4 Justice League Family Affairs
All the heroes in the gutter
Finally getting their ever after
As they lay their final glance
Upon your ever shining armor
And I don't want to be like you
-Delain
Bizarro backhanded Supergirl and her head snapped to the right. He came in with a right to her abdomen, doubling her over. A left cross drove her to her knees. He then tried to drive a knee into her face but she caught it. Twisting hard on his leg, she threw him to the ground.
She leapt up and went to land atop of him when he kicked out, catching her in the forehead. Stunned, she swayed back and forth while Bizarro got to his feet. She came to just in time for his fist to smash into her nose. Gagging on blood, Kara bent over and spat it out.
Bizarro relentlessly moved in. He threw an uppercut which lifted Supergirl off of her feet…although she did manage to gain her footing when she came back down to earth. Bizarro rushed to attack but she delivered a right cross, then another right, followed by a left, and finished off the sequence with another right. She'd thrown everything that she had into those blows yet Bizarro was still standing.
Bizarro turned his head so that he was facing Kara once again and the hate in his eyes made her gasp. Bizarro had often been angry with her or Clark but he'd never possessed sheer loathing and revulsion. Now Bizarro had learned to hate and it was almost certain that he was willing to kill for the first time in his macabre existence. She decided that things did not bode well for her.
Bizarro's answering punch knocked her off of her feet. He grabbed by where her cape was secured to her shoulders and lifted her. Supporting her with his left, he brought two hammer blows to her gut. He then smashed her face twice with right crosses.
Kara went completely limp as she slipped into unconsciousness. Bizarro lifted her by her cape. Grabbing hold of her waist he lifted her above his head. Roaring his victory, he threw her into the ground. He then pondered what to do with her. Fortunately for Kara, Bizarro wasn't one of the great thinkers of the age.
Captain Atom watched in horror as his suit began to rupture. Noticing a nearby flagpole jutting out of a building façade, he threw himself into it. The bubble popped and the acid spilled onto the sidewalk below.
Atom unleashed another quantum blast in Toyman's direction. He'd tried blasting out of the acid bubble but it had allowed the energy to simply pass through. He'd assuaged his frustration by blasting away at his tormentor.
However, now it was time to retreat. He needed another suit and he needed it fast. He was leaking rads like crazy. Many more breaches and he'd start inflicting radiation sickness to those that dared to get close to him. With much regret, he flew off for the Hall of Justice promising himself that he'd come back and wreak havoc upon the Legionnaires.
Rocket Red ignited his thrusters and went into the air. He fired off several bolts from his gauntlet blasters, causing Blackrock to dance a jig. Sadly, Dmitry eased off. Blackrock lifted his "stone" and energized the ambient electromagnetic radiation transmissions blanketing the area. The radio and microwave sucked in power from nearby sources and overloaded Rocket Red's systems. Once he hit the ground, his suit cycled down. He was immobile and completely helpless until his suit rebooted. Blackrock came to stand within view and his stone glowed with electrostatic energy.
"This is going to hurt." Dmitry muttered in Russian.
Atomic Skull grunted as he stumbled backwards. J'onn's blows had staggered him. Atomic Skull wasn't going to take any more chances. The alien's shape shifting abilities, not to mention his cursed psychic abilities, combined with his enormous strength made him a serious contender.
The Skull advanced on the Martian Manhunter. J'onn unleashed his Martian vision. It struck Atomic Skull and bowled him over backwards.
The skull rose to his feet and loudly exclaimed, "What the hell was that?"
"My so-called 'Martian vision'. Although the name is something of a misnomer. It actually a focused manifestation of my psychokinetic abilities trained at whatever I look upon at the time." J'onn explained.
"More vision powers?" Atomic Skull berated him, "What's with you people? Superman and -girl aren't super enough so they have to have freakin' vision powers? You're all stretchy bendy and in my head tellin' me to surrender and as strong as a bull rhino and you've gotta have vision powers too?"
"As I explained, the ability isn't related to my vision. It's…" J'onn began.
Atomic Skull cut him off, "I don't care what it is! It's a cheat! At least the Marvels and the Amazon fight fair."
"It is best to use every advantage that one has." J'onn opined.
Atomic skull unleashed a torrent of radioactive energy. J'onn was completely engulfed and quickly succumbed to its effects. The Skull walked over to J'onn's side. If he would have had a face, he would have been grinning deliriously.
"Thanks for the advice." He chuckled.
Stargirl focused all of her will and concentration through the Cosmic Rod. The staff translated that into a focused antigrav burst. The falling bricks were suspended in mid-air and Black Mass's attack was stymied. Courtney propelled the bricks at Black Mass. He dropped them just as they reached him. His higher gravity field overrode hers but it didn't matter, she was switching tactics.
She unleashed a wave of energy channeled through her Cosmic Converter belt. Black Mass was staggered by the discharge. Stargirl redoubled her efforts, adding the energy of the Cosmic Rod into the fray. Black Mass was driven into unconsciousness.
Courtney hopped and fist pumped, "Yes! One bad guy is down!"
"Unfortunately, dear child, you'll be joining him in the land of twilight." Toyman said from behind her.
Stargirl spun around and aimed her staff at him, "Watch it freak boy! I'll fry you. I swear it."
Toyman merely blew on his whistle. The hypersonic and audible sounds caused her to cup her ears in pain. Seconds later, she passed out.
"Sweet dreams, little princess." Toyman said as he passed by on his way to tend to Black Mass.
Catman kicked Hawkman in the ribs. He then moved to Starman and delivered a right cross. He kicked Booster in the face, bowling him over. Fire and Ice were groveling on the ground.
They were both out of costume. Ice wore a tee shirt and jeans. Fire wore her underwear. Neither of them had expected to go into action with no warning. Fortunately for Fire, her undies were made of the same unstable molecules that made it so her costume survived her plasma form. After the very revealing and nude experience at the Mall of America, Beatriz had requested a back up for her costume. She preferred lace but the solidly built bikini briefs and brassieres were modest enough for public exposure. Catman was still enjoying the view though.
"Well, get on with it." Count Vertigo demanded.
"Keep your cape on. I'm enjoying this." Catman called back.
"Wonderful." Vertigo groused.
GL and Sinestro fought with dueling ring constructs. They were currently "arm wrestling", contending for the right to bop the vanquished with his winning arm. John made the mistake of glancing to the side and seeing Star Sapphire battering Shayera with a force blast. Sinestro used the distraction to throw down GL's "arm" and use his own to punch Stewart.
Stunned, John was unprepared as the fist smashed him into the concrete dry dock. He fell to the ground. A massive yellow hammer beat him into the concrete loading dock. After several minutes of this treatment, Stewart was out cold.
Sinestro cackled, "His ring is mine!"
Shayera recovered from the force blast to the ribs. As she spun, she swooped in an arc that carried her past John. Sinestro had him on the ropes. Still, she climbed back to where Star Sapphire was squaring off with Kyle. Neither combatant was doing much to harm the other, leaving the heavy work to the Thanagarian.
She tried to bash Star Sapphire with her mace but Kyle's unwillingness to fully engage the enemy meant that the sapphire had more than enough energy with which to defend itself with. Shayera loosed a battle cry as she attacked. She was feeling very hormonal right now. Hopefully she just wouldn't become a simpering mess.
As she banked away from Carol Ferris's enslaved form, Shayera spied John. He was laid out on the ground with no protective field and Sinestro was laughing. Shayera switched targets.
Kyle and Star Sapphire squared off, almost oblivious to Shay's departure. He'd tried appealing to Carol but the sapphire merely laughed, "I've renewed my strength. The host body can't help you, only me. She sees you as her defender and a potential savior. Because of these things she has hope for you and a love of you. That hope does nothing for me but the love feeds me and makes me even stronger. She engineers her own defeat!"
Having Star Sapphire laugh at Carol's pain served as the catalyst to get him to firmly act. He hit her with an emerald force beam. Star Sapphires defenses were up but were tailored for the Nth metal mace. His attack plummeted her back down into the docks below.
"Oh Kyle, I love it when you play rough!" she called up to him.
"Well, I don't. Why don't you give up? We'll give the mask to someone who really wants it. Then everyone will be happy." Kyle offered.
"I'm already happy." Star Sapphire replied, "The only thing that would make me happier is if you came back to Zamaron with me and we set up my kingdom. You and I, darling; making love day and night."
"Lady, what you call love is just an overblown case of lust." Kyle retorted.
"But you could learn to love me." Star Sapphire countered, "After all, I already love you."
"You don't hurt people out of love." Kyle rebutted.
"Yes, you do. It's called tough love. How can I know that you'll love me unless I break you first?" Star Sapphire inquired innocently enough.
"You've got so much to learn." Kyle sadly replied.
"Then teach me." Star Sapphire implored.
Kyle shook his head, "No."
A violet energy blast knocked him out and he fell to the ground. Star Sapphire strode up to his insensate form and gazed down upon it, "I told you I don't take rejection well."
Captain Marvel hit Ellis Island. He got to his feet and Supreme arrived.
Marvel held up his hands, "We can't fight here. It's a national treasure."
"Spare me." Supreme said and then he belted Marvel through several buildings. The Captain rose to his feet again only to be pummeled at super speed with super strength by Supreme. Marvel went limp and fell to the ground.
Supreme smiled, "That wasn't so hard."
Mary hit the ground and hit it hard. She heard the malevolent laughter to either side of her and she sprang to her feet. Superwoman stood to one side of her and Wonder Girl on the other. Both of them had taken a special dislike to her after the liberation of Gotham City. Superwoman had even larger grudge because of the stabbing incident in the Mall of America.
One little tent stake in the chest and everyone's a hater, Mary thought to herself. She still didn't like the odds. She'd have to take them down hard and fast.
She struck first, landing a right cross on Superwoman. She spun in the air and executed a round kick that leveled Wonder Girl. Superwoman flew towards Mary but the Marvel downed her with another punch. Mary turned to check on Wonder Girl. Ascertaining that she was still out of it, Mary relaxed.
Superwoman touched a control on her wrist comm and then opened a boom tube. Ultraman and Power Ring sallied forth. Power Ring held back while Ultraman smashed Mary.
Mary responded with an uppercut that lifted Ultraman off of his feet. Power Ring used his namesake to hit her with an emerald hammer, driving her to her knees. Ultraman landed a right, then a left, followed by a final right. Next came a jab to the gut and then another. Ultraman drove his knee into her face and she went down.
"That wasn't as hard as I expected." He gloated.
"Let's make sure she stays down." Superwoman ordered.