The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VII

[Watchman]

There was probably nothing more terrifying that having to look at a giant Sivana head on spider legs. It was even worst that the giant Sivana head was beating him into the ground with his legs.

"Had enough yet?" Captain Marvel rose from the ground.

"Not even close."

"Good, I can do this for hours." Another spider leg went up into the air but before it crashed down on it Captain Marvel he caught it with one hand and started to push it upward.

"You know Sivana I've been thinking..."

"You've been thinking?! It's a miracle!"

"I've been thinking about the fight with the Martians. It fealt as if I was fighting on Earth."

"Very perceptive, Captain Dolt. Yes, the genius of Sivana is able to sitmulate the gravity of Earth on the Moon." Captain Marvel bends the leg backwards.

"Be right back." In a flash Captain Marvel had flew off and return holding a machine in his hands. "I thought this looked interesting."

"What are you going to to with that?"

"I've notice your robot doesn't have any means of travel besides its legs."

"NOOOOO!!!" Captain Marvel crushes the machine in his hands. The robot charges after Marvel. Marvel readies for a punch but when Sivana is close enough he flicks the robot far into the air. The Robots arms wave frantically toward the surface as if trying to grab on to something. Captain Marvel flies back to Sinestro.

"Sivana's robot won't be a problem anymore. I think its time to get back to Earth and take care of a certain monkey."

 

[Keyser Soze]

They took what was his. They took it from him and now they are coming for more. He won't let them.

"You're not supposed to be here! We had a deal, give it BACK!" he lets out a vicious howl.

His army of Orange Lanterns wash over the intruders, pummeling them physically while syphoning off the power from their rings. They try to fight him, but they can't. They try to struggle, but they can't. Down here, no on can.

One of the Orange Lanterns, a four-armed behemoth, appears behind the two struggling Lanterns.

"MINE." he roars, just like all the others, as he bends down and grabs both of them by the neck. He flings them across the crypt, and they crash like dummies into a wall.

"You think you can take what is mine." Larfleeze howls, as his orange light drowns out the green. "But now you are mine!"

I realise that I don't have much hope of fighting this guy. So I have to try and talk to him.

"We don't have your ring! We're trying to find the person who does!"

 

[Blacklight]

"Right. You get the team together. I'll grab Wally, do a little clean up around here, and we'll scout out Pahrump together while you're on your way."

"Now, now, laddies. Don'tcha be forgettin' about me." Two hands reach out from the store window behind me and grab me by the shoulders.

"CART-!!!" I 'm pulled into the glass as I reach out for help.

"JAY!" Carter rushes the window, but is only confronted by his reflection. "Jay!" Carter can only stand there helpless...until McCulloch flies out of the window backwards and crashes into him.

I step out of the window rubbing my sore hand before the portal closes on me. Carter just holds the unconscious Mirror Master. "I think that's the last of them."

"Leave it to the Rogues to not put up much of a fight..." I retort as I zip in next to Jay, leaving heaps of robot parts in my red and gold wake.

"Grodd should really invest in some better flunkies." I joke as I grin to my mentor and fellow Scarlet Speedster.

"Speaking of the darn, dirty ape... Let's crash his party shall we?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

I realise that I don't have much hope of fighting this guy. So I have to try and talk to him.

"We don't have your ring! We're trying to find the person who does!"

Larfleeze snarls, spittle flying from his mouth and onto his nearest construct, where it sizzles and dissipates.

"Don't lie to me!" he screams as a bright, orange sword appears in his hand. The ring on his hand sparkles as the voice in his head tells him he is at more than 1000% power. He raises the massive blade high above his head, his eyes crackling with power and fury.

"WHERE IS MY RING?!?!"

 

[Karem-Knight]

Larfleeze snarls, spittle flying from his mouth and onto his nearest construct, where it sizzles and dissipates.

"Don't lie to me!" he screams as a bright, orange sword appears in his hand. The ring on his hand sparkles as the voice in his head tells him he is at more than 1000% power. He raises the massive blade high above his head, his eyes crackling with power and fury.

"WHERE IS MY RING?!?!"

In the distance I can see Jordan trying to be democratic with that, what ever it is and I can see that it´s not getting him anywhere. I shake my head back a bit trying to see where I am before another blinding light takes over my senses again, I really am getting sick of that colour.

Another hord of them try and take me and keep repeating that same damn word. MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! NO HE´S MINE! HEE HEE! MINE! I yell with rage and try and put all that willpower into getting them away.

"Oh SHUT UP!!!" I say trying to blast a green emerald attack only for nothing short of a flicker turning up from the ring, I stare at it in shock.

POWER LEVELS AT 0.00% CHARGE. RING OFFLINE

"No...."

HEE NOW YOU´RE MINE!

No, I´m not! I think to myself and start to attack without my ring and slam the floor, which to my surprise just crumbles beneath me, I then stare at the alien ready to decapitate Jordan. I run to his aid but the beast seems to be going so....slow. I then jump in the air as it starts to feel to similar to flying!? Am I flying without my ring? I ignore that thought as I manage to punch the Orange Lantern´s leader in the face.

He falls back a few feet and reaches a wall, crushing tiny bits of it. I shouldn´t have done that this guy seems like a one man Corps; still he only seems to care about what´s his and right now, I hope I can bargin with him. Jordan stares at me, he´s as confused as I am seeing as my ring isn´t glowing and I´m hovering in the air.

"What the hell...." I hear him say, how? It was sound barley he himself could hear I ignore that as the Orange Lantern comes back up he doesn´t look happy. So I decide to talk to him, where Jordan failed.

"Listen, we´re not here to take anymore of what is yours. Me and my partner here are trying to find the person who does, like he said. I can assure you, we are not lying. Now, if you listen to us we can stop this mindless fighting and maybe, maybe we can help you find your precious Orange ring? What do you say?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

"Listen, we´re not here to take anymore of what is yours. Me and my partner here are trying to find the person who does, like he said. I can assure you, we are not lying. Now, if you listen to us we can stop this mindless fighting and maybe, maybe we can help you find your precious Orange ring? What do you say?"

The minute the young Lantern's fist connects with Larfleeze's snout, he is thrown backwards. His constructs, his corps, flicker momentarily as he sails backwards through his domain, but the moment he connects with the wall they all immediately shatter and dissipate.

Larfleeze rises to his feet, seething. "If you didn't take my ring then who did?! The Guardians said they'd leave me alone, and now you're here. The Guardians want my rings! But they're mine!!" Larfleeze snarls, as his army of orange constructs start to take form all around the two Green Lanterns.

 

[Keyser Soze]

The minute the young Lantern's fist connects with Larfleeze's snout, he is thrown backwards. His constructs, his corps, flicker momentarily as he sails backwards through his domain, but the moment he connects with the wall they all immediately shatter and dissipate.

Larfleeze rises to his feet, seething. "If you didn't take my ring then who did?! The Guardians said they'd leave me alone, and now you're here. The Guardians want my rings! But they're mine!!" Larfleeze snarls, as his army of orange constructs start to take form all around the two Green Lanterns.

Wait.... The Guardians!?

Those little blue creeps lied to us. They acted like they'd never heard of an orange ring before, but they've talked to its owner? No wonder they were desperate to get me back to my sector and off the case. Thinking fast, I come up with a story.

"The Guardians sent us here, to help you get your ring back. They thought you could tell us something which might help us find it. So, tell us about the orange light... and about what The Guardians promised you."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Wait.... The Guardians!?

Those little blue creeps lied to us. They acted like they'd never heard of an orange ring before, but they've talked to its owner? No wonder they were desperate to get me back to my sector and off the case. Thinking fast, I come up with a story.

"The Guardians sent us here, to help you get your ring back. They thought you could tell us something which might help us find it. So, tell us about the orange light... and about what The Guardians promised you."

Larfleeze snarled, and his finger trailed along one of his tusks. His orange lantern constructs stood at the ready, all of them seething and muttering the same word over and over. "The Guardians sent you to help?" he asked incredulously.

"If you are lying to me...." he threatened in a growl, but the two Lanterns stood their ground.

"The orange light...the power...it's all mine. All of it. All the rings. The entire battery." Larfleeze explained, staggering pride showing through his threatening demeanor.

Still the constructs stood ready. Glowing still as bright as before; a hundred of them, or a thousand. It didn't matter. Larfleeze had all the power of the orange light; it was endless. And all his.

"The Guardians...we made a deal. They promised me they would leave me alone. If I stayed on this planet, in this system, I would get to keep all the orange light. And the would never bother me. Never try to take it away from me. It would be mine." Larfleeze explained, his pride soon overpowered by the fury inside. Once more he began seething with anger, spittle flying out of this mouth as he spoke. "But now one of my rings is gone. Someone TOOK it from me! And if you don't get it back for me, I'm coming to your little green planet and I'm destroying the Guardians. And then you're green light will be mine."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Larfleeze snarled, and his finger trailed along one of his tusks. His orange lantern constructs stood at the ready, all of them seething and muttering the same word over and over. "The Guardians sent you to help?" he asked incredulously.

"If you are lying to me...." he threatened in a growl, but the two Lanterns stood their ground.

"The orange light...the power...it's all mine. All of it. All the rings. The entire battery." Larfleeze explained, staggering pride showing through his threatening demeanor.

Still the constructs stood ready. Glowing still as bright as before; a hundred of them, or a thousand. It didn't matter. Larfleeze had all the power of the orange light; it was endless. And all his.

"The Guardians...we made a deal. They promised me they would leave me alone. If I stayed on this planet, in this system, I would get to keep all the orange light. And the would never bother me. Never try to take it away from me. It would be mine." Larfleeze explained, his pride soon overpowered by the fury inside. Once more he began seething with anger, spittle flying out of this mouth as he spoke. "But now one of my rings is gone. Someone TOOK it from me! And if you don't get it back for me, I'm coming to your little green planet and I'm destroying the Guardians. And then you're green light will be mine."

All this time, going back millions of years, the Vega System has been off-limits to the Green Lantern Corps. And any reason the Guardians gave for this was BS. This was the reason. To protect this monster.

"We'll find the ring, and bring it back to you. I promise. But if we're going to find who took it.... is there anything you can do to track your rings, get a pinpoint on whereabouts it is?"

It's a longshot, but I'll take any lead on Hammond I can get. But while I'm here, I want to know who I'm dealing with.

"And one more thing. We never introduced ourselves. I'm Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814. This is Sodam Yat, Green Lantern of Sector 1760. What's your name?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERBOY

"Show of hands," Zach announces, "Who believes me about Powerboy now?"

As I lock up with Powerboy - each of us having almost equal strength - I grunt, "Now's...maybe...not the best time...Zach!" Thinking quickly, I blast Powerboy in the face with my heat vision. He releases me and stumbles backwards. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you earlier."

Megan appears next to me, hitting Powerboy with wave after wave of telepathic blasts. He looks like he's having the migraine from Hell. I decide to summon a power I haven't used in some time: telekinesis. Concentrating, I pick up a chair with my mind and throw it at Powerboy.

"THIS IS WHY I CAN'T STAND YOU PEOPLE!" Powerboy roars. Suddenly, what looks like purple lightning fires off from his body, knocking us all back. "That crazy b**** attacks me, and you all go along with her! As usual, I'm not even--"

"Hsirebbig ni kaeps," Zach mutters.

"Hshsagad sgahrth zgsgry--" Powerboy frowns in confusion. His expression turns to one of rage. "Ysghsg awncdk afafw! Gbdcs!"

Zach turns to me and winks. "You're welcome."
​

 

[Catman_prb]

Tim shook his head, blinking his eyes as he came out of his daze. Powerboy could really pack a punch. Of course that was one of the reasons he was on the team. He started as Megan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Rose says that it's okay," she said gently, but clearly. He blinked.

"You know?" he spluttered. She nodded. There was a rasping noise from behind them, and Tim turned to see Powerboy holding Zach in the air by his throat, making a valiant attempt at crushing his windpipe.

"Flrgyetaawfb!" he snarled, in a tone that would've been menacing if he didn't have the vocabulary of a one year old.

"It's funny," Tim said loudly, catching the psycopath's attention "I've seen you fight what, two, three times? But I know that your technique is sloppy. Like it's been beaten into you instead of taught. And I've been watching your reactions too. It's quite interesting,"

He leapt onto the boy's back, instinctively reaching for the batarang at his belt, but finding nothing. He looked down, slightly puzzled. Damn, wrong outfit, he thought.

"Sure, if I hadn't been so self-involved recently I would've caught the warning signs. The way your eyes follow Cassie when she's in the room. The slight change in your stance whenever she's close. The small downturn of the mouth whenever you see Zach. The brief clench of your fist whenever you see Cassie and Connor together. But like I said, I've seen you fight. So I happen to know that you have pressure point right here,"

He jabbed two fingers into the small of Powerboy's shoulder, which caused the correct response; a howl of pain.

"And I know how easily you get distracted," he whispered, before turning his head to the door.

"Rose, hurry up!" he shouted.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

It's a longshot, but I'll take any lead on Hammond I can get. But while I'm here, I want to know who I'm dealing with.

"And one more thing. We never introduced ourselves. I'm Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814. This is Sodam Yat, Green Lantern of Sector 1760. What's your name?"

Larfleeze softly rubs his tusks, sizing up the two Lanterns. If they are here to help him, then they belong to him, he decides. Satisfied with being handed two new servants, Larfleeze leaps to his nearest Orange Lantern construct. "Larfleeze. I am Larfleeze, and everything here is mine."" he stated proudly, looking Jordan and Yat over like a lion would a lamb. "Everything.."

 

[Karem-Knight]

Larfleeze softly rubs his tusks, sizing up the two Lanterns. If they are here to help him, then they belong to him, he decides. Satisfied with being handed two new servants, Larfleeze leaps to his nearest Orange Lantern construct. "Larfleeze. I am Larfleeze, and everything here is mine."" he stated proudly, looking Jordan and Yat over like a lion would a lamb. "Everything.."

I look at Larzfleeze staring at me and Jordan, as all the Orange Lanters crowd around us like we´re spectces of entertainment. I rest easy reminding myself that he might just be trying to lure us into his trap.

"Right...."

I rest down on the ground like I normally would, without a power ring and without; whatever happened to me here. I´ve been feeling a little stronger and powerful ever since my short visit to Earth something has defiantly happened to my body over there. I look at Larfleeze in the eyes, his wolf like eyes are looking at me like I´m something of a toy to him.

"We understand that you have your ownership around this system, me and my partner are sorry for intervening around these parts; but it looks like all three of us are looking for the same thing. This Orange Ring that was taken from you, do you think that perhaps your Lantern can track down the ring so that it can be returned to you, it´s rightful owner?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Wuh-wait.... you're going to kill me?"

Sputtering up blood all over the floor, The Joker looked up at this strange being he once called Batman, eyes wide with shock.

"After all the years I spent... trying to break you, trying to make...heh.... a killer out of you, and here you are. Now, when I want the old Bruce back, here you.... ha ha... are. A... a killer at last!"

Suddenly, The Joker through his head back, and laughed with an insane glee he hadn't felt in over a year.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Taking a deep intake of breath after that burst, The Joker sat bolt upright on his knees, grinning up at the stranger before him. This wasn't his Batman. Brucie wasn't home. Not right now, anyways...

"HA! Come on then, killer! Kill me! Finish me off! Show me what a good murderer you are these days. I guess I was mistaken, you can't be my old friend Batman. See, Batman couldn't kill anyone, not even his worst enemy. He'd have them there, in a position where they were at his mercy, ready for the chop. But just.... thinking about taking a life, it would give my Batman the sweats. He just couldn't do it. But that's not you, right? I bet you've killed lots of folks lately. Why wouldn't you?"

Still smiling, The Joker closed his eyes.

"Well come on then, I'm waiting..."

The Demon's Head strode out of the cell with purpose, accompanied by his faithful servant Alfred. The two of them dragged their hooded, unconscious prisoner down the gloomy hallway, until they reached a pair of guards.

"Sir," one of them asked, respectfully bowing his head, "Where are you taking the prisoner?"

The Demon's Head stared at him in silence. His mask allowed him to see the guards quite clearly, but they could not get any read on his expression. The guard shifted uncomfortably, worried that his question had somehow angered the leader.

"The Demon's Head has been greatly vexed by this particular prisoner's blatant disrespect," Alfred interjected, "He wishes to execute him personally."

The guards nodded, standing aside to let them through. They kept on walking, until they were outside the compound. They dragged the hooded prisoner out to the east wing, where the firing range was located. Suddenly, more voices came from behind them.

"Sir! Sir!"

The Demon's Head turned round. It was the two guards from earlier.

"We felt it best that we remained with you, in case the prisoner turned out to be a danger."

"Very well," replied Alfred, as he propped their unconscious captive against the wall.

The Demon's Head extended a hand, demanding the guard's rifle.

"As you wish, sir."

Taking the rifle, The Demon's Head aimed the rifle at the prisoner, ready to execute him. But suddenly, he turned round and gunned down the two guards, killing them instantly.

"That was not necessary!" shouted Alfred.

The Demon's Head pulled off his mask, letting it drop to the ground.

"No," The Joker said, "But it was fun."

...

FIVE MINUTES EARLIER

"HA! Come on then, killer! Kill me! Finish me off! Show me what a good murderer you are these days. I guess I was mistaken, you can't be my old friend Batman. See, Batman couldn't kill anyone, not even his worst enemy. He'd have them there, in a position where they were at his mercy, ready for the chop. But just.... thinking about taking a life, it would give my Batman the sweats. He just couldn't do it. But that's not you, right? I bet you've killed lots of folks lately. Why wouldn't you?"

Still smiling, The Joker closed his eyes.

"Well come on then, I'm waiting..."

The Demon's Head gripped the handle of his blade, ready to kill this nuisance once and for all. But... he was hesitating. Why was he hesitating?

Before he could consider the matter further, he was startled by a sharp stinging sensation in the side of his neck. He spun round - it was Alfred, standing behind him, a syringe in his hand. An empty syringe.

"You.... traitor!"

The Demon's Head staggered towards Alfred, already unsteady on his feet.

"Hardly, Master Bruce. Quite the opposite..."

Falling to his knees, then forward onto his face, The Demon's Head slipped into a deep, drug-induced sleep that would last several hours.

"...I'm loyal to you. Always have been."

...

NOW

The east wing of the compound was where the firing range was located. It was also where The League stored their SUVs.

"Someone will have heard gunshots."

Alfred roared down the rocky landscape, as fast as the treacherous terrain would allow.

"Well, you'll just have to drive faster then, won't you?"

Turning round to look at their cargo in the backseat, The Joker reached over and pulled off the prisoner's hood. And there, lying unconscious, was Bruce Wayne.

"It's good to have you back, old friend."

And then, The Joker smiled.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Leave it to the Rogues to not put up much of a fight..." I retort as I zip in next to Jay, leaving heaps of robot parts in my red and gold wake.

"Grodd should really invest in some better flunkies." I joke as I grin to my mentor and fellow Scarlet Speedster.

"Speaking of the darn, dirty ape... Let's crash his party shall we?"

"Well, Carter's gone to get the others and put the Rogues away. Let's scout the area until they get there. I don't want to waste a second."

I look west. "Pahrump, Nevada. Here we come...!"

Twin streaks of red rip across the mid-west towards the desert.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Tim shook his head, blinking his eyes as he came out of his daze. Powerboy could really pack a punch. Of course that was one of the reasons he was on the team. He started as Megan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Rose says that it's okay," she said gently, but clearly. He blinked.

"You know?" he spluttered. She nodded. There was a rasping noise from behind them, and Tim turned to see Powerboy holding Zach in the air by his throat, making a valiant attempt at crushing his windpipe.

"Flrgyetaawfb!" he snarled, in a tone that would've been menacing if he didn't have the vocabulary of a one year old.

"It's funny," Tim said loudly, catching the psycopath's attention "I've seen you fight what, two, three times? But I know that your technique is sloppy. Like it's been beaten into you instead of taught. And I've been watching your reactions too. It's quite interesting,"

He leapt onto the boy's back, instinctively reaching for the batarang at his belt, but finding nothing. He looked down, slightly puzzled. Damn, wrong outfit, he thought.

"Sure, if I hadn't been so self-involved recently I would've caught the warning signs. The way your eyes follow Cassie when she's in the room. The slight change in your stance whenever she's close. The small downturn of the mouth whenever you see Zach. The brief clench of your fist whenever you see Cassie and Connor together. But like I said, I've seen you fight. So I happen to know that you have pressure point right here,"

He jabbed two fingers into the small of Powerboy's shoulder, which caused the correct response; a howl of pain.

"And I know how easily you get distracted," he whispered, before turning his head to the door.

"Rose, hurry up!" he shouted.

Powerboy reaches back and grabs Tim by the back of his shirt collar. Tim struggles for a moment, but - despite his training - he's no match for Powerboy's strength. Powerboy flips him over his head and into the coffee table. "Gadhaegr bghagb!"

Zach groans. "I never thought he could be more annoying like this." Shaking his head, Zach mutters, "Lamron ot kcab!"

"If this is what you guys want, go ahead!" Powerboy taunts. "I'm not afraid of any of you!"

"That include me?" I deliver a flying right cross that sends Powerboy through the wall. Pieces of plaster fall on his body as he lays there, no doubt in some serious pain. "You know what your problem is? You're not a team player."

 

[Andy C.]

FLAMEBIRD
​

While Flamebird goes off to do whatever she's doing, I take the time to look around.

"Welcome to the Fortress of Solitude, Nightwing!" One of the robotic Supermen say as he stomps up beside me.

"Hi."

"Do you require any assistance?"

"No, thanks. I'm fine."

I turn and see Flamebird coming back.

"Recharged and ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Flamebird said, checking the readings on her suit and seeing that all systems were running at optimum efficiency. "Now let's get a move on; we've got an impostor to bust, an evil plot to overthrow, and a city to save. All in a day's work...right?"

The unlikely duo made their way back to the Bat-wing, and took to the sky. The woman in Kryptonian armor couldn't stop fidgeting in the passenger's seat; she was restless before the inevitable big fight around the corner.

This 'Batman' had taken something from both of them. From Nightwing, he had taken the sanctity of the real Batman's memory. From Flamebird, he had taken the city that she was supposed to protect in Superman's absence.

Today, they would take it all back.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Interlude
​

O.G.R.E. II
South American Facility

Dragged by two O.G.R.E. soldiers seeing as how Demon Gate has no more desire having grown tired of his little 'play-thing', Black Manta--for the first time in all of his time of his imprisonment--is gently laid down on the bed of his cell. Barely able to speak, slurred words mumble from Manta's lips.

"Ar...Arrrr...Arrtth..."

"Geez, Demon Gate really messed him up didn't he."

"I thought he was just going to rough him up, not...not this. Aw ****. He's going to need the doctor."

The two guards lock up the cell, walking away. A broken and beaten Black Manta crawls off of his bed, dragging his body across the floor to his toilet. Like a dog, he drinks the very water in the toilet as he scoops one of his hands down, the other running wild with his blood. Finally hydrated, he lays on his back, staring at the ceiling of his cell.

"Arrth...Arttthuurrrrr..."

His fists clenched, Black Manta attempts to raise them towards the ceiling. His fists loosen, and he makes a gesture as though he was choking the life out of someone.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Orin finally swims his way back to Atlantica, where he is quickly welcomed back with open arms from Garth and Vulko. The very first thing the Aquatic Ace does is swim to the Royal Courtyard where Mera and Dolphin remain with the children. Little Cerdian gazes upon the young few month old Kym as though she was his little sister. He swims slowly as he sees the group gathered around.

"Mera, my darling...how is she?"

"She's...fine. I suppose. She hasn't fully lost her sight, but she does seem to be almost blind in one eye."

"Can...can I hold her?"

Taking his daughter up in his arms, Orin wishes to cry right now. His Kym. His beautiful and innocent Kym. The pearl of the ocean. He takes his index finger, slowly waving it in front of her face. It takes the young baby a moment, but she soon finally tries to grab at it much like she would do for countless minutes. He stops, and she grabs it. The smile on her face and the giggle from her mouth makes the Marine Marvel happy and sad at the same time.

Before...he didn't have to stop waving his hand for her to grab it. Her senses aren't what they used to be. She will live on, but handicapped. At least she did not die from the ethanol poisoning.

Aquaman looks to Mera, but instead of a face of sadness she wears one of sheer delight and joy. That's when Orin smiles too, and they swim off to the bedroom chambers to put Kym to sleep. On the way, the Aquatic Ace tells his wife of his recent adventures after he was taken from her and his daughter by the United States Government.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Sector 666

Hector Hammond was all alone. Floating in the black emptiness of space, bathed in an orange glow, Hammond felt safe in the knowledge that he was hiding in a place not even the Green Lantern Corps dared to tread. This whole sector was dead, all its life eradicated by the Manhunters millions of years ago. Ever since then, The Guardians had sealed it off, their dirty little secret, and prevented any Green Lanterns from entering. A nice place to call home, Hammond thought.

Hammond looked down. Yes, he moved his enormous head, and looked down at his shrivelled little hand, as his fist clenched and unclenched. The ring, it gave him the power to move. Oh, if only Hal Jordan was here with him, if only he could see what he could now do. Hammond sighed. A good hiding place this might be, but in one crucial way this vast orbit was like a much bigger version of his prison cell in Belle Reve. Despite his freedom, he still felt lonely. He still yearned for human contact, some company, some friends he could call his own. If only....

Suddenly, from out of his ring, there came a faint, flickering orange beam. It widened, grew in size, splitting off in various directions. It continuied growing and shifting, until Hammond found, hovering before him, orange constructs of the people he'd killed in Belle Reve. The constructs were flickering, unstable, but looking at them, Hammond recognised each face. But rather than looking at him in horror or disgust, they smiled at him, happy to be in his company. They were his friends now. They belonged to him.

[BLACKOUT]"Mine!"[/BLACKOUT]

The voice came out in a hoarse croak. He hadn't spoken in years, but his ring allowed him to do that too. What other tricks was this little trinket hiding from him, he wondered.

[BLACKOUT]"I....want... more."[/BLACKOUT]

I don't just want a few friends, Hammond thought. I want lots of friends. More than that, I want a family. Your family, Hal. I want your life...

 

[trustyside-kick]

Poseidonis, Atlantica
Atlantean Throne Room

"The latest U.N. meeting went better than we could've expected, my King. As you had commanded, our top scientists have surfaced to the United States to aid our allies in deriving a forumla that will hopefully provide to be an antidote."

"Thank you, Vulko. I'm glad to hear that Atlantica is aiding the world in this Gorilla Grodd situation effectively."

"We should be aiding them more actively, Garth. I know I'd be willing to lead with Rodunn by my side and--"

Tempest stops Aquaman in his words with a polite gesture of the hand. A rare sight seeing as how their roles amongst the Atlantean people has changed this past year. But Orin knew of the awkward changes the day that Garth asked him to stick around amongst the Council taking Vulko's job as the King's Advisor.

"Orin. I understand that members of the JLA and JSA are taking a more active role, scattered amongts the world helping victims of this Vegitative Disease but I will not allow the risk of our people coming in contact with it. We still do not know the source and flow of the virus and we do not have enough containment suits to supply an entire Atlantean army."

"But, surely, Garth at least myself, Orin, and a few others could take the few suits we do have and at least help out."

"I need you here, Rodunn. Both you and Orin especially. In Atlantica to help me watch over our people. What if the virus somehow adapts and enters our domain through the water? With a mind like Gorilla Grodd I cannot take the chances of not taking that scenario with extremely high probability."

"...Understood."

The meeting adjourned, the Council exits the throne room leaving Garth, Vulko, and Orin behind. Mera and Dolphin enter the doorway with the children. Little Cerdian swims up to his faher, and King Garth takes him up over his shoulders. Smiling, Tempest walks out with his son and wife to the courtyard outside.


The Atlantic Ocean
100 Miles North of Atlantica

A dark and mysterious figure wanders the depths of the ocean. It glides around, causing all of the nearby fish--small and large--to squirm away. It is gargantuan and black, a true terror of he deeps.

Off in the distance...it looks much like that of a manta ray.

 

[trustyside-kick]

He has had many names over the years of his time on this planet, swimming through the vast oceanscape and beating down evil from petty criminals to mad supervillains. His young comrades, as well as his lifelong mentor used to call him Aqualad. His closest friends and his loved ones know him also as Garth. Through the years, Garth has grown to be a strong Atlantean warrior and sorceror, claiming his birthright and becoming Tempest. And just a year ago, he was given a new name. The King of Atlantica. A union between 3 of the great Atlantean cities of Poseidonis, Tritonis, and Theirna Na Oge. And a fine King he has been this past year.

There isn't a blade of kelp, a rock within an underwater cavern, or a marble step on one of the grande Atlanean buildings that Garth doesn't love. He loves all of Atlantica, and that makes him a great King. He loves his people, just as he loves his very own wife and son.

And he will do anything to protect his wife and son. Which is also what makes him a good King.

Something is amiss. Garth can feel it. After taking Cerdian around the kingdom and letting the boy play with some of the nearby sea creatures that crossed their paths, Garth had decided to take a swim of his own after Dolphin came to put Cerdian to sleep. What's confusing about his feeling he has is that he cannot sense any danger amongst the creatures of the sea. It is as though nothing is wrong at all but he just simply canno shake this feeling of discomfort that has come over him. There is no panic amongst them--the creatures of the deep--and there is...well, nothing.

And that's the problem. He can't hear anything. Not a simple thought of a lowly crustacean or the one thing that should be on the mind of any nearby hunger shark. Garth tries to scan the area with his telepathic powers and can sense nothing.

No life.

As though.

Nothing.

Is there.

As though.

Everything.

Has just.

Stopped.

Breathing.
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

There is a large and behemoth of a seacraft hovering over Poseidonis. All of the people stare as the large manta ray seems to glide over their city. They haven't seen such a large creature since...never before actually have they seen such a large manta ray.

But what they have seen before, is one of Black Manta's manta ships. Which is precisely what this machine actually is. Panic begins to stir the community, and a hatch begins to open from the midsection of the large ship. An odorless purplish-black gas starts to dump from the ship as the seacraft continues to glide over the city.

The Council all flee to the Royal Throne Room. There King...no where to be found.

"Vulko! Have you seen Garth anywhere?"

"No, Orin. He hasn't come back since Dolphin put Cerdian to bed!"

The yells and cries of the Atlanteans echo throughout the water, and seeing as how their King is no where to be found, the Marine Marvel acts accordingly by swimming out of one of the large windows and into the city. All around him...he, he cannot quite explain really. It's as though the Poseidians can no longer breathe very water around them. And that is when the Aquatic Ace starts to fully understand. He himself is having trouble breathing.

Feeling weaker by the second as he seems to swim throughout the city, he spots the Manta ship and immediately makes it his target. If there's one thing he is going to do, it's to take out that ship dropping the mysterious, odorless, purplish-black gas. And it now blankets the entire city. A new dome was never placed during the Reconstruction of Atlantis, for fear of what happened before. Should the new dome also be breached, the inner city would be reduced to rubble.

Orin nearly curses himself for making such a decision, but the risks were known then still. Shouting at the large aircraft, attempting to call out to the people inside, Orin tackles its backside.

"MANTA! I know you're behind this!!!"

He had not seen his archnemesis for nearly a year and half since the great battle that nearly brought Atlantis to ruin. The last he had seen of the villain, he was swimming for his life against the predators of the sea held by a very loose telepathic leash Orin had set on them. But there are no responses to the Marine Marvel's yells. As though no one was aboard the ship. Tearing off sheets of metal from the backside of the ship, Orin acts fast to put the machine out of commission. But each passing second he finds his strength whaning and finding it harder to breathe.

"Not...going...t--to...to l-l-let you win, M-Ma--Manta."

Losing his grip on the craft, he starts to drift backward through the water, the manta craft still operating and traveling across the city. Shaking himself, getting a hold together, the Aquatic Ace makes one final swift attempt. He starts to spin around in place as fast as he can, creating a whirlpool, the whirlpool soon becomes to turbulent and strong, that it causes the craft to spin about.

As Aquaman looses control of his speed due to the lack of oxygen in his brain, both he and the manta craft spin out of control, crashing into a coral mountain just outside the city.

"Heh...I--I...I did it."

Trying to regain his balance as he gets up from the coral mountainside ground, he can see a figure swimming up to him. A dark figure he cannot quite make out wielding a trident.

"No, Arthur. You didn't just commit an act of bravery. You did exactly what I wanted you to do; an act of stupidity. My clever fool."

Attempting to swipe and strike at Black Manta, Aquaman cannot even get his arm to move forth. The dark villain springs forward, stabbing Orin right in the chest. The barbs of the trident just barely puncturing his skin.

"You're slipping into an unconscious state right now given there's no longer any oxygen in this water. So I suggest you listen and listen well right now. I'm not going to kill you now. No. The toxin I've just injected you with is the only thing saving you right now. After everything you've cost me, there is no way I'm going to make your death quick and painless. You will be waking up in about an hour or so. I suggest you meet me were YOU were supposed to die all those years ago if you want back what I've taken from you."

Wanting nothing more than to curse at the underwater villain, Orin's words are slurred and unclear. All he can hear before passing out is Black Manta's sadistic laugh as the maniac taunts him.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Larfleeze smiles. The Green Lanterns are going to help him find the rings, they are going to serve him.

Suddenly the voice whispers to him. The voice in the battery. The ring, the one that was stolen, is being used. Somewhere out there, the fiend that stole from Larfleeze is laughing, using Larfleeze's ring for his own gain. Snarling, Larfleeze listens intently as his battery whispers to him.

"The ring." Larfleeze snarls greedily, his Orange Lanterns joining in for a symphony of avarice. "Sector 666."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Ready as I'll ever be," Flamebird said, checking the readings on her suit and seeing that all systems were running at optimum efficiency. "Now let's get a move on; we've got an impostor to bust, an evil plot to overthrow, and a city to save. All in a day's work...right?"

​

The unlikely duo made their way back to the Bat-wing, and took to the sky. The woman in Kryptonian armor couldn't stop fidgeting in the passenger's seat; she was restless before the inevitable big fight around the corner.

This 'Batman' had taken something from both of them. From Nightwing, he had taken the sanctity of the real Batman's memory. From Flamebird, he had taken the city that she was supposed to protect in Superman's absence.

Today, they would take it all back.​

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"We're 5 miles out and closing in on the city." I look at her as I start to dip the Bat-Wing down. I hit the eject button and she shoots out into the sky.

"I'll find a place to park!" I yell back to her as she takes off into the city.

​

*****************
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"Sorry about that." I tell Flamebird as I land on the roof of the rendezvous point.

"Traffic was backed up...now, when do we kick some ass?"​