Max's beaming smile swept around the three superheroes seated in front of his desk. Captain Atom, silver skin gleaming, looked slightly uncomfortable with his legs carefully crossed, Barda was masterfully dwarfing her chair as it squeaked in pitiful protest, and Booster Gold had a faraway, heroic look on his face that suggested distant, noble thoughts, at least until you noticed his gaze was aimed at the tropical fish lazily drifting around the tank by the window.

"Well!" Max said brightly. "This is exciting. Are you excited?"

"Mm," Captain Atom said.

"Explain our task again," Barda demanded, rearranging her chainmail.

"I'm excited, Max," Booster said cheerfully. "Groovy fish!"

"Yes. Yes. Now, I know none of you have been in the League for long, but this assignment is low risk. Besides . . . Captain Atom's been around the block a few times, eh Cap?"

"Wha-? Erm, yes."

"To answer your question, Barda, you three will be keeping tabs on several unsavory characters . . . Paul Booker, William Tockman, and Duncan Pramble . . ." Max paused dramatically, savoring the build up as much as the blank expressions on the heroes' faces. " . . . better known as Major Disaster, Clock King, and Multi-Man!"

The blank expressions remained blank.

"Who?" Barda asked, a frown creasing her brow.

"Is he a real major?" said Captain Atom.

And Booster Gold said nothing, his gaze remaining alert and empty.

All in all, the rest of the meeting went better than Max expected, though given his expectations this was perhaps not such an achievement. He'd anticipated some protests to the mission from Captain Atom (who was, after all, a veteran superhero) and from Booster Gold (who was, after all, a gloryhound). But Captain Atom's carefully blank expression didn't change and Booster, who knew how to market himself, continued radiating his aura of Bright Young Professionalism.

"So that's the mission," Max said, making a special effort to keep his voice cheerful. "Just stay in headquarters and keep these criminals--these alleged criminals," he corrected himself, always conscious of the risk of libel, "under surveillance. Almost like a vacation really, ha ha!"

"Ha ha," agreed Captain Atom in a tone of voice that somehow managed to convey insubordination while remaining overtly respectful. "I'd like to know more about our . . . headquarters, sir."

"Certainly, Captain." Max kept his teeth clenched in a smile. He didn't like people who asked questions; he liked people who said "Yes, Max" or "What a good idea, Max!" and unfortunately there was a distinct shortage of such people in the Justice League. "In fact, you're staying at the house next door."

"We own the house next door?" Booster said. "That's lucky."

"More like we're borrowing it." The property in question had recently been bought up by Bruce Wayne, who had then been persuaded to lend it to the JLI in return for "favors owed", according to Batman. Max had delicately refrained from inquiring exactly what kind of favors a billionaire playboy might owe the Dark Knight.

Barda, who had been listening intently, leaned forward, thereby monopolizing Max's view. "So we will be in a criminal neighborhood."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that--"

"Will there be drug dealers?"

"No! We-ell . . ." It was in Gotham, after all. "Hardly any, I'm sure."

"Or perhaps big, burly men trying to force the downtrodden inhabitants to purchase their 'insurance,'" Barda continued , cracking her knuckles with a distant, pleasurable smile.

Max's eyes narrowed in realization. "No beating up drug dealers. Or anyone else! I mean it! This is going to require a subtle touch; you have to remain incognito."

"But I'm famous," Booster protested, interrupting Barda's attempt to pin Max to his seat with her glare.

"Fairly well known, at least. Don't worry, I've made preparations," Max soothed. "You and Cap don't have anything to worry about."

Captain Atom's silver skin wrinkled in a frown. "Me?"

Booster and Barda simultaneously turned in their chairs to study him.

"You're shiny," Booster observed.

"And naked," Barda said unblushingly.

The captain's cheeks (the ones on his face, Max mentally specified) darkened as he cycled through several entertaining expressions of embarrassment and betrayal before settling on indignation. "I am NOT naked!"

"Not quite," Booster agreed, craning his neck as Captain Atom scowled and pulled his muscular silver leg farther over his lap.

"Ahem," Max interjected. "If you'd read the articles in Time and Life, you'd know that Captain Atom can retract his . . . silveryness . . . and appear as a normal human being. Isn't that right?" he added. "That's how you maintained a secret identity all those years, correct?"

"I . . . but . . . but . . . SECRET!" he sputtered. "SECRET identity."

"Captain, Captain, Captain . . ." Max shook his head slowly, a beatific smile on his face. "I said I'd made preparations, didn't I? Don't worry, your secret identity will be safe." He opened his desk drawer and reached in. "Now, who wants their sunglasses first?"