The New Justice League: Loco For Lobo

Chapter 1: Boredom + Distrust=DANGER

It was a lovely day on Space City Robinson, a satellite space port in Sector Q. The space port itself was rundown with every surface boasting some sort of graffiti courtesy of all the low-lives that visited because of the Bunsen's Bounty-a hangout for intergalactic bounty hunters such as Billy the Girl, Djano, Jake the Geek and (until a recent financial dispute) Lobo the Last Czarnian.

Instead of drinking with his former buddies at Bunsen's Bounty Lobo much preferred Al's Diner and the very attractive backside of Darlene, the only actual employee Al had. (Although it might be safe to call her a business partner at this point.) On this particular afternoon Lobo was sitting at the counter, guzzling down beer after beer. His (occasional) friend and (most often) rival Jonas Glim sat next to him, mimicking his actions.

"I'm bored," Lobo grunted after letting out a particularly loud belch.

"Bored? How the hell can you possibly be bored? You just killed fifteen vicious bounty hunters not even twenty minutes ago," Jonas crushed his empty beer can and threw it just barely missing Darlene's head. She sidestepped it with ease and set another one in front of him.

Lobo snorted. "Please, they weren't that much of a challenge. Besides, there were only fifteen of 'em. I need a real challenge-something that'll make my blood run warm. I want to feel alive again."

"Hmm," Jonas frowned as he thought about a solution. Something occurred to him and he grinned. "Lobo, old buddy, I think I know how to fix your problem. I'm willing to bet you my next three bounties that you're too chicken to go to Earth and take on the humans that reportedly defeated Darkseid."

"You mean the Super Seven? Or was it the Super Friends? I can't remember," Lobo downed the contents of his drinks in one gulp.

"They're called the Justice League," Darlene stated helpfully before handing Lobo another beer and his bill. "And they only have six members."

"Could be fun," Lobo shrugged as he downed the new beer before slapping a handful of change on the counter. "Keep the change," he stomped out and started up his motorcycle.

Jonas reached out, intent on taking the money for himself but Darlene smacked his hand with a frying pan. "Oh no you don't; that money belongs to me."

Jonas waited until she was out of earshot before muttering, "Bitch."

"Please," Billy begged.

"No," Batman didn't even bother looking away from the computer monitor as he continued entering commands.

"Please, please, please," Billy clasped his hands in front of him and pushed his bottom lip out, hoping that he looked pitiful enough that Batman would give in.

"I said 'no,'" Batman remained firm.

"But why not?" tears stung Billy's eyes but he refused to let them fall. He wasn't a baby and surely Batman's indifference was less painful or humiliating than Waller's unique brand of torture.

Batman sighed heavily before turning to look down at Billy. "Because we still don't have complete control over your powers yet and until you do there's always the possibility that someone could get hurt or killed. That's a risk we just can't take."

"But it's not my fault," Billy protested. "Why do I have to pay the price for what other people did? It's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair," Batman informed him then resumed typing.

Billy stood there for a moment, his bottom lip quivering before bursting into tears and running out of the room.

Batman sighed and stopped working once again. While he could understand Billy's frustration they had to think about the big picture here. Amanda Waller was still on the loose and he had no doubt that she would jump at any chance to exact her revenge against Billy and the Justice League. Not to mention Luthor's strange interest in the child and the still missing Dr. Sivana. Perhaps they could disguise Billy and take him somewhere remote for a few hours. He nodded in satisfaction then went to go look for Billy, hoping to have him calmed down before one of the others found him and gave Batman yet another lecture about upsetting children.

Lex Luthor frowned and looked up from the contract he had been perusing when something occurred to him. "Mercy?"

"Yes?" Mercy Graves didn't put down the book she was reading but Luthor knew she was paying attention to him.

"Has there been any sign of Shazam or Billy? It's been two months since he went to stay with the Justice League-we should have heard something by now."

Mercy frowned and set down her book, pulling out her cell phone. She sent out a few rapid fire text messages then shook her head once the responses came back. "None whatsoever," she reported. "There is a report, however, that a few of them were sported buying clothes for a boy Billy's size. I suspect that they're keeping him on the Watchtower for observation while they study him and his power. No doubt they're very interested in where his Shazam powers came from."

"As am I," Lex admitted. "However, I didn't arrange for him to be released from one prison only to be placed in another."

"What do you have in mind?" Mercy asked.

"I think," Lex said slowly, "that I want you to send for Pheromone."

"That's not a good idea," Mercy was scowling even as she stood up. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and continued scowling at her boss. "Need I remind you that not only did she try to take over LexCorp but that she also manipulated you and everyone else in the building except for me?"

Lex winced. He remembered all too well that particular debacle. If it hadn't been for Mercy's cybernetics that had filtered out the pheromones the Meta secreted, allowing her to control everyone there was a very good possibility that he would have lost his company.

"I understand your concerns." Lex did, he really did. He understood that Mercy was concerned about him-not only because he was her boss but because she genuinely cared about him. "But this will help us in our goals of taking down the Justice League," he argued. "Who better to take them down than someone who can manipulate their emotions?"

"I guess," Mercy still didn't look convinced but Lex knew she would do as he asked. "And Billy? What'll happen to him?"

Lex let out an exaggerated sigh. "If he doesn't stay with the Justice League then I suppose he can stay with us."

Mercy smiled at him warmly then pulled out her phone once more. "Before she gets here we will be implementing several preventive measures," she warned.

"I had no doubt," Lex sighed, for real this time.