The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season III

[rigel7soldiers]

"So, Jack, W-" I began, ere I was so rudely interrupted

"Please, call me John." Said Midnight, whom I would think to be a little paranoid. Maybe Jack was his real name.

"But you just said..."

"That's right, I just said to call me John. You catch on quick, Jack." My patience was running thin. But I stuck through it.

"Are we going to play, or are you just going to talk for another fifteen minutes, thirty-seven seconds straight?" The Clock. I can see wthat we're going to become bitter enemies.

"We'll talk for as long as it takes for me to get some answers. So, John, what am I here for?"

"Has Ja...er, John been telling you he's running this show? Well, he isn't. He wouldn't know. I would. Listen, pal, you've gained notoriety around these parts as a briliant surgeon and as a masked vigilante, and to tell you the truth, we could use both. Are you in?" The Spirit chimed in. This one perplexed me...he has the same mannerisms the first Spirit was storied to have...interesting.

"Begrudginly. Will this interfere at all with my work inthe JSA?"

"Probably." Whatever.

 

[The Question]

IC: Prometheus

I've been tailing the Question for about an hour now. He's beating three drug dealers and a robber in that time. If I was on his side I'd say that he has be doing a pretty good job today.

But now it's time for me to make my presence known.

"Hey" I say quitely from the shadows as he watched the street below. He turn and tried to hit me but I just grabbed his hand.

"Don't worry I don't want to fight you, yet. I just want to ask you a question. Why do you protect these maggots, these idiotic and preverted masses? Why have you sacrificed a normal life, your feelings and emotions, for people who will never give a damn about what you do? Why do you throw it all away just to do something that tears you away from the women you love and people you care for? Why?"

His answer will decide his fate.

I've heard of this guy. Prometheus. The hero hunter. I'm outclassed here. But he seems to be playing a game with me. I might as well play along.


For now.


"Because somebody has to. Because somebody has to make sure that the people of this city don't go to bed every night scared that someone is going to put a bullet in their head. I might as well be that somebody. 'The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it'. I was just tired of it giving that sanction."

 

[taskmaster]

IC:Prometheus

Wrong answer, but this Question could prove entertaining. He wasn't the average hero.

"Who does it effect if people die. It's going to happen sooner or later, whats wrong with it happening sooner. And what do you hope to accomplish protect the people, do you what to destory all evil. Because as you and I know there can't be any good without evil"

As I speak I observe the surroundings, trying to find out which way he would try to escape and how I would get to his JLA communtcator before he did.

 

[The Question]

"Jean Paul Sertre once said, 'life becomes meaningless the moment you lose the illusion of being eternal'. In that way of thinking, the fact of mortality makes living seem pointless, and thus we creat the illusion of being immortal. But the way I see it, there is no such thing as mortality. You simply live until something kills you. In my mind, life is a precious, fragile thing that should be cared for. As for destroying all evil, good and evil are more or less subjective. What I consider evil may not be what you consider evil. What I consider good may not be what you consider good. Yes, there are things that most people can agree are evil. Murder. Rape. Torture. But even then some do not consider those things evil. So in my mind, there are two types of people. Those who hurt others, and those who help others. I simply intend to stop the former and be the later."

 

[taskmaster]

" Well it seems that we will have to agree to disagree. In any case I think that our little chat, while it has been enjoyable, has come to it's end. I think you know what comes next." I say as I lunge forward in an attempt to knock him off the roof-top.

 

[The Question]

Prometheus lunges twords me. He grabs me and we start strugling. He's stronger than me, faster than me, and smarter than me. I fall back and slam into a window. As he comes twords me I take a shard of glass from the broken windo and stab it into the side of his helmet. Then I start running like hell.

Something tells me he wont stay down for long


I jump from rooftop to rooftop. After what seems like an eternity I make it back to my apartment. I look for my JLA comunicator and turn it on.

"EMERGENCY!!!! This i...."

The comunicator is shot out of my hand. I turn around and see Prometheus crouched on my windowsill.


I'm in trouble.

 

[taskmaster]

"Smart move with the broken glass. I should have counted on it but I didn't and you used the advantage. Congrats, you know what that gets you, just a little more pain before I end your miserable life."

He's got no where to run or hide, just me and him in his apartment. I have a while before the JLA finds out who called them and they get here. Thats not good for him. I grab him by his throat after his weak attempt to fight back. I don't have to do anything fancy here, just deliver the blows. I punch him in his face repeatedly and even though I can't see his real face I feel his jaw break. He trys to crawl away but I grab his foot and twist his ankle and hear the satisfiying sound of it snapping. I decide that I would rather not wait for the JLA to get hear so I leave after I stomp on his hand breaking most of the bones inside.

Prometheus has come back. No more working with anyone who will just hold me back. This time with The Question has given me clairity and I feel like I'm on top of the world.

 

[The Question]

I....I think I'm dying. I..NO! I can't give up I....I can't. God....head feels so grogy. Jaw's broke. Hand too. And I think I might have a colapsed lung. I...wait. Just as the darkness is settleing in, I see....figures materialize in front of me. I just.....I just need.....to.....rest.



Sudenly I find myself in a large white room. There I see what looks like a teenage girl in black clothing with an ahnk hanging around her neck.



"Hello there. I'm Death. What's your name?"


"I...I'm Charles. But everyone calls me Vic."

"Well hello Vic."

Suddenly she changes into a tall man in black armor with skis straped to his back.

"You know, it's been a long time since I've had a visitor who wasn't, well, dead."

"You mean I'm not dead?"

"Well.."

Suddenly he changes into a skeleton wearing a black version of The Flash's costume.

"..yes and no. You see..."

Suddenly a tall pale man in a black robe apears.

"Hello. I am Dream. What my sister here is trying to say is that you are in a state between dreaming..."

Suddenly the "black flash" changes back into it's origional form.

"....and death."

"What matters is that he wants to see you."

"Who is 'he'?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

I just stare at her.

"The Source."

They then lead me to a large door. As it opens, I find that they are gone. There is a bright light, and I come face to face with a tall, balding man with horn rimed glasses sitting at an art desk.

"Helo there."

"Excuse me, but, who are you?"

"I am your creator. Your God. I am the source of all life. You can call me Steve."

 

[Keyser Soze]

At the Gotham network studios the 'Late night Gotham live' show was getting ready to air.The audience were seated and the cameramen were assembling in front of the stage.

Suddenly thru the ventilation system came a purple gas which began to fill the studio.The people in the studio began to cough and were suddenly paralysed.Their limbs were frozen.

Then onto the stage skipped Harley Quinn who stood in front of the audience with her hands on her hips and smiled.

"I always knew when I made my big break in TV that I'd have my audience spellbound" she said gleefully as she skipped to one of the cameras and kicked the camera man aside.

"S'cuse me hon I just gotta get this thing rollin.We don't want the people of Gotham to miss this show.No sir".Harley flicked the switch and they began to broadcast.

The show's music came on.The 'On Air' lights flashed.

Harley went back up on stage and smiled a big adoring smile into the cameras.

"Hello late show lovers and lovers of the late show.It's late night Gotham live.We bring you good people a very,very special show this evening.Oh yes this is going to be very educational" Harley chirped.

"Oh but don't take my word for it.No it's the job of our host to entertain us.Yes folks here he is,the man who puts a smile on your face whether you want it or not.Presenting that caliph of clowns,the mogul of mounte banks,the one and only JOKER!!!!".

The curtains opened, the spotlight fell, and there, on the centre of the stage, was The Joker. The studio audience could not move, but if they could, their eyes would have widened with horror. They all knew who he was.

As usual, he was flamboyantly dressed in a purple suit. But what the audience REALLY recognised was his face. At first glance, he looked like a clown, with white skin and green hair. But this was no clown. Yes, he smiled, and laughed, but his eyes were cold. Dead, apart from a dark, malevolent glee.

"Citizens of Gotham!" announced The Joker, finally breaking the silence, "At long last, I have returned. Did you miss me? Or did you all lie awake at night, praying you'd seen the last of me? Well, I'm back now. And oh, what a comeback it is! HA HA!"

The Joker paused. He knew that "Late Night Gotham" was a hugely popular show, and that everyone would be watching. All around Gotham, people would be hanging onto his every word. Right now, he was more important than The Mayor. more important than Lex Luthor. More important than Batsy, good ol' Bruce Wayne himself.

"But tonight isn't all fun and games, my simple-minded friends," he continued, "I'm here tonight for educational purposes. Allow me to give you a little lesson on antimatter."

The Joker put on a pair of thick, black-rimmed glasses, and pulled on a labcoat.

"We are all made of matter, ladies and gentlemen. Air, water, our very molecules. Everything that matters... is matter! HA HA! So what is antimatter? Well, it is the opposite of matter. Now, I know that there aren't many intellectuals out there in TV land, so I'll explain an important scientific fact. Opposites cancel each other out. So when matter and antimatter meet, we have what's called annihilation. Basically, a BIG BOOM!"

The Joker threw away the glasses and labcoat.

"I love the science bit," he chuckled, "But I should explain that antimatter only ever existed in other parts of the universe. None existed on Earth. Until now..."

The Joker grinned mischieviously. He knew that all around Gotham City, the terror would slowly be rising.

"You see, some scientists in Europe succeeded in creating a specimen of antimatter. And it has fallen into the wrong hands. Namely... mine! HAHAHA! I am currently in possession of one gram of antimatter. Not a lot, you may say, but if it is released, the reaction will create an explosion that matches the power of the nuke dropped on Hiroshima!"

The Joker paused for dramatic effect.

"I'm sure you're all hoping that I don't bring this antimatter into Gotham City. but the funny thing is, it's already here!" cackled The Joker, "It's hidden somewhere in Gotham City, right under your nose. The antimatter is currently in a containment chamber. The battery-powered magnetic vacuum is currently set to a timer. In 48 hours, the timer will run out, switching off the battery. The antimatter will make contact with matter, and we have annihilation. Mass annihilation. You are all sitting on oblivion! HA HA!"

The smile suddenly vanished from The Joker's face. The camera zoomed in close to his face.

"There will be no escape. If I detect a mass evacuation, I can undertake measures to instantly deactivate the battery. You are all going to die. And it's all because one man. As long as he lives, you all die. His death is the only way you will be saved. Or, you could pay my ransom. All I want is to be paid a gazillion jillion trillion billion dollars."

Then The Joker finally cracked another smile, bursting into outrageous laughter. The camera zoomed back out, and followed The Joker as he walked round to face his audience.

"I'm disappointed in you, my adoring audience. I expected you to put your fat, clammy little hands together in applause, and cheer my name. but I guess you can't, because you're a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE! HA HA! I thank you for listening, but I'm afraid that you won't live to see Gotham's destruction. But it's like I like to say. If you gotta go - go with a smile!"

The Joker turned back to the camera.

"Farewell Gotham. It's been nice knowing you. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker bowed, and then left the studio with Harley and his henchmen. As he walked out, gas again began to fill the studio. But this time it was green. his lethal Joker Venom. The already paralysed audience were soon killed, their mouths pulling back into twisted grins.

The Joker was back. And the bodycount would soon be rising...

 

[DarkKnightJRK]

IC: Batman:

I take a moment to relax after my patrol. I took down a few robberies, and a few handfulls of attempted rapes/muggings. Not much, but enough to justify me.

"Ba--Bruce!" I hear Jim yell, while running up the stairs. He barges into my quarters and turns on the television.

There was the face of whom I am certain is the Anti-Christ himself, The Joker.

"He has some sort of antimatter thing, and he plans to use it to destroy Gotham!" He yelled out. I don't blame him for being agatated. "Alright, we have to calm down, think things through. You're going down there, right?"

I just stare at him.

"Of cource, stupid question. I don't know what I can do, but--" I had an idea.

"Hold on, Jim," I said, left the room for a second until I found Barbara walking in the corridors.

"Barbara!" I yelled out. I need your help. I'm not sure if you have any of your computers for Oracle, if you don't, then use the equipment I have. Contact whoever you can get. Get Atom as well, he probably knows about this antimatter thing.

"I'm going after him."

With that, I took my gloves and my belt, fastened them in place along with the cowl, and leaped out into the night.

 

[Phantasm]

IC: Barbara Gordon

"Barbara! I need your help. I'm not sure if you have any of your computers for Oracle, if you don't, then use the equipment I have. Contact whoever you can get. Get Atom as well, he probably knows about this antimatter thing."


He disapears out of the window imeadiately after ordering me, leaving dad and myself standing silently in the small room that has become Bruce's space. I run over to the computer set at the desk in the corner of the room and after seating myself, my fingers fly across the keyboard. The computer screen blares to life adn I put on the head set. I connect to the Justice Leaguers, any of whom are available and after downloading the 'Late Night Gotham Live' video, send it to all the heroes I can think of. "Respond to this message imeadiately!Contact Batman after doing so as soon as possible. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!"

Heaving out a frustrated sigh, I slump against the seat and remove the head set. I try to swallow it all. Joker was 'back' and now was planning to have the Big Bang occur right here in Gotham.

 

[rigel7soldiers]

"But why me?"

"Well, you're the only member of the Justice League who lives in Opal City...We want a contact on the Watchtower."

"Hm...I can get you guys up there now, if you'd like. Be a welcome change from this dank craphole."
And with that, I requested a 'port up to the Tower. 'Port Granted.

"Blastoff in five...four...three...two..."

*the WatchTower*

"One." Why do they even keep this guy around?

I too a look around the control room. The Question. In Hub. I asked for a 'port to where he was, for me and my guests. We got there as soon as we could.

"Well, this is a neat first team mission, eh, Jack?" Quoth the moron, who may or may not be named Jack.

"Please don't call me that."

"Sure thing, Pete." Great. Now he may have revealed my Civilian ID.

"I'm Dr. Mid-Nite, alright? This isn't the time for fooling around anyway. This man needs medical attention."

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Joker was back at his House of Fun, his fortress on Liberty Island. None of his enemies knew he was here. But oh, he knew where they were. In Gotham City. Standing on the shore of Liberty Island, he had a clear view of Gotham.

And soon, he would witness it's destruction. And that was going to happen. All that crap about Batman's death being the only way they could live? A load of baloney, meant to turn the people of Gotham against their "hero". Batman would die, but it would be at The Joker's hands. Then Gotham City would follow Brucie to oblivion.

He knew that everyone would now be looking for him. But even if they did find him, they wouldn't stand a chance. Out of all his trap-filled hideouts, this was by far the most deadly. Green Lantern, The Flash, Superman - he had plenty of surprises designed for each of them.

"Come and get me!" he shouted out to Gotham City, "I'm ready for all of you! HA HA!"

But there was one guest he anticipated more eagerly than any other. Batman. That's who he was really waiting for.

"I hope you like Liberty Island, Batsy," chuckled The Joker to himself, "Because it's going to be your grave..."

 

[DrVenkman90]

ICNE

I think to myself of how I'm to kill Batman. There is no way that I can fight him and break him with 25 men. The only way that I am to break the Bat is if I get some help. Last time I broke everyone out of Arkham. But that wouldn't work this time. I need someone to help but who hates him as much as me. But no one will work with me. Or maybe they will...

 

[SuperFerret]

"Respond to this message imeadiately!Contact Batman after doing so as soon as possible. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!"

I pick up the radio broadcast as I approach the screen door to the house, and Barbara sounded upset. I waste no time, taking only a second to kiss my mother of the cheek as she washed the dishes. Most people wouldn't have noticed it, but she was used to it by now.

"Try and be home for dinner, Clark." she called, and though I was already four miles away, wearing my Supersuit, I nodded in answer.

Next thing you know, I'm in Gotham, hovering outside of Barbara's apartment. Much to my surprise, Bruce is there, and from all appearances, has been living there. This was new, and I guessed that Jim Gordon had been let in on the big secret. So, I tapped slightly on the window, feeling slightly as if I had done this before.

 

[The Question]

IC: The Question


"Hello Steve. I.....I have to ask, am I....... dead?"

"What? No. Do you want to be?"

"No...but if I'm not dead, why are you talking to me?"

"Well, I do this for everybody who has a near death experiance. Usually I just give them a little advice and a few words of encouragement. But some times....Listen, Vic, you and your friends, those Justice League folks, you're in for some tough times up ahead."

"What kind of tough times?"

"Well.....that's the problem. I can't tell you. I have a little thing about letting people know the future. I let a few precog metahumans in on the info, but that's it. But I can tell you this:

1. Watch out for Luthor. I know it sounds redundant, but the guy's more of a leech than usual these days.

2. A dead man is going cause alot of trouble for the living.

3. There is an angel of chaos and death on earth. Watch out for him. He is a laughing matter.

4. Don't trust those in power. By now all they know is how to abuse it.

5. There's a man out there with nothing left to lose, and his is the touch of death.

and 6. For the love of me Vic, get a girlfriend. Now, Death and Dream can escort you out. Seeya."

I turn twords the door and open it, but then...

"Oh, and Vic? Your parents are proud of you."

"my parents? Wha...can I see..."

Suddenly the office is gone, and I'm in the white room again.I turn around and see Death and Dream.

"It's okay Vic."

"He likes to be cryptic like that. It's a diety thing. Shall we go now?"

"Let's, please."

"So, how'd you like the whole 'near death experiance' thing?"

"Dying was a truly facinating experiance, but it's not something I'm looking forward to experiancing again any time soon."

"You know what?"

"What?"

"That's what every near-deather says. Now, let's get you home."

 

[rigel7soldiers]

"I'm starting to feel a pulse. Looks like he'll be fine."

"Really? It looked like he was in terrible shape..."

"But he's okay now. Go figure."

He started to rise.

"Wow, the Question. Are you alright?"

 

[Phantasm]

Next thing you know, I'm in Gotham, hovering outside of Barbara's apartment. Much to my surprise, Bruce is there, and from all appearances, has been living there. This was new, and I guessed that Jim Gordon had been let in on the big secret. So, I tapped slightly on the window, feeling slightly as if I had done this before.

IC:Barb Gordon

"It's Superman." Dad says in an almost awed voice I look up and notice Clark's familiar face hovering outside the window. Getting up I walk over and open it up. Clark floats in instantly and I close it.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I look at him, not hesitating to fill him in on the situation insantly. "Joker's at it again. But its possibly worse than ever before. He's got his hands on the anti-matter CERN in Geneva has been experimenting with secretly. Says we have 48 hours before Gotham is treated to its very own Big Bang."

 

[taskmaster]

IC: Prometheus

I had a great time today and have gotten my head on straight. But I still can't help feeling incomplete and obsolete. I stare at the gun I've been holding in my hand for the last twenty minutes. I don't know if this is what my parents wanted me to do. The thoughts of ending it all and being reunited with them have come up for years now.

I don't know if I can truely make a difference in this world of heros. I'm not sure that what I did today or what I will do in the coming months will make any difference at all. Thats the only reason I do what I do, to make a difference. I have a feeling that there will be more days like this. The only way to keep my mind from the thoughts of being reunited with my parents is to harm the heros that represent the thinking that took their lives.

But I can't let them down. If I go back to them without fufilling my promise to them they would be so dissappointed in me. I have to move on, I have to make a difference, I will make a difference no matter what the cost.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Somewhere over the East Coast in the Invisible Jet.

"I'm am enroute to Gotham. I should arrive shortly. Hopefully we can wrap up this Joker business before your Mom's food gets cold. Wonder Woman out."

Gotham. I've been thinking about it alot lately. Like a giant blemish on the face of Man's World. To be honest I've never liked the place. Not just the people and the crime but the architecture of the city. No grandeur. Just a sprawl. A modern day Babylon. It's time Babylon faced the Truth. It's time I made an impression on Gotham.

"Wonder Woman here. I'm coming up on Gotham. Who's else is here? Over"

 

[SuperFerret]

IC:Barb Gordon

"It's Superman." Dad says in an almost awed voice I look up and notice Clark's familiar face hovering outside the window. Getting up I walk over and open it up. Clark floats in instantly and I close it.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I look at him, not hesitating to fill him in on the situation insantly. "Joker's at it again. But its possibly worse than ever before. He's got his hands on the anti-matter CERN in Geneva has been experimenting with secretly. Says we have 48 hours before Gotham is treated to its very own Big Bang."

"Sounds bad. We're going to need a plan before we rush headlong into this. We don't want to repeat past mistakes."

My expression is grim, as is our situation. The Joker with experimental anti-matter? Not a good situation at all. At least if someone like Ra's Al Ghul or Lex Luthor had it, they'd try and ransom cities. But the Joker, he'd kill without hesitation, for the fun of it.

 

[DarkKnightJRK]

I crotched over the edge of Gotham City. For all the hell and evil that this city inhabits, I still love it. I've heard so many say that Gotham City's a rabid beast that should be put to sleep. I don't think so. There's still good people here, and they can make this city better again.

I'm not sure if I'm one of those good people anymore, but I'll try to clear the way so that they can make things right.

No more musing. I have to find Joker's hideout, and find out where he's holding this Antimatter. I stood up and shot a line out.

I leap into the sky.

It's time to hunt.

BOOM

My line is thrown off by...a missle?

Dropping. I'm falling and I can't get my line back in order. Quick thinking, I spread my cape, trying something new I put in, gliding capabilities.

Doesn't work. Wind too volitle to pick up a rigid shape. I'm flaling into the air. Less speed, though. Cape must have slowed me down. I drop through one awning. Two. Three. Four. Then I crashed onto the hood of a car.

I pick myself off the car. One bonus about padded, molded kevlar--it helps keep bones in their right places.

I look and see what picked me out of the sky. Cops. Lots of them. Apparently, they took what Joker said about the 'only thing that will save Gotham is Batman dead' part to heart.

They rush onto me. I beat every one that gets near me but more and more just show up. It's getting tough. Too many. Too many to fight them all. They dog-pile on me.

I don't want to beat these men--we may be on different sides of the law, but we're still fighting for the same side--but, these men plan to kill me, and stop me from saving the city from Joker.

I can't allow that.

I finally get my grappling gun in order and I aim for the sky, hitting a building. I pull myself away from the crowd. One poor soul is dangling from my cape as I fly higher into the air. He could easily die by dropping when I reach the end of my line.

What do I do?

I kick him in the face.

He drops a few yards down and lands on the crowd. They might get broken bones, but it's better than dying.

I pull myself onto the building. Luckily, I can see the whole of the skyline of Gotham from here. I scan the area, tracking anything unusual about it. My eyes stop on Liberty Island. It now has a distorted smile on it's face.

I'd say that's preety unusual. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

"Oracle," I call out through my comm, "tell whoever you brought to start looking for the Antimatter. Scan through out the city, and stop whatever chaos is happening.

"I found Joker's lair. I'll see if I can get any answers from him."

 

[Phantasm]

IC:Babs Gordon

"Sounds bad. We're going to need a plan before we rush headlong into this. We don't want to repeat past mistakes."

I nod my head in agreement, "True. But we don't have time. And Batman's already out on the hunt for him." When I see the red blinking, I head over to the computer and put on the head set. Diana's voice greets me ears, "Wonder Woman here. I'm coming up on Gotham. Who's else is here? Over"
"Superman is here. We don't have much time."

"Oracle,tell whoever you brought to start looking for the Antimatter. Scan through out the city, and stop whatever chaos is happening.I found Joker's lair. I'll see if I can get any answers from him."

Batman's voice rings in after Diana's and I tell him, "Clark and Diana are here. I'll tell them." I turn to Clark, "He wants you to start searching for the canister of anti-matter. Says he knows where Joker is."

 

[Spike_x1]

Rudy Jones gazed over the glimmering horizon of Metropolis. The buildings shimmered in golden light. The calm before the storm.

He had just finished watching a special news broadcast which he had filmed earlier that day. The station manager had been more than gracious to bump up his interview on the schedule after Rudy had threatened to fire him. ‘What a nice man,’ Jones thought to himself.

The following interview showcased “Lex Luthor’s” overwhelming concern for the people of the world. People had been appalled that the “greatest hero in the world” would assault a foreign diplomat from the UN, resulting in a near war and trade embargoes from America to the diplomat’s home country. The fact that the Teen Titan known as Raven would hijack several nuclear missiles to destroy some major cities in the world came as a severe shock that was felt throughout the world. It made citizens question who exactly they had blindly let protect them all these years.

All was as it should be, from what Rudy Jones had been instructed to do.

Until the Heroes Memorial.

Oh, how beautiful it had been. All of those do-gooders dressed in their fancy costumes and suits. Rudy had seriously considered making an appearance as Lex Luthor to promote his public image in this time of remembrance, but he couldn’t even stand the thought of it. Being around so many a**holes would have made him sick to his proverbial stomach.
Instead, he chose to pay a trip to the real Lex Luthor’s body at Hob’s Bay in order to recharge. Imagine Rudy’s surprise when he heard that the Green Lantern had brought back all of the victims that the Dark Alliance had taken away.

“Lex” already had a plan to turn such an impressive deed into a fighting chance.

During his latest interview on the news, Lex Luthor had given serious question as to whether or not the Green Lantern had chosen to 'play God' by bringing those people back to life. Lex said that Green Lantern had no right to juggle with those citizens' lives and deaths in that manner.

“You’re against the return of those poor people?” the interviewer had asked.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Rudy replied. “I’m thrilled that those people have been returned to their friends and loved ones, but…”

The interviewer looked genuinely concerned for Lex’s opinion. “But what?”

“But, if the Green Lantern can bring back the dead, what’s to stop him or anyone else from trying to bring back some of the most feared criminals and killers in our history? What if some racists sicko decides to resurrect Hitler, or what if some psycho decides to bring a dead supervillain back to life, such as the monstrous murderer known as the Parasite?”

“Yeah,” the interviewer chuckled. “Good thing that psychotic freak is ‘dust in the wind.’ Heheh.” The interviewer laughed at his quotation of the famous song while Rudy had restrained the urge to shove his fist through the man’s face.

“Yes. Ha. Ha. Good thing he’s… dead.” Jones managed to say through gritted teeth. “Anyway, we certainly wouldn’t want someone like that returning to life, now would we?”

“I guess not.”

“Now, what if this Green Lantern someday has a mental breakdown of some kind and chooses to resurrect an army of dead killers? Should he or anyone else be trusted with that kind of power?”

“I--I guess not.”

The interview had ended with the audience around the planet giving serious and considerable thought to what abilities their “heroes” can be trusted with, and if they might have a motive to use them wrongly.

Rudy Jones looked over his weekly sales records that lay on his desk. The sales spoke for themselves. People all over the country were buying crate-loads of weapons and ammunition, for what Rudy guessed would be protection if any superfolks decided to go rogue. The trust was almost gone.

Rudy Jones gave a soft belly laugh until he heard the voice shouting inside his head.

I'M ALMOST HERE. BE PREPARED.

Then the voice was gone.

“Whoa. I guess it’s almost time to party.” the Parasite said to himself.

Suddenly, his assistant Neal burst into his office in a panic.

 

[SuperFerret]

IC:Babs Gordon

"Sounds bad. We're going to need a plan before we rush headlong into this. We don't want to repeat past mistakes."

I nod my head in agreement, "True. But we don't have time. And Batman's already out on the hunt for him." When I see the red blinking, I head over to the computer and put on the head set. Diana's voice greets me ears, "Wonder Woman here. I'm coming up on Gotham. Who's else is here? Over"
"Superman is here. We don't have much time."

"Oracle,tell whoever you brought to start looking for the Antimatter. Scan through out the city, and stop whatever chaos is happening.I found Joker's lair. I'll see if I can get any answers from him."

Batman's voice rings in after Diana's and I tell him, "Clark and Diana are here. I'll tell them." I turn to Clark, "He wants you to start searching for the canister of anti-matter. Says he knows where Joker is."

"I'll find it."

I fly out the window before anyone can respond, gaining altitude until I can see all of Gotham City. Then, I begin scanning systematically, using both my X-Ray and telescopic vision to locate the anit-matter. It'll only be a matter of time, unless, of course, I'm unfortunate enough for the Joker to have encased his anti-matter bomb in a lead casing.