Chapter Thirteen
Giganta and Wonder Girl woke up Kestrel and the Man Bat. Dove was still unconscious and they left him that way. The Legionnaires conferred.
"It's awfully quiet over there." Giganta observed.
Kestrel's exceptionally keen eyesight let her know what was going on, "The police are moving in. They'd only do that if the others were down."
"There's a series of vehicles passing by." Wonder Girl pointed out. The heavy trucks and vans passed them without a second glance. "Those are meta-human containment trucks. We've lost. I suggest a tactical retreat."
"That's not fair." Giganta protested, "We came for the gold."
"You can still go after it on your own." Wonder Girl offered, "The rest of us are leaving. Are you coming?"
"Okay." Giganta shrugged, "Anything beats prison."
"Let's hurry then." Kestrel urged, "Before the League comes back."
Their decision made, they opened a boom tube and departed.
"Yeah, J'onn, they're gone." Blackhawk reported into the signal device, "Dove is down. I'm going to check on him."
"Thank you." J'onn replied, "I know it must be difficult for you to stay on the sidelines."
"You have no idea." Blackhawk ruefully admitted, "Anyway, I've got to go."
"Take care of him." J'onn requested, "We'll be there shortly."
"I'll hold you to that." Blackhawk said, "Out."
Hawk dutifully assisted the police in getting the Mad Hatter, Copperhead, and the Reverse Flash to the prison transport. Developed by STAR Labs, it was equipped to handle most types of meta-human powers. The largest truck was designed for criminals like Solomon Grundy, Superwoman, and Atom Smasher.
Captain Marvel and J'onn Jonzz handled Grundy as he shakily boarded the lock up. Mary carried Superwoman and Aztek maneuvered Atom Smasher into his restraints. They were safely locked away within a few minutes.
Commissioner Wiggins approached the Marvels and J'onn, "The ISA alerted us that the Justice League was coming. Thanks. I don't think I've ever seen the Marvel family overwhelmed like that before. You people should team up on a permanent basis."
J'onn eyed Captain Marvel. Marvel didn't protest. In fact, he looked rather thoughtful. Mary, on the other hand, looked like the cat that'd swallowed a canary.
"What do you say, Captain? Would you like to celebrate our victory over milk and cookies?" J'onn asked.
Marvel was surprised, "You remember?"
"I have had my Oreos every day just like you showed me." J'onn admitted, "I have to confess that I'm quite addicted to them."
"What about the crooks that got away?" Marvel asked, "Shouldn't we go after them?"
"If our information is correct they are either in Nevada or Bailya by now." The Manhunter explained, "We don't know where their US base is and we have no jurisdiction to go into Bailya."
"That's not fair." Captain Marvel opined.
"No, it's not." J'onn agreed, "Little in this life is."
Recalling J'onn's tragic past, Marvel knew that the Martian was the voice of experience, "Okay. Where do we celebrate?"
"How about the Hall of Justice?" Mary chimed in.
Marvel was dubious but he agreed, "All right. Shall we fly there?"
"We can take the shuttle." J'onn suggested, "I need to check in with Blackhawk and see to Dove."
"Sounds good." Captain Marvel readily agreed.
"Master," Brainiac woke Luthor, "There is trouble in the United States."
Luthor immediately came cognizant, "What's the situation?"
"A number of Legionnaires have been captured." Brainiac explained, "Solomon Grundy, Superwoman, and Atom Smasher are among them."
Luthor released a frustrated sigh, "Dispatch Amazo. He can liberate the others."
"Yes, Master." Brainiac acknowledged his orders.
"Why can't it ever be easy?" Luthor complained to himself.
Forty-five minutes later, L-Ron trundled into the Hall's kitchen, "J'onn, there's some urgent news for you."
The Manhunter put his Oreo down, "What is it L-Ron?"
"The Legionnaires you captured in Fawcett City have been freed." L-Ron glumly reported.
"What?!" Captain Marvel exclaimed, "Who did that?"
"I've got a photo." L-Ron projected a holographic image of Amazo. The android was surrounded by cops and looking very disinterested in them.
"Amazo." J'onn grimly named the new menace.
"He appears to be smaller than when he dismantled me." Red Tornado observed.
J'onn noticed it, "Yes. He is smaller. His coloring is the same but his height has been drastically reduced. I wonder what it means."
"Who's Amazo?" Captain Marvel inquired.
J'onn explained it and the Legion of Doom. When he finished Marvel was clearly disturbed, "I had no idea."
"This is what I've been trying to tell you." Mary complained, "But do you listen to me? Nooo!"
"Of course I listen to you." Marvel said in a condescending voice.
"Don't patronize me." Mary protested, "You're just mad because I was right about the League and the Legion."
Captain Marvel looked to be on the verge of arguing but that quickly subsided and he sighed, "You're right. I just didn't want to believe it."
"So much for the wisdom of Solomon." Mary wisecracked.
Marvel gave her a pained look, "I admit it. I may have been wrong. From everything I've read and seen on the news…not to mention what Mary's been saying for the last month, the League's changed and they've been good changes."
"So you'd be willingly to re-evaluate your decision to resign?" J'onn hoped.
Captain Marvel grew uncomfortable, "Not yet. I have to see you guys in action for a while longer."
"The only way to do so is to serve beside us for a time." J'onn pointed out, "I can make you a reserve member on probationary status for now. This would allow you to act with us and also grant you our international authority."
"I really respect the fact that the League is working with the UN and the individual world governments instead of being a law unto yourselves." Captain Marvel admitted, "I try to work hand in hand with the Fawcett City Police. There's also the wizard and the gods that grant me my powers. They're acting on behalf of humanity. They told me to work with people rather than lord it over them. It goes to your head if you act as judge, jury, and executioner. That's what happened to Black Adam."
"Unfortunately," J'onn wearily said, "our intelligence indicates that Black Adam has joined the Legion."
"Holey moley!" Captain Marvel exclaimed, "There's going to be trouble."
J'onn turned to L-Ron, "Can you get the Captain a copy of our dossiers on the Legion's members?"
"Certainly, my Gumbyness." L-Ron happily replied and he toddled off.
"He's certainly eager." Marvel noted.
"L-Ron just likes helping people." Mary opined, "That's a good thing."
"He's an invaluable member of our team." J'onn admitted, "Despite his unorthodox way of joining."
Marvel was intrigued, "What do you mean?"
J'onn relayed the story of Manga Khan's visit. Marvel winced when Khan's trading of L-Ron occurred but he remained silent as J'onn continued. The Manhunter finished with his suggesting that the mechanoid join the reborn League.
"I just figured T.O. Morrow built him like he did Red Tornado." Marvel confessed, "I wouldn't have guessed that he was an alien."
"It happens." J'onn dryly replied.
Marvel blushed, "I didn't mean…"
J'onn waved the thought aside, "I'm not offended. I'm just pleased that you will be working with us again even if it's on a limited basis."
"We gotta find Waller and get your signal device." Mary enthused.
Captain Marvel grinned, "Let's go."
Batman assembled his team on the Ledger Building's roof. The banking firm had a thirty story skyscraper next to the Gotham Expo Center. Ledger's management had invested in the show itself. They themselves had guards keeping vigil over the expo center. They would report to the police at the slightest hint of trouble. So far there had been three false alarms.
The bulk of the League members involved had arrived via a Javelin shuttle which had landed on the Ledger Building's roof. The Question and the Huntress had arrived in his muscle car from Star City at mid-day. They joined Batgirl and helped her maintain her post. Much to Batgirl's delight, the Question had brought a picnic basket and several thermoses of coffee. Also included were a porta-potty and a ring mounted curtain to hide the user.
Batman and Robin arrived at dusk. The JL shuttle arrived half an hour later. Nightwing returned as the JLers disembarked from the shuttle.
"No one could see the landing from the ground." He reported.
Batman congratulated Blackhawk on the skill of his landing. Next, he addressed Vixen and Nemesis, "I need you two on the ground. Vixen, use your powers to sniff out the opposition."
Using her talisman Vixen would take on the powers of a wolf and literally sniff out the super villains. Nemesis would accompany her to provide back-up. With his uniform consisting of a black turtleneck, black pants, boots, and a shoulder holster, he looked more like a cop than a superhero.
They went down the building's elevator and descended to street level. Batman turned to the Question, "I need you and the Huntress across the way at that diner."
The pair of them looked over the edge at the layout on the street level. The Question turned, "I suppose you want us to wait there and react to anything suspicious that the exterior guards react to as well."
"There's a reason why you're on par with me." Batman remarked.
"My oh my, a compliment." The Question quipped, "Batgirl must be doing you some good."
Batman didn't react but Batgirl blushed. Batman calmly said, "Just go before I change my mind."
"When things go down," the Huntress jibed, "just try and keep up."
Batgirl rolled her eyes as Batman aloofly ignored her remark. His focus was on the Expo Center and everything around. If Andrea's information was correct, and he had a hunch that it was, then the criminals were already out there planning to strike tonight.
Below the Expo Center, a submersible surfaced. Gotham's underground river was a conduit connecting various portions of the city. It also ran through the Bat Cave. The Bat Boat used the river to reach the harbor.
The Penguin had supplied the sub in exchange for another 2% of the cut. So in the end he was getting his asked for 5%. The others willingly bowed to his wishes in order to acquire the sub and charts of the explored sections of the river. Explosive charges widened the sea entrance to the river and the sub easily passed through.
They traipsed through the underground caverns until they reached the coordinates where the expo center was supposed to lay. Catwoman turned to the Gentleman Ghost, "Can you scout ahead and see if there are any guards above us?"
"Of course, dear lady." The Ghost rose in the air and then passed through the "ceiling". Catwoman forced herself to stay patient until the Ghost radioed back, "It's all clear."
Catwoman turned to Poison Ivy, "It's your show, Ivy."
Ivy gave her an indulgent smile. She knelt and retrieved a small seed packet from a hidden pocket in her costume. She dug out a small patch of dirt with her hands. When she'd created a small furrow, she laid the seeds down in it. She covered the area with the dirt.
"Bring me a cup of water." Ivy ordered.
Star Sapphire used her gem to levitate a quantity of water to the site. Ivy ordered it to be released and Star Sapphire obliged. The assembled crooks watched and waited.
After five minutes had passed, the Clock King noted the time and added, "Perhaps your seedlings have failed to grow."
Ivy cast a pitying look his way, "Patience. It's already begun."
"What's begun?" the Psycho Pirate asked, "Because I don't see a thing."
Just then a giant root burst out of the ground. More roots rippled the ground and the earth shook. The Legionnaires grew nervous.
"Calm down." Ivy scornfully rebuked them, "Everything's fine."
The elevated root began drilling through the roof of the cavern. Mere minutes passed and the Gentleman Ghost was on the air, "What is that?"
"That's our way in." Catwoman replied, "At least I think so. Ivy?"
Ivy approached her plant and placed a hand on it, "Thank you my precious. Your job is done. Return to the earth and thrive."
A grinding sound filled the air and the root retracted itself from the roof and then curved and bored its way into the ground. Catwoman was impressed. She was also impressed with Ivy's concern for her plants. She felt the same for her cats. Maybe they were more akin than they'd both previously realized.
"Star Sapphire, if you'd lift us in small groups?" Catwoman asked.
"Of course." She replied. When everyone else was in the basement Star Sapphire flew up through the hole. The Gentleman Ghost was already proceeding ahead of them and the others were one room behind. They came to a halt when the Ghost signaled them to stop and slowly approach.
Catwoman selected the Shade to accompany her. The Ghost pointed to the two security officers guarding the stairs to the main exhibit hall. Catwoman nodded to the Shade and he smiled.
The Shade held out his walking stick and the black orb atop it began to leak out pure darkness. The entire adjacent room was bathed in pure black. But not only could the Shade create darkness, he could make it come to life as well. The panicky guards were knocked unconscious by solid dark matter.
The Shade exulted in his handiwork. Catwoman praised him as well, "Excellent work. No noise, no fuss, no muss. Now we proceed upstairs."
The Ghost repeated his past performance and the Shade took out two more sets of guards before they reached the jewel exhibit. Catwoman could practically smell the diamonds, "Mirror Master, you're up."
He approached and stopped at the threshold of the great chamber. Removing a polished curved mirror from his belt, he caught the light with it and let it shimmer and dance for a bit. After around thirty seconds of this, he turned the mirror towards the darkened chamber and let it catch the diffused light of one of the floor lamps.
The mirror emitted a blue light that filled the room. The room itself was filled with criss-crossing and intersecting red beams. The lasers were tied into the security system. They were far more accurate than the old photo-electric eyes and twice as hard to disable.
"Rag Doll," Catwoman said next, "it's your turn."
The triple-jointed crook waded into the lights. Twisting and contorting in ways never thought imaginable, he moved even more rapidly through the lasers than even Copperhead could have. Reaching the central case in the middle of the room, he opened a panel in the podium and flipped a switch. The lasers deactivated.
The lasers were controlled from the central security office, a checkpoint at the hall's threshold, and the podium. The first two required pass key cards and an alphanumerical combination. The podium required intimate knowledge of the layout and an alphanumeric to unlock the cases arrayed around the room.
It was now the Riddler's time for glory. He walked up and examined the keypad.
"A mere 36 million potential combinations." He scoffed, "This will be child's play."
Brian Gerin was strolling through the expo center. He was the evening's roving guard. He came upon the unconscious officers at the head of the stairs. He rounded the corner and saw his fellow guards at the hall's entrance down on the ground. Hovering over them appeared to be…a ghost?
"Code One." He called into his radio, "I repeat we have a Code One. Intruders in the exhibit hall. Officers down."
"You shouldn't have done that." The Gentleman Ghost complained and then cracked Brian over the head with his cane. The Ghost activated his wrist comm, "Catwoman, the alarm's been sounded."
"Do what you can to slow the guards down. I'll be sending reinforcements." She replied.
"I see." The Ghost signed off and got ready for a fight.
Catwoman wheeled around, "Psycho Pirate and Scarecrow, you're crowd control. Shade and Star Sapphire, you're our secondary line of defense."
"Do you really think they'll get passed the Scarecrow and Psycho Pirate?" the Shade asked.
"Batman's out there." Catwoman reminded him, "He can get passed everything we can throw at him. Our only hope is to slow him down long enough to get away with the loot."
"Batman's responds time will be four minutes." Clock King announced, "The police will be here in fifteen minutes, thirty-six seconds."
Catwoman smiled, "Plenty of time."
The exterior guards at the center's entrance and on the roof suddenly rushed inside. Batman grabbed his signal device, "Batman to all units, they've struck. Everyone converge on the Expo Center."