Chapter 9
DP
Danny stood up straight and tried not to breathe too much while the tailor put the final touches on his tuxedo. Sam's Mom insisted on only the best for the wedding, best food, drink, music, and clothes. Sam and Danny managed to get her to let them choose the theme; their wedding was going to be a 'Land of the Dead' theme, with Danny and Sam as the King and Queen of the Underworld. He wore a black suit with a large white skull on the back and femur looking silver cufflinks, and the buttons were shaped like skulls. He already had the crown, a simple tin affair with a few too many spikes. Sam's dress was an all black very sensual faux-Victorian era affair with a skull broach and a red veil and one of the spikiest tiaras Danny had ever laid eyes on.
"One more stitch and VOILA!" the tailor happily said. Danny moved his arms and legs, it was fitted to perfection, he could move freely. He looked at himself in the mirror and said, "I feel like raiding a few villages and raising an army of the dead." "You look like you could sir," the tailor said as he moved the mirror to let Danny look at himself from various angles. Just then Danny's Ghost Sense went off, then the tailor stopped mid-stride. "Clockwork, what's going on? It's been nine days, and no invasion," Danny said as Clockwork appeared before him in his young man form. "That's what I've been working on. You need to understand, these creatures are unlike anything in this universe, and their very nature fogs my ability to see them clearly. But now I know; they will invade some time in the next 48 hours."
Danny swallowed at the thought, "You can't be any clearer?" "I'm sorry, that's the best I can do," Clockwork said. "If you don't use the Crown of Fire and Ring of Rage, you will not survive the battle. That much is certain," the Ghost of Time told Danny. Danny looked at him and sighed, "I…can't. The power is too much for me, if I use them then they'll kill me." "You must," Clockwork said, "and you can control the power." "How?" Danny asked him. Clockwork said, "Look into my staff." Danny looked and his mind was filled with visions of superheroes, no, halfas. Hundreds of human-ghost hybrids like him. These are mine and Sam's descendants… He saw a boy with black hair and green eyes and a white jumpsuit with sky blue belt, boots, and gloves rescue a family from their burning apartment. He saw what looked like a green skinned woman with claws for hands and razor sharp teeth wearing black and white clothes rescue a school bus full of children from a crazed gunman. He finally saw a man with white hair, red eyes, wearing a white jumpsuit with white belt, boots, and gloves bring what looked like a spaceship into what could only be called a space station.
The visions ended and Clockwork said, "None of this will come to be if you do not succeed. When the power feels like it's too much, remember those who may come to be, and the ones you have now. Focus on them, and you will control it." Clockwork then disappeared and the tailor said, "How do you like the suit?" "It's great," Danny said, "Help me out of it, I need to get somewhere, fast."
JL
J'onn J'onzz, known by most as the Martian Manhunter, was floating in the air in his private quarters along with his apprentice, Strong Good. He telepathically spoke to her, Calm your mind Lisa, block out the distractions and concentrate on the here and now. Lisa, aka Strong Good, replied telepathically, yes Teacher. She took a breath and lifted up the metal ball again. She then concentrated and the ball began to float up to a foot above her hand. Very good Lisa, now move your hand, and keep the ball in the air with your mind alone, J'onn instructed. Strong Good put her hand to her side and kept the ball in the air for five minutes before it started to descend. Stay up there! Strong Good commanded the ball, only for it to continue fall, although a little slower, before it finally hit the ground.
"You're improving," J'onn told her. "Not fast enough though," Strong Good sighed. "Humans do say that before you learn to run you must learn to walk, and before you learn to walk, you must learn to crawl. You've only recently discovered the true source of your powers Lisa; it's only natural that you're having trouble with expanding them." J'onn placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and said, "Give it time." "Thank you, Teacher," Strong Good said and they walked out of J'onn's private quarters. The Flash ran up to J'onn and said, "We got news on the invasion." J'onn flew off with Flash to the Conference Room where the rest of the Original Seven were along with Danny. "Good, you're here," Superman said.
"According to Danny the invasion will happen within the next 48 hours. Gather the rest of the League," Superman told J'onn and Flash. They went off, J'onn to the Communications Room and entered the signal for all members of the League on Earth. "Attention Justice League, this is an urgent announcement. We now know that Earth will be invaded in the next 48 hours. This is not a drill, be on the alert for any turquoise portals and prepare for invasion. This is not a drill." J'onn then rubbed his forehead like he had seen many humans do when they were exasperated. Many will die in the next 48 hours. I pray that their sacrifice will not be in vain.
