The "World Of Heroes" DC RPG Season V

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As Ollie tackled him, Roy resorted to the methods that Dinah had taught him. A black belt in Judo, she had taught him to always allow your opponent's momentum to work against him. As Ollie dived, Roy rolled backward, forcing the older man onto his back with Roy's knees in his sides, and Roy's bow across his neck.

"Got too aggressive there, Ollie. You realize this is gonna keep going back and forth with neither of us gaining much though, right? We need outside competition."

Roy winked at Ollie's muddy face.

Roy let's go of me and I sit down on the ground. Covered in mud and bruised, the only thing I hurt is my pride.

"Dammit, Roy! It was never this hard before. I'm slipping, getting old, getting soft with the whole politics thing..."

I look up at him and smile.

"I remember back when all I had to do was hold my arm out on your head and you couldn't even reach me. Damn, that use to piss you off so bad. I guess this is payback for all those times, eh?"

I look down on the ground and back up at Roy.

"What exactly do you mean by 'outside competition'?
 
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I press my communicator and call him back.

"Tim, it's Bart. Cassie and I got it under control. Kara's goning to be okay, Kid Flash out."


I flick off the comm-link as Cassie takes Kara inside the tower and down stairs to the medical bay.

"Lay her on the slab."

Cassie places her on the table while I rig up the equipment to run a diagnostic on her.

"How do you set this thing on Kryptonian?."

"....Move."

Cassie brushes me aside and presses a few buttons, the machine's scanner starts to work and scan Kara.

"There, it's not that hard."

Even though we're both worried about Kara...I...can't...resist.

"That's what she said."

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

***
"Nuthin really. I just can't remember what happened to me over the time I was gone. Everythings fading. I'm confused. I know I spent five years there... but I gained nothing except experiences and knowledge, and now I'm losing that too. Its so much to deal with. I think I need to be alone for awhile. You know I love you, Kara, or I wouldn't have found my way back, but I need to sort out my problems right now. I'm sorry." He looked at her with both confusion and pain in his deep brown eyes, and she looked back, tears welling up in her own brilliant blue eyes. "I.. I.. understand Bart, but I... I can't handle losing you again. I just got you back, I don't want to ever let you go."
***
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain


"BARTHOLEMEW HENRY ALLEN! Just what in God's name do you think you're doing?"

"Well, I was trying to get drunk, but my body won't let me. My metabolism kills the buzz off of Everclear before it even hits me. The only plus side is I met the Red Rocker and Mad Anthony. They rock." He flashed Kara the metal hand gestures and then turned back to the bar. "What are YOU doing here, Linda? Gonna try to drag me back to the Tower? Sorry, but I still need time to myself. I've been through alot in the last five years/three weeks or however long you want to call it, and I can't concentrate on anything right now. I know I was there for a long time, but I don't remember anything from there. Not one thing. The only five things I remember are either stuck here with us, or related to me. Whatever you needed me for, I can't do it right now Linda. I'msorry."
As his words slurred together at the end, Kara could tell he was nervous, and really wanted to be left alone.

"I understand Bart. Come back to us... and me, when you're ready. I think I can speak for anyone that we miss you." She kissed him on the cheek and flew off back towards the fortress.

Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you


The beams pierced the environmental shell around the city, tearing great, unrepairable rents in the protective dome. Darkseid let Superman hear the screams of the citizens of Argo as their oxygen disappeared into space, and as they themselves were inexorably sucked into the black void from which no return was possible. Three hundred thousand Kryptonians, powerless under the red sun of their home, gasped and died in the cold dark of space.

Then did Darkseid let go, leaving the shocked Superman floating in front of him, eyes wide and uncomprehending. The dark god laughed, a mocking sound, and with a wave of his hand forced Atom and Wonder Woman away.


"Now you know, Kal-El, the extent of my power. You know that any further resistance is futile, lest you endanger your new existence as Krypton's last son."


Rage boiled within Kara. Memories of the family she had just rediscovered flooded her mind. She thought of her mother and her father, her brother and her sister-in-law. Most of all she thought of her innocent, and beloved niece. They had just been ripped from her again. Rage beset her, even before grief could.


Sometimes I need some time...on my
own Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

All these memories floated through Kara's head as she lay in the medbay. She remembered the years of being alone in a rocket, of knowing her family no longer existed. She remembered the heartbreak of her first true love leaving her a second time, leaving her alone. She remembered the enormous grief accompanied by watching her family die a second time. She once more felt completely and utterly alone in the vast, endless universe.

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

It was at that moment that Kara woke up.

"NO! I WON'T BE ALONE ANYMORE! I CAN'T BE! IT'S NOT FAIR!"

She threw both Wonder Girl and Bart off of her and blasted out of the tower into the open air.
 
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Roars eminating from the crowd was all that was audible in the great city of Poseidonis. Even the sounds bursting from the great trumpets of the royal palace were muffled by all the cheering and commotion. Word had spread of Lady Mera's return, and that today would surely be the day she would make her re-appearance. Orm stood on the balcony, with 2 guards beside him, as he watched over the crowd. He didn't care if they cheered for him out of fear or out of likeness, he cared about the effect Mera had on the entire situation. Her mere presence of being by his side is the last thing he needs to gain more loyalty throughout the kingdom.

He walks back into the throne room, where a few chambermaids are making a last few changes to Mera's dress as they noticed it was a tad too tight for her. Orm thinks nothing of it, and simply walks past her with a wide devilish grin upon his face; Mera does nothing in response. She's had to act these past few weeks the entire time because the generals were supposed to drug her, and no matter how much she would've relished the idea of giving Orm a cold stare or spit at his feet, she couldn't. Soon, however she would be. Her mind at the moment isn't exactly on that however. Nor is it on the fact that her people will see her at Orm's side. All she can think of are two things: Orin, and the messenger that Lord Terious sent out to deliver the letters to some old allies.

Mera prays that the timing is right. She prays that the ceremony will be interrupted, so that she only has to go so far in the wedding. Lucky for her, she need not worry. But what's lucky for her is also unlucky for her as well. For a vast army of enemies lurk just outside the city's border, and no one is even aware. Of course, ahead of the grand army is a creature. A shark humanoid known throughout the waters by many names, but to most known as King Shark, said to be the son of the Shark God. He is now at just outside the great dome, shielding the city, and is trying to enter. His blows and punches prove useless, for nothing has been able to penetrate the dome for centuries.

"Make way for King Shark! My father has decreed this place be overrun with his unquestionable power! May this great dome, thought unbreakable, break at the blessings of my father now bestowed upon me!"


But all of his struggles continue to prove useless. Irritated and annoyed, King Shark swims backward a bit, and then dives at high speed, headbutting the dome each time. He grows more and more impatient with each contact he makes at the great dome.

"Petty Atlanteans! Hide behind your great clear, crystal dome! For it is all that protects you for only so long until I crack it, and breach your doomed city! The wrath of the Shark God's son is upon you!"


The headbutts created by King Shark eventually begin to echo throughout the great city. The crowd begins to grow silent, as every few seconds it feels like the city shakes. Although this is not the case, Orm's military leaders know this as a soldier enters the throne room.

"Milord!"

"Yes?"

"Something's trying to penetrate the dome, milord. A few citizens were fleeing and when we heard all the commotion, we sent a few man. It's...some sort of shark or something."

"Leave it be. Many have tried, and all have failed; I know this from experience. Nothing will ever be able to break through. We shall procede with today's activies. That shark will grow tired soon."

Orm's words remain to be true. King Shark is now tired from trying to break through the wall, and floats as he tries to regain his energy. But not all Orm says will remain true. Black Manta and his fleet of battle cruisers have finally gotten close enough in range to fire their artillery, and Black Manta does not hestitate to strike. Funded by all the Atlantean gold provided by Triton, Black Manta bought some of the most high-tech and expensive equipment that even the US military doesn't use; for fear of the destruction it can wreak.

Torpedoes and missiles and great cannons fire away at the great dome, and again the citizens find themselves in panic, but this feeling does not settle; for the shaking does not stop. Orm orders a few of his guards to go outside the palace and report what they see, but they find themselves speechless. Everyone finds themselves speechless; even Orm. King of Atlantis for only a few weeks, and already he is faced with an invader. But that is not why Orm remains speechless. The creaking and the cracking that echoes the city is what causes him to.

40 thousand years. For 40 thousands years, each King of Atlantis has been able to protect his people. For 40 thousand years each King of Atlantis has kept his kingdom strong, and inpenetrable. For 40 thousand years, since the day King Orin first built the great dome, it has stood strong and tall. Orm promised his people that today would be a day never to be forgotten; a day that would go down in history. Orm was correct. Although, this was never what he could have ever expected; was nothing no one could have ever expected. Water began to pour into the city, and the armies of battle cruisers began to follow, with King Shark clumsly falling in as well.

Today was the day the great dome broke.
 
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When I look into your eyes

I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
***
"Nuthin really. I just can't remember what happened to me over the time I was gone. Everythings fading. I'm confused. I know I spent five years there... but I gained nothing except experiences and knowledge, and now I'm losing that too. Its so much to deal with. I think I need to be alone for awhile. You know I love you, Kara, or I wouldn't have found my way back, but I need to sort out my problems right now. I'm sorry." He looked at her with both confusion and pain in his deep brown eyes, and she looked back, tears welling up in her own brilliant blue eyes. "I.. I.. understand Bart, but I... I can't handle losing you again. I just got you back, I don't want to ever let you go."
***
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain



"BARTHOLEMEW HENRY ALLEN! Just what in God's name do you think you're doing?"


"Well, I was trying to get drunk, but my body won't let me. My metabolism kills the buzz off of Everclear before it even hits me. The only plus side is I met the Red Rocker and Mad Anthony. They rock." He flashed Kara the metal hand gestures and then turned back to the bar. "What are YOU doing here, Linda? Gonna try to drag me back to the Tower? Sorry, but I still need time to myself. I've been through alot in the last five years/three weeks or however long you want to call it, and I can't concentrate on anything right now. I know I was there for a long time, but I don't remember anything from there. Not one thing. The only five things I remember are either stuck here with us, or related to me. Whatever you needed me for, I can't do it right now Linda. I'msorry."
As his words slurred together at the end, Kara could tell he was nervous, and really wanted to be left alone.

"I understand Bart. Come back to us... and me, when you're ready. I think I can speak for anyone that we miss you." She kissed him on the cheek and flew off back towards the fortress.

Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you



The beams pierced the environmental shell around the city, tearing great, unrepairable rents in the protective dome. Darkseid let Superman hear the screams of the citizens of Argo as their oxygen disappeared into space, and as they themselves were inexorably sucked into the black void from which no return was possible. Three hundred thousand Kryptonians, powerless under the red sun of their home, gasped and died in the cold dark of space.

Then did Darkseid let go, leaving the shocked Superman floating in front of him, eyes wide and uncomprehending. The dark god laughed, a mocking sound, and with a wave of his hand forced Atom and Wonder Woman away.

"Now you know, Kal-El, the extent of my power. You know that any further resistance is futile, lest you endanger your new existence as Krypton's last son."


Rage boiled within Kara. Memories of the family she had just rediscovered flooded her mind. She thought of her mother and her father, her brother and her sister-in-law. Most of all she thought of her innocent, and beloved niece. They had just been ripped from her again. Rage beset her, even before grief could.

Sometimes I need some time...on my
own Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

All these memories floated through Kara's head as she lay in the medbay. She remembered the years of being alone in a rocket, of knowing her family no longer existed. She remembered the heartbreak of her first true love leaving her a second time, leaving her alone. She remembered the enormous grief accompanied by watching her family die a second time. She once more felt completely and utterly alone in the vast, endless universe.

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

It was at that moment that Kara woke up.​

"NO! I WON'T BE ALONE ANYMORE! I CAN'T BE! IT'S NOT FAIR!"


She threw both Wonder Girl and Bart off of her and blasted out of the tower into the open air.

I click my commlink and get on Tim's channel once again.

"Umm...Tim, ole buddy, ole pal o' mine. I'm gonna have to get back to ya with that one...maybe Cassie can help."

I give one look back at Cassie as she nods at me. I zip off trailing after Kara. I can't fly, but I can keep up with her as she races over the bay.

"Kara! What's wrong? Are you okay? What the **** happend to you?"

I shake my head as I race along side her.

"Talk to me, dammit! What was all that alone talk about?...You're talking about what Darkseid did to Argo? Look, he's an evil bastard and Superman kicked his ass....I think. I know what it means to be alone..."

I zip around a boat in the water and keep on talking.

"Living, outta your own time, all your family is either in the future or dead. The closest family you have, your 2nd or 3rd cousin, doesn't really like you no matter how much he says he does, you can see it in his eyes. The closest thing you ever had to a father dissapears and becomes one with some mystical force. I know it's not as lonely as you must feel, but believe me...I know where you're coming from."
 
Chaos.

That's the only word that could describe it. Decked out in a gas-mask and riot gear, Gordon was out here with his police-force trying to restore order. There were riots, stampedes, people killing each other. And despite all the police officers out in the field, it was like sticking your finger in the dam after it had exploded. The city was tearing itself apart.

"Something has to be done..."
 
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I click my commlink and get on Tim's channel once again.

"Umm...Tim, ole buddy, ole pal o' mine. I'm gonna have to get back to ya with that one...maybe Cassie can help."

I give one look back at Cassie as she nods at me. I zip off trailing after Kara. I can't fly, but I can keep up with her as she races over the bay.

"Kara! What's wrong? Are you okay? What the **** happend to you?"

I shake my head as I race along side her.

"Talk to me, dammit! What was all that alone talk about?...You're talking about what Darkseid did to Argo? Look, he's an evil bastard and Superman kicked his ass....I think. I know what it means to be alone..."

I zip around a boat in the water and keep on talking.

"Living, outta your own time, all your family is either in the future or dead. The closest family you have, your 2nd or 3rd cousin, doesn't really like you no matter how much he says he does, you can see it in his eyes. The closest thing you ever had to a father dissapears and becomes one with some mystical force. I know it's not as lonely as you must feel, but believe me...I know where you're coming from."

"Cassie listen, i found some strange mud on the Bat Cycle's back tire. I think he might be back, get here as soon as you can because....URGGH!"

Tim was thrown back into a wall, he heard a few vertabrae crack "ok thats me out of action for a few weeks" he thought, before he blacked out completely he saw a blurry shape almost man like but not quite, there was something strange about that man....then Tim saw nothing but inky blackness
 
Luthor walks back into the situation room as the Ambassador stares at the phone.

"Well Mr. Ambassador any progress," he asks.

"No Mr. President my Government will not even return my calls. Which tells me that they are leaving me to twist in the wind. They are even ordering a lock down of our embassy here in America. I am in essence a man without a country." The Ambassador says.

Luthor sits and looks at the Ambassador. He says, "For that I am sorry Mr. Ambassador it is clear that you are being made a fool of and that is not your fault."

The Ambassador nods slowly and says, "Thank you Mr. President, but it is my family I am now concerned with. They are still in Kaznia and who knows what kind of examples they will be made of by my Government."

Luthor says, "No need to worry about that."

The Ambassdor looks puzzled and Luthor says, "I aniticpated this so I had our Ambassodor gather your family before he left your country. They are being granted politcal asylum in the United States as are you. Your "former" Govenrment is acting with malice and no thought to the consequences of their actions. However this Government is not one to sit idly by. We protect our own.."

He presses a button and the advisors re-enter the room.

Luthor asks one of his Admirals, "Is the Dallas in place?"

He replies, "It'll be in firing position in the next 4 hours."

Luthor replies, "Have the Captain notify us when he is in postion to fire the warheads."

The Admiral nods and says, "Yes sir Mr. President."

Luthor says, "Get me the Kazians on the phone."

The Premier answers, "Hello Mr. President on behalf of my Govenrment I wish to extend my condolences to you and this morning's tragedy."

Luthor says, "Spare Mr. Premier. You know why I am calling your unwillingness to help us apprehend the Black-Thorn and their leadership is nothing short of criminal. Therefore expect full retaliation from the Untied States."

The Premier asks, "Are you making a threat Luthor?"

Luthor repleis, "Not at all, because a threat implies the possibility of a bluff. We are not bluffing and if you do not act accordingly within the next 3 hours we will act accordingly."

The Premier says, "You realize you are instigating World War III."

Luthor stands up and says, "No sir you instigated this act with a bombing of our embassy and the fact that you are not denying any of this tells me that you knew this was going to happen and you are doing nothing to help us!"

The Premier says, "Your sanctions have destabilzed our economic system and we are struggling to get by day after day. We are doing what we have to do."

Luthor says, "So are we."

He disconncets the phone and says to his Chief of Staff Matthew Reid, "If we do not hear back from the Kaznians within 3 hours contact Anglea and tell her to set up air-time I wll address the nation before we strike."
 
"Ah....this isn't boring at all. Quite hilarious, actually! If I had time, I'd stick around and enjoy the party a little longer, but I've got places to go, people to kill. I need to take a backseat for now, get some affairs in order. Feel free to take centre-stage, Scarecrow. You too, Face. HA HA! Do you see what I did there?"

The Joker extended his hand.

"Always a pleasure, Dr. Crane."

He gave his fellow criminal genius a conspiratory wink.

"No hand-buzzer today, I assure you..."

Scarecrow begun to extend his hand when it was interrupted by something whizzing through. The next sound was of flesh tearing and Dr. Crane screaming in pain. He was now on the ground clutching his leg.

"An arrow? We've been followed. Fan out and kill them the rest of you come with me we have to find a doctor."

"Aren't you a doctor?"

"I'm a psychologist, you simpleton."
Two of men help him up and begun to escort him out of the mall. "Good bye Joker, may both of us see the next day in the madhouse and good luck with whatever you have planned."
 
Scarecrow begun to extend his hand when it was interrupted by something whizzing through. The next sound was of flesh tearing and Dr. Crane screaming in pain. He was now on the ground clutching his leg.

"An arrow? We've been followed. Fan out and kill them the rest of you come with me we have to find a doctor."

"Aren't you a doctor?"

"I'm a psychologist, you simpleton."
Two of men help him up and begun to escort him out of the mall. "Good bye Joker, may both of us see the next day in the madhouse and good luck with whatever you have planned."


"Bonne chance, Scarechum! Hasta la pasta! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Joker turned and bolted away from the shopping mall, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to make good with his retreat. Sadly, it appeared Dent had high-tailed it with the car and the money.

"Harv, you scumbag, I thought we had an agreement! You're so...two-faced! HA! Should have seen it coming, after all, he's CRAZY!"

The Joker lingered indecisively for a few moments, before picking his chosen direction. Then, he sprinted off down the street on foot.
 
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Triton has been silent for quite some time, only causing the three siren sisters to grow more worried. It isn't the silence that fills the air as much as the great big smile upon his face that worries them. He doesn't look at them as he smiles, he looks off into the distance as if staring up at the heavens. Could he be thinking of ways to torture them for their failure? Then they wonder if he has gone mad upon his discovery. Either way, the result must be terrible for them they believe. But soon find themselves to be wrong as Triton looks at them. He then begins to walk towards their direction.

"Yes, milord?"

Triton doesn't respond, but he continues to walk towards them slowly. One hand he grips his father's trident, and the other hand seems to be emitting some sort of energy particles that soon begin to encircle it. His grin only begins to grow wider as he draws closer.

"Oh powerful Triton! Spare us! Such beings as we are not worth your wrath! It would be but a waste of your talents to punish such creatures!"


"We tried our best, milord! Honest! But our foes proved to be our betters! You wouldn't hold such a thing against us, would you?!"

Triton is finally standing right in front of Ligeia, his smile never fades away as he looks down at her; eldest of her sister. Whether he expects or wishes she speaks, she does not know. But she finds herself compelled to. Yet she does not what one would expect. She doesn't cower back and beg for mercy; in fact she shows no fear. She merely kneels down, and bows her head.

"What is thy bidding...my master."

Triton lifts his hand, now surging with energy, and opens his palm. His hand open, the ball of energy begins to expand more and more, until it eventually reaches contact with Ligeia. She does not cry or scream, for the energy does not cause her great pain. In fact, it soothes her greatly. Her sisters, worried and confused, try to evade but the great bubble of energy eventually strikes them as well. All too soon, the energy fades away, leaving behind a great screen of smoke.

"What...what happened?"


The smoke clears, and all three sisters turn to the east, as they see Triton suddenly now standing by the rocks as he looks over in the horizon. He lifts up his trident, and vanishes as he teleports away. The three sisters turn, facing eachother to rejoice, only to be shocked instead; they scream.

"What? How...how could this?! Wow!"

"We are no longer sirens! Lord Triton has lifted off our curse! Bless the gods! Bless the gods to--"


Teles stops her ranting when she looks over at Ligeia. She looks down at her hands, astonished that she is back to her original form; as are her sisters. But she does not feel the same joy and excitement her younger sisters do. Her eyes show nothing but sadness.

"Sister? What could possibly be--AHHHH!!! AHHH!!! NO! AHHH!! WHY?!?!"


The three sisters, no longer sirens, begin to deteriorate like dust as the sun begins to set on the horizon. Ligeia now knows why Triton wore his smile, and why he looked afar beyond the sea. He did indeed punish the three sirens. By stripping them of Demeter's curse, he also stripped them of their everlasting life. For Demeter cursed them, turning them into sirens and to forever roam the islands of Sirenum Scopuli, never to die.

As the Raidne's and Teles's cries fill the sun setting sky, Ligeia remains silent, and slowly tries to kneel as she too begins to fade away into nothingness. Their remains seem to dance as the wind carries them away over the sea.

Triton appears in the open sea, just a few miles north of Atlantis. There is a reason he chose this destination. While Triton could not tell where exactly Orin ran off to, the trident was able to sense his location; for he has held it in his own hands before. The scent. The...presence...of Orin's hands are drenched onto the trident. He waits patiently in the open sea, and a smile creeps over his face as before, as he sees his prey closing in.

"Make way for the King! Hahahahaha!"
 
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Roy let's go of me and I sit down on the ground. Covered in mud and bruised, the only thing I hurt is my pride.

"Dammit, Roy! It was never this hard before. I'm slipping, getting old, getting soft with the whole politics thing..."

I look up at him and smile.

"I remember back when all I had to do was hold my arm out on your head and you couldn't even reach me. Damn, that use to piss you off so bad. I guess this is payback for all those times, eh?"

I look down on the ground and back up at Roy.

"What exactly do you mean by 'outside competition'?
"Oh, I don't know. How bout someone that doesn't know your fighting style well enough to do this?"

Roy's legs flashed out and caught the back of Ollie's heels, catapulting the older archer face first into the muck.
 
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I've been here for months, wandering the vast red graveyard that is Ma'aleca'andra alone. A thousand Martian years old I am, and my life has been nothing but a repeating cycle of pain in the recent orbits around the sun.

Once again, I found myself here, at the site where I buried my wife and daughter years ago. I've visited this place many times, and during each I feel such a great tightening in my soul. The weight of an undying sadness. It is not the only grief I carry.

Many times before I have attempted to reclaim some of the happiness I had felt as a husband and father. The latest was all too similar to my original plight, and as a result, I ran here.

To Mars. To Ma'aleca'andra. To the place of my birth.

My eyes wander off, to gaze at the blue orb that had once been my second home. I miss it greatly. I have family there, individuals that I care about deeply and who have adopted me as one of their own.

I realize now what a mistake I have made. I ran here to hide from my pain, when I could have... no.. when I should have sought the council of those who care for me.

I must bid farewell to my home, for I, J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, am going home.

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Kara flew as fast as she could, her mind still racing from Professor Crane's gift. Her fears of isolation and the pangs of survivor's guilt eating through her psyche, as tears continued to well in her eyes.

The water's edge
Is where she waits
Lost souls still wandering
Meant to die
But she's stuck not crossing over

She couldn't help but to feel the guilt over not joining all her family as they joined Rao.

Living in a world without love
(A burden to my soul)
Is living in a worthless world
So I will call on you...

"Kara! What's wrong? Are you okay? What the **** happend to you?"
I shake my head as I race along side her.

"Talk to me, dammit! What was all that alone talk about?...You're talking about what Darkseid did to Argo? Look, he's an evil bastard and Superman kicked his ass....I think. I know what it means to be alone..."

I zip around a boat in the water and keep on talking.

"Living, outta your own time, all your family is either in the future or dead. The closest family you have, your 2nd or 3rd cousin, doesn't really like you no matter how much he says he does, you can see it in his eyes. The closest thing you ever had to a father dissapears and becomes one with some mystical force. I know it's not as lonely as you must feel, but believe me...I know where you're coming from."

Hearing Bart's voice however shook her from her toxin induced madness. With her mind suddenly regaining control, her body tumbled to the ground.
 
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"Oh, I don't know. How bout someone that doesn't know your fighting style well enough to do this?"

Roy's legs flashed out and caught the back of Ollie's heels, catapulting the older archer face first into the muck.

I look up from the mud, I hear a small snap of a twig that announces his presence.

"Well, Roy I guess this is your lucky day."

A small, bald headed asian man steps out the underbrush with a small katana in his hand.

"This is the man known only as Natas. One of the deadliest killers in the world. It's been claimed he taught Deathstroke everything he knows about combat and tactics."

Natas unsheates his blade and stares at us with cold disdain.

"I hired him to kill us."
 
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Kara flew as fast as she could, her mind still racing from Professor Crane's gift. Her fears of isolation and the pangs of survivor's guilt eating through her psyche, as tears continued to well in her eyes.

The water's edge
Is where she waits
Lost souls still wandering
Meant to die
But she's stuck not crossing over

She couldn't help but to feel the guilt over not joining all her family as they joined Rao.

Living in a world without love
(A burden to my soul)
Is living in a worthless world
So I will call on you...

Hearing Bart's voice however shook her from her toxin induced madness. With her mind suddenly regaining control, her body tumbled to the ground.

"Oh ****!!"

I speed up and manage to catch Kara before a single hair on her head hits the water. I zip her to the shore and lay her on the beach.

"Kara! Linda! Supergirl! Say something, anything! Even if it's 'Go to hell Bart!' Give me a sign that you're alright."

I hear the panic in my voice and the cold feeling deep in my stomach. What is it? Nerves? Worry, whatever it is it scares me even more than I realise.
 
"Joker's running."

"Let him."

Babs tapped ehr fingers on her chair.

"Damn it Bruce, where are you?"


Mia watched as Scarecrows henchmen seemed to be tossed around like ragdolls in an invisible force.

"Dang Gyp, you rock."
Mia saw one make a run for it and she pulled out an arrow, buring it in the ground in front of the man, he paused just long enough for Gypsy to kick him from behind. Shooting an arrow out with a line Mia swooped down, rolling on her landing as she caught sight of Zinda and Beetle doing the same, her arrows drawn she focused on Scarecrow.
 
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"Oh ****!!"

I speed up and manage to catch Kara before a single hair on her head hits the water. I zip her to the shore and lay her on the beach.

"Kara! Linda! Supergirl! Say something, anything! Even if it's 'Go to hell Bart!' Give me a sign that you're alright."

I hear the panic in my voice and the cold feeling deep in my stomach. What is it? Nerves? Worry, whatever it is it scares me even more than I realise.

Kara's eyes flutter open, and she looks down to break contact between her brilliant sky blue eyes and his emotion filled amber eyes.

"Bart... oh god Bart. I felt so alone. I don't want to be alone, not after everything that's happened."
 
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Kara's eyes flutter open, and she looks down to break contact between her brilliant sky blue eyes and his emotion filled amber eyes.

"Bart... oh god Bart. I felt so alone. I don't want to be alone, not after everything that's happened."

"But your not alone, Kara. You have the Titans...and you have me. I-..I'll make sure you'll always have someone you can depend on...always. A shoulder to cry one who knows what it's like to be your own family."

I look down at Kara, her unnaturally blue eyes close to tears.

"We can be each other's family."
 
I get no clear response from Barbara. What I do get is a jumble of communications that I can't really make out. There's some kind of fight, but I can't determine where.

I tap on my earpiece a few times. Then I hear...

"Titans this is Robin, My communicators gone nuts, is everything ok in there guys?

he sped toward the bank to avvert the robbery but all the while his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the worst case situation.


Robin? "Robin?" But I get no response. I don't know what to make of it. He said his communicator was acting hinky. He might even be in Gotham, and I just picked this up by chance with the rest of the clutter I'm picking up.

"Oracle," I say, trying my communicator again. "What's going on. I just picked up a message from Robin. Do you know if he's in Gotham?"

I just get static until...

Clicking his commuinator back on he said "guys....I think we have a problem".

"Robin. Come in. This is Flash. Can you receive me?"

"Cassie listen, i found some strange mud on the Bat Cycle's back tire. I think he might be back, get here as soon as you can because....URGGH!"

Mud? No! The police should have taken care of him. Unless...the bastard took advantage of the chaos, again.

"Robin, hold on. I'm on my way!" I don't know where he is, or if he even heard me. So I just put on my mask and start running through the city, assuming he actually is in Gotham.

It takes me almost a minute of searching before I see, not Robin, but him.
I slam into him at full speed from behind, splitting him in two. Based on what I did to him just a few nights ago, I know he'll survive.

I stand between him and Robin in a defensive stance, ready to fight.

"Oh, come on! I just wanted to have some fun with the kid. Who invited you to the party?"

I ignore his comment. "Haven't you had enough? I beat you before. Pretty badly too, if I remember. Go back to Arkham now, or I'll just have to do it all over again, Clayface."
 
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"But your not alone, Kara. You have the Titans...and you have me. I-..I'll make sure you'll always have someone you can depend on...always. A shoulder to cry one who knows what it's like to be your own family."

I look down at Kara, her unnaturally blue eyes close to tears.

"We can be each other's family."
After wiping the tears from her eyes, Kara stood and hugged Bart tightly, squeezing the air out of his lungs.

"Thank you, Bart."

After letting go, she glared at him.

"But don't think that this got you entirely out of the doghouse, buster."

She smirked as she turned around.

I've got him in the palm of my hand...

"Now come on, Cassie's probably worried. Lets go."

karaconnerlookcopyzk5.jpg
 
Luthor looks to Vice President Evans and says, "I have just gotten confirmation that the Dallas is in place and ready to go. I have sent the Intellegence reports to the Senate Leadership and they agree that the Kaznians are involved with the Black-Thorn terror cell."

Evans asks, "Are you sure about this Mr. President? Once we make this kind of committment it's either going to be put up or shut up time."

Luthor nods and says, "I am aware of that Mr. Vice President."

He steps out in-front of a bank of Microphones in the Rose Garden and says, "Good evening concerning the events of today we have confirmed that the Black-Thorn terror cell is behind the bombing of Embassy in Italy this morning. We also have indisputible proof that the Kaznian Governement is working in league with the Black-Thorn."

Luthor takes a deep breath and says, "We tried diplomacy, sanctions, and U.N. Resolutions and not of it has detered the Kaznians from breaking their alliance with the Black-Thorn. Therefore the time has come to act. The Kaznian Government has one hour to provide us with the Black-Thorn leadership or credible intelligence concering their wherebouts. Otherwise the Nuclear Option will be considered our most viable course of action."

Many reporters gasp and begins shouting questions, but all Luthor says, "If you have loved ones get in touch with them while you can."

One reporter asks, "What of the current reporters in Kaznia? What kind of chance do they have?"

Luthor says, " A good one actually. When our Embassy was bombed Angela Chen contacted the major news outlets and advised the reporters there to leave at once. Thank you all very much."

Luthor leaves the Rose Garden and dials on his phone a number.

He says, "Only a matter of time...only a matter of time."
 
I get no clear response from Barbara. What I do get is a jumble of communications that I can't really make out. There's some kind of fight, but I can't determine where.

I tap on my earpiece a few times. Then I hear...




Robin? "Robin?" But I get no response. I don't know what to make of it. He said his communicator was acting hinky. He might even be in Gotham, and I just picked this up by chance with the rest of the clutter I'm picking up.

"Oracle," I say, trying my communicator again. "What's going on. I just picked up a message from Robin. Do you know if he's in Gotham?"

I just get static until...



"Robin. Come in. This is Flash. Can you receive me?"



Mud? No! The police should have taken care of him. Unless...the bastard took advantage of the chaos, again.

"Robin, hold on. I'm on my way!" I don't know where he is, or if he even heard me. So I just put on my mask and start running through the city, assuming he actually is in Gotham.

It takes me almost a minute of searching before I see, not Robin, but him.
I slam into him at full speed from behind, splitting him in two. Based on what I did to him just a few nights ago, I know he'll survive.

I stand between him and Robin in a defensive stance, ready to fight.

"Oh, come on! I just wanted to have some fun with the kid. Who invited you to the party?"

I ignore his comment. "Haven't you had enough? I beat you before. Pretty badly too, if I remember. Go back to Arkham now, or I'll just have to do it all over again, Clayface."

Tim's vision was blurry, his eyes were flicking open and shut all on there own, he tried to stay awake, he fought against the black abyss, he struggled to lift his head and saw Jay holding off Clayface, drawing him away. Before he succumed to the darkness he uttered one single word and that word was "water".

then he faded into nothingness and drifted toward the inevitable.
 
Tim's vision was blurry, his eyes were flicking open and shut all on there own, he tried to stay awake, he fought against the black abyss, he struggled to lift his head and saw Jay holding off Clayface, drawing him away. Before he succumed to the darkness he uttered one single word and that word was "water".

then he faded into nothingness and drifted toward the inevitable.

"Shut your face kid!" Clayface shouts. He lashes out an arm at me. It hardens and forms into a spike. But by the time it passes through me and Robin, we're already gone.

"Hey!" I shout. Clayface turns around. I stand with one foot on a fire hydrant and Robin in my arms. "You already know how fast I am. Let's see how fast you are."

"NO!!!" I kick the hydrant plug at superspeed and it spins off. Clayface tries to leap up towards a building, but the jet water explodes out, blasting his lower body. "Dammed speedster!" It smashes against the wall of a building as his upper body falls into the stream. It too is slammed against the wall. For a moment, Clayface's body seem to reform and he tries to stand. But he falls back down and dissolve into nothing. Brown streams of water flow into the storm drains.

I put Robin down and speed myself up. The water stops moving. I grab the plug and force it back into place. Before the water even has a chance of shooting out sideways when it's blocked, I've already screwed the plug back in and have Robin in my arms once more.

I spare a glance at the gauge on my tank. It's almost depleted. Running at superspeed tends to burn a lot of oxygen. But I'm at the hospital with air to spare before Robin even has a chance to breath any gas in.

When I phase back through the front doors, the hospital staff are in a state of organized chaos. "A little help here!" A couple of the staff rush over with a gurney. I set Robin on it.

"Let's get him to exam 3. We'll have to get this costume off." I phase Robin's belt off of him, knowing that some of the gadgets in there could hurt someone who can't avoid them at superspeed. Someone reachs for his face, but I grab his hand. "The mask stays on. Just stabilize him. I'll make sure his friends get here to help him."

A few minutes later and they've got Robin's arm in an air-splint and have him resting comfortably. A quick x-ray shows some cracked ribs and separated shoulder. I stay with him the whole time. I know he'll get good care, but not without possibly compromising his identity.

While the doctors and nurses work on him, I find Robin's Titans communicator. I activate it. "All Titans, this is Flash in Gotham. Robin's been injured. I got him to Gotham City Hospital, but he'll need medical care from someone who can protect his identity. I'll call in Dr. Mid-Nite until one of you can arrive. Flash out."

With that done, I turn my JSA communicator on. "Flash to Mid-Nite. I need you back at Gotham City Hospital. Robin's been injured. And bring a gas mask."

Since they can't work on him, the doctors move Robin into intensive care with Dinah. That way, if they can't keep him stable, they can treat him quickly. In the room, I stand next to Robin until his doctor leaves. Only a nurse remains behind to check his vitals and IV's. I look over at Dinah who still sleeps, blissfully unaware of what is going on.

When the nurse leaves the room, I lay Robin's belt next to him and put my JSA communicator away. Then I tap the communicator in my ear. "Oracle. It's Flash. Robin's been hurt by Clayface. I've got him here with Dinah and called Mid-Nite back to check on him. I took care of Clayface and contacted the Titans as well. You might want to tell Batman."
 
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After wiping the tears from her eyes, Kara stood and hugged Bart tightly, squeezing the air out of his lungs.

"Thank you, Bart."

After letting go, she glared at him.

"But don't think that this got you entirely out of the doghouse, buster."

She smirked as she turned around.

I've got him in the palm of my hand...

"Now come on, Cassie's probably worried. Lets go."

karaconnerlookcopyzk5.jpg

"Still in trouble after spilling my guts out? Wow, I am in the doghouse....Oh, and Kara...I do have something to say..."

She turns around and looks at me, a puzzled look on her face.

"Race ya back to the Tower! Last one there is a rotten egg!"

I stick out my tounge and smile, dissapearing as I zip over the water.

"Why you little!"

Kara gives chase as we race over the Pacific ocean, for a moment, we forget all about the world and everyone in it.
 
On the chaotic streets of Gotham, Gordon had assembled his forces for an impromptu meeting.

"Okay, listen up. Wayne Biotech is dispatching its entire stockpile of anti-toxin to Crane's Fear Gas. As soon as we get our hands on it, we have to distribute it throughout the city, get this mess under control before anyone else gets killed."

With the passage of time - and the anti-toxin to speed up the process - the effects of the Fear Gas would pass. The GCPD just had to break up any riots or dangerous situations until morning came. But there was a whole lot of blood, pain and terror between now and sunrise.

"It's gonna be a long night."
 

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