The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VIII

[The Question]

The little piece of alien jewelry hung in the air in front of me. Curious, I slowly put out my hand towards it. I immediately started to think better of it, but before I could pull my hand away the ring shot on to my finger. The second it was on my hand my heart started racing. I felt more wired than I had in my entire life. My mind started racing with a blur of images from my life, from the kids who beat me up in the orphanage to the slumlords of Hub City, all of them unpleasant. My blood boiled and I wanted to scream out at all these poor excuses for people I'd met over the course of my life. I felt high as a kite and sick to my stomach all at once. I ripped the ring off my finger and shoved it into my pants' pocket.

'Christ, is that what it's like for Jordan every time he wears the ring?' I thought to myself.

It was unsettling, to say the least. Wearing the ring hurt, but at the same time, I kind of liked it. Full of fire and life. I decided to hold onto it, partially to keep anyone else from finding it by accident, and partially because I figured if I could learn more about it, it might become useful.

I turned back towards the basement I was renting as by Gotham base. My guest had been stewing in his own fear long enough, and with this alien thing in my pocket I suddenly felt a need to accelerate my plans.

When I got back, he was still staring at my collection of tools. His expression was blank and hopeless. He winced when I opened the door, but kept staring. Didn't otherwise acknowledge my presence.

"So," I said. "How are you?"

He looked up at me.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this, man."

"Yes, that's pretty obvious."

"I don't want to be here."

"Also obvious."

"It was supposed to be different."

"How was it supposed to be different, Bill?"

He took a little while to respond. Ten, twenty seconds or so. It seemed like he was weighing his options.

"They promised me," he said. "They said that I'd be special. Important. That I'd get everything I wanted and that I'd be free. For the first time in my life I'd be free and I'd belong."

"Who told you that, Bill?"

"Th... the church. They lied to me. None of this was supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen to me."

"The church is built on lies, Bill. They take people with no sense of self worth and they give them something to believe in. But it's all based on corruption and hatred. And then when you're not useful anymore they leave you to the wolves."

"Let me get swallowed up when the revolution comes..." he muttered.

"Revolution?"

"They... they said the old order was going to be swept away. Building a new future."

"Is the church planning a coup?"

"An apocalypse. Fire erupting from the ground."

"That's just more of their lies. Their theology is hollow. There's no god of crime..."

"There is!" he shouted. "The man at the top isn't a man. He's hatred wearing a man's skin. I met him once. I know."

"What's his name?"

"He called himself Boss Darkseid. And that's all I know."

I started pacing back and forth in front of him, thinking over everything he'd said.

"I believe you," I finally said.

I walked to the door.

"The police will be here to get you soon," I said as I switched off the light and shut the door behind me.

I'd gotten everything out of him that I thought there was to get. My next priority was to get this alien ring figured out.

I went across town, out towards the suburbs where all the swimming pools and movie stars were. I rung the doorbell of a large, old gothic style mansion on top of a hill. A thin, grey haired man in a suit answered the door.

"Yes?"

"Hello... Mr. Butler," I said. "Is Bruce home?"

 

[Bounce]

​

"Be grateful you little snot. Those bullets could've gone through the walls."

The boy watched Jason leave, barely containing the self-satisfied smirk that threatens to split the youth's face. It appeared that he had found another of Todd's 'buttons', a piece of information filed away for use later. After Batman had been taken down a notch or three, Damian's use for Jason Todd would be over. And he'd need all the ammunition he could get his hands on to take on the psychotic former Robin. Father trained him well, but clearly someone else had a hand in that. Jason didn't fight anything like the Batman did. He went straight for the kill. No remorse. He also appeared to favor weapons, whereas father did much of his fighting hand-to-hand. That aspect of Jason Todd was one that Damian could appreciate, being that it mirrored the style of the League. Speaking of style...

Damian held the costume out in his hands. Just a lot of black with some gray accessories. Gloves, belt, the usual. Black hood with a grayish-white full face plate styled reminiscent to a skull. Black cape that had a gray lining. And a red 'X' styled like intersecting streaks of blood on the chest.

And the clown show rolled on... Red Hood, Red X, Batman, Robin... it was more than a little ridiculous. Though, as Jason had pointed out, at least this costume didn't have pixie boots. Setting the outfit aside, Damian began to undress, pulling off the suit he'd worn as a member of the League of Assassins. He supposed it was all just costumes and masks.

Picking up the suit that Jason had given him, the young Wayne found himself hesitating. Questioning, just for a moment, what it was that he was doing. He wondered what father was going to say in that talk he'd promised to have with Damian. Part of him, that small sliver of his soul that was still just a young boy, looked back to the window and expected the Dark Knight to come swooping in. To refute the pragmatic and jaded portions of Damian's mind that led him to believe...

...father didn't even know that Damian was missing...

...nobody was looking for him...

...none of them wanted him around anyway...

Damian stared at the window, as though through strength of will he could compel something there to prove him wrong. To fade away all the anger he felt. But he saw only darkness.

All his life, Damian had been proud of the fact that he was the son of the Bat. The child of Bruce Wayne. Not millionaire Bruce Wayne. Not playboy Bruce Wayne. The real Bruce Wayne. The man who had, single-handed, defeated Ra's al Ghul and rejected the title of Demon's Head. The only man Damian had ever known who had stood up to mother and refused to be a pawn in one of her games. But that was all a lie. That was just another costume... The truth was, Bruce Wayne was his sperm donor, not his father.

Damian pulled on the cold, unfamiliar suit and found the material stiff. Unforgiving. There was probably a metaphor in that. Exiting the room, Damian found his way back to Jason's collection of knives and grabbed a pair of khukri knives. The curved, Nepalese weapons seem to fit with the X motif.

Damian didn't even turn around when he heard Jason's steps behind him. "All right, *******. I'm dressed. Now what?"

 

[Blacklight]

The Joker fell to his knees, wiping a little blood from his mouth. He smiled.

"That hurt a little. I like that..."

Grinning wildly, The Joker launched himself at Kyle, spawning a gang of hideous, half-child/half-lizard monstrosities and unleashing them on Kyle.

Jeez... and I thought Nero's constructs were horrific...

In one emerald blast, the child-lizard hybrid constructs cried out as I incinerated them with raw green energy. Then I followed up with a construct of a griffin that I had breathing emerald fire on the psycho clown.

"Stand down, Joker! You can't win! I'm not afraid of you!"

 

[Blacklight]

With an ear-shattering sonic boom, Wally and I rip through the space-time barrier and come back to reality. I skid to stop, Wally beside me, on the outskirts of Central City.

The past few minutes have seemed like days and weeks. Darkseid, Metron, running through against the Black Racer.

"Something's going on here," I say to Wally. "Something too big for either of us to handle alone. You heard Metron. A crisis is coming. We need the Justice League."

"Leave that to me." I said as I put my finger to my earpiece.

"Booster, this is... Flash..." I started, a little confused as to whether or not I should be addressing myself as Flash now that Uncle Barry's back.

:"I hear ya, Wally. What's up?":

"Contact all our teammates in the Justice League and tell them I need back-up in Coast City, ASAP."

:"You got it.":

"Booster, I need one more thing while your at it..."

:"What's that?":

"I need you to patch me through to the Oracle."

:"Right-o, Flash.":

A few seconds later, I'm through to Babs.

:"This is Oracle...":

"Oracle, this is Flash. I need you to send a message to the JSA, the Titans; any available hero with an open line and tell them all to come down to Coast City as soon as they can... We've got a major crisis on our hands."

:"Say no more, Wally. I'm on it.":

"Thanks, Oracle. Flash out..." I ended, lifting my finger off my earpiece. Something tells me we're gonna need more than the Justice League for this one... I have a feeling this is gonna be bigger than anything any of us have ever faced before... Even bigger than the Dark Alliance.

I hope to God I'm wrong...

 

[Harlekin]

"Looks like the tables have turned," he says from somewhere close by. "You and your buddy are both dead."

Bard coughed while attempting to navigate his way through the smoke. Where he was concerned, the tables had definitely turned. In the fight with the deadly cooks, he’d damaged his cane, and he was now without a walking stick. He had to stumble his way through the Chinese restaurant, guarding his eyes against the smoke, while also staying alert to Johnny Stitches. Yes, the private investigator was on the ropes, but he wasn’t about to show it.

“Where’d you get patched up, Stitches? If you want me to be honest, they did a pretty lousy job,” Bard called out, one of his hands held out in front him; partially to find something to hold onto, but also to block any incoming blow.
“Funny, Bard, real funny. You just keep running that mouth. Gonna make it real easy to find you,” Stitches chuckled as he attempted to follow the detective’s voice.
“You think so?” Bard’s hand hit a table and he stopped. He took a moment to rub his aching knee. When concentrating, he could hear Stitches’ expensive Italian shoes tapping against the wooden floors.
“Did you know the man you killed?” Bard asked.
The criminal grunted. “What the *&^% are you talking about, Bard?”
“I mean, did you know who Michaelangelo Alfredo was? Before you killed him, did you bother to learn anything about his life, his family, his background?”
Stitches scoffed. “I know what he did, that’s enough.”
Cautiously, as silently as possible, Bard started moving again.
“Let me give you the cliff notes.”
“I don’t give two *&^%s about this guy’s life. Now stand still so I can jab you like I did the Bat.”
Bard did not respond. “Michaelangelo Alfredo grows up in your typical Metropolis American-Italian family. His dad rode a truck for the Teamsters. This guy grows up in the lap of the American La Cosa Nostra. But then Iraq rolls around, the first time, naturally. Alfredo enlists.”
“All this talking is going to do you in, Bard,” Stitches said and he started laughing. He was getting closer. “Especially when you keep standing still.”
The villain continued moving, fighting his way through the smoke, which was finally starting to part. He had his knife at the ready, close now to the voice. Smiling, he stepped forward, eager to set his knife into the investigator’s body.
“What the *&^% is this?” he said as he came to the table.
“Of course, you know this,” Bard’s voice continued on the tape recorder set upon the table. The sound crackled and sputtered before finally giving out as the device was quickly disembowelled by Stitches’ knife. The killer ground his teeth as he turned and then yelled at the top of his voice: “Show yourself, coward.”
“My pleasure,” Bard replied, revealing himself. There was a chair in his hand, which smashed against Stitches’ torso, sending the mobster reeling. And into the hands of another…

 

[Byrd Man]

The killer ground his teeth as he turned and then yelled at the top of his voice: “Show yourself, coward.”

“My pleasure,” Bard replied, revealing himself. There was a chair in his hand, which smashed against Stitches’ torso, sending the mobster reeling. And into the hands of another…

"Hi."

Without another word, I lay into Stitches' chin with my right fist. The powerful uppercut sends through a table and his knife clattering on the floor.

Before Stitches can even pull himself up, I pounce on him and wrap my arms around the mobster's neck.

He struggle and bucks underneath my grip. His fighting slows after thirty seconds, another minute and he's unconscious on the floor.

"He should keep until the police get here. Put the picture together for Del Arrazzio and Bartlett" I tell Bard. The smoke finally dissapates, leaving the unconscious bodies, broken tables and chairs for all the world to see.

Calmly walking towards the door, I turn back and look at Bard.

"I appreciate your help."

 

[Harlekin]

"I appreciate your help."

“Don’t sweat it, Bats. Always a pleasure.” Jason Bard smiled, while Batman simply nodded. “I’ll see you around.”

As the vigilante left, Bard turned to look at what was left of Uncle Charlie’s Super China #1. It wasn’t a lot. Broken bodies and broken furniture. The private investigator gave the unconscious body of Johnny Stitches a poke with his foot. No response. The criminal’s heavies were also ‘sleeping’ quietly.

“I guess that just leaves the authorities,” Bard said to himself as he took out his cell phone. “Jo? You won’t believe this…”

 

[Green Lantern]

Dp.

 

[Green Lantern]

"He WAS a friend. An ally."

Kara could only think of the man she had fought along side during the Dark Alliance attacks and during the Unity invasion.

"Control and power through fear. The champions of fear shall rule the universe!"

​

"Apparently that has changed. Tell me why. I SAID TALK."

Kara's eyes start to go red and the bug can feel the air around his head heat.

"Control and power through fear. The champions of fear shall rule the universe!"

As he says those last words he spits a green muck in Kara's face. It tingles a little, and she can tell if she were not Kryptonian, it would have melted her face.

"That was a mistake. Because I too am a champion bug. I am the champion of Rao. And this planet is under HIS protection."

With that she punched the insect creature in the mandible and watched as it cracked in two. The insect was unconscious as the Titans flew to the ground.

"Kon, I'd love to catch up, but there is someone I need to see. Can you handle this from here? Thanks."

Without waiting for his response, Kara was gone. As she flew over the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies, she experienced the freedom and serenity of flying once more. She hadn't realized how much she had missed it while she was gone. She turned south to follow the Mississippi River run its course down to the twin cities of Keystone and Central. She hovered near Jay's house, apprehensive about what to do. Finally she took a deep breath, and knocked on the second story window that lead to Bart's room.

"Stupid freaking kids. I'm going to throw those goddamn rocks back at them if they keep this up."

Kara's superhearing could pick up Bart's muttering while he walked to the window to yell at those 'kids'. As he opened the curtains to the window he saw himself staring at a familiar sight, a Super shield on a decidedly female frame. He stared slack jawed for a minute.

"Mr. Allen, first I am no 'kid.' Second, my eyes are up here. Third, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to kiss me?"

Kara smiled as Bart closed his mouth, and appeared to try to talk, but no sounds would come out. "But... but... Kara?"

"Just as bright as ever I see."

Rather than wait for him, she hovered down far enough that she could kiss him. The kiss lasted nearly a minute before Bart broke away.

"Kara, inside. Secret identities!"

Cringing at her impulsiveness and stupidity, Kara flew through the open window and plopped herself on Bart's bed.

"Miss me much Allen?"




​

Bart looked at the woman who was his fiancee and couldn't stop the tears from hitting his cheek. He had watched her die. He had seen her get murdered by Deathstroke.

"What, how?"

Kara stood up, and embraced the former speedster. "Shh. It's okay Bart. I'm back, because Rao sent me. I'm here to help, as an avatar of Rao's willpower and love."

The two held their embrace for several minutes, before locking lips in another passionate kiss.

As the night went on, Bart and Kara spent it in each other's arms. Bart told her what had gone on since her death. They talked until the sun rose, before Kara flew off in search of answers to her specific reason to having been called back in to continue her fight in the Neverending Battle.

 

[Watchman]

Ivy Town,

"My communicator is down." The Atom bounced on top of his desk as Brainiac worked away.

"There I got," he backed away from the computer.

"What?"

"I was able to reworked most of the equipment for our needs. It was difficult with such primitive equipment. See for yourself." He pressed a button on his wrist and the room lit up with planets, stars, galaxies.

"Am I looking at what I think I'm looking at?"

"Correct, Dr. Palmer, you're looking at the..."

"...the multiverse. Different earths, worlds, amazing."

"We will be able to monitor the effects of Darkseid on the multiverse. To put in in layman's terms what we experiencing is an attack on time/space. We can consider this Earth as the cornerstone Earth." Brainiac held an holographic Earth in his hand.

"Darkseid's power is anchor to this Earth. Every second he grows more powerful and reality slowly falls apart. We occupy a multiverse and in that multiverse every action creates a reaction, a new timeline is born and splintered off from that action. Anti-life is here to stop that. The equation is proves that all is Darkseid. Our minds can not perceive the true side effects of the introduction of the equation. To align with the equation time, space, worlds, will become one. One thought, one mind, one result, one action. There will be no deviation. Time is being smashed into a singularity."

"God, are you saying that Darkseid is some sort of black hole. Dragging everything down with him?"

"In a way. Our minds see this as an invasion from space gods with enough power to crack the world in half. Avatars of a dark force from beyond. We have to gather our friends, there might be a way to stop it."

*******
Starro pulls itself out of the ocean. Darkseid's servants had freed the beast from its frozen prison. They were plunged into one of the first conflicts of the crisis. Three races attack from Raan, Almerac, and a race of lizard men. Although in the end it was all for not they were now mindless slaves, one with their new master. Starro, for his help was given the ultimate reward: Anti-Life.

Smaller Starroes rained down from the sky, covering the island. Amazons wear the grotesque offspring of Starro on their faces, each one implanting Anti-Life into their minds. They serve new gods now. A group of Amazons dragged their queen through the battle crowd and toss her at Darkseid's feet.

"Queen Hippolyta, I believe that you have something that belongs to me."

"She is not your's Darkseid. I would never tell you. You are destined to fail."

"You will tell, all is lost for you. I ruined your home, your sisters are now my slaves, and I have killed your gods."

"Why not use the star creature? What stops you?"

"I want you broken. To give in. You will reveal the whereabouts of Barda but before you join the equation you will be lost."

"Never!" She raised a blade and leaped at Darkseid. Black constructs pulled her down. Granny cackled and held a Starro over her.

"Very well." The Starro was placed over her face. She had now become one. The Amazons sprung up and raised their weapons. "Ride my Furies, find Barda and bring her to me."

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERBOY

The Titans Tower is eerily empty. Megan and Zach are off at STAR Labs together. Tim, Rose, and Bart are all gone. Cassie is gone. My half-"sister" Kara is back from the dead, but even she hasn't really come home. This place used to mean so much to all of us. Now? It's just a hollow shell of what it once was. As I pace up and down the hallways, feeling restless and anxiously awaiting Megan and Zach's return, I can practically hear the ghosts of all the Titans past.

I can't help but feel like some of this is my fault. If I hadn't gone off the deep end, hadn't been manipulated by the Luthor blood which runs through my veins, maybe I could have kept the team together. I would have never hurt Cassie. I would have never sacrificed my power to restore her. We would have never brought in Powerboy. He wouldn't have been able to tear us apart.

Sometimes, Kal would warn me, it will feel like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders. It is important to remember that you are never alone, he would say. Rememer your friends. But as I look around the Tower, I'm reminded that my friends aren't here. I'm reminded that Cassie isn't here. And Kal isn't even here to give me any more of his patented advice. I've never felt more alien, more alone.

Who knows when Megan and Zach will get back? No sense in sitting around, feeling sorry for myself until they do. Still, I just wish there was someone here to talk to. Maybe there can be...

Pursing my lips, I whistle as loudly as I can. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, it sounds like there's a stampede coming down the hallway. I barely have time to brace myself before the Superdog leaps up and knocks me off my feet.

Laughing, I say, "Hey, Krypto! How are you, buddy?" He licks my face affectionately, still standing on top of me. I feel like Fred Flintstone receiving his trademark greeting from Dino. Scratching behind Krypto's ear, I ask, "You're not going to leave me, are you?" The dog looks at me strangely, clearly unable to understand what I'm saying. "Hey, you hungry, boy?"
​

 

[Saved]

SUPERBOY​

The Titans Tower is eerily empty. Megan and Zach are off at STAR Labs together. Tim, Rose, and Bart are all gone. Cassie is gone. My half-"sister" Kara is back from the dead, but even she hasn't really come home. This place used to mean so much to all of us. Now? It's just a hollow shell of what it once was. As I pace up and down the hallways, feeling restless and anxiously awaiting Megan and Zach's return, I can practically hear the ghosts of all the Titans past.​

I can't help but feel like some of this is my fault. If I hadn't gone off the deep end, hadn't been manipulated by the Luthor blood which runs through my veins, maybe I could have kept the team together. I would have never hurt Cassie. I would have never sacrificed my power to restore her. We would have never brought in Powerboy. He wouldn't have been able to tear us apart.​

Sometimes, Kal would warn me, it will feel like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders. It is important to remember that you are never alone, he would say. Rememer your friends. But as I look around the Tower, I'm reminded that my friends aren't here. I'm reminded that Cassie isn't here. And Kal isn't even here to give me any more of his patented advice. I've never felt more alien, more alone.​

Who knows when Megan and Zach will get back? No sense in sitting around, feeling sorry for myself until they do. Still, I just wish there was someone here to talk to. Maybe there can be...​

Pursing my lips, I whistle as loudly as I can. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, it sounds like there's a stampede coming down the hallway. I barely have time to brace myself before the Superdog leaps up and knocks me off my feet.​

Laughing, I say, "Hey, Krypto! How are you, buddy?" He licks my face affectionately, still standing on top of me. I feel like Fred Flintstone receiving his trademark greeting from Dino. Scratching behind Krypto's ear, I ask, "You're not going to leave me, are you?" The dog looks at me strangely, clearly unable to understand what I'm saying. "Hey, you hungry, boy?"​

"Jeez, Kon, you want to get a room," Zach jests from down the hall. Soon, he and Megan come into view as they walk down the hallway toward their friend.

"The alien attacker is safely detained at the facility, Conner," Megan says in her usual perky voice. "Without that ring, I don't believe he will be very hard to detain."
"That, and the fact that he's missing an arm now," Zach remarks, crossing his hands over his chest as he leans against the wall adjacent to him. "Your sister's got some serious pent up rage, man."

The trio falls quiet for a moment, failing to speak as they pause for a second or two of relief. Suddenly, the Titans realize something strange - the absent voices of bickering from down the hall, the missing sounds of comrades training in the gym below. All the familiar sounds that became so commonplace are now missing - leaving only the sounds of barren vacancy, and the feeling of lonliness.

"Wow, it's really quiet ... " Zach muses, letting out a long sigh.
"I must say, this is one of the few times a peaceful enviroment seems so ... unsettling," Megan says with a slight frown.
"Yeah ... I mean, I'm even starting to miss Rose's constant *****ing."
"Oh, come on, she wasn't that bad."
" ... come on, yes she was," he says with a convincing expression. "But ... still, it was something."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Jeez, Kon, you want to get a room," Zach jests from down the hall. Soon, he and Megan come into view as they walk down the hallway toward their friend.

"The alien attacker is safely detained at the facility, Conner," Megan says in her usual perky voice. "Without that ring, I don't believe he will be very hard to detain."
"That, and the fact that he's missing an arm now," Zach remarks, crossing his hands over his chest as he leans against the wall adjacent to him. "Your sister's got some serious pent up rage, man."

The trio falls quiet for a moment, failing to speak as they pause for a second or two of relief. Suddenly, the Titans realize something strange - the absent voices of bickering from down the hall, the missing sounds of comrades training in the gym below. All the familiar sounds that became so commonplace are now missing - leaving only the sounds of barren vacancy, and the feeling of lonliness.

"Wow, it's really quiet ... " Zach muses, letting out a long sigh.
"I must say, this is one of the few times a peaceful enviroment seems so ... unsettling," Megan says with a slight frown.
"Yeah ... I mean, I'm even starting to miss Rose's constant *****ing."
"Oh, come on, she wasn't that bad."
" ... come on, yes she was," he says with a convincing expression. "But ... still, it was something."

"It's really not the same, huh?" I remark as I stand up straight, petting Krypto's head warmly. "The Titans are a family. Things'll be back to normal eventually. We just have to weather the storm."

I look at my friends. There are only three of us left now. If that attack on Earth is a sign of things to come, it's not going to be enough.

"What about Supergirl?" Zach asks brightly. "I mean, she's back now. Sure wouldn't hurt to have two Kryptonians on the team." With a smirk, he adds, "Well, one and a half."

I shake my head. "No. Kara's got things of her own to take care of," I reply. "If she wants to come back, she will. When the time is right." I then return Zach's smirk with one of my own. "So on the Kryptonian front, you're stuck with me."

"I've made do with worse," Zach shrugs.

"Look, we don't need to worry about recruiting new members right now. That'll take care of itself. For now, if it's just going to be the three of us, then we need to stick together. Now more than ever."
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

Damian pulled on the cold, unfamiliar suit and found the material stiff. Unforgiving. There was probably a metaphor in that. Exiting the room, Damian found his way back to Jason's collection of knives and grabbed a pair of khukri knives. The curved, Nepalese weapons seem to fit with the X motif.

Damian didn't even turn around when he heard Jason's steps behind him. "All right, *******. I'm dressed. Now what?"

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
We hit the streets with no time to waste. I've got things running on timed schedule after all; very well timed.

What I've got planned for the evening is a pretty basic and simple crime to stop. A crime that I organized. One that I paid Killer Moth to apply his services to. He doesn't know who his client is, and I knew he wouldn't care. Killer Moth isn't like your other theatrical villains of Gotham. There is no bizarre and grand scheme or obsession--outside of his God awful design and Moth motif--and he doesn't follow any sort of unnatural code of criminal ethics: he's a hired goon. Just like at times the cops help the good guys out, Moth here does the same for villains; big and small.

In short he's a moronic bum. Takes what scraps are thrown to him while envisioning a greater impression of himself...for his own self-esteem.

He's helping a bunch of amatuers who were tipped off by a supposed reliable source that in one of the safety deposit boxes of Second National Bank of Gotham is store a high value item within the black market; 8 pounds of kryptonite. Now to some, it may not be a lot but to those of us who have an imagination you can do quite a lot with 8 small pounds of good 'ol k-rock.

But of course it is all a rouse. And as much as Killer Moth is my pawn, so are the low-life degenerates I hired and referred to him for assistance. They are going to break into a bank looking for a safety deposit box that doesn't exist because I paid them too. And if they do the job successfully in their mind they are going to become very rich men over night with the cash I promised when they complete the job.

It's going to be a fun night.

"Are we just going to sit here and wait for them to come out of the bank with their loot?"

"Course not, squirt."

"...don't call me squirt."

"Whatever you say, kid."

I dive off of the rooftop of one of the opposing buildings facing the Second National Bank of Gotham as it's finally time to get down into business. If those dimwits are even halfway competent they should be trying to crack the safe by now.

I make a clean landing using the roof of their escape vehicle as a landing spot. Create a nasty dent but who really gives a damn. Not trying to be quiet and sneaky.

Trying to show this kid some fun. My kind of fun.

And there's a lot more to come.

 

[SuperFerret]

I yawn as I wake up, feeling refreshed and content. I lay awake in the bed for a moment, savoring the early morning silence. It’s a good morning, one of the few I’ve had lately. I yawn once more, stretching my muscles as I do. A quick glance around the room tells me that I’m alone in my bed. Curious, but not unexpected.

Sitting up, I shake the remaining sleep from my head and open the drawer in the bedside nightstand. Empty, as it should be. I chuckle lightly as I reach in and pop the false bottom off the drawer, revealing an open box of Chocos. I hear a sound from the kitchen that draws my attention.

Hmm, I think, sounded like something breaking. I pop two cookies in my mouth and replace the box before slowly standing. I approach the bedroom door, my form shifting into the form most recognizable to much of the world. Pressing my palm against the door, I push it open and enter the greater portion of the apartment.

“<Oh, J’onn honey, you’re up.>”* My wife, M'yri'ah says, cleaning up a broken plate and what appears to be bacon and eggs off the floor as K'hym, our daughter, looks on and giggles. M’yri’ah looks at me quizzically, her deep red eyes focusing on my upper chest.“<Are those crumbs? How many times do I have to tell you not to eat cookies in the bed?>”

I smirk sheepishly, brushing the crumbs away. "<Sorry.>" I say, shrugging my shoulders. "I need to head out. Work."

"I can see that." she says, switching to English with me. "Justice League?"

I nod. Thinking back, it feels like it's been a while since I've been among the League. Odd, but I ignore it. That's not important now.

"I'll be in contact." I give her a soft kiss and wave good bye to my daughter. Then I'm gone, invisible, intangible and flying out through the wall.

A telepathic broadcast goes out, ~This is the Martian Manhunter. What's the situation?~


*translated from Martian.

 

[Saved]

"It's really not the same, huh?" I remark as I stand up straight, petting Krypto's head warmly. "The Titans are a family. Things'll be back to normal eventually. We just have to weather the storm."

I look at my friends. There are only three of us left now. If that attack on Earth is a sign of things to come, it's not going to be enough.

"What about Supergirl?" Zach asks brightly. "I mean, she's back now. Sure wouldn't hurt to have two Kryptonians on the team." With a smirk, he adds, "Well, one and a half."

I shake my head. "No. Kara's got things of her own to take care of," I reply. "If she wants to come back, she will. When the time is right." I then return Zach's smirk with one of my own. "So on the Kryptonian front, you're stuck with me."

"I've made do with worse," Zach shrugs.​

"Look, we don't need to worry about
recruiting new members right now. That'll take care of itself. For now, if it's just going to be the three of us, then we need to stick together. Now more than ever."​

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Zach agrees reluctantly. "Besides, we're all pretty close now. It's good to know your allies as well as you know yourself."

"Good point," Megan says with a smile. "It also helps to build our trust, making us more efficient as heroes and friends."

"Cause we're the three best friends that anybody can have, cause we're the-" Megan shoots Zach a sharp stare, her smile changing to a stern expression. "What? I love that movie."

 

[Bounce]

"Whatever you say, kid."

I dive off of the rooftop of one of the opposing buildings facing the Second National Bank of Gotham as it's finally time to get down into business. If those dimwits are even halfway competent they should be trying to crack the safe by now.

I make a clean landing using the roof of their escape vehicle as a landing spot. Create a nasty dent but who really gives a damn. Not trying to be quiet and sneaky.

Trying to show this kid some fun. My kind of fun.

And there's a lot more to come.

If there is one thing about his fa--, that is, the Batman's approach that Damian could appreciate, it was the subtlety that he employed. All the smoke and mirrors can be highly effective in neutralizing targets with their own fear and misconceptions about the threat against them. Or lull them into a false sense of security by believing that no threat exists. In contrast, his former ward and pupil seems to abandon the theatrics for a more bold entrance. It flies in the face of what Damian knows from the League of Assassins.

Then again, so did the concept of 'not killing'.

To be quick, to be silent, and - above all - to be deadly was the code. Targets left breathing behind you would only stab you in the back later.

Jason's leap draws the attention of a look-out, a man whom Damian could have easily killed without any effort even from this distance. For a moment, just a half second, the son of the Bat hesitated. For a ninja it was an eternity of a pause, one that delayed a decision which could in battle mark the difference between living and dying. Part of him was curious what Jason would do next, how he would deal with the lookout.

A shuriken cut through the air, embedding itself squarely in the center of the masked goon's head. A hair down in either direction and the edged throwing knife would have buried itself into an eye. Without a sound, the man fell over backward as the gray and black suited figure landed softly. The shuriken would have cracked the man's skull, but the point would have blunted itself on bone. The man is unconscious, and will be for awhile, but he's not dead.

If Jason had taken him out, he probably would be.

So why, then?

A moment of reflection provides the boy with no answers. Did he act to save the man's life? He was just a worthless low life. Did he do it to make his father proud then? Damian had no father.

The boy says nothing. Waiting to see what Jason will do next.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Oracle, this is Flash. I need you to send a message to the JSA, the Titans; any available hero with an open line and tell them all to come down to Coast City as soon as they can... We've got a major crisis on our hands."

:"Say no more, Wally. I'm on it.":

"Thanks, Oracle. Flash out..." I ended, lifting my finger off my earpiece. Something tells me we're gonna need more than the Justice League for this one... I have a feeling this is gonna be bigger than anything any of us have ever faced before... Even bigger than the Dark Alliance.

I hope to God I'm wrong...

"Good job, now all we have to do is..."

A telepathic broadcast goes out, ~This is the Martian Manhunter. What's the situation?~

J'onn? I know you might find this hard to believe, but this is Barry. J'onn, I was pulled out of the speed force for some reason. Wally and I are in Central City right now and I think I know the reason why I came back to life. Darkseid is attempting to take over our world. We need to gather the Justice League, Titans, JSA, all of them and get to Coast City ASAP. Wally talked to someone called Oracle and they're sending out a message, but nothing works like your telepathic bulletins. Can you send word and meet us here as soon as you can?"

 

[SuperFerret]

J'onn? I know you might find this hard to believe, but this is Barry. J'onn, I was pulled out of the speed force for some reason. Wally and I are in Central City right now and I think I know the reason why I came back to life. Darkseid is attempting to take over our world. We need to gather the Justice League, Titans, JSA, all of them and get to Coast City ASAP. Wally talked to someone called Oracle and they're sending out a message, but nothing works like your telepathic bulletins. Can you send word and meet us here as soon as you can?"

I silently smile as I detect Barry's thoughts, not responding, but following his request and sending out another broadcast as I make my way to Coast City.

~Martian Manhunter to all available. The Flash is coordinating efforts at Coast City. Meet there ASAP.~


******

I land softly next to Barry and Wally when I arrive at Coast City, giving Barry a smile and a nod as I greet him.

"Welcome back."

 

[Byrd Man]

After leaving Bard, I watch the scene from afar to make sure Stitches' arrest goes down without incident. The sun is hovering just below the horizon by the time the batmobile comes to a stop inside the cave. The door slides open and I step out, pulling the cowl from my head and letting it hang behind my neck.

"Master Bruce," Alfred calls from the entrance at the top of the stairs. "You have a visitor."

I look up suddenly, my eyes narrowing. Batman has come back, but everyone still believes Bruce Wayne is among the dead.

"Who is it?"

"A Mister Sage," Alfred says with a slight smile twitching at the edge of his lips.

"Tell him I'll be up in a few minutes. Offer him a drink if he wants one."

Quickly changing out of my gear and into civilian clothes, I climb up the stairs and into the mansion. Walking through the rooms, I open the door to the massive study and look at the man sitting in the high-back chair.

"Of all the people I expected to see, you're not one of them. What can I help you with, Sage?"
​

 

[Byrd Man]

I land softly next to Barry and Wally when I arrive at Coast City, giving Barry a smile and a nod as I greet him.

"Welcome back."

"It's good to be back," I say. "Although I literally hit the ground running. I haven't had time to slow down since I came back. Things seemed to have changed so much," I say as I point a finger towards Wally. He was a boy when I died, but he's become a man in his own right. "But it's good to see the Martian Manhunter is the same."

 

[SuperFerret]

"It's good to be back," I say. "Although I literally hit the ground running. I haven't had time to slow down since I came back. Things seemed to have changed so much," I say as I point a finger towards Wally. He was a boy when I died, but he's become a man in his own right. "But it's good to see the Martian Manhunter is the same."

"When you live as long as I do, change is slow coming."

 

[Green Lantern]

I silently smile as I detect Barry's thoughts, not responding, but following his request and sending out another broadcast as I make my way to Coast City.

~Martian Manhunter to all available. The Flash is coordinating efforts at Coast City. Meet there ASAP.~


******

I land softly next to Barry and Wally when I arrive at Coast City, giving Barry a smile and a nod as I greet him.

"Welcome back."

Kara hears the psychic call to arms, and looks to Bart. "Kara? What's wrong?"

"You didn't hear that Bart?"

"Uh, some of us don't have superhearing, remember?"

"It wasn't hearing."

"You just said it was."

"It was J'onn. Something's going on in Coast City."

"Oh."

Bart's face visibly sinks at this news.

"Apparently I'm not on the call list anymore."

"You will be again, and if not, less of you for the public and more of you for me, I like the idea of not having to share you, Mr. Allen."

"Just be sure to come home, huh? It was tough losing you the once, I don't want to go through that ever again."

"I promise Bart, I have no intention of leaving again."

She kisses him goodbye and takes off out his window, heading west at the speed of sound.

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...

Mercy Reef, Atlantis
In a cove several miles away

"So you're finally awake. Wanna tell me why you brought me here?"

The mysterious figure turns to see my in the short distance. It's not exactly that I don't trust him that I keep my distance, but one cannot be too careful. He not only used a locator spell to track me but he even teleported me while I was in the Oblivion Bar of all places; that takes skill.

"It is you, the one the Fates have shown me in my visions. It is you who will aid me in finding the Once and Future King."

"Once and...what?"

He grabs for his staff, but by this time I've dismissed him as a threat. What he said intrigues me too much and I think...I think he knows where Orin is. Or how to find him. I swim up to him, eager asking him more about what he knows.

"What else did your visions show you? Did...you see Orin in them?"

This...strange dweller acts almost oblivious at first. As though he did not even recall what he had just said about a King of Atlantis. Short term memory loss? Don't know. But that's--

"Orin...the name sounds so famili--oh yes. Yes yes. Orin. He is the one I seek. The name of the Once and Future King. I am the Dweller of the Depths. I...apologize for my grogginess. The spell I had to cast to bring you here was much more than I could handle apparently."

"Well it did the trick. By the way my name's Garth. And uh...speaking of here...where are we?"

"Mercy's Reef. It is a place of great importance. I feel a sort of...mystical presence here. It's what drew me out here. I have stayed here ever since I felt this uncanny aura hoping to understand it more. Do you feel it?"

I nod my head. I haven't a clue what he is talking about. And to be honest...aside from the grogginess he claims is due to fatigue from channeling that spell he seems off to me in general. And it's not his squid-like tentacle face; I got past that a while ago.

Something's not right about this. But I cannot describe it. My gut has mixed feelings about this Dweller of the Depths though.

"We must be quick. You must aid me on my journey in finding this Orin. The future of Atlantis depends on it."

"Well yea, I was aware of that because if he doesn't come back--"

"The world will end."

I...wasn't going to say that.

​

"All that is left of life will only come to know of loneliness, alienation, fear, despair, self-worth, mockery, condemnation, misunderstanding, guilt, shame, failure, and judgement. There will be no hope for it will become folly and love in all its forms will become nothing but a lie. Life will be no different than death when he has accomplished his goals. All will die for the one who calls himself a god among men."

Aw crap. I know who he is talking about. Here I thought my mission was a bit simpler. Not now though.

"The 'one who calls himself a god among men' has a name...and I know it. Darkseid."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Leave that to me." I said as I put my finger to my earpiece.

"Booster, this is... Flash..." I started, a little confused as to whether or not I should be addressing myself as Flash now that Uncle Barry's back.

:"I hear ya, Wally. What's up?":

"Contact all our teammates in the Justice League and tell them I need back-up in Coast City, ASAP."

:"You got it.":

"Booster, I need one more thing while your at it..."

:"What's that?":

"I need you to patch me through to the Oracle."

:"Right-o, Flash.":

A few seconds later, I'm through to Babs.

:"This is Oracle...":

"Oracle, this is Flash. I need you to send a message to the JSA, the Titans; any available hero with an open line and tell them all to come down to Coast City as soon as they can... We've got a major crisis on our hands."

:"Say no more, Wally. I'm on it.":

"Thanks, Oracle. Flash out..." I ended, lifting my finger off my earpiece. Something tells me we're gonna need more than the Justice League for this one... I have a feeling this is gonna be bigger than anything any of us have ever faced before... Even bigger than the Dark Alliance.

I hope to God I'm wrong...

"It's that bad of a situation?"

"I don't think Flash would have contacted me otherwise. We tend to travel in different circles, after all."

"No doubt. I'll get the team right on. Terrific out." Micheal starts tapping in commands into the computer as Power Girl steps up behind him.

"What's the word?"

"Something big is going down, according to the Flash."

"Jay's in trouble?"

"No, not Jay. Wally."

"Ah. What's up?"

"Not sure. I get the gist there wasn't time to explain. He's calling for all the backup he can get to meet up with him in Coast City. I'm getting hold of Jay now."

"I'll get the team moving. Never a moment's rest, is there."

"We slept last week," Terrific jokes.
"Right. That was a good Wednesday." Power Girl heads back into the Brownstone to call the team together. Terrific makes the comm connection.

***

"Jay, come in."

"I'm here, Micheal. What's up?"

"I just heard from Wally through Oracle."

"...That's strange. What'd she have to say?"

"Wally didn't tell her much. But something big is happening in Coast City. He'll put out a call to everyone, League and Society, for help."

"Must be serious then."

"I've got the rest of team in route."

"Good. I'll beat them there. Jay ou- *squawk* + despair + *squawk*!" I grab my ears in pain at the sudden jump in volume. "Terrific?! What the heck was that?"

"No idea, Jay. Something keeps breaking in on our frequencies, forcing me to switch over. But every time I try and track the source down, it threatens to overload the system."

"Ok. Well...keep at it. I'm off to meet up with the rest." I run off to the west, unaware of the slowly marching throng of people that turn the corner onto the street I left behind...