This is another Prometheus story. Some readers have been clamoring for my boy's head. Hope you get some satisfaction from this one. These solo Prometheus stories run in series. If you want the whole lowdown on what I'm trying to do with the character, take a peek at the others. If not, get what you can out of this one. Thanks.

Storm clouds had gathered over Gotham City. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed in the distance. A fair breeze moved into the city off of the ocean, stirring my cape. I took a deep breath, and glanced around one last time. The last thing I needed was for Gotham's grim guardian to show up before I had completed this one small job.

I stood atop an old building. A pathetic figure swathed in bandages and wearing a trench coat lay huddled at my feet. He was in a lot of pain at the moment, because I had beaten him senseless over the course of the past hour. I had inflicted at least three broken ribs, a concussion and a busted femur. All in a day's work, really. I looked down at him again.

"Stop your sniveling, Hush," I said, the contempt dripping from my voice. "You don't tell the Society to piss off when they ask you to join and hope to keep your miserable life." I stepped down hard on the fallen man's hand, and heard the faint crack of breaking bones. The man known as Hush whimpered and cradled his useless fingers to his body.

"How in seven hells did you ever give Batman so much trouble?" I asked, and shrugged when no answer came. "It doesn't matter. You're going to die now, and all of your plans will have been for nothing." I extended my arm, and pointed a gleaming gauntlet at his head.

"Wait," said Hush. "I have money. Five million dollars to spare my life."

"Really?" I said. I brought my arm back up to a ninety degree angle. "Do you have it on you?"

"No, but I can get it." The faint light of hope blossomed in his eyes, one of which was nearly swollen shut.

"Ah, well," I said. "Too bad I'm on a tight schedule." I slowly lowered the gauntlet back down toward his head. Watching that hope in his eyes die was worth this whole wretched trip. I triggered my gauntlet, and a dart plunged into his neck.

"I know you're a doctor and all," I said, "so you'll appreciate this." Hush convulsed as pain racked his body. "A little fast-acting virus I cooked up. It is sort of like Ebola on crack." Hush began to make strange gurgling sounds, and blood began to leak from his eyes. "It liquefies your organs in about forty-five seconds," I said. "I hear it's pretty painful." Hush arched his back, nearly coming off the ground. A strangled, fluid scream passed his lips, not loud enough to draw any attention. "That must have been the liver," I said. I squatted down on my heels to get a closer look at the final moments. "You know," I said to the dying man, "I never whacked a bad guy before. It's not nearly as much fun."

I watched until the quivering red mass of what was once a man lay still and dead. I stood and turned, fingering the Cosmic Key chained around my neck. Glancing around at the dark spires of Gotham, I sighed heavily, clicked the Key, and went home.

I materialized inside of my house deep inside the Ghost Zone. I dropped my helmet and nightstick on a crooked table and walked over to the fridge. Electricity is difficult to get in the Ghost Zone. What was I going to do, run a cable in from Metropolis? If I wanted power, I had to use self-contained sources. The refrigerator ran on technology I had pilfered from Captain Cold. I opened the door, and reached for an icy brew. As I did, I noticed a flashing red light on my arm.

"Aw, crap," I mumbled. "Luthor." I sighed, retrieved my equipment, and went back out into the real world.

The Key took me inside Society headquarters, where my sudden appearance nearly gave Sonar a heart attack.

"Watch yourself, bud," I said, holding back a laugh from the expression of shock and surprise on his face. "Real villain coming through." He started to say something in return, but I had already walked away.

I found Lex Luthor in the command center, staring at a bank of video screens. His back was toward me, but he swung around as I came through the doors.

"Hi, Lex," I said in a mock cheerful voice. "Where's the party?"

"Prometheus," he answered. "How did your mission go?"

A complete success," I replied. "Hush is dead, and he didn't go easy."

"I already know that, no thanks to you." Luthor's voice carried an edge. "You were supposed to report back here as soon as you were finished. I should not have had to summon you."

Lex was smart, I'll give him that, but he is also a complete control freak. I felt my temper bristle, and lightning danced across my helmet.

"I don't like being called into the principal's office, Luthor," I said, low and hard. "You might lord it over most of these chumps, but I'm not one of them."

He rounded on me, eyes blazing and bald head shining in the florescent lighting. "In case you've forgotten, there are a lot of super-powered people out there who would love to get their hands on you," he said. "We offered you protection. In return, you will adhere to our rules. Otherwise, that protection may be withdrawn."

I had heard enough. "Fuck you, Luthor," I said, jabbing a finger at him. "I joined your little club because it was in my best interest. Mine. Threaten me again , and you'll regret it. Screw me over, and I'll come back and do you cold, hard and messy."

"Don't flatter yourself," said Luthor through narrowed eyes. Suddenly, he straightened. "Despite our considerable differences, our ultimate goal is the same. The destruction of the self-righteous 'heroes'. We should keep that in mind while working together."

I let out a breath and drew back from the brink. "Fair enough, Lex," I said. "Keep in touch." I turned on my heel and marched toward the exit. At the door, I stopped. "Luthor. One more thing. Send someone after me, and I'll return their head to you in a box." A beat of silence passed.

"Ass," I whispered as I took my leave.

"Ass," said Lex Luthor under his breath as he eyed the back of his associate.

Elsewhere:

"Do you think it will work?"

"If we hype it enough, he will show."

"Money is not a problem. I inherited all of dad's estate. Whatever it takes."

Feathers rustled. "Now we need bait. It can't be one of us, and it can't be one of the top tier."

"How about Booster?" asked a man surrounded by a soft green glow. "I'm sure he will do it."

"Good choice. Ask him."

"What about the key?" asked a woman.

"I have taken care of that. Hector will be at hand."

"I want to make sure of this. I'd feel better if we had a wild card. A powerful one."

"I know just the one."

"Who?"

"Another friend of Fire."

"Okay, let's do it."