Hero: New Justice? – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a two-part story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This story takes place in the near-past.
Part 1
Present Day: Washington, DC.
The Hall of Justice was a place where all heroes, no matter the affiliation, gathered together to celebrate their accomplishments as champions of justice; it was also a place where one could unwind without public scrutiny…
"I still can't believe that there are women still pining after…HIM," said Booster Gold, as he sipped his drink. "I mean, I'm more famous than him-"
"Not after his fight with the Champion," said Blue Beetle, as he sipped his beer.
"Well, um, I'm richer-"
"Not according to what I've heard," said Fire, the Brazilian superhero.
"You're not going to let me win this one, aren't you, huh?" Booster said.
"Hmmmm, nope."
"Humph."
"It's interesting how Ronin could have two aliases," said Ice, the Nordic demi-goddess.
"Yeah, and one of them is a chick," interjected Guy Gardner, presently known as Red Lantern. Guy, fed up with the Guardians of Oa's meddling, Guy joined the much more pro-active Red Lanterns on Ysmult…
"Wait, I thought Ranma was 'Hawkman'?" Ice asked.
"I rather just be called 'timely visitor'," said a voice from behind.
All eyes turned towards an impeccably-dressed Lord Ranshin Rantsu, yet another alias of the martial arts master.
"What are you doing here, Saotome?" Guy asked.
"Funny, I've been wondering the same about YOU," Ranma said with a grin. "But, no, I'm here to have a meeting with Bruce, Amanda Waller and Maxwell Lord about the finances of Justice League Unlimited."
Everyone in the group nod their collective heads. Both Wayne Enterprises and Rantsu Foundation funds the operations of Justice League Unlimited, with Maxwell Lord acting as the operations manager to the League, while Amanda Waller is the government liaison to the organization.
"I hate to be you right now," Blue Beetle replied.
"I hate to be me right now, too," Ranma said. Ranma really wished that someone else was having this meeting, like his sister-in-law Nabiki, for instance…
"You have fun, now!" Ice said sincerely.
"Yeah," Ranma said, as he shook his head, before walking off to the backroom. As he did so, he sees different incarnation of various superhero teams that came and went over the years, with the latest incarnation of the Justice League Unlimited, known simply as "Justice League of R", having assembled only just last year…
FLASHBACK!
One year ago.
Green Lantern Ranma flew into Gotham City, having picked up signs that a parademon, a soldier from Darkseid of Apocalypse, was spotted in Gotham City. He knew that Bat-Ranma was subbing for Batman that evening, so he wanted to know if his "clone brother" knew anything about the parademon-
"HELP!"
Green Lantern Ranma heard the cry of a woman, before turning to locate the source of the cry…
"AHHHH!" the woman yelled in fright, even as she was being carried off by a huge figure wearing a cloak.
"Humph," Green Lantern Ranma said with a smirk, before he caught up with the parademon. All clones of Ranma Saotome shared the memories of the original Ranma, more or less, and knew a parademon upon sight…
"Well, time to save the day…again," GL Ranma said with a smirk, as he swoops in the save the day…again.
"Hold it right there, you!" GL Ranma said, as he corners the parademon holding the kidnapped woman hostage.
The parademon considers the request, and proceeds to throw the woman off the roof.
"Ahhhh-!" the woman screamed, as she falls down towards certain doom.
"Ah, nuts!" GL Ranma said, as he swoops down to save the woman, while forming a hard-light construct in the shape of a basket…
"You saved me!" the woman said with thanks.
"Hey, it's part of the job," GL Ranma said with a grin.
"Is there…anything that I can do for you?" the woman asked seductively.
"Naw, although it's a nice gesture," GL Ranma said, as he begins to float away. "Be seeing you!"
And, with that, GL Ranma leaves.
"Here's hoping, stud," said the woman, who glanced at Ranma's body appreciatively.
Meanwhile, Bat Ranma had picked up the trail of his prey, even as he knew a clone brother was nearby.
"I really hope the other me isn't 'showboating'," Bat Ranma said, as he lands on the parademon with a solid quick.
BLAM!
The parademon hits a roof generator, causing it to burst into flames.
BOOM!
Bat Ranma twirls around to wait for the parademon's next move, as its disguised burned off.
"SKREEEEE!" the parademon screeched, before spewing flame at Bat Ranma.
Bat Ranma smirks, as he twirls his cape, creating a modified version of the "Dragon Rising Ascension Technique". This had the effect of creating a flaming tornado, which was sent back into the offending parademon.
FWOOSH!
"Ackkkk!" the parademon cried out, even as it rose into the air…
Suddenly, a hard-light construct of a certain "un-cute wife" appears, and was carrying a giant mallet made from hard-light.
"Mallet, meet parademon!" GL Ranma said, as he used the mallet to smash the parademon, knocking it out of the sky in the process.
BLAM!
The parademon tumbles until it smashes into the streets below.
CRASH!
The parademon then tries to get up, only to have a giant panda made from hard light land on it, killing it instantly.
CRASH!
"Dusted!" GL Ranma said with cheer.
"I really hope that you didn't smash the Father Box that it had on its person," said Bat Ranma, as he swoops down to examine what was left of the creature.
"You know, you starting to sound like the real Batman, brother," GL Ranma replied, as he followed Bat Ranma.
"That's because I take my job seriously," Bat Ranma said, as he finds what he is looking for.
"That's the Father Box," GL Ranma said. "But that would mean that Darkseid is alive."
"Maybe," Bat Ranma replied. "We have to get the others."
"Well, there is 'Super Ranma' in Metropolis, as well as 'Wonder Ranko' in Washington," GL Ranma replied thoughtfully. "Why can't we get the real heroes on this?"
"You and I both know that we have a score to settle with Darkseid," Bat Ranma said. "That's why you're here, yes?"
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," GL Ranma said. "We better get going."
"Your lead," Bat Ranma said, even as GL Ranma grumbles while forming a hard-light construct of a jet plane. "I'm not some taxi service, you know…"
Meanwhile, in Star Labs, located in New York City, another clone of Ranma was going through some speed trials. He wanted to test his prowess by being going against the one person he needed to beat…
"Not bad," said Ranma Saotome, as he ran a treadmill at super-speed. At this point, the martial artist no longer needed to recite the so-called "Speed Formula", first discovered by the late superhero "Johnny Quick", to move at super-speed.
"Not bad?" said the clone Ranma, as he raced along side of his "father". "You've been around for a long time, and yet you've yet to crack the light barrier."
"Haven't at reason to do so," Ranma said with a smile. "Maybe that will change?"
"You're on, old man…"
Meanwhile, young Ranma was reading his comic book while his older clone brother and father were racing in the observing room…
"Get your foot off the panel, will you?" said Dr. Silas Stone said, as he resumes his work.
"Gee, SORRY," Chibi-Ranma said, as he moved his feet.
"Why can't you be like the other clones…and your father?" Dr. Stone asked.
"Doc, my gestation was interrupted when Rantsu Island was attacked by the Chinese government, remember?" Chibi-Ranma said. "That was where all the clones of Dad and Usagi had been stored previously…"
Rantus Island was a land mass that was located in the middle of the Sea of Japan, and was where the clones and advanced technology that both Ranma and Usag had came across over the years. When the Chinese government attacked the island, they did so in secret, hoping to catch the couple off guard, as well as putting a dent in Japan's defensive capabilities. Thankfully, most of the clones and advanced technology was moved before the island was completely destroyed. And afterwards, Ranma made Usagi stop using the clone banks for her spare bodies, which resulted in the remaining clones being allowed to live their lives as they see fit.
Unfortunately, in some cases, some of the clones didn't reach maturity, thus explaining the existence of child versions of Ranma and Usagi, much to the chagrin of Chibi-Ranma.
"I see," Dr. Stone said. "So, who's looking after you?"
"I can take care of myself," Chibi-Ranma said with annoyance. "I have many of Dad's memories, you know."
"And yet you're still underage," Dr. Stone said. "Look, if you ever need a hand-"
"I'll look you up," Chibi-Ranma said sarcastically. "Okay?"
"Humph."
Meanwhile, Princess Rhea, consort of Queen Hippolyta, aka "Wonder Ranko", was being escorted to the White House in preparation for a meeting with the President of the United States.
"Steve, I already KNOW the President," Rhea said with a smirk. Even as a girl, Rhea was still Ranma Saotome inside of her present guise, which is why she hated wearing ceremonial dresses benefiting an envoy of the Queen of the Amazons.
"He can call me anytime he wants."
"Great-Grandpa, the President doesn't know that you and 'Ranma Saotome' are one and the same," said Colonel Steve Howard Trevor (USAF). Steve was the grandson of Princess Diana and the late Steve Rockwell Trevor. The younger Trevor was a field agent of Task Force X's "Argent", and team member of the present incarnation of the Justice League of America as the American government's official liaison.
"And you did volunteer to do some officiating duties," Steve said, as he glances at Rhea's supple form…
"And do have the legs for that outfit," Steve said with a grin.
"Ew," Rhea said. "You do know that I'm your great-grandfather, yes?"
"Hey, I just said that you look the part," Steve said.
"Well, as soon as I am done 'looking the part', I am going to get out of these clothes, change forms, and go out on a getaway weekend with MY WIFE."
"Um, which one?"
"Humph."
THUMP-THUMP!
"What was that?" Steve said, as he leans forward, in order to speak to the chauffer. "Hey, why are we stopping?"
"Apparently, there is a protest going on," said the driver.
"You don't think there are people mad at the Amazons for last year?" Steve asked.
"Considering the fact that the 'Amazon-Atlantean War' spilled over and affected a number of nations around the Atlantic Ocean, I'm not surprised," Rhea said, as she decides to get out of the limousine.
"Where are you going?" Steve asked.
"I'm going to…talk," Rhea said, as she gets out of the car…
"DOWN WITH AMAZONS!" said the man holding the effigy of Rhea's daughter Diana, known to the world as "Wonder Woman", while standing on top of the vehicle Rhea just got out of.
"You know, that's not nice," Rhea said. "The Amazons are warriors, but we are dedicated to the defense of others."
"Well, their 'defense of others' moved their fight with the 'seamen' to my country, you jumbo!"
"…'Jumbo'?" Rhea asked.
"Yeah, you women are Amazons, right? Just look at ya!"
Rhea considers the protester's words. True, Amazons were statuesque, buxom and muscular, but not overly so. This was due to the fact that they were descendents from the Olympians Ares and Aphrodite, who wanted to see if it was possible to create a race of warrior women who dedicated to the precepts of love at heart. And since then, they have done their best to live up to their roles as Amazons. Unfortunately, over the years there have been splinters tribes of Amazons who strayed from their roles, and it is because of them that Amazons have also developed darker tendencies…
Thankfully, the Amazon Nation was unified as one, due, in part, to their war with the Atlanteans, and has been doing their best to make amends with the nations of the world, starting with the American government.
"Yeah, look at me," Rhea said with a grin. "Now look at you."
"What?" the man said confusedly.
"Now, back at me. Now back at you."
"Huh?"
"Now back at me, as I hold up your clothes, including your underwear," Rhea said, as she dropped the protester's clothes. She then turned to face the gasping crowd.
"As you can see, the emperor has no clothes…literally."
"Ah!" the man yelled, as he runs off into the bushes to hide.
"Great-grandpa?" Steve asked.
"Speed training and some slight-of-hand works every time," Rhea said with a grin. She then turned to address the crowd…
"You people are right to be concerned about the Amazons," Rhea said. "We are a passionate people who believe that love and war are but two sides of the same coin that is life. Yes, bringing our war to your shores and the shores of other nations was wrong. However, in rectifying this, my government, and the government of Atlantis, will be making restitution to all those most affected by our nations' actions…"
Pause.
"Friends?" Rhea asked, as she opened her palms in friendship.
The crowd looks at Rhea, then at each other, then at Rhea…
"That'll work," said one of the protesters, as they all nodded in agreement.
"See?" Rhea said, as she turned to look at her great-grandson. "Diplomacy at work."
"I don't think removing someone clothes is part of some 'stage craft'," Steve said, as he shook his head in disbelief. He knew that he should expect something unconventional from his great-grandfather…
Tbc.
Next Time: The mystery behind the parademon attacks is revealed in the form of…DARKSEID. But…why does he have Ranma's face? See you then…