?"

"My mother used to say that if you can't say anything nice about someone, then maybe you shouldn't say anything at all."

"So that's a...'**** you' to the president."

"You can say that on television?"

"It's Comedy Central. They'll bleep us out. It's not HBO, it's just regular TV."

"Okay. Well, back to the Luthor question...people's views and opinions change as time goes on. While I believe we should do all our ability to support our president...we don't have to exactly like them."

"What's your view on this superhuman registration that everyone is kicking around?"

"I think it's unconstitutional. These people who are born or created a special way have a right to protect this country as much as our fighting men and women do."

"But there are laws against vigilantes. As much as I want to dress up as the Hebrew Hammer and fight, I can't. And these people who work for the government can receive proper training on what and how to use their abilities."

"Training by who? SHIELD? The Army? I believe the new administration is training people not to ask question."

"Don't you think that's little hypocritical? You're sitting here right now only because you were experimented on by the army."

"That was different."

"Now you sound like my wife."

"I was operating during war time, against hostile enemies that had declared war on the United States and its allies. As soon as the war was over, I would have resigned my commission with the army."

"Yes, but how do you know that? Before Luthor was sworn into office, you actually assisted SHIELD in missions back when Nick Fury was the director. You were an individual agent doing what the Avengers are doing now."

I pull at my necktie. "I was told this was a comedy show."

The host and audience laugh.

"Yes, I did assist with SHIELD on occasion. This was because Fury was and still is a close friend who I can trust and rely on the same was the case with the previous president."

"Okay. We'll move on. Do you think that the Justice League can help police the superhuman community from its own kind?"

"I understand that there are people out there who are...unstable, but I believe the people best equipped to handle these threats are members of the superhuman community."

"Look at the collateral damage it does. A few weeks back, you and the Justice League tore up LA to stop the Hulk."

"Yes, and President Luthor ordered an attack on Kahdaq that constitutes mass murder."

Suddenly, the room is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The host clears his throat and chuckles.

"Wow. I'm trying to wrap my head around this...the leading liberal voices against our president are a weapon dealing billionaire with booze problems and a super-soldier created by FDR to fight the Nazis."

"If there's one thing I learned in the forties, it's that war does make strange bedfellows."

"Is the use of the word 'war' on purpose?"

"Not necessarily. The last time I spoke with the president, I was in the oval office offering him an olive branch of peace. I was told that if I or the Justice League interfered with US government business, we would be locked up for crimes of high treason."

"I just hope you enjoy being followed by the FBI, Cap. I also find it intriguing that you and Iron Man are also against the registration act, but you two have you identities publicly known."

"We fight for those who can't come forward themselves. Every American citizens deserves to have their privacy."

"But if they can leap over tall buildings in a secret bound, maybe we should know who these people are. Isn't that kind of like having your cake and eating it too?"

"Well, this is America. We should be able to have two cakes."

"Are you sure the Justice League isn't a front of the ACLU?"

"I'm not familiar with that."

"We have to go to break now. I'll explain during the commercial. Captain America, everybody."
​

[/QUOTE]

"I've heard enough!" Lex snapped on-board his helicopter while he fled to the S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellcarrier to discuss with Amanda Waller the status of the Avengers and how to rid the world of the Justice League. Of course, he would need the public on his side; he needed to prove to the world that his registration act was justified and absolutely necessary for the benefit of the people, right now he seemed like a bumbling fool much like the last President had imposing these laws on people without justification would be out right fascism.

Landing on the hellcarrier, Luthor continued on his journey to the main hallways to meet his chosen Head of S.H.I.E.L.D., Amanda Waller. Coming to the main hallways he greeted her, lacking the charm that he usually employed most of his gatherings with other people.

"Did your agents pick up those Latverian objects I asked for?" He walked past Waller and looked at the files on his database with heavy interest. "Nice to see you're in the best of moods, Mr. President..." Lex was busy writing down details required for his plan in mere minutes to which Waller seemingly did not notice as she went on with her conversation.

"I don't see why you wanted these components so badly, my Intel tells me that these arn't even Doom's plans they were another scientist named Ivo."

"I know that! He was one of my professors when I studied in Latveria- he of course exceeded anyone else in android genetics, but I was the best at all other fields. Oh, and please...Doom is a good scientist but he is nothing compared to me! He made some adjustments to this design...but of course mine are better!"

"Why are you building this machine again, Lex? Don't you know the damage it nearly caused....what are you thinking unleashing it on the world!?"

http://www.**************.com/images/users/uploads/11043/Lex%20Luthor%20Gary%20Frank.jpg
Luthor looked at her with a smirk on his face and simply said, "That's the point!" he finished the notes he had completed in the space of a few minutes and handed them over to Waller who was confused to what the President is planning.

"Once the people see what destruction the League can cause, or what people like them can cause then they will start to be scared. And when people are scared they turn to a leader....and instead of looking up to some patriot in a costume or an alien in a cape...."

Lex walked out of the main office and back towards his helicopter before finishing his sentence.

"...they will look to Luthor!"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

New York City
Central Park

"Here's the media darling himself," Fury says after taking a long drag off a cigarette. I sit down on the park bench next to him. Fury's remaining eye scans the park for eavesdroppers and spies.

"It was Stark's idea. He likes using me and himself as poster boys for the Justice League."

"So I noticed."

"What's going on, Nick?"

"Can't I just stop in to see my old war buddy?" He asks in an innocent tone.

"With you it's always something, so spill."

He stubs out his smoke on the ground and nods.

"I'll get down to it, then. A source deep inside the Luthor administration has leaked information to me that the commander in chief may have links to HYDRA."

I blink in surprise. "Where is this information coming from and is it reliable?"

"The person in question, codenamed BENCHPRESS, is a long time informant for SHIELD. Above Top Secret. For my eye only," Fury says with a chuckle. His attempt at gallow's humor.

"BENCHPRESS has been reporting to me and only me. You're the first person I've told about the source. BENCHPRESS is on the Joint Chiefs, and that's all I want to say. Any more and I'm afraid I'll give it away."

"What do we do with this information?"

"We go hunting, Cap. This rumor doesn't have enough weight to do much damage, so we need some fire to add to this smoke. Both of us are black balled here in the US to get anything done in the clasdestine services, so we're going abroad to meet my contacts."

Fury lights up another cigarette and favors me with a grimace.

"Pack you suit, Steve. We're heading to Europe."​