A/N: Right, here we go with the usual shout-outs - thanks to Dextra2, leathman, and Jess Marylin for reviewing last chapter. Extra thanks to leathman for reviewing every single chapter and Jess Marylin for reviewing all but one. It's been a pleasure to read all your comments :D
So, here's the last chapter. You ready?
Timeline: March 2002
Chapter Twenty-Four: A League of Their Own
The Soultaker, propelled by the lightning sizzling around it, struck true. Penetrating far into the middle of Parallax's cloud-shape, it sank straight into the yellow impurity that gave Parallax his power.
With a howl of rage – and yes, fear – Parallax disappeared instantly, his smoke-like form sucked into the blade of the Soultaker. At the same time, the remaining bugs hovering in the air disintegrated, no longer bound by Parallax's will. For an instant, the Soultaker glowed vibrantly yellow, before conceding to gravity's demands and falling to the ground. Following it into the sand was the yellow impurity of fear, now separated from Krona's soul and coalesced into an irregular shape, neither solid nor gas, that pulsed with manic energy.
It took a minute for everyone to realize that they had just defeated Parallax.
"Did we just…win?" Beast Boy, currently an eagle, breathed.
"I think we did," Speedy agreed.
One by one, the heroes cautiously approached the site where the Soultaker and the glowing yellow impurity had landed, leaving hard imprints in the sand. The Batplane was the last to land. Batman hopped out of the cockpit and took the dimensional transporter from his belt.
"Katana, the honor is yours."
Katana nodded and gingerly picked up her sword.
"Do you know what you're doing?" queried Green Lantern – he'd regained consciousness just in time to see the Soultaker taking Parallax down. Katana just gave him a look and GL backed away submissively.
"I'm ready," Katana said to Batman.
"Everyone stand back," the Dark Knight warned; obediently, they took a few steps away. Batman tossed the transporter to the ground, right next to the yellow impurity. Instantly, the impurity vanished in a burst of continuous blue-white streaks of light.
Katana picked up her cue. Wrapping her arms firmly around the hilt of the Soultaker in just the right way, and positioning it directly in front of the transporter beam, she intoned, "Watakushi houmen anata" – which, in Japanese, means "I release you."
A sickly yellow, vaguely humanoid shape poured out from the Soultaker's blade and was sucked away at once by the transporter beam. A moment later, the beam disappeared.
"I guess celebrations are in order." Green Lantern looked around, a wide grin on his face. "We just saved the world."
That was when it truly registered that they had, in fact, succeeded in stopping the greatest menace Earth had ever encountered – and they were all still alive to tell of it. For a long time after that, there was nothing but triumphant smiles, relieved laughs, and playful banter.
Amanda Waller frowned, putting her pen down as she heard the faintest swish of a cape. She stared into the shadows that her powerful table lamp did not chase away; she couldn't see him, but she knew he was there.
"You're making a habit of this, Batman." She pursed her lips. "I suppose I should congratulate you."
Batman had not come out of the shadows enough for her to make out anything more than the dark outline of his cape – but Waller could practically hear his eyes narrowing as he glared at her. She scoffed.
"You didn't think it would stay quiet, did you? The citizens of Albuquerque may have been on lockdown in their homes, but they still have windows. You should know better than to think something like that wouldn't go public. And even if it didn't, Cadmus has eyes everywhere."
Batman grunted noncommittally and finally came forward into the light – the pattern of light and dark on his caped costume made him look even more like an avenging crusader. "I thought you might like to know that Parallax has been sent back where he came from."
Waller raised an eyebrow, knowing perfectly well what he was implying. "I presume it was you who broke into S.T.A.R. Labs this afternoon?"
"You can presume what you like. I strongly advise destroying that meteorite as soon as possible."
Waller leaned back in her chair as she crossed her arms. "Why would I need to do that? By all accounts, you lot defeated Parallax pretty thoroughly."
"Maybe," Batman conceded. "But I still recommend destroying the meteorite. Otherwise, if Parallax escapes again, it's on you."
He vanished into the darkness again, but his voice lingered, conveying one last message, lightly imbued with a subtle yet definite threat.
"And Waller, just remember – you're not the only one with eyes and ears."
Then he was truly gone, as swiftly as he'd appeared.
Waller stared thoughtfully into the gloom for a while before picking up the phone that sat on her desk.
The sun shone down bright and cheery on Metropolis, casting brilliant golden rays on every part of the city, including the large, spacious baseball stadium in the northern sector. Superman (after a severe lecture from Batman about the importance of secrecy) had opted to hold the final meeting of the superhero alliance (for purposes of debriefing) here because the baseball season did not start for another three weeks, and so no one would have any reason to visit the stadium.
Superman looked around at the faces of his allies as they arrived. Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Hawkgirl, Batgirl, Doctor Fate, Zatanna, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Speedy, Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Katana, and Black Lightning – these were the heroes who had banded together to fight first a coalition of supervillains, then Darkseid, then Parallax – they had put aside their differences and persevered through the great crisis – they had truly come together as one, and they had saved the whole world, and possibly the galaxy as well. They had accomplished something truly marvelous, and in the process, they had become not just individual superheroes working separate campaigns against crime and injustice, but a team committed to the betterment of the world. Superman thought it a shame that after today, they would all go their separate ways, and would no longer meet each other again the way they had been the past few months.
When everyone had gathered on the grassy pitch, cleared his throat and began.
"Thank you all for coming to meet together one last time," he said, his every word ringing with sincerity – no one could ever fault Superman's empathy. "We've all been through a lot in the past few months – some more so than others. I think we can all agree that Parallax was the single greatest threat any of us has ever faced before."
He looked around with a twinkle in his eyes; there were chuckles and murmurs of fervent assent, even a "Hell, yeah!" from Cyborg.
Superman continued, "But Parallax also made us come together in a way superheroes never have before, and in teaming up to defeat him, we discovered something very important. We discovered that we all share the same cause: to protect the innocents and safeguard what we can of the world. In that, we are all united." He smiled. "It's been my honor, and my pleasure, to be able to share that with you all, even for a little while."
"Hey, the honor's all ours." Zatanna grinned at him. "How many people can say they've worked with the Man of Steel?"
A general chorus of laughs answered her comment.
"We were only doing what we knew was right," Katana said. "Black Lightning and I" – she gestured at the lightning-wielder – "have been heroes for a long time, but much as we would like to, we know we can't do it forever. So it is nice to know that there are others to carry on our work."
"You're making me feel old, Katana," Black Lightning complained jokingly.
"But she is right," Raven interjected. She gazed around their little group, uncharacteristically serious. "Earth is my home, but for the majority of my life I wasn't even living on it. When I came back last year and found that Parallax was here, I thought it was the end. But you gave me hope." She smiled a small little smile, sharing a glance with her Titan teammates. "Knowing that there are people who have the ability and the intent to stand up to those that would see evil has given me more happiness than I've had in a long time."
"Rae, you gotta learn to talk like a normal person," Beast Boy teased. "You're one of us now, too, after all."
"I agree with her, though," added Wonder Woman. "My fondest memories are of the years I spent with the Justice Society, and it is good to know that the heroes of today can continue to carry on that tradition. Isn't it, Fate?"
"Indeed," Doctor Fate concurred. No one could see his smile under his helmet, but his tone of voice conveyed it perfectly nevertheless.
Superman, however, was thinking of something else entirely. Wonder Woman's passing mention of the JSA had switched on a light in his head. He didn't know much about the Society at all, but…why not? he thought.
"You know, it would be a shame for us to go back to the way we were before all this," he remarked, seemingly nonchalantly. Batman wasn't fooled by his casual tone; the Dark Knight turned to peer at him suspiciously through the white lenses of his cowl. Superman deliberately ignored it.
"There's nothing wrong with how we were working before," commented Black Canary, exchanging a glance with Green Arrow. "But I do admit, it just won't be the same."
"We achieved a new level," Arrow agreed.
"Why don't we make this arrangement sort of permanent?" Superman proposed. All heads swiveled to him; Batman's eyes narrowed further.
"What do you mean?" Batgirl asked.
"We already know we work well as a team," said Superman. "Why don't we actually form one?"
"A team of superheroes?" Speedy asked.
"It's working well for the Titans," Superman pointed out; Nightwing and the other Titans inclined their heads in acknowledgment. "But we can't rely on them alone – they're talented, but young."
"But they pack a punch." Batgirl smiled at Nightwing.
"That they do," Superman chuckled. "My point is, if the five of them can do something like that –"
"Six," Flash corrected, patting his chest proudly.
"Since when have you been a Teen Titan?" Hawkgirl wondered.
"I'm an unofficial member."
"Very unofficial," Speedy muttered with a smirk.
Flash pointedly did not look at him. "Continue, Supes."
"Right, well – if they can do it, why shouldn't we?"
"You really think it could work?" Zatanna looked around. "All of us together in a team?"
"It's a big commitment," Batman put in, still eyeing Superman intently.
"But a worthy one." Wonder Woman caught Superman's eye. "If you're serious about this, Superman, I'm with you."
"Me too," said Green Lantern, stepping forward slightly.
"I owe you my freedom," J'onn spoke up, looking at Superman and Batman. "It would be an honor to repay the favor as your teammate."
There was a short silence; all of them knew that this was the time to decide if they would form a team or not. They sensed that this was the start of something big – something that would likely have a huge impact on the world. It was not a decision to rush into or take lightly.
"Why not?" Hawkgirl shrugged, breaking the stillness. "I've got nothing else to do."
"You already know where we stand," Nightwing said to Superman. "But if you ever need help, you can count on the Titans."
"Honestly, I think you guys can handle this without me," said Green Arrow. "I've had my run as a hero – I'm helping people in other ways now." Black Canary squeezed his hand.
"Ditto," she put in. Then she added, "But like Nightwing said – if you ever need me, I'll still be around."
"I'm sort of supposed to be taking a break from hero work right now." Speedy exchanged a significant look with Green Arrow. "Besides, no offense – but if I ever do join a team, it'll probably be the Titans."
Nightwing raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you'll be welcome?"
"Don't start, Bird Boy." Speedy glanced at Flash, who seemed to be debating within himself – torn between two decisions, if the way he was vibrating was anything to go by. "Oh, just go on, Flash. I know you're dying to."
The Scarlet Speedster looked stricken. "But I'm with the Titans." However, his longing gaze in the direction of the five heroes who had agreed to form the new team told a different story.
"It's okay, Flash," Nightwing assured him. "I never really thought you'd stay with us for long, anyway – I just wanted the chance to work with you again." His tone was understanding. "Besides, you'd be more suited for this team."
Flash beamed. "Really? Thanks!" In the blink of an eye, he'd zipped over to stand next to Hawkgirl. "Count me in."
"Katana and I will opt out," said Black Lightning. "It's like she said – we can't do this kind of thing forever, and we're nearing the end of our run." He smiled ruefully. "I hate to admit it, but we are getting old."
"I'll admit I liked working with you guys," said Zatanna, "but I'm not ready to commit to something like this on a permanent scale. I have too much to do, things to sort out, people to find…" Here she caught Batman's knowing eye and shrugged. "So, yeah…that's how it is."
"Technically, I'm in retirement," Doctor Fate interjected. "And I have no plans to change that status."
"Fate, I know you still quietly guard Salem." Wonder Woman smirked at him.
"'Quietly' being the key word," Fate reminded her. He sighed. "To be frank, the JSA took up a lot of my time, and though I felt fulfilled while I was part of it, I enjoy having that time to do other things now."
"Basically, he's saying no," Wonder Woman translated. Doctor Fate nodded slightly, confirming her statement.
"Fair warning, though," he told them. "I may drop in from time to time."
"I'll look forward to it." Wonder Woman smiled.
"I have obligations in Gotham," said Batgirl. "I bet Batman could commit, though, if he wanted." Batman glared at her, but she smiled sweetly back. "Oh, come on – you know it's true. I swear, these days the Commissioner is taking a leaf out of your book – you can't deny crime in Gotham has gone down at least fifteen percent, even while you and I were busy with Darkseid and Parallax."
"I think it would be good for you," Nightwing chimed in, joining his former partner in ganging up on their mentor – and earning his share of the infamous Bat-glare. "You need a change of scene."
"Come on, Bats," Flash added. "We need a detective on our team."
Near him, J'onn smiled slightly at the irony – but then, Flash couldn't possibly know what his day job was.
"Batman?" That was all Superman said. Anything more would be unnecessary; Gotham's Caped Crusader and Metropolis' Man of Steel knew each other too well for that. The two of them shared what was possibly the longest and deepest friendship out of anyone in the stadium.
Batman, for his part, was the only one who had not yet decided – the single person who had not committed to yay or nay. He looked around at everyone's expectant faces – stopping to glare at both Nightwing and Batgirl – raised an eyebrow that spoke volumes at Superman, and exhaled.
"Well," he said simply, "it seems I've been outvoted."
And everyone smiled, because they knew that was his way of acceptance. It might not seem like much, but to those who knew Batman well, it was all that was needed.
Batman came forward to join the other six who had committed to the new team, who were all standing just a little apart from the rest of the group. His arrival made the number seven.
"So, it's the seven of us," said Superman, beaming widely.
"So how is this going to work?" Flash wondered. "Will we be like the Justice Society in the twentieth century?"
"Nah – 'society's too old-fashioned a word to use for the modern time," Green Lantern replied jokingly. "We're more like a 'league'."
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow. "A Justice League?" she questioned.
Green Lantern nodded solemnly.
"Exactly."
A/N: Those last five lines are my absolute favorite of the entire story :)
So, here ends the first Tale of Diamond Earth. I'm already halfway through the second story - I will personally PM you guys who reviewed when I post. Here's a little info on the next fic: it's titled Secrets of State, it's in the Teen Titans category, and it's centered on Starfire. Excited yet? ;)