The "Ultimate DC Universe" RPG, Season 3.0

[SenseiofCheese]

IC:

Despero opens his eyes, and he looks towards the heavens.

"Huh?...ARRGGGH!!"

The green energies start to disperse as the dust and dirt storms finally die down, and all that is left is a crater. The cornfields patch is gone. Someone just took this part of Kansas right off the map in an instant. And with that, an injured Despero pulls himself out of the dirt and rubble from the impact sluggishly get himself back on his own feet.

Some of the dust and smoke is still not quiet gone, and Despero starts to walk through those smokes of dirt and dust. He stops, as he sees a flash of green light seem to emit from behind the blanket of dirt and smoke, and what sounds like a vacuum cleaner--a very large green vacuum cleaner--sucks and consumes the entire blanket of smoke until Despero's attacker is entirely visible to him.


"...Jordan."

*Ring Energy at 56%*

"Shut Uuuuup." Hal speaks to the ring from out of the corner of his mouth before turning his attention to the injured Despero.


"Hey! Don't I know you?" Hal called mockingly, as a he folds his arms and furrows his brow. "Ooohh, I'd recognize that third eye anywhere!" he scoffs, before the sarcastic smile on his face drops like a stone, his face becoming dead-serious.
Slowly, the emerald aura surround his body magnifies as Jordan is lowered to the ground until he is a mere inch from it.

"In case you were wondering what I just hit you with, it was a flawless replica of an asteroid I saw on the way over here, clocking in at around 90 miles per hour. Now, are you going to come along peacefully or do I have do that again." Hal asks, a sudden burst of authority lacing his entire demeanor, as he gestures to the massive crater in which Despero now stands. "To be honest, I'm kind of hoping you go with option #2."

*A repeat of the last recorded offensive construct would leave ring energy at 4%* the incessantly militant voice rang in Hal's head.

"It's called bluffing, ring. Look into it." he mouths to the ring.

"So...What do you say?"
​

 

[MinNoir]

She was late, and her agent let her know it. "I am here am I not?" She told him as she scoffed, following him out.

"You know, if you weren't such a goddess with those legs I'd cut you from this agency!" He yelled, walking out as she shook her head, "now c'mon we've got a date with Sports Illustrated."

"What's that?" She asked him as they walked out of the building and into a cab.

"You're joking! This is the swimsuit edition my dear, your first big break, no more catalogs, I got you a good one, now here put this on when you get there."

Donna took the two piece bathing suit and looked at it wondering how in the heck she was suppose to put this on. She looked at her Amazonian bracelet, and deep inside she wished Diana was here. Terrance, she thought he wanted to marry her before he went off to war. Her eyes peered outside the cab, as it drove around New York. She fell asleep as they came to Coney Island.

"Alright legs, lets go, up, up, up." Her fat agent told her, as she carefully climbed out, "changing room to your left legs."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

When I broke into that police station in Gotham City, it told me everything about Shayera. But it told me so much more than that. It told me that no matter how hard it's going to be in each life, I will always find her. I came desperately close to losing her, this time. Losing myself. In this.

But I have found her, now. I have found her, and I have found myself. I am Katar Hol. Hawkman. I am a protector. I am, according to the newspapers, a hero. Or a freak, depending on which one you read. But for all this, for all the maniacs I have fought, people I have saved, beatings I have receiver on my quest to do good....I have always been alone. It has been months since my awakening, and I now, finally, I will no longer be alone.

------------------

Katar Hol soars high above the city, taking in the sheer beauty. A stark contrast to the grimness of Gotham City, he had been wary of coming here. But only for a moment. As beautiful as the cityview was, as the sun slowly set on the horizon, knowing that Shayera was right now in the city made it all the more beautiful. The leather harness pulling tightly against his chest with each graceful flap of his wings, the golden helm resting on his head, his hand clutched tightly around the mace and his ears taking in every disbelieving gasp of the people looking up and pointing towards him, Katar can't help but smile. He already likes it here.

"St. Roch."
​

 

[Spike_x1]

"Ruuh..?" Slowly but surely, the Man of Steel groggily opened his eyes and looked around. His head was throbbing and Clark couldn't recognize where he was; it was obviously still Earth, but it seemed to be a desert of some kind. Sand and rocks were everywhere, and trees were scattered about in the distance. "Nggh," he groaned as he began to get up from his bed of sand. Despero? he thought. "I have to get back to Metropolis!"

Taking to the skies like a launching rocket, Clark looked down at the land below him as he came above much more populated areas. It looked like Mexico, but it was as if a tornado had gone through the place as far as the human eye could see. My God! Did Despero cause all of this?! Quickly deciding to descend and investigate the immediate damage, Clark's eyes began to scan the area for anyone trapped underneath rubble and the like. As he was looking about, a strange sight caught his eye: a burning figure made of paper and wood that was strung up on a cross as a crowd was cheering and throwing bricks, bottles, and stones at it. Even Clark Kent was taken aback when he saw who the burning caricature was meant to represent. It was a dummy dressed in blue with a red cape and a large red 'S' on its chest.

"What in the name of...?"

At the sound of Clark's shock, several of the people below turned to see where the noise came from, and gaped in slack-jawed awe at the Man of Steel flying above their heads. But there was something else in their eyes too - not just awe - it was fear. Unadulterated terror washed through the crowd as more eyes were set on Clark. It was as if a group of children had been caught, happily playing in the house, despite breaking all of the valuables in the process; their happiness turned to shock and fear as the parent prepares to punish the children.

To his enhanced hearing, Clark could hear whispered pleas of mercy and prayers to God coming from the now-humbled people. In shocked wonder, he set set foot onto the ground and walked to the rioters. "Wha-what is this? I... why..." Clark struggled to find the words for what seemed like an eternity. No, he hadn't been a perfect hero, despite his efforts, but he couldn't even begin to understand how a whole community could come to hate him so much; so much that they were all burning his likeness and cheering as it went up in flames.

And then it hit him. Literally. A beer bottle was thrown from somewhere deep in the crowd and shattered against Clark's head. In his shock, he almost didn't even feel it; but then the screams began. Screams of anger and fear mingling together into a sound that made Clark feel sick to his stomach.

"You killed them! My son and daughter! Why?!"

"We'll find a way to hurt you! Make you pay for this!"

"My brother! You burned him alive! Goddamn you!"

Make you pay, Superiorman

At sound of all of these words Clark's jaw hung limply and his body refused to move. This... this is insane! Despero! He had to have done this! But how?! Can he shapeshift? Did he impersonate me and do this? I know that he's a telepath - could he have brainwashed me to do...

...wait. What did that person call me? 'Superiorman'?

It was then that a more dangerous thought occurred to Clark, What if Despero... no, that's just not possible... it's just not. Finally coming back to reality, he looked around at the eyes of the hundreds of people around him. But what if it is possible?

"I'm sorry," said Superman to the men, women, and children before him who had been robbed of things very dear to them. From that moment on, he was a blur, moving at astounding speeds to repair the homes and shelters of the area as much as he could. Within several minutes, the community appeared to be more or less structurally whole once again. It wasn't nearly perfect, whatwith the limited supplies and materials to use in the area, however it would still give these people the sense of comfort and support that they deserved. But try as he might, Superman couldn't bring back the people who had been lost to the "Superiorman's" onslaught.

Knowing that the people would not stand to have him in their presence while he was still thought of as an enemy, and wanting to respect them as much as he could, Superman took flight once the area's rebuilding was complete and positioned himself in orbit above the Earth. Looking down with telescopic vision, Clark knew that his horrible guess was right. This was not his Earth.

 

[Andy C.]

Despero smirks at the situation before him. He can feel it...the magic coursing through him. He feels compelled to actually answer Wonder Woman's demands in telling her what has transpired between him and Earth's other heroes. He chuckles for a moment.

He had known of the Amazon's talents, for he spent his time well when surveying each hero...yet somehow this had slipped past his awareness. And as he sees the inner layers of the Amazon's mind just hoping he is foolish enough to tug at the lasso so that the mighty power of Zeus' lightning with strike him down once more only causes his chuckle to boom.

"Hahahaha...while you are indeed unique compared to your bloodthirsty sisters...you still do know how to get down to business as they would."

Despero's third eye glows, but Wonder Woman's focus is ever watchful on Despero himself and his words as his mouth continues. A farmer's pitchfork, stuck in the ground beside his tractor starts to wiggle free from the ground, and floats in the air. Despero's third eye glows as it moves, keep Wonder Woman's attention.

"While I was flowery in my language when the Kyrptonian asked such questions as your own...I will not do the same with you, Amazon. Then again...I do not have much of a choice this time around, do I?"

Despero's third eye blinks as the pitchfork flies at such speed, whizzing at them, pulling the part of the lasso between the part that has Despero entangled with the part in Diana's hand and pinning it to the ground. The pitchfork held down tight with the might of Despero's telekentic powers, Wonder Woman tries to pull the lasso up. Despero delivers a hard blow to the cheek at Wonder Woman with his free arm as she is distracted.

...I sent the Kyrptonian along with your planet's other mighty heroes to a distant alternate Earth hidden from your very noses just beyond the Source Wall. And...I believe it is time you join them, Amazon.

Keeping Diana's thoughts open to him, Despero becomes aware when Wonder Woman is about to bring forth the wrath of Zeus upon him once more. And so his third eye flashes a brilliant yellow light, nearly blinding Diana. When the light clears, a yellow eye resembling that of Despero's third eye forms on her forehead.

"Now...untie me at once."

Hypnotized by Despero's might, Wonder Woman obeys. Despero pulls the pitchfork out of the ground, and tosses it to the side. He runs his fingers through Diana's hair and whispers into her ears.

"Only the strong survive, Amazon. You should've stayed in your hidden realm with the rest of your sisters. Only there would you have found refuge from my relentless might. All who challenge Despero fall. None prevail."

And with yet another blink of his third eye, Diana is transported to the Alternate Earth.

Impossible.

The gods had granted me the absolute power of Truth, and in so doing, shielded my mind from outside control. Yet for a moment, Despero was able to overcome it. Whatever blasphemous power the monster wields, it is even more powerful than the gods themselves!

I look around me, and see I am on Earth. But just as Despero said, this is not the Earth I knew. All around me are the hollowed-out husks of what used to be skyscrapers, blasted and burned to metal skeletons. The streets are lined with derelict cars, many of them flipped over or even half-buried in the broken pavement. The few people I do see scurry to the shadows like rats, diving into alleys or running down into the subways.

"What in Hera's name happened to this place?"

It's then that a hard punch knocks me out of my flight, fire and smoke engulfing me. I tumble for a moment, before regaining my bearings. There's a trail of smoke still hanging in the air, leading back to a room in a nearby building. And in that room is a man with a rocket-launcher.

I fly towards him as he fumbles with a second rocket, and swat his weapon away.

"Who are you? Why did you attack me?"

Fear washes over the man, like he was staring into the very pits of Tartarus. Then, he boils over with anger and screams.

"Go on, do it! Kill me! Kill me and let me be with my family again! God damn you, and all of your kind!"

The look in the man's eyes is one of desperation and hatred, the losses he has suffered practically laid bare. I don't know what this world holds in store, but if--

"Die, Warrior Woman! DIIIIIEEE!!!!"

I don't recognize the bombs strapped to his body until it's too late. With a press of a button, the explosion knocks me back to the ground. I hear more bursts above and below me; the deranged suicide bomber must have other explosives--he's going to bring the whole building down on me!

I barely make it to my feet before the ceiling gives way, raining down hundreds of tons of metal on me. The floor buckles...then the one below it...then the next one...

Everything around me is rubble, slamming me down as I try in vain to break free. The twisted steel and rock batter me from all sides, the dust choking my breath. There is nothing but chaos and pain...

...then, after what feels like an eternity, there is silence.

I can't move. I can barely breathe. I am buried in the ruins of an alien Earth, and even if I break free, I have no way of ever returning home.

The clouds of dust and smoke blot out the sun, but even in the pitch black, I feel darkness taking me.

As my head begins to swim, I think for a moment of the name the man called me...

"...Warrior Woman?"

Then I slip out of consciousness.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

He had waited for hours. When he had first landed on the concrete gargoyle that gnashed it's teeth at the world around it, he had had to be careful so none of the people walking the streets below would see him. Now, however, the sun had set, and the few who still had any business outside were chased inside by the pouring rain. But not Hawkman. He was still, perched on the gargoyle, just waiting. He would not move, he would not falter. Not this time. After only a few minutes of soaring the skies, Katar had found Shayera's apartment building. The apartment on the top floor, the report had said, so Katar situated himself on the protruding gargoyle on a building that stood on the other side of the street.
Had he been a normal person, the weather would have long since give him pneumonia, or worse. But for all the superhuman resistance he had, he could still feel cold. And that he did.

Through rain, through frost, through death. He would wait still. On two or three occasions, he had heard a wail of sirens. A woman yelling for someone to stop whoever took her purse. A minor car crash. Every time he had felt the urge to swoop down, save who needed to be saved. Stop those who needed to be stopped.

But not this time. Not now.

By the time his muscles had finally started to let Katar know they did not appreciate the strain, and the feeling as if he was beginning to rust had started to set in, a bright light eluminated a single window. He even heard the faint sound of a door being closed, before a figure stepped into his line of sight. It was her.

Shayera Hol. Sharon Hale. Dropping a small bag to the floor, she let her hair flow down her shoulders, as she squirmed out of her dark blue blazer and let it drop as well. Katar's eyes were pinned to her beautiful visage, almost slipping off his place. Completely unaware of her soon-to-be visitor lurking in the dark outside, she took a few steps over to her window, loosening the locks and sliding it open. For a moment, she stood there. Letting her eyes close, she took in a deep breath. Smiling, she reached her hand out of the window, letting the droplets of rain dance on her palm.

Across the street, speechless, Katar extended his own hand, almost feeling her touch from across the distance. And in an instant, as if she had felt Katar's hand against hers, Sharon Hale's eyes opened. Furrowing her brow, she let her arm back inside and stared intently at the dark. Right at where up until a second ago, Katar had been. But nobody was there.

She must be going insane, she thought. Until she heard the clicking of her door, and immediately turned around.

"Shayera, my love." a familiar voice, deep and dark yet strangely warm and soft, called to her.

"I have returned."

 

[MinNoir]

"Move!" She shouted as she evaded traffic, she had time as she glanced down to the clock. Wheeling the car into a perfect parking spot, she dashed off to give Mr. Leone the news, before running back into the car. "SHH!" she cursed as she saw a RoadKing whiz by her, slamming her pedal as she turned the key, the car roared off.

...............................

As she walked back up the steps of her building. Mr. Dixon nodded and then left. Stephanie rolled her eyes, as she sat down watching the clouds roll by. Getting up she headed toward the parking garage, calling in to her boss, she decided to head home. Lyle was probably with Donnie, Steph didn't know what was going on but she didn't like it and Hanae was being quiet.

Driving home, she thought about her life as she knew it. Spoiler, kept coming back in her mind, just then she received a phone call from Mr. Dixon, "very good Miss Brown, meet me by Wayne Tower, I have something for you. Don't stand me up."

 

[MinNoir]

Donna was strapped in a star spangled bikini, stars on the bottom and something that looked like stripes on the top. "Good, alright lets break." Said the producer overseeing the shoot. Donna slipped her robe on, "good job Donna." Some of the key grip guys told her as they walked by, she nodded shyly.

"The heck?" The director of photography stated, "are those horses?"

Donna turned, to see her Terrance in his strapping dress uniform, riding on a beautiful white stallion with his buddies behind him. "Princess!" He shouted, knowing his buddies were laughing their butts off right about now.

"Yes?" She blushed, she hadn't been called Princess in a long time, not since she left Paradise Island.

He walked up to her, and took her hands and kissed them, "my proposal is simple." He began, as everyone on set with the photo shoot gasped in surprise, and awe. "Will you marry, this lonely warrior? Please, I want you at my side Princess Donna!" He shouted as his Marine buddies were now gasping for air due to their laughter.

Well, to Hades with it! Diana and Mother can say what they will! "YES I WILL!" She shouted in joy, as he scooped her up in his arms twirling her around.

"This beautiful woman is going to marry me!" He stated with excitement, as their eyes met and their lips touched. "I love you, Donna."

"I love you, Terrance." She replied, her arms around his neck as she drew him into a kiss before they both fell over on the sand, laughing.

Her agent shook his head, "geez, can't find a single model who isn't hitched, getting hitched, or knocked up."

"Yo, Jeff, me and my... fiancé are gonna take a trip so uh, hold try not to get her fired?" Terrance winked, as he helped Donna up.

"Yeah yeah, marine." The agent scoffed.

"Well we have enough pictures anyway," said the set director as he told them to pack their things up.

Nothing could spoil this for her, nothing, Donna felt so secure with Terrance. She didn't think her Mother nor Diana would approve, but they were not with her. Terrance's cell phone rang, as they both walked together along the beach the horse trotting behind at a gentle pace, Donna put her hand on the magnificent beast' she smiled, as she scratched behind his ear. Terrance stopped, Donna looked at him, as he turned to her, "They want me in Iraq... next week."

 

[trustyside-kick]

"In case you were wondering what I just hit you with, it was a flawless replica of an asteroid I saw on the way over here, clocking in at around 90 miles per hour. Now, are you going to come along peacefully or do I have do that again." Hal asks, a sudden burst of authority lacing his entire demeanor, as he gestures to the massive crater in which Despero now stands. "To be honest, I'm kind of hoping you go with option #2."

*A repeat of the last recorded offensive construct would leave ring energy at 4%* the incessantly militant voice rang in Hal's head.

"It's called bluffing, ring. Look into it." he mouths to the ring.

"So...What do you say?"
​

IC:

Despero wipes the blood from his mouth and he folds his arms, smiling at Jordan as if he were tonight's dinner. He chuckles under his breath as the brave Green Lantern threatens him, his ring surging with emerald green energy as it glows so brightly.

"The Despero you once fought and locked away is not the same Despero whom you now face, Jordan. I have--"

Despero's third eye glows and he begins to levitate.

New tricks up my sleeve? Yes, I do believe that is how you would word it. Although, as you can see I do not even need my lips to tell you this.

A psionic blast strikes at Jordan, pushing him back as the Green Lantern puts up a green fence in front of him just in time to block. Suddenly, the very blades of grass and corn leaves from the distance rip from the very ground, and with lightning speed fly into the crater towards Jordan. The Green Lantern does his best to deflect the attack, with several slicing away at his face and suit.

"Hahahaha. Nor do I even have to lift a finger this time to send you skyward!"

Then, the very ground under Hal starts to quake just before it breaks off from the rest of the ground and suddenly flies Hal to the skies. Despero's third eye blinks, and he teleports upward.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

IC:

Despero wipes the blood from his mouth and he folds his arms, smiling at Jordan as if he were tonight's dinner. He chuckles under his breath as the brave Green Lantern threatens him, his ring surging with emerald green energy as it glows so brightly.

"The Despero you once fought and locked away is not the same Despero whom you now face, Jordan. I have--"

Despero's third eye glows and he begins to levitate.

New tricks up my sleeve? Yes, I do believe that is how you would word it. Although, as you can see I do not even need my lips to tell you this.

A psionic blast strikes at Jordan, pushing him back as the Green Lantern puts up a green fence in front of him just in time to block. Suddenly, the very blades of grass and corn leaves from the distance rip from the very ground, and with lightning speed fly into the crater towards Jordan. The Green Lantern does his best to deflect the attack, with several slicing away at his face and suit.

"Hahahaha. Nor do I even have to lift a finger this time to send you skyward!"

Then, the very ground under Hal starts to quake just before it breaks off from the rest of the ground and suddenly flies Hal to the skies. Despero's third eye blinks, and he teleports upward.

ULTIMATE

Hal struggles to keep his balance as the patch of ground carries him upwards. Small trickles of blood start to drip from the many thin slices on his face and body.
Suddenly, just as Hal regains his footing and prepares to lunge off the piece of earth, Despero is levitating in front of him with a devious smile.

"New tricks? I happen to have some of those myself." Hal calls out, as his ring emits an emerald shovel. The shovel jams itself into the ground on which Jordan stands, and, with a hard wrench, loosens the very soil. Heavy bits of rock and mud are flung through the air towards Despero, who raises both arms to cover his face.

"A new coat of paint can't hide a collapsing house, Despero. You may have some new moves, but you're the same piece of trash criminal the Green Lantern Corps took down once, and now we're taking you down again." Hal says, ignoring the stinging sensation in his wounds, as he lunges off the piece of soil. Flying through the air, Hal grabs a hold of a bright green shield that has just materialized in his hand, before he smashes into Despero.

The two, in each other's grasp, begin plummeting to the ground.
​

 

[celestial guard]

The past fourty days have been excrucitaing. I have a what appears to be a serial killer on my hands. Random victims all over Columbus and only one lead. A witness saw a stabbing by a man in cape. Big suprise there, the metas are starting to come out to play...

I try to look for things I didn't notice before in the playback from my interanl drive as I look at the 40 inch screen in front of me.

The witness, a sixty year old pot bellied version of what passes as human in that part of town says, "Yeah, I was walkin and heard a scream. I went to check it out, not to help mind you, but to see what was left. So, I gets to the corner and peek into the alley where this guy is robbin' this lady's purse. No big, right? Then out of where this dud all dresses in black and brown jumps from the rooftop like he's the Batman or sumpin'. The robber goes to run and then, the cape stops him. He don't pummel him, but hands him the purse! Can you believe that? He helps him!"

The scan follow through the rooftop the wiutness points at and down to the alley floor. 450 feet, assited no doubt. He continues, "So he gets close to the lady and says somethng to her I can't hear. Then he just stabs her and l;eaves her to die. That's when I called the popo's and you showed up."

I freeze the screen. In the corner of the alley way near the victim is a metallic object. I intensify the the image to see that the object is a metal blade in the shape of a "W". "Maybe there is something to this Wrath character I've been hearing about."

 

[celestial guard]

I go bak to the scene a few minutes late to find the object still sticking in a nearby pile of garbage. "Say hello to my little friend." I pick it up and scan it. As expected no visible prints or indentifying marks. "And the hunt begins..."

 

[Batman]

I keep my pistol trained on Two-Face. "The dream's over," I insist confidently. I only wish it was real confidence and not simply bravado. "Tonight, I'm pulling double-duty. You're going to disarm those bombs, and then you're going to Arkham, you sick freak."

Two-Face laughs to himself, seeing the pistol pointed straight for him. If only the ill-advised and clearly deluded officer knew how many times Harvey Dent had stared down the cold face of death. He had recieved so many threats and attempts on his life over the years that, in some ways, Two-Face wondered if Dent really had bitten the bullet at some point... leaving him to pick up the pieces and start again. Either way, though, he didn't care. While the hero cop's intentions were indeed noble, he was getting on the nerves of the wrong person. Or persons, as it were.

A silver dollar coin went flying into the air, and flipped, as Dent carefully caught it with ease upon it's land. Sweat beaded down the officer's brow, yet Two-Face remained unaffected by the dire situation at hand. There was only him and the detonator, seperating Gotham City from a swift destruction.

"Oh, yes, because that's going to change my mind.", Harvey sarcastically smirked. "Tell me something, friend. What happens if you miss? I get panicked, blow up the city, and it'll be on your hands instead of mine. Or better yet... what if you don't miss? What if you finally do to me what the court's didn't have the spines to when they had the chance? What then?"

Harvey threw the coin up once more, as his eye closed, and Two-Face's bursted open. "What then?"

As the Detective pondered the question, the costumed woman in the far room began to shrink to a miniature height. Two-Face grinned to himself, seeing the cop's indifference on the matter. But what he failed to notice was the small dot of existence that was running towards him between the yarn of the carpet just below their feet.

"I'll give you a free lesson in ethics, Detective. Justice is blind. Especially in Gotham. And I am the only means this city has to true salvation. Harvey Dent was weak and spineless... but Two-Face knows what Gotham needs,", The psychopath ranted, clocking his own pistol to the Detective's. "And I think what it needs tonight is a sacrifice."

Almost on cue, Harvey stopped, and winced, feeling an intense pain shoot through his arm. With a loud yell, he jerked the arm back, dropping his own weapon as blood ran down the former attorney's wrist. Looking down, Two-Face saw what had happened, as The Atom stared back up with him, digging a thick needle into the top of Harvey's wrist. With a strong wave of his arm, the heroine went flying back, into a wall with a sickening snap.

"YOU *****!", Two-Face screamed in anger. "YOU STUPID *****! I SHOULD BLOW YOU BOTH TO KINGDOM COME, RIGHT NOW!"

Two-Face's eye closed, as Harvey's wreathed open. The arrogant smirk on his face returned.

"Infact,", He continued, before spinning around and punching Detective Grayson, just as the officer made a move for him from behind. "Hell. What have I got to lose?"

Grayson and Atom's eyes collectively widened, as Two-Face pressed the detonator. The device shook, violently, as Dent let it drop to the floor. Grayson scrambled for it immediately, as Two-Face had predicted, and tried to turn it off before any damage could be made. But as the Detective looked at the object, desperately... he soon realized something.

This wasn't a detonator.

"You idiot..."

John Grayson turned, as Two-Face delivered another sharp right hook, downing the Detective onto the floor of the Mayor's office. Before Grayson could counter, Dent kicked him again, surging pain throughout the Detective's torso. Meanwhile, Two-Face could only grin.

"A detonator? Are you kidding me?", He continued, pounding into Grayson. "I thought Gordon taught you clowns how to call a bluff!"

 

[Eddie Brock]

Two-Face laughs to himself, seeing the pistol pointed straight for him. If only the ill-advised and clearly deluded officer knew how many times Harvey Dent had stared down the cold face of death. He had recieved so many threats and attempts on his life over the years that, in some ways, Two-Face wondered if Dent really had bitten the bullet at some point... leaving him to pick up the pieces and start again. Either way, though, he didn't care. While the hero cop's intentions were indeed noble, he was getting on the nerves of the wrong person. Or persons, as it were.

A silver dollar coin went flying into the air, and flipped, as Dent carefully caught it with ease upon it's land. Sweat beaded down the officer's brow, yet Two-Face remained unaffected by the dire situation at hand. There was only him and the detonator, seperating Gotham City from a swift destruction.

"Oh, yes, because that's going to change my mind.", Harvey sarcastically smirked. "Tell me something, friend. What happens if you miss? I get panicked, blow up the city, and it'll be on your hands instead of mine. Or better yet... what if you don't miss? What if you finally do to me what the court's didn't have the spines to when they had the chance? What then?"

Harvey threw the coin up once more, as his eye closed, and Two-Face's bursted open. "What then?"

As the Detective pondered the question, the costumed woman in the far room began to shrink to a miniature height. Two-Face grinned to himself, seeing the cop's indifference on the matter. But what he failed to notice was the small dot of existence that was running towards him between the yarn of the carpet just below their feet.

"I'll give you a free lesson in ethics, Detective. Justice is blind. Especially in Gotham. And I am the only means this city has to true salvation. Harvey Dent was weak and spineless... but Two-Face knows what Gotham needs,", The psychopath ranted, clocking his own pistol to the Detective's. "And I think what it needs tonight is a sacrifice."

Almost on cue, Harvey stopped, and winced, feeling an intense pain shoot through his arm. With a loud yell, he jerked the arm back, dropping his own weapon as blood ran down the former attorney's wrist. Looking down, Two-Face saw what had happened, as The Atom stared back up with him, digging a thick needle into the top of Harvey's wrist. With a strong wave of his arm, the heroine went flying back, into a wall with a sickening snap.

"YOU *****!", Two-Face screamed in anger. "YOU STUPID *****! I SHOULD BLOW YOU BOTH TO KINGDOM COME, RIGHT NOW!"

Two-Face's eye closed, as Harvey's wreathed open. The arrogant smirk on his face returned.

"Infact,", He continued, before spinning around and punching Detective Grayson, just as the officer made a move for him from behind. "Hell. What have I got to lose?"

Grayson and Atom's eyes collectively widened, as Two-Face pressed the detonator. The device shook, violently, as Dent let it drop to the floor. Grayson scrambled for it immediately, as Two-Face had predicted, and tried to turn it off before any damage could be made. But as the Detective looked at the object, desperately... he soon realized something.

This wasn't a detonator.

"You idiot..."

John Grayson turned, as Two-Face delivered another sharp right hook, downing the Detective onto the floor of the Mayor's office. Before Grayson could counter, Dent kicked him again, surging pain throughout the Detective's torso. Meanwhile, Two-Face could only grin.

"A detonator? Are you kidding me?", He continued, pounding into Grayson. "I thought Gordon taught you clowns how to call a bluff!"

At this particular moment in time, I feel only one thing: rage. I just thank the stars that Dick can't see me now. I'm not a very admirable person at times like these - when I let loose and my emotions get the best of me. You can only take so much s*** in this job before you start to lose it. I give Gordon a lot of credit for not blowing his top. I know that I sometimes feel like I need to just hit someone.

Scrambling for my pistol, I don't even bother to take aim. I shoot a wild shot at my attacker, only to have it graze Two-Face's shoulder. Nonetheless, the shock makes him recoil as he takes a step backwards. Steadying my hand, I act more precisely this time. A well aimed shot to the head will end all of this. The second shot. Everything in two's. A poetic end for Harvey Dent.

I watch the bullet rifle through the air before it drastically changes course. I look to see that Atom has dropped her shoulder into it. The bullet curves and misses by a long shot.

"No, we do this the honorable - and the right - way," Atom reprimands as she flies past my ear.

I nod as I get control again. "Right. So how do we do that?"

Even though she's no bigger than a thimble, I can see the Atom frown. "I was hoping you had an idea..."

 

[trustyside-kick]

"A new coat of paint can't hide a collapsing house, Despero. You may have some new moves, but you're the same piece of trash criminal the Green Lantern Corps took down once, and now we're taking you down again." Hal says, ignoring the stinging sensation in his wounds, as he lunges off the piece of soil. Flying through the air, Hal grabs a hold of a bright green shield that has just materialized in his hand, before he smashes into Despero.

The two, in each other's grasp, begin plummeting to the ground.
​

IC:

The two fall, clenched in eachother's fists and Despero holding on tightly. As they continue to fall down, Despero only smiles as Jordan struggles to break free. The fall, Despero would be able to survive, but Jordan? While he wields one of the most powerful weapons in the universe, crafted by the Guardians of the Universe, is still just a man; and a man can be broken.

"Just think, Jordan. Soon you'll just be another casualty in the Green Lantern Corps, and your ring will find a new owner within the next hour or so. You defend the galaxies as your petty Masters the Guardians command you to, when as soon as you get squashed, they forget about you and introduce the next fool willing to devote their lives and commit suicide for the sake of the Corps."

Hal knees Despero in the stomach, but the villain merely laughs as he headbutts Jordan, uppercuts him, and grabs him from behind.

"There won't be any memorial for you, or a funeral...no matter how great of a Lantern you are or could ever become. Your just a soldier in their selfish war to control the Cosmos...you're expendable."

Hal Jordan slams his head back against Despero's, and Despero shrieks as his third eye throbs with pain, letting him go. The villain swipes at Jordan, tearing a part of his uniform as Hal tries to dodge. Searing with emerald bright energy, Hal's ring charges up, and he flies away from Despero. Despero stops in mid-air levitating, and just as he is about to fly towards Hal, a large construct of an F-22 Fighter Jet flies out at Despero shooting green bullets. After covering his head from the blast, Despero is struck with the very Fighter Jet construct itself and sent tumbling into the ground.

"You're right about one thing, Despero. The moment I die, someone will take my place. When that someone dies, someone else will take THEIR place. There will ALWAYS be someone to stop psychos like you, Despero. And today, that someone just happens to be me."

Despero starts to get up from the dirt and looks up at the Green Lantern as the hero slowly starts to descend onto the ground across from him. A bright green aura covers the hero, but that aura fades.

"Hahahahaha. I guess we will soon find out, won't we? You can barely even keep up a shield defense for your own anymore, Jordan. Like an amateur, you haven't been utilizing your ring the most effective way. Now how will you protect yourself, when I crush your very bones?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Despero starts to get up from the dirt and looks up at the Green Lantern as the hero slowly starts to descend onto the ground across from him. A bright green aura covers the hero, but that aura fades.

"Hahahahaha. I guess we will soon find out, won't we? You can barely even keep up a shield defense for your own anymore, Jordan. Like an amateur, you haven't been utilizing your ring the most effective way. Now how will you protect yourself, when I crush your very bones?"

Hal clenched his fists and sneered at Despero, the moment the monster's mocking words reached the Green Lantern, the protective aura returned to him, tenfold in brightness.

*Ring Energy at 23%.*

"Thank you, ring. I always knew you believe in me." Hal muttered to the ring, before looking Despero right in the eyes.

"Don't worry about me, Despero, I can go all day. You, on the other hand, don't look so good. I'm starting to think I don't even need my ring to take you in."

Despero growls in rage as Hal takes two steps forward, raising his fist and pointing the ring directly at the killer's chest.

"But you know me, I do so like to fly." Jordan said with confidence, before becoming a green blur and hurtling himself towards Despero at amazing speed.
​

 

[Andy C.]

ex Luthor​

"Again."

Luthor was re-watching the recorded footage of Despero's battle with the heroes, easily dispatching both Superman and Wonder Woman. Reports from Central City said he had done the same to their 'Flash' only a few minutes prior. Now some seemingly new hero wielding green energy was fighting the alien monster, but it didn't look like he would last.

That meant the task of saving the human race rested squarely on Lex Luthor's shoulders.

Again.

And that meant figuring out how to counter-act the creature's astounding powers.

"Mister Luthor," L-Soft chimed in as the footage rolled, "Despero's powers do not appear to have any connection to the laws of the physical universe. If the hypothesis is correct, and he is transporting the metahumans into extra-dimensional space, then it is possible that his powers are cosmic in nature."

"I'm aware of that, L-Soft," Lex said, more than a little annoyed. "And that means that any weapons that obey the laws of physics won't work against him. There's nothing I can design that he can't simply blink out of the universe."

"Not necessarily. Some of our more in-depth scans of the creature's physiology show no organs or tissues that may generate that sort of space-time distortion. It is of my opinion that Despero did not come into such power naturally. Therefore, even if his powers are cosmic in nature, he is not, and while we have no countermeasure for his abilities, I may have a potential countermeasure for him."

The view screen on Luthor's desk turned on, showing his design for psionic dampers--a piece of equipment he had created to counteract enemies with mind-controlling powers, such as his agent 'Doctor Psycho.' Then, L-Soft began displaying possible augmentations to the design, with Luthor adjusting and amplifying until...

"Perfect, L-Soft. Begin production on a model immediately."

"Understood, Mister Luthor."

"Also, contact the members of the Society--especially Senator Ross--and make sure they're in safe locations. Whatever this monster thinks he's doing here, he will not interfere with Project Wildfire. He's merely a delay."

Lex rose from his desk, stepping out of the auxilliary office deep in the underground bunker beneath the LexCorp Tower. All through the corridors, security personnel kept watch as he walked, further and further down into the subterranean maze until he reached a doorway.

Opening it, he stepped into a cavernous warehouse, deep beneath even the production floors and the housing for the Binary Fusion Cannon. Switching on a light, he revealed rows upon rows of what he was saving as a big surprise for the aftermath of Project Wildfire: a new generation of LexoSkel war-suits, updated with OMAC technology. The Army's Knight-Watch program could disable an entire country with a dozen or so units, but he had several thousand at his disposal.

They were not, however, what he was here to find.

Making his way to the back of the room, he saw what he was looking for: two metallic spires, about eight feet tall and ten feet apart. In front of them was a control panel of sorts, the one computer on the entire premises to which L-Soft was not connected. Luthor wanted to make absolutely sure he was the only one who knew this even existed.

He tapped a sequence of buttons on the control panel, activating the small screen on the top of it.

HELLO, LEX LUTHOR, the screen read. PROJECT: PHANTOM DOOR STANDING BY...

Luthor grinned.

 

[Catman_prb]

"Maybe this is where I should come in..."

As the mist starts to creep into the air, a yellow whirlwind reminescent of the Tasmanian Devil spins around the room, picking up Scarecrow into the middle of the whirlwind.

Scarecrow screams as he flies through the whirlwind, suddenly, it stops. Spitting him out of the whirlwind and flying across the prison, right through the upper window and outside.

"Took care of the trash, bats."

He dissapears, and then reappears behind Huntress.

"Wow, you're a looker....I could see how a man with no face would dig ya....but, you're not my Boo-Boo-Kitty-F***. Anyway, babe. What the Bats says, goes. We ain't killing nobody."

He dissapears from Huntress' side and then pops up next to Batman.

"Besides, Batsy...we can dismember them."

He shakes his head.

"How about a little light maiming? A toe here, a finger there?"

Again, he shakes his head.

"Torture?"

Another shake.

"Paper cut?"

"No."

"Well, shucks. I guess we'll play it your way."

"Jesus Christ, how long does it take? There are three of you and one of me!" Black Mask shouted, jumping up and down on the spot. He raised his gun at Batman, but feinted and grabbed Huntress around the neck. He pointed the gun at her head, smiling manically at the other two heroes. He dragged her over to the large window that the Scarecrow had just been thrown through, crunching over broken glass as he did so. He clunked Huntress around the head with th gun.

"Bored of this now. You can't kill, I can. You have to save people, I get to murder them. Same old, same old. So by that train of thought, you have to save me, because to let me die would be against your ethics. Right?" he said, stepping backwards, his shoes on the edge, his arm still around Huntress' neck.

 

[Blacklight]

"Jesus Christ, how long does it take? There are three of you and one of me!" Black Mask shouted, jumping up and down on the spot. He raised his gun at Batman, but feinted and grabbed Huntress around the neck. He pointed the gun at her head, smiling manically at the other two heroes. He dragged her over to the large window that the Scarecrow had just been thrown through, crunching over broken glass as he did so. He clunked Huntress around the head with th gun.

"Bored of this now. You can't kill, I can. You have to save people, I get to murder them. Same old, same old. So by that train of thought, you have to save me, because to let me die would be against your ethics. Right?" he said, stepping backwards, his shoes on the edge, his arm still around Huntress' neck.

This scum underestimates me. I hate being underestimated...

Before the Black Mask could go any point futher, I swung up my leg to land a kick into his face, and went into a front flip to land safely back inside, while Black Mask stumbled out the window.

"Oh hell no..."

Before he reached the ground to his death, I had quickly reached out the window and shot a zipline arrow through my crossbow that had pierced through Black Mask's shoulder, breaking his fall while I pulled him back up.

"...I ain't done with you yet."

 

[Catman_prb]

This scum underestimates me. I hate being underestimated...

Before the Black Mask could go any point futher, I swung up my leg to land a kick into his face, and went into a front flip to land safely back inside, while Black Mask stumbled out the window.

"Oh hell no..."

Before he reached the ground to his death, I had quickly reached out the window and shot a zipline arrow through my crossbow that had pierced through Black Mask's shoulder, breaking his fall while I pulled him back up.

"...I ain't done with you yet."

"Well I'm done with you. Jesus ****ing Christ, can we just end this already? You three have gotta be the worst heroes ever. Yellow dude can alter reality or whatever, but he's got a sense of humour to work with. Dominatrix, you have no sense of humour, timing, skill or generally anything. No witty lines, or anything revealing your origin. Let's face it, you're a pretty **** hero. And Bats could've killed me five times in the last second, but he hasn't. What the hell is going on? I'm just one guy with a gun!" Black Mask screams, and points his gun at Huntress. He squeezed the trigger and shoots her in the shoulder, laughing as she screams aloud.

"Hurts don't it? So next time, don't shoot me without ****ing permission!" he screams.

 

[MinNoir]

Mysterious, first the race, now a meeting. Cold dark skies, were luminous, telling no tales, as she raced across Gotham City. Zoooomm Brazoooo, the car gripped at the road, ripping it as it sped getting onto the highway. Her body sweaty, sticky, and her hair in the worst condition. She could careless, her eyes peering over the steering wheel, as the car shifted into a higher gear on its automatic transmission, the forward drive train pulling on the back tires.

The tall, near gigantic Wayne Tower gloomed over shadowing really, as her car parked parallel between a truck and a van. Carefully, she stepped out of the vehicle. Stephanie's eyes scanned for snipers, under cover agents... anything that might indicate this was a trap. Nothing... at all, she walked, still strapped up in her business casual outfit.

"Miss Brown," came a voice from the shadows, "follow me."

Dixon. She thought as she followed behind, "what is this about?"

"You'll see." He stated in no uncertain terms.

The puddles beneath her feet old, the cobblestone worn with age, he carefully entered the basement of Wayne Tower. "Mr. Dixon..."

"Miss Brown, I urge you, stay quiet..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Stephanie was led into a sub level below what, she wasn't sure, and then she saw it... her old uniform. It sat hung in a closet, and next to it a much more updated version. This was amazing... Kevlar, nylon, she couldn't believe it... Wait how did he? Dixon, began to speak, "what do you think?"

"I think I want to know how in the -"

"You're easy to follow, first a Spoiler in the vigilante circles, and now the street racers... Miss Brown, I want you to ... help me, help Gotham." Dixon informed her, "with the help of Hanae here, we can turn the screws and get Gotham back to her glory days."

"What glory days?" Stephanie asked, "and why do you need me?"

"The days before all these freaks started showing up, these freaks with powers..."

"What?" She was more confused than ever, "Mr. Dixon..."

"Miss Brown, neither you nor Hanae have a choice, you will do as I say, or your daughter, your job, and your ... neighbor will be grounds for termination."

Thanks to Adam Withers for the young Spoiler design, and Ing213 for the older Spoiler. These are both original designs by both of these awesome artists!

http://adamwithers.deviantart.com/
http://ing213.deviantart.com/

 

[MinNoir]

Donna wished, and oh how she wished, Mother and Diana could see her. Then again, maybe not, Terrance's friends and family were fawning over her beauty, and if she had any intellect. He spoke so proudly of her, Donna felt like she was back on Paradise Island. Excusing herself for a moment, she walked outside, Terrance saw her face, the same exact one she uses to describe her over bearing Mother, and perfectionist Sister.

New York skyline was so wonderful, and a sight to see, giving Donna the energy to think and ponder. But even that delight was interrupted, she watched for a moment, men surrounding a woman! "Hera help her!" Donna exclaimed, looking down at her blue evening gown, this was not going to do, no not at all!

Donna ran back into her home, and searched for her clothes, the ones she had on her back when she arrived on the shores of America. Yes here it is! "Diana will be known to Man as Wonder Woman, take this, so that they will know you are one of us, and not them." The Queen made sure that Donna understood what she was doing.

Putting the clothes on, the cape felt heavy but it was made of Amazonian silk, heavier than most modern silks. Checking around she made an escape through the small balcony, and took off like Hermes himself! Into the sky, up, up and away there she went!

Terrance saw her, from the corner of his eye, he didn't know what to make of it but he knew he'd have to evacuate his home in order to have a chat... with Donna about her... unique abilities.

"HELP!" The woman, cried and Donna knew exactly what to do.

The men were mean, nasty, and just down right ugly, "c'mon lady.. we just want a taste!"

"I don't think she wants to give you any." Donna stated, she landed a punch on him as his friends turned around to help him out.

"Who does this broad think she is?" They asked, as they leap forward to attack her.

Dodge, flip, jump, Donna grabbed two and swung them into the wall. "Anyone else want a sample?" The others ran, and Donna approached the woman who had been cowering for her life in one moment, and the next watching someone else help her.

"Oh my god its you, isn't?" Asked the woman as she stood up, and suddenly realized just how tall this... Wonder Woman was...

"... Uh..."

"ITS YOU! Wonder Woman! ITS REALLY YOU!"

"I..."

"Thank you so much!" The woman hugged Donna, "my name is Elba Ramon, I work at the New York Daily. My editor will be very pleased to hear that Wonder Woman lives in NEW YORK!"

That was awkward... Donna thought as the woman rambled, but at the same time it felt rewarding. Nodding in acknowledgment, and a simple your welcome later Donna was back in the air. Flying above New York, heading here and heading there. When asked who she was, she simply explained, "Wonder Woman."

 

[Green Lantern]

Barry woke up to find himself in the stadium where he first demonstrated his powers. He looked around and though he couldn't put a finger on what, he knew something was off. He stood up, and immediately got light headed, nearly falling over backwards. The sun beat down on him and he steadied himself. He was still in costume, though the uniform itself was a bit ragged. Barry sighed as he looked again at the stadium surrounding him, still not able to notice what was bugging him. As he ran past the old track, and the endzones painted bright red with the logo for the Central City University Scarlet Knights, he had an odd feeling that this wasn't home.

As he ran up the stairs to his apartment, a chill ran down his spine. He had no idea why, but he didn't feel right.

He swung the door to the two bedroom condo open and noticed a flashing red light on his answering machine. Nothing new there. Since becoming the Flash people had called relentlessly. He pressed play and thats when his jaw dropped.

"Last message left today at 11:33 A.M.: "Hey... it's Iris. Call me. We need to talk.""

The words swirled in Barry's head. Today. 11:33. Iris. How? As he tried to comprehend these words the room spun around him and he lost consciousness.

"You have no new messages."

Minutes later, Barry woke up, still breathing heavy at the words he had heard.

"How? How is this possible?"

Barry stood up and looked around the room. It seemed somewhat different. Things he didn't remember were scattered throughout the apartment, things he remembered were missing, but everything felt both oddly similar and oddly dissimilar at the same time. He stepped over to his closet and threw it open, eyes going wide at what he saw. Hanging in the closet were not his red Flash suits, but an ugly carbon copy in black and yellow.

What in the hell is going on here?:

Barry pulled one of the black suits off the hanger and quickly put it on. It fit him like a glove, though it felt wrong.

Something is off here, and I'm going to find out what.

Barry ran out the building, and through the streets of Keystone. He came to a dead stop at the building that Iris had lived in. Barry was too intent on getting to Iris's room to notice the fearful looks he was getting from most everyone.

He knocked on the door, not really expecting an answer.

 

[Byrd Man]

The 40 Year Old Archer
Part V
​

PREVIOUSLY

Spoiler

The 40 Year Old Archer
Part IV
​

"Come on, one more!"

"Uhh!!"

My biceps are screaming at me, I'm way over my suggested limit, I'm benching 250. I've been lifting weights and working out for two weeks now. So far, my beer gut has turned into a pot belly.

"Uhhh!!!"

CLANK!

The weights go into their place on top of the weight bench. Sweat racks my brow and my arms feel like rubber.

"Good job, old man."

Gary, my trainer here at the Rising Star Gym, is only 25. Asswipe likes to make fun of the fact that I'm 40.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I'm done for today."

"Sure, you really did do good today, Ollie. Now, take a day off and come back Thursday after work. And make sure you don't do anything too stressful with your arms!"

"Yes, Mein Führer."

***********

THUNK!

The arrow shaft finds it's home in the middle of the bullseye. My 23rd in a row. All the muscles and tendons in my right arm are begging for mercy, but I don't give them that satisfaction. If I'm gonna do this half-assed idea, I'm going to make sure I can still shoot like I could back in my prime. All the targets I have here in the back yard are self-made, they're sloppy. But they get the job done.

THWIP!

Once again, the arrow flies true.

THUNK!

24 in a row.

"Dad?"Connor opens up the back door and looks at me.
"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. It's been years since you picked that thing up..."

"I know...I just...I don't know, you wouldn't understand the way an old man thinks."

"So, you're going through a mid-life crisis?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not right now...."

"Okay...well, whenever you're ready."He turns and closes the back door. I sting another arrow, aim, and let it fly.

THWIP!

THUNK!

25 in a row, my all times best at one time was 120 in a row. I'm not there yet, but give it time...

*************

God am I beat...working all day, then spending four hours in your backyard shooting arrows can do that to you. I drag ass into my bed room and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow...


​

"Hey, dummy! Wake up!"

I strain to open my eyes, and as soon as I do..I'm wide awake.

"Oh my god! Who are you?"

"Who do you think I am?"

"I'm the damn Easter Bunny! Now wake up, we need to talk."

I blink my eyes and just like that, I'm gone from my bedroom. The other...umm..me is standing in the middle of a wide open field with me. He's dressed like Robin Hood, I'm in a white tank top, pajama bottoms, and bare feet.

"Where are we?"

He leans on his bow and smiles.

"I used to love this place. Look ahead, about a three hundred yards...."

He points towards something off in the distance. I squint my eyes and see it, it's a target.

"Think you can hit it?"

"I don't...I mean, I haven't practiced in...."

"Aww, ********. Don't give me that crap. You've got homemade targets set up in your back yard. You practice every day."

He hands his bow to me and I take it, it feels good in my hands. So natural, like a fish in water.

"Let's see if I can do it."

He hands me an arrow. I string it and pull back.

"Okay, now adjust for the wind...."

I aim at the target, and then move the arrow's tip upwards and to the left to compensate for the winds.

"Now, let it fly."

THWIP!

The arrow races out of my hand and takes flight. Me and um....me track the arrow's flight as it reaches it's peak in the air, and then starts a downward spiral towards the target.

"Wait for it....."

THUNK!

The arrows lands in the target and shakes slightly as it drives through the wood.

"I know that sound..."

"Dead."

"Solid."

"Perfect."

"Bullseye."

I look over at myself and smile. Then an odd thought strikes me.

"Okay, so where the hell are you from?"

"It's hard to explain. I'm you...only not. Walk with me, I'll explain it."

************

"Just think about it like this. Your life right now is like a thread. You went straight from Point A to Point B. Now, say you went down another path and arrived at Point C instead. For every path you could have taken, another world is where that guy lives."

"So, you're me. Only if I did something different?"

"Not really. I'm you, but on a different thread all together. You know how you were born fairly middle class. Mom and dad worked blue collar jobs?"

"Yeah."

"Well, where I came from. The Queens were a very rich family. Dad's business made me almost as wealthy as Bruce Wayne."

"Oh, so you were one of those rich *******s?"

He smiles and nods.

"Yeah, smartass. I was. Until I saw the error of my ways, I've spent the better part of my life trying to help people."

"I can understand you doing it through money, but why the get up?"

"It looks good on me, I wanted to do that whole robbing from the rich, giving to the poor deal. Since I've always loved Robin Hood. I went with the obvious get up."

"What do you call yourself?"

He takes the tip of his hat and covers it over his face.

"They call me Green Arrow."

"I like it. So, why exactly did you come to me tonight?"

"I'm just here to nudge you in the right way. It's time to embrace your destiny. This is what you've been looking for. Ever since what went down in the Olympics, you've been trying to fill that void. This is it."

"One more question. Who the hell sent you?"

"Now that. I can't answer. It's hush, hush. But I have to go now. It's my turn to watch Lian."

"Lian?"

He chuckles as he starts to walk away from me.

"All in due time."

I raise my voice so he can hear me over the widening distance between us.

"Got any other pointers?"

"Yeah! When you meet Dinah, kiss her for me!"


As the other me starts to walk away, the field gives way to blackness. I'm starting to black out.

****************

"Dad!"

My eyes snap open. Connor is looking over me curiously. Sunlight is starting to invade the bedroom.

"What time is it?"

"It's about six-thirty."

"Thanks for the heads up, kiddo. I got to get ready for work."

Connor nods and walks away. I stifle a yawn and sit upright in bed.

Damn, that was a freaky dream.

I notice something on my right arm....it's a piece of grass.

"What the hell?"

As I get out of bed, I notice the blackness of the soles of my feet. It's like I've been walking around outside barefooted. How is that possible?

"Wow...I got to start drinking decaf."
​

 

[Batman]

Earlier:

"Well, shucks. I guess we'll play it your way."

Creeper's attempts to 'help' me have worn thin on my nerves. Regardless of his intentions, he still has the blood of two of Gotham's leading crime bosses on his hands. Yet even faced-to-faced for the first time since, it doesn't phase him in the least. He committed murder, and it doesn't phase him in the least. Needless to say, his kind has no place among civilized society.

Grabbing a bola from my belt, I swing it over my head, and let it fly. It wraps around the maniac's body and tightly comes to a snug, just around his waste. He attempts to break free, but a swift, concentrated kick in the solar plexus convinces him otherwise. He goes down, hard, as I leer above him.

"If you intend to ever walk again, I'd suggest you stay down."

My threats prove hollow, however, if not effective ruses to my current state of mind. The truth is... I'm not entirely sure what to do from here. Creeper has attained bizarre superhuman abilities since the last time we met, apparentally, and that's only the beginning of the problem. There's still the woman on a murderous rampage calling herself The Huntress to be dealt with, while Black Mask and Crane still roam the halls of the now vacant prison. And with every passing moment, Blackgate's prisoners become a slim population, as each and every criminal runs amok, hoping to break through to a path leading into Gotham.

It's too much for me to possibly handle as it is. But even though I try to hide it, I'm not in entirely top physical condition anyway. Freeze and Ivy's ill-attempted stunt at the Gotham District Courts still affected my mind and body in ways that I'm only beginning to discover. If I keep this up... I could feasibly pass out from the strain. And if that happens, it's over. Two-Face will have won, and his insane schemes will have proven Gotham hopeless, costing countless lives if whatever he's planning reaches fruition.

I need to think.

I need to fight.

"At last..."

With a confused expression, I spin, facing the origin of a strange voice. In the darkness of the prison's corridor stands a tall individual, wielding a large and sharpened butcher's knife. Given his attire and body weight, he's obviously been here awhile. But who...?

"At last, the legendary Batman appears within our walls. I have heard so many myths. You could not imagine how great an honor it is..."

I clench my fists tightly together, preparing for another battle. "Save the small talk. You're going back to your cell."

He laughs. Not like The Joker, by any means... but close enough to keep me on edge, as he runs his fingers loosely down the blade of his weapon.

"I have no intention of returning. Conformity to the law of the walking zombies we call a society is but the greatest sin a man could commit."

"I beg to differ."

"Do you? That's a shame. Here, I thought our ideals would be matched. But now, I see the truth. You're just another one of them. Another fascist trying to do right in the world, when the only true freedom is through deliverance..."

As he tries to throw me off with words, I notice the alarming amount of thickly placed scars running up his arms, neck, and chest. Are those... self inflicted?

"You could say I'm a believer, Batman..."

"And I believe, it's time for the kill. Starting with you, rawmeat."

Despite what this deranged lunatic believes... there's little about him that could be percieved as 'intimidating'. With a simple motion, I've assumed a battle stance, motioning him to come forward. Black Mask laughs behind me, but I issue a warning to them both, with grim precision... just as the gunshot comes through Huntress' shoulder.

To hell with it. I've everything to lose. And it's just those sort of odds that appeal to me.

"Both of you. Shut up and fight."