All characters and situations belong to DC Comics. The Story is mine. Copyright such as it is 30th September 1998
THE CRUSADERS
- CHAPTER ONE - REUNION
Get used to it Gardner, this is the first of many.
Sure, its gonna twist your guts, make you so angry you could scream but it ain't gonna change anything. She is still out of your reach. Perhaps, she always was.
Guy Gardner shook that thought from his mind and poured himself another drink. When the stunted shot glass was filled to the brim, he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was one minute after the last time he looked. Where were they? He thought to himself as he brought the glass to his lips and downed its contents with one toss of his head. Although his Vuldarian biochemistry made him practically invulnerable, alcohol could still make him drunk and give him a hangover like anyone else. Better take it easy, he warned himself. Still, it was hard to maintain his usual bravado when he remembered what date it was.
One year ago today, Tora died.
It was one year since she had sacrificed herself to save the world from a ruthless alien conqueror. Her death had turn the tide of the battle for the Justice League incarnation of the time. She saved them all. Now it seemed only he and a select few still remembered that. Guy did not want to be bitter. After a life time battling rage and trying to control his need for revenge for the unfortunate turns of his life, he knew there was no point to any of it.
All he wanted was an acknowledgment by the world that she had died a hero.
As he looked up on the television screen flickering with life on the other side of the bar, Guy found himself frowning. Another current affairs show was covering a story on the latest incarnation of the Justice League of America. Justice League of America. It sounded like a relic from the Cold War era. There was a time when Guy was almost fanatical in his patriotism for the good ol' US of A. However, his perspective had changed since he learnt he was actually an alien from a dead race called the Vuldarians. While he still loved his country, he had begun to appreciate what Maxwell Lord had attempted to do when he established Justice League International. The world was too small to be defined by national boundaries and it felt as if the new League had taken a step back by adding the word 'America' to its title.
The sound on the television was turned down but Guy could predict what was being said even without hearing it. As the faces of the new members appeared on the screen, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Jonn Jonzz, Guy found himself turning away from it. The greatest super team of all time, he snorted derisively and didn't they act the part? He had been turned for membership when he applied and yet somehow Plastic Man had made the team. Plastic Man? The absurdity of it was beyond belief.
His bar, Warriors, was closed today. Verona and the rest of his usual companions had gone with Buck Wargo to the Andes for some rare artefact that Wargo claimed he had a lead on. It was just as well. As much as they were apart of his life now, he did not want to share today with them. They simply did not understand that it was not just the loss of one woman for him but Tora's absence from his life had changed all his hopes for the future. Sure it was corny, but he had always planned to spend forever with her. Ever since her death, he could not seem to get that same direction back again.
"Do you always drink alone and watch TV with no sound?" A new voice interrupted his thoughts. Actually, it was not a new voice. He just had not heard it in a long time. Guy turned to the doorway and saw a woman in her early thirties impeccably dressed in Chanel and wearing an expression on her attractive features that always reminded Guy of den mother looking after a troop of insane Boy Scouts.
"I don't remember inviting you Catherine." Guy retorted but could not deny it was good to see the United Nations delegate and one time Administrative Head of the Justice League. If truth be known, he had send the request down the grapevine and it was anyone's guess who would show up for this little get together.
"Very droll." Catherine grinned and joined him at the table. "Its been a long time, Guy."
"More than a year." Guy remarked. "How you been doing?"
"Exceptionally well as always, if not a little better." She replied silkily. Catherine surveyed the bar and took in its decor before returning her gaze to Guy again. "You don't seem to be doing badly yourself." She remarked indicating the bar. "I hear this place for super hero hangouts."
Guy could not help being a little proud of Warriors. When Wargo had bought him the place initially, Guy had been sceptical about his ability to run it. With all the periodic fights he had with super villain types, the bar had more remodelling costs than the Vatican. However, in between those remodelling intervals, the bar did well. He had tourists coming in here all the time wanting to get a look at the last place two meta-human types took to beating the crap out of each other.
"It does okay." Guy replied. "Thanks for coming." He added after a moment. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"She was my friend too." Catherine said quietly. During its time the League had been one series of headaches after another but she came to secretly adore each and everyone of this characters. Maxwell Lord's idea for a global league had been an idealistic crusade Catherine was happy to follow. It was more than just about super heroes defending the world. It was about uniting the races of a planet under one banner for the common good. Even now, knowing that she had apart of the bureaucracy who brought that dream to an end, stung. Especially with the media touting the newest League as the best thing since Christ walked the earth.
This was not the time to go over old territory, Catherine told herself and decided to change the subject. "So where is everyone else?"
"Right here." Ted Kord a.k.a Blue Beetle announced his presence. With him, was Beatriz de Costa and Booster Gold. Ted was out of uniform and looked like any ordinary person of the street. Guy had kept in contact with Ted after he left the League and considering their relationship then, it was surprising that they had managed to become friends. When Guy had lost Sinestro's ring, Ted had fashioned him an exo-skeleton that had temporarily allowed him to remain in the super hero game prior to the discovery of his Vuldarian heritage.
"Took you long enough Beetle." Guy retorted before turning to Beatriz. "Hi babe."
The tall, Brazilian woman offered him an alluring smile before she slid into the booth next to him. "Sorry I'm late," she apologised. "My fashion shoot ran over."
Since the dispersal of the Wonder Woman's Justice League, Beatriz had decided to concentrate on her modelling career for a while. Tora's death had hit her particularly hard because Tora was more than just the other half of the Fire and Ice team but she was also Beatriz's best friend. Since their meeting, they had spent lives together. It was Beatriz who persuaded Tora to join the League after the dispersal of the Global Guardians. They had moved to New York and took advantage of their celebrity status to embark on a modelling career. When Beatriz had lost Tora, it was like losing part of herself.
Perhaps that is what drew her to Guy now. After Tora's death, Guy seemed to be the only one who had trouble moving on without her and it was a sentiment Beatriz could appreciate. In sharing their mutual loss over a dear friend and lover, Guy and Beatriz had slipped into a comfortable intimate relationship. She still had trouble believing that she could ever care about Guy Gardner after all, she remembered calling him a pig once. Still, he had changed a great deal since those days and Beatriz could understand what Tora loved so much about him.
"Well most of the gang's here." Guy commented as Beetle and Catherine exchanged pleasantries. "How ya doing Gold?"
Booster Gold had been quiet for most of the greetings. Despite the fact he had recovered from his injuries and looked the same as he always did, the scars left behind were deep. It was hard fitting in when he was unable to forget that almost a year ago, his life depended on a battle suit created by Ted. During the same battle with the Overmaster where Tora died, Booster had been seriously injured. The suit had been as much a burden as it had been a life line. Even now, months after an ill wised alliance with the villain Monarch had restored him to perfect health, Booster still felt odd.
"I'm okay Gardner." Booster replied, taking a seat at the booth. "Its good to see all of you." He found himself admitting. "I don't think we've been together since the..." the words died in his throat and he wished he had thought before he spoke.
"Its okay Gold," Guy reassured him. "You can say it. Tora's funeral." He did not add how he had been absent because no one had told him. However, Guy had overcome that particular hurt a long time ago. Now it was just good to see his friends again.
"Sorry," Booster said embarrassed. "It is good to see you guys anyway." He continued. "Kind of reminds me of the old days."
"It sure does." Beatriz sighed. The days in the League had been the best in her life. Half the time, it was like a crazy frat party with jokes being played on each other and endless arguments over nonsensical things. Until now, Beatriz had no idea how much she missed it and the people shared those times with her.
"What can I get you to drink?" Guy asked rising from his seat.
"Scotch and water for me." Catherine sang out.
"Brewski for me." Ted called out as well.
"Me too." Booster added.
"You know what I drink." Beatriz replied with a wink.
While Guy went off to prepare the drinks, Catherine turned to Beatriz. "This place agrees with him. He is quite tolerable now." Catherine recalled the headaches that Guy used to cause the League when he had been so unstable he was often labelled psychotic by his team mates. Maxwell Lord been tempted to boot him out of the League on several occasions but a Green Lantern in ranks of the Justice League was nothing to laugh at. Fortunately, it appeared that his behaviour during those years had been a symptom of his illness because Guy seemed to have his head together now.
"I think it has to do with the whole Vuldarian thing." Beatriz commented. "I guess knowing he's an alien knocked some sense into him."
"Something had to." Ted retorted.
"I have three words for you." Catherine said in Guy's defence.
"Don't say it!" Ted groaned knowing full well to what she was alluding to. "Don't say it!"
"Kooey Kooey Kooey."
"Too late." Beatriz laughed. "You're never going to live that down you know."
"Crap," Booster added. "He's done far more embarrassing things to live down than that."
"Oh really?" Ted gave him a look. "At least I did not throw up in JL shuttle."
"Hey, it was a queasy ride!" Booster protested in his defence.
"BWAHA HA HA HA!"
The former Leaguers stopped talking and looked at Catherine.
Catherine Colbert was laughing. She laughed so hard and long that all the others stopped talking and were looking at him with puzzlement. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she giggled loudly and showed no signs of abating. Reaching into her purse, he slipped out a handkerchief and dried the tears from her eyes. After a minute, she regained her composure, although she was still feeling a little giddy in the head following the outburst.
The others were still staring at her in silence. Even Guy who had returned, was standing at the table with a similar expression while carrying their drinks.
"I'm sorry." Catherine replied, trying to suppress a giggle that could well carry her into a fresh bout of laughter. "Its been a while since I've been witness to you people's insane bantering. The only thing missing is Ice telling Guy to behave and Jonn completely losing it. It would be complete if some of Justice League Europe had made it here."
"I know," Beatriz agreed. "I'd like to see how Ralph and Sue are doing. I think Kara's with a new team thought."
"Yeah," Ted chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. "By the way, where is the Oreo eater anyway?"
"With the new Justice League." Guy retorted, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"You mean the Justice League of America." Catherine added with the same venom.
"I tried to contact him at the Watchtower but I haven't got an answer back yet." Guy did not expect the Martian Manhunter to attend anyway. "He's on the A-list now anyway."
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Mentioning the new Justice League had cast a pall over their previous warm atmosphere. Finally it was Catherine who spoke in the Martian's defence. "Jonn's never really cared about that sort thing. If he isn't here, its for a good reason."
"Well at least one of us made it to the new League." Beatriz offered.
"It makes me sick you know." Booster gushed. "I mean look at us!" He rose to his feet and started pacing the floor in front of their table. "I can't live without this damn suit. You Ted, almost died when we ran into Doomsday. We lost Tora, not to mention Rex and the Silver Sorceress and yet we're still considered the B-grade version of the League! Its not fair. Did they fight Despero? Did they stop the Gray Man or the Extremists? No, we did! We've put in as much sweat and blood in the League as Superman and the rest of them have. I'm tired of being put in second place just because they're the darlings of the media."
"Calm down Booster," Ted interjected. He understood Booster's anger and to some extent, he felt the same rage, but what was to be done about it now? "Look we all know what you're talking about."
"Do you really?" Booster snapped. This was the first time he had a chance to express these feelings and he did not intend to stop. "Think about everything we stood for. We didn't just stand for America, we stood for the world! Where were all of them when Tora and I were being torn to pieces? Where were they when Parallax killed Kilowog? If they're so damned powerful why couldn't they stop Jordan?"
"Booster you're right." Catherine broke into the conversation. She had not been here an hour and she was already playing den mother again. "All of you stood for something great once and you still do. Just because you're not a Leaguer does not change that."
"It just makes me mad that's all." Booster sat down.
"Here put this down your throat." Guy slid a mug of beer in his direction. "Take some edge of that hot head of yours."
"You ought to talk." Booster smiled wryly and raised the glass to his lips. "Your temper tantrums were legendary. You were going to bite my nose off once."
"I can still do it." Guy retorted, staring at him through narrowed eyes before he grinned. "You guys ought to know."
"I liked you best when you tried to keep that six foot mouse as a pet." Ted stated.
"Don't remind me." Guy groaned, thinking back to the time when he was still suffering the after effects of his brain damage. He had fallen into a coma. When he awoke, Guy Gardner had turned into a dangerous and violent persona nearly bordering on complete schizophrenia. It also did not help that he would undergo a complete persona change each time he bumped his head. Fortunately, his Vuldarian heritage managed to stabilise his mental condition and now Guy had returned to some semblance of normal. During one of these episodes, Guy had attempted to keep a mouse that Ted had enlarged through the teleporters as pet. Needless to say it was not a fulfilling pet master relationship.
"I still say it was a wharf rat." Booster remarked.
"Would you give up already?" Ted exclaimed, shaking his head because he had heard this argument too many times already. "That was not a wharf rat!"
"What is with you an wharf rats?" Beatriz quizzed.
"You don't want to know." Catherine advised with a smile, having heard the tale from Jonn a long time ago. As she watched the group launch into another one of their infamous arguments, Catherine thought about how much she missed them. Not just their camaraderie but also the family they had been to her during her years in the League. Perhaps that was what was lacking with Superman's League now, a sense of warmth that extended beyond camaraderie. While she was glad Jonn was still counted in its alumni, she wondered if the Martian was as happy as he had been during his years in Maxwell Lord's League. Jonn had once said that they reminded him of a dysfunctional family and it was the closest he had come to possessing one since losing his wife and child.
Catherine could understand that. The League had been a family then and who welcomed everyone into its circle. She felt proud to be included in that family and had counted these misfits as his friends. Having them all back together seemed right somehow. Suddenly, Catherine was struck with inspiration. It came upon her with such potency that he was speechless for a moment as the possibilities ran off in her mind. This time, he would do it right.
"Hey," Guy turned to her who seemed to have faded out of the conversation. "Cat got ya tongue?"
Catherine blinked at the sound of his voice but her return to reality had not dispelled her sudden burst of inspiration. It was unfair that this group's achievements in League should be overshadowed by the present team. A good many of them had died to preserve the ideals the League had represented. The people in this room were heroes and they deserved the right to show it. Just because they no longer had sanction by the United Nations, did not change the fact that they were once a potent force for good.
"You were a good team once." Catherine stated.
"Yeah we were." Ted said puzzled and exchanged glances with the others wondering what this had to do with their present topic of discussion.
"You could be again."
If anything could capture their undivided attention, that was it. All stopped drinking, talking and anything else they were doing to look at him with astonishment. The anticipation in the air was almost electric until Guy broke the silence. "What are you taking about?"
"Exactly what I said." Catherine repeated. "Why not?"
"Why not?" Guy balked. "Cause there is no team any more! The League we know is gone. What are you proposing we do? Call ourselves the League of Substitute Heroes?"
"The League of what?" Booster exclaimed half horrified and fascinated at the same time.
"Never mind that," Beatriz cut him off. "I don't understand, what are you proposing Catherine?"
"Well I've been listening to you all night and I know one thing for certain. Everyone of you misses being in the game and you especially miss it not being together. Maybe I didn't go flying with magic rings or turn into living flame but I do remember what it felt like to be doing some good in this world. I think you can do it again. So the team won't call itself the Justice League, is the name so important?"
"I don't know Catherine," Beatriz said hesitantly. "I mean what do we have to offer anyone that the new League can't already do?"
"A great deal." Ted spoke before she could. "We have heart. We don't go riding in there in a blaze of glory to solve the problems of the little people. We've stopped and got to know them. We've made friends all over the place . Think about Dmitri, Hugh, Kimmy and the Fox? We were apart of a global community, not a bunch of self styled gods looking down on the planet from the moon. There are plenty of places we could help. Just because its not high on media profile doesn't mean its less deserving of our attention. We know where the trouble is and we clean up without needing an alien intruder for an excuse."
"He's right," Booster added. "When was the last time you saw the new League help out with an oil spill, or put the pieces together after an earthquake. From what I've heard Gotham City is quickly turning into the seventh level of hell."
"That's Batman's city." Beatriz pointed out. "You know how territorial he gets."
"He won't have a city the way its going." Catherine remarked under her breath but was audible enough for everyone to hear. "From what I understand, the only thing holding Gotham together is the paint but that's my point exactly. You people are capable of contributing to more than just fighting every alien invader or would be world conqueror. There are social problems present that the League is too wary about touching."
"I know a couple of inner city schools that need cleaning out." Guy remarked. "I was teaching at one of them recently and I tell ya," he shook his head in disgust. "Apokolips didn't look so bad in comparison. Maybe we can't save the world," he sighed. "But we can help the little parts of it."
"I do like the thought of that." Beatriz smiled. "With our powers, we can make a difference in a way we never thought of before." Suddenly, she was very excited about this idea because she knew Tora would have liked it. Tora always believed that it was necessary to look at the fine print as well as the big picture. She concerned herself with the people not the situation. What Catherine was proposing sounded very much like that.
"So do we get ourselves a snazzy new name?" Ted asked. "I kind like Guy's idea of calling us the League of Substitute Heroes."
"We are not calling ourselves that!" Booster declared.
"Where did you hear that anyway?" Beatriz looked at Guy.
"I got it, the Knights of Lord." Booster suggested. The expressions he got from the others did not seem encouraging. Ted was making a retching sound while Beatriz rolled her eyes in mock resignation.
"I hope you're joking." Catherine eyed him critically. While it had some merits, most notably the homage to Maxwell Lord, the man who had made them all a global force, Catherine believed something simpler was warranted. Something memorable that was completely unaffiliated with the League.
"You come up with a better idea." He said defensively.
"Its okay Booster," Ted said gently patting him on the back. "We'll get you back to the home soon."
Booster's only reaction to that was an upturned middle finger and a frown.
"I've got a suggestion." Beatriz said after a moment's consideration. "Its probably a little corny."
"It can't be any worse than what Gold came up with." Guy retorted as Booster offered him the same finger gestured.
"How about the Crusaders?"
There was a momentary pause as the suggestion sunk in and after a few seconds, it was Catherine who made the first comment. "I like it." She nodded and then swept his gaze over the others. "Really, its got potential. Good idea, Bea."
Beatriz returned with a radiant smile. "Why thank you Catherine. Any other detractors?"
"No from me." Booster replied. "I kind of like being called Booster Gold, integral member of the Crusaders."
Guy rolled his eyes in bemusement. "I could get to like it." He admitted after thinking about the name as something he wanted to attach himself to. "Sounds like one of those comic book serial I used to read."
"Comic books." Ted snorted. "Like those guys know anything about reality."