The "World's Finest" DC RPG

[BnKRPG]

Theirs is a world of heroes. An era of champions. They work all over the globe, from the Man of Steel in Metropolis to the Chinese guardians the Great Ten. Their reach extends even into the deep reaches of space, where the emerald warriors of the Green Lantern Corps. fight. But the heroes are not only ones to call this era home. Forces of evil conspire to tear this world's uneasy peace asunder. Peace, like most things worth fighting for, will not come easy.


Will the champions of Earth and beyond win the day, or will the agents of chaos make it all come crashing down?

The choice is yours to decide. Hero or villain? It's up to you. The fate of the this world rest in your hands. A new era has dawned, and it's future is yours to decide. Right here, right now in the World's Finest DC RPG!


This RPG is based off of the DC new 52 relaunch.​

If you want to take part in this, just fill in the application at the bottom of this post and we'll put your name and character on the first post here. First come, first serve. Two characters are allowed.​

GAMEMASTERS

• Byrd Man - Gamemaster
• trustyside-kick - Assistant Gamemaster
• wiegeabo - Assistant Gamemaster

RULES

• You can choose to be any superhero or supervillain in the DC Universe, as long as they:

Are to be established on Earth, as in, if Lobo is to be involved, he has to reside in a DCU Earth city...

Are NOT deities, gods, or people such as Shazam the Wizard. People like Superman are okay, but keep in mind that they..

Are true to the personality and abilities of the character, such as NO Pre-Crisis Superman, no moving planets, sneezing away the Milky Way, no amnesia kiss... EVERYTHING is set POST-Flashpoint, in the current continuity of the character you are/wish to play/playing.

• Don't do anything RANDOM like chopping off board user's heads or what not, unless your a villain chopping off inanimate victims heads, then whatever, go with it, as long as it's not technically RANDOM.
  Don't kill people without reason.
  Don't randomly kill NPC's.

• You know your weaknesses and strengths, what you can do or can't. Black Canary will lose against Superman one on one, but may be able to use her allies to help her out or she can run away.

• Don’t kill a PC unless you have a plan to bring them back.
  Don’t kill your character when you quit the RPG, this robs a person from playing that character.

• If there is a problem between you and another player,
  or if you have question's please talk to one of the Gamemasters The list of Game masters is at the top of this post.

• There should be MINIMAL cussing and swearing in posts.
  There will be NO By-passing the censors. This is a Hype rule, and NO exceptions will be made for the RPG.

• No obscene topics!

What to do in the RPG-

• Act like your character; ASSUME their traits and personality...

• You can form super villain gang’s superhero teams, alliances, the works.

• There can be a number of stories (or arcs) going on at once, using different people.

• There are endless places to go and endless things to do: ENDLESS possibilities so get creative...

People who disobey these rules, some more major than the others, will get BOOTED by the GM. If need be a Moderator will be called in.




For more of the ‘rules’ see- RPG Etiquette

ROSTER
Please check the Out of Character (OOC) thread for an updated roster.​

For those who are new to Role-Playing...
For all your RPG needs!

 

[BnKRPG]

San Diego, California


It was just another day in San Diego. Sunny, cloudless, and the perfect temperature outdoors. Greg Simmons was on mail route on the outskirts of the city, walking door to door and delivering his usual collection of letters, bills, magazines, and packages.

The next house on his route was the Miller home. Simmons reached into his pack as he walked across the street. He was so engrossed in searching for the mail, he didn't hear the car roaring down the street.

KRUNCH!

An SUV struck Simmons at fifty miles an hour. The middle aged postal worker stayed right in place as the car crumpled around his frame and came to a shuddering stop in front of him. The sudden stop had caused the SUV's driver be launched from the driver seat. The woman crashed through the windshield and flew through the air over Simmons.

But she didn't fall.

She floated ten feet in the air, dazed and confused by the blow to her head. The stunned and unharmed Simmons gaped at the floating woman, in shock and unsure why he had just survived a head on collision with a car.

He looked around and noticed unusual feats all around him. A dog halfway down the block hiccuped and belched fire. There were six bodies floating above the houses. A man rushed down the street, running at speeds close to a hundred miles an hour.

All around San Diego, ordinary people were suddenly becoming extraordinary. Those that were mundane were now incredible.

For some reason, the people of San Diego were now metahumans.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Crime Alley is where it happens. Here, this is the place. Now is the time.

Chill watches silently, not even letting out a breath. The heartbeat battering against his chest sounds deafening to him, a telltale traitor ready to give him away. He’d forgotten it, the thrill of it. He sees them walking together, fresh out of the theatre. A father, a mother and a child. Happy family. They’re laughing about something, none aware that destiny is waiting just down the street to meet them with a gun in his hand.

He stares intently at the father. They make fleeting eye contact, and daddy tenses slightly. Chill’s walking towards them now, eyes focused. The mother’s noticed now too. They’re trying to keep on walking ahead, not acknowledging him. It’s just a nice night out in Park Row, nothing to fear. But this isn’t Park Row, not really. It’s Crime Alley. And something momentous happens here.

He stands in front of them now, raises his gun. Two terrified parents, and their innocent child. Innocent for three more seconds. Chill looks down at the boy, sees in his mind’s eye the life that would have unfolded for him if their paths had never crossed. Now, now is the time. He pulls the trigger. A thunderclap breaks through the murk of the Gotham night, and the man falls to the ground. Another gunshot and the woman follows. Both dead. That’s what had to happen. There’s no pearl necklace. Is the pearl necklace important?

All that remains is the empty void where a child used to be. Chill points the gun at him, speaking gently.

“What’s your name, little boy?”

Now. It is happening now. This is where it begins.

“Michael,” the boy whispers, as if in a trance, “My name is Michael.”

...

Tonight, like every other night, I have failed.

In the three hours since I began my patrol tonight, I’ve busted up a drug deal in the city’s south-side, I stopped Scarecrow from gassing the crowd at a college basketball match, I interrupted two muggings, and I rescued two families from a burning tenement block: it was arson, the individuals responsible are already in GCPD custody. I’m trying. I do what little good I can, picking away at the massive blackness eating away at this city. But when the sun rises over Gotham City the next morning, the rot’s still there. When night falls once more, there is a whole new wave of crime and corruption waiting to be fought. And try as I might, I’m only human. I can’t be everywhere at once. And every night, there are people who needed Batman that I couldn’t help.

Crime Alley. Where it all began. On this very street all those years ago, Joe Chill killed my parents right in front of me. On that night, Batman was born. As a boy, frightened, bereaved and clutching at something to live for, I vowed that no other child would be made to suffer like I did. As the years went by, I got older, and my goals got more sophisticated. But at the core of it all was that primal desire, that no more Joe Chills would create any more broken little Bruce Waynes.

But here I am, standing silently in the shadows, looking at a young boy sat on the ground, his mother and father lying on either side of him, dead. He looks about the same age I was, maybe a little younger. He isn’t crying. I didn’t cry either, that came later, once my shellshocked mind could fully comprehend what had happened. Looking at the boy’s eyes, I remember as my own the thoughts that must be going through his head: the crushing enormity of realising Everything Is Different Now, that feeling of being utterly lost. I remember how alone I felt...

I step out of the shadows, approaching the boy. When he sees me, his eyes widen in horror. Even now, he instinctively huddles closer to his father, as if expecting him to protect him. But when the visceral reaction of fear passes, the boy’s eyes glimmer with recognition. It’s Batman, he thinks, he’s the one who makes things right. How can I make this right? Some things can’t be fixed by punching people in the face.

“My mom, my dad...”

Saying it makes it real. The tears start brimming in the boy’s eyes, and he looks up at me, silently, pleadingly. I crouch down next to him, and take him in my arms. He breaks down, sobbing into my shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I tell him, “I’ve got you. No one is going to hurt you.”

I’ve dedicated my whole life to a never-ending war against crime. I’ve spent years prowling through Gotham’s underworld as Batman. Countless mobsters and psychopaths have been taken off the streets thanks to me. I’ve devoted my life to Gotham City.

But it’s not enough. It’s never enough. It never will be enough.

 

[Carnage27]

Solid ground meets my feet and I stumble to my knees, vomiting on the grass while Maxine's voice echoes like it's miles away in my head, "Daddy! Daddy! It's okay! We got out."

Yea, we got out. We got out by the skin of our teeth. I don't even remember how it happened. I was fighting two of those things...those...hunters inside The Red, the place that gives me my powers. One of them bit me on the neck and I felt it's poison start flowing through me. And then I heard a roar, and Maxine fought them off with power that I've never seen before.

But then, I was never the one that was supposed to be that powerful. I was just the protector. Every moment of my life was centered around Maxine. Every thing I did as a hero, as a husband, as a father. The Kyle Reese to her John Connor. I was only meant to protect Maxine until she was ready to become the true Avatar of The Red. And apparently that time is now.

I look at my daughter with teary, bloodshot eyes from my regurgitation. She's so little. So young. I can't fathom how she could possibly be a great warrior in the supposed war the totems said was coming. And they also mentioned something about some "Other" and "The Green". Our trip into The Red has created more questions than answers, but we do know some of our enemies.

Concentrating, I alter my physiology to get the poison out of my system, and pick up my daughter, heading for the car, "Come on, Maxine. We need to get back to your mother and Cliff."

But as I start the car, the radio springs to life in a urgent news report, "-gain we are coming to you from San Diego where the city's population has suddenly become endowed with super-human abilities. The scene has turned chaotic as people who can now do anything are running a muck in the city."

I sigh, "Looks like we're making a pit stop first."

I put the car into gear and speed off towards San Diego.
​

 

[Supergirl]

Five years ago, I first put this costume on. True, it wasn't this one, it was a shoddy homemade Halloween costume. The annual policeman's ball, Dad was making me go. I didn't really want to go, I'd have rather been at home chatting on my computer. Dad was catching flack all over the place due to working with Batman. I decided to play a prank on him and be 'Batgirl' to his little ball. Things happened, Daddy's little girl stopped a crime, caught the eye of the big bad Bat, and from there, well the rest is history.

But nothing ever goes as planned. I answered the door one night. I caught a bullet meant for dad. I was tortured and beaten by a madman. It's been three years since that night. Three hard years. It's taken me this long to walk again. The Doctors all said I never would. That the damage to my spine was irreparable. But I'm stubborn. To a fault, some would say. I wouldn't give up. Years of physical therapy. Years of emotional agony, I watched people live the life I should be living. Dick Grayson, my first love, grew up as I watched from the sidelines. He became Nightwing, then replaced Bruce for a year. I ran communications and intel for them. As instrumental as they'll say I was as Oracle, it never felt like I was doing enough.

Well tonight, that feeling is officially over. That first costume was just spandex. This version, designed by Bruce is similar to his own. A kevlar nomex weave. Though mine's not as heavy as his, as I need to be more mobile than him. I can't rely on raw physical strength like him, so I use my own athletic advantages. I'm quick. I'm agile. Most of all, I'm smart. This sad sap on the other hand, not so much. Not the first time I've come against him, calls himself Crazy Quilt. Used to be a painter, until an accident left him blind, an experimental helmet helps him to see again, but it's made him a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Once again, he's trying to rob the Bill Finger Institute of Art.

"Well... if it isn't my old buddy Crazy Quilt! Long time no see, oops, sorry, too soon?"

Before he can retort, I drop from my perch above him. I make sure to drop behind him, so I don't get hit with the lights in his helmet. My legs are still a bit weak, haven't been used much the past few years. Instead I drive my elbow into the small of his back. The helmet goes off, and showers the room in a rainbow of light.

"No.... you got the wrong member of the Bat-Family. Nightwing is the one with the predilection to disco."

Another quick elbow to the back of his head and he's down for the count. It's then when I see what his target was.

"...A Liefeld? Really? I knew you were blind, I thought you at least had taste."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Excuse me, Councilman," I call out to Councilman Walker as he's walking out of City Hall.

"Oh, God," he says with the roll of his eyes. "Not you again!"

"Yes, me again." I pull out my digital recorder, hitting the record button and holding it between Walker and I. "I told you last week, and the week before, that 'no comment' is not going to work. I want to know why you're sponsoring a bill to shut down half of Metropolis' homeless shelters I'll be out here everyday after you're done in your office, and I'll keep calling. You'll find that I'm a very patient man."

"What about your boss?"

"Mr. White is also patient and we want-"

"Sorry, I mean your boss's boss. Mr. Edge. I wonder what he'll say?"

I crinkle my nose. It's not that I don't trust Morgan Edge...okay, it is that I don't trust Morgan Edge. Lois and I investigated him more than a few times for links to organized crime. There was some flimsy stuff between him and a few companies we thought were fronts, but nothing concrete. Then he buys out the Daily Planet and all that gets thrown out the window. He went from "shady businessman" to "the spiritual architect of the New Daily Planet" so fast it would make Flash's head spin.

"So, I take it that you have no comment on the homeless shelter initiative?"

"What do you think," Walker hisses. "Believe me, Mr. Edge will hear about this."

Walker storms off and I shake my head, placing my notebook and pen back into my back pocket. The phone in my front pocket vibrates and I pull it out.

"Clark!"

"Jim, what is it?"

"How soon can you get to the Planet's offices? Something big is going down."

"What?"

"There's something happening in San Diego. People are flying!"

"Get off the phone, Jimmy, we're going live in five minutes!"

"Gotta go, now get down here now!"

The line cuts off and I stuff my phone back into my pocket and jog down the sidewalk for half a block before ducking into a side alley. I reach down and pull up my baggy t-shirt, revealing the blue armor underneath.
​

******

"Look!"

"Up in the sky!"

A few pedestrians looked up in awe as the Man of Steel flew above them The rest gave a casual look upwards before going about their business. To most of them, he had become a common sight over the past five years. They were used to seeing him zipping over the streets, going to take care of some new catastrophe.

But in fact, he was headed elsewhere. He had seen the horrible footage of the chaos breaking out in San Diego on the giant plasma screen on Weisinger Square. He was picking up speed, climbing higher into the sky as he left Metropolis behind. He was headed west to California and San Diego.
​

 

[SenseiofCheese]

NIGHTWING

Willie Brew was a crook. Now, that's not to say he was an evil, or even particularly bad, person. He never intentionally hurt a person, and the only form of stealing he could be accused of was overcharging the customers of his autoshop.

A lifetime ago, back before I even clasped that yellow cape to my back, Willie Brew had been the getaway driver for a small-scale bank robbery on behalf of the Falcone family. When the cops tracked him down, he kept his mouth shut and did his time. This meant two things; One, he had connections. Two, he did not want to go back to prison.

Of course, this meant that, over time, he had become quite valuable to Bruce and myself.

Which is why I found myself in Willie's shop last night, reminding him that my associate was well aware of Brew's illegal card games and what a shame it would be were Gordon to find out.

"You goddamn capes." Willie muttered, as he had countless times before. "When are you and the Bat gonna leave me alone, huh?"

"Tell you what, Brew. We'll stop coming over the minute you stop being such an unbridled joy to be around."

I kept a close eye on him as his fist clenched around the wrench he had been carrying. He gnashed his teeth, and he almost looked as if he was going to strike. But then he remembered: Prison was no place for an old man. He sighed, and started talking.

A few nights ago Bruce had snatched up a couple of low-life thugs trying to steal a car. Bruce was just going to knock them out and leave them for the GCPD, but theatrics is a funny thing. By the time Batman had one of them hanging upside down from a lamppost, the second couldn't help but spill the beans.

A big drug shipment coming in to Gotham from Santa Prisca. So we had the 'what', and our good friend Willie Brew would supply us with the 'where' and 'when.

"You know I'm dead, anyone finds out I'm talking to you?" Willie sighed, doing the same dance as countless times before.

"My heart bleeds for you. Time and place."

"You've got the Bats' warm personality. Jesus." he rubbed his grease-stained hand across his forehead. "Docks, tomorrow night, midnight."

"I don't have to tell you what happens if you're lying to me, Willie."

"Someday soon I won't have to worry about you Bat-freaks or the Family gettin' me. Someday soon, probably with the Bat right in front of me, my heart will give out. And what a glorious day it'll be." Willie shook his head, already turning to resume working on the car behind him.

"Be seeing you, Willie." I called out, but by the time Willie Brew turned I was already gone.

​

 

[Harlekin]

“Is that supposed to be funny?”

It was seven days ago. Chief Man-of-Bats was standing in front of a fenced off construction site. A large billboard promised a new casino, to be called ‘The Iceberg’. His son, Red Raven, shrugged. Through a few holes in the wooden fence, the two heroes could see the men working. They were mostly big and white. They looked Eastern-European. There were a few locals among them, whom occasionally greeted the Chief and his son as they started work.

“Hey, Bill!”
“How’s it going, Chief?”

For his part, the Chief was just standing there, with his arms crossed in front of him. There wasn’t much he could do – he wasn’t even sure he needed to do anything. But things didn’t feel right and either way, the last thing the reservation needed was another casino. He was already thinking of who he could call to organise a protest. See if he couldn’t file a motion with the tribal office, to reconsider the permits.

He didn’t expect much from either option, but he’d try anyway.

Chief Man-of-Bats checked his watch. “My shift at the hospital stars in an hour, we should go. Why don’t you try and find out what’s happening here?”
Red Raven shrugged again.
In turn, the Chief shook his head and they walked to the Batsmobile. The elder hero took his place behind the wheel. While he attempted to start the car – and failing three times – his son looked out the window absent-mindedly.

“Something the matter, Little Raven?” the Chief finally asked after a few minutes of silent driving.
“Dad…”
“Sorry. Charlie.”
Red Raven kept looking out of the window.
“Charlie?”
“They’ll lose their jobs,” Red Raven finally replied, looking to his father. “If you can get them to stop construction, they lose their jobs.”
Man-of-Bats sighed. “Casino’s are a poison to our community, son. We don’t need them.”
“We don’t?” Red Raven asked, sharply. “They need the work.”
“They’ll just spend their salary at the tables.”
Red Raven wanted to reply, but he knew it was a lost cause. He turned to staring out of the window again until they arrived back home. It was a small wooden house, with a place for horses and a garage with a bat in a yellow oval painted on it. There was a sign next to it, promising incredible sights inside ‘the Bat’s cave’: entrance fee $15, all profits go to Red Cloud Indian School. The Chief parked the car in front of the garage/museum.

Man-of-Bats walked up to the house, while Red Raven tended to one of the horses. The father stopped with his hand on the front door knob, turning back to his son. He had already taken of his helmet, adorned with ceremonial feathers.
“You’ll look into this?” he asked his son.
Red Raven nodded and then returned his attention to the horse. Chief Man-of-Bats walked into the house.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The Joker's 4 henchmen sit around a table in a condemned building playing cards as The Joker browses through the Gotham Globe.

Death, suffering, corruption, and riots in the streets. In most cases I would be laughing with delight, but I'm not the cause of any of it. Kinda sad when you get down to it. I haven't done a thing since I broke out of Arkham about 2 weeks ago. Not even a smattering of a threat from old Batsy or his brats. This laying low stuff really does bite the big ol' whoopee cushion. I...


Just then he sees something in the paper that catches his attention.

Say this has possibility!

He springs up from his chair and says, "By Jove! I got an idea! I'm going to give the people what they want!"

His men look over at him but they are careful not to say anything for fear of offending The Joker and once you offend him there is no second chance to make up for it or a chance for continued breathing on your part.

One of the men says very timidly, "Ummm what's up Joker?"

The Joker springs over and says, "What's Up you say? An idea my good Robert! An idea! One of the best ones I've had in a while!!"

He throws the paper in the middle of the table to advertisement for the Black Dogs, a Led Zeppelin cover band, appearing tonight at 9pm at A-J's Lounge!

The Joker says, "Gentlemen we are going to give the people at that concert tonight what they want! And if you're really good Uncle Joker might even let you all divide up the Box-Office Receipts and rifle through people's pockets once we give them what they want!"

His men look at one another for a moment and The Joker barks out, "LOAD UP THE VAN! 2 canisters of Venom should do the trick! MOVE IT! THE SHOW STARTS IN AN HOUR!!!! MOVE IT!"

The Joker takes a look in the mirror at himself and straightens up his suit as his men load up the van and start it up.

Once he is done he says, "Ahh dressed to kill! In so many ways" He lets out a laugh as his men look at one another rather timidly.

The Joker hops in the van and says, "No time to waste let's go! But be careful we wouldn't want to cause any accidents. Well not yet anyway maybe later."

He laughs again as the van drives away.

 

[sumowrestler]

San Diego, California

Stewart was flying back towards Earth still thinking about all the recent events that has happen to the Corps. Jordan being kicked out, the betrayer Sinestro being admitted back in, Krona hopefully being killed once for all, and his own actions in the Civil War of the Lanterns. It still sickens him that he had to put down Mogo but it was better then having thousands of rogue Lanterns not caring about rule of law. There were already enough of them and all wearing a yellow ring and uniform. As John approached Earth, he noticed a meteor heading towards it. He throws a green net around it and it breaks easily threw as if it wasn't even there. This surprises and more importantly irritates John.

"Ring, project the trajectory of that meteor."

Destination is the city of San Diego, California, United States population..

"Ah crap, I don't want to know the population because it will still make a mess of things no matter who is awake at this time."

He then thinks of the only other Lantern who might be close enough to help out in San Diego and might actually be in town enjoying a baseball game. If he is, it will piss him off even more. He then contacts his fellow Earth Lantern.

"Gardner, this is Stewart. I'm chasing down what looks like a meteor heading towards San Diego. It went straight through a net and didn't bother to slow down. I'm definitely going to need back up especially if this hits hard which by the looks of it the meteor is going to make a huge dent the size of one of your favorite ball parks. There is no way I can beat it down there but will try to contain whatever aftermath happens."

By the time Stewart arrives in San Diego, he is surprised that the city is still in one shape but notices a lot of craziness happening as what seems to be an outbreak of metahumans that weren't there or known.

"Ring, what is going on?"

Question isn't understood, please specify parameters.

"Blast it ring, why do I suddenly see all sorts of abnormal things happening and a woman simply floating above a car? Is this some sort of invasion?"

Unable to confirm. Reason for current circumstances unknown.

"For being the most advanced weapon in the universe and one of the best I.A.s, you are almost useless at times."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Dear Diary,

The past year and a half sucked. Just when it looked like things were

"Ugh...No."

Lying on her bedroom floor, Lori crosses out what she started to write in her diary and rethinks what she wants to say. Rolling onto her backside, she starts to look up at the ceiling and the longer she thinks about what to write, the more she begins to space out. Wanting to get this down before she all together forgets it, she rolls back over and picks up her pen once again.

Dear Diary,

Another day, another anti-depressant drug and I'm

"Damnit!"

Throwing her pen at the opposing wall, she starts to grow even more agitated as the plastic casing shatters and she grunts as she sits up. She takes a deep breath, focuses for a brief moment, and taps into the magical field. Smirking as she both finds a magic user to borrow from and finally knows what she wants to write, she activates her powers and takes the form of Zatanna and her gifts; along with a twist to the wardrobe.

"riaper ym nep!"

Continuing to use Zatanna's gifts, she decides a better way to do her new entry into her diary.

"etirw nowd ym sthgouht!"

Things looked like they were going to finally go the way I needed them to be when my mother was brought back, but when she became nothing but a shell of her former self...things just got even more depressing than when she was dead. There was a moment where dad was becoming an alcoholic--again--because of how horrifying it was to see her that way every day, and eventually got sick. I...tried to help him.

His sickness, I mean...and by not understanding the powers that I borrowed from Raven, I thought that I was the one who made him get worse. He soon developed cancer. Feeling desperate and needing some cash, I decided to roll with some pretty cool yet also pretty villainous people in order to earn some cash real fast. It was pretty awesome though I admit, and the guy with the scars was all kinds of cute...plus in the end it really paid off and not even because the money. After a scary little adventure in Skartaris--I wasn't able to use my abilities in that realm so I was scared stiff--I brought back a Shaman to heal my dad. Oh, yea, and more importantly before that little trip I was told by his doctor that I wasn't in fact the source of his cancer so that was pretty damn cool.

And my father's turned to alcohol...again. Just after the shaman cured him of all his ailments. Third time's the charm, right? I would just go and try to cast a spell on him...right now even...but I've learned my lesson in trying to 'fix' someone with powers I don't understand. And the shaman that healed my father couldn't do a thing about my mother with his gifts as she has no soul. So his powers has it limits.

I almost 'fixed' them for good, though. Yup. Once. And it wasn't even by my own use of my powers technically but it wasn't made to last. I was granted my heart's desires through an artifact that I didn't even realize a demon left for me and the world was perfect again and my parents were both alive and in full health. It was like it was before...in the old days...before my mother overdosed and drowned herself in our pool. Before Felix Faust and The Society tried to persuade me to join them by bringing my mother 'back to life'.

We ate breakfast together.

My God.

All we did was eat breakfast together--before Zachary and Traci13 eventually forced me to help stop those same demons that gave me that moment--and...and it was like for that moment I was in eternal bliss. I was surrounded by people who loved me again...who cared.

I wasn't alone.

Then again, I've nearly turned away every possible person who has tried to help me in the past and could possibly help me now. I don't know what to do or who to turn to.

And now that I think about it...I should probably give Zatanna her powers back. Who knows, I might've stolen them just when she was about to help the Justice League or someone stop some huge threat.

Lori activates her powers once again, releasing the magical energies back to its owner, and catches the pen and diary before they both fall to the ground. She sighs for a moment, and lays back down on her stomach, thinking of how to finish her entry.

She can't think of a thing. Popping another anti-depressant, hoping this time it will do its job, Lori Zechlin--the most dangerous now 17 and a half year old teenager in the world when she dons her powers as Black Alice--simply curls into a ball on the floor, and tries to rest her eyes.

Tomorrow will be a new day, and the thought of coming downstairs for her 'mother' to serve her breakfast again, brings her to tears.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

NIGHTWING

"I'm at the docks." I speak into the communicator in the wrist of my glove, perched high above the waterfront. Using the zoom-function in the lenses of my mask, I quickly scan the area below. "No sign of movement."

"There is the possibility that Mr. Brew lied to you, Master Richard." Alfred's pessimism is so clear it's like he's standing right next to me.

"Willie Brew may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's not stupid enough to lie to me." I assure Alfred. "I'm headed in for a closer look."

"Best of luck, sir. And do be careful."

I kick off and sail through the air. Like always, I savor that split second of flight before gravity takes hold: the streets of Gotham pulling you down into their cold embrace.

Instinctively my arm reaches out and the grappling gun fires. The line from which my life has hung countless times sails through the air as I continue my free-fall towards the asphalt. Finally the hook finds purchase, the rope tenses, and I swing over the labyrinth of containers below, dipping low before the arc of my swing takes me back up. Finally I come to a stop, perched on the edge of a large crane overlooking the entire docks.

I had planned on using it as a vantage point: to study my targets. How many of them were there, how heavily armed, and formulate a plan of attack. But all of that goes right out the window the second I look out across the waterfront, my eyes immediately drawn to a single, unarmed man lying face down on the ground below. Within seconds, I'm down among the containers, making my way toward the man.

It isn't until I'm kneeling beside the man that I notice the blood pooling under his head. Taking hold of his shoulder, I flip him into his back. I'm greeted by the sight of a deep, seeping gash across his throat. Crimson waves cascade out of his neck, his eyes frozen in unspeakable fear. My body tenses.

It could be a trap. But if it was, they could have riddled me with holes by now. It's at this moment I notice the palpable silence around me.

Judging by the dirt and tears on his jeans, the man tried to escape. He must have fallen, and his attacker wasted no time. His throat was slit but...examining the wound up close, it almost looks as if someone tore his throat open with bare hands.

clang

My head snaps in the direction of the sound, my muscles already prepared for evasive maneuvers. But nothing comes at me. No glint of a razor dancing between the fingers of a white-skinned, grinning maniac. No drop in temperature as a freeze-gun is fired. Nothing.

I get up and inch closer in the direction of the sound, silence once again enveloping me. I go over countless different scenarios in my head, but nothing could have prepared me for what I see when I turn the corner.

The place is littered with corpses. Some of them strung upside down from lampposts, blood from their savaged torsos cascading down and pooling beneath their heads. Others are spread out on the ground, some literally torn apart, their weapons just out of reach. All of them have the same expression, their last moments in this life forever imprinted on their faces. Eyes wide open, mouths agape, a silent scream that never got past their lips. The stench of blood hits me like a ton of bricks, and for a moment I stagger.

Shaking my head, I pull myself together. "Alf...Alfred. I'm uploading some photos to the computer. Have them ready for me when I get back to the Cave."

"Yes, Master Ri...." Alfred pauses as the first of the photos I've taken of the scene reach the computer. "..my God."

"Just...just have them ready for analysis when I get back. Let Bruce know."

"Of course." Alfred says, this time having regained his composure. "Might I suggest you hurry. The GCPD have been alerted and are on their way now."

"Thanks for the heads up."

I go over the crime scene once again, photographing every last detail. Ideally, I would have all night to analyze the scene, but with the boys in blue on their way I'll have to make due with the photos.

"L...Ll....Llll...."

The faintest hint of a voice comes from somewhere in the black shadows. Slipping one of my escrime sticks into my hand, I make my way to one of the containers, its door open by just an inch. Preparing myself, I finally wrench the door open.

"Ll-NO DON'T, NO, OH GOD, NO DON'T KILL ME OH GOD PLEASE-"

Moonlight invades every corner of the empty container, bathing a single, huddled mass in an eerie glow. The man frantically pushes himself further into the filthy corner, as if by doing so he could somehow disappear. I put my escrima stick back in its holster and approach him like one approaches a frightened animal. "Listen...Listen to me, I'm not going to hurt you."

With one hand I reach out, pulling it back just in time to avoid the blade he had hidden in his sleeve. "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" he cries out, tears rolling down his face and mixing with the blood staining his entire body.

"Okay, okay, relax. Just relax. No one is going to hurt you."

I stand perfectly still and, ever so slightly, he lowers the knife. "What happened h-"

"GCPD, FREEZE!"

Damn it.

A small compartment, no more than an inch across, opens in the wrist of my suit. The smoke pellet rolls down into my palm and, in one swift motion, I spin around and hurl it to the ground. An explosion of smoke blinds the police officers, and in a storm of shouts and curses, I disappear.

​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The van pulls up to the back the lounge and the Joker looks around.

He says, "It's quiet maybe too quiet."

The Henchmen look at the Joker and The Joker says looking rather intense, "I've always wanted to say that one!"

The Henchmen laugh rather tenetively and The Joker says, "Zip it! Don't wanna tip our hand to certain pointed ear vigilantes."

They began watching the people mill around the lounge. One of the Henchman says, "I see lots of socialites and record execs. Going through their stuff is gonna be a huge payday!"

Another says, "I see a packed club with lots of paying customers. Gonna be sweet!"

The Joker asks, "You know what I see?"

They all look at him and he says, "I see dead people."

The Joker lets out an evil smile and says, "The reason we are here is simple. To grant these people their wish. They want their Stairway to Heaven and so we're gonna send them on their way."

The Joker nods and says "Time to send them on their way with a smile."

He looks at two of them and says, "Go bolt the doors." The two Henchmen leave to carry out their assignments.

He looks at the other two and says, "Hook up the canisters when they get back open them up full blast. 15 minutes from now go ahead and pick and choose. I'll be in about 20 minutes to go over the highlights."

The other two leave and The Joker sits back and smiles.

If nothing else they'll do a good job of possibly flushing out the Bat-Freaks.

 

[Shlee]

'God, Lola, do I ever love you,' I think to myself as I chuck a lumpy rucksack haphazardly on the coffee table in my little living room, my babies scattering this way and that as it hurls toward them.

Tiredly, I peel gloves from my hands and the mask from my face as I walk further into my apartment, folding them beneath one armpit as I unzip the front of my catsuit. Passing the threshold of my room, I bend to remove both boots, curling and uncurling my toes as they are freed from their leather confinement. A tawny beauty rubs itself against my ankles, weaving in and out of my feet as I move.

'Wonder if the Bats does this when he gets home. In fact, I'd like to think he does exactly what I do,' I smirk, finally escaping the entirety of my catsuit. I hang it neatly, letting my fingers linger down the arm before turning. Rummaging through a nearby pile, I pull a pair of mostly clean terry shorts from it, slipping them up over my legs to rest loosely on my hips, and toss a rumpled tank top on before heading back out to the kitchen.

POP! "Ahhhhhh," I practically moan as I breathe in the scent of red wine, pouring it into a large wine glass. I rummage in the fridge for anything edible, emerging with a couple Chinese take out boxes. Loud meows create a chorus until I open a few cans of cat food, scooping them out into bowls, calling "Here babies, come to mama. Eat your dinner."

Finally, I flop down on the couch with my food and wine, placing the bottle on the table. Between long pulls of wine and mouth fulls of leftover Chinese, I manage to flip on the TV to the local news channel, catching the last fragmented laughs of some unfunny sitcom they're playing. I tune it out, leaving the now-empty take out containers on the coffee table, my attention turning toward the plain rucksack tossed there. My little children sniff inquisitively but I brush them off easily and they find places to laze about.

Opening the sack, I grin again at myself, jade eyes dancing with delight. "God, Lola, do I ever love you!" I exclaim, beginning to pull wads of bills from the bag. This will pay for the rent for at least the next few months, and I think the soup kitchen down the street could do with some good meat too. I knew the Japanese were good for SOMETHING.

As I begin counting out the bills, an announcement on the TV breaks through my concentration and I whip my head up to stare at the woman reporting live from San Diego, California.

"-nette Billings reporting live in San Diego for ABC News Gotham, where a strange phenomena is unfolding right before our eyes. As you can see behind me, the city is in utter chaos as it appears ordinary people are being given super-human powers merely at random-"

I stop listening to what she has to say as she keeps rambling on and on about the situation in San Diego. Curling my legs up underneath me and craddling my wine glass in my hand, I take small sips as I stare off into space.

'Well... Cross San Diego off the list of places to vacation as soon as possible' I think, idly reaching out to scratch the nearest cat between the ears.

 

[Supergirl]

Moments after I took down Quilt-boy, I hear the sirens. Time to make myself scarce. I shoot a line back into the rafters as I hear a car door slam. As I flip out the skylight I came in, (hopefully covered in their insurance, whoops), I can see the SWAT team blow open the doors. "Looks like one of da bats beat us hear, Commish." Dad came to a museum burglary? I quickly launch another line at a gargoyle perched on a nearby church. Don't want to risk dad seeing me. He's too good a detective.

As I swing off into the city, my phone vibrates in my utility belt. Not a good time phone. Hard to check you when I'm swinging 300 feet above the street. I land on the roof of a chemical factory and pull it out of it's pouch. A text alert from dispatch. So nice that I convinced Dad to take the department tech. [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]**HOSTAGE SITUATION – WATERFRONT DISTRICT – MILLER PACKING PLANT—FOUR CIVILIANS – SUSPECTED UNSUB IS ZSASZ – ALL UNITS ADVISED SUB ARMED & EXTREMELY DANGEROUS**[/FONT]

I plug Miller Packing into my phone, and the location pops back at me. About thirty blocks away. Thank god for Gotham's ugly ass, gargoyle ridden skyline. I can probably get there before most cops in their cars. Our city might not be as brightly lit as the Big Apricot, but that doesn't mean our streets aren't as clogged at all times of the day like theirs. My line shoots out again as I begin to move towards the Bay and the umpteenth abandoned commercial building that just always seem to find their way into the hands of criminals. Damned recession. Four minutes later and I'm flipping myself onto the rooftop of the packing plant. Two squad cars are outside already, but obviously waiting for negotiator and SWAT backup. But if it truly is Zsasz, well there's no time to wait. The man is a flat nutcase, and there is no way a negotiator will work. He came around after the Joker shot me, but hearing the news reports and Bruce's own stories have scared me witless at times. This man gives a whole new definition to the word creepy. In those three years, his kill count is ridiculously large. If the tally marks tell the truth, and there is nothing to say they don't, Zsasz has killed 114 people. Unlike most serial killers, he has no discernible pattern. He kills just to kill, he doesn't care who. More sirens coming, from just about every direction. One of them is probably dad, his coming to the Quilt scene was a surprise, coming to Zsasz not so much. One nice thing about Gotham buildings in addition to the gargoyles, is that so many of them have skylights. I look down through one, and it's a great vantage point. The room is dimly lit, one old bulb swinging above the killer and his potential victims. I look at the situation, crap, I only see three women. Maybe the text was wrong. Hopefully the text was wrong. I finally see Zsasz. Good god. That is one long frakking knife. Oh god. It's dripping. It seems like slow motion as a drop of blood falls from the blade to the ground below. My eyes move up and down Zsasz and the crimson jumps out, a newly added diagonal on his left arm.

"Goddamnit."

The hushed profanity escapes my lips. I was too late. One of the hostages is dead, because I couldn't get here in time. I don't have any more time to waste. I watch as Zsasz grabs the next bound and gagged woman, and drags her to her feet. She's struggling, but not trying too hard, he must have drugged them. The sirens are getting louder, and as I glance over I can see one of them is the SWAT van. If they storm in he'll kill this girl too. I can't allow that. I look at the skylight at my feet. Can't crash through or he'll panic and she'll die. Oh good, it's not locked. I slide it open, as quietly as I can. Even so, the old building betrays me, it creaks as the pane slides. I quickly duck back from the window, and through it I can hear the muffled screams of his victims and vaguely hear him cuss. Please don't be looking up, please. I hear him again and this time can make out what he says.

"Stupid ****ing birds."

Thank the heavens. I crawl back to the skylight as I hear a familiar voice below me in the midst of the police chatter. It's dad.

"What's the situation in there, Jennings?"

"Not good sir, he won't answer the phone."

"Of course he won't. Negotiation isn't in his repertoire. How close is SWAT?"

"Need a couple more minutes, but then they're good to go sir."

Couple minutes. Can't let them beat me to him, or the woman he's holding joins the one he murdered. I scan the room quickly, looking for somewhere to mount my assault. A stack of crates. I can easily glide to it from here, hopefully silently. I spread my cape and jump aiming for those crates. The three years out of action almost made me forget how good gliding through the air feels. Almost. But I still dreamed of it nightly. At least the nights where I wasn't dreaming of a ghoulish white face with a creepy red smile that never went away. The gliding dreams were the ones I didn't wake from in a cold sweat. As I hit the crates, my body betrays me, my legs feel like dead weight, I'm still not used to moving them again. Rather than a silent landing, I tumble into a noisy roll.

"FRAK."

I curse, silently as the crates topple beneath me.

"Who's there? I'll kill her I swear! In fact? Why just promise?"

From under the fallen crates I can see him perfectly. Again time seems to slow down as his long knife crosses the neck of the blonde woman. As the blade flashes it leaves a trail of crimson. He drops the woman. Her body slumps lifelessly to the ground at his feet.

"No."

I crawl out from under the crates and remove a batarang from my belt. As Zsasz is running to the other two hostages, I let it fly from my hand. The projectile soars towards the psychopath, but again my time off hurts me. Rather than his head like I had aimed, the batarang strikes him in the calf.

"Gorrammit."

He cusses but keeps running. I see the terrified looks on the faces of the two remaining hostages. I can't let them die too. I break into a sprint, my weight feeling weird on the balls of my feet. He gets closer to the two and I'm not moving fast enough. I'm not going to get there in time. NO. I can't let this happen. I launch myself into a dive, but again I miss my mark. I slide along the warehouse floor and Zsasz's laughter digs deep.

"A girl? Hahahahaha The Bat has a girl working for him now? Don't worry sweetie, I have a spot here just for you."

He points at the rare patch of bare skin on his arm as he grabs the next victim. NO. I can't let another girl die here. I pull my line launcher from my belt, and pull the trigger. The claw finds purchase on his ankle. Thankfully, while I was in the chair my legs may have atrophied, but my arms didn't. I made sure of that. I pull the cord as hard as I can. Zsasz yells in pain as his knees and then his head hit the concrete floor and his knife skitters away from him. I can see the relief in the eyes of the two survivors as this happens. Zsasz starts to struggle to his feet, the crash not quite knocking him unconscious. I get to mine as well and pull another batarang from my belt. As he rushes to his knife, I throw it. This time the aim is true and the metal collides with his head. The combination of head blows works and this time he collapses, likely with a concussion to boot. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. It's just then that I hear the battering ram at the door. Well a vigilante can't always stay for thanks. Especially when her dad is just outside the door. I grapple back up to the skylight just the door caves.

"Is that?"

"It's Batgirl! The original one I think!"

Crap in a hat. Well, that was a grand night. If it taught me anything it's that I should have practiced before jumping right back into the chaos. But two lives were saved, and that may not have happened if I hadn't been there, so I'll take small victories. But still, two women died because I was rusty. That's not a good thing.

Seems like forever before I'm back at the house I share. At least I'm not coming home terribly worse for the wear tonight. I can open the door on my own this time around. No need to wake Alysia. I have the presence of mind to change and hide my costume before I drop into my bed. Sweet sweet slumber. Just as the sun starts to rise, I drift into sleep.

 

[Keyser Soze]

It was a sunny afternoon in San Diego, the sun hanging low and bright over the downtown area. It is a modern, spacious city hub, with brick and stone often giving way to glass, and despite the presence of some tall buildings, this was not a home to dizzying skyscrapers on par with Metropolis or New York City. As a city, San Diego has long felt bright, warm and open.

Not the ideal environment, then, for Batman.

He was not fond of being out during daylight, and not just because that was typically when he caught a few hours sleep. To the world, Batman was a creature of the night, someone criminals feared could be lurking in any shadow. Gotham was the ideal environment for him: all narrow, twisting back alleys and crumbling Gothic architecture, it was already a place of nightmares. There were no gargoyles to crouch behind in San Diego.

Batman liked to be a pair of glowing white eyes in the darkness, appearing out of nowhere, and even then only when he wanted to be seen or heard. In a situation like that, he felt in control. Here, kneeling on the roof of a downtown hotel overlooking San Diego's Convention Centre, not a shadow in sight, he felt open, exposed, vulnerable. Under the harsh daylight, he was just a man in a bat costume.

This feeling was all the more relevant now. Because, from this vantage point, Batman could get a good look at the city below. Cars were levitating. People were flying and punching through walls. The waters behind the convention centre were filled with people with gills swimming like fish. Overnight, San Diego had become a city of superhumans. And he was just a man in a bat costume.

In Gotham he was feared, he was a big fish. But today, in San Diego? Batman was the 90 pound weakling in a heavyweight fight, hopelessly outmatched against any potential threat.

"Time to get to work."

 

[Byrd Man]

San Diego, CA


A man in a rumple business suit was leaping high into the air in downtown, landing on the pavement and breaking the ground with each impact. Each leap was higher than the last. He leaped again, this time jumping above San Diego's tallest building. He was roaring back down to the ground when a blue blur swopped in and nabbed him.

"What's going on here?" Superman asked the man in his arms.

"I don't know!" The man sat out feebly. "I was on my way to work. I jumped off the sidewalk...and I started jumping! I couldn't stop!"

Superman flew through the buildings of downtown with the man still in his arms.

"Show me where you live..."

He flew through the city and to the outskirts, landing on a lawn in the San Diego suburbs and gently placing the man on the ground.

"Be sure to walk slowly into your hose. No sudden movements."

Just then, a young boy raced down the street at over a hundred miles an hour.

"Excuse me."

With that, he took off down the street and caught up with the boy, grabbing him by the collar. Although the boy was still in the air, his legs continued to move at blurring speeds.

"Hey, let me down!"

"As soon as you hit the brakes."

The boy stopped spinning his legs and the Man of Steel let him down on the street.

"Now tell me what's going on. How did everyone start getting powers?"

"Your guess is as good as mine I was walking home from school when I just started...moving fast. It just...wasn't there...then it was. Can't explain it no better."

"Alright. Head home...make sure you walk."

With that Superman took to the skies again. He was headed into the city when he caught a familiar site on a nearby rooftop.

"Didn't think your jet was that fast," he said as he landed beside Batman.
​

 

[Keyser Soze]

San Diego, CA

With that Superman took to the skies again. He was headed into the city when he caught a familiar site on a nearby rooftop.

"Didn't think your jet was that fast," he said as he landed beside Batman.
​

"It isn't. But the Batwing is."

Batman was used to be being the one that did the sneaking up on people. He turned round to face Superman, his Justice League teammate. They were allies now, but his first encounter with Superman five years ago had been an early reminder that there were some things even a lifetime of training couldn't prepare you for.

"News feeds indicate that the whole of San Diego has been affected, but there are no reports of similar occurences in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Mexico. That suggests this outbreak has been determined by city limits rather than a blast radius, ruling out any kind of bomb or electromagnetic pulse, except for perhaps a highly refined one. My first guess would be something in the water supply, but that would have resulted in these metahuman traits manifesting themselves in a staggered fashion over a period of hours, perhaps days, and all reports indicate this was instantaneous, like someone flicking a switch."

 

[Byrd Man]

"News feeds indicate that the whole of San Diego has been affected, but there are no reports of similar occurences in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Mexico. That suggests this outbreak has been determined by city limits rather than a blast radius, ruling out any kind of bomb or electromagnetic pulse, except for perhaps a highly refined one. My first guess would be something in the water supply, but that would have resulted in these metahuman traits manifesting themselves in a staggered fashion over a period of hours, perhaps days, and all reports indicate this was instantaneous, like someone flicking a switch."

He couldn't help but let a small smile escape. Batman had probably been on the ground in San Diego for all of five minutes, yet he was a dozen steps ahead.

"I'm also noticing radio waves in the air. Not the usual communication waves of radio, cellphones, and internet...but something different. I can't exactly pinpoint its origin, but it's carrying some kind of sound or data I can't decipher."

 

[Franklin Richards]

The Troposphere

Two minutes and I'm there.

"Attention 2814.2. Massive metahuman activity detected on the western coast of North America. Coordinates 284 by 1360."

"Massive? What the Hell does that mean?"

"Population explosion. Spontaneous generation. No further data."

Crap. Dexx-Starr is still running loose.


"Looks like Brooklyn will have to wait."

Guy flies in a loop and starts flying towards California.

 

[Keyser Soze]

He couldn't help but let a small smile escape. Batman had probably been on the ground in San Diego for all of five minutes, yet he was a dozen steps ahead.

"I'm also noticing radio waves in the air. Not the usual communication waves of radio, cellphones, and internet...but something different. I can't exactly pinpoint its origin, but it's carrying some kind of sound or data I can't decipher."

"Highly advanced technology. The kind of people with the wealth and resources to achieve something on this scale is limited. And we can limit that list further by figuring out who would benefit from a whole city becoming superhuman. There's no obvious benefit for such a wide cross-section of strangers all gaining power, so my initial impression would be that this is either some kind of scientific experiment or it's a distraction for something else."

It's all business. About measuring up the evidence, using our combined skills and talents, and finding an answer to this mystery. But I can't resist putting the task aside in front of us momentarily to sate my curiosity.

"Not so long ago, you were the first man known to the world that was... more than human. You were hated, feared, branded as an outcast and a monster, probably by some of the people in this very city. How does it feel, after standing alone, to all of a sudden have so much company?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Not so long ago, you were the first man known to the world that was... more than human. You were hated, feared, branded as an outcast and a monster, probably by some of the people in this very city. How does it feel, after standing alone, to all of a sudden have so much company?"

Before Superman can speak, a fireball zips by his head, thrown by a man down on the street.

"Right now it feels pretty annoying."

He slightly parts his lips and exhales. Within seconds, the man wielding fireballs is stuck in place, his feet frozen to the ground.

"We can break down the whos and whats and whys later. For now, our top priority should be damage control. If we split up, we can limit the damage."

Floating up into the air, Superman turned back to look at Batman.

"Lot of metahumans out there. I assume you'll be alright."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Before Superman can speak, a fireball zips by his head, thrown by a man down on the street.

"Right now it feels pretty annoying."

He slightly parts his lips and exhales. Within seconds, the man wielding fireballs is stuck in place, his feet frozen to the ground.

"We can break down the whos and whats and whys later. For now, our top priority should be damage control. If we split up, we can limit the damage."

Floating up into the air, Superman turned back to look at Batman.

"Lot of metahumans out there. I assume you'll be alright."

"I'll be fine. But I think you're better equipped to play catch-up with these people than I am. I'm going to follow up on my water supply theory and head to El Capitan reservoir to get some samples. If things quieten down, you might want to see if you can detect a source for that radio signal you're picking up on."

With a nod up at Superman, Batman turned and prepared to leap off the rooftop, ready to swing and glide his way northeast towards the reservoir.

 

[Franklin Richards]

San Diego


"Kryptonian DNA detected."

"God, I hope that's Supergirl. Ok ring. Take me there."

Guy shoots across the skyline as windows shake and rattle in the buildings. An emerald display materializes in front of Guy's face. A green blip points him in the direction of one specific building. A burst of flame flares and dies as he sees a red cape and a black cape in the distance.



Oh snap! That grim sunnuva ***** is here too. Wonder if he's scared any children today.

A jade stop-sign appears before the Dark Knight.

"Hey Batty! You scare any children today?"

 

[Byrd Man]

Oh snap! That grim sunnuva ***** is here too. Wonder if he's scared any children today.

A jade stop-sign appears before the Dark Knight.

"Hey Batty! You scare any children today?"

Superman sighed inward when he saw the red-haired Green Lantern.

7200 Green Lanterns in the galaxy, and it's him that shows up.

"Not now, Gardner. Come with me, we're needed elsewhere."