The Ultimate DC RPG - Season III

[Spike_x1]

Chaos is washing over my city, yet I sit here and sulk like a child. I can sense the tension of the armed men here in my library, hearing the gunfire in the streets. Still, I haven't given word for them to take any sort of action, so they sit quietly here with me. Unlike other mob bosses --a title that seems to fit me no matter how much I despise it-- I actively try to encourage education among my soldiers. Most of them are high school dropouts whose sum total of useful knowledge begins and ends with what they've learned from years of bullying their way through lives of crime. Even more than the high level of payment that they receive for working for me, I ensure loyalty by offering knowledge as well as money. My own wealth that I have accumulated is utterly meaningless to me, serving only as a means to an end, and I long ago memorized many of the more crucial texts at my disposal. Thus, my payments for hired guns are abnormally high, and I can mold their thinking and transform these people into more than simple thugs.

"Bane... sir?" A timid man known to me as Micky speaks up. He's almost as big as myself and has shown an interest in Shakespeare over the past few weeks. Putting down his edition of The Winter's Tale after distractedly reading the same page for the past ten minutes, he raises his hand to gain my attention as if he were in school. "Not that I'm questioning you or anything like that, sir, but w-why aren't we doing anything about that stuff outside?"

As if on cue, a distant barrage of gunfire erupts somewhere far down the street, punctuating Micky's inquiry.

"I mean, we're more organized and we've got more manpower than any of the other gangs, so why aren't we doing anything to teach those animals who's in charge in Gotham?"

Because I want to watch this city burn, I tell myself.

"It is not our concern, Micky." I try to refrain from scolding him for coming so dangerously close to defying me in spirit, but no, this is the kind of thinking that I need more of around here. I need something or someone to stir me out of inaction and apathy.

Wayne is in the hospital and an easy target, but I would never inflict such a death on anyone, especially him.

And Ra's Al Ghul is alive and well, but wishes me to believe he were dead. Why? What are his plans? I would pursue him and confront the Demon with my questions, but I haven't the first clue on where he might be.

My victories are hollow and I have no direction and no more ambition. Where do I go from here?

"Go back to your studies."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Still vibrating and spasming, I feel Grodd's foot phase through my head and hit the floor. He keeps stomping at my head, each time passing through it. He starts to growl and get mad. Out the corner of my eye, I see movement. He's losing his concentration, there fr his grip on Jesse is fading.

Grodd lets out a loud bellow and tries to smash into me again, to no avail.

"("3X2(9YZ)4A")!"

That's when Jesse, free of Grodd's mind control, crashes into him like a freight train. The two tumble across the warehouse and crash through the far wall. During their little spin in the air, Grodd's wide body takes out the machine tuned to my brainwaves. The spasms stop and I stand up, running across the warehouse to where the two of them broke through the wall.

Grodd recovers from the impact or so he thinks.

Grodd tries to stand but stumbles to one knee. He looks at his battered machine and he feels great frustration.

"ARGGGGGGGG!" Grodd yells

He spots Jesse laying on the ground and slowly coming to. Grodd leaps over and grabs Jesse by an arm and a leg. He then proceeds to slam her twice into a concrete pilar. Grodd throws her to the ground and bends down and takes 2 smatterings of blood coming out of her mouth.

He shows it to Flash and then glares at Flash as he wipes them under his eyes like war-paint. Jesse groans and Grodd looks as though he is going to attack but stops.

He says, "She looks as though she is going into shock. You play just to stop me and take me in and cage me. I have no issues with killing another being. Your sidekick is badly wounded so do you choose to save her or stop me and run the risk of internal bleeding doing her in or super-speed her to the hospital but what of possible spinal injuries?"

Grodd knows that he is crossing a dangerous line with The Flash, but Grodd doesn't care. He says taking a fighting stance, "Your move. Hero."

 

[Byrd Man]

He says, "She looks as though she is going into shock. You play just to stop me and take me in and cage me. I have no issues with killing another being. Your sidekick is badly wounded so do you choose to save her or stop me and run the risk of internal bleeding doing her in or super-speed her to the hospital but what of possible spinal injuries?"

Grodd knows that he is crossing a dangerous line with The Flash, but Grodd doesn't care. He says taking a fighting stance, "Your move. Hero."

In the blink of an eye, I'm gone from Grodd's sight. I appear beside him, hitting him in the ribcage some 1,500 times in the span of a second and a half. I make sure he feels each and every one. The Gorilla falls to the ground and I loom over him.

"Real tough when you pick on a teenage girl. As soon as a man tries to take you on, you show what kind of coward you really are. You hide behind computers, bombs, and machines, but when it comes time to fight you take the easy way out. I figured a highly evolved being like you would have a backbone...I was wrong."

With that, Jesse and I disappear from the scene. I'm already racing down the street, clinging on to her and hoping I can be fast enough one more time.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Pete puts the DVD into the DVD player and presses play.

An image of a man wearing a Black and White variation of Atom's costume fills the screen and says, "Hello again Director Ross and I think I can assume safely that The Atom is there with you, so allow me to introduce myself my name is Dwarf Star. I am certain that Pete has told you all kinds of stories about me. I actually am not the bad of a guy I like you am a creation of circumstances beyond our control. Oh I don't know the exact circumstances of how you got your powers but my guess it wasn't intentional."

The Atom is very focused on Dwarf Star and can feel her anger slowly rising.

Dwarf Star continues, "Now unlike you I have realized my potential and my true power. You are sadly misguided and I view you as inferior because if you were truly so great they wouldn't have needed to create me. I refuse to allow your existence to be a mark against me and my powers so you must be dealt with and there is only one way to make certain of that. I have to kill you."

The Atom looks at Pete who looks visibly concerned.

Dwarf Star says after taking a drink from a bottled water, "Sadly in another timne I might've called you friend, but now you are a nusance and a burden that I will dispose of. I view almost a kinship with you because you know what it's like to have special powers. In the next few days I will be leaving you clues as how to find me. In the meantime enjoy looking for clues on this DVD and note. While you are looking for them I will be putting in the final stages your demise. Until then...Goodbye sister."

Pete stops the DVD and Atom floats up to Pete.

Pete asks, "So what do you think?"

The Atom pauses for a moment and says, "He's insane all-right. I've noticed his belt has an element of Dwarf Star in it. Must be where he gets his powers from. He's at normal size in costume uses them only when he has to, but I got an edge there because I'm more used to using them, and he obviously doesn't know my true identity. Anything you can tell?"

Pete replies, "Not off hand except in all the years I've ever known him I've never seen him so focused or driven."

Atom replies, "I bring that quailty out in people. Regardless he's my responsiblity I gotta deal with him."

Pete says, "We got your back. If we hear anything we'll let you know and vice versa."

Atom says, "You got it Pete."

Atom shrinks down and leaves Pete's office via the phone back to her office at the school.

She transforms back to Rhiannon Palmer and she sits at her desk.

I've had villains come after me before but this one is different. He knows a lot of my powers and what they can do and this wierd connection with him...haven't said this in a while but...I think I'm in trouble.

 

[Andy C.]

PREVIOUSLY...

Spoiler

"I do believe you're losing, my dear," Doctor Light mocks me, his image flickering away as my fist passes through it. Another hologram, a trick of the light. As the image blinks out, another beam of searing energy strikes me in the side. "It seems you haven't even laid a finger on me yet."

"Believe me," I say through gritted teeth, "When I do strike you, you will know it."

The madman laughs, floating up into the air, and I take to the skies after him, deflecting his energy beams with my Gauntlets as I close in after him. Just as I close in to land a spinning kick, he responds with a blinding flash of light in my eyes, blinding me for a moment.

When my vision returns to me, there are five of him circling me.

"It's pointless to fight it," he says in an eager tone. "I can do anything I wish with electric light, and we are smack in the heart of one of the most brightly-lit cities on the planet. Every house lighting a home, every street lamp, every bulb in every socket all around us, is a weapon for me to use against you."

Doctor Light and his four holographic duplicates spread their arms in unison, and bolts of light arc out of the ground, out of houses and apartments, street lights and cell phones, blacking out an entire city block as he pulls the light above him in a shimmering, blinding sphere.

"By the Gods..." I say as I brace my Gauntlets for the incoming attack.

"I'm the only god you need to be worried about right now," says Light, his eyes wide with manic glee. "And I say, LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

He hurls the ball towards me, a swirling mass of electricity and searing heat. I put up my Gauntlets as the massive blast bears down on me....

....and I pray my strength holds out.

"Enough!" I shout, forcing my way through Doctor Light's attack. The heat is immense, the light near blinding even with my eyes closed, but I bear through it.

"No, not enough," says Light, flying away to draw power from another city block that he hasn't drained. "Not nearly enough."

He pulls electrical light from a thousand sources again--street lamps, house lights, cell phones, anything emitting light--and uses it to scatter a hundred optical duplicates of himself around me. They swirl and whirl in all directions, making it near impossible to sense where the actual Light is, like a con-man's shell game.

I charge into the fray, lashing into the swarm of illusory enemies with wide sweeping blows, trying to pass through as many of the figures as possible in the hopes that one of my attacks strikes true. Each time I hit one, however, I'm given a jolt of electricity, a blast of searing heat, as his copies burst on contact.

"I have you at my mercy, Wonder Woman," Light says, flitting about in the crowd of himself. "Once I've had my fun with you and bring your head back to Vandal Savage, I'll be rich enough to live like a king. Wealth and power to do whatever I wish, to whomever I wish!"

I have seen his kind before: men who need to inflict themselves upon others in order to feel powerful. A sick desire to dominate others, in ways too horrific to mention. If I fall to him, there will be no sating his cravings, no matter who else he victimizes.

"You already proclaimed yourself a god, but you would settle for living merely like a king?" I call out, playing to his insecurities. "It seems you don't have much by way of ambition."

"Don't give me semantics!" he says with an indignant laugh. "I am Doctor Light, master of illumination! Quite literally everything that you see is mine to control!"

With that, he has given me everything I need to defeat him. I close my eyes, and listen.

"Perhaps I should give you another lesson in--BLAAGH!!!"

Whatever he was about to say, it's cut off when I fly straight toward him, slamming my fist into his abdomen. The man practically crumbles around my fist, a spray of blood spouting from his mouth--I must have hit him harder than I intended.

Before he can retaliate, I grab him by the arm and fling him to the ground, dislocating Light's shoulder in the process. He is barely able to slow his descent to a non-fatal fall as he lands in a heap.

"You may be able to control everything I see, but not everything I hear," I say, pulling the Lasso from my hip. "Now, tell me what you know about the Legion of Doom."

I wrap the Lasso around Light's neck, tightening it into a noose.

"Savage...*ngh!*.....finds us. Don't know how. Takes us to....*ghk!*.....secret base.....black dome. Trains them.....brainwashes them...."

"Brainwashing?" I say, raising an eyebrow. "You said the Legion had set a bounty on our heads. Why conscript and indoctrinate you when he was appealing to your greed already?"

"No.....the assassins are paid.....like me..." Light sputters. "We're.....*rgh!*.....distractions. In the black dome......he's building an army."

"How many people does he have?" I demand.

"I...I don't know," Doctor Light says, still spitting up blood. "At least twenty.....twenty-five metahumans......regular humans, though......hundreds. Thousands maybe......all with weapons....high-tech weapons.....strong enough to roll over countries."

By the Gods.......the Legion's message at the United Nations was no exaggeration. Vandal Savage truly wants to start a global war. If we don't find him and stop him, millions could die.

"Where is the Legion's secret base?" I ask, putting the heel of my boot to his throat.

"Don't know," he rasps. "Been there twice.....different location both times. The base is mobile....he could be anywhere now....."

Dissatisfied, I take my foot off of his throat, and let the Lasso slacken. Doctor Light begins to laugh.

"You can't stop us...." he says, clutching broken ribs as the laughter hurts him. "The Legion of Doom.....we're going to....to bring the whole world crashing down. We'll tear your friends apart......and then....next time I see you.....you'll be the one on your back....."

"I doubt it," I say simply, before kicking him hard in the mouth, sending out a spray of blood and broken teeth. Before I can do more, he is engulfed in green light and vanishes--the same teleportation Savage and his men used at the UN.

I stand there for a moment, taking in what I had learned, before taking to the air and heading back to Happy Harbor.

Doctor Light may have been little more than a pawn for Vandal Savage, but what he has told me gives me a far greater perspective as to what the Justice League is going up against. The Legion of Doom threatens not just us, but the entire planet.

Now it is more important than ever that we find them, and stop them, by any means necessary.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

In the blink of an eye, I'm gone from Grodd's sight. I appear beside him, hitting him in the ribcage some 1,500 times in the span of a second and a half. I make sure he feels each and every one. The Gorilla falls to the ground and I loom over him.

"Real tough when you pick on a teenage girl. As soon as a man tries to take you on, you show what kind of coward you really are. You hide behind computers, bombs, and machines, but when it comes time to fight you take the easy way out. I figured a highly evolved being like you would have a backbone...I was wrong."

With that, Jesse and I disappear from the scene. I'm already racing down the street, clinging on to her and hoping I can be fast enough one more time.

Grodd is doubled over in obvious pain from the assualt by The Flash.

He manages to get back on his feet and the words spoken by The Flash echo in his mind.

Grodd goes over to a working console and taps into the every major commuications frequency.

He emits a high-pitched tone. Not enough to cause any major discomfort but enough to get his attention.

Grodd says through the signal, "Interesting taunts Flash. Great Psychology! Next time say something bad about my mother you forgot that. In terms of your side-kick she was the one who got involved in the battle. If she wanted to dance with the Devil then no one should be surprised if she got burned."

Grodd lets out a chuckle and continues, "The bombs and so forth Flash how stupid do you believe me to be. If I wanted to turn Central City into a parking lot I could in less than 3 seconds and there would be nothing you could do about it until it was too late. Those were all tests and now I know you better than your own mother. That is my advantage you know nothing of me or my story."

Grodd then speaks with anger in his voice, "You rely on school-boy tricks and methods. Grow up child! Our battle has now begun and I will not rest until your bleached skull is on my shelf and your costume is flapping in tatters in the breeze. You play for blood I play for death. Can you cross that line hero? How do you stop someone who is not afraid to kill you when you can't do the same? Ponder that one hero! Rest assured you will hear from again and when you do prepare to embrace death! So swears Grodd!"

He ends his transmission and hobbles to a corner to recover.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Oswald monitors the reports of the violence in Gotham from his office at the Iceberg Lounge.

Everything is proceeding nicely, but can't destroy everything otherwise I won't have anything left to rule over.

Just then his assistant Patrick enters the room and says, "Excuse me Mr. Cobblepot but you have a visitor. Mr. Elmond of the Metropolis Family is here to see you sir."

Oswald shuts down his computer and says, "I'll see him Patrick no interuptions."

Patrick bows and leaves the room and a few moments Mr. Elmond enters the room.

Oswald and Elmond shake hands and Oswald says, "Greetings my friend, a drink? A cigar?"

Elmond replies, "No thank you sir. I come here on business. Several of my associates are concerned about the recent violence here in Gotham. They are worried that this will cause un-due attention on our activities in Metropolis."

Oswald asks, "How so?"

Elmond says, "Well they have concerns that the Feds will eventually deem Gotham as beyond control and focus their attention on Metropolis, or there might be those who will wonder how to prevent the same thing from happening in Metropolis."

Oswald lights a cigar and says, "Ahh understand. Tell your friends not too worry. The way things are designed here is unique there will be no after shocks to Metropolis. If there is I will do what I can to take away the attention brought about by the recent violence. No worries."

Elmond says, "I feel like my clients would feel better if they saw a plan of some kind. Otherwise they may come here and feel the need to get invovled in advisory role."

Oswald draws his sword from his cane and slashes the air and says, "Well then you tell your friends the first person to come here after you from the Metropolis office will be the last. "

Oswald touches the tip of candle and gently pushed on it as it falls to the ground and says, "Am I clear?'

Elmond nods and Oswlad says, "Good now if you'll excuse me I have work to do. My associate" Oswald touches a button on the phone and Patrick appears and continues, "will show you out. Tell the Metropolis office to lighten up."

As Patrick escorts Elmond out Oswald fixes himself a drink.

 

[Spike_x1]

A bounty of all things. I almost can't believe it, but it's not even only the supervillains who are interested in it. While doing what I could to help the relief effort in Aswan after the collapse of their dam, I had a discussion with their available authorities and I eventually had to agree with them: I needed to stay away. My presence in the area was a risk to every living person there, as there was no telling when some metahuman terrorist might decide to drop in and try to take a shot at me without giving a thought to the countless potential casualties caught in the crossfire.

As much as I wanted to help, I inevitably had to leave the people there to their own devices.

Begrudgingly, I returned to Metropolis and began the task of interviewing the man on the street to get some opinions on current circumstances. As expected, everyone I talked to was very much against terrorism, but tones would occasionally change when the subject of the bounties on Justice League members came up.

"If I thought I stood a chance, I have to admit that I might be tempted to go for it," said one anonymous man. "I mean, maybe I wouldn't go gunning for the A-listers like Superman or Wonder Woman right from the start. And I sure wouldn't do it here in Metropolis. I wouldn't want to get beaten too badly. You've got to plan this stuff out, know what I mean?" I'll admit to being a little shaken with the thought that it's not just the insane and superpowered megalomaniacs who are entertaining fantasies of cashing in. "Times are tough and that is a lot of money being offered."

Sitting here with my hands clasped over my desk, deep in thought, I don't notice for a long time that a hard crunching sound can be heard through the walls of the Daily Planet offices. "What the...?"

It's not a matter of superhearing either, as many others in the office seem to hear it as well and begin looking around in search of the source of the noise. Ron Troupe and I both look at one another and shrug our shoulders in mutual confusion, right before one of the walls explodes to reveal some sort of cross between a man and insect-like creature. He must've been crawling through the inner workings of the building until he reached this floor.

"My name's Hellgrammite and I'm told that some of you reporter-types have an in with Superman. In case any of you haven't heard, there's a bit of a price on his head."

Even a mild mannered reporter isn't safe from getting caught in this crossfire.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rhiannon enjoys a Chef Salad in her living room as her mom approaches her and says, "What's on your mind? You've hardly said three words since you've been home."

Rhiannon says, "Nothing mom I just wanna have a little bit of peace and quiet."

Alice replies, "Sure and I'm gonna tell Waller that I would love for her and I to do a road-trip. Try again Rhiannon I'm your mother I can tell these things."

Rhiannon puts her salad down and says, "Okay. Mom what do you know about Sylbert Rundine?"

Alice sits down and looks visibly shaken as she asks, "How do you know that name?"

Rhiannon tells her everything and her mom is still somewhat shaken as she says, "Rhiannon he's very dangerous. Studied under Waller and is as psycho as they come without being thrown in an asylum. He was basically Waller's hatchet-man if there was something she wanted done he did it."

Rhiannon asks, "Why didn't he come after you?"

She replies, "Waller wanted the satisfaction of that one for herself. Rhiannon this guy is trouble and it sounds like he's got his sights set on you."

Rhiannon puts away her salad and returns to Alice. She says, "I don't think he's with the Legion on this one. He doesn't strike me really as a team player, and he doesn't know who I am. Those are two things in my favor at this time, but I don't know when or where he'll strike."

Alice says, "My guess he needs a base of operations of some kind. If he is calling you sister and feels a familial connection to you my guess is Stonegate Prison where CADMUS once was located. It's still got some equipment and if it's busted trust me Rundine will find away to make it work."

Rhiannon says, "If that's the case then I know where I'm off to."

Alice says, "No absolutely not! He is too dangerous for you to take on alone. Please Rhiannon don't do it."

Rhiannon replies, "If I don't then who else will die because of my inaction? I can't wait for him to send me another message he has to be dealt with one way or another."

Alice sits for a moment and says, "60 minutes. If you're not back in that time I'm coming after you."

Rhiannon says, "Done call Pete Ross and let's get him in the loop."

She transforms into The Atom and takes off through the phone line to Stonegate. Alice then calls Pete to let him know what's going on.

The Atom navigates through the catacombs and begins looking around.

Pete and his crew did a great job of cleaning up and most of the stuff is gone except for a few minor items and WHOA!

Just then The Atom feels a sudden pull through an air vent and into a bottle. As she slams into the bottle she notices a capsule next to her. The Atom gets to her feet but is in obvious pain not only from her head hitting the bottom of the bottle, but her ribs from slamming down on impact.

She hears a lid tighten down. The Atom floats up but can't break through the lid. She floats back down and stands on the bottom of the bottle.

Rundine says picking up the bottle, "Very good sister dear I've been expecting you welcome to your doom."

The Atom says, "Can we sever this family relationship thing. I'm not your sister and I doubt I'd be too happy if I was."

Rundine sneers and says, "Oh such disrespect! I don't think I like your tone of voice. Perhaps some down time will help."

Rundine presses a button on a control panel and the capsule breaks open releasing sleeping gas.

The Atom passes out and Rundine says, "Now it's time for me to show you who the superior one of us is."

He carries the bottle further into the facility.

 

[Byrd Man]

Grodd then speaks with anger in his voice, "You rely on school-boy tricks and methods. Grow up child! Our battle has now begun and I will not rest until your bleached skull is on my shelf and your costume is flapping in tatters in the breeze. You play for blood I play for death. Can you cross that line hero? How do you stop someone who is not afraid to kill you when you can't do the same? Ponder that one hero! Rest assured you will hear from again and when you do prepare to embrace death! So swears Grodd!"


He ends his transmission and hobbles to a corner to recover.

I shake off Grodd's taunts and get Jesse to the hospital. The staff stabilize her. All they need to do is patch her up. Her super fast metabolism and healing should do the rest.

I sit in the waiting room, in my full Flash gear and wait. I mull over what just happened and how I seem to be pretty calm about fighting a ****ing talking gorilla! A psychic gorilla at that! I have no idea who he is or where he came from, but he was dangerous. Physically and mentally. And I, in all my wisdom, brought a sixteen year old girl into the fight and now she's paying for it.

"Mister Flash?" A doctor asks as he walks out the OR. "She's going to be fine."

"I'm already fine," Jesse says, walking past the doctor. "They got me all patched up and the formula did the rest."

"Good," I say with a sigh of relief. "Let's head out of here."

"And how will you be paying for this?" The doctor asks. "It was a pretty costly procedure."

"Umm, I have Impulse covered in my side-kick premium with my insurance...

"And that is?"

"Uhh...Blue Cross, Blue Cape..."

"I'm not familiar with them..."

"Well, let me get my card out...wait...Impulse, I just heard on my scanner that there's a bank robbery in Keystone! Flash and Impulse, AWWWWAAAAAYYYY!"

I take Jesse by the wrist and take off with her, disappearing from the waiting room in a blur.

 

[Spike_x1]

As a panic begins sweeping through the office with this Hellgrammite creature making an appearance and wanting to know where he can find Superman, I use the crowds who are heading towards the nearest exit as a cover to mask my own discreet path towards the stock room. Easily overlooked in all of the confusion, Hellgrammite doesn't notice me at all, but manages to grab two of my coworkers. Holding Lois up in the air with one hand, and Jimmy tightly wrapped in his coiled tail, the villain smashes his fist through a desk in anger.

"I swear, one of you nerds had better know where I can find Superman or else!"

I wouldn't worry about that, mister.

Ever thankful for a stockroom with a window in it, I fly around the building and approach from the other side and enter through one of the city room's large windows that overlook the Metropolis skyline.

"Put them down now."

This monster has come gunning for me at work and gladly put my friends at risk, so he'll be sadly mistaken if he thinks for a minute that I'm not taking this seriously. Having gotten his attention, Hellgrammite spins around to look at me and drops Lois. Jim, however, remains in the visibly tightening grip of his tail. "Both of them." I know that he can feel the increasing heat from my gaze, but the insectoid man only grins with a mouthful of razor sharp fangs.

"But isn't it so much more fun this way? After all, who wants a fair fight?" With that, Hellgrammite kicks one half of the smashed desk at me, but I only let it shatter into countless pieces against my chest, not moving a muscle. "I only dropped the lady so that I'd have both hands free to pound your face in!" Taking off into a charge in my direction, he swings one of his fists with full force, but I catch it in the palm of hand without budging. He may have superstrength, but he doesn't seem to be anywhere close to being in my league.

Closing my hand around his fist, the sound of his knuckles crunching is finally enough to wipe that smile from his face. "I won't say it again."

Now finding himself in something of a panic, unable to physically overpower me or escape my grip, Hellgrammite catches sight of the still-open window over my shoulder that I entered through. With a swing of his tail, he suddenly hurls Jimmy out through the window and helplessly falling to the streets below. I can hear Hellgrammite's laughter as I'm forced to let go of the monster and pursue Jim, allowing the villain to escape. Still, it won't take me more than a few seconds to get Olsen to safety and chase down that animal.

 

[Carnage27]

Sinestro​

Previously...

Spoiler

"How are your tests going, friend?" I ask the Lantern's drill instructor. "You know how much they worry me."​

"The tests are going fine, Sinestro," he sighs. He was hoping not to talk about them. And his voice betrays that they aren't going on as well as he would like me to think. "Some of the trainees are taking to the impurities and mastering them quicker than I would have thought."​

"They're not taking to them. The impurities are taking them, more like it," I laugh and lean back in my chair. "The Guardians took some of the weakest we have and put them in one of the most dangerous assignments they could. It's almost as if they want the War of Light to come to pass."​

"Watch what you say, Sinestro," he says standing and walking towards the window. "The Guardians will not take insubordination. Especially at a time like this."​

"Yes, I wouldn't want people talking behind my back if I was about to destroy the Corps either," I respond, leaving.​

**********​

"More...more...more...I must...have...MORE!" the slobbering beast screams, and with him the thousands of orange constructs cry out in unison.​

​

Agent Orange fires off into the vacuum of space, ready to feed his hunger.​

One Month Later

"And you're going to continue turning a blind eye to this problem?" I ask of the New Guardians. "We're been losing agents for weeks, and have been losing contact with some of the outlying systems. Yet we sit here in our halls doing nothing but debating."

Star systems have been dropping out of contact for weeks, and the Lanterns we've sent to check on them have disappeared as well. The rapid loss of our men and women is alarming, yet we haven't sent a force of necessary strength to investigate and stop whatever has been taking our Lanterns.

"We have not dispatch a significant force because we are too busy with an internal investigation," Ganthet says with a cruel smile.

The realization hits me that they know. They know about my little group of warriors designed to save the Lanterns from destroying themselves. But how? Who squealed on us? Was it Killowag? Or Rayner? Or have they been watching me closer than I would have expected?

"Bring her out," Ganthet says as Katma is brought out in bindings. "This one has been discovered trying to turn Lanterns against this very council. She believes that our teachings of the forbidden colors is going to tear the Lanterns to sunder."

Katma looks to me for leadership, and I won't disappoint her. I made a promise to my inner circle. A promise I intend to go through with.

"She only did this because I forced her to," I respond in my strongest voice. I may be headed for exile and encarceration, but I will do so with pride. "I blackmailed and manipulated her to become my agent. As I have said before, the use of these powers by the weak-mind fools you have chosen will lead to the fulfilling of the prophecy."

"I'll show you, weak-minded!" Atrocitus snarls from the audience before being silenced by Ganthet.

"Thaal Sinsetro, for your blatant act of sedition, you are to be exiled to the prison planet immediately," Ganthet seeths. "You are stripped of your ring and are no longer a Lantern of the Corps."

My ring slips off my finger and floats towards the Guardians as the guard that will carry me to my prison approach me, and for the first time in a long time, I feel a twinge of fear.

 

[Spike_x1]

The world practically grinds to a crawl as I let go of Hellgrammite and fly out in pursuit of Jim. I sense the creature following right behind me through the window, but making a speedy break for it as soon as he's outside and heading for a rooftop getaway. For the moment, I have no choice but to let him go.

Slowing down so that I don't hurt him by catching him and instantly stopping his fall at superspeed, I manage to grab Jimmy by the wrist and begin to more safely lower him towards ground level. Instinctively, he tries to climb his way up my arm as we descend and I try to smile reassuringly. "I've got you, Jimmy. Are you hurt?"

"Y-you... you know my name?"

Um. "Sure. I see you at all the press conferences with Lois."

"Ms. Lane really does know you? Wow, she talks about you all the time! I mean, I know you've met before, what with the whole thing with Lex Luthor last year, but..."

We finally touch down to the sidewalk safely and a crowd has already begun to form. "Sorry to cut this short, but I've got a bug man to chase down. Are you going to be okay?"

Jimmy nods with a big grin on his face. "Absolutely!" Then he holds up his camera. I really should've seen that coming. "You mind posing for a shot or two before leaving?"

"Sorry Jim, but I'm in a rush," I reply as I start rising back up through the air, but I can already hear his camera going off, along with a dozen camera phones around us. Briefly pausing in midair for a moment to pinpoint the location of Hellgrammite's unique heartbeat, I might have inadvertently given Jimmy just the pose he wanted.

The moment doesn't last long, however, as I blast off in a blur of red and blue when I pinpoint Hellgrammite as heading in the direction of STAR Labs. God only knows what he could have planned for that place. Or maybe he has some sort of lair nearby, or he could be another experiment gone awry like Riot.

Quickly catching up to the monster at high speeds, I appear to Hellgrammite as if I teleported right in his path, here on a rooftop across the street from STAR. After startling him to a full stop for a couple of seconds with my sudden appearance, he lets out a bestial roar and resumes running straight at me. Catching me off guard with his unnatural insect-like body movements and burst of ferocity, Hellgrammite manages to pounce onto me and then scramble across my body in order to get around me. It's like feeling a spider crawling along your body, only more aggressive and bigger. To call it creepy would be a bit of an understatement as a strong chill goes down my spine.

Successfully taking me aback for an instant, Hellgrammite then launches himself at the outer wall of STAR Labs, breaking through it and into the facilities inside. This cannot be good.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Grodd lumbers over to his computer terminal and begins reading over the scientific journals on-line.

He laughs as he reads.

These primitive simpletons when will they learn. They don't have the capacity to even dream of reaching the goals of their research much less actually doing it.

He continues to read but then an article catches his eye.

Interesting mind-manipulation on a cellular level...interesting theories this Dr. Amanda Moore has come up with. For a primitive mind she shows great potential. And she is at the STAR Labs office here in Central city. Perhaps it's time to pay the good doctor a visit.

Grodd puts on his overcoat and hat and leaves for STAR Labs.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Oswald mingles through the crowd at the Iceberg Lounge. Greeting them and taking pictures along the way. Everyone is enjoying themselves, and Oswald is eating it up. Oswald then retires to the confines of his office and begins feeding his vulture Titan.

He then receives a text message from a business associate in Central City. Stating that his shipment of guns have not arrived and they are being held up by paperwork in the harbors of the narrows.

Oswald is visibly angry.

He calls Armond Krol and says, "Armond this is Oswald Cobblepot. I'm calling in my favor."

Krol replies somewhat drunkenly, "I don't owe you a thing!"

Oswald says, "Oh yes last week it was a virtual tie between you and Grange and then I spoke onyour behalf and campaigned for you. Now you're up by 20% who do you think is responsible for that?"

Krol says, "Gimme a break Cobblepot. Why don't you go back to your rich lifestyle and leave me alone."

The line goes dead and Oswald says, "Oh Krol you have no idea what you just did!"

Oswald places a call to Mayor Thorne and says, "I have a problem that will soon be of grave importance to your career."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The Atom beings to wake up and struggles to move, but she finds herself held in place to a dissecting tray.

She opens her eyes and sees Rundine with his back turned. The Atom still struggles to move but can't.

Rundine says, "You might as well give up struggling. The stasis field I have encased you should prove to be most effective in keeping you in place Atom."

Atom finds that her mouth can still move and she asks in somewhat of a daze, "What are you doing?"

Rundine says, "Oh I'm going to have some fun in watching you suffer before I send you on your way to your final reward. Whatever that maybe."

Atom replies, "I know you have your issues, but really why do you want me dead?"

Rundine turns and says, "I want you dead because you are ungrateful brat! You have one of the most unique gifts in the universe and you choose to use it only in service to others. You don't realize the power you've been blessed with."

Atom locks her jaw and says, "Bull! There is something more there Rundine."

Rundine bows his head and says, "All-right yes there is. You also destroyed the career of the one who gave me my gift and could've done so much more for all of us."

Atom replies, "Waller."

Rundine says, "Yes she was the only one who ever truly appreciated my gifts and used them to their fullest."

Atom says, "But she altered your personality made you into..."

Rundine is now angry and says, "Don't you dare speak ill of her!" He then flips a switch and the stasis field begins firing electrical bolts at Atom. Her suit absorbs the energy but the vibrations and the force behind the bolts causes her great pain.

"AHHHHH!" She screams with each strike. After about 20 seconds the bolts stop. The Atom struggles to regain her breath and her sense of where she is.

Can't let that happen again...another attack like that and I'm dead.

Rundine approaches Atom and says, "She didn't make me into anything. Amanda Waller made me realize who I really am, and you destroyed her. I read her reports about you, and I read her final report where she detailed how she underestimated The Atom and how The Atom had destroyed her."

The Atom is silent and glaring at Rundine who steps away and says, "Face it Atom! You're the one that brought this upon yourself. You destroyed her career and now I will destroy your life. Oh and don't try to shrink smaller to escape the stasis field. You see I was the one who came up with the gyroscopic tech that helped capture you, the iron in the blood-stream, and chief architect of your former house here. I know all of your tricks!"

There's a beeping sound at the console and Rundine checks on it. He says, "Ahh Director Ross and other operatives. Think they're coming to save you? Guess again! We are 30 feet below the former CADMUS HQ. Waller had this one built just in case. You are now mine Atom, but don't worry your suffering will soon be over!"

Rundine flips another switch and suddenly the stasis field begins to heat up and then freeze rapidly. The sudden shifts in temperatures are causing The Atom to nearly go into convulsions.

Rundine says, "You have my word on it Atom it's almost over, and i promise i'll send you back to Pete Ross in the finest matchbox I can find."

The Atom is struggling to regain her composure and senses but finds that she is unable to.

Mom I'm sorry....I'm done for.

 

[Bounce]

“...in signing this executive order, the White House issued a statement saying that the Department of Defense was, in the President’s view, the best equipped to handle the danger posed by the Superboy. While many are applauding this decision, others are organizing protests to what they are calling...”

Donovan’s hands slammed down against the table, “What the HELL were you thinking?”

The doctor across from him was unphased by the outburst. “That’s actually what I’m hoping you’ll explain to me,” Albert Michaels articulated slowly, regarding the other scientist with a plain, almost stoic expression. “But I’ll deal with your misplaced anger first. For starters, I’ve just secured about a billion dollars of funding for our research – with access to Defense resourcing that vastly outstrip NASA’s in terms of manpower and medical facilities,” the man stated crisply.

“Yes, look at this place. We obviously were in need of more resourcing,” Dabney fired back hotly.

Without pause, Michaels merely continued. “...Second, you and I both know that Fionna had a civilian attorney on retainer for just this situation.” As though to illustrate his point better, Albert reached over to pick up a stack of court filings and amicus briefs from in front of them and casually toss the assorted papers over toward Donovan. “They’ve already filed for an injunction in the Federal District Court for Metropolis and the judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Defense taking custody of Superboy while the case is pending judgment.”

Donovan drew in a deep breath, swatting the paper off the table. He wasn’t interested in the legal maneuvering now taking place. He was more interested on why it had been necessary in the first place. “So... what? You did it for the money?”

“I did it to get rid of the elephant in the room,” Albert countered quietly. “We all knew the DoD would come for Superboy. Now we can stop worrying about it and just deal with it,” the doctor stated flatly.

Deal with it? Donovan could feel himself starting to shake with anger and the irrational urge to throttle the partner in front of him. “Albert, they want to HURT him!”

Michaels merely blinked, not responding at all for a moment as the outburst lingered in the air between them. “No, Dabney. They want to study him,” Albert answered finally, in a very calculating tone of voice. “And so do you. Remember what you said to me when we found him? You wanted to know how he could levitate and fly, Dabney. Are you any closer now to understanding how he does that?”

The sudden reversal seemed to catch Donovan unprepared. Stammering, the man admitted, “No, but...”

“He’s great for publicity. For the President’s Council on Fitness or getting children interested in math and science. And that’s all wonderful,” Albert interjected, hitting the point of what had been the most recent discussions on what Project Superboy would achieve. “But none of it answers the real questions.”

“He’s just a boy,” Donovan asserted, his own ears catching how feeble the words sounded.

“He’s an extraterrestrial boy,” Albert noted simply. “Who may very well hold the keys to the next evolution of humanity.”

Donovan found himself shaking his head. “This isn’t about the evolution of humanity, it’s about defeating a Superman threat that doesn’t exist!”

“Tell that to Polikistan.”

Donovan froze for a moment. Hesitating, the man finally remarked, “That has nothing to do with Superboy.”

Now it was Michaels turn to give a shake of his head. “Yes, it does. And you know it.”

Swallowing, Donovan tried to relax as he found his position now the one under fire. Changing topics, the geneticist locked eyes on the doctor a second time and demanded, “Why the lies? That blood you gave me...”

“Belonged to Micah Flint, and can be used to try and develop medicines which might enhance our soldiers with physical abilities similar to what we see Kryptonians exhibit,” Albert answered without aplomb, as though wondering why Donovan would have asked him a question when the man obviously knew the answer for himself already. “And enable our society to have a possible defense so that what happened to Polikistan doesn’t happen here.”

“I don’t like this, Albert,” Dabney stated gruffly. “This isn’t what any of us signed up for.”

The comment at last propelled Michaels into motion. Leaning forward sharply, it was Albert who elevated his voice as he asserted, “This is EXACTLY what we signed up for, but you’ve lost your objectivity! Taking him to school, giving him baths, tucking him into bed... Dabney, we’re here to do a job as scientists!”

The outburst left the two men staring at each other.

Michaels finally broke the silence. “He doesn’t belong here, Dabney. And no amount of socialization is going to change that,” the doctor remarked evenly. “But he’s here. And others like him are here. We have to be able to compete with them. Tell me you understand that.”

“I...” Donovan began, finding his own retort fading before he could even get it out. Hanging his head, the geneticist looked down at the table as he confessed, “I understand.”

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Grodd makes his way to STAR Labs. He hides in a field near the main building.

Trying to get her attention will prove to be difficult, but I cannot allow such a trivial matter to stand in my way.

He sees the guard's outpost.

I think I have an idea!

Grodd make his way to the outpost and the guard (needless to say) is somewhat shaken at the sight of Grodd.

The Guard reaches for his gun and Grodd uses his mind control and says, "You don't want to do that!"

The guard in a zombie like trance says, "No I don't master."

Grodd says, "Good, your service will be rewarded. Call Dr. Amanda Moore tell her she has a visitor at the main gate."

The guard says, "As you command."

The guard calls for Dr. Moore as Grodd hides on the other side of the building.

About 5 minutes later Dr. Moore arrives she says, "Okay Eddie what is it?"

Grodd comes around the corner and Dr. Moore is about to scream, but she stops when Grodd says, "Good Evening Dr. Moore."

This makes Dr. Moore do a double take and she says, "You're talking. You're a talking gorilla!"

Grodd says, "Impressive powers of observation Dr. Moore."

She asks, "How do you know my name?"

Grodd replies, "I've been reading your work on-line. Impressive for a human. I agree with many of your theories."

She says, "Thank you if only I could get the board to agree with me."

Grodd shakes his head and says, "Pearls before swine obviously. Would care to accompany me to my current place of residence. I wish to discuss your work further and I have some insights that may further your work."

Moore says, "Every fiber of my being says run fast and run far, but I'm intrigued. Let's go, but what about Eddie?"

Grodd turns to Eddie and says, "You will now sleep for five minutes, and at the end of those five minutes you will remember nothing of me or Dr. Moore being at your post this evening."

Eddie replies, "Yes Master."

The guard falls asleep as Grodd picks up Dr. Moore and they head back to the waterfront hideout.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Mayor Thorne asks, "What's the problem Oswald?"

Oswald replies, "Your friend Senator Krol whom I campaigned for as a favor to you seems to have selective memory."

Thorne says, "I'm afraid to ask but what happened?"

Oswald says, "I told him that my endorsement was not a gift it was a favor, and now when I call in my favor he blows me off. Drunkenly I might add."

Thorne replies, "I'm sorry about that Oswald, but what can I do?"

Oswald replies, "He's your friend talk to him, and remind him my favor is not given lightly or freely thrown around."

Thorne asks, "What if I can't get him to come around to your point of view?"

Oswald replies, "Rupert you don't want to know how this will impact him, or more importantly your career."

The line goes silent and Oswald lights a cigar and says, "You got 24 hours to deal with this. If it's not in a satisfactory state there will be hell to pay, and I will be the one holding the pitchfork."

Oswald slams the phone down and collects his thoughts.

After a few moments he presses a button on his phone and says, "Lawrence call the crew tell them to be on standby for the next 48 hours, and then call the Snake and inform him of the current situation."

Oswald hangs up the phone and continues smoking his cigar as he pets Titan.

He says, "Time to show these third rate novices what real power is!"

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rundine stares at his 6 inch prisoner who is in tremendous amounts of pain from the stasis field.

Rundine stops the temperature torture and says, "Oh no I don't want to kill you quite yet. I want to enjoy watching you suffer the way Waller has suffrered because of you and the way I suffer the insult of your existence."

Atom exhausted and in agony says, "You must've had a rough childhood. No one gets this hateful on their own."

Rundine replies, "Ahh yes develope either sympathy or contempt for the torturer. I know Bishop's tricks as well. Another trait we share. Are you sure we aren't related?"

Atom says, "Trust me we aren't."

Rundine presses a button on the panel and the stasis field is deactivated. He activates his shrinking power on his belt and floats down to Atom. She tries to get up and move but is still feeling weak and tired from the field.

Rundine kicks Atom in the ribs.

Atom winces in pain but tries to keep from letting Rundine see it.

Rundine says, "Oh are your ribs an issue for you? I don't want to make this but so easy for me. I want the pleasure of feeling your pulse fade away in my hands."

He delivers another kick to the ribs and this time Atom grunts in pain.

Rundine floats upward and then shifts his weight and plummets on top of Atom leading with his elbow.

"AHHH!" She yells.

Rundine says, "Something out of the WWE! I love being able to do that move! Let's go again!"

Rundine floats up and lines up Atom again. He yells, "From the top ring-rope!"

Rundine plummets again but this time Atom rolls away and Rundine slams on top of the tray.

Rundine yells in pain, "ARGGGGGGGGGG! MY ARM I THINK YOU BROKE IT!"

Atom gets on her feet and delivers a kick to Rundine's face.

Rundine grabs his face and beings rolling around screaming in agony.

Atom says, "I know I just broke your nose. I have no idea who or what started all of this with you Dwarf Star, but I'm about to finish it!"

Atom readies herself and says, "Get up! Let's finish this!"

 

[Bounce]

Grant Residence
Metropolis, MA

Whether it was to get a moping Kryptonian out of the proverbial house, or desperate need for girl talk - or something of both – Fiona Ross had shown up at the door to Cat Grant’s apartment with Krypto’s leash in one hand and a carrier of Starbucks coffee in the other. With the elementary school undergoing renovation, both boys were home with nothing to do... irrespective of the fact that the school board had indefinitely suspended Superboy regardless. The structural damage to Benedict Arnold Elementary was still being assessed. Fiona’s budget department was almost bemoaning the estimated damage claims. Half the county had already filed for compensation of medical bills from taking their kids to professional counseling as a result of the attack on the school.

As a long-time player, and survivor, of government politics Fiona had to wonder how Superman managed to avoid getting sued.

The white canine stretched out underneath the table nestled cozily between the sitting room and the kitchenette, the two women savored the view of the Metropolis skyline and the taste of the coffee – all while listening to the sounds of what was either World War III or very non-stealthy ninjas. Or Star Wars, depending on what the two boys were acting out at the time.

As if on cue, Adam and Lor-Zod ran through the room to get a snack out of the kitchen; with Lor-Zod sporting a stormtrooper helmet. Star Wars it was.

“Is it okay for him to be here?”

Cat Grant’s question lingered in the air for a moment, Ross staring down at the white plastic cap on her Starbucks cup for a moment before answering. “I think he needed this,” the woman responded finally. “He needs the opportunity to be a normal kid.”

“But a presidential order...”

“We see how it plays out in the court,” Fiona answered, interrupting the reporter with a casual ease that belied the tension she felt on the subject. Relaxing somewhat, the woman explained, “There was substantial pressure against a government agency having ‘ownership’ – for lack of a better term – over Superboy. What we saw pales in comparison to the outrage we’re seeing at the President giving custody of him to the military however.”

Cat nodded, both women turning their attention to where they could make out the two boys playing inside of Adam’s room. Using pillows, the pair had constructed a make-shift fort on Adam’s bed; running about it with sound-producing toy guns in a flurry of imaginative activity. “It’s hard not to look at him and not see that he’s just an ordinary kid,” the reporter mused aloud.

Taking a sip of her coffee, Fiona coolly noted, “Especially when the Daily Planet runs a feature on his school work and crayon drawings.” Lowering her cup, the steel eyed government director looked at the reported and added, “Thank you for that by the way.”

With a shake of her head and a wave of her hand, Cat seemed immediately dismissive of the praise. “I didn’t do anything. Just set them on the desk of our community writer,” the woman stated with a shrug. “I’m a gossip columnist. This is kind of out of my league. I’ve thought about asking Clark for help though.”

“Clark?”

“Kent. He’s another journalist at the Planet. Society and Current Events mostly,” Cat explained, pausing to take a sip of her own coffee. “This sort of story would be right up his alley, but he and Lois are both occupied by this... Legion of Doom or whatever I think.”

“If you think it’d be worth it, talk to him,” Fiona remarked, settling back in her chair as she watched the two boys play across the apartment. “Your son is his only friend in this whole world,” the woman mused bitterly.

“I’m not so sure,” Cat countered lightly. “He seems to have you and Dabney in his corner.”

Fiona nodded slightly, raising her cup to her lips as she whispered, “I wish I was sure about that.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *​

U.S. Naval Base
Pearl Harbor, HI

The ocean-front laboratory was more than three times the size of what he’d had to work with on Pike Island, Albert Michaels tucking his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat as he stood on a catwalk enjoying the Hawaiian sunset. The sound of harried footsteps beckoned the call and ire of his new masters, a necessary aggravation which nonetheless caused the doctor to smile.

“How much longer until we can begin testing your ‘super-soldier’ drugs?”

Sam Lane. Never one to mince words. “Patience, general.” Albert admonished the veteran gently, turning to regard the bulwark of a man with a degree of apathy. “You really must learn patience. Science is a fine art. And genetics in particular is a very slow discipline.”

Reaching up, the general seized hold of the cigar that had been clenched between his teeth. Pointing it at the man as though it were a weapon, the general barked, “Doctor, I have patience for a lot of things. Daughters. Ex-wives. Privates that don’t know their head from a hole in the ground. But what I don’t have patience for is your ********.” The general allowed the statement to hover in the air a moment, waving the cigar in a broad sweep as he asked, “Now when do we begin testing?”

“First we need to be certain that Donovan gave us the precise genetic code,” Albert replied, tapping his fist against the metal railing as he guided the general’s eyes directly below where the pair stood. Underneath, in a large vat, something was taking form. “Once the clone of Micah Flint is complete, we can begin purifying the data – making improvements on the original – and when that is finished, you will have your super-soldier.”

“And how long will that take?”

Albert turned to face the man beside him. “You want me to kill a god, general,” the doctor answered flatly. “It won’t be done in a day. But it will be done.”

General Lane just looked at the doctor for a moment, a short, barking laugh suddenly splitting the air. “A god, huh?” the general echoed, turning away as he started back to the other side of the catwalk. “I’m not about to bow down and worship some knee-high anklebiter, or a blond haired teenage ****. And I’m damn sure not going to kneel before a big blue boy scout,” Lane mumbled darkly.

Pausing at the end of the catwalk, the general turned back toward the doctor. “Enjoy Hawaii, Doctor Michaels,” Lane barked hoarsely. “I get the impression you’ll be with us for awhile,” the general added, at last returning the cigar to his mouth as he stormed off.

“Indeed, general,” Michaels remarked. Turning to look over his other shoulder, Albert looked over at his long-time partner. “Are you ready for the first round of tests?”

Dabney Donovan stepped out of the shadows, clipboard in hard. “We’ve already run them,” Donovan supplied, flipping over a sheet of paper on his clipboard. A glimmer seemed to light up the man’s eye as he added, “I was looking at your research and got to thinking... what do you think about animal testing?”

 

[Andy C.]

PREVIOUSLY.....

Once everyone has managed to calm down a bit, we introduce ourselves a little more properly. Both Raven and I choose our words very deliberately, careful not to let any possibly damning information slip--real names, where we live, the business involving Brother Blood, et cetera--but Starfire doesn't seem to have the same concerns.

"My name is Koriand'r, Daughter-Heir of the Royal Seat of Tamaran," she begins, placing a hand to her breast and giving a slight bow as a formal greeting. "I have been granted the title of Starfire, our world's champion and emissary of good will to less advanced planets."

"Wait," I interrupt. "You're saying that you're.....an extra-terrestrial?"

Raven raises an eyebrow, first at Starfire, then over at me.

"So you're accepting the fact that I'm apparently a half-demon witch or something, but this weirds you out?"

"I'm accepting the 'or something' part of that," I say, a little defensively. "But, yeah, I guess if the one is possible, why not the other? Sorry, um, Starfire, I didn't mean to, y'know, offend or anything....I'm just not used to, um.....*ahem*....anyway, um......continue."

"No apologies are necessary," she says, "I realize your people have had very limited contact with other worlds. That is why we had hoped to extend an offer of friendship and peace to your planet, so that your first contact with another world may be one of understanding and love. At least, that was the plan...."

As soon as the word "love" escapes her lips, something inside me melts a little bit. The warmth in her smile, the brightness in her eyes, the effortless music in her voice......and yet there's also a sadness behind her smiling, like she's lost something wonderful.

I really wish I had a knack for poetry, because I could fill a whole book with--

"*ahem*," Raven clears her throat, nudging me with her elbow. "You're staring."

"I--what? No, I--um.....right. Sorry."

Starfire smiles in a way that's almost pitying, before it fades.

"As I said, Tamaran had wanted to commune with Earth and make fast friends between our worlds. However, not all people in the universe are as peaceful as we are. Our world was attacked by a force........the Citadel......"

There's a catch in her voice, a trembling note of fear.

"My sister, Komand'r, the chosen Starfire at the time, betrayed our people and joined the Citadel's armies," she says. "To prove her loyalty to her new masters, she lowered Tamaran's defense shields, led a legion of strike troops into the heart of our palace.....and sold me to their slavers."

She lowers her head and looks away, evidently not wanting to think about those things.

"So.....what did you do?" Raven asks.

"I fought," she answers. "I broke free of my captivity and struck at the Citadel's Star Marshall. My actions forced the Citadel to sign a treaty of non-aggression with Tamaran, but my sister had fled the planet when I returned home. Now she is here, somewhere, and I hope to find her before it is too late."

"Too late?"

"The Citadel agreed that they would not set foot on Tamaran," Starfire explains, "But they said nothing of planets in which we were interested. I believe my sister--Starfire no longer, but branded the most dishonorable title of all, a Blackfire--is here as an agent for the Citadel, feeding them intelligence, possibly under a false identity. She may threaten this entire planet unless she is found."

Raven gives me a skeptical glance, and it's hard not to see why-- this girl, as pretty as she is......and my God, she's pretty......is just willing to tell her whole life story to a couple of complete strangers? Still, I can't help wanting to believe her.

"Well, maybe we can help each other out," I say, an idea crossing my mind. "We could help you find your sister, if, say......you help Raven with her powers? I mean, you seem to have a better handle on flying...."

"I don't need a tutor," Raven practically snarls, but I think she knows she could use a hand--when she was trying to escape, she wasn't so much "flying" as she was "falling in the wrong direction." "And anyway, whatever's happening to me, I doubt it's the same as whatever it is that she can do."

"I do agree that I may not be knowledgeable in the nature of your gifts," Starfire says, "But I understand that your people are not naturally gifted with flight. If you would allow it, I could be helpful in practicing the art of movement, how to think in three-dimensional terms. I would very much like companions in my time on this world."

Raven stews with indignation for a moment, before giving way to the fact that she quite frankly doesn't know what she is doing yet.

"Fine," she says with resignation.

"I've got access to surveillance systems all over the city," I say, thinking first of my cheap system of web-cameras, but then of the enormous network that Batman has set up. "I've seen the other Star--umm, Blackfire-- here in Gotham before; if she shows up again, I could find her."

"I would be most grateful for that," Starfire says. "What would you ask from me in return?"


........


........


........


"You're staring again," Raven says, and I suddenly feel a stab of guilt. Tonight we were supposed to get to know each other better, spend some time together to take our minds off of all of the craziness in our lives......and now after even more craziness, I'm gawking at another girl.

"Um, Raven, I can help you too," I say sheepishly. "I'm really good at research; I could help you find information on....y'know.....your new abilities, find out more about the people who--"

"Yeah. Sounds good," she says curtly.

"Then it is settled!" Starfire says happily. "We are now a partnership! The first alliance between our worlds! Truly this is a momentous occasion!"

She lifts from the ground and swoops towards me, wrapping her arms around me for a celebratory embrace. I actually find myself wheezing for breath when she squeezes: for someone with such a slim frame, she's unbelievably strong.

What really knocks the air out of me, however, is when she puts her hand on the back of my neck and kisses me full on the mouth.

When she lets go, my legs are practically wet noodles and I nearly collapse on the ground in a heap. My head is swimming, and I can feel a big stupid grin spreading across my face.

Starfire then flies over to Raven and embraces her, too, but the dark-haired girl gives her an ice-cold glare that stops Starfire from kissing her.

"It's getting late," Raven says. "Robin and I need to go home."

Starfire's eyes widen.

"I apologize," she quickly says to Raven. "I did not realize the two of you were mates."

At this point, I'm pretty sure my face is blushing so hard that my limbs should be going numb from blood loss.

"We're not--I mean, um," I start to sputter, "She didn't mean 'go home together,' we're just--.....well, tonight we were supposed to-- I mean, we're good friends, and--...."

Starfire doesn't really seem to understand, and neither do I quite frankly. Raven gives me a look that just makes me want to crawl in a hole and die.

I can take on hardened criminals and beat them within an inch of their life.

I can break into Gotham Central and escape with ease.

I can stand up to magically-powered occultist vampire people.

I can even fight toe-to-toe with Batman himself.....

.....but I can't seem to open my mouth around an attractive girl without immediately ramming my own foot in it.

"I did not mean to intrude on your....friendship?" Starfire says, taking a second to search for the correct word. "And I believe it is time to rest for the night as well. If we want to meet again, how can I contact you?"

I fumble through my utility belt until I find something that should work.

"This is a wireless earpiece," I say, handing her a small electronic earbud--something Batman was working on, I guess in the event that he has allies. "It sends and receives messages on a secure frequency. It's got a decent range--as long as we're all in the same city, we should be able to hear each other."

Apparently now I can talk without stammering, now that I'm talking about gadgets and gizmos.

"Anyway, we should all probably get going," I say. "But um.....we should do this again."

Starfire flies off into the night, and Raven and I are left standing on the rooftop for a few moments.

"Well, she was....interesting," she says.

"....yeah...."

"Doesn't seem to have any concept of personal space, though."

"......yeah......"

"Anyway....." she says, the edge in her voice enough to break my gaze from watching Starfire fly away. Once I look at her, all of the costumes and super-powers and whatnot seem to fall away, and it's not Robin and Raven anymore. It's just Dick and Rachel, two teenagers who don't really know what to make of each other.

"Oh. Um. Right," I say. "Let's get you home."

Rather than fly or swing on grapnel lines, we climb down from the rooftop, and I use ORACLE to call the Bat-cycle to my location, and I drive her back to her house. It's about a fifteen minute drive from where we were, and the entire time, neither of us says a word.

Finally, we pull up to her house, and Rachel stops at her doorstep.

"I've still got a long night ahead of me," Rachel says. I have to tell my Mom about Sebastian....God, I don't know what's going to happen there. I still have to figure out......well, a lot of things. What happened to me, what I can do.......the fact that my only friend is apparently a super-hero.....I just....I need to go lie down and think for a bit."

"Right," I say with an ashamed cough--after everything she's been through, I'm ogling an alien princess and trying to play team leader. "Listen, umm.....I know this has been a weird night. And that that's a massive understatement. But, still......I'm glad you're okay."

I pull another earpiece out from my utility belt and place it in Rachel's hand.

"I'm going to keep the frequency open all night," I say. "Call me if you need me."

Rachel stares at the earbud in her hand for a moment, like I'd just handed her an engagement ring.

".......yeah...." is all she manages, before closing her hand and going inside.

I slowly walk back to the bike--completely conscious now of the fact that I'm still in full costume, and thankful that it's so late out that nobody saw us--and start the engine back up, plotting a course back to Wayne Tower.

It's just then I realize that I've been out three hours past curfew. Miss Cooper is going to have my hide for that. But at the moment, that's the last thing on my mind....

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Grodd and Dr. Moore arrive back Grodd's warehouse hideout.

She looks around as Grodd prepares some of his machines.

Dr. Moore says, "I'm impressed that you are able to run such an effective operation with very spartan equipment and resources."

Grodd replies, "My dear Dr. Moore when one has an intellect such as mine it's a matter of child's play to make this operation work. I assure you that there are far greater things I have in-store and you will have a large role in those operations."

Dr. Moore begins reading over items that Grodd has written down and says, "What I've read so far is very impressive on a theoretical level Grodd. Can you really replicate this theory in the real world with the same results."

Grodd replies with a wicked smile, "That is what I intend to find out with your assistance Dr. Moore."

Dr. Moore rather than be frightened smiles the exact same way.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Oswald finishes a press conference concerning his latest philanthropic deed. A million dollar donation to the Homeless Shelter.

He says, "Ladies and Gentlemen as much as I appreciate the coverage that events such as these receive I look forward to the day when these events are no long needed, and we have a city that lives out the promise of hope and justice for one and all. Thank you all."

Oswald waves to crowd and leaves the stage. He calls Mayor Thorne and says, "All-right Rupert what is the latest?"

He replies, "Oswald I've been trying to get a hold of Armond but he is currently not answering his phone or his assistant is answering on his behalf."

Oswald climbs in the Limo and once his door is closed his pleasant disposition shifts from pleasant to anger and fury.

He says, "Rupert the 24 hour deadline stands! Armond starts to remember who his friends are or things become hell on earth for him and you."

He hangs up the phone and receives a phone call from his assistant Patrick. He says, "Mr. Cobblepot the Snake is here and waiting in your office."

Oswald says, "Excellent keep him entertained for the next 20 minutes. I'm en-route."

Oswald hangs up and says, "Krol you and Thorne have just crossed the line, and no one crosses the Penguin."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The brawl rages on between Dwarf Star & Atom. Neither is giving ground and the two costumed figures are battered and bloody.

Then Atom drops to one knee and Dwarf Star says, "I'll give you credit on one thing you're tough there's no question about that. In the the end though I think we both knew how it was going to end."

Atom says in a ragged breath, "Yeah. You making a huge screw up."

Atom reduces her size to microscopic and flies at Dwarf Star's belt housing the Dwarf Star matter controlling his powers. She begins ripping the wires and suddenly Dwarf Star begins to grow to normal size.

He hopes off the tray before he is fully grown as The Atom grows back to 6 inches.

Rundine asks, "What's happening? What did you do to me?"

She says, "You forgot Bishop's 5th rule of engagement: If you and an enemy are evenly matched in terms of speed, size and strength then attack your differences. Your powers come from your belt mine are by my will-power. I shorted out the belt without it your powers are gone, and you don't have CADMUS to fix it anymore."

Dwarf Star looks at his belt as the power light goes out.

He says, "No!" He shakes the belt and yells, "NO!" He shakes it again and yells, "NOOOOO!"

Rundine fixes a gaze of hatred upon The Atom and says, "You little *****! That was your last mistake!"

He quickly flicks a switch and the stasis field is back in place. Atom is held in place and Rundine then grabs a bone-saw.

Cutting it on he says, "Trust me this is gonna hurt you more than it does me. Goodbye Atom!"

He raises the saw on the frozen Atom just then the doors burst open.

Silbert is stunned and all he can say is, "Who are you?"

A gold helmeted figure dressed in a gold & blue costume says, "You will now pay for your crimes Silbert Rundine so swears Dr. Fate!"