The Ultimate DC RPG - Season III

[MST3K 4ever]

The Atom and Dr. Fate rests on top of the Daily Planet Globe.

Fate says, "Well stopping two attempted robberies and a bus from going off of the bridge not a bad day's work so far."

Atom says, "But..."

Fate says, "I'm actually looking forward to crossing swords as it were with some of these Super Villains."

Atom replies, "Don't worry that'll happen soon enough and when you least expect it. Remember it's the little battles we win that enable us to hold the line for one more day. Not everything is centered around the Legion of Doom."

Fate asks, "Does it concern you that at any moment one of them could pop out of nowhere?"

Atom replies, "Not really what concerns me the most is the lengths they will go through, and that innocent people can be caught in the crossfire. I know that there were threats in the world before they came along, but they're primary goal is the eradication of the Justice League and the subjugation of the planet."

Fate says, "They're criminals just like the common thief. Sure they have better weaponry and a lot more in terms of dramatics, but in the end they will fall just like the others."


Atom says, "Nice to see you already have the positive outlook down."


She floats up and says, "Things are pretty quiet right now. Let's head back to your place change and we'll head to the health club for a workout."

Fate makes an orb and The Atom steps in and they depart.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

A few moments have passed since Oswald has been pummeling on the hitman who tried to take Patrick and his family out.

Sullivan knocks on the door and enters escorting a gentleman dressed in an Armani suit carrying what could easily be mistaken as a medical bag.

Oswald removes his gloves and shakes hands with the gentleman and says, "Mr. Anderson thank you for coming here on such short notice. We have a rather difficult one for you."

Anderson chuckles as he peers at the man in the chair and says, "He'll fold they all do."

Oswald says, "I certainly love the attitude. Mitchell!"

Mitchell enters the room and Oswald says, "You and Simpson get him on the table and strap him down."

Mitchell nods and he and Simpson get to work.

Just then a young lady in a black pantsuit walks in the room and says, "Excuse me Mr. Cobblepot here is the information I was able to gather on our guest."

She hands him a file and he says, "Thank you Pamela."

He takes the file as she leaves the room and skims through it.

Handing it to Anderson he says, "Former Black-water operative went into business for himself wanted in connection with several high-profile hits. Not a bad record actually."

Oswald walks over to his guest and says, "Well Mr. Dixon" Dixon looks briefly at Oswald at the mention of his name and Oswald smiles and says, "I have my sources throughout the world, but that's not important right now. Getting back to our current situation. Mr. Dixon you have been hired to do great harm not only to my friend but his family as well."

Oswald shakes his head and says, "Bad form sir bad form indeed. Anyway the original deal is still in place. Tell me who hired you and I'll make it quick otherwise Mr. Anderson will begin earning a large check from me."

Anderson pulls out several needles and begins adjusting them.

Dixon says, "I'm still not talking."

Oswald says, "Oh Mr. Dixon you see Mr. Anderson isn't just any interrogator. No no sir he was dismissed from the CIA for being rather extreme in his methods, but he does have an outstanding letter of reference from Vice President Cheney."

He looks over to Anderson and asks, "Are you ready Mr. Anderson?"

Anderson finishes his needle adjustments and nods.

Oswald says, "One last chance Dixon. Give me the name."

Dixon shakes his head and Oswald says, "Very well. Mr. Anderson proceed."

Oswald steps away over to Patrick and says, "Mr. Anderson is a true artist when it comes to interrogation. Those needles will be inserted in the rib area. He will then pull on them forming them into a hook and begin scrapping under the ribs little by little. Most I've ever seen a man endure was five before he cracked. Dixon I am wagering he will go 4."

Patrick shows no expression as he says, "I got him at 7."

Oswald looks at Patrick and nods saying, "Fair enough."

 

[Spike_x1]

...

He knows my name.

"How do you--?"

Before I can even finish my sentence, this monster is a blur rushing towards me and hitting like a freight train. He was so fast that I barely even saw him move, like my own senses refused to shift into superspeed. That realization only occurs to me after I'm blasted through a couple walls of STAR Labs and find myself covered in chunks of concrete. This building would have to be made from more structurally secure materials than nice soft drywall, wouldn't it?

"uUGhn..." As I start digging myself out of the concrete rubble, I hear the thing that hit me laughing over his approaching footsteps. What did he do to me? I-- somehow he took my energy and rebuilt himself, leaving me practically powerless. I can barely--"RGH!"

Saving me the trouble of having to dig myself out any more, the towering monstrosity casually reaches into the pile of rubble and grabs me by the neck to lift me into the air. Mustering up some small amount of power purely through adrenaline, I manage to spray a blast of heat into the villain's face at close range. He only laughs harder. It's only after I've exhausted myself from the effort that I realize that he's not limited to merely absorbing life energy, but is also able to feed off of the heat of my gaze.

Having his hand wrapped around my throat again isn't helping either. The point of contact between us is like a burning coldness. I can't even work up the effort to struggle against him any longer. I'd always assumed that if I died at the hands of a supervillain, I'd be able to put up a better fight than this.

"You can say that again."

Is... is he still reading my mind?

"Kind of. I guess. This is as new to me as it is to you, Kent, but yeah. When I've got you like this, it seems like everything that's yours is mine, including your thoughts." He brings me close and I can feel a sense of death on him. "Ever wanted to know what a shot of heat vision feels like?" Just when I think I'm about to pass out, a blast of fire shocks me back to consciousness and I go reeling through the air and back into the rubble behind me. He didn't just take my energy to grow stronger. He actually stole my powers! Then, lying here and unable to fight back, just as I'm expecting the killing blow...

Nothing happens.

Struggling to even summon the strength to lift my head and look after a few moments, I see the behemoth actually walking away from me. "I got what I wanted from you, Superman. Nothing to be gained from finishing you off." He stops when he spots Hellgrammite still frozen in place. "This jerk, on the other hand..."

"No!"

My voice comes out in strained whisper as I watch the parasite approach Hellgrammite and break through the insect man's icy confinement. Holding Hellgrammite's entire head within a single one of his large purple clawed hands, the energy is drained from him so thoroughly that all that remains of Hellgrammite after a few moments is a smoldering pile of bones.

"Hated that guy and I only just met him." It surely doesn't take superhearing to catch the sound of my wheezing breaths of desperation as the monster turns back to look at me and smirks. "Don't worry, Supes. I'll take good care of Metropolis for ya. And I'll be sure to tell Lois all about the new Man of Steel in town."

Before I can react, as if I could do anything at all to stop him, he's blasted off and taken to the Metropolis skies.

It's an effort to even take a breath now and it feels as if my body weighs a thousand pounds. Grunting in desperation, I push myself off of the floor and plant one foot firmly down, then the other. I feel like a stiff breeze could send me right back down onto my face, so I lean heavily against the closest wall and try to catch my breath.

"Can't... can't let him..."

God only knows the kind of damage that monster could unleash with my powers at his fingertips. And judging by the fact that anything I hit him with only made him stronger, I shudder to think about how badly a fight with law enforcement would go. Can I risk calling in the League? I nearly killed them when we fought, and I doubt that the creature would hold back like I did. And what if the Parasite absorbed their powers as well? I need to think before making my next move. I need to--

"Clark?"

I suddenly spin around with a burst of energy that I didn't know I still had to spend, only to see Jim Olsen entering the wrecked laboratory with me. His camera at his side, I can only imagine the shocked expression that he sees on my face. "Are you okay? You look like hell."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Grood and Moore watch as the gorillas approach the Civic Center.

Grodd says to Moore, "Now let's see what they can do."

Grodd says into a microphone, "All-right my brothers begin your rampage, but no harm to the humans! DESTROY IN THE NAME OF GRODD!"

The two gorillas fly into a rage and smash the doors to the Civic Center. They quickly begin making primal noises and destroying chairs and rails and concession stands.

Grood and Dr. Moore drink deeply the rampage just then the police on sight begin firing.

Grodd says, "Disarm them! You may cause damage to them but do not kill!"

The two gorillas begin to driect their wrath at the police.

After a few moments Grodd says, "Well-done my brothers! Return home!"

The goriilas leave quickly and begin to make their back to Grodd's hideout.

Grodd smiles at Dr. Moore who in turn smiles and says, "Well done for a first time!"

Grodd says, "Oh yes I agree, but there is always room for improvement. But a promising first step."

Dr. Moore asks, "Why didn't you want any of the humans killed?"

Grodd replies, "Dr. Moore I'd prefer to have able body slaves for when we take our procedure to all of Central City!"

He begins laughing and the laugh turns into a primal roar, and Dr. Moore is most pleased.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

As with all relationships there are ups and downs. Rhiannon and Kent are no different after 3 weeks of the "honeymoon phase" of their relationship they have spent the last 3 weeks not talking with one another at all. Rhiannon agreed to meet Kent to talk in Centennial Park. After talking for almost two hours they reconcile their differences and are holding hands as they walk around the park.

Kent says, "I need to ask you a favor."

Rhiannon looks at him and replies, "I just admited that the last big fight we had was largely my fault and you're asking for a favor? You got body parts the size of an elephant to be pulling this one Kent."

She chuckles and says, "What's up?"

Kent replies, "As you know Dr. Fate has travelled to many worlds and dimensions over the years of his existence. Two of those worlds have been at war for several generations. Now it appears that a peace accord can be reached but there is still a lot of mistrust on both sides, but they can have this done in the next 3 days if it all breaks just right and they need Dr. Fate to be the impartial party to mediate."

Kent looks at Rhiannon and says, "I need someone who can be my eyes and ears in times when I cannot be around."

Rhiannon says, "And you also need The Atom to do some sneaking around to make sure things work out."

Kent says, "Yeah and to monitor the room for security reasons, because there are lot of other planets who stand to lose a lot if the war between these two planets end."

Rhiannon says, "How can a girl say no to the chance to get away from it all like that? Luckily Spring Break is this week so we can just say we're getting out of town for a while."

Kent replies, "That's what I thought. We need to meet at the Sanctum at 8pm tonight and we'll leave from there."

Rhiannon nods and says, "Okay I'll tell my mom to take care of Jarvis for the next few days."

Kent says, "Great! Thank you Rhiannon."

She says, "You're welcome."

They stop and Kent asks,"Did you drive here?"

Rhiannon shakes her head and says, "I decided it was a nice day for a walk."

Kent says, "At the risk of being too forward considering we just got back together; do you wanna go back to my place?"

Rhiannon pauses for a moment and then says, "Like I said body parts the size of an elephant. Absolutely. I'll call my mom from there and tell her we decided to take a spur of the moment trip."

The two then continue on their walk and leave the park.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dixon has had five needles stuck into his body. Each one more painful than the other and though he has screamed in agony he is still remaining steadfast in his refusal to give Oswald the name of his employer.

Patrick and Oswald standing off to the side are sharing a cup of coffee as though they were watching a sporting event.

Patrick says, "Well looks I might win the bet on how many needles it would take."

Oswald says, "Remember I never said what the stakes were I just gave a guess as to the number."

Patrick shakes his head and Oswald says, "If you win I'll put something extra in your paycheck."

Anderson drives in the sixth needle and Dixon finally yells, "Stromwell! It's Arnold Stromwell!"

Oswald walks over and motions for Anderson to stop.

As Anderson steps away Oswald says, "So Arnold Stromwell one of the last old guard in Gotham is seeking to betray me, is also giving the Mayor information, and paid you to kill my friend and his family? That is how I am reading you giving me this name . Correct?"

Dixon says trying not to wince in pain, "That's right Arnold Stromwell!"

Oswald looks at Patrick and asks, "Are you satisfied?"

Patrick nods resolutely as he says, "Yes sir I am!"

Patrick approaches Dixon but Oswald motions for Simpson and Mitchell to step in between.

Oswald says, "Sorry Patirck, but..." he shakes his head and says, "It's not Stromwell."

Patrick says, "But sir he just said it was and he went further on the needle interogation than anyone else."

Oswald says, "I know but we are supposed to believe that it's Stromwell. I however know somethings that others are not prvy to."

Oswald turns two needles at the same time and Dixon screams as though his ribs were being pulled out of his body.

Oswald motions for the two bodyguards to step away and says, "What is said at this time stays in here. Anyone talks I will personally kill them regardless of who you are."

Oswald walks away from Dixon and takes a sip of his coffee. He walks back over and says, "Arnold Stromwell is part of the old guard where there was honor among the gangs. It goes against his character and I've known him before any of you were ever hired by me. I trust him with my life, and also..."

Oswald pauses for a moment and gathers himself and says, "Also he's dying he has maybe another 6 months due to spinal cancer."

Everyone is stunned silent and Oswald continues, "He is merely managing the pain because he refuses to go through Chemo. He has been asking me to look after his businesses from time to time a lot more lately as the cancer has spread. Also he realizes that his nephew is not an effective leader and he would rather see his empire be given to others he trusts rather than see his nephew take over and sqaunder it away through two-bit petty collection rackets and so forth."

Oswald then lights a cigar and takes a drag.

He then says, "So why would a man who is a dear friend of mine, dying, and asking me to make sure his empire is divided up suddenly trying to betray me?"

Patrick replies, "A ruse maybe? No offense but maybe your friendship is swaying your judgment?"

Oswald shakes head and says, "No offense taken my dear friend in some cases I might agree with you, but also Mr. Dixon has some very interesting signals that he is lying."

Oswald takes a drag and says, "For example for someone who is supposed to be a former Blackwater operative making it to only 6 needles. No no you all are far better trained than that. You can take up 20 needles probably; you're trained to ignore pain. Also when you shouted the name you looked to the side. If you're telling the truth and trying to remember something like a name one would look up. It's psychological fact."

Oswald takes another drag and says, "And the last one you're still tense and nervous you're wondering if we believe you. Now would an innocent man wonder if he is believable?"

Patrick nods and says, "You're right sir. I'm sorry I questioned your judgment."

Oswald waves his hand and puts his arm around Patrick and says, "No apology needed my friend. I understand you want answers and you want justice for your family. I can respect that I hold no grudges towards you."

Oswald looks to Anderson and says, "I've grown tired of this. Get the needles out and prepare the cocktail."

Anderson says, "Sir?"

Oswald says, "You heard me get to it now!"

Dixon snickers as the needles are being pulled out and asks, "What's that Sodium Penathol? I drink that for breakfast!"

Oswald approaches and says, "I'm sure you can. No no it's far too crude and unreliable at times. No we are a bit more advanced. It's curare with a psychedelic compound."

Dixon looks a bit concerned and Oswald says, "You see you will end up talking because you won't have any control thanks to the compound, but within two hours your body will begin to break down and you will suffer permanent brain damage."

Dixon is now very concerned and Oswald says, "Think about it. Not knowing what is going on, no idea who you are or what you are doing, and just wandering around aimlessly with no hope of ever being the lean mean fighting machine you once were. Not to mention a complete loss of all bodily functions. Pity for someone who prides himself on complete control."

Anderson approaches with the needle and says, "It's ready sir."

Oswald says, "Last chance Dixon."

Dixon is locked in on the needle and Oswald says, "Very well then. Anderson take care of him. Say goodbye Mr. Dixon to cognitive reason and thought."

Anderson holds up the needle and just before it breaks the skin Dixon yells, "It's The Baron! BARON WACLAW JOZEK! I SWEAR IT! I SWEAR! BARON WACLAW JOZEK!"

Everyone looks at him and then to Oswald.

Oswald takes a long drag and asks, "Now was that so hard Mr. Dixon?"

He looks at Patrick and says, "He's telling the truth now. The threat of his loss of control was just too much for him to bear with."

Dixon asks, "So now what?"

Oswald replies, "You'll see."

 

[Andy C.]

The streets of Cape Town, South Africa, had become the picture of absolute bedlam. People ran, screaming and shoving and crying, in any and all directions, anywhere to get away from where they were. Sirens blared and car horns blew, trying in vain to part the mass of panicked humanity. Even so, the cacophany was drowned out by the deafening roar of a crumbling building as an enormous red-haired woman plowed through it.

Giganta did not particularly relish attacking civilian targets--it was, at best, unsporting-- but she had sworn her allegiance to Vandal Savage, and she had her instructions: the city must be laid to waste, in order to show the world the cost of denying the Legion of Doom.

The gigantic woman shifted her size again, increasing her mass to the point where she could topple one of the larger buildings down into a collection of smaller houses across the street, and then slammed into it with all of her colossal might. The ground shook with the thunderous impact, sending concrete and twisted steel spilling downward into the crowded streets.

Inwardly, she hoped that Savage was not enjoying his own task on the other side of the world.



Beijing


"Comrades and fellow children of Mother China," began Premier Li Xiang from his podium as he addressed the sea of faces below, "For the last few years, we have seen foreign governments take control of a new power in the world, individuals with extraordinary abilities far beyond those of mortal men. We have watched the Americans, with their Superman and their Justice League, begin to muscle other nations once again, into conforming to their own ideal of truth and justice."

Behind the Premier was a large red curtain, embroidered with elaborate golden dragons. Behind the curtain were dragons of a different kind.

"In just a few short years, China will overtake America as the world's leading economy," he said. "Our rightful place as world leaders will not be denied by the Americans and their men in capes. For now, China has heroes of its own!"

The curtain dropped, revealing ten extraordinary-looking men and women. The crowd gasped and cheered at the sight of such awesome figures.

"Leading the team, formerly a hero of the Red Army. now our invincible champion, August General In Iron!"

Spoiler

"From this very city, a living Bodhisattva and embodiment of Buddhist mystic power, Thundermind!"

Spoiler

"A righteous avenger and slayer of evil men, Ghost Fox Killer!"

Spoiler

"Pilot of the great and powerful Dragonwing, the most advanced aircraft ever built, the Immortal Man-In-Darkness!"

Spoiler

"Wielder of the legendary Bow of Yi, Celestial Archer!"

Spoiler

"Proud patriot and product of the Great Cultural Revolution, Socialist Red Guardsman!"

Spoiler

"Able to give birth to super-soldiers of incredible power, Mother of Champions!"

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"A gift from the age of the First Emperor himself, now upgraded to overcome the powers of the modern age, Shaolin Robot!"

Spoiler

"Able to wield powerful magic with only the sound of his voice, Accomplished Perfect Physician!"

Spoiler

"And a man who is many men at once, each a grand master of each school of kung fu, the Seven Deadly Brothers!"

Spoiler

"I give you, the Great Ten! We will show the Americans and their Justice League that--"

*KA-BOOOOOOOOM!*

The podium on which the Premier stood suddenly erupted in a blossoming orange ball of fire. Debris sprayed out into the panic-stricken crowd, and the Great Ten scattered, quickly trying to assume action stations in order to deal with the unexpected crisis.

When the smoke cleared, in the spot where the now immolated Premier stood, were seven figures, the very same that had terrorized the United Nations and brought down the Aswan Dam.

"Very chatty fellow, wasn't he?" remarked Vandal Savage, looking down at the charred remains of the Chinese leader, before turning to the horrified crowd and the team of superheroes. "Interesting fact: after the first time I came to China, they built the Great Wall to keep me from coming back."

A smirk crawled across his face, thinking fondly on old memories. Meanwhile, his henchmen spread out, daring the heroes to make the first move.

"Great Ten," Savage called out to them. "We are the Legion of Doom. And we are here to kill you..."

 

[Batman]

I tried to shift my focus away from the pain in my throat as I gunned the bike's throttle and tore down the street towards the pub. The two bikers were getting off their hogs when they looked up and saw me racing towards them. They calmly aimed their pistols and started taking potshots at me. I swerved wildly on the bike as I charged towards me.

POW!

A bullet pierced the bike's back tire and sent it skidding through the street. I was about ten feet away from the pup when I screamed out and hit the brakes. The abrupt stop sent me into the air. I sailed over the pavement and landed on the two bikers hard, knocking both of them to the ground.

"Oww," I moaned as I laid on top of the two unconscious men. As bad as I felt, at least they had broken my fall. I stood up on wobbly legs and dusted my shoulders off as I adjusted my hat. "Score one for Mister Charlie No-Face."

"Pick up the pace, Red! This is embarrassing!"

I don't know whether he laughs or growls in response to that, but whatever I said must have triggered something. Because by the time I make the next leap over the oncoming block, I'm taken off guard by the figure that somersaults infront of me and resumes an effortless run. Part of me wants to smile, offering him a friendly "well played", but most of me just wants to kick him upside the face for showing off. Whoever trained him did a good job - the guy's a top class athelete and an even better fighter. So just who is he under that dome? Bet he's another rich guy. That seems to be the trend among Gotham's narrow do-gooders in masks niche.

Doesn't matter. You know what they say about cats and curiosity, Selina. Best to just stick to the mission at hand.

"Y'know, for reference. That sorry drunk did give you a location, right?"

Red Hood points to the obnoxiously-lit sign that reads O'Malley's in the close distance. I remember that bar. Gordon and his goons routinely coaxed me into joining them for a round of shots after every good raid. Makes me want to gag even thinking about the strong scent of cheap whiskey and burnt-out cigarettes that would stain itself into my uniform for days on end.

Though, they made a mean White Russian. I'll give them that.

"Up ahead. That should be the place."

Bratgirl swings in beside us. Not a bad gymnast, I've noticed, but she's got a long ways to go in terms of building a skillset beyond that. She was making mistakes back there that'd cost her alot more than a couple of bruises.

"A bar? Really? Ugh, I didn't want my first drinking experience to be this."

"You can keep dreaming. We're not going inside."

"You just love to ruin everything, don't you?"

Tossing the whip out in order to gain momentum, I vault over the next chasm of buildings and land on the edge of the rooftop in a crouched position. Red Hood and Batgirl both follow suite, instantly noticing what I've just locked onto from below. Question's already made it here and he hasn't killed himself yet, thank the lord. But given the number of individuals that pile out of the bar at once, looking like they're undoubtedly protecting someone inside, we soon realize that there's still time for him to be rendered otherwise.

Again tonight, I have nothing to go on but instinct. And my instinct tells me that I am not the one to take charge in this situation. Taking a glance over, my eyes firmly catch Hood's attention.

"Tell me that those holsters on your belt aren't just for sport."

"Wish I could. But certain outside influences convinced me to give up the arms race."

He shoots Batgirl a look and she rolls her eyes. "Forgive me for wanting us to be a little less lethal."

"Right, so we're down on firearms. What else have you got?"

"A few flash grenades, a bowie knife, and hell of alotta luck."

I stare back, stunned.

"You're kidding. That's it?"

"I never claimed to be Bond. Besides, it isn't the weapon. It's how you use it."

I slap myself on the forehead. "Thanks for that riveting bit of insight, Ghandi..."

"Uh, guys..."

Batgirl indicates the drawn weapons as they all level in Question's general direction.

Dammit.

"Batgirl, line up the rear! Blind them with a smokescreen! Catwoman, you're with me! We're taking them on!"

"Hey, I don't follow orders!"

My sentence is cut off as Red Hood leaps down directly into the fray, with Batgirl following to exact his orders. Since when did he become the grand marshall around here?

I sigh to myself and decide, begrudgingly, to follow anyway. Whatever. It's better than anything I've got at the moment.

After this is over, though, I'm drawing a nice hot bath and forgetting this night ever happened.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

In the Sanctum of Doctor Fate: Kent and Rhiannon are preparing to leave for another planet so that Doctor Fate can help oversee negotiations which could bring peace to two warring planets.

Rhiannon asks, "So how do we get to this other planet?"

Kent chuckles and says, "We beam over in essence."

Rhiannon says, "Oh really. This I gotta see."

Kent grabs his Doctor Fate helmet and puts it on.

Fate says, "Follow me. It is only as Doctor Fate I can enter into this part of the sanctum. Take my hand."

Rhiannon takes his hand and they walk over to a wall. Fate waves his hand back and forth twice and the wall dissolves away and a winding staircase appears.

They two begin walking up the stairs and suddenly the room becomes a giant planetarium.

Rhiannon says, "Whoa! Great use of space. You get a lot out of your square footage."

Fate chuckles a bit and says, "This is how I am able to travel to other thousands of other planets and dimensions."

He looks upward and says, "We are heading towards the planet called Membara. Over there in the left corner and flashing."

Fate looks at Rhiannon and slips a ring on her middle finger of her right hand. He says, "This will enable us to be in contact telepathically."

Rhiannon studies the ring and says, "Not a bad looking ring either."

Fate says, "I''ll be sure to tell my jeweler. Now it's time for you to change into more appropriate travel attire."

Rhiannon says, "Right. Can I have one thing before we go since it'll be a while before I really see you again."

Fate stares at her for a moment and then removes his helmet. Kent and Rhiannon share a long kiss.

Rhiannon asks as they separate , "Oh by the way how are we getting home?"

Kent says, "Leave that one to me. I'll get us there and I'll get us home."

Kent puts his helmet back on and Fate says, "Shall we?"

Rhiannon steps back and transforms into The Atom. She floats up and Fate opens a pouch in his belt.

She lands in the pouch and Fate says, "I need you to shrink down to about two inches."

Atom shrinks down further and Fate says, "Perfect."

He closes the pouch over her and takes flight to the planet he pointed to.

Even inside Fate's hands Atom can tell they just past through a portal.

Fate tells her telepathically <We're here. I will let you out when things get started. At your size right now they could still see you and I want to make sure you are close by. I'll let you out soon. I don't want to be here any longer than we need to be>

Atom replies <Great a trip to another planet and I'm stuck inside a pouch. Now I know how a baby kangaroo feels.>

 

[MST3K 4ever]

It's Dawn as 3 Limos pull over to the side of the road near the heart of the wastelands between Gotham and Metropolis. Nothing but worthless desert as far as the eye can see.

Oswald opens the sun roof on his limo and gets out of the lead limo with Patrick. Out of the second limo Mr. Anderson and Simpson emerge and out of the last one Crawford and Mitchell.

Oswald says to Crawford, "Get him out."

Crawford opens the trunk and pulls the tied-up and battered Dixon out and drops him to the ground in front of the group.

Oswald pulls out a 44 Auto-Mag and chambers a round. He hands the gun to Patrick and says, "All-right Patrick you wanted justice for your family here is the opportunity to seize it."

Patrick looks at the gun as though he were looking at a new life-form studying it and at the same time very frightened.

Oswald says, "Go ahead this is what you wanted."

Patrick raises the gun to Dixon's head. He is shaking badly and finally Oswald raises his cane and pushes gently down on the gun.

Patrick looks at him and says, "Sir I...I..."

Oswald gives him a knowing smile and says, "Don't worry I had a feeling about this. It's never an easy thing to take another's life. You either have it or you don't. I don't think any less of you my friend."


Oswald takes the gun and puts it away. Dixon says in a ragged voice, "So now what?"

Oswald looks at him and says, "Now we finish this game off. You are here in what is called the Wastelands the unofficial halfway point between Gotham and Metropolis. Nothing but barren desert for as far as the eye can see lots of terrible things can happen out here."

Oswald walks behind Dixon and hits him on the back of his head with his cane.

He cuts his ropes. Dixon collapses to the ground.

Oswald says, "Car accidents and people wander for weeks never to be seen or heard from again."

Dixon struggles to his feet and begins to take a step towards Oswald just as the 3 enforcers step between them.

Oswald says, "I'll give you fighting chance."

He tosses Dixon a canteen and says, "Start walking East. If you are careful with your water in 36 hours you just might live long enough to hit civilization."

Dixon says, "The one thing that will keep me going is I will take great pleasure in being the one who puts a bullet in your skull Penguin. Count on it!"

Oswald puts on his dark glasses and says, "Yawn. I expected something more creative than that from a man of your talents Mr. Dixon. Terribly disappointed in you sir."

Oswald waves his hand in a dismissive fashion and Dixon begins to walk away.

They all watch Dixon walk about two hundred yards and Oswald says, "Oh silly me I forgot another way people die here is the wildlife."

Oswald makes a high-pitched whistle and from the open sunroof Titan flies out of the limo and makes a straight line attack for Dixon.

Titan knocks him down and begins picking at him. Dixon struggles and puts up a decent fight but eventually Titan overpowers him and in a matter of moments begins gnawing on the carcass of Dixon.

After about 10 minutes Oswald makes another high-pitched whistle and claps his hands together twice. Without hesitation Titan flies back into the limo.

He looks at his enforcers and says, "Take care of the remains and then go home."

Oswald touches each on the shoulder and says, "Been a long night gentlemen take the day off."

He turns to go and says, "Oh be sure to get the canteen back."

 

[Spike_x1]

"What kind of man are you?"

The voice scolds from the darkness and I feel a chill run down my spine as I shrink back and try to hide, but there's no cover to be found.

"All that time and effort wasted! A conqueror! A vanquisher of any who stand in his way! The Bane of all who live! These are the titles you've given yourself? You've done nothing to earn any of them."

Tears flow down my face as the voice's words sink in. Not because of their harshness, but because they're all true. Wayne is still alive, I rule a city that I despise, and my birthright has been robbed from me, yet I remain apathetic towards it all. Unwilling to rise to the occasion and do something to find a new path for myself.

The voice is correct.

"Idiot."

Spoiler

"How could a son of mine ever amount to such a failure?"

Finally seeing the face of my mother, a woman who died before I can remember, fills me with contempt. It's the face that has stared at me knowingly from my own reflection every day, and with the same anger I have for myself.

"You believe that the blood of kings flows through your veins. And why is that? Because the Demon's Head told you so? You childish fool." My mother reaches forward and caresses my face lovingly. "If nothing else, you now know that Ra's Al Ghul is a manipulative liar."

"****e!" I finally find my voice. "The Demon took me in when it was merely me against the world! I owe him--"

"You owe that snake nothing, my son. Do you honestly believe that he freed you from Peña Duro and took you under his wing for years out of the goodness of his own heart? He had his motives, and whatever they were, you know that they were far from charitable."

Rage rushes through my soul all at once. "If you know something, tell me!"

"Did you never question who your father was?"

That's when I wake up in a cold sweat and gasping for air. It takes a moment before I regain control of my senses and remember where I am. My penthouse, far from the chaos in the Gotham streets below. Like an impotent coward.

"Bane, you all right?" a bodyguard yells as he bursts through my door before seeing me sitting up on the floor of my room. "Oh, geez, I'm sorry. Thought I heard a fight or something in here, what with the yelling."

"Your concern is noted," I reply coldly.

"W-were you sleeping on the floor?"

Leave before I shatter your skull. "It reminds me of home." A brief moment of silence passes as I grab my mask from the nearby nightstand before I say "Go, and tell the others to get ready. Explosives. Rifles. And I want to see the architectural blueprints for Wonder Tower." A look of confusion passes over his face. "Gotham is being reclaimed from the animals who prowl her streets. My streets."

 

[Andy C.]

"Wait, what?" I blurt out, caught completely off-guard as I pace back and forth in the inside of the old Gotham Clock Tower.

"I said I'm going; is that so hard to understand?" Raven says, a tinge of annoyance in her voice at having to repeat herself.

"I am inclined to agree with Raven," Starfire concurs. "We could gain several new friends and allies in this, and I believe the education could be invaluable."

Earlier today, Starfire was approached by a mysterious girl named Jinx, who told her about a program for people like us, teenagers with extraordinary abilities. It's a compound called the HIVE, a sort of training academy where metahumans can learn how to best use their powers, how to function as a team. Most of all, they take people with nowhere else to go, and give them purpose.

I'm skeptical, at best. I figure this is some kind of recruitment program, sponsored by God knows whom. And I would have thought Raven's natural cynicism would back me up, a counter to Starfire's naive enthusiasm for what might be a trap or worse.

Imagine my surprise, then, when Raven volunteered almost immediately.

"Robin, if this place is even half of what they're saying it is," she says, "Then I can't exactly afford to turn it down. I mean, I still don't really know what I'm doing with my powers; you saw for yourself. If there's any chance that they can help me control what I can do...."

"But what about--"

"And then there's Brother Blood," she interrupts. "He knows who I am, where I live. He might not know where this HIVE place is, so he couldn't find me there. And if he did, there would be more people who could help fight him off."

"Well what if it's not what Jinx says it is?" I ask. "What if this whole thing turns out to be some kind of metahuman militia group, or a government laboratory, or something like that? What if we go, and we end up walking right into a trap?"

Raven thinks about it for a moment.

"If it's a trap," she answers, "....then there's a good chance that there are other people caught in it. And we could find a way to help them escape."

I raise my eyebrow skeptically at her.

"What? Just because I don't like most people doesn't mean I want to see them get hurt," she says defensively.

"I see no reason to assume deception," Starfire adds. "I propose, at the very least, we give them a chance."

I furrow my brow, not sure what to think. I have to think that just taking a stranger's word on something like this is an extremely bad idea, that this HIVE place, wherever it even is, could be trouble. Starfire is apparently too trusting for her own good, and Rachel......I don't know what's gotten into her. She practically jumped at this, not out of excitement, but.....desperation, maybe?

On the other hand, it was my own cynicism and lack of trust that caused me to go off the deep end when I was hunting Batman. I refused to believe that Batman was on my side, that he was innocent of my father's murder, and I nearly killed him because of it. Maybe I'm the one with issues here.....

"I still don't like it," I say, but without any real conviction. "And there's still so much here in Gotham that I have to do. I can't just leave."

"Well, we don't all have to go," Raven says sadly. "But I'm going. I don't.......I don't really have anywhere else to go."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, before she turns away, as if realizing she's said too much. I put a hand on her shoulder and soften my voice. "Rachel.....whatever's going on.....you can--"

"Dick.....I'm going," she says with finality.

"I, too, am going," Starfire says.

I take a deep breath, and make up my mind.

"Well, if you two are going, then I'm going too," I say. "But whatever happens, we stay together. We watch out for each other, for better or for worse."

"Of course!" Star says cheerily.

"....yeah," Raven mutters.

"How long do we have before they want an answer?" I ask Starfire.

"Jinx said we would have twenty-four hours, approximately seven hours ago," she says, "which would leave us with seventeen hours."

I nod.

"I've got work to do in the meantime, then," I say. "I'll have to pack my gear, make plans......come up with a story for where I'm going......if either of you have to do the same, then we should get started."

The two girls nod in agreement, and I climb out the stained-glass window of the Clock Tower, firing a grappling line to a building across the street and zipping out into the night sky.

I see Starfire fly off into the distance as well, and Raven floats into the air before calling after me.

"Robin!" she calls out, and I stop in my tracks before she flies down to me.

"Dick," she says once she's close enough to drop the in-costume pretense and be herself. "Look, I.....I know that this is probably a bad idea. And you really don't have to go if you don't think you should. It's just......I need somewhere to go."

"What do you mean? Rachel, you can tell me what's going on that's got you so worked up. Maybe I can help."

She looks away, and says, "I doubt it. I just need to.....to get away from here. And I don't really care where I end up, good or bad. Right now, I don't care what happens to me, period. I don't think anyone really does."

I take her hand, and look her in the eyes.

"Well, I mean.....I care," I say. "You're my friend, and no matter what happens, we're in this together. Okay?"

She looks into my eyes for a long while, before nodding.

"Okay," she says. "And Dick?"

Rachel cups her hand against my cheek, leans in, and presses her lips lightly onto the corner of my mouth. It's......odd.....not a full-on kiss on the mouth, but hardly just a friendly peck on the cheek. Like virtually everything else about her, I don't really know what to make of it.

"Thanks," she says, before letting go of my hand and flying away into the night.

"........any time," I say, not really even registering the fact that she's already gone.

I have to clear my head, figure out what exactly it is that I'm supposed to do now. Now, more than ever, I wish Mister Wayne was okay.

Batman would know what to do in a situation like this.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dr. Fate enters a cave carrying a torch.

He sets his torch in a holder and tells Atom <Be ready and sheild your eyes. At your current size the light might be too much for you.>

Atom responds <It's about time! Okay go ahead.>

Fate opens the compatment on his belt and scoops Atom out. He places her on a stone table and says, "Okay open your eyes slowly we are alone for the moment."

Atom opens her eyes and grows to 6 inches.

She looks around at her surroundings and says, "Great. Did we travel to another planet or back in time?"

Fate says, "We are on a neutral planet called Caltork. It has no real discerneble value or technology. All we can do is negotiate."

Atom walks about 6 inches across the table and is winded.

She says, "The gravity here is going to take some getting used to. I guess I should spend most of it floating."

She shifts her weight and begins to rocket towards the stone ceiling of the cave.

Fate grabs her and says, "Shift your weight partially."

Atom does so and begins to float at a more comfortable height.

She says, "This is going to take a lot of work on my part. Please can we make these negotiations go as quick as possible? I'm gonna be wiped out in a couple of days. Especially at only an inch or two in height. I won't really be able to see who people are clearly. I'll be more like a glorified bugging device."

Fate says, "Understood we will get started in the morning, and hopefully be done in a matter of hours. I'm here just to make sure the two sides play fair long enough for the framework to be in place."

He pulls out a couple of rolls, and then waves his hand as a thimble of water appears.

Atom says, "You really know how to spoil a girl."

She floats down and Fate says, "Best I can do for now."

Atom says, "I know and sorry about my sarcasm. Being cramped up in there and the gravity thing are making me grouchy."

Fate says, "I understand we will be out of here as soon as possible."

Atom eats her meal and says, "If you'll excuse me I'm going to go stare at the two sun settings and yearn to join the rebellion."

Fate chuckles and says, "I have some paperwork to go over to prepare for tomorrow's session. I have an idea for you. The Batorks are in a cave about 50 yards to our left, and The Viltorns are about 50 yards to our right. Why don't you go check on them so you can familiarize yourself with them. "

Atom floats out and stares out at a vast barren desert.

Well on the bright side at least I gotta boyfriend who likes to include me in his work. I guess it could be worse.

Atom floats to the Batorks cave, and hovers behind a statue on a crude shelf.

The look like if Chewie and an Ardvark mated. They need to take a bath that is for sure. I think I'll go see if the Viltorns are any better.

Just as she bgins to float away the whole world goes completely black, and The Atom hears them screaming in delight and wonder and shaking the bag. holding The Atom.

Atom tells Fate <Kent! I'm in trouble! The Batorks caught me! I need your help quick!>

 

[Spike_x1]

"What kind of man are you?"

The voice scolds from the darkness and I feel a chill run down my spine as I shrink back and try to hide, but there's no cover to be found.

"All that time and effort wasted! A conqueror! A vanquisher of any who stand in his way! The Bane of all who live! These are the titles you've given yourself? You've done nothing to earn any of them."

Tears flow down my face as the voice's words sink in. Not because of their harshness, but because they're all true. Wayne is still alive, I rule a city that I despise, and my birthright has been robbed from me, yet I remain apathetic towards it all. Unwilling to rise to the occasion and do something to find a new path for myself.

The voice is correct.

"Idiot."

Spoiler

"How could a son of mine ever amount to such a failure?"

Finally seeing the face of my mother, a woman who died before I can remember, fills me with contempt. It's the face that has stared at me knowingly from my own reflection every day, and with the same anger I have for myself.

"You believe that the blood of kings flows through your veins. And why is that? Because the Demon's Head told you so? You childish fool." My mother reaches forward and caresses my face lovingly. "If nothing else, you now know that Ra's Al Ghul is a manipulative liar."

"****e!" I finally find my voice. "The Demon took me in when it was merely me against the world! I owe him--"

"You owe that snake nothing, my son. Do you honestly believe that he freed you from Peña Duro and took you under his wing for years out of the goodness of his own heart? He had his motives, and whatever they were, you know that they were far from charitable."

Rage rushes through my soul all at once. "If you know something, tell me!"

"Did you never question who your father was?"

That's when I wake up in a cold sweat and gasping for air. It takes a moment before I regain control of my senses and remember where I am. My penthouse, far from the chaos in the Gotham streets below. Like an impotent coward.

"Bane, you all right?" a bodyguard yells as he bursts through my door before seeing me sitting up on the floor of my room. "Oh, geez, I'm sorry. Thought I heard a fight or something in here, what with the yelling."

"Your concern is noted," I reply coldly.

"W-were you sleeping on the floor?"

Leave before I shatter your skull. "It reminds me of home." A brief moment of silence passes as I grab my mask from the nearby nightstand before I say "Go, and tell the others to get ready. Explosives. Rifles. And I want to see the architectural blueprints for Wonder Tower." A look of confusion passes over his face. "Gotham is being reclaimed from the animals who prowl her streets. My streets."

Wonder Tower.

It has been a mainstay in the Gotham City skyline for more than one hundred years, with massive elevator cars able to lift groups of several dozen men and women at a time. The tower was once a symbol of forward thinking and achievement as a marvel of architectural design, and for a time was the tallest freestanding structure in the world before a number of more modern buildings such as the LexCorp Towers in Metropolis would later lay claim to the title. For the past few decades of its life it has merely been a tourist attraction. A nostalgic monument to the obsolete.

I am going to give it meaning one more time.

"The explosives don't have to be powerful," I tell Micky as my team and I ascend the elevator. "They simply need to be properly positioned."

I get my men to double check all of their equipment during the elevator ride; bulletproof vests, sidearms, assault rifles, ammunition, communications, and their key supply of explosives before each stop that the car makes as chosen teams get off at specific floors on our way up.

"We spent a lot of time in the basement parking garage getting ready, but you sound like you already knew exactly what you were doing." Micky has learned a lot and come a long way in the short time I've known him. "We want the tower to implode, right? So you said that the teams are putting the charges around the main structural supports (unless I missed something)." As he talks, the elevator comes to another halt and the last team gets off to plant their charges at their given location. I turn to look at Micky and give him my full attention as the doors close again.

Next stop: top floor. The lookout. "So why are the last of us going to the top? Plantin' explosives there won't do anything to help with the implosion."

I can only smile under my mask and slap a hand on my lieutenant's shoulder. "I think I need more men like yourself at my side, Mick. You're a natural thinker, and if you're lucky enough to build a collection of experience and wisdom to complement your innate instincts, you could go far."

DING!

We've reached the top and the large elevator doors slide open to reveal the Gotham City skyline, smoke and fire from the riots adding to the sickeningly polluted air. The remaining seven of us step out of the car and onto the observation deck and I visibly cringe in disgust at the sight of this town. "The reason we've come to the top, Micky? We're here to draw attention to ourselves." I hold out a hand and one of my soldiers passes me a large heavy bag. "Batman will not be coming, but he has assembled a team --whether intentionally or not-- who act to fill the void he has left." Pulling pieces of hardware out of the bag, we approach the railing of the lookout while I assemble all of the components into a single weapon.

Taking aim through the powerful zoom lens of the weapon, I squeeze the trigger.

"They want to save the day while we are the proverbial sniper in the bell tower."

 

[Byrd Man]

Question's already made it here and he hasn't killed himself yet, thank the lord. But given the number of individuals that pile out of the bar at once, looking like they're undoubtedly protecting someone inside, we soon realize that there's still time for him to be rendered otherwise.

Again tonight, I have nothing to go on but instinct. And my instinct tells me that I am not the one to take charge in this situation. Taking a glance over, my eyes firmly catch Hood's attention.

"Tell me that those holsters on your belt aren't just for sport."

"Wish I could. But certain outside influences convinced me to give up the arms race."

He shoots Batgirl a look and she rolls her eyes. "Forgive me for wanting us to be a little less lethal."

"Right, so we're down on firearms. What else have you got?"

"A few flash grenades, a bowie knife, and hell of alotta luck."

I stare back, stunned.

"You're kidding. That's it?"

"I never claimed to be Bond. Besides, it isn't the weapon. It's how you use it."

I slap myself on the forehead. "Thanks for that riveting bit of insight, Ghandi..."

"Uh, guys..."

Batgirl indicates the drawn weapons as they all level in Question's general direction.

Dammit.

"Batgirl, line up the rear! Blind them with a smokescreen! Catwoman, you're with me! We're taking them on!"

"Hey, I don't follow orders!"

My sentence is cut off as Red Hood leaps down directly into the fray, with Batgirl following to exact his orders. Since when did he become the grand marshall around here?

I sigh to myself and decide, begrudgingly, to follow anyway. Whatever. It's better than anything I've got at the moment.

After this is over, though, I'm drawing a nice hot bath and forgetting this night ever happened.

In the middle of combat and chaos, I was never feeling more alive.

"OHGODOHGODOHGODOHGOD!"

Screaming like a girl, I had my taser out and was zapping as many swarming baddies as I could. Smoke began to pour in, along with my backup. Hood leapfrogged over me and delivered a drop-kick to a thug.

"Look out!" I said as a bad guy swung at Hood. Hood ducked, missing his fist, and I cleaned the attacker up with a solid left jab to the face. "BOOM! You sets 'em up, I knocks 'em down!"

FWOOSH!

An RPG blew past us and hit the inside of the bar.

BOOM!

A concussive blast made the fight come to a screeching halt. The fire and explosion knocks us all away from the bar, knocking everyone into the street.

"Anyone catch the license plate of that rocket grenade," I asked weakly, face down on the street.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Oswald and Patrick being to walk back to the limo. Both men have their heads bowed and Patrick asks, "So what happens next?"

Oswald replies, "You get on a plane stay at the villa for the next week. Once things are back to normal here then we resume as though nothing has happened. You have to have an abliity to distance yourself from times like this in order to survive and move on."

Patrick stops and replies, "You really believe that I can do that sir?"

Oswald stops and looks as Patrick continues, "Sir 24 hours ago my biggest issue was do I get creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter for my kids' lunches. Now I will have the image of watching a man being tortured and killed by a vulture. I'm not sure how to move from that sir."

Oswald asks, "Do you want to leave my employment?"

Patrick replies, "Sir I just I don't know how to move on from this, and I doubt a week away will do it."

Oswald says, "I told you when this started that if you wished to leave I would hold no ill will towards you my friend, and I meant it then and I still mean it."

Patrick nods and says, "Thank you Mr. Cobblepot sir."

He sticks his hand out and Oswald shoves it aside and embraces him.

Oswald says, "It's Oswald my friend."

They break their embrace and Oswald says, "The villa is still yours for the week the entire place. If you need anything at all at anytime feel free to call me. I'll always be there for you and your family."

Patrick nods and says, "Thank you for everything."

Oswald says, "Crawford!"

Crawford approaches and Oswald says, "Take him to the airport make sure he gets on the plane. Anything happens to him and you will pay the price.
Crawford nods and motions for Patrick to follow him to the back limo. Mr. Anderson pulls out a gun and points it at the back of Patrick's head. Oswald raises his sword from his cane and pushes the gun down.

Oswald says, "If you kill him Anderson the next thing you'll feel is my sword through your throat."

The limo drives away and Oswald and Anderson watch it leave.

Oswald gets out his cell-phone and calls the director of flight control at Gotham International Airport.

Oswald says, "Ellis this is Oswald Cobblepot."

Ellis replies, "Hey Mr. Cobblepot. I just wanna thank you again for that letter of reference for my son. Thanks to you he's getting into Pitt this fall."

Oswald says, "My pleasure my friend. I need two favors. First an associate of mine will be arriving at the airport to take one of my private jets to the Bahamas make sure everything is ready."

Ellis says, "Sure thing no problem. What's the second favor?"

Oswald says, "Is Baron Waclaw Jozek's jet getting ready to leave?"

Ellis says, "Yeah he'll be arriving in about 20 minutes."

Oswald says, "I need you to pull an FAA inspection on it and hold it for 24 hours. He's an old business associate and there are several loose ends he has left me with."

Ellis replies, "It'll be done in 10 minutes."

Oswald says, "Excellent my friend I thank you very much. Your next meal for you and your wife at the Lounge is on me."

He hangs up his phone and shakes his head slowly and wipes a single tear away. Anderson asks, "What's wrong sir?"

Oswald replies, "Patrick. He was born and raised in Gotham. Went to college here, got married here, watched his children be born here. This city was his life. His perfect ideal life and now when he thinks back to this evening that perfect ideal life will be gone forever, and I took that from him Anderson."

He shakes his head and says, "Out of all the morally questionable things I've ever done in my life; this one I am truly guilty of. I should've fought harder to shelter him from this evening. This is a burden I will have to live with for the rest of my life. In a week he'll sell his home and move far from here because it's the only way he'll find peace in his soul. He'll find comfort with his family but it'll be years before he is able to embrace the former beauty he had in Gotham City."

Oswald rubs his eyes once and re-composes himself.

He says, "Onto other matters. You are to stay here and finish supervising the clean-up. Ride in the second limo with the others I'll have the money in your account in 48 hours."

Oswald climbs in his limo and it drives away.

 

[Spike_x1]

It's an effort to even take a breath now and it feels as if my body weighs a thousand pounds. Grunting in desperation, I push myself off of the floor and plant one foot firmly down, then the other. I feel like a stiff breeze could send me right back down onto my face, so I lean heavily against the closest wall and try to catch my breath.

"Can't... can't let him..."

God only knows the kind of damage that monster could unleash with my powers at his fingertips. And judging by the fact that anything I hit him with only made him stronger, I shudder to think about how badly a fight with law enforcement would go. Can I risk calling in the League? I nearly killed them when we fought, and I doubt that the creature would hold back like I did. And what if the Parasite absorbed their powers as well? I need to think before making my next move. I need to--

"Clark?"

I suddenly spin around with a burst of energy that I didn't know I still had to spend, only to see Jim Olsen entering the wrecked laboratory with me. His camera at his side, I can only imagine the shocked expression that he sees on my face. "Are you okay? You look like hell."

"Jimmy?"

I almost can't believe my eyes and the word coming out of my mouth. Jim Olsen is here and he seems to recognize Clark Kent as Superman without giving it a second thought. "You... I..."

"C'mon! We need to get you out of here." Rushing forward to grab my arm to help take some of my weight, Jim begins leading me to the emergency exit. Thank God, my legs feel like they're made out of jelly. Jelly that weighs one hundred-thousand tons. "In case you forgot, there's still a bounty on your head, and as strange as it is to say it, I don't think you could fight any supervillains off if word got out about you right now."

Opening the exit door leading outside to the STAR Labs loading bay area, I breathe a sigh of relief when I remember that the STAR employees have gone home for the day by now and no one is here to witness this, as well as not getting caught in the superhuman crossfire earlier. The calm chill breeze from the ocean hits my face and I feel some small measure of life returning.

"I don't suppose you've got a change of civilian clothes on you, do you?"

Somewhat groggily, I look down at my skintight uniform, then back to Jim in confusion.

"Hey, I dunno how you go about this stuff. For all I know, you could have a suit and tie folded up in a super-compressed ball hidden in your cape." Taking a look around to reconfirm that nobody is watching, he starts running away towards the parking lot. "Wait here. I'll bring my car around."

His hatchback? I had a better chance of surviving a fight with the Parasite than I do in that car.

With Jimmy gone, I finally have a few moments to myself to think and I keep falling back to thoughts of how helpless and handicapped I feel. It's like the city that I used to see and hear hasn't only been muted; it's almost like the world I used to know is completely gone. Things are so silent now, and the bright and vibrant lights of life in Metropolis have been replaced with cold concrete buildings and dirty streets. Is this how normal people see the city?

And the sheer staggering silence is something that I try not to think about.

What if this is permanent?

Suddenly Jimmy's car comes around the corner and stops beside me with a jerk. "Come on! Sirens are coming! We gotta move!"

The tires are burning rubber before I've even closed the door behind me, and Jim wipes the sweat from his brow before looking over at me. "That was close, but I don't think anyone saw us."

"What were you doing there anyway?"

"After Hellgrammite attacked the Planet, I followed you. I figured there were going to be some prime photo opportunities." Pause. "And there were, but most of those photos aren't going to see the light of day."

I don't think that I would ever encourage Jim to shy away from a story, but I'm thankful in this case. The last thing Metropolis or the Justice League needs right now is for it to be made public knowledge that Superman is powerless and out of commission. Rao only knows what kind of opportunity that information would present to the Legion of Doom, or even just regular street crime around here.

"So where to? I assume you have a change of clothes stashed away somewhere...?"

"The Daily Planet is closer than my apartment from here. I have my things hidden up on the roof, and I also need to check in and see if that creature has made any noteworthy appearances in the city yet."

 

[Batman]

Well. That was certainly unexpected.

Pain hits my back as I realize I've fallen flat into the hood of a nearby car. Can't have been thrown more than a couple of feet, but it doesn't mean that the impact didn't hurt like hell. I catch my breath and ignore the pressure in my chest, grasping at the edges of what's left of the vehicle to pull myself upright. The sight that greets me is the burning ruins of what used to be a bar full of people. There were a few screams, but only for a moment. No chance of any survivors. I try and push it out of my mind as I tumble onto the street littered in windsheild glass, practically forced to hold myself together before my body starts falling apart. It's one of many times that I'm thankful for shock absorbing armor plates.

Who could have done this? Why would anyone do this? I've seen my share of horror stories in this city, even been apart of a few more than I'd like to have been, but this was just wanton slaughter on a grand scale. Smoke's still trailing across the skies. I'd like to say that it was just apart of the fight, that someone got a little too trigger happy and decided to end whatever this was before it began, but I know better. Someone else did this, and if their aim was just a little bit off, we'd all be dead. I wipe away the blood beginning to trickle down my cheek and look around, seeing if any of us are still okay.

Question's fine. Headfirst on the ground and mumbling to himself, but otherwise relatively unscathed. Using what little strength I have left, I stumble forward and try to join him, only to be stopped by the sudden arrival of Red Hood, kicking his way through a pile of debris. Couple of scratches to his outfit, but nothing too serious. My own typical luck astounds me. The men get caught in the middle of an explosion, and I'm the one left nursing any sort of trauma.

"Not to be the first to ask the obvious, but... can anyone tell me what just happened?"

Red Hood is the first to give the question any serious thought, looking towards the skies and tapping the side of his helmet. I assume that he just activated some sort of navigational HUD that's giving him a better look at the trail of exhaust from the rocket. Kind of like the one I have equipped in my goggles. What, does that just come standard with the superhero package?

"The trajectory was vertical,"

He looks towards me and narrows his gaze. "And there's nothing above us. Unless the shot came from a structure tall enough in Gotham to give the shooter an unparalleled scope, that's almost impossible to pull off."

We trade knowing looks, both realizing that there's only one building high enough to suggest that theory's plausibility. Guess that the four of us are heading to Wonder Tower.

"So that's it? We're done here?"

"The police can clean up what's left of the gangs. There's nothing else we can do. I suggest we get a move on before the shooter gets another chance to---"

Red Hood stops in the middle of his sentence, becoming entirely focused on something behind me. I turn and immediately spot what's captured his attention. In the rush of everything, I had forgotten all about Batgirl, but neither of us are bound to repeat that mistake again. In the distance, her body is lying lifeless in the partially collapsed ruins of a storefront wall. Before anything else can be said, I rush over to her and try to snap her back into conciousness.

"Kid? Kid! Come on, don't be like that!"

She doesn't respond. Upon closer inspection, I notice that there's a large gash on the top of her head, slowly bleeding out of the cowl. Slowly moving her from the wall onto the street, I pull off her glove and check her pulse. Still there, but faint. She could very well have a concussion, but her body doesn't feel broken and she doesn't seem to have any major damage. Regardless of the fact, she needs medical attention now.

"She's alive, but she needs a hospital. She's taken a bad hit to the head."

"Take her."

My eyebrow raised, I turn to him and shoot a glare of protest.

"Excuse me?!"

Red Hood's already walking away from the scene.

"You said it yourself. She's done for the night. And I have to stop the person that did this to her. You're the best chance that she's got."

I feel myself gradually becoming angrier as I walk over and poke him hard in the chest. If he thinks he's just going to shift this onto my shoulders, he's got another thing coming. I don't need this. This isn't what I agreed to when I was asked to help.

"Hey, pal, she's not my responsibility! You're the one who thought it was a good idea to bring a teenage girl out here in the middle of a warzone!"

He doesn't seem particularly phased.

"She can make up her own mind. It was her decision to do this. We all took on the labors of this life, regardless of it's consequences."

"She needs you, you idiot!"

He glares back at me. "It's either her or Gotham. I don't have time for both."

I could slap him for being so cold. This girl follows his every whim - treats him like a leader whenever he feels like acting like one - and this is how he repays her? There's something seriously wrong with him if he's just going to walk away.

"Let me tell you something right now. You're wrong, because I didn't take anything on. I'm not cut out to be a hero. I was asked to be here, and I came."

After a few infuriating moments of silence between us, I finally throw my hands up and walk away, heading for Batgirl. Poor kid's going to bleed to death if one of us doesn't act like an adult. Since he doesn't seem interested, I guess he's getting his way.

"And you know what? You're starting to make me regret it."

He just stands there and watches as I scoop her up off of the street, throw her body over my shoulder, and toss the whip out into the night's sky. He wants me to take care of her? Fine. I'll take care of her. But it's the last favor that I'm doing for anyone tonight.

Sorry, Wayne. But there are some things even you can't turn me into.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Fate responds <Stay calm I'm on my way>

Atom replies, <Easy for you to say! You're not the one being shaken about by a happy mob!>

Atom hears Fate say, "My dear Batorks why this jubilation?"

Then she hears a Batork respond, "We have seen one that we we have never seen before! According to our legends she is an Omen of success for our future."

Atom says to Fate, <Hey how come I can understand them?>

Fate responds to her <Another gift of the ring I gave you. You can understand them and the Viltorns and vice versa>

Atom days to Fate <Ahhh kinda like a glorified Universal Translator>

Fate says, "Well let me see this Omen so that I may witness this rare sight!"

The Batork opens the bag and Atom floats out.

Fate says, "Ahh an Omen of beauty cannot be confined it must be shared. We do not want to the Viltorns to think you have an unfair advantage."

Fate to Atom <I suggest you say some kind of blessing to them. They are a superstitious race. The Viltorns are technologically advanced and not so easily duped they'll see you as a spy so be careful when you go over there.>

Atom hovers above the Batorks and does the Vulcan salute and says, "Peace and Long Life and Live Long and Prosper."

She floats away to the Viltorns cave and Fate says to her, <Next time don't forget to say 'May The Force Be With you.' Be careful.>

Atom repsonds to him <Best I can do on short notice. Talk to you later.>

 

[MST3K 4ever]

In the back of the limo Oswald relaxes after his long night. He contacts the other members of the Outfit and tells them what has transpired during the night.

After he hangs up his L-phone he fixes himself a Vodka and Tonic. He takes a sip and says, "Breakfast of Champions."

His L-phone rings and this time Jozek is on the other end. Oswald answers and says, "Good Morning Baron how are you doing this day?"

Jozek says, "Impressive Oswald. You managed to get my plane held here for the next 24 hours. A surprise FAA inspection I should've realized that you would eventually put everything together."

Oswald replies, "Oh Baron I have no idea what you are talking about old boy."

Jozek pauses for a moment and asks, "What's next? An all-out attack on my home."

Oswald replies, "No I, unlike other people in this conversation, do not believe in attacking innocents. The entire Outfit knows everything now. They will be watching all ways out of the city you're in effect a prisoner. It's 7am now in 12 hours you will appear before the Outfit to give an accounting of your actions after that your fate will be decided."

Jozek says, "You know full well what that will be."

Oswald replies, "Then I suggest you use the next 12 hours to prepare a defense of some kind, or settle all your affairs and make your peace with God."

Jozek takes a deep breath and says, "Dixon was Thorne's idea. It was never personal against you. I always respected you to a certain extent."

Oswald responds, "When you attacked Patrick's family then it became personal to me. You broke our code and that is something that cannot be ignored. For what it's worth we were friends once that's why I'm giving you the 12 hours to work with. I feel I owe you that."

Jozek says, "Thank you Oswald. Goodbye."

Oswald says, "Goodbye Baron."

He hangs up the phone and after he finishes his drink he begins to doze off.

About 45 mnutes later the phone rings and this time it's Mayor Thorne.

Oswald responds, "Hello Mr. Mayor how are you on this fine day?"

Throne says, "Cut the crap Cobblepot! Did you have anything to do with it?"

Oswald replies, "Mr. Mayor I was sound asleep whatever are you talking about?"

Thorne says, "Cut on the news!"

Oswald cuts on the TV in the Limo. The current story is Summer Gleason reporting on the Suicide of Baron Waclaw Jozek. He jumped off the top of Gotham Tower. A note was found nearby that said, "It's the only way."

Oswald says, "Oh my what could have drove him to this? Could it have been a bad business decision? A failed coup? A poorly formed alliance? I say all the above."

Thorne says, "Cobblepot you may not have shoved him off but you drove him to this point!"

Oswald replies, "Prove it! You want to know who did this take a look in the mirror Mr. Mayor! A black-op mercenary with warrants all over the world is able to funcition here in Gotham. That doesn't happen without some serious help from the local Government! By the way you should know he failed."

Thorne says after a long pause, "I don't know how it got so out of hand Oswald, but maybe we can still make amends and cut some sort of deal."

Oswald says, "You know Rupert up until last night I might've been willing to listen to an offer like that. However when you chose to involve Patrick's family in the would-be attack you closed the door on that ever happening in this lifetime."

Oswald light a cigar and says, "I may take aggessive measures against those who cross me, but only them I never attack their families! That is one rule I nor anyone else who does business with me ever breaks and if they do they are dealt with in a most ungracious manner."

Thorne says, "Do you really think you can take me Oswald? I'm the Mayor of this city I have connections too."

Oswald takes a drag and laughs.

He says, "Rupert you are truly mad if you think that you are the one running Gotham! If you think things were bad before those will feel like warm sweet memories compared to what's coming next."

Thorne asks, "Are you going to kill me?"

Oswald replies, "Hardly. Too much in terms of logistics and so forth. You're not worth the gun powder it would take to blow you away. No no but I assure you of this by this time next week you will be holding a press briefing announcing your resignation from office. That I promise you."

Oswald hangs up the phone and puts out his cigar.

He then calls Lucy the assistant manager of the Iceberg Lounge and asks, "How would you feel about a promotion to manager starting today?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Previously

Spoiler

Keystone City, KS


John Fox and I race across Central and over the river to Keystone. Fox has a device on his wrist that's tracking tachyon particles. The particles are from time travel, he and the man who came back in time have traces of them on their clothes. Fox says that the trail of particles will lead to my would-be assassin. We stop on the roof of the Waid building and look out over the two cities.

"I'm afraid to ask you this, in case I got my dates wrong, but is Impulse active?"

"Yeah. She started just a few weeks ago."

"I don't want to reveal too much, but your decision to partner with her is one of the shining moments of your legacy."

"This is so weird. This is something I did for a lark. Just to be like all those stories I read growing up. I never did this for any kind of legacy."

"Well, you do have one. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, they all carve their own paths in their lifetimes, and the stories are about them are heroic and awe inspiring. But you? The stories I heard about you, they were something else. You were just as heroic as the others, but through your many trials and tribulations you never faltered and never gave in to the darkness. Even though you faced great temptation a time or two, you always rose above it."

"...Me? You are talking about me, right? The only superhero in the world that screams like a girl?"

"The second, actually. There's a fellow in Gotham City who has it down to an art form."
Fox and I stand in silence for a few minutes. I don't really know what to say to him, especially after that long talk about how awesome I'll be. I could totally pull a Batman and say something like "duh" but I won't.

"So, John Fox, tell me about you. I mean, it's cool and all you looked up to me, but how did you get those superpowers? You just don't wake up one morning with super speed."

"Not really that much to tell. I'm from the year 2648. I was a physicist experimenting with charged particles and faster than light speeds. We already had transluminal warp engines on our spaceships, but I was trying to make them go faster. I was working late one night, when-"

"An accident in your lab caused you to get superpowers? Believe it or not, I've heard that story before."

"Well, the world I live in has a select few superheroes. Most of them are like me, inspired by the heroes of old. We're outlawed, though. So I took up your example and used my abilities to become a force of good, regardless of the rules. I hope you don't mind me taking up your name."

"Even if I did, what could I do about it? Not like I can sue a man who won't be born for another six hundred years."

Suddenly, Fox's wrist tacker beeps loudly he looks down at it and then back up. "He's near."

He takes off and I follow him down the side of the building and a few streets over where lightning is crackling on the street.

"There he is."

"I don't see anything. Just lightning"

"That's him. He's a former physicist as well. An old colleague who tried to duplicate the accident that gave me my powers. Instead, it destroyed his body and warped his mind."

Hello, John, a voice booms from all around us. Step away from the Flash, and I won't have to hurt you.

"No, Manfred. I will defend him and the future at all costs. Even if it means my own death, I will stand by his side and fight with him."

Very well.

The lighting strikes in front of us and suddenly forms into a figure.

With a surge of bright energy, the man lashes out as us with white-hot lightning.

In a brilliant flash (pun intended!) of energy, the man John Fox calls Manfred Mota disappears from sight.

"That should do it," he says wearily. "Mota is back in my time."

"Just like that?" I ask with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes. You distracted him long enough to allow me to charge the temporal placement device. He should now be inside a containment field inside my lab. He may be a being of pure energy now, but he can't break out the containment field."

"So that means you're leaving?"

"Yes. Yes, I am. Before I go, I just want to say thank you for all your hard work. You and the rest of your kind paved the way for us."

Fox flashes a wide smiles. Even though he's got a wide grin on his face, I can see the sadness in his eyes.

"What? What's wrong?"

"You can't know too much about your own future," he says with a sigh. "But I will say this... There's a dark cloud forming on your horizon. You will go trials and tribulations that will shake you to your very foundation. But through it all... You will remain who you are. That's why you were the greatest. No matter how much you they tried to bring you down, you rose above it. Remember my words, Flash. Remain who you are, no matter what."

"I don't...," I stammer. "I don't know what to say."

"Just say goodbye and good luck."

Fox presses a button on his wrist and begins to fade away.

"Goodbye, John Fox. Goodbye and good luck."

Just like that, he's gone. I'm standing all by myself on a deserted street.

****

Central-Keystone City, Missouriansas
2069

John Fox suddenly appeared inside the middle of a science lab, his body glowing from the time travel.

"What's the status on Mota?" He asked, fiddling with his neckline.

"He's contained," a young, red-haired man in his early twenties said as he came to Fox's side. He was wearing a labcoat. "How did it go?"

"It happened just like I remembered," he said with a chuckle. "Smartass remarks included." Fox pressed a button on his collar and the hologram that had been his face vanished. It was replaced by an older, middle-aged man with gray hair. His face was wrinkled, but his eyes were still the same sparking yellow they had been six decades earlier. "I was afraid I was going to mess up all my lines, but I still remember that day. Nearly sixty years later, I still remember it."

"Including the warning, grandpa?"

"Especially the warning,"he said with a sigh."I came close to slapping him and saying 'run, you fool. Run as fast and as far away as you can.' But I didn't. Things have to play out the way they're supposed to."

"That and slapping him would have caused a paradox. Two things existing in the same place."

"Right. Blaine, can you do me a favor and leave me alone for a bit?"
Blaine nodded and left the lab while the old man who was supposed to be John Fox walked over to a desk and sat down. He sighed and looked through the photographs on the desk. A group shot of the original Justice League together at Happy Harbor, one of Flash and Green Lantern smiling.

The man looked at the photo of the smiling Flash and shook his head.

"Run, you fool. Run."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

Cape Town, South Africa


Both Rick Flag and Deadshot watched from a nearby rooftop as the woman known as Giganta tore through Cape Town.

"What's the plan, Colonel?" Lawton asked as he cycled a round into his sniper rifle. Flag scanned the area and noticed a construction site nearby.

"Run interference," Flag said as he started to run across the roof. "Distract her."

Deadshot turned towards Giganta and leveled his rifle at her. The sniper rifle kicked in his hands and struck the giant woman in the head. Unfortunately, her mass was so large it was barely above the pain one would feel from a bee sting. The large woman turned to where Deadshot was and began to stomp through the city towards him.

"Deadshot to Flag, might need some help."

"Almost there."

Deadshot turned and started to run away from Giganta. He jumped across a gap between buildings and ran away from her, but her large shadow loomed over him and her large hand was preparing to come down and crush him when...

WHAM!

A wrecking ball crashed into her side and sent Giganta reeling sideways from the blow. She fell into a building and collapsed to the ground. On the street, Flag was driving the crane towards her and was preparing to swing again.

"Be on alert, Lawton. She starts to shrink, blow her damn head off."
​

 

[Andy C.]

"Gods, give me something, anything!" I growl through gritted teeth as I scour the global news feed at the Justice League's headquarters in Happy Harbor. I have one of the most powerful information-gathering computers on the planet at my disposal, and yet have seen no trace of my targets.

Ever since Doctor Light attacked me in New York, I have been searching for his superiors, Vandal Savage and the Legion of Doom. Thus far, my efforts have been frustrated at best. They have attacked several fellow members of the Justice League, but only through proxies, other hired assassins like Light who have been summarily defeated but provided nothing of value in terms of information.

At least Donna has made some progress in her own search. When last I had checked, she had located Artemis, but before she made contact, Artemis was abducted by an unknown kidnapper, an enormous man who went by the name Mammoth. Donna has taken the Invisible Jet in pursuit of Mammoth, and has traced them to the country of Bialya. She has refused my offer for help, believing she can free Artemis herself. Besides, the Legion of Doom and their frustratingly cold war against us must take priority.

Under the influence of my Lasso, Light said that Vandal Savage was building an army, powerful enough to topple entire nations. He also said the Legion had a mobile headquarters that could be anywhere in the world. The knowledge that our enemies could strike from anywhere with unknown force is one that is both terrifying and infuriating, since I have no way to know--

"What's this?"

Two emergency alerts at once, in very distant parts of the world. Judging from reports, it seems Giganta is on the loose in South Africa, destroying the city of Cape Town.

And in Beijing.......the Legion has finally reappeared, in full force, to assault China's new team of superheroes. At last, a chance to meet them in battle, to stop Vandal Savage and his monsters.....to kill Cheetah for her murder of Steve Trevor.....

But there are other heroes already in battle with them, and the Legion is outnumbered. Perhaps the Great Ten will rout them without my intervention. Cape Town, on the other hand, is all but defenseless against Giganta.

Either way, thousands of lives could be at stake.

Then again, I do have allies who could be of assistance in both situations.

"Wonder Woman to Justice League," I say, activating the communicator to any open channels. "I'm receiving alerts in--"

*FWOOOSH!*

I'm blown out of my chair by a powerful gust of wind, a blur of motion that scorches the air in its wake.

"Flash?" I say, rubbing the dust from my eyes.

"Not quite," says a voice. "In fact, I'm pretty sure I could run circles around him. But don't quote me on that."

His voice has a thick accent to it, Mediterranean perhaps? Once I clear the dust from my eyes, I see a tall, slender figure of a man with pale blue skin. His eyes are glassy black orbs, like a bird's. In fact, everything about the man's physique and stature suggests a bird-like frame......to say nothing of the talons on his feet.

"Hermes," he introduces himself with a slight bow, "Messenger of the Gods. Of the Olympian pantheon, specifically. And I'm afraid I've come to deliver you--"

"A message?" I ask. "Can it wait? Thousands of innocent lives are in danger."

The messenger's expression is a grave one.

"You're wrong, Diana," Hermes says. "First of all, billions of lives are in danger at the moment, not just the ones being immediately threatened. Secondly, I'm not here to deliver you a message. I'm here to deliver you."

With astounding speed, he races towards me, and before I can even react, he's grabbed me by the arm and begun pulling me along, the world seeming to disappear into a speed-induced blur.

 

[Andy C.]

Cape Town, South Africa


Both Rick Flag and Deadshot watched from a nearby rooftop as the woman known as Giganta tore through Cape Town.

"What's the plan, Colonel?" Lawton asked as he cycled a round into his sniper rifle. Flag scanned the area and noticed a construction site nearby.

"Run interference," Flag said as he started to run across the roof. "Distract her."

Deadshot turned towards Giganta and leveled his rifle at her. The sniper rifle kicked in his hands and struck the giant woman in the head. Unfortunately, her mass was so large it was barely above the pain one would feel from a bee sting. The large woman turned to where Deadshot was and began to stomp through the city towards him.

"Deadshot to Flag, might need some help."

"Almost there."

Deadshot turned and started to run away from Giganta. He jumped across a gap between buildings and ran away from her, but her large shadow loomed over him and her large hand was preparing to come down and crush him when...

WHAM!

A wrecking ball crashed into her side and sent Giganta reeling sideways from the blow. She fell into a building and collapsed to the ground. On the street, Flag was driving the crane towards her and was preparing to swing again.

"Be on alert, Lawton. She starts to shrink, blow her damn head off."
​

Giganta grunted as she pulled herself up from the collapsed building.

"Cute trick," she spat as the enemy agent worked the controls of the wrecking ball. "But let's see if you can pull that off again when I know it's coming."

She scraped her foot along the ground, kicking up as much dust as possible to obfuscate the view for the other agent, the sniper whose bullet had stung her earlier. In hindsight, she regretted sending Merlyn away with the wounded Copperhead--his presence could have counteracted the enemy sharpshooter. As it is, she would have to get a little creative.

With the dust cloud blurring the view, she shrunk down to avoid the swinging wrecking ball, then jumped into the air, growing as she did, to reach the top of the crane's arm. With her feet now firmly planted on the ground, the enlarged woman grabbed hold of the wrecking ball's chain.

Giganta pulled hard on the chain, using her other arm to push against the crane. There was a deafening shriek of twisting metal, before the chain snapped free, collapsing the crane's arm in the process.

"I really am glad you decided to come back," Giganta said with an eager grin, whirling the wrecking ball overhead like a mace. "Now I get to carry out my orders and kill you after all."

 

[Byrd Man]

Giganta pulled hard on the chain, using her other arm to push against the crane. There was a deafening shriek of twisting metal, before the chain snapped free, collapsing the crane's arm in the process.

"I really am glad you decided to come back," Giganta said with an eager grin, whirling the wrecking ball overhead like a mace. "Now I get to carry out my orders and kill you after all."

The wrecking ball struck against the side of the crane and sent it toppling into the street. Rick Flag stumbled out of the destroyed crane and fell to the ground. Giganta towered above him, whirling wrecking ball over her head. The motion she created caused the dust in the air to disperse.

"Deadshot," Flag said as he spat blood out on to the pavement. "I need covering fire."

"Switching to incendiary ammo."

A rifle cracked through the night and a spark struck Giganta in the arm she was holding the wrecking ball in. The spark turned into fire and began to consume her arm. As Giganta swatted at the flames on her arm with her free hand, Flag quickly picked himself up and ran away.

"Flag to Waller. What are the South African military doing?"

"The SA Defence Force is sending in jets. They're being scrambled from Port Elizabeth. Inbound in ten minutes. I suggest you distract her until the flyboys can come in, Colonel."

"You copy all that, Lawton?"

"Yep. Sucks she's gotta die. I was thinking I might have had a chance with her."
"Worry about getting your rocks off later," Flag said as he opened his M4's grenade launcher attachment and slid a grenade in. "Right now, we entertain her for as long as we can."