Last time on BOOSTER GOLD!

Michael Jon Carter arrived from the 25th century to the modern world to take his place among the greats in the Golden Age of Heroes. To do this he decided to take a different route, revealing his identity to the public and turning his hero duties into a business that will help change the world. During his battle with one of Mandragora's 100 Soldiers Michael hired Walter Steele to act as his new COO. He also met Ted Kord, the selected heir to Kord Industries. Ted has come to Ion to determine if his family should get into the Booster Gold business. Walter, unbeknownst to all, is a spy for Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow, and now is slowly seeding Michael's company with ARGUS Agents. Should Booster Gold be the hero the world needs then ARGUS and Oliver will be ready to step in to help him.

Should he be not... then he'll wish he'd never come to the 21st Century.

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Alright, guys… what do ya got for me?"

Booster was flying over the seats of Ion City, scanning the alleyways and roads for any sign of trouble. Skeets was at his side, the drone using the vast array of sensors that were tucked in his shell to detect any danger. The problem was that the last 9 days had been utterly calm in Ion City. Be it that the criminals weren't as bold as the ones in Central City or as stupid as the ones in Starling or as desperate as they were in Detroit… everyone was on their best behavior ever since Booster had truly established himself as the protector of Ion. Of course for the public this wasn't a problem in the slightest.

For Booster and his team, on the other hand…

"Everything is looking good," Bernie said, glancing at the screen before returning to the puzzle he was building. He, along with Dirk, were in the new control room that lay several stories below the ground floor of Halcyon Tower. Walter had insisted this be the next room completed, so that the assist team would be able to properly advice Booster during his times in the suit. Several computers were set up, fresh from Palmer Tech, the latest in large screen monitors purchased, with a discount, from Kord Industries, and a state-of-the-art communication set up that allowed the team to easily converse with the hero. It was all rather impressive… save for the fact that they hadn't been able to use it for much other than watching Booster fly around and slowly it had become their rec room. Bernie had brought down a puzzle, Ted (who was visiting more and more despite claiming he was still unsure about a partnership between Kord Industries and BG International) had set up a cappuccino machine, and even Walter had finally broken yesterday and hauled in a chess set for him and Skeets to play.

"Nothing? Not even a cat stuck in a tree?" Booster complained.

Dirk frowned as he tried to find a white piece to finish the section he was working on. "I want to see you get back in the news too, Mike, but isn't that a little cliché?"

"Come on, it's a classic!" Booster complained. "Even Supergirl did the cat rescue thing from time to time."

"Who?" Bernie and Dirk both asked.

"Michael," Skeets warned.

"Nothing. Just… bored. Being bored, makes me say silly, bored things. Bored bored bored." He paused. "Bored."

There was a beat.

"Bored."

Dirk sighed. "I get it, Mike. You aren't the only one. Ion City is bored too… yeah, the general public is happy they aren't being shot at by flying minicoptors or having a swarm of robotic bees ruining their commute but the movers and shakers aren't liking this. The newspapers were counting on you selling copies thanks to your heroic feats but now they are going back to reporting on normal dull stuff. I'm half tempted to put on a costume myself and pose as your-"

"No," Booster said, cutting him off. "We aren't doing that."

Dirk was startled by how forceful his boss was. "I was just kidding-"

"And I am being dead serious. I'm not a fake, Dirk. I've got enough problems with people thinking I'm only in this for the fame and money-"

"Which doesn't hurt," Skeets prompted.

"-but I don't need to make people doubt me even more by using cheap tricks. We do this the honest way. We don't even KID about doing it any other way than that. Now find me something… anything."

Bernie, deciding to take pity on both Dirk and Booster, rolled over to a computer and scanned it. "No robberies… the police chatter is light… oh… oh!"

"I like the sound of those 'ohs'." Booster came to a stop over 5th and Main, rubbing his hands together. "What do you have?"

Bernie quickly sent Skeets and Booster the directions. "Now, this is a bit different from what you normally handle-"

"Come on… it's me! I can handle anything!"

Two minutes later Booster was standing at the back of a van, discovering that his suit was pretty good at whisky away fear sweats. "I can't handle this."

"AAAAAAAAAAA!" the pregnant woman screamed, her face bright red as she grit her teeth.

"Michael, you can do this," Bernie said.

"Don't tell me what I can do!" Booster screeched.

Dirk was thrilled, bouncing in his chair. "Oh, this is just perfect! Ion City's Golden Hero Rescues' Littlest Fan! It will be great! Can we find a Booster Gold onsie and get it on the baby before the media arrives?"

"Perfect!" Booster said a bit too quickly. "So I'll go direct traffic until the paramedics get here-"

The woman let out another cry.

"According to my scans the paramedics will be here in 4 minutes," Skeets said, Booster sighing in relief. "The baby will be born in 2."

"You gold-plated traitor!" Booster snapped even as Skeets buzzed behind him, pushing him towards the panting mother-to-be. "Seriously, I can't do this. Nothing in my entire life has prepared me for this."

"It'll be fine," Dr. Klein said. "I can switch on the camera in your goggles and guide you through it. Dirk, I need you to at least turn around, show the woman some respect."

"Come now, Michael, don't think of it as something traumatic," Skeets said as Booster, cringing, moved towards the woman's spread legs. "Think of it like you are playing football again. 3rd down, the center is hiking the ball…"

Booster looked at the woman before turning to Skeets, his face twisted in derision. "You haven't watched much football, have you?"

"…I admit that when you and I sat down for a late game I tended to turn off my optics and read instead but I know enough." Skeets moved to Booster's other shoulder. "I understand that you are disturbed by this. I can relate. After all, all you organics make me squeamish but-"

"You think people are disgusting?" Booster said. "Wait… you think I'M disgusting?"

"AAAAAAAAAA!" the pregnant woman cried out.

"Hush!" Booster scolded her before turning to Skeets. "What is so disgusting about me?"

"It's… nothing."

"Tell me," Booster said sternly.

"… beard growing."

"Seriously?"

"You have such smooth skin," Skeets said, staring at Booster's face. "Not as nice as my shell but close enough. But then these… horrid little things burst out of your flesh and begin to extend and sometimes people cut them off but others let them keep growing! They even style the disgusting little invaders!" Skeets shuddered.

Booster stared at his best friend before wagging a finger at his. "We are tabling that for another time… because, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I have… ugh."

"I will guide you through, Michael," Bernie said. "Now, let us take a look… oh yes, it looks like the baby is crowning-"

"Hey guys, I brought donuts!" Ted called out as he entered the war room. "By the way, I'm think we should come up with a cool name for this place. Like the Booster Base or the Gold Mine or-" Ted frozen when he saw just WHAT Bernie was assisting Booster with.

"Was that Ted?" Booster asked.

"Yeah," Dirk said, his back still to the screens which meant he had a clear view of the man.

"…is he okay?"

"Well," Dirk began, "you ever see Raiders of the Lost Ark? He's kinda like that without the skin melting."

"…eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," Ted whined.

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

Central City

At one time #301 Central Heights had been a normal apartment. Nothing had physically changed about the apartment, at least from the outside. It was still the same size and shape, the same basic layout that every other apartment in the building. To be truthful the apartment itself hadn't actually changed… more that it housed one that had allowed his madness to change it into something… wrong.

Sitting at a cheap desk with only the flickering glow of a computer monitor to illuminate his face was the architect of the insanity. Had it not been for the intense look upon his face or the way his body seemed to tremble and twitch at random intervals he would have been seen as handsome. Shaggy light brown hair, pleasing face, just enough muscle mass to make him look fit without appearing to be a bruiser… any girl would have been pleased to bring him home to meet their parents.

Assuming he didn't open his mouth the entire time.

Or try and stab them all.

The walls of his apartment had come to reflect the world of his mind; both chaotic and distorted by obsession. And even then the obsession was unfocused. New photos and clips had been pasted over old, those that had once been the sole focus on his life reduced to little more than yellowing pieces of paper and photos with curling edges.

Currently two people held center stage in his circus of the obsessed. On one side of the apartment his couch had been pushed aside so he might make a mural of Lisa Snart, secret snapshots taped together so they might form a larger crude portrait. Surrounding these were articles and documents printed from the Internet concerning her. He had everything from her school year book photos (with her fellow classmate's images defaced) to the report of her and her 'Gold Gun'.

On the other end of the apartment, in what should have been his dining room/kitchen, was a table that had been converted into a work desk. Showing that even the mad could be geniuses the stalker had hand drawn blueprints and the guts of the very first Cold Gun wielded by Lisa's brother Leonard Snart. The gun had been torn apart and reworked, the obsessive man having almost completed his task in twisting the weapon into something to fit his chosen style. Here too was a mural, only the photos were less pristine with knives driving into the images and the eyes jabbed out with pencils.

"I was so close," the man whispered, rocking back and forth as he gazed upon his computer screen. "So close. A few more days... a few more days and then I would have won you back." He looked at the mural and smiled tenderly for a moment. "You would have seen... would have seen I was perfect for you!" His smile fell into a sneer. "Or you would have rejected me again... denied my love." He leapt up and screamed at the photos, "Why do you tease me, whore?!" He grabbed a glass and threw it at the wall. "You'd have loved me this time and if you hadn't I'd have wrapped my fingers around your delicate throat and squeezed until every lying gasp of air had left your traitorous lungs!"

He whipped around and jabbed his finger at the display made for Leonard Snart. "It's your fault! You were jealous! I know it! You knew I was about to take your game and expand it to new horizons and you couldn't have that! You can be the only ice villain in town… the great Captain Cold!" the maniac laughed. "Such a stupid name. Mine's better." He began to pace, running his fingers through his hair. "You turned her against me because you couldn't stand that I was going to replace you. Not that it mattered… if you thought taking my love…" he suddenly spun and roared at the mural, "you traitorous whore!" He gripped his head in his hands. "If you thought that would stop you were so wrong… I was days away from revealing myself to the world…" He slowly turned to stare at the computer screen. "And then you came along."

The Youtube video repeated once more, once again showing Booster Gold heroically saving the President.

"You hurt me… you hurt me worst than any other." The stalker walked over to his workbench and picked up his own modified cold gun, the weapon now resembling a cross between a flamethrower and a rifle. "I'll freeze the blood in your veins for what you stole from me!" He fired at the computer, freezing the device in a block of clear ice. He paused, suddenly realizing what he'd done. "And you just destroyed my computer!" He twitched before he marched towards his closet. "Just another reason to make you suffer."

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Anything interesting, sir?"

Ted looked up from the paper he was reading. He was sitting in his office, his feet propped up on the desk, his speakers streaming his 'Epic Guitar Instrumental Ballad' Playlist. "Nothing. Ever since Mi… Booster Gold helped deliver that baby two days ago things have been rather quiet." Ted paused, looking over at his visitor. "And we discussed this, O'Jeneus… you don't need to call me sir."

Mikron O'Jeneus merely shrugged. While he only stood 4'5" the current head of Ion City's division of Kord Industries had never let that define him; he did not let others see him as a joke nor did he ever show anger or frustration at those that looked down at him (literally and figuratively). He moved through the world as any other man did, allowing his actions to speak for themselves. "It is a sign of respect."

"One I don't deserve," Ted said, planting his feet back on the floor. "My uncle sent me here to look into Booster Gold and to monitor things here but I've gone over your records… whatever my uncle is seeing that is so horrible I can't find it."

"David Kord did not get where he is by resting calmly by while the world moved," O'Jeneus stated. "He probably feels I'm moving too slow on some projects or haven't been daring enough."

"Or this is him playing games again," Ted commented, annoyed. "He likes doing that. Why do you think he keeps my brother Al around? He tells me how horrible he is but mark my words he is whispering the same things about me to him, stringing him along. He wants to see if Al will suddenly change or if I'll turn into the man he wants me to be if I have a little competition."

"I couldn't comment on that," O'Jeneus stated.

"And that would be very wise." Ted crumpled the paper and tossed in the trash. "Seriously though, if anyone is going to be called sir in this place it's you. You've got a good team here and despite what my uncle wants or you might think I'm not here to take over. I'm not taking your office, I'm not giving you a demotion, and I'm not going to suddenly decide to stage a power-trip. I just want to do my work, let you do yours, and we both make a ton of money."

"Be that as it may, I'll continue to show you the respect I feel you deserve… sir." Ted rolled his eyes but didn't say a word, choosing instead to stand up. "What will you be doing today, if I might ask?" O'Jeneus said, falling in pace with Ted as he left his office. "Work on your silent propulsion system?"

"It's already done, just need to figure out what to put it in. People like cars that make vroom vroom noises."

"The new solar collectors?"

"Already sent them to be manufactured so I could run some tests."

"Your new riot gun?"

Ted grinned at that, opening his suit jacket to reveal the item in question. Rather than looking like a standard handgun his pet project looked like a small thin silver blowdryer. "I want to run it through some field testing… I keep believing I'm all set and then I come up with a new feature to add to it. Thinking of a light emitter if I can figure out how to get the right intensity. The solar collectors are working properly but it's all about intensity."

"Is it safe to be carrying that around?" O'Jeneus asked.

"Sure!" Ted said with a grin. He paused, considering though what COULD happen. "Okay, maybe not, but I trust my skills that I didn't invent a gun that would blow up. Besides, this thing is designed to be non-lethal. Going to revolutionize police work."

"And make Kord Industries a ton of money?" O'Jeneus asked.

"And make us a ton of money," Ted echoed.

"I'd be willing to help you, if you wanted," O'Jeneus offered. "Been a few years since I dedicated myself to being in a lab, sure, but it's like riding a bike… or so I hear. Never actually rode a bike."

Ted scoffed. "You aren't missing much. And yeah, if you want to look over my notes for the light emitter then knock yourself out! When I get back we can go over what you thought, maybe pop open one of the extras I keep in my lab and see if we can get it firing off some energy beams. Pretend we are Starfleet captains."

"Or Han Solo?" O'Jeneus asked.

Ted scowled. "A Star Wars fan… I take back what I said about not staging a hostile takeover."

The two of them paused in the lobby. "Then I'm assuming you're going to be visiting BG International today?"

"Yeah," Ted said. "Walter finally got the last of the department heads hired in and I want to watch Michael make a fool of himself. It's funny to see him try and act smart. Besides, they are building… well, things I can't discuss because honestly I don't think I'm supposed to know about them and I'm sure his lawyers are pissed I do but the point is I'm rambling and I want to get going."

O'Jeneus, however, placed a hand on Ted's elbow, stopping him. "Might I be a bit bold?"

"Ooookay…" Ted said slowly.

"You have been seeing Michael Jon Carter a lot."

"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm 14 and you are my disapproving Jewish mother?"

"I merely wonder why you haven't made things official yet. It is clear to everyone that we are going to be entering into a partnership with BG International… why else would you spend so much time there? So why play these games? Why not simply make the partnership official?"

"Because I'm not sure yet if I want a partnership," Ted admitted. He sighed, shoulders slumping a bit. "There is a difference between me having fun helping a superhero and tying my family's legacy to some guy who nearly threw up helping deliver a baby. I trust my judgment when it comes to myself but I don't trust it yet when it comes to this company. Just because I like the man doesn't mean I should help him in that way."

"That's your uncle talking," O'Jeneus stated.

"And on that horrifying thought I'll be leaving," Ted said, leaving O'Jeneus watching him and shaking his head.

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Your Sundollar coffee, Mr. Carter," Jack Soo says as Michael hurried out of his office, trying to tie his tie with one hand. The blonde stopped, backed up, and accepted the drink from his new assistant, savoring the taste. "Is it too your liking?"

"God yes," Michael said, stifling a yawn. "And I need the caffeine."

"Up all night patrolling?"

"Uh…"

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

The Night Before…

"Are you crying?" Bernie asks Skeets, the little drone sniffing as he watched, courtesy of their war room monitor, as Frodo saved Sam from the river and pulled him onto the boat.

"No," Skeets said sadly. "Just… something in my processor."

Michael shoved another handful of popcorn in his mouth. "So we're doing the Hobbit tomorrow, right?"

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Yes… yes I was," Michael said in his most convincing tone.

"Of course sir," Jack says with a smile that makes it clear he isn't buying it.

"Michael, three minutes," Walter tells him as he emerges from his office.

"Right… crap!" Michael hurries back into his office. "Should I bring the suit? I should bring the suit, right? That is why they are all here to see me."

"They are here for their jobs," Skeets reminds him.

Walter agrees. "And, perhaps, you should leave the forcefield belt behind until you work out a way to change outfits without undressing."

Mcihael popped back out of his office and laughed ruefully. "Yeah… probably not the best way to make an impression. Thanks Walter." He paused. "But I'm bringing the gauntlets."

"Anything else before you go?" Jack asked as Booster retrieves the light weight gloves that contained his blasters.

"Uh… can I get some Big Belly Burger for lunch? I'm going to hit the gym but this is my cheat day."

"Of course. I'll get your usual." Jack smiles as Michael leaves, only to hiss at Walter, "I am trained in 12 different fighting styles and can hack the NSA… this is so degrading."

"Lyla and Oliver want us to keep an eye on Mr. Carter and if that means playing the role of assistant that is what you'll do."

Jack continued to grin as he said, "if he makes me go in a sauna with him I'm snapping his neck."

"Jack…"

"Kidding… sort-of."

Walter merely glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching into an almost-smile before he followed after Michael into the conference. "Alright then, I'm glad everyone could make it. I know it is hard to come in on a Saturday but I promise I will make this quick so you can all go back home and enjoy your weekend." Walter moved to step to the head of the table, Michael sitting just to the right of him; Steele was thrilled that, at the very least, Michael knew when to step to the side and let others do the talking. He'd been fearful that he'd be forced to deal with a power-hungry man or a bored non-businessman who wanted all the perks and none of the work. Michael was shaping up to be neither. "I believe we should make some introductions before we lay out the groundwork for what we will be focusing on in the coming weeks. I want to start with those that have been with us for a while. You all should know that I am Walter Steele and I am the Chief Operations Officer." He waved at Dirk, who gave a grin and wiggled his fingers. "Dirk Davis, who is heading up PR and our media division. He will be handling both the company and Booster Gold's brand recognition. Dr. Bernard Klein-"

"Bernie, If you like," Bernie said. "Or Bern-Dog." Everyone stared at him and the doctor shifted. "Just… always wanted to be called that… moving on."

"-is the head of our Medical Division. His team will split their duties assisting Booster in saving lives and in their labs using the money we gather from said heroic work to change lives. Katherine Spencer and Mark Shaw are the co-heads of our legal department and will be making sure that everything Booster does is on the level… we are doing something new here and I don't want it destroyed because some stuck up congressman decided he didn't like us doing the work the police simply can't do. Dr. Tracy Simmons," a dark haired woman with black glasses politely nodded, "is head of our Science division. They are looking into new ways to help Booster fight crime. While the technology he already uses is quite advanced we feel that, with time, we can improve upon it. Skeets, Booster's partner, will be-"

"I do have a question," Tracy said, raising her hand. Walter, while a touch annoyed at being interrupted, motioned for her to go on. "Where exactly did you get the equipment you use, Mr. Carter?"

Michael, who had been playing with his phone, looked up and smiled. "The future."

"Cute," Dr. Simmons said dryly.

"Thank you!" Michael said. "Still true."

"You want me to believe this is future technology that you just happened to get your hands on?" Simmons said, raising a single sculpted eyebrow.

Michael shrugged. "Central City has a man that can break the sound barrier. Currently Prof. Martin Stein is traveling through time with a young man he fuses with to become a fire-wielding superhero. Star City was attacked by an immortal man with magic powers… is it really that hard to believe I found a crate full of future tech?" His phone chimed and he grinned. "Hey, Ted is here. I'm going to go meet him." He stood up and scanned the room. "I'll trust Walter here to get things settled but I'll meet with everyone when I get a chance. Hey, Doc," he addressed Simmons, "can you make your first project figuring out how to have the nanites in my suit go over my clothes? Tired of stripping down to my skivvies to fight crime. Thanks!" He hurried out, only to run back in and grab his coffee, taking a final sip before leaving.

"…this is the man I've hitched my wagon to?" Tracy Simmons muttered.

"He's horrible at first impressions," Skeets said, finally flying into the room and causing Tracy and several others to jump in surprise. "I should tell you some day how I first met him… it involved a janitor bucket and an exploded can of whip cream…"

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Don't worry, he's with me!" Michael called out, hurrying over to the security guard that was at that moment pulling on a rubber glove while Ted watched with wide eyes. "Geez, Dan, I said scare him but that is… okay, that is actually really funny. Thanks."

"…seriously?" Ted cried out as Michael walked over, laughing the entire time. "That is… horrible. Hilarious, I admit… but horrible!"

"You're just mad you can't do the same thing to me because it would be copying," Michael pointed out.

"Yeah," Ted admitted. He stroked his chin. "Of course, this also means that I can now think of something much more interesting and utterly more embarrassing to do to you." Ted splayed his hands out. "I'm thinking it will involve a horse."

"I'll both look forward to and dread that happening," Michael said as he led Ted towards the stairs. A large glass balcony/second floor ran along the lobby of Halcyon and Michael loved to lean against the rail and watch people move about. This morning it was rather quiet, as most of the staff was off for the weekend but there were still the odd employee and guard moving about. "Staff meeting is happening, if you are interested."

"Why aren't you up there, then?" Ted asked. "Isn't that kind of an important thing for you to attend?"

Michael shrugged as they climbed the stairs. "Oh, I'm sure Walter and the rest of my merry band can handle things…"

"Finally figured out that being the big shot in control of a large company sucks?" Ted asked.

"…yeah."

Ted chuckled, moving with Michael to stand at the end of the balcony and watch as the guards milled about their post. "Why do you think I've resisted any attempt my uncle's made to put me in charge of… anything?" Michael stared at his friend and Ted shrugged. "What? You think this is the first time my uncle's sent me off to monitor a situation? In the last three years he's shipped me to Opal, Vanity, Fawcett… and each time I end up back in Hub, waiting to see where he ships me off to next."

"Is that why you haven't answered me about a partnership?" Michael asked. "You don't want to be yanked back… or stay?"

Ted sighed and looked at the blond. "Listen, I-"

"What the frilly hell?" Michael interrupted.

Ted followed Michael's gaze and watched in bemusement as the guards milled around a man in a huge fluffy white fur coat, wondering what exactly they were supposed to do with this new arrival.

"Dear god it's Kanye West," Ted muttered.

"Who?" Michael asked.

"Seriously, where the hell did you grow up?" Ted complained.

"Sir?" one of the guards said, slowly approaching the oddly dressed man. "I'm going to need to see your ID."

"But of course," Mr. Fluffy Coat said, reaching into his coat only to pull out a long silver gun and fire it at the guard. The uniformed man barely had a chance to scream before he was encased in thick bluish-white ice. Ted and Michael both jolted at that and the blond reached for his belt only to realize he wasn't wearing it. "Is that good enough for you? No? How about this!" The attacker opened fire, guards and personnel screaming as they tried to flee his blasts. The beam of super-cold air froze everything it touched, even turning the water vapor in the air into ice crystals.

In the conference room Walter had just gotten done talking with Dr. Klein when alarms began to go off.

"What is that?" Tracy Simmons asked.

"We're being attacked," Walter said grimly. Those that were actual workers nervously looked at each other while Walter caught Jack Soo's eye and nodded. "Do not worry, everyone… Michael is in the building and I am sure he is handling the situation as we speak."

Back in the lobby Michael was staying put.

"What are you waiting for?" Ted hissed. "Get down there!"

"I can't," Michael growled back. "I left most of my suit in my office. All I have are the gauntlets."

"Then use those!" Ted complained only to duck when the beam fired just above his head. He ducked down, Michael instantly joining them, the two shivering as the temperature around them dropped 60 degrees in the blink of an eye. "Okay, so no forcefield might make it a bit harder but I have all the faith in the world in you." He clapped Michael on the shoulder. "I'll flee while you take him on."

"Booster Gold!" Mr. Fluffy Coat roared, hefting his gun in the air and pointing it at random spots. "I know you're up there! Come down here and let me have a word with you!"

"Sure!" Michael called out. "Just drop the gun, let the innocent people go, and I'll gladly come down and we can have a nice conversation about how one properly schedules appointments!"

"And I count as an innocent person!" Ted shouted.

"I can't do the first but the second is doable!" the madman declared. He pointed his gun at the other guards and fired, the men ducking behind their desk as he iced it over. They were alive but now trapped in an ice igloo. "There, happy?"

"We have very different definitions of 'letting people go'!" Michael called down as he began to tug on his gloves.

"And I'm not innocent… just ask my last girlfriend." Michael looked down at Ted's right hand. "Shut up!"

"Make all the jokes you want but you are going to pay for all you've done to me. You will suffer and you will know agony!"

Ted looked at Michael, a condescending smile on his face. "Someone already made a new friend."

"Joy," Michael said as he finished strapping on his gloves. "Listen, I don't know who you are but-"

"Oh, but you will, thief!" the madman roared, firing at the balcony and forcing Michael and Ted to scurry to a safer location. "And the whole world will know too! They would have known if you had never shown up… if you had never stolen what belonged to me!" Mr. Fluffy Coat puffed out his chest, resting his gun on his shoulder in a clear attempt to look like a badass. "I… am Chillblaine."

"…really?" Michael asked.

"Yes," the madman said. "I am… Chillblaine."

"No, I… I heard you. I'm just trying to wrap my mind around the name. You did say Chillblaine, right?"

"Of course!"

"…why?" Michael complained.

Chillblaine frowned at this, clearly taken aback by his hated foe's distaste for, of all things, his name. "Because I use ice as a weapon!"

"That explains the chill part but why include your first name?"

"My… my name isn't Blaine," the ice villain said, his bluster going down to a casual tone. "I's Craig Waid."

"…then why the hell are you called Chillblaine?!"

The ice villain shook his head in annoyance. "As in chilblains… the condition that occurs on the fingers and toes when they become too cold… it's like frostbite-"

"Then why not call yourself Frostbite?" Michael argued.

"Are we really having this conversation?" Ted asked.

"My name is fine! You will whisper it with your last breath-"

"Only if my last breath includes the phrase, "The stupidest name for a villain is…". " Michael rolled his eyes. "Seriously, I can think of… ten better names than Chillblaine."

"No you can't!" Chillblaine shouted, actually stomping his foot like a 5 year old having a tantrum.

Michael began to tick of the names. "Frostbite, Coldburn or Coldberns if you want to make it punny, The Blizzard, Snowfall, Mr. Freeze, Dr. Chill, The Iceman, Coldsnap, Iceblock, Shiver! And hey, if you get a sidekick you can call'em Frostnip. There!"

"I think one of those names is already taken," Ted muttered.

"…said the thief who goes by 'Booster Gold'."

"He has you there," Ted said.

"Okay, enough of this!" Michael popped up and began to fire on Chillblaine, forcing the killer back. "No one comes into my headquarters and insults my name… especially when they are some loser named Chillblaine!" Seeing that his foe was stumbling back Michael fired on the ice igloo, freeing the guards. "Get out of here!" he shouted.

"No one leaves until you're dead!" Chillblaine roared, pulling out a small blue-white cylinder and throwing it at the door. The moment the object it there was an icy explosion that covered the entire entryway of Halcyon in a foot of solid ice. The guards, for their part, skidded back and finally decided to seek shelter elsewhere, realizing that they were just getting in the way. Chillblaine took out another cylinder and primed it. "Cyro Grenade… something that loser Captain Cold never thought of!" He heaved it up towards Michael and the blond grabbed Ted.

"HOLD ON!" Michael shouted, thankful that he'd at least worn his Legion Flight Ring. The two soared over the balcony just before the grenade hit, turning their former hiding spot into a frozen block. Michael landed next to the stairwell and shoved Ted inside. "Come on!"

Chillblaine watched Michael flee and roared in frustration. "You think this is the end? You think you can escape! I will hunt you down and I will destroy you!" He began to fire wildly in the air, coating the ceiling in ice, before he marched towards another stairwell door, snow sprinkling down on top of him.

In said stairwell Ted was looking up the many flights of stairs and wishing he'd just stayed at the office. "Okay, so I think it might be best if we went up a few flights, hid, and then tried finding a different way up once we knew Chillblaine has-"

Michael lifted Ted up like he was a mountainman's bride and flew straight up.

"Or this works too. Plan?"

"Contact Walter, figure out a way to take the badguy down, do said thing I just said, and then get lunch."

"Those sound more like goals than plans."

"All about the vision, Ted," Michael said, finally coming to a stop on the 8th floor. "Come on, we need into an office."

Ted looked around the office space as Michael hurried towards the nearest office. "What is this?"

"Legal," Michael said. "So worst case I can sue Chillblaine for having a stupid name."

"You honestly aren't going to let this go, are you?"

"Do you think anyone would care about the Flash if he fought Mister Chillybutt instead of 'Captain Cold'?"

"…that is oddly a good point. Carry on."

In the conference room Walter started a bit when the phone began to ring. "Yes?"

"Hey Walter," Michael said, trying to keep his tone light. "How's it going? Not panicked, right? No insane guys in white fur coats trying to kill you?"

The COO merely pursed his lips. "What is going on down there?"

"Oh, just a psychopath with a horrible name wants to kill me. Everyone else is just collateral damage so I need you to get anyone that is still in the tower to the top floor and then lock it down."

Tracy frowned at that. "That is your answer? Hide?"

"You guys will get in my way and I'm not having anyone else die today. Send a signal, text, tweets, put a damn message of Facebook, I don't care… just tell them to get to the top floor and then seal the doors!"

Skeets though was not happy with the plan. "Michael, your suit is up here. We can't seal the floor until you retrieve it."

"Wrong," Michael said. "You seal it and I'll just have to figure something else out."

"Michael, we're all here for you so keep the comm up," Walter said. "We'll help you how we can." He snapped his fingers at the lawyers. "You heard the man, begin making phone calls! Doctor Klein, Doctor Simmons, you stay here with me. Skeets, I want you to grab Michael's equipment and get it to him."

"Too risky," Michael said. "Skeets, no offense buddy but you are a hovering target. This guy is nuts but he is a crack shot."

"I'll go," Jack Soo said from the doorway. "I'll escort him."

"The hell you will!" Michael shouted.

"Michael, it will be alright. Jack won't be going anywhere." Even as he said it Walter looked at Jack and gave him a nod, the secret ARGUS agent nodding before motioning for Skeets to follow. "Now then, our first course of action-"

Dirk cut the other man off. "Mike, I'm not going to beat around the bush like Walter and just come right out and ask it: how bad is the guy's name?" Klein, Walter, Tracy, and the lawyers all stared at Dirk. "What?"

Walter coldly answered, "This is hardly the-"

"He goes by Chillblaine."

The COO couldn't stop the disgusted groan that bubbled from his lips.

Klein's face screwed up in derision. "Like… the condition one gets when their fingers and toes are exposed to extreme cold?"

"That's just a lesser form of frostbite," Tracy complained. "Why not go with Frostbite?"

"I said the same thing!"

Walter pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bad names aside, this Mr. Blaine-"

"Blaine isn't even his name," Ted stated, his team once more letting out groans of contempt. "Said his name was Craig Waid."

Walter snapped his fingers at Dirk. "Look him up, now! Michael, Ted, what is your plan?"

"Well, I for one would be happy with waiting for the National Guard-OOMF!" Ted groaned as Michael elbowed him in the gut.

"The plan is that I lead Chillblaine on a merry little chase so you can get everyone locked away safe. Then I figure out had to take him down. Hopefully you guys can help me out with that."

"I might be able to get you more info the play with," Ted said, moving towards a computer. "If you give me the access codes for the security cams I can beam them-"

The brunette was forced to leap back when the computer was hit by a beam of ice, turning it into an expensive paperweight.

"My new friend is here, talk later," Michael said with mock cheer before focusing on firing on Chillblaine. "Not that I don't mind you coming in here and wrecking up my place of business-" he leaned ducked behind a desk before providing coverfire so Ted might sneak behind something not currently a target, "-but mind telling me what has your panties in a bunch?"

"You!" Chillblaine roared, firing another beam of icy death at Michael. The costumeless hero managed to dive out of the way and fire back, cheering the hit he scored only to realize after the fact that all he'd done is put a hole in the man's furry jacket. "You ruined my life!"

Michael dashed to the side, refusing to use his ring unless he had too; no reason to reveal that little trick just yet. Tucking into a roll, he came to stop in a crouch and fired twin shots at Chillblaine, forcing the man to take cover behind a wall. "You keep saying things like that and I have no idea what you're talking about! So how about you drop me a clue and explain just what I did that was so horrible it made you want to kill me!" He glanced over at Ted, ensuring that his friend was fine before adding, "Come on… did I stop you from robbing a bank? Damage your car in a battle? You blame me for the death of someone you love? Tell me and maybe we can work this out."

Ted mouth, 'really?' only for Michael to mouth back 'shit no'.

"You honestly… honestly don't know what you've done?"

"Considering we've never met? Yeah, I don't know!" Michael shouted. "maybe if you tell me, I can fix it!"

"You can never fix this," Chillblaine said, shrugging off his coat. "You stole my costume design!"

"…what?" Michael said flatly. He slowly peaked his head over the desk and stared at the revealed Chillblaine. The man before him had brownish blonde hair that, like with his Booster Gold costume was free from any cover. He wore a cowl too but had no goggles to cover his eyes. While the Booster costume was a blue top and golden bottoms Chillblaine had on a armless and legless pale yellow unitard over a blue body suit. He had on long yellow gloves with blue stitching as well as boots in the same color. There was no logo on his chest; no, instead Chillblaine sported white furry shoulder pads, two white fur belts around his waist, and what could only be described as a necklace of white polished metal discs around his neck. There was a pouch for his Cyro Grenades on his hip and a holster for his cold rifle on his back.

"…you stupid idiot!" Michael shouted, popping up from his hiding spot. "We look nothing alike!"

"Yes we do!" Chillblaine shouted. "You stole my costume idea!"

"First off you can't steal something that you don't even know exists. Second our costumes have similar colors… that's it. And even then only the tops are close. And I don't have those idiotic fur… whatever the hell those are on your shoulders. And why do you have two belts?"

"Don't question my style!"

"Oh, I'm questioning it," Michael said with wide eyes and a mocking tone. He began to slowly circle the deranged stalker. "I'm questioning all of…" he waved his hand at Chillblaine, his face screwed up with the same look one might have after smelling a spoiled burrito. "…this. Like what the hell is with the 70s era disco necklace. I mean, even for this time that is out of date."

"You dare… you dare mock me… after you stole my lock!?"

"I wouldn't steal that look if wearing it made me immortal. Why the hell is it yellow and blue? You're ice themed villain. As ugly as the white fur is at least that kinda makes sense. Why not white… or light blue."

"I have on blue. Blue as frozen lips."

"And what, yellow for snow that got peed in?" Michael challenged, continuing his walk around Chillblaine.

"You are just trying to justify your theft!" Chillblaine screeched.

"No, I'm trying to wrap my head around your stupid outfit."

Chillblaine grin his teeth and pointed his gun right at Michael. "One more word and I kill you."

"You said you'd kill me anyway," Michael pointed out. "So kind of a lose lose. You should really make up your mind and for god sakes Ted hurry up!"

Chillblaine whipped around, firing at one desk as Ted quickly dove behind Michael. The hero aimed and sent a blast of energy at Chillblaine, catching him right in the stomach and sending him stumbled back, gripping his chest. "Okay, pretty sure I broke a few ribs." Chillblaine grabbed a Cyro Grenade. "But let's not stick around!" Ted and him moved into the stairway once more, Michael poking his head out last time to taunt, "You have two belts, man! They don't even hold anything up!" With a roar the villain fired, Michael shutting the door just in time for Chillblaine to ice it over. The villain panted before he realized he'd just sealed the exit and now couldn't chase right after them.

"That will buy us some time," Michael said, once more grabbing Ted and flying up. "He'll have to go to another stairwell and then cross the next floor. Give us a chance to get all set up."

"Set up for what?" Ted asked as Michael stopped at the 20th floor. He pulled out the cellphone he's snagged from one desk and quickly began to call Walter. "And you honestly annoyed him on purpose? That is… scary clever."

"Part of my winning charm. Walter, is everyone safe?" Michael asked once he released Ted.

"The last person is now in, Michael," Walter said. "We are going into lockdown."

"Good… keep everyone there till I settle this. We find out any more about this loser?"

"We have," Mark Shaw said. "Craig Waid has been a regular for the Central City PD for years now but recently they lost track of him with the influx of metas."

"What were the complaints?" Michael asked.

"Stalking," Katherine stated. "The guy is a serial stalker. Deranged too, from the sounds of it. He doesn't just stalk people he stalks businesses, buses, I even have a report of him trailing after a dog, the owner saying Waid thought the dog had caused him to lose a winning lotto ticket."

"Of course, because I simply couldn't have attracted a normal crazy person. Any idea how he got his hands on a cold gun?"

Shaw took back over. "Well, two years ago the Central City PD began getting requests for information concerning a woman wanted in connection to some robberies, murders, and even a jail break. They didn't think much of it because everyone was asking for info back then but later a Detective Joe West did some digging and realize the newspaper that requested the information didn't exist and the address given had been the one time home of Craig Waid." Shaw paused. "The woman he was stalking was Lisa Snart."

"Captain Cold's sister," Michael muttered.

"Wait, what?" Ted hissed.

Michael sighed and put the phone on speaker. "Ted's now on. So Chillblaine began stalking Lisa Snart?"

"Yes, Michael," Walter said. "We also found another report… it seems that last year, around the time Leonard Snart escaped from prison, one of the cold guns that was confiscated from his hideout went missing. The police assumed Snart simply took two of them but we believe that Chill… that Mr. Waid took it himself and has modified it."

"Michael," Tracy chimed in, "Craig Waid has a degree in engineering and despite his insanity is a brilliant man. He clearly made these weapons himself and will know how to use them. I need to know what you currently have on you if we're going to make a gameplan."

"I only have my flight ring and my gauntlets."

Walter frowned. "If you can stall for a few more minutes Jack and Skeets should be near you with your suit-"

"I thought I told you to lock them in too!" Michael snapped.

"Jack insisted," Walter stated. "He understood we would have a better chance of surviving this if you were fully outfitted."

Tracy chimed in. "Your blasters don't have a heat setting, do they?"

Michael shook his head. "No, they are designed to fire cool. The energy is purely physical."

"Then we have two brute force guns and the ability to fly."

"Actually no," Ted said, finally chiming in. He pulled out his riot gun. "I have something that might even the odds."

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

Meanwhile, 19 floors above Michael and Ted, Jack and Skeets were hurrying down the stairs, Michael's forcefield belt and goggles slung over Jack's shoulder. "I must say, Mr. Soo, you are doing rather well. An average man would not be able to keep the pace you are at."

Jack shrugged, trying to play off his feat. "Well, you know… I jog." He turned and began down another set of steps. "This would be easier if I could just put on Michael's costume. The forcefield field would let me leap down 5 stories without feeling a thing."

"True but without the Legion ring you would not be able to fly. Furthermore when we arrived… here… Michael had me calibrate all his equipment so that it would only work for one of his genetic makeup. Thus the belt is quickly simply a large paperweight at the moment."

"Right," Jack said, filing that away. "So, I've been meaning to ask… where are you and Michael from?"

"A place you've never heard of, I'd imagine."

Jack decided to pry a bit more. "It's just… you are really advanced. Really. I've never seen a piece of machinery like you."

"Thank you, sir!" Skeets said happily. "I do think I am rather special myself."

"When… compared to others like you?"

"Oh yes. I suppose others of my make and mold show some human emotion but I have always been unique… part of why I was assigned the duties I was."

"And thus duties were-"

Before Jack could finish a blast shot up from a lower part of the stairwell, coating the rail with ice. The secret ARGUS agent nearly slipped but Skeets quickly bopped him and moved him back. The two pressed themselves to the wall as more beams fired, some hitting far below, some racing higher up.

"I think we found Michael's opponent," Skeets stated.

"We have to get down there," Jack said.

Skeets hovered to the edge and did a quick scan. "I detect that Michael and Mr. Kord are 150 feet below us. At our current rate it will take us roughly 5 minutes to descend all the way. However, with the ice beams we will need to go more slowly."

"Nope, need to get to him ASAP." Jack spotted a firehose box on the wall and nodded. "We need to get down another 50 feet!"

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

Down where Michael and Ted were at they were doing their best to run and gun as Chillblaine fired on them. The blond was blasting chunks out of the stairwell while Ted was using his riot gun to drive Chillblaine back whenever he gained a bit too much on them.

"I can't believe we are going to be killed!" Ted whined.

"I can't believe we're going to be killed by a guy named Chillblaine," Michael retorted.

"Will you let it go?"

"Just imagine the headline," Michael snarked. "'Kord Industries Heir Murdered By Chillblaine'."

"…oh god, I'm going to die to someone named Chillblaine."

"See?!" Michael complained before firing off a few more shots. "What are you hitting him with?" Michael called out, ducking just to avoid a blast from Chillblaine. The man was now only one flight below them and was getting a bit too accurate for both of their tastes.

"I designed the gun to be a non-lethal weapon while also solving the problem with reload." Ted paused, firing off a shot that nearly hit Chillblaine, the villain managing to slide out of the way just in time. The wall behind him took the brunt of the attack, trembling slightly. "When I fire it shoots a concentrated burst of air while also sucking in the next shot. The blast should fell a charging rhino."

"Great," Michael said dryly. "Look for the rhinos while I deal with the guy trying to kill us!"

"Hey, I didn't plan on being in a supervillain duel today!"

"I will freeze the blood in your veins and peel the costume from your body!" Chillblaine declared.

"News flash, idiot, I'm not wearing my costume! I don't even-"

"BOOSTER!"

Michael and Ted looked up, watching as Jack came repelling down the stairwell via a fire hose-turned-rope while Skeets sent a few electrical blasts to distract Chillblaine. The assistant swung over to them, Ted catching him as he tumbled to their flight of stairs.

"Jack!" Michael exclaimed.

"Special delivery!" Jack said with a grin.

"Remind me to give you a raise…" Michael began to say only for Chillblaine to begin firing again. Skeets had been forced to retreat, a bit of ice on the tip of one of his fins, and now the villain could focus on them again. "Ted, get him out of here!" Michael shed his shirt. "I got this." Ted nodded, quickly helping Jack up the next flight of stairs while Michael snapped on his belt and activated his suit, the nanobots rushing over him and forming into the Booster Gold costume.

That's when the ice villain struck.

Michael cried out as his left arm was hit, ice rapidly covering it and sticking it to the wall. He moved to try and free himself only for his other arm to also be pinned. Because the suit wasn't fully formed the forecfield hadn't been turned on, leaving him shivering as he felt his arms began to succumb to instant hypothermia.

"Michael!" Skeets cried, going in to help his friend only to end up in a block of ice for his trouble.

"SKEETS!" Michael shouted as the drone fell to the ground near his feet. He struggled to free himself even as Chillblaine slowly approached, a manic grin on his face as he charged up his weapon. Michael let out a pained roar as he fought and struggled, his movements only slowly when Chillblaine praised the barrel of his weapon to Michael's chest, slowly easing him back against the wall.

"And this is where it ends, thief. You will die like all man do and I will reclaim what is mine." Chillblaine flashed his pearly whites. "All it will take his the pulling of the trigger and my icethrower will freeze your heart and turn your lungs-"

"Icethrower?" Michael said. "That's… that's what you call it?"

"Yes," Chillblaine said, confused. "Like… it's a flamethrower… but for ice."

"…dear god you suck at naming things."

"And you're no longer alive," Chillblaine said.

"And I'm dead… just say that! Stop making it so complicated and Ted SHOOT HIM ALREADY!"

Chillblaine whipped around only to let out a whimpering gurgle when a blast from the riot gun hit him right between the legs.

"Nice shot," Michael said as Ted hurried down, carefully using his gun to blast the ice holding Michael in place.

"I was going for his head," Ted admitted.

"Well, it worked." Michael paused, looking down at the whimpering madman. "Big Chill. That's eleven names." He kicked Chillblaine in the head, knocking him out.

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"-op Story: Halcyon Tower was attacked by a man in a knock-off Booster Gold costume who attempted to take down Ion City's hero. Booster Gold was able to apprehend the criminal but not before two of the guards working the front doors at the time of the attack were killed. The attacker, a Craig Waid of Central City, is currently being transferred to Iron Heights before awaiting trial…"

Michael groaned as he watched the news. "They had to call that piece of crap outfit a 'knock off' of my suit?"

"Just let it go, man," Ted said.

"Still… Hail to the conquering heroes," Dirk said with a grin.

Michael certainly didn't look or feel like a conquering anything. He was sitting in a desk chair, his upper body wrapped in heated pads while Dr. Klein looked over his hands and fingers carefully. He was already beginning to bruise and his trademark smile had been wiped off his face the moment the crisis had come to an end. He fretted over Skeets, despite the little drone sending messages to his comm assuring him he was find and actually found the ice quite comfy, and had become morose at the news that they'd lost two guards in Chillblaine's attack.

"Why are you heating my chest?" Michael said glumly. "It was my arms that got hit."

Bernie shook his head. "Blood doesn't sit in your veins... you know that, right? It is constantly moving. Yes, the muscles are cold right now but nice warm blood is being pumped from your heart and cold blood is coming into your chest. Warm your core first and your body will do the rest. You can relax your arms now." Michael nodded, quickly accepting a blanket from Tracy and wrapping it around himself, pulling his arms tight to his chest. "No lasting damage... and no need to use those horrid nanites."

"They would have me fixed up in seconds."

"And this will do the same thing over time," Bernie countered. "Patience is a virtue, after all."

"You did well today, Michael," Walter said.

"I could have done amazing if I'd been smart enough to grab my belt," he complained.

"It could have been much worse," Walter stated sternly. "You saved so many lives today..."

"And still let two people die," Michael shot back. "That isn't a victory, Walter."

Tracy shook her head. "You know, when you first introduced yourself today in the conference from I thought you were an idiot."

Michael managed a grin. "And?"

Tracy just stared at him and walked away.

"…and? And?" Michael looked at the others who, save for Bernie (due to him focusing on Michael's recovery) were hiding their snickers. "Uh… isn't this the part where she admits she was wrong and how I proved myself today and I've earned her loyalty?"

Ted groaned. "We might resemble the cast of a CW show but we aren't one, okay? There is no touching wrap-up at the end of the 'episode' where we solve all our problems and everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow."

"...do you practice those little speeches?" Michael asked.

Walter patted Michael on the shoulder. "It's a start, Michael."

"A good start or a bad start… Walter?" Michael scoffed when his COO began to walk away. "Why does everyone keep doing that?! Ted?" the brunette began to amble away himself. "Oh come on!"

Ted merely smirked even as he pulled out his smartphone and stepped into an empty office. "O'Jeneus? This is Ted… yeah, I'm fine… listen… yeah… no, the opposite. Tell my uncle I want to schedule a meeting… yeah, we are going to partner with Booster Gold."

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

"Yes sir," O'Jeneus said as Ted asked him to begin the process of forming a formal partnership between Kord Industries and BG International. "I'll talk to your uncle's assistant about setting something up… and then begin seeing about getting you an assistant." The short man chuckled as Ted fumbled with an apology. "It is okay, sir. I don't mind this time. Yes… yes… I will see you tomorrow." Ending the call Mikron O'Jeneus looked over the man that was currently standing next to him, his arms crossed over his costumed chest. "He's decided to go with the partnership."

"Good," Supernova stated. "I had been growing impatient. My employers need to know everything there is to know about Booster Gold so that we can be better prepared to destroy him."

"I thought you were using that idiot Mandragora to do that?" O'Jeneus asked, slipping out of his chair and waddling over to his dry bar.

"Mandragora is merely a distraction. He is the hammer that tenderizes the meat. Should he manage to actually kill Booster I'll be shocked."

"So will I," O'Jeneus muttered. "I've met the fools he has inducted into his '100 Program' and I've been less than impressed with them." The short man began to mix himself a drink. "It took me two hours to teach Prewitt how to use his vibration gauntlets and the idiot still almost blew his nose off when he went to pick it. I'm beginning to think that The 100 refers to their IQ."

"I don't need them to be smart," Supernova growled. "I need them to distract and wear down the golden fool."

"Does that voice actually scare people?" O'Jeneus asked casually as he began to shake his drink. "Or do you do it purely because it sounds 'cool'?" He rolled his eyes and set about cutting a lime wedge. "I've heard your real voice, Supernova… I don't know why you insist on using that silly voice."

The masked villain glared at O'Jeneus and slowly clenched his fist.

"Are you planning to blast the back of my skull in?" O'Jeneus said dryly, not even bothering to look back at the intimidating figure. "I suppose you could, though other than my surprised face," O'Jeneus made an overly exaggerated 'gasping' face before continuing, "the only other thing you'll have to look forward to is your slow and painful death given to you by our employers." At this O'Jeneus slowly turned around and Supernova lowered his first, though the inventor could tell that the man was glaring at him. "I'm not one of your pawns. I was hired by the Legion the same as you. Your task is to keep Mandragora in line while I supply his idiots with the tools they need to at least last five seconds against Booster Gold. My payment is that they ensure Kord Industries rises from the ashes of Booster's fall stronger than ever and you… honestly I don't know what you get and I don't care. Just never forget that I'm not below you… in fact I'm above. The Legion will have a hard time replacing me… you though? They can find any idiot with a grudge and shove him in that suit." O'Jeneus turned and sipped his drink. "Now leave so I can get drunk in peace."

Supernova glared at the man before disappearing with a crack.

"Good boy."

~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~BOOSTER~

Next Time on BOOSTER GOLD!

While no one else seems interested in it, Michael is jumping for joy over the thought of Halloween. It's his favorite holiday and while much of his staff would be happy treating it like any other day Michael wants to make sure he shows all of Ion why the 31st is so great.

Too bad for Michael that Mandragora is also in the Halloween Spirit. And what better way to celebrate than with a nightmare born from Deathstroke's mad schemes? No tricks, no treats… Devil's Night is about to become a fight for Michael's life… against something that can't die.

Next Week: Born on a Monday

-Chillblaine attacks the Halcyon

-Powerless battle

-Ted finally relents

- Kord Industries assisting Mandragora

-What to call the war room.

The Team

Booster

Skeets- Tech

Walter- COO

Dirk- Public Relations

Tracy Simmons- head of science division

Jack Soo- Assistant (Secret ARGUS agent)

Michelle- Secuirty

Ted- Engineer

Klein- Medical

Ted Gear- Nanofiber energy cable, BB Gun, ultifriction gloves and boots, goggles,