Woot! Chapter 3! I know everyone has questions regarding the bad guys and I promise you the answers are there. I challenge you all to guess before I give away the premise.

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Chapter 3

The Question leans back in his office chair and rolls back away for the computer in front of him. It all makes sense, every detail fits perfectly, which leads to one solid conclusion. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it. But how could he tell the League about something like this. Like so many of the world's conspiracies the knowledge of such a thing would lead to chaos. He exhales the cloud of smoke with a sigh. Decisions, decisions.

A loud bang disrupts his thinking as the door flies across the room. "Question!" a blond teenager yells at him. "Supergirl," he replies, only a bit startled by her entrance. It was only a matter of time before she showed up, and he is the obvious person to ask about things such as this. She stalks over to him with a look he doesn't like and plucks the smoking roll from his concealed lips. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" he asks back. He can't tell her, she'll just race off and disappear too. Besides, he finally figured out how to deal with the situation. "You know exactly what I mean," she growls back. Nope, definitely can't let her in on it, yet. "Why don't you remind me," he says to the raging Kryptonian and kicks the power cord under the desk, turning the computer off. Her eyes start to glow as she grabs Question by the collar. Nose to nose with him she asks, "Where Is My Cousin?" Question holds her arm as she glares at him, her eyes ready to burn.

"Kara?" a familiar voice asks. The Question looks back at the first Green Lantern as he peers through the busted doorway. "Is everything ok?" he asks with concern. Kara's arm lowers just slightly. "Hal," Question calls. Hal looks back in surprise and confusion. "It's a Collector. Probably from outside the Gaudians' realm." A look of confusion floods his face as he grapples with the idea. "What are you talking about?" Supergirl asks as her glowing eyes begin to fade. Question pins his gaze on Hal as understanding suddenly lights his face. He leaves the doorway quickly and starts calling to other heroes on his comlink. Kara turns back to the Question with a confusion and frustration, "Explain."

"There are pink flamingos in the cafeteria," he responds, suppressing a smirk. His head hits the wall with a bang. "Tell me the truth!" she yells. "You can't handle the truth!" he yells back. With a look of pure rage she glares at him before dropping him and racing after the Green Lantern. Now sitting atop his cluttered desk he pulls the box of cigarettes out of his coat pocket. Lighting yet another, he leans against the wall and takes a long puff. As the smoke lifts and dissolves into the surrounding air he thinks to himself, "No one can handle the truth."

Superman feels helpless. It's not like this has never happened before, but this is far beyond those times of capture. He has to get out this time. The other members need his strength. After witnessing Green Arrow's struggle with the alien he is more determined than ever, but then Green Arrow started talking to it, and then the other alien showed up. Clark is more determined than ever as the hero now leans against the wall of his cell, unrestrained and fuming. He can hear as the doors to the other cells slide open and closed, and gasps of shock respond to the unmistakable sound of screws drilling into bone. It was only a matter of time. He waits quietly, summoning all of his strength and focus as the door next to his opens with a whir.

"No, stay away from me," Shayera says with a trembling warrior's voice. Kal'el blocks it out and hones his power and strength. His door slides open and the stone giant steps up to him with a collar in hand. Kal'el narrows his eyes as the creature gets closer. Just as the smell of sulfur hits his nose and the collar is centimeters from his neck he lashes out, knocking his head with the alien's and kicking him in the chest with all the force he can muster. It sends the creature tumbling back, dropping the collar that goes skidding across the floor.

Superman takes deep breaths. It took a lot of energy to do that simple task and now he glares at the giant with triumph. Perhaps it will back off and call another to do the job, or give up and leave him out of whatever the plan is. But as he glares at the startled form he sees something else in its eyes, anger. It mutters something and Arrow's eyes widen. As the creature stands up again, he shouts, "Superman, look out!" And quicker than Clark could imagine, the creature slams its hand over his face and shouts back at him in a thunderous language. The collar is then around his neck and drills deep into his spine. A cry of pain escapes his mouth and the creature releases him. "BAD KRYPTON!" The thunderous voice yells, making Clark's ears ring. The red light turns off and the creature stomps away in anger.

Due to lack of creative motivation, this story has been put on hold until the completion of The Other World. I understand any frustrations due to this decision, and hope that I will be able to return this story soon.

- Kiera Snow