One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Keyser Soze]

"We really haven't had time, Lex. As soon as the...."

Fight? Accident? Massacre? Explosion? Mass-murder?

"...Incident was over, SHIELD scooped us up and sent us straight to DC."

"You want to know who sent that thing, Luthor? Great. So do we. Help us! With all the resources of S.H.I.E.L.D. at your disposal, we really have a good chance of tracking down who's responsible. But we need to act fast, and wasting time while you play games holding us here like we're criminals isn't doing anyone any good."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Orm looks at Thor, taking in what he receives as an empty thread, and laughs at the Thunder God's face.

"Hahahaha. Are you new to this game, hero? You are dumber than you look, and much dumber than my half-brother. Do you really think I would face you two, and tremble at your threats? Greatness has been promised to me, so long as I keep the boy in my clutches. Although..."

With the wave of his staff, suddenly in the water which was previously hidden like a mirage appears a casket dug 1 foot into the seafloor.

"If you wish to claim the boy for yourself, and condemn my half-brother to his inevitable doom I applaud you."

Love can make a man do crazy things. It has made Aquaman do crazy things, such as face off against an entire kingdom of Fire Trolls with King Namor to save his Queen, and love is what makes Thor now do a crazy thing. Taking the Ocean Master's bait, the Thunder God hurries over to the casket several feet away, not noticing the magical runes places around said casket.

As Thor is now standing above the runes, before he can swing his might hammer, and break the child free from a watery grave, the Orm's spell activates. Energy seems to surge around Thor, and the very electricity which empowers him and is wielded by none other than his hand, are sapped away.

"And now, Thunder God...you too are about to meet your doom."

Activating another spell, the runes from the seafloor that lay underneath Thor rises up, and shoot over to the Ocean Master. Circling around him as he cites an incantation, the power they sapped from Thor now becomes his. Surging with electrical energy, and power of a Norse God, the Ocean Master marvels at his new power.

"NOW YOU SHALL FACE, THE WRATH OF THE OCEAN MASTER!!"

Flying at Thor, Orm strikes.

Smashing into Thor with all the power and fury of the storm, the Ocean Master sends Thor hurtling through the water, and crashing into the sandy bed of the seafloor some distance away. Thor struggles to his knees, wiping blood from his nose. Mjolnir conducts the storms no more. That power has been stolen from it. All that is left is Thor, and his hammer.

But that alone was more than Ocean Master bargained for.

"It is you who are the fool, Ocean Master. You think it is the storms that give Thor his power? No, it is Thor that gives power to the storms!"

Sneering in response, Orm charged at Thor once more, surging with electricity. Pushing himself to his feet, Thor steadied himself, bracing for a mighty impact. He wrapped the strap of Mjolnir tightly around his hand and start to swing the hammer overhead, ready to strike at just the right moment. Ocean Master would either cut right through him, or be stopped. For Thor would not be moved from this spot.

"I SHALL NOT BE MOVED!"

 

[Carnage27]

The floor of my plastic prison squeaks with every step I make as I pace back and forth. It's all I have anymore since the Justice League and the X-Men put me away. But I don't blame them. They've been blinded by those they seek to serve, to protect.

And here I have sat, for months, though they seem more like years. The time has taken a tole on me. I wonder what is going on on the outside world. The only info I get are snippets of guards' conversations. Apparently Luthor let loose robotic monstrosities on Khandaq, killing countless innocents. Something that frightens me more than anything I could ever imagine.

If he did that to other metas, what stops him from letting them loose on the mutant population in America?

I sit and ponder the reprocutions at my one table, when a tremor shakes through my cell. From inside, I see the guards on the outside panicking and going for their weapons, but are each taken down by bullets through the head.

The doors of my cell slide open, and I'm greeted by my most trustworthy Lieutenant.

"Erik...it's been too long," Mystique smiles.

"It has been indeed, my dear," I respond as she hands me my helmet and battle armor. "Shall we leave? I believe I've had far too much of this place."

As we walk out of the SHIELD instillation I've been in for the past few months, I smile at a security camera and say, "Thank you for your hospitality President Luthor, Ms. Waller. But I believe I'll be on my way."

I walk out the door, smelling fresh air for the first time in a long time, and feel my strength returning.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Gotham City


This city may be Batman's town, but still...

....that doesn't mean it's a no-fly zone.


In the few hours I've spent in Gotham looking for Batman, I lend a hand and stop a few crime, along with preventing a few accidents and collisions. It's when I'm finishing fixing a flat tire on the freeway that tell-tale sounds and smells reach me. Cordite, the snap of bones, the smell of blood and urine. A criminal whimpering, and an inhuman growl. All of those things are Batman's calling card.

"That should do it. miss. Drive safe and look out for those foreign objects in the road."

"Thank you so much, Superman."

"You don't have to thank me."

I take off into the air towards the sound of urban warfare, and Gotham City's Dark Knight.
​

 

[wiegeabo]

Long after Alfred and Dick had left the cave, the grandfather clock closes behind me, sealing the cave off from the rest of the mansion. I rub my sore ribs, which only feel marginally better after Alfred bandaged them. My body aches and is bruised after surviving two explosions in a single night, and taking down over a dozen of Joker's goons. I'm exhausted and want nothing more than to just go to bed and sleep the entire day away.

But I'm too wound up to do so. I could try to meditate, but I still don't think I'd be able to.

"Master Bruce, is something wrong?"

It's only when Alfred emerges from the kitchen that i remember myself. "No, Alfred. I just...don't think I could get any sleep right now."

Alfred sighs in that way he has when I refuse to take proper care of myself. And seeing as how I'm a vigilante who goes out every night and risks death, it's something I've become quite accustomed to.

"I see, sir. And I assume it would be pointless for me to remind you yet again how important sleep is for someone with your injuries?"

I smile a little. "It would. Instead, how about some breakfast. Something hearty. I'm starving."

Alfred looks at me with surprise for a moment. "You wish to eat, sir? Real food?"

I smile more. "Real food."

"Of- of course, sir." Alfred quickly makes his way back into the kitchen. Even though he tries to hide it behind his usual British stoicism, I can tell he's pleased.

I follow behind him and open the fridge, pulling out the orange juice. Then I hear I loud gasp and spin around.

"What happened to you?!"

Elektra.

How could I forget about Elektra?

"Bruce, what happened?"

Half my brain starts turning potential lies over, while the other half tries to play my injuries off. "Uh, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean?!" She's instantly standing in front of me, inspecting the injuries to my face. She pulls my head down to look over my scalp and see how extensive the injuries are. The action causes me to bend slightly, setting off my ribs. I gasp and clutch my chest out of instinct.

"It's...nothing," I manage to get out.

"Nothing?" She gently jabs her fingertips into my side, and I double over again. "I know it's been a while since Master Stick's lessons on anatomy, so I may be out of practice and forgetting a few things. Is nothing one cracked rib and two broken, or two cracked ribs and one broken?"

"I was...mugged."

"Did you talk to the police?"

"Well..."

"Did you go to the hospital?"

"Actually..."

"Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm-"

"Don't say you're not. Don't you dare say it. I didn't come back to Gotham just to have you lie to me. Now either you were mugged, or you weren't. If you were, then I'm calling the police right now and they can meet us at the hospital. If you weren't, then you're going to tell me what happened." The tone of her voice leaves no room for any alternative.

I just look at Elektra with my mouth hanging open, my mind stuck on what to do. I glance over at Alfred. He looks at me...and then quietly sighs.

"Master Bruce, there are times when the right thing to do is also the hardest." Alfred promptly puts down the pan he was holding and walks out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.

"What does Alfred mean?"

I lean back on the counter top and look at the floor. "He means it's time for the truth."

Elektra crosses her arms. "And that would be...?"

I look up and into her eyes, and I know there's no going back.

"...I'm Batman."

Elektra snorts, and then starts laughing. "Dammit, Bruce! Be serious." She forces the laughter away and focuses on being angry again. "I want you to tell me what's going on with you."

"I just did. I'm Batman."

Elektra gives me a look that could melt steel. "Fine. Just...fine. Don't tell me. In fact...don't even talk to me!" She marches out of the room.

I grab her arm before she can get very far. "Let go!" she demands, trying to pull herself away.

"Not until you listen to me."

"I'm done listening. You're gone at all hours. When I do see you, you're either exhausted or hurt, but try and play it off. And you won't tell me why!"

"I just did!"

She wrenches her arm away, and I grab it again. She spins around, hand swinging to slap my face. I block it effortlessly. She actually takes a couple of more swings, all of which I block before grabbing her arms.. "Come with me."

"Let go!" But I don't. I drag her over to the grandfather clock and dial in the time. It slides open. "What in the world...?" I finally do let he go, and start down the stairs without looking back. I don't get very far before I hear the first tentative steps echo behind me.

When I reach the bottom, the lights automatically kick on. And I here her gasp in shock. I turn around to look at her. She's covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide, taking in everything about the cave in disbelief.

"This is who I am. This is why I spent all those years training, making myself the best there is." I step towards her slowly. "I fight every night to protect this city, to save people. Just last night I stopped the Joker from killing Commissioner Gordon and his wife."

I stand in front of her, taking her hands in mine. "I don't want to lie to you anymore. I can't. I love you, Elektra. And I can't hide who I am. Not from you. I'm not just Bruce Wayne. I am Batman."

She stares into my eyes like she's staring right into me. Like she's trying to figure me out from the inside. And then she pulls her hands away, and walks up the stairs leaving me alone in the cave.

***

I spent the entire day in the cave, waiting for night. I didn't eat anything, I had no appetite. I didn't sleep. I couldn't. I just sat and waited for night.

And I let the night embrace me as I leap from one building to the other, letting the wind flow across my cape. I fire my grapnel. It catches and whips me around a corner onto the street. I've been following the speeding car for twelve blocks. Ever since I heard the drive-by. I just need the chance to get ahead of them.

And I finally get it. Anticipating their next move, I swing ahead and drop lower. I pull a handful of spikes from my belt and throw them on the ground. A few seconds later, the car pulls around the corners and it's tires blow. It skids and screeches, taking out a fire hydrant before slamming into a wall.

I land on the top of the car, then quickly backflip off as bullets tear the roof apart. The thugs push the doors open and try to get out. I throw down some explosive pellets, blinding them as my line lifts me in the air. I drop down behind them. One thug is on the ground before he knows what's happening. The other crumbles in pain as his knee is blown out from a kick.

A third fires his gun randomly, but I land a batarang to his forehead as I run towards the third. He drops by the time I grab the last thugs gun hand. I break his fingers, then his arm, then plant my boot into his chest, cracking a couple of ribs. I know exactly how he feels.

I stand there panting, the street filling with mist and water from the hydrant. I'm exhausted, and in pain, and still want nothing more than to crack some more skulls.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long night.

 

[Byrd Man]

Peter "Skinny Peter" Tillman stands to the side of the drug corner, a cellphone stuck in his ear.

"Listen to me, LaMonica. Where the **** is my re-up? You're three hours late, and we're running on fumes now...listen, white boy, I don't give a **** about the mobs you ran with in New York, this ain't New York."

Tillman slams the phone shut and whistles for one of the drug dealers.

"How much we got, man," he asks as the young boy comes up to him.

"Couple more packs."

"Alright. You run out, go ahead and split it up and ya'll can split for the day."

The young boy nods and goes over the hunched over drug addict, handing the man in filthy clothing a vial full of crack.

"Much obliged," the crack head says as he walks away. Once out of earshot, he leans down into his coat jacket and whispers into the wireless mircophone on his lapel.

"Ya'll get that stuff about LaMonica?" Detective Kasper Cole asks his colleagues.

"That's a 10-4," Charlie Fields replies. He and Marcus Driver are on a rooftop down the block from the drug corner. Driver uses a camera with a telescopic lens to snap shots of the goings on of the drug hot-spot.

The three detectives have been funneling the marked bills into Two-Face's organization for a week, and so far over half of the ten thousand is gone.

*******
​

"Why the hell isn't the money on the way to Hong Kong yet, Lau!" Parker Robbins screams into the phone. Two-Face's right hand man stands in his apartment, overlooking downtown Gotham. The organization's money launderer, stranded in China, remains calm.

"I do have other clients, Mister Robbins. I'm am currently tied up in a business deal with them."

"Goddammit. Well, when can you get back to America?"

"Next week at the earliest."

"You mother****er. You were supposed to get my money out of the states this week!"

"I would very much appreciate it if you watched your tone, Mister Robbins. Even though I do not have the connections with the American criminals that you do, my connections in China run deep. Even inside our government."

"Is that a threat?"

"I am merely reminding you there is a great deal at stake in this matter. If we happen to find....what is the American word?...The rug cut from under us? Yes, then I would find a comfortable place to land. You? Not so much. I will be in Gotham next week to handle your money. Good day."

The line went dead as Lau hung up. Robbins shook his head and went towards the kitchen.

*******
​

Inside the MCU squadroom. Lieutenant Michael Akins, Sergeant Maggie Sawyer, and Detective Renee Montoya begin looking through all the bank statements and deposits involving the marked bills.

"Bank deposit three days ago, 12:24 PM at First National Gotham," Akins says as he reads through the list. "Amount was $500. Half of the money was withdrawn from an ATM two hours later, the other half two hours after that."

"This is something I don't get," Sawyer says. "We call these criminals dummies and idiots, but look at all this. They can't pass high school algebra, but they can launder money and set up these complex criminal organizations."

"They mess up, Sergeant," Akins says. "They always do. Like one ti-"

Akins stops short when his eyes catch two transfers on the piece of paper.

"Oh, my God." Taking the paper, he shows it to Sawyer and Montoya. "Look at this."

"What am I looking at?" Montoya asks.

"Routing numbers. Checking routing numbers. Two checks in the amount of two thousand dollars a piece. Those two accounts are under phony names and information, but we know the dirty money was washed in that account. The important part is where the routing numbers end up."

"Where?"

Akins smiles. "The two checks are routed to the campaign contributions of Mayor Hamilton Hill."

The two officers look up at Akins with wide eyes. He smiles at the two ladies.

"Detective Montoya, call Captain Essen. We need her here ASAP."

"Yes, sir."

As Montoya runs off to the phone, Akins nods towards Sawyer.

"Follow the drugs, you get drugs. You follow the money, you don't know where you'll end up. Sometimes it takes you to city hall."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

I spent the entire day in the cave, waiting for night. I didn't eat anything, I had no appetite. I didn't sleep. I couldn't. I just sat and waited for night.

And I let the night embrace me as I leap from one building to the other, letting the wind flow across my cape. I fire my grapnel. It catches and whips me around a corner onto the street. I've been following the speeding car for twelve blocks. Ever since I heard the drive-by. I just need the chance to get ahead of them.

And I finally get it. Anticipating their next move, I swing ahead and drop lower. I pull a handful of spikes from my belt and throw them on the ground. A few seconds later, the car pulls around the corners and it's tires blow. It skids and screeches, taking out a fire hydrant before slamming into a wall.

I land on the top of the car, then quickly backflip off as bullets tear the roof apart. The thugs push the doors open and try to get out. I throw down some explosive pellets, blinding them as my line lifts me in the air. I drop down behind them. One thug is on the ground before he knows what's happening. The other crumbles in pain as his knee is blown out from a kick.

A third fires his gun randomly, but I land a batarang to his forehead as I run towards the third. He drops by the time I grab the last thugs gun hand. I break his fingers, then his arm, then plant my boot into his chest, cracking a couple of ribs. I know exactly how he feels.

I stand there panting, the street filling with mist and water from the hydrant. I'm exhausted, and in pain, and still want nothing more than to crack some more skulls.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long night.

"That was nice, but maybe a bit too violent."

I float from the sky, touching down in front of Batman.

"In case you're wondering, I arrived about halfway through the fight. I would have helped, but something tells me you didn't need or particularly want my help."

 

[wiegeabo]

"That was nice, but maybe a bit too violent."

I float from the sky, touching down in front of Batman.

"In case you're wondering, I arrived about halfway through the fight. I would have helped, but something tells me you didn't need or particularly want my help."

Superman actually surprises me. Which just tells me I was far too wrapped up in the fight. I reach down to examine one of the weapons the gangbangers used. I might be able to use it to track down their source.

"I'm...working out some frustrations."

I glance up at the Kryptonian. Even in the darkness of Gotham he's seems to shine brightly in primary colors. It makes me instinctively pull my cape around myself, drawing the shadows around me.

"Why are you in Gotham?

 

[Carnage27]

Monday morning in school. Never my favorite, but today is even worse. I walk down the hallways of the school and everyone is talking about Stanford. I hear them saying how all of us should be arrested and locked away for good. That us heroes are a menace to society. How we're cowards for hiding behind masks.

I shake my head and open my locker, noticing Harry is also at his. I approach him carefully, "Hey, Har."

"Oh, hey," he grumbles.

"Listen...about yesterday," I stammer.

"Don't worry about it, Pete. I've always known how you've felt about her. Just don't treat me like a fool. Don't tell me it wasn't what I thought it was, because it is," he cuts me off. "I'm kinda okay with it. Stuff like this happens. But, just give me some space for a little to get used to it, okay?"

He walks away as I mutter, "Okay."

******

"PARKER!" Mr. Jameson shouts from his office. "GET IN HERE!"

I enter with my camera around my neck, and sit cautiously in a chair in front of his desk, "Yes, Mr. Jameson?"

"Where are my pictures of the Stanford incident?" he asks impatiently.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure Jonah forgets I'm a high school student sometimes. He expects me to be everywhere Spider-Man is. Obviously I am, but that's a completely different story.

"Sorry, Jonah. I was visiting my girlfriend this weekend and couldn't make it up there. She dumped me actual-"

"Parker, I didn't ask you about your love life. I need pictures for tomorrows paper. I wanted pictures from that debacle with all the criminal 'heroes'. See? I told you they were all in cahoots and bad news. But now the president is going to do something about it. Once that registration act goes through none of those creeps will be able to hide behind masks!" he says triumphantly, be fore giving me his "I'm mad" look. "Why are you sitting here! Go find the web-head and get me some pictures!"

I exit the Daily Bugle building shaking my head. All I've heard about today is how the rest of the League and I are criminals, and how we should be locked up, I can't help but feel like the bad guy. The guy to be feared instead of respected.

And then something strikes me. Why not use that to my advantage? Why not use the fear? Images of Batman spring into my mind, and it makes me realize how effective it could be. Sure I can't be as bad ass and brutal that he is, it's just not my style. But I can do things to strike more fear into the criminal underworld, especially at a time like this.

Now isn't a time to feel sorry for myself or hide from those that are coming after me. Now is a time to embrace the vigilante status and embrace the bad boy image.

I duck into an alley, and take out my League communicator, and dial Johnny up, "Johnny? It's Spidey. I need a favor from Reed. Yea. I'll be over shortly."

********

"Here you go, Spider-Man," Reed Richards says, handing me a parcel. "It's got everything your old suit had, with a few extra precautions added in for you. You're sure you're going with this route? It doesn't seem like you."

"If they're going to brand me as an outlaw, I'm going to embrace it, Reed. I really appreciate the help. I wouldn't have been able to do this on my own. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to hit the streets. It's getting dark."

I websling out of the Baxter Building, and find a secluded place to change into the new suit. It feels the same, but looking at it gives me a different mindset. I feel almost dangerous, rather than the upbeat jokester I am in the other.

I swing through the night, and it doesn't take long for me to come across a mugging in an alley. I drop down stealthily and stalk behind my target. As he rears back for another punch, I make my voice as Batman-y as possible, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Junior."

He turns to find me standing as tall as I can.

"Oh ****! Don't kill me man! I heard stories about the black suit! Don't kill me man!"

"I'm not going to kill y-," I'm cut off by the strong smell of ammonia. Holy crap I made the guy piss himself! "You pissed yourself? Man. That's embarrassing."

I don't bother bantering with this guy anymore. I give him a right hook to the jaw. Knocking him out cold, and webbing him to the wall, leaving him for authorities.

"Need some help?" I say to the victim, giving him my hand.

"Thank you, Spider-Man," he pants, taking it. "Back in black I see?"

I nod, "If they want to make me an outlaw, I'll oblige. Be careful tonight."

I websling off into the night, realizing how good it feels to be back swinging, even if it's only been a few days since the last time. This is who I am. This is my responsibility. And this is what I will continue to do.
​

 

[Byrd Man]

Superman actually surprises me. Which just tells me I was far too wrapped up in the fight. I reach down to examine one of the weapons the gangbangers used. I might be able to use it to track down their source.

"I'm...working out some frustrations."

I glance up at the Kryptonian. Even in the darkness of Gotham he's seems to shine brightly in primary colors. It makes me instinctively pull my cape around myself, drawing the shadows around me.

"Why are you in Gotham?

"Because of you. I don't know if you've kept up with the news, but there was an accident in Connecticut, another Amazo robot blew sky-high and took a whole town with it. The Justice League is being blamed for it...maybe we are to blame for it, but that's not important right now. Captain America and Iron Man are both in SHIELD custody. I need help investigating the accident and tracing back its sources."

 

[Optikal]

-WAR MACHINE-

War Machine Satellite

Geosynchronous Orbit with Earth

Rhodey sat within the satellite, his systems hot-wired into the systems within. As well as recharging his armour and cybernetics, the satellite also let him synch in and both upload and extract data. Essentially, the place was built as an all-in-one pit-stop.

As diagnostics were run and the nano-machines repaired his damage, Rhodey spun the satellite and focused upon those he loved. Down on Earth, Iron Man was tending to business as usual, Pepper, Happy, Jarvis and Rhodeys own mother were all fine. High above the planet though, Jim couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Down on the ground, everyone he ever loved and cared about went about there business as normal and here he was, hooked up to some of the most advanced tech in the world, like a modern day Frankenstein monster.

-LEVEL THREE META-HUMAN EMERGENCY IN PROGRESS-

"Bring it up on main screen" Rhodey barked at the satellite, watching as the honeycomb of images of his loved ones became a filter of multiple news and local authority reports.

"...Reports are coming in that a Super Human terror attack has devastated at least three villages in Kazakhstan and is currently advancing upon the capital city of Astana. Official numbers regarding casualties are unknown at this time but figures are estimated to be over a hundred at this point, with expectations that those numbers would rise exponentially should the terrorist threat make it to the capital..."

Rhodey sighed and released himself from the harness that was refining his tech.

"Looks like I've got work to do" he grumbled.

Jettisoning from the satellite, War Machine fired himself towards the Earth. As he entered the atmosphere, his systems realigned, constituting from the intense heat and pressures being encountered. Within, Rhodey barely felt a thing on what was left of his organic body.

As he diverted his course, heading for the largest landlocked country in Europe, Rhodes began to scan for metahuman activity. Up on his HUD flares flickered and streamed information. There was plenty of activity in Russia, China and various other surrounding countries, but right now about five miles outside of Astana, one large blip was going crazy.

"Computer. Track and Zoom. I want a visual".

Without hesitation, a stream of information flashed before his eyes as systems uplinked with the satellite and fed him all the information he needed. One image, live and uncensored made him scowl.

"Okay" Rhodey growled. "What in the hell is that?!"


​

 

[wiegeabo]

I grunt. "I heard."

I may have spent the entire day in the cave, but I wasn't cut off. I kept up with the news. Saw what happened in Stanford. It's surprising how many people have cellphone cameras these days.

I turn away from the gangbangers. Their guns are clean. I won't learn anything from them until they wake up. I'll be sure to pay them a visit after Gordon's men pick them up.

I star walking down the street away from Superman. "It wasn't your fault."

I stop at the fire hydrant. "Would you mind?"

 

[Byrd Man]

I turn away from the gangbangers. Their guns are clean. I won't learn anything from them until they wake up. I'll be sure to pay them a visit after Gordon's men pick them up.

I star walking down the street away from Superman. "It wasn't your fault."

I stop at the fire hydrant. "Would you mind?"

"Sure."

The thugs go from the ground to the fire hydrant in a millisecond, their bodies tied to the hydrant by thick rope.

"That should hold. It's a Bowline knot. Learned about it when I was in the scouts."

I turn back to Batman.

"The Justice League needs your help, I need your help. More importantly, all those people who died today need your help. Will you help us, Bruce?"

He gives me a look when I use his name.

"Don't worry, There's nobody else around for a whole block except the guys you just dusted."

 

[wiegeabo]

Superman fixes the spraying hydrant, and then surprises me by tying the scum to it. I admit to enjoying that last touch.

Of course, I just scour again when I hear my name. "I don't care if there's no one within a mile of us, don't use my name when I'm in costume."

I pull out my grapnel, but change my mind. I'm not going to do any good out here while I'm this distracted. I press a button on my belt, knowing the batmobile will arrive soon.

"Whoever built the new Amazo was powerful, wealthy, and connected." In the distance, I hear the familiar screeching of tires. "Very few people would be able to create such an android, and be able to cover their tracks so well. And even fewer still would have the motive."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Whoever built the new Amazo was powerful, wealthy, and connected." In the distance, I hear the familiar screeching of tires. "Very few people would be able to create such an android, and be able to cover their tracks so well. And even fewer still would have the motive."

"I have some satellite photos of the.....incident along with a recording of the fight that was taken by an AWACs jetplane from a few thousand feet in the air."

God bless Nick Fury and his resources. If he has these resources and contacts as a civilian, I shudder when I think of what he had as S.H.I.E.L.D. director.
Batman's car, the batmobile I think it's called, rounds the corner and comes to a stop in front of us.

"If you looked at them, would it help you find clues as to who built the android?"

 

[wiegeabo]

"I have some satellite photos of the.....incident along with a recording of the fight that was taken by an AWACs jetplane from a few thousand feet in the air."

God bless Nick Fury and his resources. If he has these resources and contacts as a civilian, I shudder when I think of what he had as S.H.I.E.L.D. director.
Batman's car, the batmobile I think it's called, rounds the corner and comes to a stop in front of us.

"If you looked at them, would it help you find clues as to who built the android?"

"It wouldn't hurt. I'd never be able to get Fury to give me a copy of the photos otherwise." Superman looks at me surprised. I shrug. "Who else would have photos like that and be willing to help the JLA?"

I hop into the car, a plan already forming. Of course, it requires me to trust Superman with my biggest secret. Besides my identity. "Follow me."

I tear off down the Gotham streets, eventually reaching the countryside. Knowing there's never anyone on the road this time of night. It only takes a minute to reach the estate grounds. I turn off a short side road, and drive right into the cliff face far below the manor.

 

[Byrd Man]

I tear off down the Gotham streets, eventually reaching the countryside. Knowing there's never anyone on the road this time of night. It only takes a minute to reach the estate grounds. I turn off a short side road, and drive right into the cliff face far below the manor.

I follow Batman through the waterfall and into the cave.

"Charming place. Although a bit warmer than my retreat in the Arctic."

I come down next to the batmobile as Batman hops out.

"Here you go."

I hand Batman a USB drive.

"And before you ask, I do have pockets in this suit."

 

[Karem-Knight]

"You want to know who sent that thing, Luthor? Great. So do we. Help us! With all the resources of S.H.I.E.L.D. at your disposal, we really have a good chance of tracking down who's responsible. But we need to act fast, and wasting time while you play games holding us here like we're criminals isn't doing anyone any good."

"Well Mr. Stark, you may feel as though this feels rather forceful right now; I ask you to think clearly for a second. Yes, S.H.E.I.L.D. does have a vast amount of resources but none of our agents were at the scene at the time; you however were. So, if you could Tony, stop making this more difficult then it needs to be."

Lex walked away from the two heroes trying to hide his expression of joy being able to silence Tony Stark like that. Looking over the files that were labelled "Stanford" he was impressed to see how much data was able to be recorded in such a short time.

"Now, as you two know I have a rather difficult job that requires me to lead an entire country...right now, Vice President Kelly is currently dealing with the fall out of this crisis in my absence. I am asking you two, not as heroes, not as men but as fellow American citizens to tell me everything that happened earlier today."

 

[Byrd Man]

Lex walked away from the two heroes trying to hide his expression of joy being able to silence Tony Stark like that. Looking over the files that were labelled "Stanford" he was impressed to see how much data was able to be recorded in such a short time.

"Now, as you two know I have a rather difficult job that requires me to lead an entire country...right now, Vice President Kelly is currently dealing with the fall out of this crisis in my absence. I am asking you two, not as heroes, not as men but as fellow American citizens to tell me everything that happened earlier today."

"Well, we all received a priority alert from Wildcat that Amazo was tearing up Stamford. We all responded and fought the robot. Green Lantern used a bubble to contain the robot and the Justice League so we could fight in an enclosed space and prevent further damage. Then, as we were gaining the upperhand, Amazo issued some strange command and then......."

I pause, waiting for the lump in my throat to subside.

"And then... the robot burst through Green Lantern's bubble and exploded. We were only spared because of the protective bubble."

 

[trustyside-kick]

He wrapped the strap of Mjolnir tightly around his hand and start to swing the hammer overhead, ready to strike at just the right moment. Ocean Master would either cut right through him, or be stopped. For Thor would not be moved from this spot.

"I SHALL NOT BE MOVED!"

As Orm Marius is about to strike the depowered Thunder God, Thor meets his attack with the swing of his mighty hammer. The impact creates a loud boom in the water and the two separate. Crashing into one of the broken pillars of Poseidonis, Orm is quickly back on his feet. Chuckling as he wipes the blood from his mouth, he motions his hands and an underwater storm starts to form in the waters above them over the battlefield.

"Still you have some strength left. But I will have that hammer yet, and then you will be even more powerless to stop me!"

Creating a magical typhoon, the Ocean Master brings it to life and tries to suck Thor's magical hammer in it, but the hero clutches onto it with all his might. As the mighty motions of the typhoon tug on the hero and Mjolnir, Orm flies back at him, taking advantage. Packing each of his punches and kicks with volts of electricity stolen from by the Thunder God, Orm inflicts such pain it makes Thor's grip on Mjolrnir lessen with each blow.

"If only I could keep this power as my own! But I am a man of my word and once you are disposed of my comrade promised me what I have been searching for so desperately will then be mine. With that magic I will not only conquer the entire oceanscape but I will have the power to flood the very Earth! Every country, city, and town will suffer the fate that was Atlantis' 40,000 years ago! And I, the Ocean Master, will reign supreme; my namesake that much more true."

Meanwhile, Aquaman struggles to stand up finally, and the runes disappear. He thinks it is because Orm's focus on the spell had subsided, but he could not have been more wrong. As he is about to spring forward and assist Thor in battling his newly empowered half-brother, hands spring from the seafloor, grabbing hold of him and pinning him. Bodies of the thought to be dead start to rise, and start to call out his name.

Aquaman turns his head, horrified by one of the zombified corpses of his old general.

"Rodunn....no."

"You abandoned us, my King."

"No."

Several other Atlantean faces known easily to the former Sea King, draw nearer.

"You left us to burn."

"No. I stood and fought alongside all of you! Once there was nothing left, I had no choice."

"Traitor to your people."

"No."

"Incompetent protector."

"No."

"Kill the yellowhair."
"We should have remembered the Curse he bears."
"Should have killed him years ago."

"Stop it..."

~STOP IT!~

The Marine Marvel lets out a telepathic cry as the zombified corpses of his fallen soldiers and people now cling onto him. They do no use of course. While they are Atlantean they are undead, brought to back only by Orm's spell and so his telepathic powers have no sway over them. Overwhelming him as he does not fight back out of emotional ties and desiring to not desecrate their bodies, he is powerless.

 

[Byrd Man]

It's been a week since the Joker's attack, and things haven't been so well in the house of Gordon. Barbara packed up her things and took Jimmy with her back to Chicago, ruining any chance we had at reconciling. My daughter's had her share of heart ache as well. On top of this nonsense with the Joker, she broke up with her boyfriend. Peter seemed to be a good kid, but I didn't like the fact that he danced around at night as Spider-Man. His heroics already put Barbara in danger months ago. I'm just glad they broke off their relationship before it could happen again.

The recent events have driven me towards the office. The past few days I've left before the sun rose, and come home long after its set. Even now, it's just a little past noon and I've already clocked eight hours working in the office. Another eight will probably go by before I go home.

"Commissioner? Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins are here to see you, sir."

"Send them in, Stacy."

I stand as the two commanders of my Major Crimes Unit walk through the door.

"Mike. Sarah. Have a seat. Coffee? "

"No thank you, sir," Akins says. Sarah just shakes her head. I sit back down behind my desk and look at the two officers.

"Well, where are we on the investigation into Two-Face's organization? I saw where Judge Cirillo approved a murder warrant on a Jonathon LaMonica. We believe he's muscle for Two-Face?"

"Yes, sir," Sarah says. "Sergeant Bullock, Detective Allen, and myself are currently investigating LaMonica's whereabouts. I believe Bullock and Allen are on a stakeout right now outside of LaMonica's last known address. Since he was involved in organized crime in New York, I manage to pull some resources from our local FBI office. If we can catch him and get him to roll, then we can find out where Two-Face is at."

"Good. Keep at it. And the money laundering side of things?"

Sarah and Mike exchange glances. Akins clears his throat and speaks.

"Umm...yes. Cole, Driver, and Fields, our surveillance and drug team, have been filtering in the bills for the past week. Sergeant Sawyer, Detective Montoya, and I have been tracking the money through bank transactions. They wash the money in local banks, unbeknowst to the bankers. The other day, when we were tracking a deposit and withdrawl...the money was sent to two phony bank accounts and was withdrawn with two checks written in the bank account holder's names."

Akins clears his throat again and looks at Sarah.

"What?"

"The, uhh...the checks. Were made out to...the mayor's reelection fund."

I gasp, quietly but it still takes my breath away. Suddenly the news Mayor Hill have me a few months ago makes sense. There was a reason he wanted me to soft-pedal this investigation, to sweep the results under the rug and let Two-Face go about his business.

He's being bribed by the former District Attorney.
​

 

[Karem-Knight]

"Well, we all received a priority alert from Wildcat that Amazo was tearing up Stamford. We all responded and fought the robot. Green Lantern used a bubble to contain the robot and the Justice League so we could fight in an enclosed space and prevent further damage. Then, as we were gaining the upperhand, Amazo issued some strange command and then......."

I pause, waiting for the lump in my throat to subside.

"And then... the robot burst through Green Lantern's bubble and exploded. We were only spared because of the protective bubble."

"I see...." Lex said thinking for a moment and taking in Captain America's account of the story. He then walked over to the briefcase Waller had given him upon entering the S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellcarrier.

"As you know, the public right now are scared stiff. They don't know who to turn to and to be completely honest with you; I don't blame them."

He took out some files from out of the briefcase; two copies of one document and he turned round again.

"First of all; I would like you two, the most outspoken members of the Justice League to apologise for the Stanford Incident and letting your powers come into contact with such dangerous forces and secondly...."

Lex then gave the copies of the document to both heroes.

"....I would like you both to join the Meta-Human Registration Act."

 

[Eddie Brock]

JOHNNY STORM

"What's going on?" I groan, stumbling into the living room. My sleep was interrupted by the sound of commotion outside the Baxter Building. I get very irritable when I can't sleep past noon on a Saturday morning.

"Nice pants," Ben chuckles.

I look down. I'm wearing black sweatpants with pink hearts on them. "They were a gift. Besides, they're very comfortable." I walk over to the window and gaze out at New York City. A small crowd is gathered at the foot of the Baxter Building, shouting and holding signs. "Pep rally?"

Sue shakes her head. "Protest."

"Protest?"

The elevator pings, and Reed steps out. He looks flustered - well, more flustered than usual. Adjusting his glasses, he says, "It's getting nuts down there. Security's on high alert, but that crowd is getting volatile." Reed goes into the kitchen and grabs some orange juice.

"Someone mind filling me in?" I ask exasperatedly. I hate being the last to know about something.

Ben shakes his head. "Don't you watch the news?" He picks up the remote and turns on the TV. There's a news segment about the Metahuman Registration Act playing. Protesters similar to the ones outside our building are shown in various locations - the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., Xavier's Academy in Westchester, even the White House.

"They're calling for all metahumans to register," Sue explains softly. "They want us to take financial and legal liability for the damage done during metahuman fights. Washington is using the Stamford disaster as an excuse to rush this Act through Congress."

I frown. Stamford. An entire city decimated in an instant.

"And they're especially unhappy that we get to operate on our own, protected by the government," Reed adds. He finishes his glass of orange juice and places it in the sink. "They're calling for more regulation, and I'm afraid that SHIELD may be strong-armed into enforcing it."

Ben scoffs. "Yeah. Strong-armed. Betcha SHIELD would be more than happy to do so."

"So what's going to happen to us?"

Reed and Sue exchange glances.

"Fortunately, we're already registered. We had to be, to maintain SHIELD's legal and financial support of us. But we may be looking at the end of our independence, so to speak. Under this Act, we'll become honorary government agents, per our contract with SHIELD."

"Which means we'll have to adhere to their regulations, their chain-of-command. They could do any number of things, such as assigning a permanent handler for us or turning the Baxter into a government facility."

I'm shocked by this. I mean, yeah, we've always technically worked for SHIELD, but it was never really a burden. All it meant was that Reed had to report to a handler periodically to discuss what the Fantastic Four was up to. Every now and then, he'd be commissioned to build something for them, or solve some super-hard math problem that their scientists couldn't figure out. But never did I think of the Fantastic Four as a government team. If anything, we're a family.

"So what do we do? I mean, we're not going to take this sitting down, are we?"

"Easy, Johnny," Reed replies calmly. "This is all speculation at this point. We don't know for sure what SHIELD is going to do. There's a chance that nothing could change for us." I can tell by his tone that he doesn't honestly believe that. "I have a meeting with Agent Danvers to discuss the situation, and she'll be able to tell me more about what's going on."

"Johnny, this is already a hot-button issue," Sue warns. "People have very strong opinions, and - whatever happens - some people aren't going to be happy with the decision. We shouldn't do anything to incite more conflict."

"Yeah, Hothead. For once, cool it - for everyone's sake."

I knew things were going to change once Stamford happened. I just didn't know it would be like this.
​

 

[Carnage27]

"What's our next move?" Mystique asks as we trek through the forest in which my prison was located.

I hadn't thought about my next move after escaping. My only thoughts were tasting fresh air, and feeling the breeze on my face. But now that I'm there,, I must say I am at a loss. All the news that Mystique has fed me leads me to one frightening thought.

The United States Government is being led by a mad man. And a mad man with the ability to wage war on the meta human community.

"My dear," I say as an idea strikes me, "we go where they would never think to look for us..."

"Which is?"

"We go to Charles Xavier," I respond with a smile.

 

[wiegeabo]

I follow Batman through the waterfall and into the cave.

"Charming place. Although a bit warmer than my retreat in the Arctic."

I come down next to the batmobile as Batman hops out.

"Here you go."

I hand Batman a USB drive.

"And before you ask, I do have pockets in this suit."

"That's good to know. It's also good to know you have a place in the Arctic." I make a mental note to temporarily retask a Wayne satellite.

I slide the USB stick into a slot and wait as the computer begins running every manner of anti-viral/spy/mal and whatever other ware you can think of. The computer even creates electronic interference to prevent any type of transmission. I wouldn't put it past Fury to try and discover my identity while he's helping the League.

Because it's exactly what I would do.

Once the initial scans finish, the computer automatically determines the types of files on the drive and starts displaying them.

Pretty much the entire battle is laid out in photo of photo. From Amazo's touchdown, to the arrival of every member of the League, to the ultimate fate of Stanford.

"I can tell you one thing right now." I spin the chair around and face Superman.

"Someone in the government knew this attack was going to happen."