The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VIII

[Byrd Man]

"Sick 'em!"

I do mid-air acrobatics high above Gotham, the yellow *****'s demon dogs nipping at my heels.

"Back off, ya mutts!" I yell as I hit the dogs with purple bolts of energy.
The dogs whine and scamper back to their mistress.

"That's what I'm talking about!"

A streak of red energy flashes by my head, and a sick feeling hits my stomach.

"Oh, God..."

"BURN!"

I dodge the Red Lantern's blast of red hot plasma. Hundred of Red Lanterns fly around me, descending to the surface of Earth.

Just like that our little three-way fight has turned into a free-for-all.

The blue skinned Lantern charges me. This ain't my first rodeo with the RLs. They won't stop or slow down. Only one thing can put an end to their rampage.

"Dammit."

I create a violet sword and charge the RL, shoving my sword into his head.

Ring Report: Red Lantern 1201 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 1201 Initiated For Replacement

The Lantern's body falls towards the ground and his ring rockets off into space.

I hate killing, but I gotta do it to protect life. My life as well as everyone he could have killed.

The battle escalates with the arrival of the new corps, and my ring lets me know that.

<Attention, Star Sapphire Gardner, love is in danger in Sector 2814. Your presence is required>

"Take me there."

With a flash of violet light I leave Batman, Joker, and all of Gotham behind for wherever I'm needed next.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Why. Won't. You. Go. DOWN?!"

I smash my fist into this yellow ring slinger again and again, but he just won't fall. I don't know what this guy is made off, but even with my forcefield it feels like I'm punching steel. Luckily for me, he's worse at using the ring than I am. And he's not much of a fighter. Which I guess is why he's got such a think skin.

What I do know for sure is that he's in my way. I was making a b-line for the sniper, and this idiot decides to play hero and protect his buddy. Or maybe he's just got a bad attitude and thought he'd score some points and take down a Lantern. I don't know, and I don't really care. I just want to get through this guy as fast as I can and help Kyle out with the sniper.

And it shouldn't be taking me this long. All the guy tries to do is distract me with scary images so he can cheap shot me. But that only worked first time. I've faced down demons and gods. This guy's got nothing in his mind that'll freak me out.

He puts up wall to block my next punch. Guess he's getting tired of getting hit. I create a pair of giant green claws and tear the wall down. But the guy is gone.

"-hurk-!" I pull against the yellow strap that's around my neck and strangling me.

"We're going to rape you planet, kill everyone and everything, and make it our new base to unleash terror on the universe."

"hts o nk-"

He leans in. "Eh?"

I drive my skull back into his nose, hearing the crunch of bone and scream of pain as his head snaps back. I jam my elbows into his gut, and create a pair of scissors to cut the strap around me neck.

"I said 'That's what you think!' Do all of you yellow guys fall for that one?" I blast him with energy while he's disoriented, and then bum rush him, knocking the air out of him.

We struggle in the air-

and then he erupts in screams and flame.

"IT BURRNNSSS!!!!"

"-the hell?" I let him go and back away. His back is on fire, his forcefield bubbling under the heat. "Seriously, what the hell?!"

The guy spins in the air, screaming in pain. Well, I'm not about to let him die, no matter what side he's on. "Hold still! I'll put it out." I create a large fire extinguisher in my hands and start spraying him. But it doesn't put the fire out. In fact, the fire just grows. Like my ring is feeding it. And then it starts traveling up the spray towards me!

"I don't think so." I cut off the spray and let the construct fade as I get some more distance. The yellow lantern is already a burning corpse. And then two claws erupt from the corpse and rip it in half.

And floating behind that torn corpse is another monster of a lantern. One burning in red.

"Good lord."

The red lantern licks the yellow lantern's blood from his claws and stares at me.
"Hate"
"Death"
"Rage"
"DIE"

The thing vomits blood at me, and I barely dodge out of the way. I blast him with my ring, and he staggers. I concentrate and bind him in chains.
"Pain"
"Burn"
"Anger"
"DEATH"

He vomits again, and the stuff bursts into flame as it coats the chains. And I actually feel pain as it eats through my construct. So I drop it and decide to regroup. I might not be outclassed, but I know when I'm outmatched. I look back, and the red beast is chasing me, clawing at the space between is as if he was actually crawling at me instead of using his ring to fly.

"Kyle, Hal, Guy, anyone. Since when are there Red Lanterns, and how the hell are we supposed to fight them?"

 

[Temple Fugate]

Again and again Hex tried to fire off shots at the creature before it’s shield would come up to no avail. It just kept on walking towards him, arm outstretched. The frightened people were frightened so much that they froze in their places as the two disfigured men stared each other down.

"Tuh Hell with this"

Hex took off running in the opposite direction leaving the terrified people to deal with the horrific creature on their own. They all huddled in the back of the building they were in watching in absolute horror as it stumbled towards them. Just as the yellow creature was about to grab the nearest person, a young girl a large iron hand grabbed him from behind and threw him backwards.

"Foun this thing back with the guard soup" Hex said facing the huddled mass with what look like a robot gauntlet.

"LOOK OUT!" the little girl screamed as a beam of yellow shot smashed into Jonah’s back sending into the people.

Jonah stumbled to get up. As he straightened he felt a searing pain in his leg. He looked down to find a splinter from the floor where the metal arm has broke through on the fall had reached his thigh.

"Whar Ah come from it ain’t honorable to be shootin a man in the back" Jonah snarled as he started to run towards the creature who had already outstretched his hand again and was beginning his slow walk toward Hex. The hand began to glow a bright yellow and the creatures shield went up. With tremendous force Hex began to pound away on the creature’s yellow shiled with the metal arm. The creature was forced to move back as Jonah rained furious blows onto his shield, until one final blow knocked the creature back and the shield fell.

Cheering could be heard from the people as they saw their champion at an advantage, but fear still grew in their hearts as the yellow creature began to stir and stand back up. Before he managed to get to his feet again a solid steel fist met his chin.

"He wont git up agin"

 

[Optikal]

Space Sector 2814

Earth

Coast City

​

Atrocitus and Amon Sur descended upon the city, their rings firing, wiping out yellow and green Lanterns. The air filled with the sounds of war, blood and death.

Ring Report: Parralax Corps Lantern 1222 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 1222 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report: Parralax Corps Lantern 2010 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 2010 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report: Green Lantern 963 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 963 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report: Parralax Corps Lantern 724 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 724 Initiated For Replacement

Atrocitus watched as Amon used his power with lethal effect. He was more powerful than Atrocitus could have hoped for... and one of only a few that could control his rage enough to create constructs from the wild power of the crimson light. Atrocitus hit another Lantern with a burst of hot plasma before ripping the Parallax Corpsmans head clean from his leathery scaled shoulders.

"Give them no quarter! Make them suffer! That is their fate!"

All around him, the sky filled with light as green, yellow, purple and red warriors battled furiously. Tonight, this city, the people below, and those who opposed him would all burn!

 

[Byrd Man]

In a flash of bright light I appear high above...

"Coast City?"

Red Lanterns, Star Sapphires and Parallax Corps members battle all around me.


Ring Report: Parallax Corps Lantern 312 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 312 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report: Star Sapphire 654 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 654 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report:Red Lantern 2012 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 2012 Initiated for Replacement

I fly through the carnage, fighting off Red Lanterns and Parallax Corps members as I go.

Ring Report:Red Lantern 1921 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 1921 Initiated for Replacement

Ring Report: Parallax Corps Lantern 543 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 543 Initiated for Replacement

I hear a roar behind me. Turning, I see an all too familiar face.

"Atrocitus...it's been too long."
​

 

[Karem-Knight]

"Why. Won't. You. Go. DOWN?!"

I smash my fist into this yellow ring slinger again and again, but he just won't fall. I don't know what this guy is made off, but even with my forcefield it feels like I'm punching steel. Luckily for me, he's worse at using the ring than I am. And he's not much of a fighter. Which I guess is why he's got such a think skin.

What I do know for sure is that he's in my way. I was making a b-line for the sniper, and this idiot decides to play hero and protect his buddy. Or maybe he's just got a bad attitude and thought he'd score some points and take down a Lantern. I don't know, and I don't really care. I just want to get through this guy as fast as I can and help Kyle out with the sniper.

And it shouldn't be taking me this long. All the guy tries to do is distract me with scary images so he can cheap shot me. But that only worked first time. I've faced down demons and gods. This guy's got nothing in his mind that'll freak me out.

He puts up wall to block my next punch. Guess he's getting tired of getting hit. I create a pair of giant green claws and tear the wall down. But the guy is gone.

"-hurk-!" I pull against the yellow strap that's around my neck and strangling me.

"We're going to rape you planet, kill everyone and everything, and make it our new base to unleash terror on the universe."

"hts o nk-"

He leans in. "Eh?"

I drive my skull back into his nose, hearing the crunch of bone and scream of pain as his head snaps back. I jam my elbows into his gut, and create a pair of scissors to cut the strap around me neck.

"I said 'That's what you think!' Do all of you yellow guys fall for that one?" I blast him with energy while he's disoriented, and then bum rush him, knocking the air out of him.

We struggle in the air-

and then he erupts in screams and flame.

"IT BURRNNSSS!!!!"

"-the hell?" I let him go and back away. His back is on fire, his forcefield bubbling under the heat. "Seriously, what the hell?!"

The guy spins in the air, screaming in pain. Well, I'm not about to let him die, no matter what side he's on. "Hold still! I'll put it out." I create a large fire extinguisher in my hands and start spraying him. But it doesn't put the fire out. In fact, the fire just grows. Like my ring is feeding it. And then it starts traveling up the spray towards me!

"I don't think so." I cut off the spray and let the construct fade as I get some more distance. The yellow lantern is already a burning corpse. And then two claws erupt from the corpse and rip it in half.

And floating behind that torn corpse is another monster of a lantern. One burning in red.

"Good lord."

The red lantern licks the yellow lantern's blood from his claws and stares at me.
"Hate"
"Death"
"Rage"
"DIE"

The thing vomits blood at me, and I barely dodge out of the way. I blast him with my ring, and he staggers. I concentrate and bind him in chains.
"Pain"
"Burn"
"Anger"
"DEATH"

He vomits again, and the stuff bursts into flame as it coats the chains. And I actually feel pain as it eats through my construct. So I drop it and decide to regroup. I might not be outclassed, but I know when I'm outmatched. I look back, and the red beast is chasing me, clawing at the space between is as if he was actually crawling at me instead of using his ring to fly.

"Kyle, Hal, Guy, anyone. Since when are there Red Lanterns, and how the hell are we supposed to fight them?"

"Allow me!" With that I come flying towards the Red Lantern harassing the new Earthman recruit with a blast of green energy, obliterating it out of existence.

RING STATUS REPORT: RED LANTERN OF SECTOR 577 DECEASED, SCANNING SECTOR 577 FOR REPLACEMENT

As I turn around towards the Earthman; I'm then met by a powerful bombardment of red plasma coming towards me; sending back to the planet. "RAGE!!"

"Oh, learn a new tune!" Sending bullets from my ring I take out another Red Lantern, only to find myself chained by the clutches of a Parallax who sends me back to Earth. As I manage to get my gravity on balance again, I then get a message from Tomar Tu.

"Yat! We're needed in Coast City again, the Red Lanterns and Parallax members are grouping there for some reason..."

"On my way!" Flying towards the city on Earth, I then decide that what's happening on Earth is too much, we and the Star Sapphires are outnumbered- we need more members of the Corps on our side, getting out the ring I try and make contact.

"Attention, Saallak; this is Sodam Yat! We are in Oa right now, and I've been forbidden to use Ion power. We need more reinforcements, Sinestro's Corps are joined with the Red Lanterns that attacked Oa a few months ago! The Star Sapphires can only hold up against them for so long!"

UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH OA AT THIS TIME.

"What? Why..." The chaos of this situation upsets me again as another Yellow Lantern tackles me to the ground, starring at me as he takes away my ring charge.

"Yes...yes, feel the fear!!!" He glares at me like I'm some sort of treasure to him as I hear my ring losing power.

WARNING! POWER LEVELS AT 25.7%

POWER LEVELS AT 87.4

POWER LEVELS AT 0.01 %

As my ring dies out the Lantern smiles and then sends spikes towards my person, I block it and then fly towards him punching him in the chest as I hear all his organs and ribs smash into pieces.

PARALLAX OF SECTOR 349 DECEASED, SCANNING 349 FOR REPLACEMENT.

Great! First, I can't tap into the Ion power, then Oa's communications are down and now I don't have any power left inside my ring to fight off any of these things. I may not have my power ring, meaning I can't fight them as a Green Lantern; but maybe as a Daxamite I can get somewhere.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"You're right. Regardless of our ideals, we both use the same weapon to achieve our goals....but there is a difference. Intimidating cowardly criminals is one thing, but what you do can only be considered atrocities. I try to make this city a better place to live, your only goal is destruction. No matter how much you preach about our similarities, when it's all said and done we're both on opposite sides of the line. On my side is order and control, and on your side is anarchy and chaos."

"Hmmmm. Well, that's very poetic, Batman. Allow me to retort..."

The Joker zapped into life a construct of a giant, spring-activated boxing glove, that punched Batman with enough force to send him flying across two blocks.

"We'll continue this later, Batbrain. Ta taaaaa!"

And with that, The Joker flew off into the night sky, in search of whatever fresh terror he could evoke.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Hmmmm. Well, that's very poetic, Batman. Allow me to retort..."

The Joker zapped into life a construct of a giant, spring-activated boxing glove, that punched Batman with enough force to send him flying across two blocks.

"We'll continue this later, Batbrain. Ta taaaaa!"

And with that, The Joker flew off into the night sky, in search of whatever fresh terror he could evoke.

I growl as Joker flies off. I unclip the communicator from my belt. It's an old line, hopefully someone is still listening.

"Batman to Justice League....requesting assistance in Gotham. The city is being overrun with members of the Parallax Corps as well as red monsters."

It's not easy, calling for help...but I remind myself that it's never easy turning over a new leaf. It's time to stop being so withdrawn and hostile. I have to be a.....team player.

 

[SuperFerret]

I growl as Joker flies off. I unclip the communicator from my belt. It's an old line, hopefully someone is still listening.

"Batman to Justice League....requesting assistance in Gotham. The city is being overrun with members of the Parallax Corps as well as red monsters."

It's not easy, calling for help...but I remind myself that it's never easy turning over a new leaf. It's time to stop being so withdrawn and hostile. I have to be a.....team player.

I hear Batman's message over my comm. Ironic that someone as paranoid as he is, insisting that we update channels every few years for security, is going against his own edict to call for help.

And even though I haven't been around for a while, I know that when the Batman calls for help (in Gotham, no less) it's bad.

I catch up to Hal, calling out as we move "It seems that there's a lot of those yellow lanterns over on the East Coast, and I'm thinking that we could cover a lot more ground if we split up in the search for whoever took your son."

It's more of an explanation than a suggestion as I don't give him a chance to respond, instead running off to help Batman faster than anyone else possibly could.

Even then, a whole minute passes before I'm in Gotham, at Bruce's side.

"Sorry I'm late."

 

[Byrd Man]

It's more of an explanation than a suggestion as I don't give him a chance to respond, instead running off to help Batman faster than anyone else possibly could.

Even then, a whole minute passes before I'm in Gotham, at Bruce's side.

"Sorry I'm late."

I narrow my eyes at the new arrival.

"Flash...you're supposed to be dead."

I don't call him by his first name for a variety of reasons. The biggest being I'm not sure this is actually Barry Allen. No matter how much he may look like him. People don't just come back to life that easy...

In this case, it seems like the pot calling the kettle black.

"What theory did Cesare Lombroso forumlate about criminals? "

It's an easy question...easy for Barry. The real one would know the answer, any criminologist as good as Barry was would know the answer.

 

[SuperFerret]

I narrow my eyes at the new arrival.

"Flash...you're supposed to be dead."

I don't call him by his first name for a variety of reasons. The biggest being I'm not sure this is actually Barry Allen. No matter how much he may look like him. People don't just come back to life that easy...

In this case, it seems like the pot calling the kettle black.

"What theory did Cesare Lombroso forumlate about criminals? "

It's an easy question...easy for Barry. The real one would know the answer, any criminologist as good as Barry was would know the answer.

I answer before he finishes the question.

"You mean the 'born criminal theory'? Where he stated that individuals were genetically predisposed to being violent criminals, etcetera." I smile, "You know that doesn't prove anything, right Batman? All that question shows is that I have a good knowledge of criminology."

 

[Byrd Man]

I answer before he finishes the question.

"You mean the 'born criminal theory'? Where he stated that individuals were genetically predisposed to being violent criminals, etcetera." I smile, "You know that doesn't prove anything, right Batman? All that question shows is that I have a good knowledge of criminology."

"And if you are who you say you are, you'll remember when and where you first read that theory and what case in particular you helped to prove it wrong."

 

[SuperFerret]

"And if you are who you say you are, you'll remember when and where you first read that theory and what case in particular you helped to prove it wrong."

"I was enrolled in Central City University when I first read it. Criminology 101. And I helped to prove it wrong when I killed Professor Zoom. It proved to me that anyone is capable of criminal acts, regardless of their genes. Want to know how I know that criminal behavior isn't exclusive to humans?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"I was enrolled in Central City University when I first read it. Criminology 101. And I helped to prove it wrong when I killed Professor Zoom. It proved to me that anyone is capable of criminal acts, regardless of their genes. Want to know how I know that criminal behavior isn't exclusive to humans?"

"I have a pretty good answer to that one. I would say that the thousands of aliens with power rings floating around our planet is proof of that."

I turn to the batmobile, looking back at Barry.

"You're not the only one who's cheated death recently."

 

[SuperFerret]

"I have a pretty good answer to that one. i would say that the thousands of aliens with power rings floating around our planet is proof of that."

I turn to the batmobile, looking back at Barry.

"You're not the only one who's cheated death recently."

I nod, guessing at his meaning. "I doubt the afterlife will miss us with the deluge of people dying in this chaos."

 

[Byrd Man]

I nod, guessing at his meaning. "I doubt the afterlife will miss us with the deluge of people dying in this chaos."

"You're right."

I look over the wreckage of my car. Joker did a number on it, that much is certain.

"Enough nostalgia for now. I was sent word a few minutes ago about a breakout at Arkham. We need to get there and help contain the escapees anyway possible."

 

[Optikal]

In a flash of bright light I appear high above...

"Coast City?"

Red Lanterns, Star Sapphires and Parallax Corps members battle all around me.


Ring Report: Parallax Corps Lantern 312 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 312 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report: Star Sapphire 654 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 654 Initiated For Replacement

Ring Report:Red Lantern 2012 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 2012 Initiated for Replacement

I fly through the carnage, fighting off Red Lanterns and Parallax Corps members as I go.

Ring Report:Red Lantern 1921 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 1921 Initiated for Replacement

Ring Report: Parallax Corps Lantern 543 Deceased.
Space Sector Scan 543 Initiated for Replacement

I hear a roar behind me. Turning, I see an all too familiar face.

"Atrocitus...it's been too long."
​

-BA-DUM-

Atrocitus glared at the Star Sapphire for a moment before his eyes widened in realisation. "Gardner" he snarled. "You have no idea how I've hungered for this reunion. You may be wearing different colours, but that will not matter when my Lantern feeds from your blood".

-BA-DUM-
​

He could feel the deep pulse of the red spectrum pounding through his body, screaming for blood and death and righteous fury. Atrocitus was only too pleased to satiate those desires by killing this former Green Lantern. He darted forward, a deep roar emitting from the huge Red Lantern as a hot wave of red light rose up to consume Gardner.

-BA-DUM-
​

"TIME TO DIE, GARDNER!"
​

 

[Byrd Man]

Atrocitus glared at the Star Sapphire for a moment before his eyes widened in realisation. "Gardner" he snarled. "You have no idea how I've hungered for this reunion. You may be wearing different colours, but that will not matter when my Lantern feeds from your blood".

-BA-DUM-
​

He could feel the deep pulse of the red spectrum pounding through his body, screaming for blood and death and righteous fury. Atrocitus was only too pleased to satiate those desires by killing this former Green Lantern. He darted forward, a deep roar emitting from the huge Red Lantern as a hot wave of red light rose up to consume Gardner.

-BA-DUM-
​

"TIME TO DIE, GARDNER!"
​

I zip up in the air, barely avoiding Atrocitus' wave of crimson energy.

Much to my surprise, his hate isn't whittling away my power, or isn't really messing up my thinking like it did last time we tangoed.

"Check that out, Big Red. Apparently love cancels out hate."

I toss a violet construct forward and a big, wet sloppy purple pair of lips plants itself on Atrociuts' cheek.

Forming tommy gun construct, I level the weapon at the Red Lantern leader.

"Now let's see how you dance..."

Bratatatatatatatatatat

 

[Optikal]

I zip up in the air, barely avoiding Atrocitus' wave of crimson energy.

Much to my surprise, his hate isn't whittling away my power, or isn't really messing up my thinking like it did last time we tangoed.

"Check that out, Big Red. Apparently love cancels out hate."

I toss a violet construct forward and a big, wet sloppy purple pair of lips plants itself on Atrociuts' cheek.

Forming tommy gun construct, I level the weapon at the Red Lantern leader.

"Now let's see how you dance..."

Bratatatatatatatatatat

-PAIN-
​

"Raargh!" Atrocitus throws up a crimson shield, deflecting most of the blows. However, a few still managed to strike through and punch their way into this barrel-like chest. As the violet construct rains down its assault, Atrocitus grows his defensive barrier, forming a huge battle-axe and smashing it against Garndners attack, before swinging it back at the Sapphire himself.

-RAGE-
​

"You're a fool to think you can go against me, boy! I'll tear you in half and my Corps will burn this world to ashes!"

-HATE-
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: This takes place directly after my last post in Season VII. For me there is no time gap between Seasons for the purpose of my story.

I try to play back the memories, over and over again, hoping that if I think about them long enough it will mean something. Hoping that if I fail in my mission, somehow out of sheer luck I will not forget. My life? Non-existent. I only exist because of my mentor Atlan who is also the birth father of Orin. But my teacher is near-powerless to do anything about the state of things in Atlantis due to his current state and using all the power he possess to keep the spell shielding us.

As for what awaits me back in Atlantis? Cannot really know for sure. The information Atlan has given me is limited, since it is obvious that the old mystic in his current physical shape and strength cannot risk traveling through dimensions so much. But he has already informed me that there is a high chance that my wife is not there. The thought that no matter what, I've lost my son because of all this causes my blood to boil like never before.

This isn't just about fixing things right, and getting Aquaman back. This is about getting my life back.

"I'm going to undo the treachery caused by Hagen, Triton, and the Ocean Master. I promise you, my teacher. I'm going to set things right. I...failed my duties as a King. But that doesn't mean my duty as a hero have backfired on me."

"Take this with you. I do not desire to rush you, or feel that you are rushed, but it is important that you take this artifact with you."

Appearing out of thin air in front of Garth, is a medallion with the "A" Atlantean Seal engraved. Within the medallion, is some sort of magical material that slowly disappears.

"When that medallion stops glowing...you will know that time has run out, and that my spell keeping us shielded from the fate of our Atlantean brothers and sisters has died. Good luck, Garth."

"Don't need luck, as Aquaman would say during the days of Aquaman and Aqualad: Sea Sleouths of the Seven Seas. Just need to set your mind on doing something...and do it."

 

[Byrd Man]

"You're a fool to think you can go against me, boy! I'll tear you in half and my Corps will burn this world to ashes!"

-HATE-
​

I form a violet rapier and parry Atrocitus' attack.

"Easy with that 'boy' talk."

We parry and lunge at each other for a few minutes, with each strike from Atrocitus meeting my blade, and vice versa.

"That this, you ugly brute!"
I swing low, but the Red Lantern sees my attack coming from a mile away. With a swift strike of his red axe, my rapier dissolves.

"Heh..."

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: I was given permission for the slightly bunnying that you will see at the end of my post.​

Jason Todd- 'Rebirth'
-----------------------
"You guys make Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumwad look smart! YAH!"

"Jason. Jason I need you to focus. Who are you talking to? What are you thinking about now, Jason?"

"About the time Batman and I...what?"

The doctor takes off his glasses, and immediately starts to pinch the bridge of his nose and rub the inner corners of his eyes. Dealing with a patient with as much...difficulty as Jason Todd has been since brought to this facility has never proved to be easy. Sometimes he would show progress, but eventually he would always slip back to square 1. The doctor takes a deep breath, and smiles at Jason.

"Jason. Don't you think that if you were Robin, a little boy like you would get hurt? Doesn't the concept struck you as a bit--"

"Nope! We were the Dynamic Duo! Well...the second version I guess. Besides, Batman always did his best to keep me well trained. He watched over me! I was the second Robin and--"

*knock knock knock*

The doctor looks to the door, confused. All of the staff knew that his meetings with Jason were never to be disturbed for the man's mind was so fragile and lost, he was easily distracted. As the doctor gets up, a nurse opens the door.

"Julie, I told you that--"

"I understand that, sir. But Mr. Meyers is having another psychotic breakdown! He's up on the roof and only you can talk him out of thinking he can fly!"

"Jesus, I--Jason. I'm going to be right back. Ok?"

Jason just nods his head with a smile, as though he is a child, and the doctor exits the room with the nurse. Several short seconds later, a figure enters the room. A man clad in purple, walking up to Jason's bed in crutches looks at Jason as though he has known him for years. But Jason Todd, as far as he knows, has never met the man before him.

"Who are you?"

"You can call me...Boss Darkside, Jason."

"You know my name?"

"Oh...I know everything about you, Jason. These doctors they do not believe you...but I got a secret to share with you."

Enticed with curiosity and excitement, Jason leans forth to hear the secret. The towering giant smirks a bit, and whispers at Jason.

"I too know that you are Robin."

 

[Andy C.]

Realities come and go, a new world (or worlds) solidifying around me every time I step out of the rifts, only to vanish again when I step into another one.

I see worlds very different from my own. And worlds that have an awful lot in common.

The one thing they all have in common, though? If I can sum up my experience in three words, it would be...



Getting...



...nowhere...



....fast.

Every world I've visited, I've run into trouble. So many of them have already been devastated by Zod, entire worlds, whole galaxies brought to ruin in his wake. Sometimes I'm only a step behind him. Sometimes he arrived eons before. The passage of time doesn't really mean much when you're hopping between entire strata of existence.

This world, however, was ruined long before I got here. From what I could tell before getting caught up in some nonsense between competing realms, Zod hasn't even shown up here at all. They want to fight me just for the sake of fighting me, it seems.

With a thunderous blow, I strike the gigantic man down before me, shattering the skull-face of his mask, sparking a roar from the crowd. I'm fighting for these people's very existence, and they treat it like a spectator sport.

"FINISH HIM!" a disembodied voice commands.

"No," I say flatly. The crowd's cheering goes quiet. "This is ridiculous."

[BLACKOUT]"You must end it!"[/BLACKOUT] Pleads the man who claims to be a thunder god. I imagine Captain Marvel would give this guy a run for his money, though. [BLACKOUT]"The tournament must have a winner!"[/BLACKOUT]

It's like War-World all over again.

"I agreed to help you defeat him in order to save these people. I've defeated him and every one of his warriors. He has nothing that can threaten your world now. I suggest everyone just go home and give it a rest."

"FOOLISH MORTAL! I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR THIS!"

"With what, a few more monsters with four arms? Or another handful of multi-colored ninjas?"

I take to the skies, leaving the blood-stained arena beneath me.

"I'm freeing you all from this insane and nonsensical tournament. I just hope you can find something more constructive to do with yourselves than kill each other again and--"

I'm cut off by a rift opening up in front of me. Out of it pops a familiar face...or mask, rather.

"Hey, Superman, great! Just who I was looking for! You remember me, right? I was the one who helped bust you out of Reed Richards' force-field?"

"Spider-Man, right, I remember you. Were you able to find Dr. Richards...or Zod?"

"Well...both, unfortunately. There's a lot to explain, and we really need to get you back to the world I come from. Now come on!"

He reaches out his hand, I take it, and back into the rift we go.

Time and space stretch out into meaninglessness as we travel outside of any quantifiable state of reality.

"So how are you able to get straight back to your world, instead of going through them at random like I've been doing? I'm guessing it has something to do with the contraption strapped to your back?"

"Yeah, it's a little something Dr. Richards whipped up once he came back. An 'extra-multiversal quantum tether,' whatever that means. Basically, I go into the rifts, come out in a random multiverse like you, but then due to the physics of quantum entanglement, the device still exists on some level in my home multiverse, so I can fire this baby up and it snaps right back to where reality says it belongs. Neat, huh?"

"Incredible, actually. Fantastic. But why did Dr. Richards send you out to find me instead of going himself?"

Spider-Man's tone changes to a sadder one.

"...because he didn't live long enough to do it. I'm one of the only ones left."

He doesn't say it, but we both know what he means.

Zod.

While I was out looking for him in the other multiverses, Zod came to the one I had come to first.

We reach the light at the end of the tunnel, and reality snaps back to New York City.

When I left, it was still a shining, vibrant place that gave Metropolis a run for her money.

Now, it's in ruins.



"Welcome home...to General Zod's throne city."

 

[Optikal]

I form a violet rapier and parry Atrocitus' attack.

"Easy with that 'boy' talk."

We parry and lunge at each other for a few minutes, with each strike from Atrocitus meeting my blade, and vice versa.

"That this, you ugly brute!"
I swing low, but the Red Lantern sees my attack coming from a mile away. With a swift strike of his red axe, my rapier dissolves.

"Heh..."

Atrocitus grins, white fangs dripping with plasmic gore. "And now you meet your fate, Lantern!"

His axe swings high over his head, Atrocitus relishing in the power of hate and fury coursing from the battles upon Earth, his own power leeching from the thick swathe of emotion. As he swung to bring down his final exectuioners blow, a violet boxing glove drove into his groin. Atrocitus bellowed in agony and doubled over. As his concentration lapsed, the huge crimson axe disolved into blood and fire.

With Gardners taunting ringing in his ears, Atrocitus threw out another construct, focusing all of his hate into his ring and the construct that stemmed from it. From his ring a crimson chimera forms, huge and finely muscled, the three heads, one like a dragon, the center like a lion and the final one, a cobra snarled and spat. The chimera coiled back before launching towards Gardner.

Come what may, this night Guy Gardners head would be mounted up their central power battery, Atrocitus assured himself.

 

[Byrd Man]

Atrocitus grins, white fangs dripping with plasmic gore. "And now you meet your fate, Lantern!"

His axe swings high over his head, Atrocitus relishing in the power of hate and fury coursing from the battles upon Earth, his own power leeching from the thick swathe of emotion. As he swung to bring down his final exectuioners blow, a violet boxing glove drove into his groin. Atrocitus bellowed in agony and doubled over. As his concentration lapsed, the huge crimson axe disolved into blood and fire.

With Gardners taunting ringing in his ears, Atrocitus threw out another construct, focusing all of his hate into his ring and the construct that stemmed from it. From his ring a crimson chimera forms, huge and finely muscled, the three heads, one like a dragon, the center like a lion and the final one, a cobra snarled and spat. The chimera coiled back before launching towards Gardner.

Come what may, this night Guy Gardner's head would be mounted up their central power battery, Atrocitus assured himself.

The three-headed monster pounces on me. Tossing my ring forward, I create a purple shield. The monster slams against it, creating minute cracks in the shield.

This monster is a big *****, that's for sure. But I ain't afraid. Even if I ain't slinging a green ring, I'll never be afraid.

"Hey, jerkwad! Here's a taste of the power of love!"

I thrust forward with my shield, battering the monster away. I charge Atrocitus, a violet spike jutting from my power ring and aimed for his throat.

For some damn reason, I got that Huey Lewis song from Back to the Future stuck in my head.