10 Justice League Night Falls
The Atom had gathered the restored members of the Justice League and departed Gotham. Nightwing and Nemesis had been freed from the shadow demons while Green Arrow, Elongated Man, and Animal Man recuperated from being knocked out by Nemesis' tranq darts.
Barbara took Nightwing to Wayne Manor where he retrieved his bike. Bittersweet farewells were exchanged between Dick and Alfred. Then Nightwing was off to Bludhaven.
Barbara gave the butler her regards and informed him that Batman had been liberated from the strange hold that had come over him. She neglected to mention that she herself had been the cause of that liberation just as Batman had been the cause of Catwoman's. In Barbara's estimation it was a very sordid web and she was glad to have left the soap opera behind.
"Do come back sometime, Ms. Gordon. Master Bruce would be delighted to host you," Alfred insisted.
"I don't think so," Barbara declined in advance. She knew Bruce's genteel minder had the best intentions but the last thing Barbara wanted after today's episode was proximity near Bruce Wayne. Oh, Bruce would be accommodating enough. But it wouldn't be her Bruce. Her Bruce had died alongside the Joker. Now all that was left was Batman's Bruce. Frankly Barbara didn't feel like sharing so she'd divorced him and called it good.
Thanks to today's events, her backlog of cases had quadrupled in size since noon. She couldn't wait to see Commissioner Sawyer's reaction when she found out that Barb had given Nightwing a lift out of town. While the former Metropolis SCU Captain would be grateful to have another costume out of town, she'd still be infuriated that Gordon left HQ to do it.
At least Maggie Sawyer was Commissioner now. Her dad would've been having panic attacks over Barbara's recent caseload. Fortunately, he and Sarah had gotten married and settled down. Or at least as settled as two former law enforcement professionals got.
The Question entered his apartment. Helena was nowhere to be seen. All of her Huntress gear was in its secret compartment. He shucked the Question's garb and began with making phone calls. This gained him nothing. After an hour, he started out the door only to run into Helena as she was trying to enter.
"Helena!" Vic cried out as he embraced her. He held her tight. She, like so many others, was free of the shadow demons now. He was so grateful she was safe and alive that he openly wept.
Helena finally pulled back so she could look into his eyes. She smiled, "I can't believe you're crying, Q."
"When I couldn't reach you I feared the worst," he divulged.
She held up her mobile, "Dead battery."
"Whatever," Vic couldn't care less. His Helena was safe and sound. Life could go on now.
"Um…Q?" she pulled back again and she was distressed.
"What is it?" he wondered.
"What the hell happened to me?" she wondered, "Not just me but it seemed like half the town was out on the street."
Vic moved passed her to close and lock the door, "It's sort of a long story."
"I have time, jackass. Now give," Helena insisted.
"Follow me to the kitchen and I'll explain while I begin the coffee. I think you'll want some by the time I'm done," Vic shared, "Of course, this is all from after action reports. I wasn't directly involved. I was running a research team. But I compiled the after action reports into a chronological narrative."
He handed her a flash drive, "My report is on here. Print yourself a copy and we can go through it together."
"Okay," Helena said cheerfully as she headed off to her computer. Moments later she called out, "Q! This mother is four hundred pages long."
"I did say we'd need coffee, right?" he called back.
He heard a groan and returned his attention to placing the filter in the receptacle.
In the aftermath, Wildcat had a conversation with Jay and Sentinel. The conversation resulted in a trip to the UN building. Waller, Sue, Max, Eiling, and J'onn attended this meeting. They came to an arrangement and pursuant to this agreement Eiling and Max approached the Security Council.
J'onn gathered the Founders. Sue made the pitch while Waller added her support. J'onn did as well. The Flash readily embraced the concept. John and Shayera also endorsed it. Diana offered her cautious approval.
Although J'onn had the votes to pass the measure he wanted a clean sweep. That required Superman's approval. He had a few particular reasons to be reticent. Only, he wasn't. The recent evens had changed his perspective and he embraced the idea.
J'onn nodded to Waller. The UN had bought in as well. Now it was time to sell the idea to the Justice Society.
J'onn stopped into the medical ward of the JSA HQ. Lady Blackhawk was off of most of the machines but she was still monitored 24/7. She saw him and she broke into a rueful smile.
"I wondered when you'd drag yourself in here," she said flippantly.
"I have had the sense you would rather avoid me," J'onn admitted.
"Avoid you?" Lady Blackhawk threw back at him, "I've been here for four months. Before that I was at Andrews AFB for a month. You never visited in all that time. Not once!"
J'onn didn't deflect her anger. It was well deserved, "I can only offer my apologies."
"Stuff your apologies up whatever you Martians consider an asshole," Lady Blackhawk shot back, "I tried it your way. You wanted to abstain so we abstained. Personally I have a huge problem with that concept. Fighting a war will teach you there's no time to waste or like the present."
"But you are no longer fighting war," J'onn offered.
"You really have no idea what the Blackhawk Express is all about do you?" Lady Blackhawk snorted.
"Should I?" he wondered.
"It's probably best you didn't," Lady Blackhawk decided.
Seeing he wasn't going to allow any emotion to show she sighed, "God, you're really insufferable, you know? Well, I'm officially calling whatever we had over. I don't even want you as my friend. I don't think we're compatible enough to even be friends. So, I'll work with you when and if the opportunity arises but that's it. Understood?"
"Perfectly," J'onn said and then he headed for the door. She called after him, "Dr. Mid-Nite left to attend some briefing that you and Waller are giving. He described it as a 'sales pitch'. Is the JLU absorbing the JSA?"
"That remains to be seen," J'onn simply said as he left.
Lady Blackhawk fumed and wondered why she'd ever bothered.
The Justice Society of America was gathered around its round table conveniently located in the center of the command center. Roxy occupied an otherwise unoccupied chair. J'onn and Waller also used empty seats. The JSA obviously had a mind to expand its membership rolls.
Sand started the meeting, "We're here today hearing a proposal presented by the Flash, Sentinel, Wildcat and our representatives from the Justice League. Flash would like to open."
Jay got up and moved to a podium that had been set aside, "Morning folks, a small dilemma had cropped up in the future of the JSA. That problem is that while the Justice Society is well rooted in the past, we have no real future."
That created quite a stir, especially with Sand. Jay continued, "The Justice Society is about history…and a legacy that history brings. We were the very first super team. And then, for reasons you're all aware, we dropped off the face of the Earth for thirty years. After we'd returned, we were replaced."
"Most of you either already have been part of the Justice League or wanted to be a part of it when you got sent to us. Well, we'd like to change that equation," Jay announced.
Sand was agitated, "Are you recommending disbanding the Justice Society?"
"Precisely," Jay revealed, "We'd be absorbed whole, not in part, into the JLU."
"But our mission…!" Sand started to protest.
"With all due respect, Mr. Chairman, the mission to train up a new generation of heroes rests with Sentinel, Wildcat, and I. The rest of you share the same mission the Justice League has. Right now we have a god-awful division between us. The layered command structure and idiotic jurisdictional nonsense gets in the way of our effectiveness. No one knows who to call, the JSA or the JLU. Who has jurisdiction? Who has the ability to solve the problem?" Jay tipped back the saucer-like hat he wore, "We just faced the gravest threat in the Justice Society's history and we only pulled it off because we were supported by the Justice League. They didn't carry us and we didn't carry them. It was an equal effort. It was also a sign of things to come."
"Wildcat, Sentinel, and I are moving to the Justice League. We invite you all to come with us. You'll still get the training you need but you'll also get a broader mandate so maybe you'll be able to do even more good. After all, we reformed the JSA to pass on our legacy. Wouldn't joining the Justice League accomplish that?" Jay shared. He turned to J'onn, "I think it's your turn."
J'onn took his turn at the podium, "Many of you were once part of the Justice League. The Powers That Be declared that you weren't ready for membership. Yet you had proven many times over that you were. We didn't fight for you like we should have. I didn't fight for you. I cannot express my sorrow over that."
J'onn slowly panned the room with his eyes, "You have proven that you are the future. Even those I had not met until a few days ago have proven themselves to be valiant guardians of this planet and its population. The Justice Society could continue. It would be a valuable ally. But the problems regarding jurisdiction and command authority would remain and both of our organizations would suffer for it to the detriment of others."
"That is the reasoning behind this proposal," J'onn shared, "And then there are the mechanics. The Flash, Wildcat, and Sentinel would not only make up our training staff, they would join the Founders and be representatives of your interests among the League leadership."
"Wouldn't the name of your elite little club have to change?" Stargirl sniped.
"The Flash, Wildcat, and Sentinel are founding members of the Justice Society. Since the JSA predated the Justice League, they would be grandfathered in as founding members," J'onn explained.
Commander Steel leaned into Wildcat, "You'd be a grandfather."
"Shaddup," Wildcat retorted, "Listen to the man."
J'onn moved on, "Sand, you and Mr. Terrific would be included in the command structure as well. You have both displayed exceptional tactical and strategic abilities. We would greatly appreciate if you'd use your talents with us."
"I bet you would," Sand muttered but Mr. Terrific seriously considered the offer.
J'onn ignored Sand for now, "We are coming to you to express our desire to unite our two teams. Teams with the exact same mission. We can be stronger together than apart. Won't you give that a chance?"
"Excuse me, but what about me?" Roxy suddenly blurted. Everyone stare at her avatar and she got defiant, "Well, excuse me for asking, but I think I have a right to know."
"This headquarters would be absorbed into the League's assets," Waller informed everyone, "It would still serve its primary function as a training facility but it would play host to more people as a domicile."
"And why is that?" Sand groaned.
"The JLU is losing their leases on our 5th Avenue properties. We have two floors of rooms. One for men and one for women. Those personnel would be moved here. You have a teleporter grid and we'd relocate our Orb-14 fleet here to give people access to vehicles. The Watchtower would remain the command hub but this HQ would have full access to the station and its crew," Waller described.
"So I'd still have access to L-Ron?" Roxy gave a thumbs up, "Cool!"
Waller cast a disparaging eye J'onn's ways. He looked past Roxy's outburst, "You have time to contemplate these matters but the sooner we know the direction to take, the better it will be for all of us."
"We'll debate the motion and vote on it shortly," Sand promised, "Roxy, would you show our guests to the commons?"
"You just don't want me to vote," Roxy sulked. She waved a finger towards the main exit, "Follow me, fleshpots."
"Well, I think we should vote this idea down and get on with our real business," Sand declared.
"Not so fast, Sand," Mr. Terrific interjected, "I think the idea has merit."
"But you quit the Justice League," Sand reminded him.
"But they're presenting us with excellent terms. Terms we can use to further our position later on," Mr. Terrific pointed out, "And we have to think of what's best for our younger members."
"I do and I am," Sand insisted, "Let's just cut to the chase, whoever wants to disband the Justice Society and join the Justice League, raise a hand."
Sand was dismayed as Jay, Wildcat, and Sentinel were the first to raise their hands. It went around the room like an epidemic. Even the Marvels, Galatea, Stargirl, Atom Smasher, and Anna Fortune raised their hands after being cast out of the JLU. After a moment, Hourman and Jesse Quick joined the affirming group. Dr. Mid-Nite joined in as well. Mr. Terrific's vote seemed a foregone conclusion as his hand went up.
In the end, everyone but Sand and Hawkman lifted their hand. Sand gaped. Hawkman just looked disgruntled.
"You're serious," Sand finally realized, "You're all serious."
"It's the future," Sentinel stated, "We had a discussion about that once. Jay said the JSA had history. And it does. But the Justice Society belongs in history because the Justice League has taken over its mantle and is carrying the torch as time marches on."
Sand was still stunned. Jay spoke again, "We need you Sand. We need your way of thinking in Justice League. You too, Carter."
Hawkman sighed, "I once said I needed to carve out a life where I make a difference. If this is the route to go, then I'll go down it. But I just want distance from John Stewart and Shayera Hol. I already live at this compound. As long as they don't move in, life will just be peachy."
It was obvious he didn't believe that but they let him get away with it. Wildcat pressed Sand on the issue, "What's the call, kid? Don't act like you don't approve of the Justice League because you were member of it after the Thanagarian invasion. I think this love affair you have going for the Justice Society stems from the fact they disbanded and when they reformed, they didn't ask you to join back up."
All eyes turned to Sand. He looked a little uncomfortable, "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's that when I was Sandy the Golden Boy, I wanted to join the JSA. Then when I spent all those decades as a lab rat, I still dreamt of the Justice Society. But when I got released, I only found the Justice League waiting to take me in. I still had the JSA dream and then we reformed."
"You've lived the dream, Sand," Jay counseled, "It's time to wake up and face the new reality."
Sand sighed and raised his hand. Cheers went around the room. Sand asked Roxy to bring their guests back in.
J'onn accepted the news gladly, "This is a momentous day for all of us."
"So what happens next?" Sand inquired.
"Later today, a security team will teleport to this location and process your security access and codes. You will be issued JLU signal devices and a schedule for relocating the Orb-14's here will be arranged," J'onn listed off, "Normally we would have to upgrade a computer system to our standards but in this case, we may have to upgrade ours to Roxy's standards."
"Damn straight," Roxy beamed.
J'onn then took a moment to get to know every former member of the JSA. He was familiar with the Founders. He took time to thank each of the former castaways for returning to the fold. Hourman was go lucky enough to be happy at rejoining the team he'd only been a member of for a couple months. Jesse was just happy to enlist beside him.
J'onn found Black Adam and Isis' amusement at this turn of events to be vaguely disturbing. Hawkman's obvious disgruntlement gave J'onn a headache. Mr. Terrific seemed as hopeful and energetic as ever. J'onn knew he was a steady hand and a trusted associate.
Sand shared Black Adam's wry amusement, "It seems we're joining despite my best intentions."
"Those thoughts seem shared," J'onn mused.
"By whom?" Sand wondered, "Everyone voted to disband the JSA except for Carter and I."
"Even Black Adam and Isis?" J'onn was surprised.
"Curious as to why they seem to find this ironic?" Sand ventured.
"Precisely," J'onn admitted.
"Like Galatea, Superman once swore Black Adam would never be a member of the Justice League and yet here you come, hat in hand, and suddenly he is," Sand shared, "I'd say he has a right to be a little amused."
"Superman addressed his concerns regarding Galatea before signing off on having this merger," J'onn divulged, "He felt her performance in the crisis demonstrated her change of heart more than anything else could. She was not possessed by a shadow demon when even Mary Marvel was."
"And his thoughts on Black Adam?" Sand inquired.
"They never came up," J'onn revealed, "Quite frankly, I am not even certain Superman is aware of Black Adam's former membership in the Justice Society."
"Meaning he doesn't know Adam is now in the Justice League," Sand's humor grew, "I'd say we're in for a very interesting collision."
"I fear you could be right," J'onn said sadly.
"Summon my war council," Aquaman commanded his major domo.
"Yes, milord," the servant swam away.
Mera joined her husband, "Do you truly believe this is an adequate provocation?"
"They were warned…repetitively," Aquaman bristled, "And then they do this…"
They gazed out across the kelp beds that now glowed from the nuclear waste that had been dumped upon them. Aquaman was controlling his temper, if just barely; "The surface world knows our boundaries and the locations of our harvesting beds. Our gatherers will have to go further afield to get the food our population needs to survive. The great schools of fish that we once hunted in this region are gone. All because of the contamination and filth brought down upon us by the surface world."
Mera winced, "What you say is true. But a war…?"
"They are savages. They do not respond to reason," Aquaman argued, "But they do respond to force."
"With force," she reminded him.
"They are technological neophytes compared to us," Aquaman continued his rationalization, "Our only fear is their so-called "meta-human' population."
"And your friends in the Justice League," Mera warned him.
"The Justice League is apolitical," Aquaman declared, "I will see to it that they understand this is between one nation state and another. The United Nations will keep their hunters off of us."
"And what of this 'United States', will they not have meta-humans in their service as well?" Mera wondered.
"Undoubtedly," Aquaman ruminated, "Which is why we shall introduce them to the War Council."
"For such a thing to pass," Mera shivered, "It is a sad day to be upon this globe, under or above the seas."
"If we are hard pressed, there will no longer be anyone above the sea," Aquaman promised.
"Is it over?" Luthor wondered again.
"Obsidian is dealt with," Shade assured him, "If he finds a way out of the Shadow Realms, he will do so alone. The demons there no longer trust him."
"But you said there is another," Luthor recalled.
"Yes, another human once got trapped in the Shadow Realms by the Justice Society of America. He saw Obsidian as his tool for revenge. He brokered the deal between Surtur and the Subtle Realms beings," Shade disclosed.
"And he created the portals that brought the demons here?" Luthor was narrowing down the field.
"If he could do all that, would he still be in the Shadow Realms?" Shade dryly replied.
"Then who?" Luthor wanted access to that kind of power.
"I don't know," Shade gave Luthor's glare a wry look, "No one's talking. They're all scared. Apparently whoever it was is on the scale of Darkseid if not greater."
"Really?" Luthor liked the sound of that.
"Let it go," Shade advised, "Don't you have an invasion to plan?"
Luthor chuckled, "King Kull will be mobilizing his submen in a week. We'll soon be back on the surface with an entire army of technologically gifted subhumans at our side."
"Yay for us," Shade quipped.
Luthor forgave his insolence. Soon the Shade, and the entire United States, would see the terror unleashed upon them. The world already trembled at the name of Lex Luthor. But soon they would kneel as they quivered in fear.
Yet another interesting outing. And yes, it should be obvious now that Justice League Front Lines: DCAU Series Part 16 is in the works.
Thanks go to all of my readers, reviewers, and especially my beta reader, animeluverqueen.
And on a happy note: just when I think I've expanded my reader base as far as it will go, more of you chime in through reviews or PMs. That and the Views just keep tallying up. That's exciting and makes me want to keep on going.
Anyway, I once stated to JDP95 that my long term goal is to reach 20 Parts. I'm thinking 25 now since I have some plot issues and story arcs that will take that long to resolve.
But there may be more even after 25. Between the outpouring of support that I get, and the fact I'm delving back into the comic world with select New 52 titles, I'm brimming with ideas. On top of the New 52 I've also purchased the entire JSA and Justice Society of America series runs. So you can probably tell where this installment derived from.
I may launch a spin-off story involving the Justice Society during World War II and their battle against the insurgents. I'm still mulling it over. Reading Green Hornet Year One, Masks, and the Black Beetle has me thinking along pulp hero lines so we'll see what happens.