The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VIII

[trustyside-kick]

Poseidonis, Atlantis
Throne Room

"You're going to do WHAT? RESURRECT GAMEMNAE?"

"Should you really be so surprise, Triton? I told you how she was the inspiration from the very start. It is only fitting I fulfill her dream with her here to witness it. Plus, the power she brings with her...not even the Justice League once we make Atlantis known as we strike will be able to stand up against us AND her as well."

"But that Sea-Witch desired to rise Atlantis from the depths, and did so 3,000 years ago! The very notion is an insult to me as God of the Sea! And after her death, still the depths claimed the city for it is Fate. Even with removing Aquaman from existence the city was condemned to yet another catastrophic event that plunged it into the watery domain; for such were the events before he mettled with history those years ago and that guppy Tempest teleported present day Atlantis 3,000 years into the past. If this Gamemnae intends to rise it yet again, I MYSELF will be sure to see that that does not come to pass. I will tare the city apart myself and bring it down to the water in ruins. Besides, you can never trust a yellowhair."

Hagen chuckles a brief moment, dropping certain items into a cauldron as he prepares his spell.

"You forget many factors in the present that differ from before, Triton. With me resurecting Gamemnae, she would be loyal to myself and myself alone. With her raw power, we can spread the Empire of Atlantis to the rest of the World. You can keep your Seas and she will be content ruling the lands...by my side."

"I see. You're infatuated with her. And whereas before you were merely a silent disciple, unknown to her blue eyes, bringing her back makes you her new favorite person. You are a fool Hagen, but if this does not become the end of you, and your plan does indeed work, so long as the Seas remain mine I will not object."

Triton looks around the throne room, looking impatient and annoyed.

"Where is that wench Mera, I ordered her to fetch me a new chest plate from one of the blacksmiths outside the palace several minutes ago. If she makes me wait too much longer, when she gets back I'm going to make sure she gets the lashing of a lifetime."

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...​

Jason Todd- 'Rebirth'
-----------------------
I remember everything, and I'm as good as new. Not only did Darkseid heal my latest of aliments, but what Scarecrow did to me nearly 2 years ago now is fully removed from my system as well. I feel...rejuvenated...like never before. Now there is only one thing left to do...repay the favor.

As I put on my jacket, I'm reminded that if it wasn't for Darkseid 2 years ago I would not be standing here now. He brought me back for...this mission. Finally, after struggling for find out why I'm here and how...I find peace in knowing the truth. He gave me everything I have: my equipment I'm now assembling and this very loft that I reside in, but more importantly the very air I am able to breathe. The things he whispered to my unaware mind now finally made aware...I have to do one thing in return, and then I owe him nothing else.

But I'm not one of his pawns. I won't 'Die for Darkseid'. I'm gonna complete this mission, and come out of it alive.

I've heard you have a little bastard of your own, Bruce. Ironically, you did in fact take him under your wing as you did the rest of us...your own flesh and blood and you still took him under your wing and introduced him into this wretched world. Guess what, Brucie? I'm gonna snatch him. I'm gonna take him, and when I'm through with him.

"You're gonna beg for mercy before I pull the trigger."

As I slip on my crimson red helmet, I can't help but smile.

 

[Catman_prb]

Tim watched from one of the taller rooftops as the yellow lights of the Parallax Corps floated away into the sky.

"We're just lucky they didn't stay longer," Tim said, rubbing his forehead. There was a flash of brilliant white flare lit up a few buildings over.

"Steph, just going to check out a disturbance a few streets over. I'll check in in a minute," Tim said into his communicator. Sighing, Red Robin stood up and fired a grapnel off into the night.

"What's the problem," he asked as he landed smoothly in front of two shabbily dressed men. He frowned as he noticed that while their clothing was shabby, it wasn't of any style that he recognised. One of them, bearded, stepped forwards and pulled some kind of pistol out of his odd jacket.

"He said it would get him over," the non-bearded one said.

Tim crouched slightly and tensed. The pistol wasn't like anything he had ever seen before, and gave off a faint glow that worried him.

"You think that's going to stop me?" he growled, leaping forwards with batarang in hand.

The thugs fired quicker than Tim was expecting. He felt something hit him in the stomach, but instantly knew it wasn't a bullet. There was a blinding whiteness and he passed out.

He woke up. The sky was a different colour. The streets were empty. He could hear running water. The river was running red with blood. He closed his eyes, and could hear the sound of gunfire in the distance.

"Fantastic,"

 

[wiegeabo]

"And that's not all."

Central City seemed to be spared by the yellow Lantern's escalating attacks, where Keystone seemed to be taking the brunt of the assault, so I changed direction and arrived just after the other heroes did.

Wally shows up out of nowhere and...and...

"Dear god...Barry?!"

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"BURRRRNNNN!!!!"

"What in the-"

"INCOMING!!!" Kara shouts as she launches herself at the newcomers.

"There are Red Lanterns now?!" I shout at Ted as the ground erupts in flame.

"Yeah, and you really don't wanna mess with these guys."

Like a well oiled machine, the JSA scatter in teams to engage everyone threatening Keystone.

***

I take off and peel away, Stargirl at my side just like we planned.

"Uh, Ted. The bad guys are in the other direction."

"I know. But those aren't the bad guys I'm looking for." I pour on the speed and head right to my target. Courtney is right there with me. "Hit these guys with whatever you got, but don't stop moving. Just stick beside me, ok?"

"What ever you say." Her face is set with determination.

"Good, just remember. Stay with me." I concentrate and we dive right into the center of a swarm of Yellow Lanterns.

They don't know what hits them as Court and I lash out in all directions. We're not doing any real damage, but we are making them angry. And we're pulling them off the city. In no time at all, the entire swarm is on our tails, and Courtney and I are doing everything we can to keep from getting shot down.

"Heck of a plan, Ted!" she shouts with sarcasm.

"It ain't over yet kid!" I pull up and away, performing a loop right over to Lanterns, back towards where we started. Courtney is right there with me. Good girl, Court.

We put a little distance between us and the Yellows, but not too much so they don't stick on us. It just makes me smile. "Ok Court, one more time."

Courtney sees where we're going, and she realizes just what I'm doing. "I think that ring's gone to your head."

"Maybe." I grin, and we fly right through the middle of the Red Lanterns.

And the Yellows slam right into them.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

 

[Byrd Man]

*OOC

The following takes place two days after the lanterns invasion.
- FYATHYRIO, BM

Another night and another body. Although this murder seems to be much simpler than the last one I investigated, one that's still ongoing, the results aren't any better.

Laying on the ground is a man, middle-aged judging by his modest potbelly. Defensive wounds on his arms and hands, blade marks running up the arm. Deep and viscous stab wounds on the stomach and face, all from a blade. Lividity of the body puts the time of death at just four hours ago. Sometime around eleven at night this man was killed. Just based on what I can see, this was either revenge or a gangland style murder. Nobody accidentally stabs someone twenty-five times...twenty-six times, I missed a cut around the ear.

I put my finger to my ear and connect to the cave.

"Alfred, are you downstairs?"

"Apologies, Master Bruce. I dozed off in front of the television. I'm on my way downstairs to the cave. What do you need?"

"I'm sending a fingerprint to the computer, I need you to run it through the NCIC database."

"Walking down the stairs right now."

I reach into my belt and pull out a a fingerprint scanner. Reaching down at the bodies' hand, I scan the five fingers on the right hand and send them off to the cave's database.

"Data is enroute."

"Fingerprints received, running them through the database now."

It takes less than two minutes for Alfred to find a hit.

"Here we are. The prints are those of Michaelangelo 'Gassy Mike' Alfredo. With a name like that, he has to be an organized crime associate."

I can't help but smile slight. And people make fun of the costumed crimefighters and their names. With a name like Gassy Mike, Batman sounds perfectly normal.

"What else do you have?"

"Forty-one-year-old male, born in Metropolis. His known associates are Salvatore Valestra, a former Metropolis crimeboss."

The Metropolis angle makes sense. After I died, the organized criminals in Metropolis saw Gotham as a perfect opportunity. Valestra and Tobias Whale are the biggest movers operating in the city right now.

"I think that's all I need to know for now, Alfred. Call 911 and scramble the call. Let them know that there is a dead body in the alley off Morris Street."

"Very good, sir. I believe I shall try and work on my Eastern European accent when I give them a ring."

"By all means. Batman out."

I severe the line and turn away from the dead body. The police will examine the body and I'll use my link into the GCPD's computer system to find out more from the autopsy, but I already have a suspect in mind. This murder reeks of a mob hit, and Salvatore Valestra is at the top of my list.
​

 

[Bounce]

​

The light show appeared to be dimming. The yellow flashes that had once been a prominent feature over Gotham now no longer apparent against the evening's sky. A good indication that it was probably time to head back to the Batcave before his father returned for their dysfunctional family chat and had to come looking for Damian. The boy wanted to poke his father in the eye, but had enough common sense to know the line between being an irritation for the Batman and being an outright problem. If the Batman had to come after his son in the public of Gotham's streets then that wasn't likely to wind up with a good resolution for Damian. And the point was to prove his mettle to his father, not get wrapped in chains and thrown in the darkest part of either Wayne Tower or the League's headquarters until he turned twenty.

Of course, with his family, that remained a real possibility no matter what Damian did.

Swinging over the city at night part of him could understand some of his father's fascination with the costumed vigilante lifestyle. There was a certain feeling of exhilaration when you were suspended on a wire several hundred feet off the ground. Adrenaline became the drug of choice, leaping off tall buildings and laughing at your own mortality. It was a moment in which one could feel superior to even Superman, as though in total control. Total power.

All things considered, tonight didn't seem like a bad start if he was going to follow in his father's shadow. He wondered what his mother would say if she could see him. He'd broken up a gang beating a homeless man, strung up a corrupt cop, halted a few muggings... Then there was Vladik. The mother's more than apparent drug addiction aside, Damian was still troubled by the presence of the marks he'd seen on the other boy. He'd recognized those bruises as impressions from a man's hand. In the normal course of events, Damian would simply kill both the mother and the father. Or else help Vladik to be able to do that himself, as such would only be his right. The problem lay with what would come of Vlad after that.

If the Gotham City Police were corrupt, Damian didn't want to even consider trusting Child and Family Services. So there was the rub, Damian couldn't act without putting Vladik into a bad situation and if he did nothing then Vladik was seemingly trapped in a bad situation. And Vladik was a child... there was nothing he could do to save himself.

Part of Damian wanted to ask his father about this, but the thought was immediately dismissed. How could he prove himself to the Batman if he wasn't able to solve these kinds of problems for himself? The gallery of Batman's enemies represented complex and dangerous villains, not the least of which was his own maternal grandfather. If Damian wasn't capable of dealing with a dysfunctional, drug-addicted couple abusing their child... what hope would there be for him to deal with the larger problem posed by the likes of the League of Assassins?

Tim Drake was absolutely, unequivocally, out of the question. Same with the man servant.

Dropping down to the alley where he'd parked the Bat-bike, Damian slung himself on the back of the motorcycle and kicked the black vehicle into motion, the matter still weighing on his mind as he burst through the streets of Gotham like a blur. The Spoiler would be a different matter. She wasn't competition. She was a wench, but she was an interesting wench at the very least. Asking her for advice wouldn't be the same as asking it from any of the others. And it might help him to understand something about the irritatingly curious girl. So that decided it, then. Damian would find and ask the Spoiler what he should do.

Damian's hand let off on the throttle. His head came up to glance over his shoulder in an instant where he'd gotten the distinct impression that he was being shadowed. The feeling sank into the pit of his stomach. Paranoia? Perhaps, but that was always a healthy thing for an assassin. Steeling himself to stay focused on the reality around him, the boy grabbed the handle and opened up the throttle. The bike ripped across the pavement, ferrying the child at insane speeds out of Gotham's city limits.

 

[Andy C.]

"Dear God," I say as we fly over the ruined wasteland that was once this world's Manhattan, in a vehicle called a 'Quinjet' that Spider-Man assures me has been modified to be invisible to Zod's attention. I've traveled from universe to universe, following the devastation left in his wake, but never anything like this. The streets are littered with bodies, caked in dust that was once other bodies. The buildings are all skeletons, most burned out and collapsed in on themselves. Zod did this to send a message to me. He wanted me to know that this was where he was waiting.

"How many of you are left?" I ask Spider-Man, who hasn't quite gotten over the horror of seeing what had happened to his world.

"Not many," he answers. "I know Logan's been regenerating, and Doctor Strange has pulled back into his Sanctum to find some way to beat him magically, but aside from me, those are the only ones that I know are still alive. I heard some underground broadcasts from Nick Fury before I went looking for you, but they've gone dead now. Just about everyone else went down in the first wave. Cap, Tony, pretty much all of the X-Men....I watched Zod literally throw a Helicarrier into the Mansion. Even Thor only landed one or two hits before Zod pulled his heart out."

"He was able to hurt him?"

"Well, bloodied his nose a little. I guess that magic hammer was worth something...just too bad it wasn't enough. God, I thought at least Sentry would have been able to make a dent in the guy. 'Power of a million exploding suns' and all that. Zod took his head clean off."

I steel my nerves as we come upon what looks like the focal point of the battle; it's littered with corpses dressed in costumes.

"This is Zod's little monument to himself," Spider-Man says grimly. "As you can see, it's all built around his prized trophy."

"I never thought I'd find myself rooting for him of all people, but if there was one person in the universe who could stand a chance against Zod, it was the Devourer of Worlds. At least, that was our thinking. He barely even lasted a minute."

We touch down next to the giant corpse, and Spider-Man lets me out.

"This is the best place to get his attention. Make some noise, and he'll come to you. After what he did to my friends....to my wife.....make him pay, Superman. Do what we couldn't."

"It's what I do," I say, giving Spider-Man a solemn handshake before stepping out onto the scorched Earth.

"I know you can hear me, Zod," I call out, barely bothering to raise my voice as his super-hearing will pick it up with ease. "I'm here to end this. I'm here to stop you."

After a few seconds, there's a rumbling in the distance. No, not a rumbling--a sonic boom. Zod streaks through the sky, the air igniting behind him, before stopping in a hover before me.

"There you are, Kal-El," he says, an eager grin on his face, belying the murderous hate in his eyes. "It's time we picked up where we left off, before reality collapses on us again."

"These rifts, these tears between the Multiverses, they're damaging every world we touch. How are you creating them?"

"I'm not. Something else is burrowing through reality, trying to find us. Trying to bring us back together for this, the final confrontation."

"Then let's not disappoint it," I say, flying up in the air to face him.

"I'm going to end this madness once and for all."

 

[Byrd Man]

My violet ring teleports me to the middle of a battle in Keystone City.

The JSA are duking it out with a bunch of Red and Yellow Lanterns.

I buzz through groups of Yellow and Red Lanterns, passing Alan Scott.

"Step aside, pops, you'll be late for an early bird special at IHOP."

"Gardner. I didn't realize the GLC was issuing girl colors now. I suppose don't ask, don't tell applies to even alien paramilitary organizations."

"Hardy-freaking-har!"

I create a violet lasso and rope a few Red Lanterns. Holding the lasso like a pair of reigns, I ride the monsters through the battlefield. I guide Red Lanterns through a few of their compatriots and a few of the Parallax Corps members. I whiz by Grant in the air.

"Good to see you again, Wildcat. See you got the ring under control!"
​

 

[Saved]

"I know not the full meaning of my return, only that there is fear in all the pantheons that this war may cause all of creation to collapse. The aspect of Jehovah's Vengeance has been destroyed by forces unknown, and I have been sent as an aspect of Rao to help lead the charge against the evils threatening the universe."

Kara spoke with confidence and power in her voice.

"As I returned from Paradise, I felt that I was not alone in my plunge to Earth from the heavens above, what else is falling through the sky?"

"We're not sure," Conner responds honestly. "It's some kind of extraterrestrial invasion, but as to what or who - we have no idea. That's what we were going to investigate before we ran into you."

"Literally." Zach smirks. "So, Conner... you're related to her, right?" Zach moves in close to Kon, raising his hand in front of his face and covering his mouth as he talks in a whisper. "Think you can get me in there?"

Conner stares at Zach awkwardly for a moment, somewhat surprised by his comrade's remark. "Uh... Zach," he starts.
"Yeah?"
"You know she has super-hearing, right?"
"... I may have forgotten that."

As Conner fights back a grin, Zach smoothly retorts with a suave grin as he tries to save face. "Superboy," Megan says suddenly, the tone of worry lacing every word. "I'm... I'm sensing something approaching. Something evil."

"Evil like what?" Before Megan can respond, a yellow flash blitzes past Conner's face, striking Megan in the chest and submerging her deep beneath the waves below. "MEGAN!" He cries in shock, reaching out to her as the yellow light rams her further toward the sea floor.

"Oh, boy... children," a sinster voice hisses from above. The Titans turn to see their uninivited visitor defensively, angry and ready for a fight. As Conner looks up, he sees a strange looking beast akin to a cockroach hovering above him. From every plate of thick skin segments a strange black ooze seeps out, covering its exterior in a disgusting fluid. Around its figure a yellow glow emits, shinning brightly just as the lights in the sky. "Tell me, boy," the alien asks as it raises its arm high. The beast aims its fist toward Conner as the yellow ring around one of its fingers begins to pulsate. "What do you fear?"

 

[Green Lantern]

"We're not sure," Conner responds honestly. "It's some kind of extraterrestrial invasion, but as to what or who - we have no idea. That's what we were going to investigate before we ran into you."

"Literally." Zach smirks. "So, Conner... you're related to her, right?" Zach moves in close to Kon, raising his hand in front of his face and covering his mouth as he talks in a whisper. "Think you can get me in there?"

Conner stares at Zach awkwardly for a moment, somewhat surprised by his comrade's remark. "Uh... Zach," he starts.
"Yeah?"
"You know she has super-hearing, right?"
"... I may have forgotten that."

As Conner fights back a grin, Zach smoothly retorts with a suave grin as he tries to save face. "Superboy," Megan says suddenly, the tone of worry lacing every word. "I'm... I'm sensing something approaching. Something evil."

"Evil like what?" Before Megan can respond, a yellow flash blitzes past Conner's face, striking Megan in the chest and submerging her deep beneath the waves below. "MEGAN!" He cries in shock, reaching out to her as the yellow light rams her further toward the sea floor.

"Oh, boy... children," a sinster voice hisses from above. The Titans turn to see their uninivited visitor defensively, angry and ready for a fight. As Conner looks up, he sees a strange looking beast akin to a cockroach hovering above him. From every plate of thick skin segments a strange black ooze seeps out, covering its exterior in a disgusting fluid. Around its figure a yellow glow emits, shinning brightly just as the lights in the sky. "Tell me, boy," the alien asks as it raises its arm high. The beast aims its fist toward Conner as the yellow ring around one of its fingers begins to pulsate. "What do you fear?"

As she heard Conner and Zach talk her mind went to the man she did love. How would Bart take her resurrection? After she had things sorted out she would have to hunt him down so she could talk to him. Oh how she had missed him. She heard the voice above them and spun to see their bug like assailant. A yellow construct begins to materialize filling the air with a swarm of roaches, spiders and scorpions. Kara flew straight through the swarm ignoring the bites and stings of the energy constructs aiming straight at their creator.

"I am far from a child, vermin. And you will wish that you hadn't chosen to confront me."

She drove into the yellow force field surrounding him with both her fists, knocking the creature back several feet from the force of the blow.

 

[Saved]

As she heard Conner and Zach talk her mind went to the man she did love. How would Bart take her resurrection? After she had things sorted out she would have to hunt him down so she could talk to him. Oh how she had missed him. She heard the voice above them and spun to see their bug like assailant. A yellow construct begins to materialize filling the air with a swarm of roaches, spiders and scorpions. Kara flew straight through the swarm ignoring the bites and stings of the energy constructs aiming straight at their creator.

"I am far from a child, vermin. And you will wish that you hadn't chosen to confront me."

She drove into the yellow force field surrounding him with both her fists, knocking the creature back several feet from the force of the blow.

As Kara knocks the creature back, the construct pushing Megan below the ocean dissipates in a faint flicker. "Zach, cover Kara."

"I was hoping you'd ask me to do that." The young magician nods as he raises his hands and begins to speak. "Erif hctac stcesni!" He shouts valiantly, causing the constructs to suddenly ignite in a blaze.

Focusing his attention toward Megan, Conner turns toward the water and flies down into the depths after his friend. With every bit of his strength, he plunges deeper and deeper, keeping his eyes open wide as he searches intently. After a few seconds, Conner finds the martian hero floating unconsciously, her red hair waving about her head like a spectre. Using his super speed, Conner moves toward his teammate, sweeping her up in his arms and heading hastily toward the surface.

Soon, Conner breaches the ocean's surface, holding his friend in his arms as they move into the air. "Megan," Conner starts cautiously. "Megan, can you hear me?" Groggily, her eyes open as she slowly comes to consciousness.
"...wow," she says, shaking her head gently. "I'd rather not do that again."
"Good... I thought I lost you."
"Not that easily," she says with a smile. Conner lets go of Megan's body as she begins hovering, gaining control of her body once again.
"Alright, come on - we've got to help the others." Conner says as he moves to engage the constructs attacking his fellow Titans.
"Kon, wait!" Megan says, catching his attention. "Before he hit me... I got a glimpse into his mind."
"And?" Conner asks curiously. "What is he?"
"He's a member of something called the Parallax Corps."
"Parallax corps... what the heck is that?"
"I-I don't know. He broke my telepathic link before I could get anything else."

"Hmm.... Wait... wait a second. He's got a ring on his finger."
"What?"
"A ring - you know, like the Green Lanterns. They're part of a corps right? Maybe... maybe there's some kind of link."
"Maybe," she says hopefully. "But what good does that do?"
"I think I remember Superman telling me something about how the rings they use are controlled by thought alone. If this guy's ring works the same way, maybe if we could disrupt his thoughts-"
"We'd be able to weaken him and take him out."
"Worth a shot. I'll distract him, just do your thing." Megan nods as Conner flies off, heading for the alien attacker.

Moving with tremendous speed, Kon cuts through the constructs like a wild animal, knocking back the insect animations as he grows closer toward his foe. "Don't worry, guys, calvalry's here."

"Oh, good." Zach says, dodging the swipes from one of the yellow creatures. "I was worried I'd have to save the day alone."
"Sorry, Zach," he says with a grin. Conner's eyes suddenly ignite in a red fire, sending two beams of heated light past Zach's shoulder and into an approaching construct preparing to attack just behind the magician's back. As the beams hit the construct, two holes pierce clean through it's body, causing the construct to flicker and fade away. "I'd hate to steal your thunder." Zach looks over his shoulder, then back to Conner with an unimpressed expression.

"Psh, I was saving that one for you."
"Sure you were. Hey, Kara! You want to see if bugs can bleed?"

 

[Harlekin]

Another night and another body. Using his cane, private eye Jason Bard raised the ‘do not cross’ police tape that was hung around the Morris Street crime scene. Joely Bartlett, the primary GCPD detective on the case turned around from where she was standing – in front of the body – and raised an eyebrow.

“And here I thought that when you left the force you’d stop waking up at four in the morning,” she said as Bard came up to stand beside her. Looking her former colleague over, Bartlett noticed his shirt was partially tucked in and his tie hung loosely from his neck. The two did not match. She looked down to his shoes.
“You put on two different socks too?”
He smiled and lifted his trousers’ pipes. His left sock was black, the other was white and had Snoopy stitched onto it.
“If you really want to know,” Bard said as the two exchanged glances. “I got a call from an old sergeant of mine.”
The private dick pointed to the body. “Apparently, they did Desert Storm together.”
Joely frowned. “How’d he know about this?”
“Army wives, Joeles. Word spreads fast.”
“So you were sent in to investigate, huh?” she snickered, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Hey, I’ve got a good rep with them boys.” He grinned and tapped the ground with his cane. “Of course, it helped that that particular sergeant ended up running my squad when I went into the desert myself.”
Bard’s eyes left the body and inspected the rest of the alley. “Now I was kind of expecting you to have cleaned this scene up already. Why is this body still on the street?”
“CSI is backed up.”
“Splendid.”
“So what can you tell me about our friend here?”
“Looks like he was cut pretty bad.”
Bartlett rolled her eyes.
“Okay, okay. Michaelangelo Alfredo, but I figure you already knew that. Vincent’s down at the station looking everything up, right?”
“Go on,” Joely simply replied.
“Did a tour in the first Gulf War. Got a family in Metropolis. Makes sure to attend the reunions every year. Sarge said he coped with the war better than most.”
Bartlett jotted down the pertinent details in her notebook.
“Now you give me something.”
“It’s early works yet, but he seems, or rather seemed, to be pretty good friends with Sal Valestra.”
“The Metropolis mob boss?”
“One and the same.”
“You guys running up to speak to him?”
Bartlett smiled. “I’m afraid that is a confidential police matter.”
“Right, well I’ll go by in the afternoon.”
Bard turned and started to leave. Bartlett grabbed hold of his arm.
“Wait, you know where to find Valestra?”
It was Bard’s turn to smile. “I’m afraid that is a confidential matter.” He continued walking as she shook her head.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Bed.”

 

[Karem-Knight]

Gotham

I started today waking up exhausted in Barbara's bed, I forgot how.......persitant she can be. Right now I'm having her research all of Two-Face's past associates from last year where; from the help of the Dark Alliance, he became one of the leading criminal bosses in the entire country nearly rivalling Intergang. He seems to be targeting all of his former associates; Warren White (a.k.a. The Great White Shark), Michael Vincenzzo, Brick (based in Star City) and others; the former three he has either killed or put into incarceration as to stop his criminal empire from spreading. I'm not sure why, Harvey has never been all there and has been known to have a major case of schizophrenia to the point where he is entirely dependant on his lucky two-headed coin. Though there still remains redeeming qualities inside, he's still a danger to thousands of people; innocent or guilty.

Barbara gave me Intel of one of Dent's under-bosses from Metropolis named Johnny Witts who claimed while he was in Gotham to be "one step ahead of Batman" until me and Bruce got him jailed into Blackgate. Since then, Witts worked undercover getting jailed by Clark before he got employed by several other higher bosses in the Metropolis area; Two-Face needed expansion and looked towards Metropolis where he made Witts his main guy over-seeing all his operations over there, tonight a mole informed us that Dent wanted to meet Witts outside the Gotham area. I watch from over head where I see Witt's and his men outside their cars eagerly waiting the arrival of their boss, who is going to try and kill them again.

"So when's the big guy going to turn up? It's boiling up here and my balls are starting to...."

"Will you guys shut up! He'll be here, now keep quiet!!"

Witts stubs out his cigarette, he never was very bright. I can tell by his body language that he's intimidated by Dent but is oblivious to what's going to happen. I see near by that a car is pulling up near them and see Witts happy to see the car as it stops by them, Witts signals one of his men to greet the people in the car; looks like Witts is smarter than I thought. On closer inspection I see that the driver is female; and that's when I notice something familiar about her. Jumping from my position I yell out to Witts as I grapple down.

"GET DOWN!!"

The confusion is apparant as the car bomb goes off and I hear bullets spring out of no where as all the gangsters get their guns out and start pointing at me, I disarm them with a few batarangs as Witts start to run in the opposite direction I grap him and take cover underneath a trash can.

"WHAT ARE YA DOING, YOU CRAZY SON OF A..."

"Most people say "Thank you for saving my life Nightwing", someone's trying to kill you Witts!!"

"SAY GOODNIGHT YOU CREEPS!!!!!!!"

Katie Riordan, former Bludhaven police officer turned vigilante whose family were killed by gang members and scarring her for life in more ways than one. Not surprised Dent hired her. I get some string and tie Witts to a poll, keeping him for questioning later as I spring into action, jumping from my current position onto a near by car and giving Hella a spinning kick.

"I had a feeling you weren't dead.....and as much as I hate to leave ol' Witts over there haning, I can't let you kill him!"

The kick disarms Kate temporarily but she's had training as she gets out a knife and tries to slash me, I duck under and push her to the floor. She head-butts me pushing me aside. My reservations for hurting women always get me into trouble.

"He's scum, Nightwing. Just like Blockbuster and all the other criminals you've fought here in Gotham, Bludhaven....where-ever! I have a job to do!!"

She starts running towards Witts and as I chase her I sense a bit of Helena in her and even Jason, after he came back from the dead. Maybe those two should hook up in the future, they'll make a good couple. I get up and start chasing Riordan and getting a few smoke bombs out, I manage to disorientate her as her magnum starts firing randomly. Grabbing her by the neck, I force my strength onto her throat.

"Kate, listen to me! You've got to stop doing this, is Dent putting you up to this!! He's the same as the people who killed your family, he's the same as Johnny over there!!"

"NO! HE'S DIFFERENT!! HE UNDERSTANDS ME!!"

A blade from her elbow sticks into the kevelar, leaving a minor cut as Hella throws me to the ground. Her magnum points to my face and my first reaction is to grab it out of the way as a loud shot goes into the ground, I throw her off course and trip her over while getting up; getting my batons out I put a signal to her.

"I don't want to fight you, Hella..."

"Feelings mutual..." Her second gun fires to the ground as a small dart explodes and I start coughing, this gas is too strong and potent.

"What's....what's....happennninggggggg........"

***
Ten minutes later I wake up from the ground and see the night sky, despite the fumes of the car everything seems quieter than before but as I turn my head I see a lifeless hand on the floor. I run up towards it and see Johnny Witts' dead corpse, half burned like Hella and Two-Face's and I punch the wall. Screaming in anger, I've lost another lead and failed to save a human life. Even if he was a criminal.

"Oracle! It's Nightwing....I.....Johnny Witts is dead, I couldn't stop the hit!"

"What happened!?"

"Hella....this woman I fought a few times in Bludhaven was hired by Two-Face to kill Witts. She used some sort of knock out gas to incapacitate me. She wasn't this good before hand, she's gotten better..."

"Dick, it's alright! Everyone makes mistakes!!"

"Yeah well, not all the time! First Deadshot, then Star City.....now this!...."

I stop the moaning and instantly take a look at the bullet she fired on the ground that managed to strike me down.

"Nightwing, what's wrong? What..."

I pick it up and take a look at the formula inside; "Wait a second. I think I may have a lead on how to find Dent, I'll talk to you later. Got to go!"

I call up my bike and get on it, starting the engine I head back to the cave with a sample of the formula in my hand.

****

Somewhere South of Gotham

Hella came riding down her motor-bike on the secret location she had been riding to ever since the destruction of Bludhaven and her time in Arkham Aslyum. During that time she met a man with a similar situation whose life and body had been destroyed by criminals and was in a never ending quest for vengeance. As she got out of the bike he sat down in the shadows flipping his coin and finishing his target practice he came over to her.

"Were you followed?"

"You know me better than that.." She said chuckling.

"So, no more Johnny Witts?"

"Nope, and the message was clear on who did it. Half his face was burnt, and now he's the main suspect on whose been killing your guys."

"That's my girl!" Two-Face went over to her and taking off her mask, kissed her passionately on the lips, before noticing a tear on her costume. "What happened here, I thought you said you weren't followed! And I know Witts couldn't have given you a hard time..." Hella sighed as she walked away from Harvey and sat down.

"I had a little run in with Nightwing....and..."

"WHAT!? I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T FOLLOWED!!!!"

"I WASN'T FOLLOWED, HE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE BEFORE I DID! WHAT DO YOU CARE, I KNOCKED HIM OUT AND WITTS IS DEAD!!"

"Is Nightwing dead!!?" Two-Face asked urgently his eyes waiting eagerly for an answer.

"What!? No, why would I kill him!? He's on our side, just doesn't do enough of the right thing!"

"Are you an idiot!? Nightwing can track us down from anywhere, he's got links all over the world!! If you're going to fight him then you try and kill him, he's just as good as Batman!!! ARGH!!!"

Two-Face punched a mirror in his anger and washing his face took a deep breath before flipping his coin. Hella wasn't like the other women in Harvey's life, she wouldn't take any of his nonsense and would just wait till he was over his anger.

"I'm sorry....beautiful...it's just that....."

"What?"


"I have a feeling that, Nightwing....isn't the only problem we have right now."

 

[Blacklight]

As I was helping in the efforts to repel the aliens' assault on Keystone City, I was knocking out Yellow and Red Lanterns before the could so much as summon a simple light construct when I noticed the Justice Society arriving to aid Jay. Gotta love him and his connections.

The Lanterns in my area began to pull back, so seizing the oppurtunity to regroup I sped over to Jay, suddenly stopping dead cold in my tracks when I saw who was standing before him...

"It can't be..."

"And that's not all."

Central City seemed to be spared by the yellow Lantern's escalating attacks, where Keystone seemed to be taking the brunt of the assault, so I changed direction and arrived just after the other heroes did.

Wally shows up out of nowhere and...and...

"Dear god...Barry?!"

"Is it...r-really...C-can it?" I could barely say without stuttering from the shock.

Time was reduced to a crawl, the background blurring behind him as I grew dizzier.

Then finally I spoke his name...

"...Uncle Barry?"

 

[Watchman]

Oolong Island, The Castle of New Apokolips,

The spires reach up in the sky. Built by his new slaves, all the first to fall before the equation. Others were rounded and placed inside Mokkari's Science Camps. The giant fortress built with greatest of Apokolipian technology stood as dark black spot on the Earth, housing the greatest evil.

"I have failed...I can't do this anymore..."

That was final thought of Alexander Luthor before his final forms of existence burnt up. For months he tried to find back the evil that was quickly consuming him. How can you fight of the dark? How can you fight of the void?

All the while the entity inside of him fed and fatten off his dying humanity. He poisoned and defiled his soul. His entrance back into this realm was violent. He crawled his way out of an eternal black pit, damaging all of reality along his way after he took his fall. Now, he was going to put it back together and mold in his way. Into, Darkseid.

The giant form of Darkseid slowly stood up from his throne.

********
Gotham City, The Final Resting Place of Amadeus Arkham

An unearthly roar came from the bowels of the sanitarium. Something dark had awoken in their mysterious guest. The rest of the recaptured prisoners were shot into a frenzied riot in their cells. Months of therapy gone.

"FATHER!" The was only coherent word that could be heard through the animal roars. It struck the walls, causing the entire building to shake. None of the guards would go down there. All refusing when Dr. Arkham have them an order. Dr. Arkham finally deciding to go down there himself.

As the elevator doors opened the screaming had stop. He could hear a low talking. He made it to the cell and took a deep breath and opened. There stood the massive man in the center hunched over, talking to himself. He must have been seven feet tall by now. Most his human characteristics are gone, leaving only the remains of a human structure. A hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Hello, again, doctor," ice cold death went down his spine. He dropped to his knees in uncontrollable fear. The voice that called out from the darkest corners of his mind. Could this be the insanity of Amadeus incarnate? The robed figured strolled passed him.

"Prince of Apokolips, your father calls for you once again." An hole opened up to beyond with a loud pop. The monster lumbered in along with the...Desaad...that was the spectre's name. They were gone.
******
Coast City- Before the Lanterns Left

"This way! Our wounded prey went this way!" The yellow lantern, Tak the Misunderstood flew down to Earth following a Red Lantern's trail. He was joined by two others. They ventured into the alley's below where the red light went dim.

"That will not help you, Red Lantern. Let the yellow light of fear spell your doom! Ha!" Each of the Yellow Lanterns held up their arms illuminating the dark alley.

"Know fear, know the equation. His heart was ruin so I made his mind to match it, I made in pure." The Red Lantern was convulsing on the ground. Standing next to him was the Black Hand.

"We thank you for taking care of our problem but you're not part of the club. Sorry...not." A yellow light flew forward but was black a shield with the Omega symbol on it.

"Ah, he wants to play, very good..." A black light sword went into his fellow lantern's head.

"You can join us all now."

"Who's us," the two other Yellow lanterns readied their rings. The former red Lantern leap up covered in black, breathing a black flame. Black Hand grabbed Tak. He heard the whisper of an ancient voice in his head before falling to the ground. The other was grabbed by the Black/Red Lantern and was destroyed.

Will Destroyed. Identity Ruined. Die for Darkseid.
******
Back on Oolong

"The crown! The crown!" His servants had his helmet and placed it on his head. He was wrapped in his royal garments. He stood up.

"My lord all the pieces are in place. We..."

"You have done so only as I have decreed. Do you expect special reward, Desaad?"

"No, my lord." He cowered.

"Good, then let us begin the ruin. New Genesis is destroyed, the Kryptonian is gone, and the Guardians are in disarray, nothing will stand in our way now, the multiverse will be mine. Across universes, dimensions, and eons, not a single voice will be raised in hope. There will only be Darkseid."

 

[Karem-Knight]

Outside the Earth's atmosphere

While I have inhabited the planet close to the yellow sun, I manage to have overheard various Lantern announcements and helped them with their battles against the current wave of Red and Yellow Lanterns. They have been called off and of right now, I fly faster than most of the Lanterns whilst holding my breath when I hear my ring speaking to me.

ATTENTION, SODAM YAT. LANTERN OF SECTOR 1760, INCOMING MESSAGE FROM THE GUARDIANS.

I stop dead in my tracks and fly far away from the ongoing battle and answer the call.

"This is Lantern Sodam Yat; I've currently had no charge left in my Lantern ring and my Ion power has deteriorated."

"Lantern Yat, we require your immediate attention on the planet Earth."

"An Earthman has come to Oa and caused mass havoc; you must stop him at once."

"We will charge your ring for you and we hear-by grant you the power of Ion once the oath has been said."

"Okay, understood. What's the Earthman's name and where can I find him?"

There is an awkward silence for a while until one of the Guardians finally answers my question.

"The Earhman in question is named William Hand but calls himself "Black Hand"."

"He has had frequent encounters with Lantern Jordon and Rayner."

"Recently he has obtained an unspecified power source that is too dangerous for him to bear unguarded."

"We believe that he may have links to other unknown alien powers with similar abilities."

"However, Hand is the only one we currently know of."

"This is a top secret mission Lantern Yat. Failure is not an option!"

"Understood. Lantern Yat out."

I end the communication as a light on my ring shines brightly and a message is received from the ring again.

RING CHARGE OBTAINED, REQUIRE OATH TO ACTIVATE.

"In Brightest Day,
In Blackest Night,
No Evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship Evil's might,
Beware my power,
Green Lanterns light!"

RING CHARGE AT 100%.
ION POWER OBTAINED.

The surge of energy encases inside me as a short burst of halos float out before I restrain them and smile. It feels good to have the green light again, even if I only lost it for a few hours. Flying down to Earth I ask my ring for assistance on the threat.

"Ring, where is the apparent location of William Hand and information on him?"

WILLIAM HAND OF EARTH, BORN THIRTY YEARS AGO. FATHER AND MOTHER WERE BOTH FUNERAL DIRECTORS BUT HAND TURNED TO CRIME AND FOUGHT GREEN LANTERN HAL JORDON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN FOUND OUT HAND OBTAINED HIS DEVICE FROM THE RED LANTERN LEADER ATROICUS.

HAND CURRENTLY HARNESS AN UNKNOWN SOURCE OF ENERGY DUPLICATING THE POWER OF LANTERN RINGS AND CHARGE. SOURCE OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN.

WILLIAM HAND'S BELIEVED LOCATION IS OOLONG ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF CHINA.

After the long explanation the ring gives me the coordinates towards the island, I arrive there in about ten minutes and see it from the top of the skies. Instantly I feel something.....cold and dark about this place, as the skin crawls through my back; odd considering the temperature of the area. I survey it and notice the the small size of it and how easy it would be to spot Hand, but as I glide down the worrying feeling I have gets stronger and stronger.

Feeling the anger inside me build up I unleash a small burst of green energy onto the ground.

"WILLIAM HAND OF EARTH, I AM SODAM YAT OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS!! COME OUT AND REVEAL YOURSELF NOW!"

 

[Watchman]

Silence was destroyed. Once Ion showed up the island became alive. People shambled toward the Green Lantern all brandishing an assortment of weapons. From guns, knives, axes, even some were carrying super weapons. Each were wearing the same helmet with a red tinted visor.

"Join us," they shouted in cold unison, "embrace the equation."

A black light construct grabbed him and pulled him down. He smashed into the street below. The crowd pounced on him. Standing before the people attacking Sodam was the Black Hand. In the air were a small group of Black Lanterns, all made up of former Green, Yellow, and Red Lanterns.

"You are looking for us, Ion? The Guardians sent you on a suicide mission. The place were will and hope come to die. It's time for you to join the equation."

 

[Karem-Knight]

Silence was destroyed. Once Ion showed up the island became alive. People shambled toward the Green Lantern all brandishing an assortment of weapons. From guns, knives, axes, even some were carrying super weapons. Each were wearing the same helmet with a red tinted visor.

"Join us," they shouted in cold unison, "embrace the equation."

A black light construct grabbed him and pulled him down. He smashed into the street below. The crowd pounced on him. Standing before the people attacking Sodam was the Black Hand. In the air were a small group of Black Lanterns, all made up of former Green, Yellow, and Red Lanterns.

"You are looking for us, Ion? The Guardians sent you on a suicide mission. The place were will and hope come to die. It's time for you to join the equation."

The black construct sends me straight down onto the ground as these minions of Black Hand crowd round me and attack; but as I see Black Hand, I see others crowding round him, all wearing the same symbol.
That's when it hits me, Black Lanterns.

Nodding my head, I send out a construct that leaves out many of the non-powered minions out of my way and come flying towards Black Hand.

"I don't know what your equation is, but here's what you can do with it!"

I send out a short blast of Ion power directly towards Black Hand, and the other Black Lanterns. Hoping that it can effect them.

 

[Watchman]

The black construct sends me straight down onto the ground as these minions of Black Hand crowd round me and attack; but as I see Black Hand, I see others crowding round him, all wearing the same symbol.
That's when it hits me, Black Lanterns.

Nodding my head, I send out a construct that leaves out many of the non-powered minions out of my way and come flying towards Black Hand.

"I don't know what your equation is, but here's what you can do with it!"

I send out a short blast of Ion power directly towards Black Hand, and the other Black Lanterns. Hoping that it can effect them.

The green blast hits most of the Black Lanterns. Black Hand holds up an energy shield. The beam pushes him back slightly but he holds his ground.

"They did not tell you what is here did they? No, this is the end for you, Ion. There is no hope for you. See, we are the same you and in. We both represent the same thing for our corps. Just opposites-Will and submission, chaos and order, good and evil. What you fail to realize is that the scales have tipped for evil. This is the day that good dies."

Black Hand outstretched his arms. Black spikes come flying out of the ground in the area around Ion.

 

[Harlekin]

The Gentleman’s Club, the name really said it all. It was set up in rings: first, in the centre, was the stage with three scantily clad women dancing on it. The second ring was the bar. It was lined with entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors and an assortment of made men. Women – wearing slightly more clothing than the dancers – were settled in between them. Continuing further, there were a couple of tables, where friends and colleagues discussed business. Further out were booths, for more private conversations.

In other words, it was a classic mob hangout.

Jason Bard stood at the door, his arms outstretched. He was being patted down by a regular bouncer, Paulie. The security guards at the Gentleman’s Club were all familiar with Bard – they made the best informants – and knew he never carried a weapon on him. Nonetheless, they always searched him. Paulie smiled as he finished going through the pockets of Bard’s trenchcoat.

“You really ought to carry a piece, Bard. You’re going to go up against the wrong fella one day and he’ll do you just like that.” Paulie mimicked shooting Bard in the head.
“Trouble with carrying a gun is, is that you’re inevitably going to have use it, Paul.”
“No chance of a fistfight once they know you is carrying.”
“Exactly.” Bard put his arms down and corrected his tie and shirt. He’d cleaned himself up since meeting Detective Bartlett, spending the afternoon looking up info on Sal Valestra’s organisation and people, making phone calls. It was close to midnight now, and according to his contacts, Metropolitan Sal would be in the back of the club now, running his business. Bard grinned at Paulie, shaking his hand as he passed him and slipping him a twenty.
“Have a good night, chief,” Paulie said.
“You too, Paul, you too.”

The private investigator passed the booths and the tables, where occasionally somebody would look up at him – or look away quickly. The waitresses who caught his eye smiled and he returned the gesture. Bard moved passed them, alongside the bar and crossing the room. Standing in front of a door marked ‘private’ were two men built like brick houses. The had their hands in front of them, their eyes set straight forward, their faces fixed.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”
The two looked down at Bard.
“I’m here to see Sal.”
“Who’s Sal?” one of them replied.
Bard chuckled. “I’m not a cop, guys.”
The two exchanged looks and returned to stare forward into the air.
“I’d like to see him. Sal, I mean,” Bard tried again.
The guards looked back down again, one of them was sneering now.
“Ain’t no Sal back there.”
The private dick shook his head.
“Then who is?”
“That ain’t none of your business.”
To the astonishment of the guards, Bard raised his cane and knocked on the door. The one of the left grabbed hold of the stick quickly.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Knocking before I go in, it’s only polite.”
The man grinned, his hand still on the cane. “Get lost, guy.”
“Yeah, okay, you’re right,” Bard said as he made a motion to turn away. The man relaxed his grip on the walking stick accordingly, but Bard did not walk away. Instead he turned back, his good leg rising up fast to hit the guard between the legs. With his cane, he struck the other upside the head. The wood nearly snapped, the man fell to his knees.
“Excuse me,” Bard said as he opened the door and walked into the back room.

The first the private eye noticed as he came in, was that the window to the office was open. The second thing Bard noticed was that there wasn’t a light on. The moon, peeking through the window, illuminated Salvadore Valestra sitting at a desk. He was scuffed up. The mafioso’s jacket didn’t fit right, his lip was a little swollen and he was sweating.

“Mr. Valestra?” Bard asked, stepping forward.
“What do you want?” the man’s voice was raspy. He didn’t seem at all concerned that Bard had been able to enter his office. The man didn’t even ask for Bard’s name.
“I’m here about ‘Gassy’ Mike.”
“He’s dead.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Valestra shook his head, smiling. He winced somewhat as he did so.
“I…” The private eye thought he registered a single moment of hesitation as he saw Sal looking to the side before meeting Bard’s eyes. “I’m not telling you jack. Who the *&^% are you? Get the *&^% outta my office!”
A knowing smile curled unto the detective’s lips.
“Right, right. Have a good night Mr. Valestra.”
Just as Bard turned around, the two guards barged into the office.
“I’m sorry Mr. Valestra,” one said, grimacing as he made a grab for Bard. The investigator smiled, raising his cane.
“Let him go. Leave.” The guards looked to their boss. “Now.”
The guards reluctantly took a step back.
“Thank you, gents,” Bard said as he walked out of the office, leaving the two guards to look towards their boss again.
“Go!” Valestra yelled and the two men left as well.

 

[Byrd Man]

The first the private eye noticed as he came in, was that the window to the office was open. The second thing Bard noticed was that there wasn’t a light on. The moon, peeking through the window, illuminated Salvadore Valestra sitting at a desk. He was scuffed up. The mafioso’s jacket didn’t fit right, his lip was a little swollen and he was sweating.

“Mr. Valestra?” Bard asked, stepping forward.
“What do you want?” the man’s voice was raspy. He didn’t seem at all concerned that Bard had been able to enter his office. The man didn’t even ask for Bard’s name.
“I’m here about ‘Gassy’ Mike.”
“He’s dead.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Valestra shook his head, smiling. He winced somewhat as he did so.
“I…” The private eye thought he registered a single moment of hesitation as he saw Sal looking to the side before meeting Bard’s eyes. “I’m not telling you jack. Who the *&^% are you? Get the *&^% outta my office!”
A knowing smile curled unto the detective’s lips.
“Right, right. Have a good night Mr. Valestra.”
Just as Bard turned around, the two guards barged into the office.
“I’m sorry Mr. Valestra,” one said, grimacing as he made a grab for Bard. The investigator smiled, raising his cane.
“Let him go. Leave.” The guards looked to their boss. “Now.”
The guards reluctantly took a step back.
“Thank you, gents,” Bard said as he walked out of the office, leaving the two guards to look towards their boss again.
“Go!” Valestra yelled and the two men left as well.

As soon as Bard and the guards are gone, I step out of the shadows.

"You're holding back on me, Valestra."

I snatch the Metropolis mob boss by his hair and slam his face into the desk. I punctuate each word I say with another slam to do the desk.

"Mike. Alfredo. What. Do. You. Know!"

"Stop! I'll tell if it'll get you the **** outta here!"

I let Valestra go, pushing him forward onto his desk.

"Speak, and be quick about it."

"H-he came up in my organization in Metropolis. He followed me here after we-we thought you died!"

"I'm not hearing anything I don't already know."

"I don't know who'd want him dead, alright! I loved that boy like he was my own son. ****, I was better to him than his piece of **** father. Teamster truck driver never did **** with his life-ugh!."

I grab Valestra by his necktie.

"You're straying off-topic. I hate it when people do that."

"Okay! We made some enemies back last year when we took over the Gotham rackets. Mike was my main muscle man on most of the moves. You look around at your local criminals, you'll find out who killed him!"

I loosen up on Valestra's tie.

"If I find out you're lying, then I'll come back. I won't be happy, either."

"Whatever. Just, when you find out who killed Mike, do him for me."

"You're garbage just like Alfredo and whoever killed him," I growl.

"Whatever."

Valestra, still shaken from the beating, turns away from me and places his shaky hands on his desk.

"I wasn't bull****ing about Mike. I loved that boy like a son, just-"

When he turns around, I'm gone.

"....just find out who did it. ****ing Gotham. At least in Metropolis, the local loony toons has the good sense to wear bright colors."

 

[J'adore]

"Fine! But don't do anything cool without me!"

Spoiler soon blended herself into the shadows, her piercing eyes fixating on the dying down glow, where Tim had swung off to.

Speaking into her communicator, Spoiler called for Tim.

"Red Robin! Red Robin, come in! Hello....? Tim, it's me, Steph!"

After no reply, Spoiler took action. Quickly firing her graple off into the night sky, Spoiler swung into the darkness above her, heading towards the glow.

"Spoiler to batcave, is there anyone there?"

KZZZTTKTTT.

"What do you want?"

"Well Miss-Stay-At-Home-Mommy, your 'beau' isn't replying to my communicator alerts and has been investigating a small crime for about twenty minutes now,"

"Maybe he finally found some sense and ditched you,"

"Just alert Alfred, or Batman, or somebody."

"Yeah, I'll be sure to do that,"

Then, Rose's voice cut off. Spoiler continued to swing through the night, observing petty crimes and hobos on the streets. She couldn't stop, she needed to find Tim. She took one last swing and landed on top of a building, which was above the faint glow. She slowly lowered her mask and peered over the edge.

"That's Tim! But who are the creeps with him...?" Steph whispered to herself, she watched as the two weird men pulled out a glowing gun.

"What the---?"

 

[Catman_prb]

Tim rolled over and pushed himself up. A car, more like a small tank, rumbled towards him through the ruined buildings of Gotham city.

"Get in," Batman growled as the the vechiles door lifted up.

Tim swayed slightly on the spot.

"Wait a second," he muttered, putting his hand to his spinning head.

"In!" he shouted, grabbing the teen hero by the front of his costume and pulled him into the tank like machine.

"What's going on?" he asked, leaning back in the big leather seat.

"Shut up Drake," Batman said, glaring at Tim. Tim frowned.

"You're not - where's Bruce?" Tim asked.

"Bruce is dead," Batman snarled "And you have some serious explaining to do,"

 

[Karem-Knight]

The green blast hits most of the Black Lanterns. Black Hand holds up an energy shield. The beam pushes him back slightly but he holds his ground.

"They did not tell you what is here did they? No, this is the end for you, Ion. There is no hope for you. See, we are the same you and in. We both represent the same thing for our corps. Just opposites-Will and submission, chaos and order, good and evil. What you fail to realize is that the scales have tipped for evil. This is the day that good dies."

Black Hand outstretched his arms. Black spikes come flying out of the ground in the area around Ion.

The black spikes come out from under the ground, and the ones closer to me impale me instantly. My leg starts to bleed as I let out a scream of agony.

"ARGH!!!" I force my impaled leg out away from the construct and use my heat vision in anger to Black Hand; who just blocks it with a shield.

"I don't know what power you hold, or what's happened to your sick twisted mind. But I will stop you!!"

I fly straight towards Black Hand, tackling him into the ground and a bubble construct encases us inside.

WARNING: DETECTING HINTS OF ANTI-LIFE BZZZZZZZZZZZZTT...WILL POWER WEAKENING.....POWER LEVELS 34.8%.......25.6%....0.00%

"What...?"

Submit, Sodam Yat. All is one in Darkseid................

I shake my head away, forcing myself to think straightly. It's as if this place is taking control of my mind....Submit.

Submit.

Screaming, I fly away from Black Hand and set up a series of chains from my Ion power and hold him high up in the air.

Submit.

"What....what are you doing to me!!?"

 

[SuperFerret]

Wally shows up out of nowhere and...and...

"Dear god...Barry?!"

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"BURRRRNNNN!!!!"

"What in the-"

"INCOMING!!!" Kara shouts as she launches herself at the newcomers.

"There are Red Lanterns now?!" I shout at Ted as the ground erupts in flame.

"Yeah, and you really don't wanna mess with these guys."

Like a well oiled machine, the JSA scatter in teams to engage everyone threatening Keystone.

***

I take off and peel away, Stargirl at my side just like we planned.

"Uh, Ted. The bad guys are in the other direction."

"I know. But those aren't the bad guys I'm looking for." I pour on the speed and head right to my target. Courtney is right there with me. "Hit these guys with whatever you got, but don't stop moving. Just stick beside me, ok?"

"What ever you say." Her face is set with determination.

"Good, just remember. Stay with me." I concentrate and we dive right into the center of a swarm of Yellow Lanterns.

They don't know what hits them as Court and I lash out in all directions. We're not doing any real damage, but we are making them angry. And we're pulling them off the city. In no time at all, the entire swarm is on our tails, and Courtney and I are doing everything we can to keep from getting shot down.

"Heck of a plan, Ted!" she shouts with sarcasm.

"It ain't over yet kid!" I pull up and away, performing a loop right over to Lanterns, back towards where we started. Courtney is right there with me. Good girl, Court.

We put a little distance between us and the Yellows, but not too much so they don't stick on us. It just makes me smile. "Ok Court, one more time."

Courtney sees where we're going, and she realizes just what I'm doing. "I think that ring's gone to your head."

"Maybe." I grin, and we fly right through the middle of the Red Lanterns.

And the Yellows slam right into them.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

As I was helping in the efforts to repel the aliens' assault on Keystone City, I was knocking out Yellow and Red Lanterns before the could so much as summon a simple light construct when I noticed the Justice Society arriving to aid Jay. Gotta love him and his connections.

The Lanterns in my area began to pull back, so seizing the oppurtunity to regroup I sped over to Jay, suddenly stopping dead cold in my tracks when I saw who was standing before him...

"It can't be..."



"Is it...r-really...C-can it?" I could barely say without stuttering from the shock.

Time was reduced to a crawl, the background blurring behind him as I grew dizzier.

Then finally I spoke his name...

"...Uncle Barry?"

I have to smile at their reactions as I nod, looking only at Wally. I take a step towards him, feeling all kinds of emotions as I look at my nephew. I know he became the Flash after I died. Due to my time traveling escapades, I've even worked with him, backing him up during tough times. I've always been proud of him, and how he more than lived up to the Flash name, taking it to a level I could not.

Tears form in my eyes. God, I just thought that I'd never see him again.

"Yes, Wally. It's me. I'm back."