11 Justice League Front Lines
After a day and a night of searching, Superman finally admitted defeat. He had searched the entire globe for Luthor but he wasn't to be found in any of his usual haunts from his billionaire mogul days. Diana was pleased to have him home again but also suggested that Luthor would wisely avoid such places.
She got him fed and he slept for a few hours and then they took Alexandra with them and teleported to the Watchtower where he detailed his search to J'onn and Sue. Sue took Diana aside and informed her that the JLU's daycare facilities had moved. She gave Diana the address of the temporary site. The contractor was being evaluated and they really wanted to meet Alexandra.
After Clark had finished with his report, he and Diana changed into civilian togs and went to the daycare center. It was the ubiquitously titled "Day Center Academy" and it was located in Fawcett City. It had been built by Tawky Tawny and Uncle Dudley of the extended Marvel Family fame. Clark wasn't certain it was safe to leave his daughter with a human-like talking tiger but Diana scolded him.
In the end they both approved of the center and its staff. Clark even approved of its founders. Tawky Tawny was an interdimensional being who wanted nothing more than to look after children. Mary Batson had been his original charge but she'd long since outgrown him. Uncle Dudley had served as Billy and Mary Batson's guardian after Billy's secret status as an orphan was revealed and Mary left her adoptive parents.
Diana promised everyone that Alexandra would return the next day. But today was a reunion of sorts for the family so they would be spending it together. Clark was more than happy to go along with that. He just had to spend a few seconds typing up a story for the Daily Planet and then he was free for the rest of the day.
Kara and Galatea had searched for survivors of the nuclear blast throughout the night. In the end they had found survivors in outlying towns and some camp sites. Some were lightly dosed by radiation but most had taken heavy rads and a large percentage of them wouldn't make it through the next two weeks.
Ferris Aircraft was one such area. Carol and Hal had returned the next morning from Zamaron. Their horror, and Carol's mounting fury, was plain to see. Galatea pulled them aside and advised Carol to leave. She could visit the afflicted once they'd reached a safe zone but she wasn't doing the victims any good by getting angry.
Carol saw the wisdom of Galatea's advice in the Argoan's heart. She and Hal left. She had an apartment in Los Angeles. To her dismay, the complex had been among those torched in the riots. Finally, with all of their other homes destroyed, they ended up in Foxworth Manor in England. Carol took some comfort that her ancestral home was still intact. She grimly wondered how long that would last.
John was also reunited with Shayera. Shayera was rather amused, "Here I am, in a strange town and a strange home, and you're off saving the universe."
John started to look guilty and she placed a finger on his lips, "Shhh! I'm only teasing, Lantern."
"Well, that's just it. In three months I may no longer be a Green Lantern," John said mirthlessly.
"Why?" Shayera wondered.
John told her of the Guardians of the Universe's directive and their ultimatum. Shayera only had one question, "Would you really sacrifice your ring for the Star Sapphires?"
"Probably," John admitted.
"Why?" Shayera drove the question home.
"Besides the Dela Pherons in the group, there are good ladies wielding the violet rings. Carol, Fatality, Maewen, Arven, Race, Miss Bloss, and Miri Raim to name a few," John replied, "But it's not just them. It's also the Blue Lanterns and the Indigo Tribe that are in jeopardy."
"You've conveniently left out the Red Lanterns and the Sinestro Corps," Shayera smirked, "And do I even have to mention Agent Orange and the Black Lanterns?"
"It's the motive behind it that worries me," John revealed, "The Guardians want to be the last man standing and have the only power rings. It's a power play. Why do they need all that power and what do they intend to do with it? The last time they were in that position we ended up with the Manhunters. That was certainly an unqualified success."
Shayera appreciated his sarcasm, "Okay, there are larger issues at hand, I grant you that. But it starts, and may end with, the Star Sapphires. Are you willing to give up your ring in defiance of the Guardians' orders?"
"Yes," John said without hesitation.
"Okay, I can empathize. Maybe even relate to your dilemma. Thanagar gave me a similar choice. We all know what I chose to do. Are you willing to make a similar choice?" Shayera sharply inquired.
The full impact of Shayera's question caught John between the eyes, "I don't know."
"I think you're going to have to figure out the answer to that question, John. A lot could be riding on it," Shayera warned.
John hated even thinking about it but it made a perverse kind of sense.
The Question agreed to meet with Anna. The location was at a camp ground in the Appalachians. A recreational vehicle was at the assigned camp site and Anna and Al, dressed in civilian clothing, knocked on the door at the appointed time.
Helena Bertinelli opened the door and smirked. As she stepped back and Anna stepped up into the vehicle's living space, Anna commented; "The knife truly was unnecessary."
"You can never be certain," Helena's smirk deepened.
Despite the Huntress being in civilian garb, the Question was not. Now it was Anna's turn to be amused, "Really, is the mask a requirement?"
"It serves as a thinking cap, if you will," Question replied, "Now, Atom Smasher has indicated you have something of importance to discuss with me."
"Actually, without my gear on I just go by Al. Or Albert if you're feeling irrepressibly formal," Al countered.
Despite the faceless features induced by the mask, Al could feel the Question glaring at him. The Question moved on, "There is one small price for my help."
"Name it," Anna said.
"Did you murder your fiancé?" Question asked the query that had been plaguing him.
"Yes," Anna replied forthrightly, "He'd bludgeoned Uriah to a bleeding pulp and then used a pickaxe to his skull. Stephen was stupid enough to leave his pistol in the saddlebag where I could reach it. I emptied it in to him. Satisfied?"
Al had suspected these things but actually hearing them was like a kick to the gut. Again, she spoke in dispassionate details. There were no emotions attached to these events. And certainly no remorse.
"Question, she's changed since coming to our time," Al suddenly argued, "She's an Agent of Order for god's sake."
"I have reason to believe the Lords of Order chose Jack the Ripper as an Agent of Order so I don't believe they're overly choosy," Question retorted, "Or at least they use standards that confound me."
"As I succinctly pointed out before, you have no proof," Anna reminded him.
"I have your confession and there is no statute of limitations on murder," Question shot back.
"I have done my penance and joining the Justice League was supposed to be the start of making amends," Anna was getting irritated.
"Q, drop it," Helena suddenly voiced her opinion.
"Excuse me?" Question was baffled now.
"She could've killed us in our sleep but she hasn't," Helena reminded him, "I think she's really trying to turn a new leaf."
"We'll just have to see, won't we?" Question replied dourly, "Now what did you wish to discuss?"
Anna laid out her questions and her theories. When she concluded, the Question grew very quiet. Anna was starting to worry about his health when he started to chuckle. It wasn't a nice sound.
"I've been pondering the same things," he finally confided, "Only I didn't think anyone would listen. It's funny that the one person realizing the same things would be you."
Anna wasn't certain whether or not to be flattered or insulted, "But how do we proceed? The others certainly won't listen at this point. We need tangible proof."
"I've been devising a plan to acquire it," Question disclosed, "And by the way, the code name for the master behind these occurrences is CONTROL."
"But who is he?" Anna wanted to know.
"I don't know. That is what we need to discover," Question stated.
"I have a scrying stone. It should help," Anna chose to share.
"A what?" Helena blurted.
"A mystical orb for seeing over long distances. Ostensibly it can peer into any unshielded space," Question explained, "Is this true?"
"Very," Anna happily confirmed.
"Then we may have a chance after all," Question happily mused.
Waller met with the survivors of Task Force X the night their mission went wrong. She wasn't very happy, "The Suicide Squad program has been shut down. Some of you will be given the opportunity to continue to earn you freedom as direct agents of ARGUS. Some of you will not. All of your death sentences have been commuted so even if you aren't asked to join ARGUS' staff, you will at least live long enough to enjoy a lifelong vacation in Belle Reeve Prison."
King Shark, Psi, Shrapnel, Punch, Jewelee, El Diablo, and Black Spider were singled out and taken away. Waller looked to the rest, "That takes care of the riffraff. As for the rest of you, would you care to join ARGUS and serve the Unites States government as only you know how to?"
Nightshade, Phantasm, Harley Quinn, Black Orchid, Firehawk, Silver Swan, Major Victory, Mayflower, Savant, and the Puzzler all agreed. Only Speedy objected, "I'm through taking your orders, Waller."
Waller signaled the agents in the back, "Since you don't have a life sentence waiting for you you're free to go. Just don't expect to ever find a job in this country."
Speedy glowered at her but he ripped his arms out of the agents' hands and stormed out of the room under his own power. Waller wore a grim smile, "Now for a few introductions."
Three men entered the room. Two wore military dress and the third an older man, wore a crumpled suit. Nightshade was out of her chair and hugging him in mere seconds.
"King! They told me you were dead!" she almost began to cry.
"They had to, Eve. My work has been even more secretive than yours here lately," King Faraday explained, "I know I've raised you like a daughter but I couldn't even tell blood relatives where I was."
"I forgive you, you crusty old coot," Nightshade said gratefully.
"If we can dispense with the glad tidings and happy reunions," Waller said tersely, "I want to introduce Lt. Colonel Rick Flagg and Colonel Steve Trevor. They, along with Agent Faraday, will be your new command staff. Lt. Colonel Flagg commanded the first variation of Task Force X when it was strictly a military operation. He will be your field leader. Colonel Trevor is a meta-human operations expert. Next to me, he is the best thing next to God in your lives. Understood?"
Nightshade looked askance at King Faraday. He whispered, "It's a brave new world, Eve."
She could well believe it.
The next day Roy Harper was fuming. Oliver Queen, as promised, had cut him off. He only had ten thousand dollars in the bank. Which meant his expenses had to seriously pared down and in a hurry. When the doorbell to his one room flat rang, he was surprised.
"Probably some government goon wanting back taxes," Roy griped.
When the door opened, Jade Nguyen stood revealed. Of course, those in Roy's rarified profession knew her as Cheshire. Jade had spent a memorable week with Roy and seemed genuinely happy to see him.
"Jade! You're more beautiful than ever. And you're…pregnant." Roy was stunned. Didn't she take precautions?
"With your child," Cheshire informed him, "May I come in?"
"I'm not sure you should," Roy said absently.
"You're going to turn away the mother of your child?" Cheshire teased him, "How shocking! Would it help if I told you I'm here to discuss future employment?"
Roy stood out of her way so she could enter. She scrutinized his dwelling as she proceeded through the flat. Her eyes came to rest on the half open magazines on the coffee table. She flipped through them, "Hustler and Penthouse, I see you only read the highest quality materials. But then again, I'm certain it's for the articles. Tell me, do they help seduce your female guests? Get them all excited?"
"Jade, what the hell are you doing here?" Roy was getting impatient and he didn't like getting teased, "I thought you wanted to discuss work."
"In six months, for obvious reasons, I have been invited to join an organization being put together by Slade Wilson," Cheshire shared.
"Deathstroke the Terminator?" Roy suddenly yammered, "What's he want?"
"Assistance," Cheshire elaborated, "Deathstroke gets more contracts than he can fulfill. He gets even more that he's not interested in. He wants to form a cadre of specialists that undertake those tasks."
"What's in it for Slade?" Roy wanted to know.
"Professional pride, as well as a ten percent fee for matching the contract with the specialist," Cheshire explained.
"Why me?" Roy was still skeptical.
"Deathstroke knows of your separation from the government's Task Force X," Cheshire smiled, "He values your skills, and my recommendation, so he is willing to extend this offer to you."
"You vouched for me?" Roy was surprised.
"I do not sleep with men that I find unimpressive, Roy Harper," Cheshire scolded him.
"How long do I have to think about it?" Roy wondered.
"Just this moment," Cheshire advised, "I have ten minutes to convince you or I walk away forever. And you have two minutes left."
"Dammit Jade!" Roy grated.
"One minute thirty seconds," she serenely informed him.
"I'll do it!" Roy decided on the spot.
Cheshire's face lit up, "Excellent. You'll be pleased to know a monthly retainer is included. Given your financial straits I assume that would be appreciated."
"I'm not even going to ask how Deathstroke knew that even before I did," Roy grimaced, "I do have one condition."
"There is no bargaining," Cheshire said coldly, "You take the offer or leave it."
"I just don't want to be known as 'Speedy' anymore," Roy said, "Is that so hard to ask for?"
Cheshire's good humor returned, "And what do you wish to be called?"
"I've been thinking about 'Arsenal'," Roy grinned.
"I like it," Cheshire smiled.
"Now, tell me about the baby," Roy requested, "If you have time."
"I think I can make some," Cheshire said conspiratorially.
Dela dropped Guy off at the K-Star Ranch. She dropped the construct that had clothed him and he was left naked. This infuriated Guy.
"Aw c'mon!" Guy protested.
"Do not speak to me!" Dela harshly commanded, "Divorce is forbidden on Zamaron so I can't abandon your worthless self but I can exile you here on this miserable ball of dirt."
"Was it somethin' I said?" Guy was still somewhat clueless as to why Dela was pushing him off back onto the JLU.
"You're no longer a Green Lantern!" Dela nearly shrieked, "My destiny is to be married to a Green Lantern. You aren't one anymore so you have no place by my side."
"I only got my ring taken away `cause I married you!" Guy hurled the accusation back at her.
"So?" Dela scornfully asked, "You could've resisted for the sake of our life together."
"Just how d'ya fight the Guardians of the Universe?" Guy wondered, "Especially when it's all of `em?"
"I don't know!" Dela was close to hysterics, "You just do it!"
"Are you serious?" Guy couldn't help but wonder.
"Guy Gardner, if I ever see you again, you'd better have a damn power ring on or I will kill you!" Dela proclaimed and then shot into the sky.
Guy marched through the men's dorm towards his room. Mr. America witnessed him in his state of undress, "Looking good, Gardner!"
"Blow me," Guy retorted.
Guy got dressed and teleported up to the Watchtower. A quick records search of the security sections log showed that Hal had turned over Sinestro's ring to the equipment vault personnel. Guy proceeded to the vault.
Upon arrival he bluffed his way into seeing it. While the guard waited outside, Guy palmed the yellow power ring and substituted a gold band for it. It wasn't like he'd ever need his wedding band again. His first wife had disappeared in the middle of the night. So well, that even all of Guy's legal tricks as a lawyer had failed to find her. He'd gone so far, he'd been disbarred.
Now Dela had dumped his ass on Earth. And he was looking forward to being the only guy on a planet full of women. Even if they despised him they'd still come crawling to him to get some.
Guy returned to Earth and wandered off the K-Star property. He summoned the ring's power battery. Feeling stupid, he wondered if he'd have to recite the Sinestro Corps oath.
Discovering that Sinestro didn't have to pledge allegiance to himself, Guy recharged the ring. Rather than adopt a Sinestro Corps uniform, Guy created a unique uniform all his own. Rather than a lantern on his chest, Guy bore a giant "G". Soon, every crook would quake in fear when they saw it.
Talia stood away from the burning home, holding the infant El-Faddil close. She'd killed Luthor's defenders and the house staff. Unfortunately, her V-22 had been destroyed by a missile. The wreckage and rammed into the house and ignited it. It meant nothing to Talia, she'd intended to destroy the building anyway.
But now she had been forced to rely upon her father for an extraction. As the helicopter descended, a cold clenching sensation hit her. Lady Shiva opened the passenger door. Talia clutched El-Faddil closer to her chest as the master assassin escorted her to the helicopter.
Seated within were Ubu…and her father. Only, she'd never seen Ra's al Ghul so frail in his life. He was undeniably old. She suddenly knew he was finally going to die.
"Father, what has happened to the Lazarus Pits?" Talia inquired as she sat down. Lady Shiva took an extraordinarily gentle hand as she held El-Faddil while Talia strapped in.
"It is as before the Kryptonian recharged my vitality," Ra's rasped, "The Lazarus Pits have no effect upon me anymore."
"Then what is to be done?" Talia inquired.
"I have one final sacrifice to ask of you, daughter," Ra's informed her.
Suddenly, Talia knew what was required of her. It was fitting she thought. She was so tired of life. She'd lost her only son, her Beloved, and her place in the world. So what did she have left to strive for?
"I will exact your revenge through your chosen instrument," Ra's promised.
"It doesn't matter, father. I will do whatever is required of me," Talia promised.
"This is why you are my favorite," Ra's managed to say between gasps; "The surgical site is already prepared."
Talia wondered how much of a choice she'd really had.
"I hear that fool, Superman, is still searching for me," Luthor chuckled as he entered the well appointed office located deep beneath the United Nations building, "I guess my staff and I have you to thank for our continued freedom."
CONTROL nodded, "Indeed you do."
Luthor grated at that, "At least I have to thanks you for the location and access codes to the JLU-Gotham base. It took the Justice League weeks to find us."
"Yet you never cracked their library computer?" CONTROL mused.
"No, it was beyond the skills of my technical 'experts'," Luthor replied.
"Somehow I doubt that," CONTROL retorted, "I smell the involvement of the Legion of Super Heroes. Those imbecilic do-gooders have been attempting to block my efforts throughout the millennia."
CONTROL smirked, "At least providing you with the location of Subera achieved something tangible."
"As well as the nuclear waste drop on Atlantis," Luthor chuckled again, "That notion was worthy of myself."
"The sweet sound of humility," CONTROL dryly remarked.
"But it's completed?" Luthor wanted to know, "You've created and consolidated the World Army?"
"As of this morning," CONTROL confirmed it.
"And these witless wonders have no idea they've handed the most powerful military force in the world over to Vandal Savage?" Luthor couldn't believe it.
"That fact is undeniable," Savage boasted, "And to think my ambitions a few years ago only included Kaznia. Now Audrey riots in prison and awaits judgment from the World Court."
"The White Rabbit is in play, as is Maxwell Lord," Savage laughed, "Soon, our fearsome quartet will actually rule the world not just in name only. And this is merely the beginning of our plans."
A few Notes:
First, thanks go to everyone that read this story in its entirety. Reviewers get extra thanks and have also inspired a greater portion of the comments to follow.
Okay, on to the meat: Some of you have written me privately, and have already born witness to these rants, so bear with me now. If you have read this, and other installments of the series you have by now noticed that they do NOT revolve around the DC Trinity of BM/WW/SM. I know, it's heresy. Quite frankly, I object to every story having to revolve around them. There is a wealth of characters in the DCAU and the DCU to draw from that, and quite frankly, the Trinity characters get annoying. So, to put it bluntly, I focus on the so-called "lesser" characters because they interest me more.
I took some comments regarding Superman. I liked Superman a lot…when I was twelve. As I grew older I began to see that a person who can literally do almost anything is going to get arrogant. When he's worshipped and adored like a god by the crowds of Metropolis and Earth, he's eventually going to think he is a god. It's human nature. And if you reply, "Well, he's a Kryptonian", I will have to hurt you. He was raised on Earth as a human. No human has ever remained humble while professing deity, or being accorded deity, as in this case.
As for Wonder Woman…she's a Princess. That includes a boatload of issues not the least of which is she's used to getting her own way. I actually have a lot more sympathy for her in comparison to Superman and that should show. If not, all I can say is she's a work in progress.
And now for Batman. It seems I have to reiterate this little speech every six installments or so. To stave off the rumors that I "hate" Batman, that's not true. My all time favorite depictions of Batman were the DCAU shows. Except that leads into the "unmentionable" fact that Batman Beyond established Batman's future.
Batman was an 80 year old man who lived alone with a dog, hiding from the world and hating everyone in it. He and Diana didn't get married and have a litter of kids. He was alone and very bitter.
Now since this future was verified in the last episode of JLU Season One, we know that future was kept intact. So, somewhere between JLU Season Two and Batman Beyond Season One, this transformation occurs. Since my series rests inside of the beginning of that unknown period, I started charting that change in Batman, all keyed around the loss of Robin. In this installment, Nightwing espouses my theory of what happened to Batman and why these changes occurred. It's a fundamental paradigm shift within Batman and it needed to be addressed.
So, back to the beginning. If you're looking for stories where the DC Trinity sails in and saves the day, read someone else's material. I'll just spare you some grief by saying so. Here, in this series, they'll actually get in the way of saving the day.
For those that are still interested, there will be a Part 17. The main premise behind it was given away in this installment. Care to guess when?