The "World Of Heroes" DC RPG Season V

[Watchman]

"Heh..."

Slumped in the back of the van, The Joker spat out another wad of blood.

"Lets unleash those toys of yours on Gotham. We'll watch these insects tear each other to pieces!"

Scarecrow had got in touch with people in his former gang. They were more than happy, and scared out of their minds, to help Gotham's three most wanted. All across the city they were setting up more of Scarecrow's demented toys they were filled to the brim with his fear toxin. The Joker's van was parked outside the mall with the people of Gotham not knowing of their presence. Scarecrow steps out of the driver's seat, Joker was in no condition to drive, holding a remote control and a small wind up toy drummer. He winds it up and lets it walk inside.

"Lets follow the little drummer boy and see where it takes us."

 

[Supergirl]

Well that was certainly rather anti-climatic... Who'd have thought after such an intense battle that it would just end like that. Rao.

After Darkseid was defeated, Kara flew off, westward towards her home in San Francisco. Now what excuse am I going to use to get BACK into Stanford? This could prove difficult.

Kara landed on the roof of Titans Tower and went inside to her room. She changed back into civilian clothes and used her special comb to go from blonde to brunette.

"Who's there?"

Cassie... should have known someone would be home.

Kara turned to find Cassie in the doorway. Cassie's eyes went wide.

"KARA!"

With godlike speed Cassie leapt across the room and hugged Kara tightly.

"We were worried about you! Where have you been?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you when I get back. Right now I have to try and save my college career."

"Alright, make it quick! I'm so glad you're back!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

Forty minutes later, in the office of the univeristy president:

"So you mean to tell me that you dropped off the face of the planet and failed all your spring classes because of a death in the family? Who died?"

Superman, you arrogant son of a .... How the hell does Clark get his excuses to work so easily?

"The man who raised me since my parents died. He was murdered in Metropolis and everything just went a million miles an hour. I'm sorry I never phoned to explain it, but I was also kept secluded until they found his killer, as I was also a potential target. Happy?"

"Alright, I'll drop your incompletes off your record, and put you back in on probationary status. But one more screw up missy and you're done."

"THANK YOU!"

Linda smiled as she walked back out onto campus, mere moments later the students on the green were amazed to see Supergirl fly overhead.
​

~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

Five minutes later, back at the Tower:

"...so... Spill. Where were you? Any cute guys? The whole dish, and I want it now."

"...You're not going to believe this... but I was home. Argo, you know the city I was born in? It somehow survived the explosion that destroyed Krypton. My parents, my family were all still there."

Kara teared up remembering that thanks to Darkseid she had lost them all again.

"What's wrong Kara? You okay?"

"...Darkseid... he killed them all. He took them away from me again. My mom... my dad... brother, and little Kara. That heartless, demonic, poor excuse for a sentient being."

Kara's eyes glowed red, as her pain turned to anger.

"It's okay Kara, you still have your family here. Clark and Lois; Diana and me; even Bart, he's been worried about you, I think he misses you."

Kara smiled a little thinking of her ex. "Really? Is he around?"​

 

[Keyser Soze]

Scarecrow had got in touch with people in his former gang. They were more than happy, and scared out of their minds, to help Gotham's three most wanted. All across the city they were setting up more of Scarecrow's demented toys they were filled to the brim with his fear toxin. The Joker's van was parked outside the mall with the people of Gotham not knowing of their presence. Scarecrow steps out of the driver's seat, Joker was in no condition to drive, holding a remote control and a small wind up toy drummer. He winds it up and lets it walk inside.

"Lets follow the little drummer boy and see where it takes us."

"Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum!
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum!"

Following Scarecrow, The Joker enters the shopping mall, pulling a gas mask out of his seemingly bottomless jacket pocket, and handing it over to Two-Face. He didn't know exactly what to expect in here, but whatever it was, most likely it would provide a laugh or two. Worthwhile sticking around for now.

But he couldn't stay with Harv and Johnny for much longer. This was a fun diversion, but he had to get moving with the final stage of his grand master-plan. By now, they'd have surely discovered Paulie's wife. And he bet they thought that fake bomb was the gag! It was never about the bomb! It was always about Paul Thorne, always. Him and his dearly departed pregnant wife.

"Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum!
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum!"

He could worry about the plan later. For now, he'd just get a kick outta the chaos.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Nothing much Bart. Just my annual vacation time with the Legion and I decided to come here. Sprock, it's hot here. Global warming my ass."

I look at Bart and we exchange puzzled expressions.

"I'm also here to see Grandma Iris."

I shake my head.

"You'd have to find her first. Haven't seen her in a while."

"Does she still have the book?"

I frown.

"You're on a Legion mission, aren't you?"

"Not really, more on a personal quest. Like Don Quixote or Rynd Granvilder."

"Who?"

"Nevermind. The point is, around this time, the book goes missing for five hundred years. I'm sure you two remember the war versus the Cobalt Blues. Dont want that happening again. Anyway, I don't know whether the disappearance is linked with changes in the timline, because of certain recent devlopments with the timeline it's hard to say, but I'm here to find the book and take it back to the future."

[BLACKOUT]"Hmm. Your best bet is the Library. I figure they would have a book on the Flash....I hope it's cool if I leave you two alone, I'm gonna patrol around the cites and check out what's happening in the world...."[/BLACKOUT]

With that, I dissapear from Jenni and Wally in a blur, heading West towards the Pacific....

 

[MaskedManJRK]

"The Painting"
​

His name is Syd Starr, and he is going out of his mind.

It started at the opening of the new art show. Syd had his eye on a painting by local artist Boris Ebar. Syd doesn't even remember the name of the painting at this point, but it has the vision of a man, in ragged suit and with ragged eyes staring blankly out, huddled on the gutter on the street, with huge, monstrous feet walking around him, unaware of him. It spoke to Syd then, looking at the painting and taking out his wallet to buy it as it does now, as he finds himself in the same position as that insignificant man, small and weak under the feet of men.

As the exchange was made, and Syd gained possession of the painting, he looked out to find Nora Lace and Vic Sage, and found them next to another painting.

"Oooh, look at this one, Vic!" Nora cried as she dragged Vic's arm over with her. He's supposed to be covering the art showing, but Nora wanted to go and asked him to take her with him. He wanted to work on it alone, but he remembered the last time he had something that was remotely considered a "date," and relented.

"Huh. I dig it." Sage said as he looked at the painting pointed at Nora. It shows a man, fit and smiling, wearing a tank top and jeans with a hammer and chisel in hand.

"Nora! Vic!" Starr called out as he approached them, painting behind his back to surprise them with.

"Syd," both Vic and Nora politely reply. Neither really wanted to take Syd with them, but they both knew how Syd would cry to his "daddy" and their boss. Sam wouldn't actually do anything, but they'd rather avoid the grief.

"Check this out!" Syd said as he pulled the painting around to show them. "It's just...deep, you know? Like, how man refuses to help each other. It's...real."

"...Actually, Syd. That sounds kinda pretentious." Vic replied. Syd glared at Vic, looked at Nora, who already turned back to the painting of the triumphant man. Syd spun and walked away.

The next day, at W.W.B. Studios, Syd walked down the corridor to his office. But as he walked passed Nora's office, he noticed something odd...the painting! The "triumphant man!" Syd knocked on the door.

"Come in," Nora said, in the middle of typing a story, as Syd opened the door.

"Nora!"

"Syd."

"I have a question for you, my dear."

"Shoot."

"Where did you get that painting?" Nora finally looked away from her papers and looked up to the painting.

"Oh, Vic bought it for me last night," she said, and continued with her work. Syd turned to the window to find Vic walking through the bull-pin.

Vic was about to step into his office when Syd forcefully bumped into Vic and pointed a finger into his chest. "You did it to embarrass me, didn't you?"

"What?" Vic replied.

"You bought that...that...childish painting for her to embarrass me! To mock me!" Vic widened his eyes and than stared blankly at Syd.

"Alas, detective, you've figured out my plot. I didn't buy that painting because I liked it and wanted to make my lady-friend happy, but to, in some strange metaphysical way, embarrass you." Vic started to turn and head for his office. "Dumbass."

Syd almost snarled at Vic. Syd tried to think of a good comeback to yell at Vic, make him see he's not the biggest man there, but could not think of anything. He turned and stomped away to his office.

Syd again saw the painting in Nora's office, staring at him, mocking him, laughing at him. Just like Sage. Just like...Nora. He looked down and saw the beautiful blond sitting in her chair, on the phone, probably breaking down some senator for a hot story, with the visage of the laughing inhumanity that she put up, high above her, like some sort of alter, and he realized what he must do. He went back to his office, made a phone call, and continued work as if everything was perfectly normal.

"You want us to do what?" The huge thug in the cheap suit asked. Beside him was another thug that could have been a twin, if not for the slightly skinnier frame and blond hair, instead of the first thug's black. Syd sat on the other side of the table, with a briefcase full of money.

"You heard me, gentlemen. $1,000 to go to W.W.B. studios, steal the painting in an office, and bring it to me."

"But, uh," the first thug said, "if you work there, can't you just steal it yourself?"

"Well..." Syd said, racking his brain for an excuse, "I am not a professional thief, I believe it would be best to leave it to the professionals." The second thug stood up and looked down on Syd.

"Okay, so you're saying that for a grand, we'll steal a painting from an office and bring it to you?"

"Yes," Syd replied. The first thug stood up alongside his almost-twin and glared.

"Get the f**k out of here, cop."

"...What--"

"I SAID, get the f**k out of here, you pig. We may look it, but we're not stupid. Even in a town this bent, we can tell a sting when we see it." Syd was about to argue that he wasn't a cop, but the first thug pulled out a gun and Syd ran before the thug could speak another word.

No where else to turn, Syd walked back to his office, crouched down on the floor behind his desk, and waited until morning, staring at the insigificant man in the painting across from him, only to find himself.

The sun cracks through the window, waking Syd from a pitiful half-slumber. He dreamed he was the man in his painting, diving and jumping and crawling away from the huge feet unknowingly trying to stomp onto him. He suddenly looks up to see above him, the man in Nora's painting, looking down at Syd. Laughing, the man's face transforms to that of Vic Sage, before crushing Syd with the heel of his shoe.

He knows what he has to do, now. He has to kill the painting himself.

He stands up, almost falling over. He leans on his desk as his knees stop trembling. He opens the door and walks out, hearing laughter aimed at him, at all directions, laughing at his punyness.

"Stop that! Stop that laughing!" He screams out as he takes out a switchblade he bought to fool himself into the ability to defend himself if he ever came face to face with a mugger. "It's not my fault!" He yells as he bumps into a desk on the edge of the bull-pin, papers flying away in the air-conditioned wind. He finally sees Nora's office and starts walking towards it, staring into the painted man's gleaming eyes.

"I tried to be like you! I tried to be strong, but it's a LIE! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A LIE!"

He ran into the office, where Nora and Vic stared at Syd. Vic, behind the desk, places his foot on the desk and pushes. The desk collides and smashes into Syd, dropping him to the ground. He curls into a fetal position, sobbing and muttering.

"Why must you mock me?" He asks, over and over. "Why must you mock me? Why must you mock me?"

The police take Syd away, bound in a straightjacket. They take him away, sirens blaring as they drive off. Vic Sage and Nora Lace, unaware of being Syd's tormentors, are the only ones who watch. They stand out there, leaning onto the building, in silence. Finally Vic inadvertently mumbles whatever's going on in his mind.

"Did you say something?" Nora asks. Vic looks up and answers.

"I said, 'I actually kind-of feel sorry for him.' From the sound of it, he wanted to be a good person, but when he failed, he couldn't see that he had the opportunity to get back up." He looks at Nora. "Everyone has the opportunity to come back and change, you know? It's just a matter of seeing it." He puts his hand on the back of his head and softly laughs. "I know, I probably sound just as pretentious as Syd did in the art show yesterday..."

"No. Not at all." Nora says. "Come on, let's get some lunch." She offers her arm and Vic wraps his arm around hers, and walk off to the nearest diner.
​

End

Next: "Hub City Hell"​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Luthor steadies himself and then calls Angela on his cell-phone.

He says, "Angela I need for you to get me on all the networks and cable news outlets tomorrow night at 9...I don't care if the "American Idol" final results show is on at the same time what I have to say and do will affect the entire world...thank you."

He hangs up the phone and takes a deep breathe.

What I do now I do for the sake of humanity...and may God guide me on this path.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Nah, I'm fine with hiding from you. Allows me to get away from your stench."

With that Roy ran towards the water. Diving in, he swam away from the shore and dived out of Ollie's sight.

Half an hour later he came to a forested inlet on the other side of the island. Using his knife to cut a bamboo reed he walked nearly two miles inland, making sure to leave highly visible footprints. In the trees, he made a make shift fort to 'sleep' in. Actually it would be a decoy for Ollie to find. Then using trip wire, he rigged a trap with five glue arrows.


"Be a nice surprise for Ollie when he 'finds' me."

That night he slept in the fort, but woke up at the crack of dawn to leave his hiding place. He left several more sets of footprints all around the tree he was using, then climbed back up, and using swing line and arrows, he navigated the tree tops to get back to the bay. He dived into the bay and began to swim in the same direction around the island. When he was near the beach that Ollie had him start from, but still well out of sight, Roy dived, and used the bamboo reed as a snorkel. Come nightfall, he swam closer to the shallows, and lay down on his back, amidst several bamboo stalks. Taking great caution he buried himself in mud, and waited for the day to come.

"Goddammit, Roy. Where the hell are you?"

It's been a day and a half since I started looking for Roy. So far, I've avoided his traps so far with only one glue arrow stuck to my ass to show for it. I also followed his fake footprints. I lost his trail about 12 hours ago and I've been looking for him near the beach since. There's a small bog near the beach and I'm wading in the water near a huge mud pile when I see it.....a nose poking out of the mud...I caught Roy napping. I gingerly pull out a net arrow and pull back on my bow, aiming at Roy.

"Rise and shine, cutey pie!"

 

[Green Lantern]

"Goddammit, Roy. Where the hell are you?"

It's been a day and a half since I started looking for Roy. So far, I've avoided his traps so far with only one glue arrow stuck to my ass to show for it. I also followed his fake footprints. I lost his trail about 12 hours ago and I've been looking for him near the beach since. There's a small bog near the beach and I'm wading in the water near a huge mud pile when I see it.....a nose poking out of the mud...I caught Roy napping. I gingerly pull out a net arrow and pull back on my bow, aiming at Roy.

"Rise and shine, cutey pie!"

And THAT... is my cue.

"Been waiting for you, lazy bones. What took so long? Metamucil not keepin' you regular like it should?"

Roy sprang up from another section of the mud, the 'nose' that Ollie saw was just a tan rock, the prick he felt on the back of his neck was Roy's arrow.

"Think I'm stupid enough to not leave a decoy Ollie? By the way, nice stain on your bum, your depends leak on you?"

 

[Byrd Man]

And THAT... is my cue.

"Been waiting for you, lazy bones. What took so long? Metamucil not keepin' you regular like it should?"

Roy sprang up from another section of the mud, the 'nose' that Ollie saw was just a tan rock, the prick he felt on the back of his neck was Roy's arrow.

"Think I'm stupid enough to not leave a decoy Ollie? By the way, nice stain on your bum, your depends leak on you?"

Damn, stupid old man. Should've thought he would have know to do that. Hell, I taught him that.

"Good one, kid. You win this one. We need to move onto something else. With the way you been acting all uppity, I think I need to knock you down a couple pegs."

That's about the time I throw my elbow into Roy's nose and spin around, tackling him.

"Let's see if your hand to hand combat is worth a damn."

 

[trustyside-kick]

The three siren sisters found peace again. But in this peace, they once again found the pain that has haunted them for years; the pain of being alone. Cursed to forever roam the islands of Sirenum Scopuli, the only pleasure they ever experienced was leading sailors, enchanted by their beauty and melotic voices, to their doom. And then came Aquaman; one who was unlike all the rest. The sirens had fun with this one. And they wanted that fun to never end.

"Why didn't you two do anything?"

"What?! And go up against wise Athena? Demeter herself?!"

"Hell! The agile Hermes was there as well. Did you really think we stood a chance sister? Let's not forget that...that..."

"Amazon."

"Yes! Why, what has of late been our little toy nearly killed you himself in his blind rage, Ligeia! Yet you expected us to do anything? To try anything? Demeter's eyes laid only upon us! She would've so quickly known of our strike before we even made it!"

"And what of Triton? Hmm?! Have you forgotten all about--"

Silence fills the skies as Ligeia fails to conclude her sentence. She slithers off shore and slowly floats into the water; her sisters follow. Ligeia understands the wisdom in her sisters' words, but they also understand the wisdom in hers. While they could infact do nothing, the fact that they did nothing will go well; not with their master of late. He who is the son of the God of the Sea himself is just as violent and turbulent as the great storm, harsh and as cold as the chilling sea.

Silence remains. It remains, that is, until Teles, youngest of the three, begins running her fingers through the water. It is not the act of her doing this, or the motion; it is what occurs afterwards. A large wave seems to form. No. Not forming, but heading their way; for it moves in the opposite direction. It is not Teles who breaks the silence. Not Teles who summons this great wave, but Triton himself; son of Poseidon. All three sirens dive beneath the surface as the great wave splashes down at the shore. As they rise back up, popping their heads out like dolphins, he awaits for them just beyond the rocks.

"Ligeia?! Raidne!? Teles?!? Where have you gone to?"

He continues to shout out and call upon the three sirens, but they do not come. He grows impatient, and drives the trident he wields in his hands into the ground, causing the sound of thunder to crack the clear sky, and bring about bolts of lightning as a great storm is born. The sudden roars of thunder scare Teles, and her cry is heard by Triton's ears; he follows the sound.

"My my my...my dear girls. What are you doing over here? Did you not hear me call?"

"W-W-We were playing in the nearby grotto...milord. The sound of our laughter and the splashes in the water must've muffled your voice. It will not happen again, milord."

Ligeia gulps and her two sisters slowly cringe backward as Triton leans forward, looking into Ligeia's black eyes. He knows she is lying to him. Not because he can see it in her eyes, or because he clearly saw that they were trying to hide, but because there is no nearby grotto. And worse, he does not see Orin amongst them. Clenching his grip on the trident, and pulling his arm back, he quickly jabs forward with it, just missing Ligeia's head and instead plundering into a rock next to it.

"Didn't I tell you to keep singing?"

She quivers with fear and it causes him to smile as he leans in even closer, whispering into her ear.

"Where is our prisoner?"

Several minutes passby, and again Triton goes into a rampant tantrum. Driving his father's trident into nearby rocks, only to leave them as rubble as he shatters them, causing the great open skies to become clouded with storm clouds as he lets out his cries of anger are only the first to come as a result of his tantrum. But he calms himself, and the dark, cloudy skies become clear and blue once again. He takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes.

He thinks about Athena, Demeter, and Hermes, and their involvement in all of this. Surely they will have to answer to Zeus for their lack of obedience. Triton thought he had everything perfectly taken care of. With the help of Hades, he thought he was safe to do as he wished without the involvement of the other gods. However, he never put into account that such gods as those three would ever disobey Zeus; never those three.

Then he thinks about Orin, and the fact that he now knows that it was he who has been behind all of this. He smiles at the anger it must've caused Orin never realizing it before, or at least the fact that he was powerless to do a thing, and then he frowns at the idea that now Orin is gone; and he does not know where. Planning and plotting is the only thing Triton can come up with; now the hunter has become the hunted.

But alas, as his smile became a frown, the frown became a smile once more. The three sirens only mentioned her by her appearance, and guessing she was an Amazon...but he knew it was her; he knew Diana of Themysciara was here. He chuckles at the mere thought of her name; for the two have a history. A most interesting history that involves another.

"...hahahaha...how lovely..."

A watersprite of some sort, disguised as a fish, was speaking with Triton on that memorable day. It claimed to have seen a woman, and swore she had hair as dark as the abyss, and a body as lissome as that of Aphrodite; truly a woman that would dazzle a god such as he. So he seeked her out, following the fish's trail. Eventually he found her and seek proposed make her his bride. But it did go well. As if it wasn't enough that she refused and resisted him, a young blonde-haired boy interfered. A most foolish boy he was, for...the girl didn't even wish to be saved. She wished to fend off Triton on her own; claiming she didn't need a man's help. But that did not stop the boy from trying. And eventually, they managed to slip away from Triton. The girl was Diana, princess of the Amazons. The boy...was Orin, heir to the throne of Atlantis; although he did not quite know it yet.

 

[In2Minds]

Tim Drake having purged himself of his inner Darkness and re-trained his body and mind returned to Gotham City. He wasn't proud of what he had done and in many ways it was still eating at his core but he would not let himself be consumed....not again.

He needed Bruce's trust again, only problem was he didn't know how to gain it.He payed the taxi driver and pulled out his suitcase, shutting the door he began to walk the dark streets

"Maybe I could help him out secretly?" thought Tim as he walked down a dark and dingy Gotham alleyway, his feet making hollow errie thuds as he walked.

Tim wondered for what seemed like hours, he suddenly stopped when he happenedupon a familiar sight. "Wayne Mayor" he smiled, thinking of better times with Brue....With Batman.

He walked up to the huge rought iron gates and placed his hand around one of the bars. And there he waited, waited for any sign of life from the haunting building.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

ROGUE WAR: The Enemy Revealed ~ Part 2

McCulloch leaned on the large stone angel that adorned the grave of Sam Scudder, the first Mirror Master. Next to Evan stood his friend and fellow Rogue Mark Mardon, the Weather Wizard, and they were joined by Digger Harkness, Captain Boomerang, and James Jesse, the Trickster.
The four criminals were in Avernus, the hidden graveyard of the Rogues. Hidden in 4-D space and cloaked with Gorilla City tech, this cemetery was away from the prying eyes of any cape or person trying to find it. There were only a select few who could even access the place, Mirror Master being one of them. The other being the leader of the Rogues, Captain Cold.

It was the Captain who now walked up to his fellow Rogues from the other side of the cemetery.

"It's about bloody time", states an impatient McCulloch.

"Easy, Evan", chimes Mardon with an outstretched hand, "I'm sure Cold had his reasons for making us wait."

"I'm sure he did, mate", agreed Digger as he folded his arms across his chest, "but right now I'm interested n' hearin' this plan he's got ta take out competition."

"What", replies Cold with a quizzical look.
"What the hell are ya talkin' about, Digger? Mardon called me here. Said he had some major info on these New Rogues."

"What? That's nuts! You called me saying you had some big plan to take them down. McCulloch was right there with me when you called."

"Aye, that I was", agreed McCulloch in a suspicious tone, his eyes darting about the area.

"Well, if you didn't call us", says Jesse jumping into the conversation, "and we didn't call you, what the hell is going on?"

All remained silent as not one of the said a word. They didn't need to...they all knew what had happened.

"TRAP! Move", shouted Cold as the five Rogues split up while a bomb went off where they were standing.

Cold spins on his heels at the attacker, but finds himself encased in a glob of silly putty by Axel Walker, the second Trickster.

"What's the matter, Cold", taunted Axel as he flew around the Captain mocking him, "feeling sluggish? Is old age finally catching up to you?"

"You just chill, heh...", jokes Walker as he digs into his back of tricks and pulls out a T-bomb, "I've got the cure for ya!"

As Walker winds back to throw the explosive he is caught from behind by a lightning blast and forced to the ground.

"Thanks fer the save, Mardon", says Cold to the airborne Weather Wizard as he starts to freeze and shatter the putty.

"No problem, CaptAAAAAAINNN", Mardon's reply quickly turned into a scream as a blast of fire ignited his costume from behind and brought him back down to earth. Heatwave move out from behind a tree, his gun trained on the Wizard as he rolls around on the ground to put out the flames...


"C'mon outta there ya Irish pig", screamed Girder at his hand which held the reflection of the Mirror Master.

McCulloch frowned, "Irish!? Are ye daft, man? I'm Scottish!"

"Same damn thing", yelled an increasingly angry Girder as he slams his hand into a tree and shatters it, "now get your skirt wearin' ass outta me!"

"Ye know somethin', Alice", agrees McCulloch as he appears in Girder's back and sticks his arm out, taking aim with his mirror gun, "ye really are a ******, but ye also got a point. I think I will come out, if jus' fer a bit."

Seeing Tarpit coming up to attack Boomerang from behind while the Captain is engaged with Magenta, McCulloch aims his mirror gun and fires a beam at Tar Pit. As soon as the beam connects with the villain, Tar Pit is transformed into a glass statue.

Before McCulloch can retract his arm, he is grabbed and yanked out of Girder by a green blur and thrown hard against a tree.

"Remember me, *******", asks Inertia as the speedster runs around the Mirror Master, punching him one hundred times in under a few second.
After Inertia relents the attack, McCulloch slumps to the ground a bloody mess and unconscious.

"You left me in that damn mirror world! You left me there to die, and I would've if my teammate hadn't gotten me out."

Inertia rears back his fist, which begins to vibrate and hum.
"Now I think it's time to return the favor! Who knows, maybe the third Mirror Master won't be stupid enough to piss off a speedster?"

ROGUE WAR: The Enemy Revealed ~ Part 3

Before Inertia can land the killing blow, he is blasted from behind by a beam of blue energy and frozen solid.

"I freakin' speedsters", mumbles Cold under his breath as he moves past the frozen Inertia and checks on the Mirror Master. McCulloch is beaten and bloodied and unconscious. Cold tries to wake him by shaking him hard.
No luck.

"Dammit, McCulloch", shouts Cold as he slaps him across the face with an open hand, "Get your ass up! We need to retreat and with my transporter busted you're the only one that can get us all out!"

Cold looks up from his position and gazes across the battlefield.

The Trickster is barely able to avoid a hammer blow from Girder as he fires a can of silly string at Double Down, wrapping him up...

The Weather Wizard is too busy fending off Heatwave to notice Magenta's attack from behind as the Magnetic Witch wraps him up in metal fencing. The entangled Mardon is unable to do anything but plummet five stories to the ground below...

Digger's razor-boomerang slices deep into Murmur's side as the killer tries to sidestep the attack. Murmur moves in close to Boomerang and takes a swipe at him with his blade cutting a gash into his right arm...


"Jesus", Cold whispers to himself as he watches his men...his brothers, fighting valiantly, but he knows it's futile. It was only a matter of time until they were overwhelmed and beaten.

"Jesus has nothing to do with this", replies a familiar voice from behind Cold, "but I do fancy myself a messiah of sorts."

Cold spins around quickly and fires a blast of his gun at his enemy, but it misses the mark.

With a quick spin, the foe knocks the gun from his hand and proceeds to beat the living crap out of Cold.
As the whirling attacker stops, Cold slumps down to his hands and knees next to unconscious McCulloch. Snart is still awake though and looks up at his now laughing enemy, a sneer of hate on his bloody face.

"Why, Captain", says the man with an arrogant smirk, "you don't look so good. Me, on the other hand...I've never been better. In fact, you could say that I'm in tip-top shape!"

Spoiler

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Luthor readies the finishing touches on his spseech when his National Security Advisor Charles Olson walks in and says, "Mr. President I know you're making a speech within the hour but we have a situation."

He hands Lex a folder and says, "The Black-Thorn Terrorist cell has attacked our embassy in Italy."

Lex studies the folder and says, "Get the joint chiefs in the ready room within the hour, along with the Secretary of State & Defense. Have the Secretary of State contact the Kaznian abassador I want him here as well. They have been protecting the Black-Thorn far too long."

Olson nods and leaves. Lex then calls Anglea and tells her to cancel the scheduled speech and that he would make a statement later in the evening.

 

[Byrd Man]

Well that was certainly rather anti-climatic... Who'd have thought after such an intense battle that it would just end like that. Rao.

After Darkseid was defeated, Kara flew off, westward towards her home in San Francisco. Now what excuse am I going to use to get BACK into Stanford? This could prove difficult.

Kara landed on the roof of Titans Tower and went inside to her room. She changed back into civilian clothes and used her special comb to go from blonde to brunette.

"Who's there?"

Cassie... should have known someone would be home.

Kara turned to find Cassie in the doorway. Cassie's eyes went wide.

"KARA!"

With godlike speed Cassie leapt across the room and hugged Kara tightly.

"We were worried about you! Where have you been?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you when I get back. Right now I have to try and save my college career."

"Alright, make it quick! I'm so glad you're back!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

Forty minutes later, in the office of the univeristy president:​

"So you mean to tell me that you dropped off the face of the planet and failed all your spring classes because of a death in the family? Who died?"​

Superman, you arrogant son of a .... How the hell does Clark get his excuses to work so easily? ​

"The man who raised me since my parents died. He was murdered in Metropolis and everything just went a million miles an hour. I'm sorry I never phoned to explain it, but I was also kept secluded until they found his killer, as I was also a potential target. Happy?"​

"Alright, I'll drop your incompletes off your record, and put you back in on probationary status. But one more screw up missy and you're done."​

"THANK YOU!" ​

Linda smiled as she walked back out onto campus, mere moments later the students on the green were amazed to see Supergirl fly overhead.​

~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

Five minutes later, back at the Tower:​

"...so... Spill. Where were you? Any cute guys? The whole dish, and I want it now."​

"...You're not going to believe this... but I was home. Argo, you know the city I was born in? It somehow survived the explosion that destroyed Krypton. My parents, my family were all still there."​

Kara teared up remembering that thanks to Darkseid she had lost them all again.​

"What's wrong Kara? You okay?"​

"...Darkseid... he killed them all. He took them away from me again. My mom... my dad... brother, and little Kara. That heartless, demonic, poor excuse for a sentient being."​

Kara's eyes glowed red, as her pain turned to anger. ​

"It's okay Kara, you still have your family here. Clark and Lois; Diana and me; even Bart, he's been worried about you, I think he misses you."​

Kara smiled a little thinking of her ex. "Really? Is he around?"​

In a few seconds, I'm skimming over the water on the bay in San Francisco. Titans Tower looms in the distance as I zip onto dry land and into the Tower, the fridge is the first thing I find.

"Ohh! What have we here? A half empty box of Pizza? Score!"

I take a big peice and speed through the rooms, looking to see if anyone's still here.

"Hello? Anyone here? It's everyone's favorite pubescent speedster with a heart of gold."

I zip into one room, Cassie's sitting on the edge of the bed in her room. I take a bite out the pizza and smile.

"Hey, Cass. What's...."

That's when I notice someone else in the room....someone I haven't seen for awhile. The pizza falls out my mouth as I cough in surprise.

"Ka-Kara?"

 

[In2Minds]

Tim having resigned himself to the fact that Brue wasn't going to open up the Mayor for him just yet, opened up his suitcase and after rumaging through its contents found the secret compartment with momentos of his days as Robin.

On top of the Suit lay his Titans comunicator, and with Bruce not being of any help he thought he may as well give it a shot.

he clicked it on.

"Titans its Robin, Batman's not showing and I need a pickup, plus i wanna see you guys again". He laughed. "Let me know we you get this message ok?" He clicked off his communicator and waited.

 

[twylight]

“You coming?”

The woman looked up from the dough she was kneading and glanced at Ma who motioned out the door,
“Go!”

She smiled and quickly wiped her hands off, before following Red Archer to the Gym.

She stopped on entering… “No one is here yet..”

“Nope.” She said.

The woman looked around before walking over to a stand with Bo staffs. She ran her fingers up and down them, barely noticing when Wild, Power and Splendor walked in.
Red Archer took a seat on the stands and slipped off her quiver and bow as Wild glanced over at the woman near the bo staffs.

“Who’s going first?” Power asks as Wild walks towards the woman.

“Hmm…Lets see she what she can do.” He said walking up to the woman and looking her in the eye.

“Wild, don’t...”

“Quiet Red, let’s let her decide.” He said turning his head slightly to Red Archer, all the while keeping his eyes on the young woman in front of him. He thrust a long wooden staff into her hands and stepped back.

“Let’s play.”

Red Archer stepped from the sidelines and pulled her hood off her head, revealing her masked face, her blue eyes hard.
“Stop this.”

“Aww...let her have a go. Wild’s not gonna hurt her if she doesn’t show any skills.” Power said as he leaned back and rested his elbows on the bench behind him.

The woman looked at Wild with wide eyes before looking down at the bo staff in her hand. She bounced it weighting it and slowly she stepped forward. Who knew? Maybe if she tried something, her life would snap back into her.

Wild smiled, his scruffy jaw loosing with the movement.

“Let’s go.” He moved forward and brought his staff towards her. The woman quickly stepped away and ducked dodging it as it *whooshed* over her catching a few strands of her hairs.

Wild stepped back and smiled.
“So you’ve got somethin’ in ya.” he said gruffy as he swayed back and forth. He came at her again, this time she ducked and brought the staff out in front of her, swinging it around she hit the back of his leg’s with it causing him to fall. He hit the padded floor with a crash and she stood up, putting a leg on either side of him she held the end of the staff to his neck.

“Whoa…” Power said from the sidelines.

Wild gave her a wicked smile and grabbed her ankle giving it a tug, she lost her balance and tumbled over him, catching herself she rolled into a ball and allowed herself to hit the floor before springing up and spinning around, blocking his staff with her own.

“Quick aren’t ya?”

She put her leg forward and wrapped it around his, yanking it out from under him. Catching him off balance she yanked his staff from him and pulled it in front of her, crossing his with hers. Pulling her arms apart the staffs hit him across the neck like dull scissors, drawing blood and leaving bruises. He gasped for air as he fell and she dropped the staff in her right hand, bringing her arm up and hitting him in the jaw with a right hook. He fell and coughed, his hand on his jaw. She stood over him, her right hand balled in a fist and clenched at her waist, her eyes like slits as she stared at him.

Red Archer stood on the sidelines her eyes wide. Power had leaned forward, his jaw loose, his hands were on his knees.

“What have we brought here?” He asked softly. Red Archer turned towards him slightly, the same question on her mind.

“Who the hell are you?” Wild demanded, not even bothering to get up in his shock.

The woman’s eyes grew big and she stepped back dropping the staff. Her lips parted slightly and a startled noise escaped from them.

“She’s Faye McNasser.”

The four people in the gym turned and looked towards the door. MidKight stood there, his perfectly postured body between Saffire and the cowboy.
Saffire’s body was turned towards MidKnight, her arms folded under her breasts, her head towards the other four she stared at them, blue fire practically leeching from her eyes.

All the heads turned towards the group of three and Splendor turned and raised her eyebrow at the name as she helped Wild to his feet.

“How did you find that out?”

“Twern’t easy. Went through every database in the whole blamed world before’n we found a match.” The Cowboy leaned against the doorsill on MidKnights other side, one hand in his pocket, he used his index finger to push his hat up off his face.

“Faye?” The woman whispered, as she thought the name over. It felt…like nothing. She didn’t feel connected to it but, she smiled, it was nice to have a name.

She nodded decisively.
“I’m Faye McNasser.” She repeated firmly.

Splendor smiled at her before looking at MidKnight.
“And just in time.”

- - -

"Something is going to happen."

"What? what's going to happen?"

Johane looked up at his closest friend, both of them so removed from society that it bound them together in a way few understood. They were the inner workings of the Legion.

"She's the reaction to the cause."

MidKnight slowly sat down.
"She's here because of our reaction to it."

Johane nodded.
"I fear my friend we won't be around much longer. She, however, is not from here and before to long she will return from where she came."

MidKnight stared into the distance, his gaze going beyond the walls of the room.
"We'll have to speak to them then."

“Nice one with the name. To bad it’s not really her name”

MidKnight didn’t move at Red Archers voice.
“What makes you think it’s not?”

Red stepped out from the shadows and gave him a disgusted look.
“I’m not stupid, I can tell when you’re lying. I can also tell when someone doesn’t belong here.”

She pointed at Johane and then MidKnight.
“What are you two hiding?” She said.

Silence enveloped the room before she set her jaw and nodded.
“You messed up. I assume Saff and CB know?”

MidKnight ignored her as Johane rose from his chair.
“Yes, it was my mistake, I-“

Red waved him off.
“No, it wasn’t. You weren’t the one to who was supposed to pin point the exact time.” She stared at MidKnights back.
“What happened?”

MidKnight’s shoulders rose and fell.
“I don’t know.”

Red crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow.
“I’m supposed to believe that?”

MidKnight spun on her, his jaw clenched.
“Look, I do make mistakes.”

“Oh, I know that, just not on ‘major’ things. And this was major.”

Johane raised his hands to calm the two down.
“We will accomplish nothing with this bickering.”

Red Archer spun on him
“Who is she really?”

Johane blinked at being the target of Red’s anger.
“Well? I’m assuming that if MidKnight messed up, which he did we pulled the wrong one.”

“She’s-

“We’ve got a problem in the North Sea, Oil Rig blew.” Saffires voice cut through the air, via her ring.

MidKnight pressed the comm on his wrist.
“On our way.”

He went to leave the room before turning back.
“We’ll discuss this later.”

“I’ll bet we will.”

 

[twylight]

Mia paced the floor of the hospital as Babs took a seat, a cup of coffee between her hands.

"She's never been out this long before." She said before sitting down and then standing up again.

Gypsy sat filing her nails, as Zinda watched Lian play with some toys. They'd picked her up on her way to the hospital, the blue ring still hung around her neck on a thin gold chain.

Ted and Ricky stood in the corner, glancing furtively at the women before commenting to each other.

Gypsy rolled her eyes.
"Men."

Ricky leaned over and pulled out his phone, turning away from Ted. Babs watched intently through her glasses as his face blanched at what he was hearing.

Standing she walked over as he turned back around.

He glanced at Ted and Babs nervously, before addressing Babs.
"I assume you know of the 'agreement' Dinah made with the Mob Bosses?"

Babs nodded, knowing what he was going to say next.

"Well, it looks like we just lost control. The Joker and some others have gotten together, they've laid a 'venom' toys or something around the city. I-"

"Looks like time to suit up!"

Babs looked at Ted, and he could tell by her eyes that her brain was spinning.

"Alright, I need a computer and someplace to use it."

"Done. Dinah outfitted the Clock Tower after she rebuilt it."

Babs nodded.

"Take me, Ted, grab the others and drop Lian off at home. Tell her sitter to get her out of the city."

 

[In2Minds]

After waiting about an hour, Tim tried retuning his communicator to Bruce's old Frequency to see if he could make contact one more time.

"Batman it's me, Robin. I radio'd the Titans but i didn't get an an answer, and seeing as your not at home. I can only think of one place you'd be, out searching for Joker.... You being Mr. Obsessive." He laughed, then his voice turned serious. "I heard about his exploits today, thought i could help out... If you need me give me your position and I'll be there ASAP Robin Out".

 

[wiegeabo]

Mia paced the floor of the hospital as Babs took a seat, a cup of coffee between her hands.

"She's never been out this long before." She said before sitting down and then standing up again.

Gypsy sat filing her nails, as Zinda watched Lian play with some toys. They'd picked her up on her way to the hospital, the blue ring still hung around her neck on a thin gold chain.

Ted and Ricky stood in the corner, glancing furtively at the women before commenting to each other.

Gypsy rolled her eyes.
"Men."

Ricky leaned over and pulled out his phone, turning away from Ted. Babs watched intently through her glasses as his face blanched at what he was hearing.

Standing she walked over as he turned back around.

He glanced at Ted and Babs nervously, before addressing Babs.
"I assume you know of the 'agreement' Dinah made with the Mob Bosses?"

Babs nodded, knowing what he was going to say next.

"Well, it looks like we just lost control. The Joker and some others have gotten together, they've laid a 'venom' toys or something around the city. I-"

"Looks like time to suit up!"

Babs looked at Ted, and he could tell by her eyes that her brain was spinning.

"Alright, I need a computer and someplace to use it."

"Done. Dinah outfitted the Clock Tower after she rebuilt it."

Babs nodded.

"Take me, Ted, grab the others and drop Lian off at home. Tell her sitter to get her out of the city."

I'm not paying attention as the other talk. I just stand in front of the window, looking at Dinah as she lays on the other side of the glass. I almost let her die. I almost killed a man right in front of her. That could have been the last thing she ever saw...

I shake myself out of those thoughts. Dinah moves and her eyes flutter a bit. I'm by her side in an instant, scaring the nurse checking on her. But her vital sign remain the same. She was just moving in her sleep. I wonder what she's dreaming about.

Back in the hall, I catch the last bits of the conversation. Something about the Joker threatening the city again. "I-I'll stay here with Dinah."

"We could really use you out there Flash."

"I can't...Not right now," I say to Barbara. Even though we hadn't spoken much, I had gotten to know Dinah's friends that I didn't know already.

"Whatever the Joker has planned, it could threaten Dinah too-"

"I can't leave her!" I take a breath and reign myself back in. "I just can't," I say, pleading with my eyes.

Barbara nods and hands me a communications device. "If we need you, we'll call." She turns to the others. "Let's move."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Luthor strolls into the situation room and acknowledges everyone to be seated.

He says, "As many of you the Black-Thorn terror cell has attacked our embassy in Italy. Accoriding to our most recent intellegence reports from the CIA Kaznia has been giving aid & asylum to the Black-Thorn, do you stand by that report Miss Robbins?"

Elania Robbins CIA director replies, "I will resign if proven wrong Mr. President."

Luthor looks somewhat taken aback as does everyone else as he says, "A simple yes Mr. President would've sufficed, but I am given a rather large boost of confidence in your reports now."

A phone buzzes and Admiral Hawks answers. He says, "One moment please." He turns to Luthor and says, "The Kaznian Ambassador is here sir."

Luthor says, "Get him in here now!"

Hawkins hangs up the phone and the Ambassador enters. He exchanges greetings with Luthor and those gathered together.

Luthor says, "Mr. Ambassador I'll cut right to the chase. By now you about our embassy in Italy being attacked by the Black-Thorn, and we know that your country has long been an unoffical supporter of the Black-Thorn. With that in mind you sir have many questions to answer for on behalf of your country."

The Ambassador says, "Mr. President you have my coutry's deepiest sympathies for the attack this evening, but I have no idea what you are talking about."

Robbins chimes in, "Like Hell YOU DON'T!"

Everyone is stunned including Luthor who starts to say something as Robbins throws the intell report at the Ambassador and says, "It's all in there in black & white. Names, dates, photos you name it. I am so sick of your lying to us."

Luthor motions for Robbins to settle down and says, "I would apologize for Miss Robbins but frankly I think she speaks for all of us. Mr. Ambassador you are to inform your Government that they exactly 24 hours to turn over the Black-Thorn leadership and the locations of the other cells. Otherwise I will unleash the fury of the United States of America and turn your country into a parking lot."

He looks at his military adviors and says, "Move everyone out of the region. Evacuate the area code 1"

They all nod and start calling their commanders in the area.

The Ambassador is unmoved by this threat and says, "You can give us 24 years we can't give you what we don't have."

Luthor says, "We'll see about that."

Luthor punches a button on the phone and the ovice on the other end says, "General Berringer, Norad."

Luthor says, "General this is the President."

Berringer says, "Yes sir Mr. President. We have been expecting your call concerning the Italy situation."

Luthor says, "Take us to Defcon 2 and get the silo crews ready for launch."

Berringer says, "Yes sir Mr. President."

Luthor hangs up and the Ambassador looks a little shaken.

Luthor pushes the phone to the Ambassador and says, "I suggest you call your leaders. This is no bluff Mr. Ambassador."

Luthor calmly reclines in his chair.

Soon...so very soon...and there is nothing that can stop me.

 

[In2Minds]

Tim finally accepted the fact that if he was going to redeem himself and earn Bruce's trust again he would have to go out on his own, so after a quick change into his Robin costume, pressed a button on his communicator, hoping to god it still worked.

Then he heard it zooming toward him like an arrow, The Bat Cycle was in front of him and it felt like an old friend, he leaped on and sped towards downtown Gotham.

Leaping across the rooftops of Gotham, Tim felt more alive than he had in years; he launched himself over the Fist National bank with a feeling unlike any he had experienced.

Shooting his grapple at a nearby flagpole, he swung gracefully and laughed with happiness “it feels good to get the old threads back on again”. He spotted a thug in an alleyway pulling a knife on a nearby pedestrian, with that sight he back flipped off the roof and aimed a kick at the thug’s skull.

With a dull crack of foot meeting bone the thug was sent reeling.

“Why you little Punk, I’m gonna gut you…” groaned the thug as he turned around, as soon as he saw Robin he hesitated, looking around terrified. “W….hhheeres, The Bat?”

“Just me and you bozo” retorted Robin, flipping a Batarang out of his belt. The thug smiled sickly. “So, I get to pluck the Bird boy hehe” he flipped his knife up but even before he could charge into Robin the Batarang clanged against his blade, flipping it harmlessly away.

With a roar like a demon the thug charged at Robin who, with practised ease flew into the air and kicked him in the back of the head, before the thug even had chance to catch his breath and shake loose the cobwebs, steely bolas wrapped around his waist.

To add insult to injury Tim leaped on his back and ground his head into the dirt. “Now what have we learned?” he said sarcastically

Robin flipped out his grapple and after firing it and checking the victim was fine he mumbled to himself “One down, countless more to go”. And with that he disappeared over the Rooftops.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Again, the group finds themselves making haste as they travel the oceans and the skies. While the images Orin has always envisioned have not always been clear or correct, it does not mean he would cast them aside so lightly. He must know what has become of Atlantis during his absence.

"Are you sure you saw what you told us, Orin? I mean, what if you were accidentally looking into the past? That hand of yours doesn't exactly come with an instruction manual, does it."

"I'm positive. I saw two images cycling over and over, one after the other, in my mind. And I wasn't hallucinating. Besides, what event has occured before that could reflect what I saw?"

Orin waits for Garth to respond, but realizes he isn't about to.

"Exactly. And with Triton being behind all of this...this goose chase around the oceans...I've been blinded by what's important. That Hades! We had a deal!"

"Heh, make a deal with the devil and you're going to get burned...or does that not apply because he isn't technically equivalent to...nevermind."

Garth silences himself and Diana descends a bit from the air. Orin wishes that all or any of Garth's ideas were true, but there are just too many factors flying through his own mind that tell him it's not the past. He saw the future. Or at least...what the future may turn out to be.

"But what could be Triton's motive? What could he possibly--"

"Does it matter? Does he really need one? He hates me and hates anyone who doesn't. That isn't enough for you?"

Diana gives Orin a look, and then looks away. He sighs a bit and looks up at her.

"...sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. What I--"

"No need for any apologies, Orin. I can understand your frustration and your worries. You are a king, and you are a husband as well. If Triton were to ever attack Themysciara I don't...nevermind. The point is that I understand. Although, I must say this is most interesting. Not the most pleasant of reunions, but still interesting."

"Reunions?"

Garth continues to look at Diana, but she never answers him back. Orin continues to look ahead as he swims, and Diana keeps her eyes focused on the path ahead as well as she flies. Garth picks up his speed, swimming beside Orin and speaks.

"Alright, while I know you must be enjoying treating me like some un-informed kid, Orin...I would appreciate a little help here. I swear, I bet Dick and Roy don't get this kind of treatment from GA and Bats."

Both Diana and Orin in unison turn around smirking.

"You should've seen the last time Dick came up the JLA tower when we still had that base up and running."

"Ah, that sure was a beautiful base of operations."

"I always argued why we couldn't have had a base underwater...would've been closer to the people we're trying to protect anyway...and easier to watch over the world..."

As Orin begins to drift away with discussion things over with Diana about their past JLA experiences, Garth quickly interrupts trying to get back on topic.

"Okay okay okay...can we get back to what I was asking now?"

"You want to tell him?"

"What? Of course not. I'm enjoying this too much."

They all reduce their speed, for Diana begins to fly backwards while Orin stays facing forward, and she begins to tell Garth her tale.

"I was young and was swimming in the ocean one day, enjoying the breeze as I swam by and welcoming the rays of sunlight strike my skin; it was a most beautiful day. My mother never approved of anyone leaving the island, so I simply swam nearby, technically being in the perimeter of Themysciara."

Diana continues to tell Garth about how Triton rose from the surface without her awareness, and his attempt to take her away to make her his new mate. She resisted, of course, but he was too strong. Young for a god he was, but she was only a teen and not nearly as strong as she is now.

"And then this cute boy with blonde hair came to the rescue...or at least, tried to."

Diana goes silent for a second, and looks ahead at Orin who continues to lead the group as they travel. She blushes, and then immediately it hits Garth; making him feel stupid for not realizing sooner.

"No...you mean...him? Hahahaha!"

"And what is so funny?"

Garth stops looking at Diana to look ahead at Orin who still looks ahead as he swims.

"Nothing. I'm just admiring the early adventures of the Wondergirl and Aquaboy...hahaha. Or did you call yourself Aqualad in those days?"

"I never called myself that. Heck, it was never even my idea to be called Aquaman; was Flash's idea."

"Yea yea...say what you want. But you gotta admit it's funny. So you guys must've known eachother longer than I thought, huh. I mean, I knew you guys were close; all of you JLAers were. But this is completely new to me."

"...Not quite. He was friendly and I definitely enjoyed the company, trying to play hero and all...but he was a boy afterall; such a relationship would've never been approved by my mother. The thought of me befriending a boy would've been ludicrious in her eyes."

"Ah...'befriending a boy'...so that's what they used to call it."

"But that didn't stop Orin. He--"

"Diana."

"What? Are you ashamed of yourself?"

"Huh? No! No just...come on, I was young! I--"

"Alright. I guess I've done enough poking at the past. Although you have to admit that it is odd that after all those years of never seeing eachother, still we found ourselves on the same team so many years later."

"...Yes. I suppose you are right about that."

Diana turns around, flying forward once more and picks up speed after Orin does. Garth takes a minute to catch up, just picturing it all and smirking, but soon brushes it off. He almost forgot there is a chance Atlantis could be endanger. And sadly, he knows that that is most likely the case. For their people have known peace so few times.

But while Garth picks up speed and becomes focused on what lies ahead, Diana and Orin both find themselves still lost in the past; although both don't realize it. There was something they never told Garth, although...it was probably best they didn't. With the way things are now, to bring it up would be most awkward for them now; especially how Orin is happily married to Mera and has been all these years. Course, it could've just been what people call young love; a crush. Although, as Diana claimed, her mother would never allow such a relationship to last.

But that doesn't mean they forgot it.

 

[trustyside-kick]

My eyes fall to the paper at my feet. At first, I scan the material with my x-ray vision for any plastic explosives or poisons of some sort, making sure that it isn't another one of this maniac's traps. But upon inspection, I realise that harming me wasn't his intent, with the paper. It's what's in the headline. Refocusing my vision, I switch from x-ray to microscopic, taking to the entire front page story in an instant as the print becomes large enough to read.

Then my pulse drops, as I realise what the story is detailing. My fists clench, as my eyes widen.

"No..."

Booster... Michael. What's happened to him? And more to the point, what does this man have to do with whatever has transpired?! My muscles tighten, as my vision transitions to heat, burning behind my retinas as I look upon the attacker once again, with anger. I dreaded I would experience the loss of another ally, or another friend, when Darkseid came to wreak havoc on this world. And now, I'm faced with the possibility that it has happened, just when I've thought we've recieved a rest from tragedy.

I will not, and refuse to tolerate the notion of something happening to Booster, or anyone else. And if I'm too late... all that I can do now is seek the proper justice for Michael.

He pulls out and opens fire with a large firearm as I'm distracted by the news in the paper. I sneer, as the first bullet strokes my skin, and chips on it's impact. Raising my hand, I place it forward, letting it take most of the bullets ahead as I fathom a strategy end this insanity. And it is ending, that much I can promise.

The last of the bullets strike in unison, as I crush them all under my palm. Now's the time to attack. It's better than giving him the chance to seek some other useless weapon he probably has hidden on his person, somewhere. Flying forward, at a rapid speed, I slam my shoulder into him, knocking him into a crate. Continuing flight, I'm soon ontop of him, as I take his weapon and crush the edge it with a squeeze, rendering it useless if he were to use it on anyone else.

It was already useless when he used it on me.

Grabbing him by his shirt, I lift him into the air, with a single hand, my eyes still blazing with heat. I don't know what this is truly about. I heard him mention Zod. I can't even begin to know why he did. But maybe he can tell me that, along with what he's done to Booster Gold.

"Alright, that's enough.", I state, as he struggles. "What is all of this about? And what have you done to Booster Gold? ANSWER ME!"

Jason Todd- 'Cry out for Justice'
--------------------------------

He's mad now. Good. With the increase in anger, his thinking should be more cloudy. Unless there is something about Kryptonians that I miscalculated on; but I think I'm safe. By the looks of it, and just how upset he looks...yea, I'm definitely safe. But I'm going to need to get a little back of his "boyscout-hood" back; but that can wait for later.

"What did I do? I simply allowed Booster to play out his little game. But you cannot have a hero without a villain, now can you? And I must say I was most excited playing my role. But you would know all about that Superman, wouldn't you? You've had a taste at what it feels like to cross that line before, haven't you?"

His eyes, those blazing eyes of fire of his...they do not change, but his facial expression does. Words cannot describe how much I'm enjoying this; justice will soon be served. Helena would be so proud that...no. She wouldn't be. Right? Hold on a second. Am I...am I hullicinating again? Am I losing my mind? I--No. She would be proud. She would!...Would she?

Jason's head starts to twitch uncontrollably to the sides as Superman continues to hold him by his collar. What's happening is completely oblivious to the both, but after some time, Jason manages to get a hold of himself and the twitching stops.

What just...where am...Supes? SUPES! Damnit, Jason! Stay focused! Better yet...stay...stay calm. Can't...can't lose control; not now.
Scarecrow's serum...the bastard mentioned a few strands of molecules taking from a Lazarus Pit; must be enough for me to suffer some of the common side-effects. Am I losing my mind? What am I doing? Why? Should I--No. This is the right thing to do. Superman deserves this. Just calm down...calm...breathe...continue the plan.

"Er...sorry. I'm sure you'll understand."

That's it. Recover from it. Play it off dumb.

"I mean, 'Daring to take on the Superman' and all...really takes it out of you. Getting knocked back by you isn't exactly like getting hit with a pillow."

He continues to hold me in the air, and I sure as hell know he isn't calming down. Those eyes of his? They like they are heating up more than anything else. Looks like I'm going to need to get him back to his "boyscout" self sooner than I hope; no matter.

"You know, Supes...I've done what you asked; I answered your question. If you don't like it? Fine. But it's the truth. Ol' Booster wanted a taste at what being a hero is like, and he got it. You could say I did him a favor. And what do the papers no? He's probably back on his feet now, and probably even gave up the "costume" career. That's one less amateur hero you have to worry about making the rest of you look bad. I did you a favor."

He lifts me up higher off the ground, and I can tell by the looks on his face, he wants to burn my face into ash more than anything.

"So, did you give Zod this same look just before you killed him?"

I don't let it set in as long as I wanted to, because this little changed in plans is really started to annoy me. Gotta admit I didn't expect this part to happen, but there are always way around these sorta things.

"I'm going to tell you right now, Supes...you want to put me down. Right now. You see, I'm wired. Oh yea. Wired more than you could possibly imagine. Technology these days has a nice trend of making things smaller and smaller. You can search me all you want, you won't find em though. But I'm going to be a sport and tell you where they are hidden."

I lift up my left hand and tap my helmet.

"Right here. Connected from the above my chest and in through my helmet here. Up up up...don't you think about pulling my helmet off now. Let me tell you how it is...you pull my helmet off, the wire snaps, and every bomb and C-4 I planted all over Metropolis goes off. You were afraid when Darkseid strolled into town? I'll make this little city hell on Earth if you don't comply to my demands. And you can go and check me out on that. I'll admit, I was a little sneaky with the wave frequency machine earlier, but go on...you know I'm not lying. Oh and you can stop thinking about searching me for whereever the trigger is. I can set those babies off without any effort. The trigger is a mere few millimeters away from my tongue. All I have to do is say the password, and it will go live and then? With a flick of my tounge, kaboom. Say goodbye to the city of tomorrow."

I say my next set of words with much pleasure.

"Put. Me. Down. Now."

Big Blue listens. Good boy. And I roll backward, pulling out my guns.

"Now, stay still so I can work on my target practice."

And the game continues. I've messed with him mentally. I've messed with him emotionally. Soon, I plan to mess with him physically.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

ROGUE WAR: The Enemy Revealed ~ Part 4


Cold glances up, one eye swollen shut, at his attacker, Roscoe Dillon, also known as the Top.

"Why really, Captain", smiles the Top as he hovers over Cold's beaten form, "I would've thought that even you could see this coming?"

"Who else had the brains, and power, to organize the rest of these Rogues into a cohesive unit", asked Dillon as he held his arms out wide and shrugged his shoulders.

"You...always were an...arrogant ****er, Dillon", chuckled Cold between spits of blood. That's when Cold notices the figure standing next to the Top, and a look of betrayal appears on his beaten face.

"Gambi", says a surprised Cold as he raises up to sit on his knees, "what the hell are you...uggggh...doing with this clown?"

The expressionless face of Replicant does not show the pang of guilt hidden in the voice of his reply, "I'm sorry, Lenny, but I owe the Top big time. I was stuck doin' two consecutive life sentences in The Slab when he busted me out."

"That's right, Lenny", quipped the Top in a mocking tone followed by a small chuckle, "I freed him while you left him to rot. As such he's going to help in taking over the Twin Cities from you obsolete models, and become the new enforcer of my New Rogue Order."

Replicant turns his head away, unable to look Cold in the eyes as he talks.
"I'm sorry, Captain...I really am. Just surrender."

Cold's eyes went wide (as wide as they were able given the condition he was in) at the words coming from the man they raised as a son.

"Just surrender control of the Rogues to the Top and end all this suffering."

"Yes, Len", agreed the Top, "it's the sensible thing to do. Surrender this little Rogues' War and spare you and your men further pain."

"Well, Captain", said the Top as he moved close enough to Cold to stare into his eyes as he spoke, "what do you say?"

Captain Cold reared back and spit a wad of blood and phlegm that hits Dillon right under his nose. The Top jumped back afterwards with a truly disgusted look on his face. As he wipes the spit from his face, Cold's laughter fills the surrounding area.

The Top cries out in anger and begins to spin around Cold, beating him even further into oblivion.
"That...was...not...FUNNY!"

 

[Watchman]

"Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum!
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum!"

Following Scarecrow, The Joker enters the shopping mall, pulling a gas mask out of his seemingly bottomless jacket pocket, and handing it over to Two-Face. He didn't know exactly what to expect in here, but whatever it was, most likely it would provide a laugh or two. Worthwhile sticking around for now.

But he couldn't stay with Harv and Johnny for much longer. This was a fun diversion, but he had to get moving with the final stage of his grand master-plan. By now, they'd have surely discovered Paulie's wife. And he bet they thought that fake bomb was the gag! It was never about the bomb! It was always about Paul Thorne, always. Him and his dearly departed pregnant wife.

"Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum!
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum!"

He could worry about the plan later. For now, he'd just get a kick outta the chaos.

The crowd of shoppers stop, frozen in a state of fear. Scarecrow calmly walks through the crowd and heads towards a fountain. He leaps onto the edge staring over the crowd.

"A bomb had just detonated in this city, and what do you people do? Continue with your mundane lives shopping for worthless items. Something is missing from your lives. You may be sad over these events maybe even mad but there is something missing from the equation, fear. You must remember fear and we will help you. We will help this entire city."

"Boss, the bombs are all in place. How much money are we askin'...." Scarecrow threw his radio to the ground. He took out a detonator and held it into the air.

"Remember the hospital Joker? What do you think sets them off? What do you think sets them all off?" Scarecrow pushes the button.

"Soon clouds of toxin will slip through the major parts of Gotham. Let it begin...." Gas start to come out of the doll that walked in.

"lEt ThE reIgN oF TErRoR beGIn!"