January 1, 2012
The nail that sticks up will get hammered down.
Herald stepped out of his portal into the chaos of the Omaha police station. Cops rushed around, everyone was yelling. That stopped as soon as the portal appeared and the heroes began stepping out.
It wasn't just the physical aspect, Herald knew. He was only 5'6", and his costume wasn't exactly intimidating. Just a cloak and skintight suit, with a silver mask covering the top half of his face. The image of a trumpet in gold on his chest stood out against the dark material of the bodysuit. Of course, the suit concealed a layer of mesh armor that was virtually impenetrable, but the cops didn't know that. They just saw a kind of short guy in a funny looking cloak. But it still got the nearest cops to stop, starting a ripple that spread as the remainder of Herald's teammates stepped into the crowded police station. After all, he was still a superhero.
Zauriel was the opposite. Nearly seven feet tall, he floated an inch off the ground, his massive wings slowly unfurling as he exited the portal. His skin was etched in patterns of deep blue and silver, which slowly moved across his skin as he surveyed the scene. Power radiated off him in waves, producing a calming effect on those near him. Herald knew he could just as easily turn the power to fear or anger. The cops stared at him with the sense of awe and fear befitting the being who had gone toe to toe with Superman and emerged without a scratch.
Gypsy emerged next, carefully stepping away from Zauriel. She wore a loose costume with a puffy white shirt and brown pants that flared out around her ankles. A smooth mask completely covered her face, hiding any expressive. But her body language was just daring anyone not to take her seriously.
Stargirl and Hawkgirl stepped through the portal in tandem. Stripe was blonde, with long hair and a costume that was a bit too Captain America for Herald's tastes. It was bright blue, covering her entire body. Stars moved slowly across the service, making it clear how much technology was jammed into the fabric. But it was the staff she held in her hands that commanded attention. Bright gold, six feet long, it ended in a hook. Everyone in the room had seen that staff level a city block.
Hawkgirl went for a different look. Her flaring helmet emphasized her wings, which, while smaller than Zauriel's, were still impressive. Her costume covered less, leaving the skin on her upper chest, legs, and arms exposed. Her red hair draped down from her helmet. In one hand, she held her mace, which she seemingly unconsciously turned into a pair of battle axes within seconds of stepping through the portal.
Last through was Jon Stewart. The number three of the Justice League was everything Herald wasn't, but not in the same way as Zauriel. While Zauriel looked more than human, The Green Lantern simply looked like a human done right. His black, skintight costume showed a muscular physique, but one made hard through regular exercise, not purposeless bodybuilding. The ring on his finger commanded respect, but his gaze made it clear that he wasn't to be respected just because of a piece of jewelry.
"Right then," Stewart said. "Let's go talk to the boss."
The police commissioner was a fat man. He barely fit into his uniform. Easily two-fifty, maybe three hundred pounds, Herald guessed. But he still moved quickly. The second Jon Stewart walked through the door, his hand was clasped and being shaken vigorously.
"Saw you work while I was a Lieutenant in Gotham, never did see anything like it. Everyone says Doctor Fate and Metron are the ones to watch out for, but you, my boy, you could best any of them, if you ask me, but why would you, I suppose, it's not like I'm an expert. Oh look, I've got a photographer over there, just time for a few quick pictures, would your team just fill in on the sides… thank you please." He said, spinning a surprised and flustered (for the first time Herald had ever seen) Jon Stewart around to face a cameraman who was standing off to the side of the room. The cameraman flashed a grin to match the one the commissioner had on his face and then began to take pictures in rapid succession.
After what seemed like an age, the commissioner said "That'll be all, I think, Jim." and the cameraman backed out. The commissioner walked past the slightly stunned, moderately annoyed Jon Stewart and the smiling Hawkgirl to sit behind his desk. "Now then, before we get down to business, can I get you heroes anything? Water, tea, coffee, ovaltine, something stronger? Now Hawkgirl, I like to pride myself on knowing a whiskey gal when I see one, and you've got that look. I can see it in your eyes, you know. Can't tell with that big fellow back there, can only see his backside, but I'm guessing wine and a goat, am I right? Not in that way, Stargirl, I can tell you're thinking it. I'm big on live and let live, but there'll be none of that tomfoolery on my watch. So, really, what's the deal with the big guy anyway? Seems to like my door."
They all turned around to find Zauriel staring at the comissioner's door, slowly rotating. It was amazing how easy it was to forget he was there sometimes. After a few seconds of all eyes being focused on him, Zauriel rotated back to face the mayor. "Your office is interesting, as is your door. I commend you on both." he monotoned, no expression appearing on his face.
"Right…" said the commissioner. "So, I'll go get those drinks we were talking about, then we can get down to business, I think?"
In a voice that was just a hair away from perfectly controlled, Jon Stewart said "We are on duty. None of us want any drinks."
"Actually, I think I'll have that drink," Hawkgirl said from the corner of the room.
"I'll take one as well," said Stargirl from beside her.
Jumping up from his chair, the mayor exclaimed "Excellent! I'll get you that whiskey we were talking about, and for you Stargirl, I'll guess. I'm always right. You're over 21 aren't you?" Stargirl shifted slightly. "Oh, doesn't matter, special exemptions and all that. Be back in a jiff!" And he scooted out the door before Jon Stewart could say anything.
The second the door was closed, Stewart turned to Hawkgirl and Stargirl, his eyes narrowing. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Lighten up," said Hawkgirl, and Stargirl nodded. "It's just a drink."
"It's not just that, you went against me on a mission and in front of a civilian. You made me and my leadership look weak, you-"
"Just get a room, you two." Gypsy spoke up from the corner.
An awkward silence reigned until the commissioner stepped back through the door.
"Now I've gone to the liberty of preparing everyone a drink, now don't look so angry, Mr. Stewart, it's just a water for you. For Ms. Gypsy, a fan of yours outside told me you like tea, so I made some up, got some sugar somewhere around here." Gypsy perked up at the mention of a fan. "Now for Hawkgirl, that whiskey, and a scotch for Stargirl there. I got Zauriel and Herald some coffee, fresh from the pot. Made it myself. Drink up, everyone!"
Everyone did. Stargirl made a funny face and put down a half finished glass on the table. Zauriel simply stated "It tastes strange. But an excellent attempt." and turned to stare at the door again.
"Now then!" said the commissioner, settling back into his chair, "To business?"
In a voice that was slightly more than a hair away from perfectly controlled, Jon Stewart said "Please."
"Righty then, so you know the basics. Two young heroes, new to their powers, went out last night to try and take down a drug distribution center. Tank and Warcry were their names. Tank was this kid whiz, worked mostly with hard light constructs. Warcry had a sonic shout, some other little powers. They ran into a group of villains when they attacked the center, long story short, Tank's in the morgue, Warcry's in a coma and doesn't look like he'll be waking up anytime soon."
"Who did this and where can we find them?" It was Stargirl who spoke up.
"Can't tell you where to find them, but I'm pretty sure of who did it."
"How such is pretty sure?" Herald asked, stepping forward.
"Oh, 75% or so. I mean, there's really only one supervillain game in town, so it's really just a question of who in their gang did it."
Stewart moved forward to take charge of the conversation again. "One game? What do you mean?"
"I mean there's only one group of supervillains here. 'Bout nine of 'em. Run the entire underworld. Strong ones too. Kicked out or absorbed all the other groups in town. Got a bunch of henchmen too."
Silence reigned in the office.
In a voice so perfectly in control that Herald took an involuntary step back, Jon Stewart put his hands on the commissioner's desk, leaning forward until his face was less than a foot away from the commissioner's, and said "And you didn't tell us this earlier… why?"
"Just figured you knew." The commissioner kept the same jovial grin, but Herald thought he could see something else in his eyes.
"We knew two heroes were attacked. We did not know that your city was being run by a gang of supervillains while you stood idly by. Please tell me you at least have files on these people."
"Oh, like criminal records and stuff? Yeh, got boxes filled with all the crimes they've committed."
"I meant powers, personalities…"
"Oh, nothing like that. Should I go get some guys busy whipping something up?"
"Yes… please." The voice by this point could cut through steel.
"No problem, I'll get the guys started on it in a sec. Before I go, want more water? Tea? Coffee? Whiskey? Scotch? Oh, looks like you didn't finish it, I'll give you a minute there."
"Just go." Hawkgirl said in a disbelieving tone.
"All right-y then, be back in a bit." The commissioner walked out the door. A few seconds after he left, a laugh could be heard from outside the office.
"Fascinating." Zauriel said, in his customary monotone. "I had almost forgotten how masterful of craftsmen some mortals are." He had not turned away from the door. Herald looked over the door again, but it was still looking like a perfectly normal, average door. He reached over and touched it just to be sure.
"Please do not disturb the door." said Zauriel, not even glancing towards him. "It slumbers, and cannot be allowed to wake until the detective pursues the craftsman through streets of frozen dreams. I will lock it and make another." Another door fizzled into existence to the left of the existing door.
There were times Herald was sure Zauriel was insane.
Jon Stewart walked to the table that Stargirl's scotch rested on and picked up the glass. With an almost mechanical motion, he threw back the drink.
"Herald, get on the line to HQ. Tell them we need everything they've got on supervillains in Omaha, and at least three additional Leaguers, preferably more if they can be spared. This is going to get messy."
Herald nodded his assent and reached into a pouch on his belt to retrieve his phone. He pressed a button on the side and it automatically dialed Justice League headquarters, contained in the orbiting Watchtower. HQ picked up on the first ring.
"This is the Watchtower. What is it, Herald?" said Lex Luthor.
Herald began his explanation.