7 Justice League Conflict
Listen...
we don't call the shots here
we don't make the rules
we take what we get
get what we can
That's learning the hard way
here on the streets
you can't build a dream without a plan
(I shall speak)
let them hear you speak
(play for keeps)
they play to win
we play for keeps
(Chorus)
its not over til it's over
its not over til we get it right
The odds are against us
they say we don't stand a chance
well there's no givin up
no givin in
when push comes to shove
you got to fight for what you love
you do what you must
do what you can
(I shall speak)
let them hear you speak
(play for keeps)
they play to win
we play for keeps
(repeat chorus 2x)
get it
(guitar solo)
the odds are against us
ya know we still stand a chance
there's no givin up
no givin in
its not over...
-Starship
Mr. Terrific's T-spheres teleported him, the Atom, and Nemesis to Wildcat's location. Wildcat stood vigil over Rocket Red. Atomic Skull lay in a broken heap. His jaw, arms, leg, and who knew what else were visibly broken. Mr. Terrific and the Atom winced upon seeing him. Nemesis, on the other hand, merely said; "Good."
It was then that the other two noticed Red. The Atom reacted first, "My God! Is he…"
"Yes, he is." Wildcat grimly confirmed, "You fellas want to help me guard the body until we can get it out of here and prepped for a decent burial?"
"Of course." Mr. Terrific agreed, "My T-spheres will give us a head's up on anyone's approach."
"Good. The man died a hero and he doesn't need anyone mucking about with him now that he's gone." Wildcat declared.
The others concurred.
Black Adam went crashing into the ground and he carved out a trench as he was propelled along. Silver Banshee merely laughed.
"No one can survive my scream for long." She boasted.
"I am endowed with the vitality and invulnerability of the gods. You cannot harm me." Adam declared.
"We'll see." She opened her mouth and began to wail again.
Black Adam covered his ear and began to slowly march towards Silver Banshee. Suddenly a screamer arrow hit her in the chest and stuck there. Its sonic scrambler drove the Banshee into covering her own ears. Adam surged forward and knocked her out with a single punch. That punch would have crushed the skull of a normal being but the Silver Banshee merely passed out. Fortunately, the arrow's effects faded soon afterwards.
"How's that for help?" Green Arrow called out from the distance.
"Humph. I could've done that." Black Canary huffed from his side.
"Sure you could've but why strain your voice if you don't have to?" Green Arrow countered.
"Hmm, you may have a point." Black Canary conceded.
Mantis opened a boom tube and held it open while his fellow Legionnaires fled through it. These included Copperhead, Man Bat, Scarecrow, the Mad Hatter, the Shade, Blackrock, Ragdoll, Superwoman, Psycho Pirate, Dr. Polaris, the Gentleman Ghost, Plastique, Firefly, Metallo, Bronze Tiger, Hector Hammond, Multiplex, and the Shadow Thief. That only left Bane, Ultraman, and Supreme battling JLers. The Brotherhood of Evil guarded the interior of the Dome.
Bane threw a right cross. Hourman ducked under it and then swung up with an uppercut. Hourman was satisfied to hear Bane's jaw clack shut as his head was thrown back. Hourman moved in and threw a body shot followed by another. Bane went to defend his torso and Hourman changed up and fired off several jabs to Bane's masked face. A right cross connected before Bane could shift his defense.
Bane heaved a massive backhand that caught Hourman unawares. He went tumbling and rolled onto his feet. As he stood, the timer on his wrist chimed. He had fifteen minutes worth of Miraclo in his system. He had to finish this fight in the next ten minutes or he'd be ground into hamburger.
He decided the best defensive posture was a good offense. He ran back into the fray, throwing punch after punch with most connecting. Bane was reeling, to the point where he threw a left cross. Hourman had been waiting for that eventuality. He grabbed hold of the arm with his right hand and reached out and ripped Bane's Venom dispenser with his left. Pulling it off of Bane's wrist, he crushed it, and then pulled the feeding tube free. Bane shuddered and he visibly shrank. As he shriveled up Hourman smashed him with a right cross. Bane went down.
Hourman looked around and realized his fellow JLers were gathering near the entrance of the Dome. He decided to join them. As he walked to join them, he removed a Miraclo pill from his belt dispenser and a flask containing water. He downed the pill and felt safe knowing that his powers would remain at their current levels.
Inside the Dome, Jack, Owlwoman, and Gypsy entered the Mission Control Center. There they found Luthor, Grodd, the Ultra-Humanite, Dr. Sivana, Mr. Mind, and Half Ape all giving instructions to the Toyman, who was seated at the controls. Minding them was the entire Brotherhood of Evil. The Brain scoffed at the confusion and Mallah enjoyed the joke. Meanwhile Warp, Plasmus, Phobia, Houngan, and Gemini milled about. Brainiac held vigil over the proceedings and it was he that detected the Global Guardians.
"Master! The prisoners have escaped." He announced.
"Brain, deal with them." Luthor commanded.
"Warp." Brain simply said.
The Frenchman opened a spatial rift underneath them and they "fell" in. The Brain chuckled, "Where did you put them?"
"In the midst of the Bay of Bengal." Warp answered, "They should enjoy the swim."
"Indeed." Brain laughed.
On the other side of the room, Luthor had silenced his compatriots; "Toyman, launch the Dome."
"Where to?" Toyman asked.
"Brainiac has the coordinates locked into the navigation system. Just follow the computer's cues." Luthor instructed.
"Oh boy! What fun!" Toyman gleefully declared.
"Phobia, deal with the Justice League." Luthor ordered.
Phobia stood in the open doorway. Gemini had an arm wrapped around her waist as the Dome lifted off. Phobia projected raw fear and panic. The JLers were paralyzed by their deepest fear and cascading waves of panic. She especially concentrated on the fear of flying. However, Black Adam and Mary Marvel received supernatural courage as part of their acumen and they launched into the skies to pursue the departing Legion headquarters.
Phobia retreated and Adam and Mary landed upon the landing. Brainiac aimed his palm blasters at them and unleashed their full fury. They were Kryptonian in origin and could stagger Superman. Both Marvels cried out and fell backwards and plummeted. They both recovered before striking the ground and they returned to the skies above…only the Dome was gone.
They searched for several minutes before giving up. They'd known nothing of Luthor's new cloaking system and were woefully unprepared for it. The villains laughed as they flew away unmolested.
Impacts resounded throughout the neighborhood Ultraman and Captain Marvel were located in. They'd been exchanging blows for several minutes but neither of them was swiftly gaining an advantage. Marvel decided to change the game.
He grabbed Ultraman's shoulders and shouted, "Shazam!"
Mystical lightning descended and struck Ultraman. The Kryptonian was stunned. Even more so as Captain Marvel repeated the exercise twice more. Then he hammered at Ultraman with right-left cross combos. Ultraman finally succumbed and fell to the ground so Marvel decided to assist Superman, not that the League's leader would want the help. Marvel just felt he needed it.
Superman and Supreme had largely mimicked Captain Marvel and Ultraman. The difference was that Supreme revealed the game changing weapon. He pulled out a small, ring sized box and opened it to reveal a pebble of kryptonite. Superman shrank away.
Supreme moved in for the kill. He delivered a right cross, then a knee to the gut, followed by an uppercut. Superman toppled over and lay helpless on his back. Supreme took the kryptonite out of the lead box and tossed it onto Superman's chest.
"Now you should be especially vulnerable to my heat vision." Supreme laughed.
He quit laughing as Captain Marvel swooped in and rocked him with a right cross. Supreme threw a body shot into Marvel and followed up with a left cross. Captain Marvel shrugged it off and threw a haymaker. Supreme was thrown backwards by the force of the blow. His good humor was gone.
"Just remember, the longer you battle me, the closer Superman comes to death." Supreme taunted.
He flew off and Marvel rushed to Superman's side, scooped up the kryptonite, and flew off out to sea.
A recuperated Superman joined the crowd at the Dome's former location. He immediately sought out Diana. He found her conversing with J'onn. It was obvious that she was upset.
"Diana?" he softly asked, "Can we talk?"
Her anger largely dissipated but she was still uncomfortable. He knew this was going to be awkward. She didn't let go of things easily.
"I think we need to discuss the impact all of this had on 'us'." He opened with.
Diana frowned, "J'onn has convinced me that I should forgive my enemies and return to being friends with them. I'm not sure about you though."
"I had to do what I thought was right. I'm sorry that that divided us." Superman said.
"You were in the wrong." Diana insisted, "You should have listened to me."
Clark knew Diana held on to things and he'd just discovered the crux of the problem, "I did listen to you. I just disagreed. Look, would you respect me if I simply kowtowed to you on every matter?"
Her expression softened as did her voice, "No. I wouldn't. You need to make up your own mind about things. But you were wrong."
Clark knew he wouldn't win that one, "I'm sorry we were divided. I can only promise to try and work harder next time to preserve our unity."
Diana finally let go of her anger, "Me too."
Superman felt the need to hug her. She stiffened for a moment and then she relaxed and returned the embrace. Life would go on.
"Now that we have captured the Legionnaires, what shall we do with them?" J'onn asked.
"I have a solution." Zatanna said as she walked within earshot. Trailing her was someone no one had met before.
"This is Anna Fortune. She's an apprentice to Dr. Fate. She has a recommendation regarding that precise problem." Zatanna announced.
"Hello Anna." Superman said, "What do you suggest?"
"If you gather them all together I can use a binding spell to shackle them. Each shackle will be attuned to their particular powers. It will also last up to a week." Anna explained.
"Sounds good. Let's spread the word. Also we need to check on our fallen members." Superman decided, "And find Mr. Terrific. His T-spheres can do most of the work."
"He is behind you." J'onn said. He seemed sad.
"Mr. Terrific we need…what's wrong?" Superman saw the grave expression on Terrific's face.
"It's Rocket Red. He…" Mr. Terrific lost his voice.
"Is he injured?" an alarmed Superman asked.
"He's dead." Terrific revealed.
