10 Justice League Convergence
Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League Unlimited or the DCAU universe elements. These intellectual properties are owned by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Animation and to their parent company Time Warner. Now that I've observed the legal niceties I can say that this installment of the series comes in direct answer to several requests and pleas for me to continue. I can say that after a year and half absence from this universe it is both exciting and intimidating to return. How well I do so will be for the individual reader to decide.
The prison transport made its way through traffic as it started to head out of Manhattan to the Interstate to transit to Belle Reeve Prison. Stryker's Island had been adequate to temporarily house the former Suicide Squad members in the weeks following the Atlantean invasion but now cell's in Belle Reeve had been prepared for the inmates. As it was, special precautions had to be taken aboard the bus.
King Shark was shackled, hand and foot, to the floor. Psi wore an inhibitor collar that blocked her psychokinetic powers from working. Shrapnel sat in a box with an eye slit. Meanwhile, El Diablo, Black Spider, Punch and Jewelee looked rather morose as they vacantly stared out the windows while handcuffed.
Three SUVs and a 15 passenger van all marked "United Nations" suddenly passed the bus on one side and came to a screeching halt in its path. The guards were irate. Those in the cage with the prisoners aimed weapons at them while the driver got on the radio with their dispatcher and the remaining two guards went to confront the UN personnel.
Suddenly, the driver screeched out, "Oh my God!"
He threw the bus into reverse and smashed into the vehicle behind him. An arrow shot through the windshield and into the driver's eye. The doors of the bus were ripped apart and Stompa suddenly came aboard. Behind her Gilotina strode towards the cage.
The guards discharged their shotguns at the pair. Stompa took the blasts but to no effect. She wiped buckshot pellets off of her tunic.
"Really?" Stompa asked scornfully, "You meet a real life goddess and this is how you react?"
She kicked the cage door down and then shoulder checked the first guard. He flew into the other and they tumbled down. Gilotina pushed past Stompa and ran each guard through with a sword. She then slashed the cables holding King Shark while Stompa yanked Shrapnel's mini-prison open.
"What about our handcuffs" Punch whined.
"There's no time," Gilotina informed him.
Approaching sirens alerted the former government agents of the reality of that statement. Gilotina led them off of the bus, "Go to the marked vehicles."
CADMUS, and later ARGUS, had liberated the members of Task Force X to serve on dangerous covert missions. Could the UN be doing the same? Punch and Jewelee climbed aboard an SUV to find the Riddler driving.
"Hold on. We'll be making a rapid exit," he warned.
King Shark and Shrapnel found the van emptied of all seats except for a couch in the back. The Calendar Man gave them a similar warning and then proceeded to follow the Riddler. Psi, El Diablo, and Black Spider joined Plastique in a third SUV and she also pulled out.
"Get ready for some noise," Plastique warned them.
Police cars converged from both directs. Artemiz volleyed arrows into one group. Each time she chose the driver. As a result, the cars would go out of control and smash into other vehicles.
Gilotina faced down three squad cars with officers poised with weapons drawn and bearing on her, "You might want to withdraw."
Stompa burst out of the bus and literally ran over a cop car. She kicked another into the third and then rejoined Gilotina. Gilotina shook her head.
"Show off," she scolded.
The air filled with the noise of sirens. Stompa smiled, "Looks like the fireworks are about to go off."
Gilotina called Artemiz off, "It'll happen any second now."
The third United Nations SUV detonated. The shock wave ripped though the street. Automobiles crumpled and building windows were also smashed. All the police and pedestrians were knocked off of their feet.
Those that could manage were stunned by the sight of the three Female Furies walking through the flames. They calmly opened a boom tube and withdrew. Everyone wondered who the hell had been aboard that bus to warrant such an escape.
The United Nations vehicles reversed course and headed east until they could enter the crossway that accessed the Brooklyn Bridge. Crossing on the bridge, they went onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and only turned when they reached the Flatbush Ave. exit. Travelling down Flatbush Ave. they reached a gated manor house across from Prospect Park. They were now in the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Flatbush region.
UN guards stood post at the gates. As the vehicles gained access, the newly liberated passengers saw that the UN troops also patrolled the grounds. A large garage was revealed to have a ramp leading to an underground parking facility.
The Riddler took charge of the newcomers. Calendar Man and Plastique went their own ways. Riddler escorted them to a locker facility. They, minus Shrapnel, were shown their individual lockers. Inside, their gear had been gathered. Riddler gave them ten minutes and then someone would be along to collect them.
"What about this frickin' collar?" Psi had to ask.
"And these shackles?" King Shark wondered.
"A specialist will be with you as soon as I'm gone," Riddler smiled and then he departed.
"What the hell have we gotten into?" El Diablo wondered, "This is the Legion of Doom we're talking about."
"Maybe they're recruiting," Punch theorized.
Jewelee backhanded his arm, "Get serious. Even Waller barely wanted us. In the end even she didn't."
"Ahem," Dr. Sivana cleared his throat.
"It's a gnome," Punch joked.
"Say that again and your cuffs will be wedged up an orifice so far they'll never vacate your body," Sivana warned.
"Yes sir," Punch meekly kowtowed.
Sivana got them all freed in minutes. Psi frowned, "What happens now?"
"Now you get dressed and then an associate will lead you to your explanation," Sivana duly informed them. And then he too was gone.
They were all dressed and ready when the Ultra-Humanite appeared, "Excellent! You're all ready."
"Ready to find out what gives," Psi retorted, "You people want something from us. What is it?"
"I see your time with the government has made you wary. Good. You'll need that," Ultra-Humanite admitted, "Now if you'll follow me?"
Having no real viable options, they did as he asked.
The former Task Force X agents were brought into a large sitting room. Oversized and reinforced chairs had been provided for Shrapnel and King Shark. A buffet table also dominated a corner. King Shark was delighted to see a chest of raw fish and shrimp was there as well. The others cast curious glances Ultra-Humanite's way.
"Your host has been temporarily detained," he explained, "Please help yourself. The wet bar is hidden in the closet."
The group gathered together food samples. El Diablo proved adept at mixing drinks. Shrapnel tested his chair and found that it held. King Shark lugged the whole chest over to his seat and plopped down to eat.
"Right now, I am so grateful I can't smell anything," Shrapnel admitted.
"Your loss," King Shark replied.
Punch and Jewelee occupied a love seat. Psi took a chair to herself. Black Spider, sans mask, and El Diablo occupied opposite ends of the couch. Then a door leading directly into a den area opened and Luthor emerged. He wore his most pleasant smile.
"I see you're all here," he said in an ingratiating tone.
"Cut the crap," Psi retorted, "What do you want?"
"Your illustrious company, of course," Luthor laid on the charm, "In the Legion of Doom."
"Why now?" Black Spider broke his protracted silence, "You could've recruited us years ago."
"To be frank, I underestimated you," Luthor divulged, "Waller's interest in you caught my own. I was regaled by your after action reports. I saw the value you had as covert operatives."
"Which still means you want something for springing us," Psi got back to business, "What is it?"
"I want you to return the favor," Luthor stated simply, "A large number of our members are currently incarcerated. Membership in the Legion of Doom comes with a guarantee that as long as any member remains free they will liberate their captive comrades."
"So liberate them already," Psi quipped.
"Most of our present company are not physical combatants. They wage battle with their minds," Luthor explained.
"So we're hired guns," El Diablo summarized, "What happens when the others are free?"
"Then you join us and enjoy the fringe benefits of associating with our merry band," Luthor offered.
"There's gotta be more," Jewelee said.
"Like what?" Luthor was amused.
"To be blunt, show us the money," Punch stated.
"Every member of the Legion is guaranteed a one million dollar annual retainer," Luthor divulged, "Any proceeds from criminal activities above and beyond that earn a one million dollar fee for each and every activity. Proceeds from these activities are equally shared amongst participants."
"Speak English," King Shark demanded.
"You're guaranteed a million dollars a year just for membership. Participate in any sanctioned activity and you're guaranteed another million per outing. Each activity earns that base salary. Anything you steal you split amongst your teammates that participated in that mission," Luthor laid it out, "Fair enough?"
"So, we bust your buddies out of the clink and we get a million dollars?" Shrapnel wanted proof.
"Two million. You're forgetting the annual retainer. And that's just the beginning of your personal profits," Luthor declared, "What? You thought we spent time together because we like one another? Hardly. This is a business enterprise. Pure and simple."
"I'm not saying I'll do it, but where are the Legion people being held?" Psi wondered.
"An associate of mine arranged for them to be placed in Blackwater Prison," Luthor announced.
"That's not a supermax!" Black Spider protested, "Who could arrange that?"
"She also arranged for your transfer to occur today. The route, number of guards, and vehicle choice were all carefully determined for our benefit," Luthor revealed.
"Is she also a member of the Legion?" El Diablo inquired.
"No," Luthor stated, "She is an independent operator. She exchanges favors with the Legion. Her means and methods are entirely her own. As are her motives."
"When did the Legion of Doom join the UN?" King Shark suddenly brought up, "I thought the Justice League was their go to operation."
"The times are changing," Luthor wore a cunning smile, "We are being given sanction to kill every member of the Justice League and the United Nations will applaud when we do so."
"What do you say?" Luthor asked.
"Give us a minute," Psi requested.
Luthor and the Ultra-Humanite retreated into the den. Ultra-Humanite asked Luthor, "Will they do it?"
"They've already signed up," Luthor smiled triumphantly; "It may take them a minute or two to acknowledge that fact but they are already in."
"I'll alert Supreme and the Female Furies that they're a 'go'," Ultra-Humanite replied.
There was a knock at the door and Luthor smiled, "You do that. I'm back on."
The exterior guards at Blackwater Prison didn't even see Supreme come at them. All they knew was that they heard and felt his impact in the prison walls. Guided by a schematic provided by the White Rabbit, he went straight for the spatial disruptor. Smashing the machine, he knew his lovely Lashina was now coming.
The newest Legionnaires transited through a boom tube for the first time. They walked between the wormhole's energy walls and emerged in the prison yard. The Female Furies immediately went into motion. The newcomers struggled to keep up.
The White Rabbit had sent a wave of attorneys to Blackwater to consult with the Legionnaires incarcerated there. She'd also altered their yard rotation so all of them were present outside of the prison's wall at the same time. That is, with the notable exception of one.
Lashina and the Furies were smashing their way through the prison's interior on a quest for a single cell. That cell housed Bernadeth. Lashina had consulted her Master, Darkseid, and he had bid her to liberate Bernadeth and have her rejoin the Female Furies. This grated on Lashina's nerves but she was utterly loyal to Darkseid so she would comply.
Lashina stood in front of Bernadeth's cell and she smiled coldly, "I have to admit, it does my heart some good to see you reduced to this."
"The Master has commanded you to free me, hasn't he?" Bernadeth wore a smug smile.
"Yes," Lashina said with disgust.
"And has he also made me leader of the Female Furies." Bernadeth couldn't help but rub in.
"No," Lashina said with satisfaction, "I am the leader. You are the mongrel. You will leap at my commands or I will inform Granny that you have been disobedient."
Bernadeth's jaw dropped. Lashina savored this as she continued, "You see, the Master approved of my punishing you. You threatened the safety of your fellow Furies. That will not be tolerated. Granny Goodness will now be observing you in action from now on. The slightest hint of insubordination and you'll do time in the agony booth."
"My brother would never inflict such a horror upon me," Bernadeth haughtily declared.
"Desaad has boasted the he will proudly serve the Master in dispensing any and all punishments to any of the Elite regardless of who they are," Lashina threw that fact in Bernadeth's face, "You have been warned."
Lashina smiled sweetly, "Can you play by the rules from now on?"
"Of course," Bernadeth snapped.
Lashina turned to Speed Queen, "Free her. In fact, free every prisoner."
"That wasn't in our mandate," Bloody Mary reminded her leader.
Lashina grinned, "If the heroes are too busy chasing them down they'll have no time for our trail."
Speed Queen raced to each control booth on each level. Mad Harriet released all of the locks on her floor. Malice Vundabar released her allotted prisoners. And Gilotina did the same on the third.
Supreme joined his lover before Bernadeth's cell, "Come with us, bitch."
"I'm happy to see you too," Bernadeth grumbled.
The Female Furies reached the yard to discover the Legion had put down the guards. King Shark had torn his way through the assembled guard battalions. Psi had wrenched their weapons out of their hands and used them on their owners. Shrapnel had mounted the roof and "detonated", hurling bits of his metal body at each tower.
Black Spider, El Diablo, Punch and Jewelee had handled crowd control. When the Furies returned, they opened the boom tube. It spirited the Legionnaires a world away to Thailand. There, in a semi-forgotten jungle temple, the Legion of Doom had set up shop.
The technical members of the Legion had spared no expense equipping the temple with the latest hardware and gadgets. The Penguin had procured armaments. Luthor had bribed the locals and the central government to simply look the other way. And so they did.
The jungle foliage created a canopy that blocked observation from satellites. The abundant life and tropical heat obscured infrared thermal readings. It would take a hard target search to stumble upon them. And even then, the intruders would have to deal with the aforementioned jungle, its denizens, and the Legion's personalized countermeasures. For the first time since losing the Dome, the Legion was safe from its enemies.
The Justice League did indeed send a unit to assist in recovering the escaped convicts. With their assistance, the authorities were able to round everyone except the Legionnaires up within 24 hours. The US Marshal's Service was beside themselves with gratitude.
Superman, however, was beside himself; "I can't believe we haven't found Luthor yet!"
Shayera and Flash exchanged worried looks while Diana tried to talk some sense into him, "Luthor was never a prisoner within Blackwater Prison. We knew going into this that he wouldn't be here."
"Well, he should have been!" Superman huffed.
Diana stepped aside while John tried speaking with him. She met with Shayera and Flash, "Very well, I concede the point. You can access our apartment and collect your samples tomorrow."
"I'd say it's just in time," Shayera said wryly.
Diana gazed at Clark, "Probably."
The next day, at 8:15 AM local time, Shayera and Flash teleported into Clark and Diana's apartment. Clark was at the Daily Planet offices checking in for a staff meeting. As the roving Superman/Justice League beat reporter he only had to attend for editorial meetings.
Diana was aboard the Watchtower while Alexandra Kent was at the Day Center Academy in Fawcett City. There, Tawky Tawny and Uncle Dudley watched over the JLU personnel's children as well as those of local clients. Since Tawky Tawny was a bit of a local celebrity, the Academy was extremely popular. It was already expanding its physical site after purchasing all of the adjacent properties. They also operated for 24 hours, seven days a week. This fit into the irregular schedules of many of its clients.
Shayera and Flash collected many food samples. Diana had provided a list of foods that were solely consumed by Clark. It was an impressive array of items.
They whisked away back to the Watchtower so Flash could begin his examination. Mr. Terrific sat in on it and assisted. They had a forensic lab all to themselves. Both men felt right at home.
Shayera excused herself and went to a research cubicle. Diana eschewed shopping so the Kents had their food selected and delivered by a grocery chain. Diana just updated and modified a weekly online shopping list and a delivery person arrived the next day. The only food items that Diana personally chose were fruits and vegetables. She had a few select street carts that she patronized.
Shayera had a list of market employees and, after cross referencing criminal and financial information, she also had a list of potential suspects. Returning to the forensic lab, she found Flash and Mr. Terrific concluding their examinations. Both of them appeared rather upset.
"Did you find something?" Shayera inquired.
"Superman's being poisoned!" Flash blurted.
"Isn't he immune to poisons?" Shayera wryly asked.
Mr. Terrific stepped in, "Select foods have been laced with a fine kryptonite powder. Foods such as his instant oatmeal and other prepared foodstuffs all exhibit tampering."
"But would kryptonite alone contribute to the symptoms he's displayed?" Shayera wanted to know.
"No," Mr. Terrific acknowledged, "But there are also traces of a nerve toxin. That agent breaks down the tissues of the frontal lobes. Degradation of that portion of the brain would easily explain Superman's increasing…cognitive difficulties. The kryptonite lowers his immunity and makes him vulnerable to the toxin."
"In other words, he's dumb and getting dumber," Flash interjected.
"Thank you, Flash," Shayera dryly responded, "I do know what 'cognitive functioning' implies."
She thought about it for a moment, "We need to tell him with Diana present as well."
"Oh boy," Flash grumped, "This is going to go over well."
Shayera though the Flash had finally mastered the art of understatement.