The New Ultimate DC RPG

[Byrd Man]

The state fair evacuated and free of people, I'm already racing back to Wonder Woman and Giganta's location.
​

Giganta does her best to withstand Wonder Woman's relentless attacks, but her fierce determination and focus mask one over-riding fact; the attacks are working.

Giganta with her increased means increased pain. She sweats and then her knees buckle to the point she is on all fours and begins to crawl.

She sees something in the distance; a food processing plant.

Maybe I am being to brutal about this maybe it's time to scientific.

Giganta reaches over and picks-up a silo and says, "You might have the powers of the Gods and can battle me toe to toe, but your wounds tell me that your body can still feel pain like the rest of us."

With that breaks the silo raining down salt all over Wonder Woman.

She says, "Salt in open wounds, a pain that is like no other! You'll survive but the burn you feel is unlike any other you will ever know."

"Blah, blah, blah."

I race up Gigant's massive legs, torso, and arms. Perched on her shoulder, I put all my momentum into one single punch that breaks the sound barrier twice.

WHAM!

The force and the sonic booms send the big lady reeling. She begins to teeter and head towards the ground.

"Abandon ship, abandon ship, all ye lost and damned!"

I leap off her shoulder just as her massive frame falls to the ground with a loud thud. In a matter of seconds, Wonder Woman is free of the salt.

"Yikes. That has to hurt. I could scrub some of the salt out of your wounds later...if, uhh, you don't mind me touching you that is."

 

[Andy C.]

Giganta does her best to withstand Wonder Woman's relentless attacks, but her fierce determination and focus mask one over-riding fact; the attacks are working.

Giganta with her increased means increased pain. She sweats and then her knees buckle to the point she is on all fours and begins to crawl.

She sees something in the distance; a food processing plant.

Maybe I am being to brutal about this maybe it's time to scientific.

Giganta reaches over and picks-up a silo and says, "You might have the powers of the Gods and can battle me toe to toe, but your wounds tell me that your body can still feel pain like the rest of us."

With that breaks the silo raining down salt all over Wonder Woman.

She says, "Salt in open wounds, a pain that is like no other! You'll survive but the burn you feel is unlike any other you will ever know."

"Hnnnnrrrrrrggghhhh!"

I clamp my jaw shut, the only thing keeping me from screaming out loud. Giganta's attack was hardly lethal, but the pain is practically blinding. It's difficult to even stand as my body quakes with burning agony.

The state fair evacuated and free of people, I'm already racing back to Wonder Woman and Giganta's location.
​

"Blah, blah, blah."

I race up Gigant's massive legs, torso, and arms. Perched on her shoulder, I put all my momentum into one single punch that breaks the sound barrier twice.

WHAM!

The force and the sonic booms send the big lady reeling. She begins to teeter and head towards the ground.

"Abandon ship, abandon ship, all ye lost and damned!"

I leap off her shoulder just as her massive frame falls to the ground with a loud thud. In a matter of seconds, Wonder Woman is free of the salt.

"Yikes. That has to hurt. I could scrub some of the salt out of your wounds later...if, uhh, you don't mind me touching you that is."

"Not now, Flash," I say through gritted teeth as I muscle through the pain. "Now we're going to end this."

Already, Giganta is starting to get to her feet. I take to the air, the wind stinging just that much more on my salt-caked wounds.

"You go low, I go high."

The Flash nods, and the two of us rush the giant woman from both sides. Flash weaves back and forth around her feet and legs, delivering a blow to her ankles with each pass. Like a logger's axe, one hit will not fell this giant, but after several hundred in a matter of seconds, she begins to topple back over.

As she falls, I charge with all of my might, plowing right into the arm she had brought up to block, and knocking it aside, before driving both of my fists directly into Giganta's forehead, delivering the knockout blow.

By the time Giganta hits the ground, she has already shrunken down by half. A few seconds more, and she has returned to human size. I whip out my Lasso and bind her, wrapping her up several times around the torso, arms, and neck.

"The Lasso is unbreakable," I explain to Flash between pained breaths. "Magical properties. Giganta won't be able to grow again without cutting herself into pieces."

I look around the wreckage of the devastated farm, and see a water tower.

"Stay with Cheetah and Giganta for a moment. I'm going to need to wash myself off."

 

[Byrd Man]

"You go low, I go high."

The Flash nods, and the two of us rush the giant woman from both sides. Flash weaves back and forth around her feet and legs, delivering a blow to her ankles with each pass. Like a logger's axe, one hit will not fell this giant, but after several hundred in a matter of seconds, she begins to topple back over.

As she falls, I charge with all of my might, plowing right into the arm she had brought up to block, and knocking it aside, before driving both of my fists directly into Giganta's forehead, delivering the knockout blow.

By the time Giganta hits the ground, she has already shrunken down by half. A few seconds more, and she has returned to human size. I whip out my Lasso and bind her, wrapping her up several times around the torso, arms, and neck.

"The Lasso is unbreakable," I explain to Flash between pained breaths. "Magical properties. Giganta won't be able to grow again without cutting herself into pieces."

I look around the wreckage of the devastated farm, and see a water tower.

"Stay with Cheetah and Giganta for a moment. I'm going to need to wash myself off."

Hamana-hamana-hamana.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll keep them under lock and key."

Wonder Woman flies off towards the tower I sit down between Giganta and Cheetah and watch her as she goes. I glance around and look at Cheetah...and then Giganta.

"I love this job."

 

[Byrd Man]

Mother's Day

The canvas bag was pulled off the man's head with a violent tug. Former Police Commissioner Jack Grogan coughed heavily as his eyes adjusted to the new surroundings.

He was tied to a chair in the backroom of a florist shop, a rubber ball gag in his mouth. The aroma of fresh flowers overwhelmed his senses.

"Welcome," the hooded figure said to Grogan. Holiday stood in front of the ex-commissioner, one hand holding a bouquet of roses, the other with a knife.

"You know, before this mess, Mother's Day was one of my favorite holidays. It was such a lovely time. Mother always lit up like a candle when she got her handmade gifts."

Grogan mumbled something from behind his gag. Holiday stood before the man, and in one swift motion, sliced off his ball gag.

"Please! Let me go."

"Sorry, Jackie. You allowed this to happen. Guilt by association. Time to pay for your sins."

Putting the knife on a nearby table, the killer fished a cellphone from his pocket and dialed 911.

"Tell them who you are and what's going on, Jackie."

"911 what's your emergency?"

"Please! Help me! My name is Jack Grogan and I'm with Holiday pl-"

Holiday slammed the phone shut. With the roses still in one hand, he removed the hood, allowing Grogan to see the killer's face. The ex-commissioner's eyes lit up with recognition.

"You!"

"All makes sense, huh?

Without another word, the killer lunged forward with the roses.

******
​

Four squad cars responded to the florist shop, kicking in the door with guns drawn. Moving into the back room, the officers saw the now dead Grogan still tied to his chair.

His head cocked back, Grogan had the bouquet of roses shoved halfway down his throat. The thorns on the flowers had cut and scratched his throat raw, making it easier for him to gag and suffocate on the flowers.

Written on the wall behind the ex-commissioner was this note:

SevEn DOWN, 2 MoRE TO GO. THE eNd DraWS NiGh. AUgUSt WIll Bee THE CRuelest MoNTH.

 

[Catman_prb]

The allure of the wonders waiting in the universe beyond the hull of the ship drew the boy's gaze off into the wild places there in the sea of stars. So many wonderous things waiting out there to be seen. So many places unfathomable to him waited to be visited. "I want to see each one kneel before Zod," Lor whispered brightly, imagining what it would be like to visit each one of those points of light hanging in space.​

"They will son," Zod said, an almost paternal look of indulgance passing over his face, before it went back to the usual cold sneer of contempt "Starting here,"​

He moved from the captains chair and stood, for what felt like the first time in years. He looked at his chief science officer.

"Beam me down to the surface," he said "I will negotiate the terms of these savages surrender,"

Nor nodded dutifully, running over to the transport console.

"Be prepared to bombard the planet," he said almost casually.

There was a brief burst of bright white light that blinded his vision. Then came the almost unbearable pain of having his molecules reduced to nothing then put back together again in another place. The creatures they had stolen this technology from had practically enjoyed it. Masochistic scum.

Zod rematerialised in a chamber with a dim red glow. A huge throne was in the apex of the room, the figure sat in it shrouded completely in shadow.

"Who dares trespass into my domain," a voice as old as antiquity spoke, practically rasping with contempt for life.

Zod drew his pistol from behind his holster and took a step backwards as the behemoth rose from it's gigantic seat, taking a thunderous step towards him.

"Beware mortal," it spoke in that awful voice that told of pain and torture.

"For I am Darkseid, Lord over all creation!"

 

[Batman]

I've done all that I can do tonight.

Selina Kyle's life now hangs in the hands of a criminal surgeon, whose police records are already being pulled up onto The Oracle's mainframe files. If anything goes wrong and she dies, it'll take a minute of my time to have the records sent anonymously to the FBI and have her imprisoned. I quickly realize how cruel it seems, not to mention contradictory, but I feel as if it'd become the first step in a long, winding road of retribution. I've tried to hide my guilt from Nygma - tried to tell myself that there's no shame to be felt. She's an undercover police officer working specifically under the nose of one of the city's most notorious mobsters. Her life was endangered from the minute she introduced herself to Maroni. It's the lie that momentarily suffices me as I tap the side of my gauntlet, activating The Batpod's remote autopilot sensors.

Batpod Systems Online
Retrieving Host's Location

Wordlessly, I slip out of the room before the Lieutenant can notice I'm gone. I have enough faith that the Detective will pull through, but it's with Nygma himself that I can't be so certain of. He'll just have to manage on his own. But I've had a feeling that he can take a whole lot more trauma than what he's experienced tonight, even before Ms. Kyle was attacked. He's a broken individual, which is perhaps why I so readily agreed to work with him. He and I are, as unfortunate as it seems, kindred spirits in this city of madness.

Madness that I swore to seize control of. Dammit.

Outside of the clinic, I find the Batpod ready with it's engine humming, sitting in the alleyway across the street. My thoughts so lost and scrambled that I don't even notice when the hand and heel guards lock into place, giving me complete control over the vehicle. My eyes don't even falter when the wind hits my face, and I'm climbing towards 160 across 5th street. I just keep playing that image over in my mind. Selina Kyle, bleeding in my arms. Her eyes fluttering in and out of conscious thought, pleading for rescue. And all I could do was stare back, with an uncertainty I haven't felt in years. I'm sure that for her it was much worse, but I can't recall a time where I've found myself so... vulnerable.

I cannot allow it to happen again.

"Oracle. Get Alfred online."

Voice Dialing Capabilities Initiated
Calling...

It rings for a moment before he answers. "Wayne? What is it, are you alright?"

I don't quite know how to answer him, at first. But it all comes to me with a sheer moment of instinct, realizing that I already have a way to fix what I believe is a crucial hindrance in my mission. For so long, I've been keeping myself hidden in the shadows. Waiting for my enemies to become afraid, based off of a simple belief that they are, inherently, a superstitious and cowardly lot. But I'm afraid that such thinking has become outdated. The criminals that infest Gotham are a bunch that cannot be intimidated by a few small acts of retaliation. They are ruthless - unforgiving, in every vile act that they commit. If I'm to get through to them and show that I'm not going to tolerate their scum any longer, and that they're no longer welcome in Gotham City, I need to become just as ruthless. To hit just as hard, and cripple them so broadly that they can see it for miles away.

I have to become fearless.

"Alfred. I need you listen carefully."

"I await your instructions, as always."

"Prepare the workbench and the tools in the Cave. The one that I used to create the current Batsuit's technology."

"Very well."

"Then destroy them."

There's a silence. Followed by what I can only describe as wordless confusion, as I picture him looking at the receiver.

"A revelation tonight has told me that I'm going back to square one. What I used to call Project Knight has proven ineffective."

"So you say, after several months of the opposite. But as you wish, then. They shall be incinerated immediately. Is there anything else?"

I narrow my eyes, focusing only on the road. This is going to put me out of action for a considerable amount of time, but if the results work as they should, it'll be more than worth the effort. I'm going to need to restructure my entire operational tactics, starting with the suit. The equipment. It wouldn't hurt to start putting together a car, either.

"Yes. Get me an early morning meeting with Daniel Drieberg, one of my mentors from Manhattan. I'll need his expertise in the CIA's technological advancements."

"You're serious about this? Redesigning the suit, bringing everything back to it's original basis?"

"Third time's the charm, Alfred. Batman out."

I cut off the comm-link and make a turn towards the Waynetech airfield. It's an abandoned station that I set up, incase of emergencies. I can store the suit and the weapons there, where no one will be able to gain access to it. Maybe I can find use for it all sometime in the future. But right now, nothing would please me more than to get it off and lock it away forever. It's a breakthrough of modern technology, and I almost regret the fact that I can't donate it's resources to some higher bureau. But Project Knight, combined with my own mishandled tactics, did not meet the desired results.

Here's hoping that Project Crusader will.

 

[Bounce]

​

"They will son," Zod said, an almost paternal look of indulgance passing over his face, before it went back to the usual cold sneer of contempt "Starting here,"

He moved from the captains chair and stood, for what felt like the first time in years. He looked at his chief science officer.

"Beam me down to the surface," he said "I will negotiate the terms of these savages surrender,"

Nor nodded dutifully, running over to the transport console.

"Be prepared to bombard the planet," he said almost casually.

The child watched, amazed, as the things from all the stories he'd been told unfolded before him. There were here. Real space-time. His mother at the controls of their ship's weaponry. His father vanished before his very eyes. Inquisitive, the young Kryptonian made his way from the dais to the control panel that Non operated. "Is my father really now on that sphere below?" It seemed like... science fiction. All of it was bizarre as fantasy. Worlds. Corporeal existence of flesh and blood. And power over men, the divine right of the House of Zod.

At Non's silent assurance, Lor ventured once more to the expansive view offered by the windows of the command center. As he did, he felt a small weight brush against him and looked down to see Krypto at his side. The child lay a hand on the dog's head, surprised a second time to find how soft its fur was. It was comforting to have something so familiar, even if still so different, in this place that defied the reality that Lor had grown up with.

He didn't understand any of what was happening, but he did understand one thing. "I wouldn't want to be whoever is down on that planet right now," the child mused aloud. Already he envisioned his father as taking on the greatest champion below. And that champion would fail.

 

[Byrd Man]

Holiday strikes again. Standing outside a flower shop, Sage inside, media hounds outside behind the barricade.

Knox from the Gazette:"Can you give me a quote, Lieutenant? A lot of rumors flying about this Holiday guy. They say he won't be caught, they say he's actually Batman. They say-"

"I say you're full of ****, Knox, and you can quote me on that."

Go inside. Former Police Commissioner Josh Grogan: Dead with a mouthful of flowers.

"Another cop. That's the third one Holiday's killed. Three cops, three criminals, and one politician. How are they related?"

"Well, in Gotham, they're all crooks."

CSI techs, snapping crime scene photos, dusting for prints.

"See the note on the wall?"

Glance over.

SevEn DOWN, 2 MoRE TO GO. THE eNd DraWS NiGh. AUgUSt WIll Bee THE CRuelest MoNTH.

"Well, the bad news is we're no closer to catching him."

"What's the good news?"

"He's given us a deadline. We got three more months."

******

Done at the scene, head over to the Crime Doctor's place.

Crime Doctor: "Come inside. Lady is getting better."

"Thank you, Doc. I wish I knew the Russian word for thanks."

"Ba! I'm not a Russian. I am from Ukraine."

"Same difference."

She shoots me a scowl and leads me to the backroom. Selina resting, eyes closed.

"How much longer until she's ready to leave?"

"Day. Two at most."

"Is it alright if I sit with her for awhile."

"Sit. Wait. She should be up soon."

Crime Doc walks off. Pull up a chair and sit down. She's alive.

She'll make it.
​

 

[Eddie Brock]

SELINA KYLE
​

Done at the scene, head over to the Crime Doctor's place.

Crime Doctor: "Come inside. Lady is getting better."

"Thank you, Doc. I wish I knew the Russian word for thanks."

"Ba! I'm not a Russian. I am from Ukraine."

"Same difference."

She shoots me a scowl and leads me to the backroom. Selina resting, eyes closed.

"How much longer until she's ready to leave?"

"Day. Two at most."

"Is it alright if I sit with her for awhile."

"Sit. Wait. She should be up soon."

Crime Doc walks off. Pull up a chair and sit down. She's alive.

She'll make it.​

​

The night after my surgery was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time. A deep, dreamless sleep which helped me feel much stronger in the morning. I was awake earlier when the Russian woman was checking my dressings, but I quickly slipped back into sleep. Now, the sound of voices rouses me again.

I open my eyes. Nygma is sitting there. I'm glad to see him, but I'm still not quite strong enough to smile.

"We need to stop meeting like this," I joke.

 

[Byrd Man]

The night after my surgery was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time. A deep, dreamless sleep which helped me feel much stronger in the morning. I was awake earlier when the Russian woman was checking my dressings, but I quickly slipped back into sleep. Now, the sound of voices rouses me again.
​

I open my eyes. Nygma is sitting there. I'm glad to see him, but I'm still not quite strong enough to smile.

"We need to stop meeting like this," I joke.

"Seems like every time we meet, someone is trying to kill us. I decided to leave my safety off my service piece every time we meet up...for safety's sake."

Chuckle. Pause slightly. Clear my throat.

"I, uhh...I came from a crime scene at a flower shop downtown....Holiday struck again. He got the old commissioner Jack Grogan this time."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Hamana-hamana-hamana.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll keep them under lock and key."

Wonder Woman flies off towards the tower I sit down between Giganta and Cheetah and watch her as she goes. I glance around and look at Cheetah...and then Giganta.

"I love this job."

Doris says to Flash, "You and Wonder Woman might have won this round, but what happens when you have nothing to show for it?"

She closes her eyes. These Lexcorp pills better do their job.

With that she bites down on a capsule in one of her teeth and says, "It was fun I'm sorry mom."

She begins to convulse violently and foam at the mouth.

 

[Byrd Man]

Doris says to Flash, "You and Wonder Woman might have won this round, but what happens when you have nothing to show for it?"

She closes her eyes. These Lexcorp pills better do their job.

With that she bites down on a capsule in one of her teeth and says, "It was fun I'm sorry mom."

She begins to convulse violently and foam at the mouth.

OMG! OMG! OMG!

I am so panicked right now, that I am literally thinking in chatspeak....lolz.

In the blink of an eye, I have Giganta scooped into my arms and racing to Wonder Woman's location.

"WonderWoman!Gigantaishavingsomekindof-"

I stop short when I see Wonder Woman with her back turned towards me, water running down her naked back. Completely nude, except for her star-spangled shorts.

My. Sweet. Lord.

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I....Igottagotothehospital!"

With the convulsing Giganta in my arms, I rush across the plains and come to a skidding stop in the middle of an emergency room hospital in Auburn, Kansas.

"This lady needs her stomach pumped ASAP!"

"Put her down on this gurney. We'll have to remove this...rope," one of the doctors says as he rushes over to me.

"No can do, Doctor..." I squint my eyes and look at the doc's name tag. "Doctor...Beardface."

"It's pronounced beard-fuh-say," he replies curtly.

"I don't care what it is, just pump her stomach and leave that lasso on!"

I slip Giganta back on to the gurney and watch as the doctor's wheel her away into one of the operating rooms. Turning on my heels, I speed off back to where Wonder Woman was bathing. I hope she's put on some clothes by now....but I don't hope that hard.

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Seems like every time we meet, someone is trying to kill us. I decided to leave my safety off my service piece every time we meet up...for safety's sake."

Chuckle. Pause slightly. Clear my throat.

"I, uhh...I came from a crime scene at a flower shop downtown....Holiday struck again. He got the old commissioner Jack Grogan this time."

"Mother's Day," I muse aloud. Images of my dead mother, needle still sticking out of her arm, flash briefly through my mind. Mother's Day hasn't been a good holiday for me in a long time. Come to think of it, none of the holidays have been good for me in a long time. They're just ordinary days, excuses for greeting card companies to grind out a profit.

I lean back on the cot. It's not particularly comfortable, but at least I feel stronger. Shoulder's still sore as Hell, though. "What are we going to do? You and Batman may have saved my life, but you've only prolonged the inevitable." I turn my head to look at Nygma. "When he finds out I'm alive, he's just going to finish the job. And he won't be so sloppy the second time around."

 

[Byrd Man]

I lean back on the cot. It's not particularly comfortable, but at least I feel stronger. Shoulder's still sore as Hell, though. "What are we going to do? You and Batman may have saved my life, but you've only prolonged the inevitable." I turn my head to look at Nygma. "When he finds out I'm alive, he's just going to finish the job. And he won't be so sloppy the second time around."

"Batman gave me some cash after we left here the other night. It's enough to keep us up at the Gotham Ritz for awhile. Maroni wouldn't think to look there, or so I hope. It does make me wonder where Batman gets that kinda cash, though."

Fidget with my tie, loosen it up.

"There's something I can do for us long term....actually, it's for you and not me. I went down to the morgue a few hours after I left you here and found a female roughly your height, weight, and build. She was an OD case. I managed to get her out of the morgue and to your apartment. Once I was there, I packed you some things and....I burned your apartment up."

Selina scowls.

"I know, I know. I got a few clothing items along with your cat. Both are at my hotel room...but think about this: the last thing Maroni's men saw was Batman attacking them and then you. The apartment goes up in flames and the cops find a dead body matching Selina Kyle's height and build. As far as anyone but you, me, and Batman know, Selina Kyle is dead. Maroni can't put out a hit on someone dead."

 

[Andy C.]

The farm's water tower is hardly an idyllic hot-spring, but it suffices to wash the salt out of my wounds. The sting is immense as I run the water over my arms, then down my chest and sides, where the silo had cut my skin the most. As the water touches the wounds, it not only rinses out the painful salt, but closes the wounds completely, leaving not even a scar behind. The power of the gods at work again. How many abilities have they not even told me about?

As I finish washing off, I get the distinct impression that I'm not alone. I may not be the absolute fastest person alive, but I'm fast enough to tell who it is.

OMG! OMG! OMG!

I am so panicked right now, that I am literally thinking in chatspeak....lolz.

In the blink of an eye, I have Giganta scooped into my arms and racing to Wonder Woman's location.

"WonderWoman!Gigantaishavingsomekindof-"

I stop short when I see Wonder Woman with her back turned towards me, water running down her naked back. Completely nude, except for her star-spangled shorts.

My. Sweet. Lord.

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I....Igottagotothehospital!"

With the convulsing Giganta in my arms, I rush across the plains and come to a skidding stop in the middle of an emergency room hospital in Auburn, Kansas.

"This lady needs her stomach pumped ASAP!"

"Put her down on this gurney. We'll have to remove this...rope," one of the doctors says as he rushes over to me.

"No can do, Doctor..." I squint my eyes and look at the doc's name tag. "Doctor...Beardface."

"It's pronounced beard-fuh-say," he replies curtly.

"I don't care what it is, just pump her stomach and leave that lasso on!"

I slip Giganta back on to the gurney and watch as the doctor's wheel her away into one of the operating rooms. Turning on my heels, I speed off back to where Wonder Woman was bathing. I hope she's put on some clothes by now....but I don't hope that hard.

The Flash's trail of dust still hangs in the air by the time I've gotten dressed, grabbed Cheetah, and taken to the air. It isn't hard to follow him to the hospital where Giganta had been taken.

Stepping into the hospital door, the feline villain slung over my shoulder, I seek out the first person who looks like they can help me find my compatriot and our common foe. I approach a scrawny-looking doctor who is matching wits with a grim-faced janitor.

"I did not lie to you, it's a riddle. 'Two coins add up to thirty cents and one of them is not a quarter.' Come on, that's--"

"Excuse me," I interrupt, "I hate to intrude, but I'm looking for someone. Two someones, in fact: the local super-hero called the Flash, and a red-headed woman being bound by a golden rope. Can you tell me where they went?"

The scrawny one with the spiked hair mumbles incoherently for a few seconds, then points me to a curtained-off bed in far end of the hallway. As I walk away, I see him nod off distantly, like he was in the middle of an overly-complicated daydream.

I make my way over to where they're treating Giganta, pull aside the curtain with my free hand, and address the squirrely blonde female doctor treating the villain.

"I promise we'll be out of your way soon enough," I say reassuringly. "And do not remove that rope; aside from her poisoning herself it's the only thing keeping her from bringing this entire hospital down around us."

I look over at Flash and gesture to the unconscious Cheetah that I'm still carrying.

"Anywhere we can keep this one restrained in case she wakes up? I didn't want to leave her free to terrorize the Mid-West while we try and save the other one."

 

[J'adore]

(well kinda...)

Tara and Mae. Linda Danver's most closest friends, so trusted, that Tara herself knows Linda's deepest secret. Mae has always been the odd one out of Linda's friends, which made Linda re-think her decision on telling Mae and instead just keeping it to Tara and herself.

The two young girls had finished a night out on the town. Tara had long raving red hair, which glowed in the dim night. Mae had fair blond hair, falling down to her shoulders. Tara had come to the road she lived on and carried on walking straight down the sidewalk. Mae, on the other hand, turned her path to the right and entered her small suburban street.

It was more empty than usual. More quiet than usual. But, it was not long before the deadly silence was broken, by a loud, disturbing, warping type noise.

"Hello?" Mae called out, a slight worry in her voice echoed in the empty streets. Mae could now see a faint blue light, flickering in the darkness of the street. Then, the noise and light had got louder and louder, almost as if it was coming from every direction.

"Mae Trickers, how very nice to meet you. I am , sent here to this world for one purpose only." A beautiful but deadly creature stepped out from the light that was being shone into the road. The creature was in fact in the form of a sharp and beautiful lady, her costume rather extravagant.

"Wh-what d-did you say?"

"Wrong. Answer." The deadly female creature leaped across at Mae, striking her to the floor. The shape of her deadly long sharp nails could easily be seen through her sapphire gloves. She slightly curled her fingers back, creating a round portal-like glow of deadly energy. She took her right index finger and pierced it through Mae's shirt. Under neath, revealed a symbolic 'Superman' sign tee.

Screaming and crying in fear, Mae finally choked out her words. "Okay, okay! I did it alright! I stalk Superman! I'M SORRY I'M SORRY!"

"You stupid, pathetic girl. I'm looking for his cousin."

Grabbing Mae by her superman tee collar, she raised her to the floor so she was standing.

"L-Look, all I know, is that I heard L-Linda talk-k-k to Tara, ab-bout some Kryptoni-a-an relation..."

"Perfect. That is all I need from you. By the way, I might steal this design from you." curling her hand into her fist, the female creature smirked.

Suddenly, she shot her arm forward. A long streak of deadly blue energy shot towards Mae, slamming straight into her chest. The female creature watched sinisterly as Mae flew straight back into a large oak tree. The pleasant sound of Mae's neck breaking echoed throughout her ears. She then shifted herself over to Mae in one quick jolt.

"Your life was short lived, but oh how sorry I am. You are now going to die. Wether it's from the neck snapping or the energy radiation poisoning."

Mae groaned, her death approaching her slowly.

"By the way...the name's Matrix." Matrix strutted down the dark street, her appearance slowly shifting into a more sophisticated looking Mae. But this time, with a Superman based costume.
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

The Flash's trail of dust still hangs in the air by the time I've gotten dressed, grabbed Cheetah, and taken to the air. It isn't hard to follow him to the hospital where Giganta had been taken.

Stepping into the hospital door, the feline villain slung over my shoulder, I seek out the first person who looks like they can help me find my compatriot and our common foe. I approach a scrawny-looking doctor who is matching wits with a grim-faced janitor.

"I did not lie to you, it's a riddle. 'Two coins add up to thirty cents and one of them is not a quarter.' Come on, that's--"

"Excuse me," I interrupt, "I hate to intrude, but I'm looking for someone. Two someones, in fact: the local super-hero called the Flash, and a red-headed woman being bound by a golden rope. Can you tell me where they went?"

The scrawny one with the spiked hair mumbles incoherently for a few seconds, then points me to a curtained-off bed in far end of the hallway. As I walk away, I see him nod off distantly, like he was in the middle of an overly-complicated daydream.

I make my way over to where they're treating Giganta, pull aside the curtain with my free hand, and address the squirrely blonde female doctor treating the villain.

"I promise we'll be out of your way soon enough," I say reassuringly. "And do not remove that rope; aside from her poisoning herself it's the only thing keeping her from bringing this entire hospital down around us."

I look over at Flash and gesture to the unconscious Cheetah that I'm still carrying.

"Anywhere we can keep this one restrained in case she wakes up? I didn't want to leave her free to terrorize the Mid-West while we try and save the other one."

"Yeah, sure. Hold on a sec."

I disappear from the hospital and return in the blink of an eye. Cheetah disappears from Wonder Woman's hands and lies on the hospital floor, covered from neck to toe by silver duct tape.

"Thirty-five rolls of the finest American made tape. Don't want to brag, but it is very hard to break out of that stuff. I'd even have trouble creating enough friction to melt through."

Wonder Woman and I turn towards the gurney, where the doctors have a long tube snaked down Giganta's throat.

"Wonder what all she's got in her stomach?" I ask my new colleague. "I mean, like, when she grows tall, does her food grow with her? And does it shrink back down to size along with her? I guess it does, because then it'd pop her belly. That'd be kinda nasty don't you-"

You're rambling again.

"Shutting up now."

 

[Byrd Man]

IC: Vic Sage

After hitting up the Mother's Day crime scene, I go back to the Homicide Department on Central's sixth floor, and then hit up the elevator to the seventh floor to see what the MCU boys are up to.

"What do you want to know about Alberto Falcone?" Detective Marcus Driver asks me as he looks up from his cubicle.

"I just want to check him out. He might tie together to another case I got going. What can you tell me about him, I mean, the MCU are on the mob like flies on ****, right?"

"Right. So, why can't you just jump on the computer and pull his record?"

"I did. He has three tickets to his name. Once for running a stop sign, and twice for speeding. That's it. Nothing besides his DOB and license number."

Driver rolls his eyes and swivels in his desk chair and looks through the folders on his desk.

"What do you need to know?"

"Is he a player?"

"Yeah, but not to the extent of his older siblings Mario and Sofia. Mario is being groomed for the top spot once Falcone's kids get tired of Zucco's ****."

"What does he do for the organization?"

"He smuggles drugs. See, he went abroad and studied at Oxford after high school. At Oxford he roomed with a French student, Jean Margox. Margox's father just happens to be one of the biggest heroin and cocaine suppliers in Europe."

"What a coincidence."

"Not really. We believe Daddy Falcone and Margox paid big bucks to have their kids room together at Oxford for the reason to establish a business connection between the two families. Fast forward some years later and Falcone charters a private jet to France every six months and comes back with enough raw to last the Falcone organization until the next time Alberto takes a trip."

"And the charter jet means he doesn't go through customs like us all."

"Wow, with an insight like that, you should be a detective."

"Okay, so why haven't you busted him yet?"

"We're waiting."

"On?"

"To see is Zucco or Mario Falcone ever go in his stead. We want to catch one of them dirty. Alberto is a small fish to us right now. He's a daddy's boy who follows orders. Doesn't know enough, or won't roll on anyone higher up if we catch him."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah. We think he has a drug problem. Heroin."

"Is he arm-popping?"

"Not yet. Just snorting right now. He's not a full blown dope fiend yet."

"Okay, good to know. Anything else?"

"Nope. Oh, now that I think about it, Captain Essen has been asking about you."

"Me? What for?"

"I think she wants to pick your brain about the Holiday thing."

"Interesting."

"Maybe she wants your body, Sage."

"Maybe. But I only got eyes for one woman, right Montoya?"

From across the room, Renee Montoya lifts up her hand, showing me her middle finger.

"I love you too, baby."

Nodding to Driver, I head back towards the elvator and back down to Homicide.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

"Yeah, sure. Hold on a sec."

I disappear from the hospital and return in the blink of an eye. Cheetah disappears from Wonder Woman's hands and lies on the hospital floor, covered from neck to toe by silver duct tape.

"Thirty-five rolls of the finest American made tape. Don't want to brag, but it is very hard to break out of that stuff. I'd even have trouble creating enough friction to melt through."

Wonder Woman and I turn towards the gurney, where the doctors have a long tube snaked down Giganta's throat.

"Wonder what all she's got in her stomach?" I ask my new colleague. "I mean, like, when she grows tall, does her food grow with her? And does it shrink back down to size along with her? I guess it does, because then it'd pop her belly. That'd be kinda nasty don't you-"

You're rambling again.

"Shutting up now."

The doctor shakes his head as he continues to move the tube while watching the monitor.

Doris begins to convulse again.

The doctor begins pulling the tube out and says, "If she convulses violently like she did when she came in she'll choke on that tube. Not to mention another series of violent covulsions could break her back."

He checks the pedial pulse in the feet and says, "Not good she's going down fast!"

He yells to Wonder Woman and Flash, "You two get that rope off of her and clear out! We need to start monitoring her heart."

The Doctor then yells, "GET THE PADDLES! WE NEED TO SHOCK!"

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Batman gave me some cash after we left here the other night. It's enough to keep us up at the Gotham Ritz for awhile. Maroni wouldn't think to look there, or so I hope. It does make me wonder where Batman gets that kinda cash, though."

Fidget with my tie, loosen it up.

"There's something I can do for us long term....actually, it's for you and not me. I went down to the morgue a few hours after I left you here and found a female roughly your height, weight, and build. She was an OD case. I managed to get her out of the morgue and to your apartment. Once I was there, I packed you some things and....I burned your apartment up."

Selina scowls.

"I know, I know. I got a few clothing items along with your cat. Both are at my hotel room...but think about this: the last thing Maroni's men saw was Batman attacking them and then you. The apartment goes up in flames and the cops find a dead body matching Selina Kyle's height and build. As far as anyone but you, me, and Batman know, Selina Kyle is dead. Maroni can't put out a hit on someone dead."

"So this is what it's like to be dead," I remark rhetorically. I lay my head back on the pillow and close my eyes. I'm going to need to go into hiding now. I absent-mindedly twirl a lock of my long, flowing hair around my finger. I'm going to need to cut it. Probably even dye it. I'll need a new name, a new job. I should probably even leave Gotham.

Except that I won't. I can't. Maroni took everything from me. He took my life. He took everything I had, as well as everything I was ever going to be. Nygma's right about one thing. The moment Maroni tried to kill me, he killed Selina Kyle. But he made a fatal mistake because I'm still breathing.

And as long as I am still breathing, I will use every breath to take everything from him. His empire, his throne, and ultimately his breath, his life. I was weak before. I thought I had what it took to take Maroni down, but I was wrong. I was weak and naive, but Maroni has opened my eyes.

In this new life, whatever it may be, I'll be stronger. And no matter how many lives Maroni takes from me, I will not stopuntil I've taken his.

 

[Catman_prb]

Selina Kyle's apartment

"What's the word Harvey," Gordon asked, transfixed by the blackened remnants of what had once been a home. The fire department were still cleaning up the mess.

"Maroni took the bait, sound of things. Anonymous photos in the post really have an effect on a guy," Bullock said, grinning like a cheshire cat.

"So Nygma and Kyle..." Gordon let himself trail off.

"Looks good chief. They've found a body that fits Kyle's height and build. May have to look at the dental records for a positive ID," Bullock said, walking over to his side.

"And Nygma?" Jim asked, wiping his glasses.

"Driver's at his place now. No sign of him. And from what we've heard, Maroni's men haven't found hide nor hair of him since. Could well have jumped ship," Bullcok said, standing with his hands clasped in front of him.

Gordon took a deep breath.

"I call ******** on this,"

"Boss?"

"Nygma stays in town after I send Driver to end him, but he runs cos Sal's pissed? No way. And if that little ***** were really dead, then we'd know about it cos Nygma would be beating down the door to get to us. They're both alive. Probably shacking up at Kyle's place when it went down," Gordon said, his voice lined with disgust.

"Jesus. So what've we got to go on?" Bullock asked.

"Let's assume Maroni's gorillas aren't totally useless at what they do. Let's say that one or both of them are hurt,"

"Pretty big assumption chief. What if their rodent pal got involved?"

"Well Jesus Christ, Harvey, what do you suggest we do? Sit down at the office and pray Nygma don't go to the press?" Gordon said, his face turning red with rage. Bullock averted his eyes.

"No boss,"

"That's what I thought. Now if you're on the run from the mob and the police, and you're hurt, where would you go?" Gordon said, a cold smile starting to form on his lips. A lightbulb lit above Bullock's head as he got there too.

"The Crime Doctor?" Bullock said with barely contained glee.

"Too damned right. Get Driver on the horn to meet us over there,"

 

[Byrd Man]

"So this is what it's like to be dead," I remark rhetorically. I lay my head back on the pillow and close my eyes. I'm going to need to go into hiding now. I absent-mindedly twirl a lock of my long, flowing hair around my finger. I'm going to need to cut it. Probably even dye it. I'll need a new name, a new job. I should probably even leave Gotham.

Except that I won't. I can't. Maroni took everything from me. He took my life. He took everything I had, as well as everything I was ever going to be. Nygma's right about one thing. The moment Maroni tried to kill me, he killed Selina Kyle. But he made a fatal mistake because I'm still breathing.

And as long as I am still breathing, I will use every breath to take everything from him. His empire, his throne, and ultimately his breath, his life. I was weak before. I thought I had what it took to take Maroni down, but I was wrong. I was weak and naive, but Maroni has opened my eyes.

In this new life, whatever it may be, I'll be stronger. And no matter how many lives Maroni takes from me, I will not stopuntil I've taken his.

"But, wait, there's more."

Pull a envelope from my suit coat. Hand it to Selina.

"Believe it or not, I still have a few friends in the department. I called in the last few favors they owed me and had this done. That's your new identity, complete with the name and Social Security number of a woman who would have been your age if she hadn't of died as a baby. Included in there is a forged college transcript and employment history with the Metropolis Police Department. Officer Selina Kyle is dead, but Sergeant Andrea Beaumont just transferred from Metropolis after sustaining injuries in the line of duty and begins working in the GCPD's bodyguard unit in two weeks."

 

[Byrd Man]

The doctor shakes his head as he continues to move the tube while watching the monitor.

Doris begins to convulse again.

The doctor begins pulling the tube out and says, "If she convulses violently like she did when she came in she'll choke on that tube. Not to mention another series of violent covulsions could break her back."

He checks the pedial pulse in the feet and says, "Not good she's going down fast!"

He yells to Wonder Woman and Flash, "You two get that rope off of her and clear out! We need to start monitoring her heart."

The Doctor then yells, "GET THE PADDLES! WE NEED TO SHOCK!"

"What part of 'can't take that rope off her' don't you understand, lady?!"

"You don't take it off, she dies!"

"We take it off, she grows to the size of a house and crushes us all!"

"I'm telling you-"

"I'm telling you, work around it."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"But, wait, there's more."

Pull a envelope from my suit coat. Hand it to Selina.

"Believe it or not, I still have a few friends in the department. I called in the last few favors they owed me and had this done. That's your new identity, complete with the name and Social Security number of a woman who would have been your age if she hadn't of died as a baby. Included in there is a forged college transcript and employment history with the Metropolis Police Department. Officer Selina Kyle is dead, but Sergeant Andrea Beaumont just transferred from Metropolis after sustaining injuries in the line of duty and begins working in the GCPD's bodyguard unit in two weeks."

"Bodyguard?" I repeat hesitantly. I'd still be working for the police department. Hiding in plain sight. If Gordon catches wind of it - or even suspects anything - I'm as good as dead. I should be getting as far away from Gotham as possible. To do anything else would be reckless.

But right now, I'm feeling pretty reckless.

"What about you?" I ask. I keep forgetting that Nygma's cover was blown, too. "What are you going to do?"

 

[Andy C.]

"What part of 'can't take that rope off her' don't you understand, lady?!"

"You don't take it off, she dies!"

"We take it off, she grows to the size of a house and crushes us all!"

"I'm telling you-"

"I'm telling you, work around it."

"We seem to be at an impasse," I say as the doctor and the Flash go at it. "So allow me to propose a third option."

With that, I take off the golden tiara on my head, and in my hands it straightens into a blade. As I grab hold of the rope, I place it next to Giganta's throat.

"I don't want to take lives," I say as deliberately as possible so that even while Giganta chokes, she can understand me, "nor do I want you to die needlessly. I am going to untie you so the doctors can save you, but by doing that, I will be putting everyone in this hospital at risk. So make no mistake: if you start to grow so much as an extra inch, I will end your life here and now. Please, for everyone's sake including your own...make the right decision."

With that, I let the Lasso slacken around her, and keep the golden blade close. Now we will see if Giganta's loyalty to her mysterious employer outweighs her intelligence.