12 Justice League Night Falls
Disclaimer: I do not own the DCAU or DC Comics. All such rights belong to DC Comics and Warner Bros. Studios and their parent corporation Time-Warner.
I have blended a lot of Pre- and Post-Crisis material into the DCAU from the comics upon which they are based. The New 52 is not reflected. So don't ask. If the New 52 is all you are familiar with, I suggest you try researching older versions of the characters on the various wikis.
This is the latest installment in a series. That means there is a lot of interpersonal history involved not based on the comics or cartoons. If you write to me and ask, "Why is (*) dating (*)?" I will ask you if you have reads the series. And when you say, "No." I will recommend that you do so. And just for those of you that come along later, when you read just the first and last chapters and want me to explain to you what happened in between, I will also roll my eyes and suggest you read the rest of the story.
"Hiya!" Cyclone cheerfully greeted Stargirl and Mary Marvel as they teleported into the Justice Society's HQ seventy miles west of Albany, New York.
"Hi yourself, Maxine," Mary responded with equal enthusiasm.
"Hey Courtney, thank you for inviting me to your birthday bash yesterday," Cyclone said effusively.
"Well, I thought we were friends," Stargirl smirked, "And friends invite other friends to important parties."
Cyclone suddenly looked wistful, "Yeah, but I don't get asked to many parties. Something about me being a super nerd."
It was true Cyclone had an IQ that nearly equaled Mr. Terrific's. It was also true that her obsession with the "Wizard of Oz" was almost unparelled. Stargirl could see how these could be recipes for disaster at your average eighteen year old's birthday party. Fortunately, Courtney had hung with a much different crowd since she was fifteen and first donned the Cosmic Convertor Belt and became the Star Spangled Kid.
Luckily, Jack Knight had stepped down as the second Starman a year later and had bequeathed the Cosmic Rod to her at his father's request. Ted had forged both the Cosmic Rod and the Cosmic Convertor belt. The rod so he could become the original Starman and the belt so Sylvester Pemberton could become the original Kid.
Courtney had changed her name to Stargirl and Gavyn had arrived and taken up the role of Starman on Earth as he had in his native interstellar empire. The rod and the belt had never been used in conjunction until Courtney had them both. Ted had warned her that they would attune themselves to Courtney's mind and sense of being. So her abilities were still evolving.
"Well, I thought about inviting King Chimera too," Stargirl relished sharing.
Cyclone's resultant blush was worth the effort. Mary shot Court a reproving glance and Stargirl relented, "Of course, he won't tell us his real name so I didn't know who to make the invitation out to."
"Oh, he has good reason not to," Cyclone blurted.
"And that is?" Stargirl pounced upon that statement.
"I…I don't know," Cyclone admitted.
"Then how can you say that?" Stargirl inquired.
"Because he has to have a good reason or he'd share," Cyclone insisted.
"Oh really?" scorn dripped from Stargirl's voice, "Y'know, love blinds people. If you're so smart, why can't you see that King Chimera is hiding something bad?"
"I am one of the smartest people on this planet and I can tell you, he's not hiding anything bad!" Cyclone yelled.
"Actually, I'm the smartest person on the planet," Roxy's avatar suddenly appeared.
"Um…Roxy? Why are you naked?" Mary asked.
"And why are you so anatomically correct?" Stargirl asked as well.
"I'm not physical so why would I need clothes?" Roxy wondered.
"Because the guys will cream their shorts. Literally," Stargirl warned.
"And is that a bad thing?" Roxy wanted to know.
"Yes!" Mary, Stargirl, and Cyclone said as one.
"Fine," Roxy sulked as a sun dress appeared on her. She smiled, "You like it?"
"Much better," Mary soothed her.
"I know," Stargirl began deviously, "Roxy, you have access to every public database in the world, right?"
"And any number of private ones as well," Roxy boasted.
"Then what do the records say about King?" Stargirl requested.
"Nothing," Roxy readily replied.
Stargirl's face fell, "Nothing?"
"He's a blank," Roxy shared, "The senior members had me run a search on him before he was inducted and he's mystery. One I work on in my spare time."
"Senior citizens, you mean," Stargirl chortled.
"Courtney, you know they're not much older than I am," Pat Dugan scolded as he approached, "Ted's the oldest but because of his Nine Lives Charm, he'll outlast us all. Save the Marvel Families, of course."
"Pat!" Stargirl flung herself into his waiting arms, "You were gone when Mary and I were getting ready to leave. I thought you'd gone to the garage."
'I did," Pat smiled, "It was just my other garage."
"You mean here?" Stargirl realized, "You're working for the JSA?"
"Well, as Stripesy, I was an original member. When Grundy killed Sylvester I just hung up my spurs until you found his belt," Pat reminded her.
"So does this mean STRIPE will be dogging me again?" Stargirl asked, "Because I thought we were past all that."
"STRIPE will go on the occasional mission when needed but I won't," Pat revealed.
"But then who…?" Stargirl was at a loss.
"Mike will be running STRIPE. Since it's a remote mecha now, he can operate it here from base," Pat grinned.
Stargirl blinked in surprise. Mike Dugan was her stepbrother from Pat's first disastrous marriage. He'd moved in after getting kicked out of the military school his mom had put him in. The son was an image of his father both in looks and talent. She'd known Pat was grooming Mike to take over his STRIPE duties but she hadn't considered him ready yet. She guessed if she could be, he could be as well.
"So you're the JSA's mechanic?" Stargirl asked hopefully.
"Actually, Mike is," Pat informed her, "I'm just a consultant."
He could see her disappointment and he elaborated, "You know I can't be away full time anymore. Your sister is two years old now and your mom works full time at Blue Valley High. I'm sure you remember the school."
Pat's dry humor reminded Stargirl that when she'd first became the Star Spangled Kid; Blue Valley High had been a recruiting ground for the Dragon King and his efforts to conquer the world. Her only arch enemy, Shiv, was the Dragon King's daughter and had attended the school beside Courtney.
Pat made his living restoring vintage cars while owning a repair and body shop. Pat got tens of thousands of dollars per restoration. His backlog was over a year long. It kept Courtney, her mom, Mike, and little Patricia all clothed, fed, and sheltered. She had to admit that if Courtney were to begin to take a backseat in Pat's life it should be to her mom, Barbara, and her sister.
"So is Mike here? Right now?" Stargirl hadn't even noticed his absence this morning. Rather than enroll in Blue Valley High, Mike had tested out on his GED. He'd been working with Pat at the garage for a year now. Of course, that didn't include the "off hours" tinkering in the bunker. Mike had been logging in a lot of hours in the STRIPE simulator. Courtney realized she should have seen the writing on the wall with the Justice Society's regrouping occurring at the same time.
"Yes, Court," Pat grinned, "Mike and I were going over the Blackhawk Squadron's aircraft. We also finished our last touches on the Stars and Stripes Racer."
"The what?" Stargirl was confused. What the hell was a Stars and Stripes Racer?
"Well, actually there are five of them," Pat corrected himself, "They're basically armored vehicles that resemble large SUVs."
"But you call them a 'Racer'," Stargirl dryly pointed out.
"They can do 0-100 mph in ten seconds," Pat boasted, "So I'd consider them race ready."
"Cool!" Stargirl enthused, "When can I drive one?"
"Um…talk to Sand and the others," Pat dodged the question.
"So is Mike still in the garage or is he in the hangars?" Stargirl wanted to know.
"Actually, he's in the command center with the others," Pat informed her.
"Why?" Stargirl asked like a stepsister would. A stepsister who frequently thought of her stepbrother as nothing but a pest.
"Actually that's why I came," Roxy intervened, "They're waiting for you and you're already late."
"Say what?" Stargirl yelped. She turned to Cyclone, "Why didn't you say anything?"
"You distracted me!" Cyclone accused.
'Me?" Stargirl said archly, "What're gonna do when Luthor distracts you? Go 'boo hoo' and cry 'foul'?"
"Just wait a minute!" Mary tried to intervene even as pat tried to deescalate the situation. A shrill whistle reverberated throughout the room. Everyone plugged their ears and waited for it to end.
The noise ended and Roxy looked insufferably pleased with herself, "Okay everyone, the fight is over! Haul your meat sack carcasses to the command center before I do something you really won't like."
Everyone exchanged wry glances and the darted for the command center. Roxy "blew" on her knuckles, "They're so easy."
The group arrived to find the entire JSA gathered as well. Only they weren't sitting at the center table. They were milled about the room in clusters. The senior members were speaking with an unknown woman in a severe looking suit. The outfit just screamed "government agent."
There were also four new costumes present. Three women and a man. Hourman, Jesse Quick, Atom Smasher, and Anna Fortune were chatting up the guy. He wore a star and stripes motif and a bull whip dangled from his hip.
"Maybe you should be his sidekick," Cyclone teased Stargirl.
"Har har," Courtney disdainfully replied, "Just who is that stiff?"
"He calls himself Mr. America," Roxy supplied the answer as she appeared at their side.
"Is he a pageant winner?" Stargirl snickered, "Is there also a Ms. America?"
Mary noticed that Wonder Girl was still holding back from the groups. Her grief over Don Hall's death wasn't as sharp but it was still pervasive. She grabbed Stargirl's hand.
"C'mon," she instructed.
"Hey!" Stargirl protested, "Leave the arm in its socket."
"Donna needs us," Mary said as though that explained everything.
Stargirl nodded her understanding because it did, "Right behind you."
"Who's the woman that looks like a walking lightning bolt?" Pat asked Roxy. Cyclone listened in.
Roxy giggled, "She's appropriately known as 'Lightning'. She's Black Lightning's daughter."
Pat understood. Black Lightning had been one of the rare meta-human heroes of the 1970-1990 period. The JSA had returned from Ragnarok in the middle of that period and subsequently retired.
Cyclone was partially put out that Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt were talking to Lightning as was King Chimera. She could care less about Johnny but the sight of King Chimera laughing and talking with another woman flared her jealous instincts. Where in the world was his infamous reserve now?
Pat noticed the death glare Cyclone was casting King Chimera's way, "Is there a problem?"
"No," she declared, "No problem whatsoever."
Now Pat knew there was definitely a problem. Hard won experience with Barbara and Courtney had taught him not to believe her at face value. The attitude did not match the words.
"Maybe you should join in on their conversation," Pat suggested.
That galvanized Cyclone's resolve, "I think I will."
She'd said it like it was a declaration of war and the way she marched off was like into combat. Pat shook his head, "Kids."
Hawkman, Galatea, and Commander Steel were speaking with a woman in a red suit that was completely familiar. Pat turned to Roxy, "Did the Blue Beetle undergo a sex change operation and change the color of his costume?"
Roxy chuckled, "No, this the Red Beetle."
"Who the hell is the Red Beetle?" Pat wondered. She'd never crossed his radar and he stayed abreast of the superhero world.
"I haven't found much on her yet," Roxy admitted ruefully, "Agent Chase brought her along with the others."
"I take it Agent Chase is the blonde woman talking to Sand and the others," Pat surmised.
"Yes, Agent Cameron Chase is formerly of the FBI, not unlike Mr. America. She is now an agent of the Department of Extranormal Operations," Roxy summarized.
"Yeah, the others told me about the DEO," Pat said grimly.
"You don't sound as if you approve of the JSA's involvement with the DEO," Roxy observed.
Pat wore a rueful smile, "It's the voice of experience, Roxy."
"I don't have any records of the Justice Society being involved with the government at any time in their history until now," Roxy shared.
"That's because it was off of the books," Pat shared.
"Really?" Roxy grew excited. This was a mystery and there were so few mysteries in her life, "Tell me!"
Pat weighed his options. Finally he relented, "You're familiar with FDR?"
"Of course," Roxy bragged, "I can give you a complete biography in twenty-seven languages."
"No need," Pat said, "I met the man, several times."
"Do tell!" Roxy enthused.
"FDR assigned Hoover's boys to track down the various mystery men that had cropped up throughout the late 30s and early 40s, all before Pearl Harbor of course. America wasn't in the war yet and still we were under threat," Pat explained. Seeing he had Roxy's rapt attention, he continued, "Hitler was nuts for occultic trinkets and objects of mystical power."
Pat paused to recollect all the facts, "Hitler had teams spread across the globe looking for objects of power. Four in particular worried Army Intelligence. Hitler had annexed Austria, giving him access to the Hapsburg vaults. From there he retrieved the Spear of Destiny."
"Now this was the spear that pierced Christ's side when he was on the cross, confirming for the Romans that he was dead," Pat explained. Roxy intently nodded. She'd known that already but she didn't want to interrupt the narrative.
"Well, the Spear can apparently pierce the shadow realms, bridging the realms of the living and the dead. Hitler summoned an army of spectral warriors and sent them after the US," Pat shared, "FDR and Hoover gathered the men that would become the Justice Society. They beat back the spectral army and saved the US from an undead strike to herald a German invasion."
"You sound like you weren't a part of the JSA yet," Roxy noticed.
"I wasn't," Pat admitted, "The Flash, Green Lantern, Wildcat, the original Hourman, the original Dr. Mid-Nite, the Specter, Dr. Fate, and the original Atom were the founding members. Later, the original Starman, the original Black Canary, the Shining Knight, the original Star Spangled Kid, the original Crimson Avenger, and I joined up."
"And you were called Stripesy?" she asked.
"Yes, I was actually considered the Kid's sidekick despite being older. I always looked over him for Starman. We made quite a team." Pat divulged.
"But these occultic objects?" Roxy refocused Pat, "What happened to Hitler's searches?"
"FDR asked the JSA to step in and prevent the Nazis from getting what they after," Pat told her, "We split up across the world. Hitler's teams were on the trail of the Holy Grail in Turkey, the Ark of the Covenant in Egypt, the Shankara stones in India. There others, of course, but those were our first targets."
"So what happened?" Roxy was riveted.
Pat chuckled, "Well, obviously we pulled it off. Hitler never got the items."
"Where are they then?" she inquired.
"They're all somewhere inside of Fate's Tower," Pat revealed, "He said he'd return them to mankind some day. I guess that day hasn't arrived yet."
"Whoa!" Roxy pondered it all, "I wonder why I can't access any of that."
"As I said, it's because it was all off the books," Pat chuckled, "We weren't in the war yet and the American public didn't want us interfering in Hitler's business for fear of ticking him off. President Roosevelt barely got the Lend-Lease Act passed. The knowledge that the President had requested the aid of virtually unknown costumed vigilantes to pick a fight with the Nazis across the globe just wouldn't sell well."
"Did you actually fight in the war?" Roxy wondered, "Because I have no records of that either."
"The JSA stayed independent of the US government and the military but we pitched in on special occasions," Pat informed her, "Hitler created a squad of superhumans and sent them to America led by a man named Per Degaton. The idea was for them to break America on its own soil so that we couldn't support Russia or Britain. Both were barely staying alive at the time so they appreciated any and all the help we could provide."
"Per Degaton and his troops kept us pretty busy throughout the war," Pat explained, "So we weren't asked to go overseas much."
"Wow," Roxy breathed, "The others never talk about this stuff."
Pat smiled, "They're focused on the future. That leaves the past for old burn-outs like me."
"I really doubt you're washed up," Roxy grinned.
"Now that we've covered ancient history, who's the Asian lady talking to Judomaster?" Pat wondered.
"She's called Ri," Roxy frowned, "She's from China. The DEO is insisting we take her on but I have absolutely no record of her. Even in China she's a black hole."
"That must be what the heated conversation is about," Pat guessed.
"So, you are Chinese?" Judomaster asked Ri.
"And you are Japanese. Is there a problem?" Ro aggressively retorted.
"Please excuse me. My English is not very good at times. Perhaps I misspoke. I meant no offense," Judomaster offered.
"I am sorry," Ri sighed, "It is just that tensions are running high between our countries right now because your people illegally claim to own the Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea."
"I believe the Senkaku Islands were legally purchased by Japanese interests," Judomaster reminded her.
Ri looked affronted at first but then a wry grin formed on her face, "You see? We cannot even agree upon what to call the islands. How can we determine who owns them?"
"It is not for me to say," Judomaster opted out of the potential argument, "Tell me, what is an agent of the People's Republic doing joining the Justice Society of America?"
"The same could be asked of you," Ri pointed out.
"Yes, but Japan is an ally of the United States. China is a competitor," Judomaster stated.
"You are allies only because you were conquered," Ri shot across Judomaster's bow.
"I will not fight you," Judomaster warned, "We are here to work together for a common goal. In order to do this we must set aside traditional animosities."
Ri carefully studied her, "Very well. I agree."
"If I tell you why I am here, will you tell me the same in return?" Judomaster asked.
Ri weighed her decision carefully, "Again, I say very well."
Judomaster smiled, "Then perhaps we are taking the first steps to a personal peace."
Ri allowed a small smile to form, "Agreed."
"Well, that's not going so bad," Wildcat commented, "At least they're not actively fighting."
Sentinel observed Ri and Judomaster carefully, "Sonia seems to have gotten past her defenses for now. We'll see what happens next."
Flash frowned, "Tell me again why we should accept this 'Ri' into our ranks?"
"The PRC has been pressuring the UN for more of an international presence in the superhuman category," Agent Chase said for the second time, "The Justice League accepted August General in Iron as a member. By all reports he's proven an exemplary member."
"That doesn't apply to Ri though, Agent Chase," Sand pointed out, "She's a completely different person."
"True," Chase allowed, "And the nature of our cooperative agreement grants you the right to turn her away. But that would be a mistake."
"Why?" Mr. Terrific asked.
"Because she possesses an ability that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world," Chase shared, "And it is believed by her government and the DEO that it can best be developed and harnessed with your help."
"So what is this mysterious ability?" Dr. Mid-Nite inquired.
Chase smirked, "You'll love this, Doc. She's a healer."
That did grab Dr. Mid-Nite's attention. He was a formally trained and licensed physician, "What exactly are her talents?"
"She can heal any wound and resuscitate any patient that hasn't already died," Chase revealed, "I know. I've seen the footage. She can literally work miracles."
"Interesting," Dr. Mid-Nite mused.
Sand could tell his friend was already persuaded, "Can you give us a moment to discuss our options, Agent Chase?"
"Certainly," she stepped aside.
In a corner of the room, Black Adam and Isis were tending to their infant son, Osiris. Captain Marvel Jr. was a doting uncle figure. Captain Marvel had joined Stargirl's side. DEO Intelligence stated that the pair was dating. Chase thought that Marvel was too old for her but as of yesterday Stargirl was legally an adult. She could date anyone she wanted to now.
Mary Marvel was concentrating on Wonder Girl. This Donna Troy was from a parallel Earth while Earth-1's Donna Troy had joined the Darkstars and gone off planet. The new Donna travelled to this Earth to join the Legion of Doom. She'd left the Legion and briefly served with the Global Guardians before transferring to the JSA.
The rumor mill contended that Wonder Girl had been dating Dove. The original Dove was missing and a female version was now active in the Washington DC area. Chase wondered of that disappearance lent itself to Wonder Girl's troubled mien.
"Agent Chase?" Flash asked from beside her.
"Yes? Have you made a decision?" she inquired.
Flash grinned, "As Chairman, Sand gets to announce any and all decisions."
Chase appreciated his sunny disposition. She rejoined the others, "Well?"
"They're all in," Sand said, "But we have caveats about Ri."
Chase nodded, "Understood."
"If you could excuse us now, Agent Chase. We'd like to begin to welcome our new members on an official basis," Sand said.
"Of course," Agent Chase left and her smile lasted to the teleporter room and beyond.
Todd Rice sat in a booth at a cafe in Detroit, Michigan. He was currently holding a conversation, "I told you! We're here now. Now it will finally happen."
He waited a moment and then shook his head, "No! I'm not telling Jennie. She'd try to stop me. That and she'd probably tell my father."
The last word was practically spat. He waited for that to digest and then continued, "I'll start with James. The bastard thought that just because he adopted me he could smack me around. Now I'll show him what happens to people that do that to me."
A server appeared at his table with a check, "Um…can I get you anything else?"
"No, we're done," Todd replied.
The server looked scared, "We?"
Todd looked over the shadow that the windows light created in the seat across from him, "Never mind. Do you have my bill?"
"Yes!" she dropped it and fled.
Todd smirked and looked back at the shadow, "There's going to be more of that you know. A whole lot more."