31
The aftermath stretched beyond three days. All of which in Gotham burned. And the single question was: where is Batman? Where is the Justice League? Or even where is the Justice Society or the Mighty Crusaders?
Secret Agent J-3 had intercepted Phantasm and Olivia McKay as they emerged from the White House escape tunnels. The political fallout had insanely placed the blame on everyone but the legislators and Joint Chiefs who'd enabled Sam Lane. Amanda Waller emerged a victim of circumstance.
The Americans, Freedom Fighters, PATRIOTS, and SMASH fell under Homeland Security's umbrella, or so it had been decided. Unlike the MLJ Initiative's exclusively domestic charter, Homeland was also international in scope. And so those agents would represent the United States in foreign crises.
The United Nation rechartered the Justice League Unlimited and expanded its authority. The MLJ and Homeland also endorsed the JLU at the same time. The announcement of the mothballing of the International Security Agency in light of 204 nations withdrawing to place their support in the newly forged International Operation meant the JLU could reclaim the Watchtower. Max Lord and Lena Luthor both pledged to upgrade the satellite to beyond gen standards.
But Gotham still burned. The mayor invoked the governor's endorsement in denying any governmentally affiliated super entity access to New Jersey. With the federal legislature deadlocked and the newly sworn in President seemingly incapable of acting unilaterally, no actions were taken and Sam Lane was espoused as the cause of it. The United Nations was equally stymied when New Jersey and the United States pulled the "national sovereignty" argument out of the dust bin.
It fell on Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon to reactive a frustrated GCPD. Every officer was suspended per the Mayor's orders. But the cops no longer cared. Their families were safely inside GCPD HQ. Everyone was set to go forth and attempt to restore order when they collectively received the shock of their lives. Standing in the main foyer was the formerly, and apparently recovered from being deceased, Renee Montoya. She was replete with badge and gun.
"Lt. Montoya, can I have a word?" Barbara asked.
Montoya looked confused so Babs tried again, "Detective, a word alone?"
Lt. Harvey Bullock looked the hardest hit. Barbara got Montoya in a private room, "How are you alive?"
"How are you not Batgirtl?" Montoya asked in reply.
"Which Earth are you from?" Barb put it together.
"Earth-4. I've had to go cross country to get here. And my currency is different than the locals. I had to…liberate a few wallets from purses," Montoya explained.
"Being a lesbian, I suppose romantic overtures with woman would make them easy targets," Barbara allowed.
"Some just gave me money," Montoya continued to confess, "I actually slept with them."
"Let me see your badge," Barbara requested.
"And why should I?" Montoya wondered.
"I'm the city's police commissioner," came the answer.
Montoya slipped the loosely hanging badge off and gave it to Barbara. She examined it, "Totally different design and numbers. You're a sergeant?"
"Just passed my exams," Montoya shared, "You called me 'Lt. Montoya'?"
"Our Renee was a detective lieutenant," Barbara handed the badge, "I'll get you her shield."
"And a new pistol," Montoya requested, "Apparently you don't have .37 Magnums in this world."
"But we do have some issue .357 Magnums. I think you'll like it for a big smoke wagon," Barbara confided, "I'm assuming you want the job?"
"Yes, ma'am," Montoya enthused, "Especially with this shit show going down."
"I'll handle the cover story of why you're suddenly alive," Babs informed her.
"The other…me, is dead?" Montoya looked shellshocked.
"She died a hero with a wonderful life partner," Barbara lied all around, "You aren't an alcoholic?"
"No," Montoya looked insulted.
"Everyone else seems to be," Barb grumbled.
The fight began poorly. Despite being outnumbered, the Jokerz were feral and emboldened by their three days of rampaging unchecked. Many of the criminally inclined joined with them in the face of a police presence. They'd enjoyed the endless pillaging and raping as well. Everyone in the city had been attacked in some way. Pregnancies statistically spiked in the coming three diagnostic months. The numbers halved every week until eight weeks had been concluded.
Barbara marveled at Montoya. She was the Renee of old. And expertly handled the large bore pistol she'd been given. The cops rotated in police band monitored intervals to tend wounds and rearm. The coroners were serving as medics. The CSI techs guarded HQ. And still it wasn't enough.
In a moment of sheer desperation, Barbara called Helena Bertinelli.
Rhosyn Forrest teleported the Birds of Prey in from Sherwood Florist in Seattle. They appeared atop the parking garage adjacent to GCPD HQ. Barbara groaned, "Really, Huntress? Poison Ivy?"
"I love you too, Bat Brat," Ivy sneered.
"Does everyone know I was Batgirl?" Barbara asked in exasperation.
She had a chorus of affirmative answers. She sank her face into her hand, "I give up."
"As you can tell, we added a few new members," Huntress pointed.
"And you lost a few," Barb complained.
"But we maintained the quality of our brand," Huntress shared.
"Her brand. Not mine," Ivy clarified, "I'm just here to insure this fiasco doesn't spread to my real estate."
"And where exactly is that these days, Pammy?" Babs grated.
"Nowhere near here," Ivy promised.
"Even I don't know," Huntress confided.
"You've chased Spoiler and Bluebird but I don't think you know the others," Huntress, "Except for Dove but not her sister, Hawk."
Barbara wondered what had happened to Hank Hall. And since when did Dawn Granger have a sister? And why did the teen dressed as Robin remind her of Selina Kyle?
"This Batgirl," Helena made that introduction first. Barbara's reaction to Carrie Kelley would be revealing. It was epic. Huntress watched Barbara Gordon have a meltdown and then pull herself back together. When she'd regained a semblance of composure, Huntress continued.
"This is the newest Robin," Huntress enjoyed watch Gordon twitch, "And this is Black Bat formerly of the League of Assassins and then Batman, Inc."
Huntress wondered if Barbara would either a coronary or a stroke, "This is Savant. She's an expert on just about everything. But she's also had three thousand years to learn it in. This is Sister Lilhy, our representative from the Order of St. Dumas."
Barb looked apoplectic. Huntress shrugged, "The Justice League has Azrael. We have her."
Barbara didn't trust herself to speak. She whirled her finger for Huntress to conclude.
"And you may or may not recognize Los Angeles' own Manhunter. These strangers have actually been quietly working in several backgrounds," Huntress showed the ladies off, "The patriotic one is US Angel."
"Of course she is," Barbara murmured.
"And this Moon Girl. I'll let her tell her own story," Huntress allowed.
"I was in a freak accident involving moon rocks of all things. Now I store up energy from moonlight. I released it as energy, strength, rapid healing, or flight. But only one at a time," Claire Lune told Barbara.
"Is there a party in the house," Hellequin strolled forward resting her baseball bat across her shoulders. With her were White Rabbit and a heavily armed Jaina Hudson. And lastly, Knightfall revealed herself.
Barb pulled her pistol and took aim at Knightfall. Jaina returned the gesture. Hellequin assumed a "batter's up" stance.
"Are you really sure?" Hellequin asked, "Really, really sure?"
"Damn straight I am," Barbara growled.
White Rabbit sprang forward faster than Barbara could track and tackled her. But she also protected the back of Barb's head. Huntress had her crossbow ready but Hellequin and Jaina were already "safing" their brands of weapon.
"Brucie said you were comfy," White Rabbit giggled.
"And when would he find the time?" Barbara dripped disdain.
"During pillow talk, of course," White Rabbit laughed and laughed.
"Getoffame!" Barbara angrily shoved the White Rabbit off.
"It's true," Jaina promised her, "He still speaks highly of you."
"I suppose while you're effing," Barbara snapped.
"No, then we'd discuss other matters," Jaina's smirk was a triumphant one.
"Pretentious slut," Huntress overheard Babs' whisper.
"How did you know we'd be here?" Katana asked.
"I have operatives that monitor cellular towers," Knightfall admitted.
"Why should we trust you?" Huntress wanted to know.
"I'll show you my face if you do me the same courtesy, Ms. Bertinelli," Knightfall said.
"Why you…!" Huntress went for her crossbow again.
"I haven't told anyone you're in town. I hardly need the reward," Knightfall held her hands in the clear.
"Do it, Helena. I want to know who she is and the offer is exclusive to you," Barbara requested.
Huntress removed her mask. Knightfall was impressed, "Your features are even more beautiful than legend has it."
"Now you," Helena ground out.
Charise flipped back her cowl and removed her golden mask. Barb gasped, "Charise Carnes?"
"In the literal flesh," Charise confirmed it.
"I knew you were a spoiled twat but this?" Barbara was incensed.
"We each have our dreams of a safer Gotham. I just make it happen," Charise's smirk was a gloating one.
"Where's your tribe?" Spoiler wanted to know.
"Such distrust, Stephanie Brown. No, I'm not your father and his ridiculous Legion of Annoyance. My Disgraced are watching over Jokerz movements. Including the prime location of Duela Dent," Charise answered.
"I already have her marked, "Bluebird advised Knightfall.
"Such pretty toys, Harper Row. Did you build them yourself? And where's Cullen in all of this? A lot of gay bashing occurring even as we speak," Knightfall taunted her.
"My brother is safe," Bluebird growled.
"Out of the city then?" Charise mocked her further.
Robin and Batgirl held her back. Knightfall studied them, "And who are you two?"
Helena Kyle kept quiet as did Carrie. Knightfall shrugged, "No matter. I always find out."
"They're coming," Jaina refocused everyone.
"Who's coming?" Huntress asked.
"The Fourth Reich," Katana announced before anyone else could say it.
"You beat me by two seconds," White Rabbit grinned, "Happy to see you again."
Katana drew the SoulTaker. White Rabbit shrugged, "Okay, so it isn't mutual."
Members of the Nazi teams flew by. Barbara turned towards Charise, "You knew."
"I have my sources," Knightfall slyly said.
Screams erupted ta the street level. Metallic ricochets could be heard. Bluebird redirected several drones, "Holy eff!"
She activated her on board holo display and projected off her gauntlet projector, "When did the Fourth Reich get robots?"
"Since they paid of Ivo and Morrow. They're called the Iron Police," Hellequin added.
"Are you just a Harley Quinn wannabe?" Manhunter asked.
"Harley died trying to be me," Hellequin advised everyone.
But Ivy knew Harley was alive…and in her third trimester. Hawk was bored, "Can I just rip everyone's effin' heads off now?"
"Ease up," Dove quietly counseled.
"But this is such bullshit and I'm sick of it," Hawk angrily declared.
"I know Dove," Charise was honestly curious, "But who are you?"
"You're worst effing nightmare bitch," Hawk grated.
"I can tell you for a concrete fact, that isn't true," Knightfall replaced her mask and drew her cowl up, "Shall we save Gotham or just PMS out?"
"Go. You're all operating under the city's emergency mandates," Barbara was still angry.
"I know. I drafted them," Knightfall said smugly.
"Want me to end her when it's over?" Ivy whispered to Babs.
"Ask me at the time," Barbara requested.
"Disperse or be annihilated," Captain Nazi bellowed at fifty Jokers rioting in the middle of the street.
"Eff you, One Eye," a Jokerz yelled back.
So Captain Nazi began tyo make good on his threat. Huntress had any straggling civilians put out of harm's way, "Mike-Tango, you are clear to proceed. We're lazing the target now."
"Copy that, Huntress. I am ten seconds out," Lady Blackhawk acknowledged.
Huntress had US Angel and Sister Lilhy with her. US Angel was petulant, "Who were you talkingto and why am I doing this?"
Powerful jet engines could be heard and the sound of a rocket firing. The Hellfire Ghost Killer missile ran straight and true and detonated against Captain Nazi's incredibly durable skin.
As the Javelin-9 passed overhead, Zinda Blake applied a five second strafing burst that dealt with any lingering Jokerz. Lady Blackhawk, once again, rolled the fighter off and began a sweep of this city while the Birds of Prey sought other targets of opportunity.
"That was…impressive," Sister Lilhy admitted.
"The Hellfire Ghost Killer was designed to disable Majestic-level threats. Captain Turd over isn't in that caliber but he probably survived," Huntress had dealt out her share of death in her career.
"And if he didn't, who will miss a Nazi?" US Angel determined.
Hirohito's Rising Sun Brigade was enjoying the opportunity to cut loose. Hachiman's energized katana easily sliced through Jokerz flesh. Captain Nippon literally crushed his targets to death. Iron Fist shattered skulls. Chen Fang, a Chinese collaborator, was a failed meta experiment in the People's Republic. But the revived Japanese super soldiers were glad to accept him.
Madame Claw had a hook where her left hand should be. Madame Terror was a representative of the Yakuza's alliance with the Brigade. She was an expert with any form of weapon and few
that weren't intended as such. The Black Dragon Society served as foot soldiers. And agent S-22 was overwatch.
Katana had tracked them employing Bluebird's surveillance network. Choosing three of the best Birds' melee fighters, she looked forward to this engagement. They'd strike as one and with complete surprise. Bluebird tasked a taser drone to deal with S-22.
Katana decided to fight the original Brigade members, Hachiman was startled when his blade didn't simply slice through the SoulTaker. Iron Fist lost his metal hand and Captain Nippon was frustrated by her agility.
Spoiler dealt with the Black Dragons while Robin chose to deal with Chen Fang and Madame Claw. Black Bat was encouraged to be fighting Madame Terror all alone.
the Aryan Brigade had "pacified" an entire city district. Black Cat, Moon Girl, and Manhunter selected them as their targets. Manhunter took the lead as she and Black Cat had worked well and closely together in LA. Enough to know that Manhunter was federal prosecuter Kate Spencer and Black Cat was Hollywood stuntwoman Linda Turner. They'd learn Moon Girl and Savant's identities later.
Manhunter's power staff knocked Luftwaffe out of the air, blew Heatmonger, Blindside, and Bonehead's knees to bits. Moon Girl assisted Black Cat in coping with Blind Faith. Savant used her own high bore pistol to deal with Reb and the Aryan Brigade's so-called leader, Golden Eagle.
Seeing the difficulty Black Cat and Moon Girl were in, Manhunter called in Savant.
In the end it took three women holding Blind Faith back while Moon Girl channeled her energy to super strength and knocked Blind Faith back five feet in the air before came crashing down. Black Cat tried to determine why Blind Faith had been such a difficult target. Her brazen white eyes alerted Black Cat to one detail.
"She's blind," she announced.
Savant tested that reality out, "Probably since birth."
"She didn't react or hit like she was blind," Moon Girl complained.
"No, she didn't," Manhunter agreed, "It's got to be some weird gen factor thing."
"I could cure her," Savant pulled her pistol free of its holster.
"Whoa!" Manhunter commanded, "I'll admit I'm not above killing criminals but not like this."
"She's helpless," Black Cat protested.
"Who are you anyway?" Moon Girl asked.
"I'm Kenesha but everyone calls me Savant. Who're you?" she wanted to know.
"You already know I'm Moon Girl. But I'm also Claire Lune," she revealed.
Those that Manhunter put down started moaning and bitching about their knees. She zapped them each again, "Oh, shut up,"
"And that's different from my solution, how exactly?" Savant wondered.
"They're still breathing," Black Cat was getting testy.
"So are the two you shot already," Moon Girl stated.
Savant shrugged, "Hey, even I make mistakes."
"I'm patching in with Bluebird. We have other targets to deal with, people," Manhunter got busy.
"Her armor is so cool," Moon Girl enthused.
"Considering she stole it from evidence and has a former career henchman as tech support," Black Cat clarified.
"How many super villains did this henchman work for?" Savant asked.
"Pretty much all of the big names," Black Cat revealed.
"Okay, now I like her," Savant decided.
"You have some strange priorities," Moon Girl accused.
Kenesha grinned, "You have absolutely no idea."
Huntress' team caught up with the main group of Birds, including Knightfall, Hellequin, and the duo of White Rabbit and Jaina Hudson. The main grouping of the Fourth Reich had centered their operation on Arkham Island. There Joker's Daughter had liberated the prisoners, finding one Jean Loring had already vanished. This grouping vastly outnumbered the Birds of Prey.
The group had left a dozen members behind because they were infiltrator or saboteurs. To Huntress' dismay, three surviving members of the JLAxis had rejoined their brethren after being lost on Earth Prime. Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Brunhilde had joined with Gudra the Valkyrie who led them to the Fourth Reich.'
Now that Arkham was secured, a power struggle had resumed. The Scarlet Skull currently held a majority but the Iron Dictator and the Iron Major were each making a case for leadership of the Fourth Reich and its destiny. Looming over the crowd were Black Mail and the robotic Iron Emperor. Satan Girl suddenly snapped her head in the Bird's general direction.
"We have intruders. I can hear their heartbeats. And they're rising," she said gleefully.
"Fan out! Find them before they find Duela Dent."
"I wonder why they…" Huntress statement began from behind one of the security barricade that arisen out of sinle bridge access. It was smashed through by Brunhilde and Gudra. The Hawks flew overhead.
"Now can I?" Savant petulantly asked as Manhunter's team arrived.
"Have a turkey shoot," Manhunter authorized Kenesha's intentions.
Manhunter turned to Moon Girl, "Are you still energized?"
"I have three weeks a month to charge up and I haven't done anything for three months," Moon Girl enthused.
"Pick a Valkyrie to smash. I'll get the other one," Manhunter learned Moon Girl also had superspeed. Then she smashed into Gudra using her invulnerability.
"Smart kid," Black Cat allowed while Manhunter opened fire on Brunhilde.
"The think they can overpower us?" Baron Blitzkrieg the Second was insulted.
"Never underestimate them, cousin," Baroness Blitzkrieg counsel.
Lady Black roared in inside her Javelin-9. Two hellfire Ghost Killers were launched at Satan Girl. The explosion was deafening and the Kryptonian was down.
"I believe my point was just made for me," Baroness Blitzkrieg darted away at top speed. The Baron flew into combat.
Captain Murder flew after the Javelin with one thought pounding through her brain. And, as always, it had murderous implications. But Lady Blackhawk was aware of her pursuer and was already arming countermeasures.
Crossbow got into a marksmanship duel with Huntress. Hawk attacked the Hun while Dove dealt with Baroness Blood. The Iron Dictator and the Iron Major took the Iron Emperor with them to "guard" Duela Dent, the former Joker's Daughter.
The Iron Police were neutralized with an EMP that shut what was left of the city. Bluebird's equipment was hardned and ran on batteries She hurried to get to Katana's group before anything bad could happen.
Batgirl fought both the cyborg Half-Man and Baron Gestapo. Her utility belt contained equipment reverse engineered from recovered Dark Knight pieces. Duquesne Security and Rocki Ballantine were sparing no expenses providing training and support to Batgirl, Spoiler, and Bluebird. Baron Gestapo wet himself and ran for it only to receive one of Rocki's smart metal batarangs to the head. It clamped it and terrified an already panicky Argentinian Nazi.
The EMP pulse also took out Dr. Demon and Half-Man. Black Cat threw herself at the latest Captain Swastika on her way to pound on Scarlet Skull, who was quarterbacking the Fourth Reich's strategy. Near the detention cells, Iron Dictator and Iron Major panicked as Iron Emperor shut down. If it were deactivated, so were the Iron Police and a revived GCPD could come after them.
Every Bird was occupied in one location or another except for Poison Ivy. She chose to take action by binding the giant Black Mail. Then her plants turned on Master Race. His gen factor included energy projection was well as enhanced strength. So he briefly held his own. Very briefly.
Hawk ripped away the Hun's shield, "Fight fair, you prick!"
"You cannot defeat me, hundin!" Hawk didn't what he said but she was offended on principle. But his quickly ebbed to human levels without his gripping the shield. So she broke his jaw, his femur and crushed both hands just for good measure. Meanwhile Dove was agilely striking Baroness Blood from dozens of angles. Dove was peaceful enough but Dawn Granger had moonlighted as a cage fighter before being chosen to replace Don Hall when he died.
Baroness Blood went down with face covered in her namesake. Hawk was impressed once again, "I can't believe you were cage fighting across the States while I was the champion in London."
"I guess that could mean we really sisters," Dove grinned.
"That bloody mouth swab proved it. We just thought the either of us was dead after that Provo bomb killed mum and dad," Hawk recalled.
"At least I had foster parents. You were locked in the system until you ran away," Dove reminded her.
"Anyway, I'm a fan of your work, little sis," Holly Granger was two years older than Dawn.
"We should get back to it," Dove urged.
"Right," Hawk sprinted off.
"Oh hell," Dawn broke and ran after her.
"Stop already!" Crossbow cried. He had quarrels in both arms, both legs, two in the torso and Huntress was ready to put one between his eyes.
"Stay down and out of the way or I will kill you," Huntress vowed. Crossbow wisely cast his weapon aside and just sat down.
Moon Girl hadn't switched her energies fast enough and Gudra's last punch and nearly torn head off. Hawk barreled into a seemingly victorious Valkyrie. Dove pulled Moon Girl onto her feet.
"Stay with me now," Dove ordered. Manhunter was using her staff as a melee weapon against Brunhilde. Dove fought beside Hawk while Moon Girl came to assist Manhunter.
Black Cat forced Captain Swastika into a disorderly retreat and then she went for Scarlet Skull. He opened fire on her with an AKS submachine gun. Batgirl snared him with smart metal and he dropped the gun. Her backspin kick dislodged his crimson skull mask. While he tried right it, Black Cat delivered a round kick to pass him off to Batgirl. After several blows, he collapsed.
"Us redheads have to stick together!" Black Cat enthused.
"I think we're down to mopping up," Batgirl pointed out.
The Javelin released flares, but they were phosphorus flares that blinded Captain Murder. And like Zinda had expected, the Nazi came to a midair halt. One Hellfire Ghost Killer later and Captain Murder was unconscious and plummeting. And Lady Blackhawk wouldn't care less.
Hawk and Dove's partnering up subdued Gudra in under a minute.
Moon Girl's strength combined with Manhunter energy lance and augmented strength finished off Brunhilde. After receiving several life threatening wounds, Hawkman and Hawkwoman descended to surrender. And everyone was startled to learn the Hawks wore artificial wings.
"Where's Ivy get to?" Huntress wondered aloud.
Robin intercepted a character called Blackout moving to blindside Katana. She eviscerated Captain Nippon but his magical endowment saved his life. At a seeming draw with Hachiman, Katana surprised him by not only disarming him but thrusting her sword though his midsection.
"But you were beaten," He complained.
"Only in your mind," Katana retorted.
Robin downed Blackout and dislocated both of his shoulders before phoenix punching him into asphyxiation. Katana was relieved that the mysterious Robin could fight so well. But she had seen the two fighting styles Robin combined before. Batman and Selina Kyle had trained the girl. And Robin closely resembled Selina.
"Where are your two previous opponents?" Katana asked.
Robin thumbed over her shoulder. Chen Fang and Madame Claw were both out cold and in restraints. Katana knew then the girl had talent as well as ambition.
Spoiler beat down the last Black Dragon. Black Bat was toying with Madame Terror. She was good. She was very good. But Black Bat's skill was only rivaled by her mother, Lady Shiva. So when Black Bat had analyzed every vulnerability, she struck and struck hard. Her method was brutally efficient and Madame Terror was down in a matter of seconds and might never recover.
"What I miss?" Bluebird came on the scene.
"Only everything, Harper," Spoiler chuckled.
"There's no robots here. There should have been at least to prove I knocked them out," Bluebird complained.
"Do we have a location, " Katana inquired.
"Arkham. Everybody is at Arkham and Zinda is circling the area," Bluebird reported.
"There aren't any intact cars to steal and I knocked the subway out. But I know a secondary power system beneath Gotham that could provide partial power," Bluebird described.
"What power system?" Spoiler wanted to know.
"Batman's" Robin and Bluebird said together.
"Now that's weird," Spoiler decided. Black Bat silently agreed. It meant Earth-4's Batman had developed the same systems. Katana was close to solving the enigma Robin presented.
"Did they see you leave?" Knightfall asked Ivy.
"No, they're ignorantly blissful in their supposed victory," Ivy replied.
"You guarantee they won't come looking for us?" Baroness Blitzkrieg asked. She'd removed her official attire and simply dressed in jeans, tank, and leather jacket replete with running shoes. No seemed surprised to learn she was Portuguese since she came from Brazil. So was her cousin, dressed in similar attire.
"We fulfilled our end," Faye Morgana was irritated, "We handed you Joker's Daughter. I cast the spell and that identity has been erased."
"We also gave up the Nazi pretenders that came with us," Ace of Blades reminded Knightfall, Hellequin, White Rabbit and Jaina, "Your social experiment will go through for the heroine of Gotham. But if they come after us, it'll be to kill us."
"I rather doubt they could kill you," White Rabbit snickered.
"Ignore her. It's her way," Jaina counseled.
But Ace of Blade's partners wondered just what was meant. Knightfall redirected the conversation, "Hand over Duela and my partners will get you out safely. You have accounts with cash, credentials and paperwork certifying your citizenship. Passports are included if you wish to travel."
"I'll cover your escape," Ivy promised them.
"Why?" Faye asked.
"Because I wish someone had for me," Ivy confessed.
"If it's all the same, the wonder twins can take them. I have to check on my roomie," Hellequin stated.
"I'm certain Insect Queen is fine," Knightfall drolly retorted.
"You don't know Lana," Hellequinn countered.
"Go, you made this possible. It's the first repayment," Knightfall promised.
"Oh, and you can have these," Ivy gestured and Iron Dictator and Iron Major were swept in by plant vines. Both men had crushed heads, "No need to say 'thank you'."
"Very well then," Knightfall tried to sound dispassionate but in reality she was disappointed. But her overall plan had worked. A plan Hellequin had originally suggested and made the necessary contacts to bring Nazis in. Everyone hated Nazis so her esteem could only climb.
"Where the hell have you been?" US Angel shouted at Ivy as she returned.
"Busy," Ivy said.
"That is a state of being not a location," Sister Lilhy scowled.
"What the eff?" Manhunter growled.
"Knightfall and her people will take it from here," Ivy told them.
"Did you sell us out?" Huntress asked.
"There's nothing to sell," Ivy clarified.
"Answer the damn question!" Hawk snarled.
"Don't take that tone with me, little bird," Ivy was very quiet and menacing.
"Hawk, don't do it," Dove counseled her.
"You're one of us. Did you betray that?" Huntress matched Ivy's tone and intent.
"I was never 'one of you'," Ivy said matter-of-factly,"Our paths crossed and now they're diverging. Tell Power Girl I'm grateful for the help but it isn't needed anymore. Ergo, my help isn't needed."
Savant snapped the cylinder to her pistol shut, "We could make it an issue."
"And you all could die trying," Ivy warned, "You don't think I haven't seeded every one of you?"
"Oh hell," Huntress groaned.
"My little spores are inside your brains. Irritate me any further and they'll start to grow, crush everything in their path and make your heads explode so they can take root out here," Ivy was gleeful.
"Is she lying?" Moon Girl asked.
"No, she's not," Batgirl promised them.
"You're one smart bat," Ivy gloated, "Maybe you should rub off on Batman himself."
"How will you exit Gotham?" Huntress asked.
"Oh, there are plenty of ways," Ivy assured her, "Hopefully, I'll never see any of you again."
Ivy was out of sight before Huntress exploded, "Sonuvabitch! I told Galatea she was jerking us off."
Katana's band emerged from the subway tunnels. Manhunter took a head count, "Seems we're all accounted for."
"Does that mean we can leave?" Black Cat was hopeful.
"Yes," Huntress was still fuming, "I'll call Babs from Seattle and warn her about what's happened."
First, she called Rhosyn for the extract. Rhosyn radioed Lady Blackhawk that everything was as all clear as it would get. So Zinda broke loose of her orbit and headed back to the airfield that was storing her personal fighter, the Invisible Jet, and the accumulated Javelins and Oracles abandoned when the Blackhawk Express was unceremoniously shut down.
The Jokerz that didn't surrender but ran like cockroaches before open flames. And then Knightfall and her Disgraced openly marched Duela Dent down Central Ave. Private security contractors had taken the Jokerz not already killed, or in custody, captive. Barbara had her own issues with the Zither Group.
"I suppose the Mayor has already etched your medals," Barbara scornfully remarked.
"I'm certain your new role in the next administration will be meaningfully menial," Knightfall was feeling cocky.
"You've rigged the election," Barb was certain of it.
"Does it look like I need to?" Knightfall motioned for the Disgraced, save for Bone Breaker, to deposit Duela in jail.
"Why is she compliant?" Barbara was watching Zither agents bring in the downed, if not dead, Fourth Reich.
"I don't know, maybe it was magic that brought her to her senses. It would have saved millions in tax payer dollars for her to undergo that kind of change," Barbara caught the clue. Not every Reichster was accounted for.
"Commissioner?" Montoya was still battle ready.
"Dis dame bodderin' ya?" Bullock approached as well.
"No problems, Detectives. Lt. Montoya, it's good to see you alive contrary to popular belief," Knightfall genuinely.
Barbara recalled their Montoya had investigated Charis' case and advocated her innocence. Fortunately, Lt. Montoya was recuperating down state when she was tapped for a long term dettached duty with the feds," Barbara spouted the cover story she'd devised.
"Really?" it amused Knightfall, "Many thanks and carry on, Lt. Montoya. I assume it's safe to leave Ms. Dent in your custody."
"The department thanks you," Barbara gritted her teeth.
"Even if you don't," Knightfall dared anyone from falsely objecting, "Think of this as a brand new era of cooperation between citizens and law enforcement."
As Knightfall and Bone Breaker left, Harvey Bullock chomped on his cigar, "Meanin' the crooks will be runnin' the place."
"Harv, you and Renee set up six-hour blocks for a third of the force to rest and be with their families. A third will comprise a makeshift patrol. I'll be leading that. And the remainder will induct and book our newfound prisoners. Have shuttle buses begin receiving from Blackgate."
"Commish, you outta…" Bullock began to protest.
"I need be on streets, letting people know we were ordered do nothing until we all agreed to do it anyway and officially lost our jobs over it. Let the mayor's spin doctors deal with it from there. Our union reps are in the know. They'll eat city hall alive"
And how exactly did they get this evidence?" Montoya asked rhetorically.
"Someone awfully damn good with computers compiled it all," Barbara smirked, "Thank God for backup generators."
"An' ya don' think Knightfall don' know it?" Bullock asked.
"I think she's counting on it," Barb admitted.
"Hey, when you need a wingman, call me," Natalie Reed told Lady Blackhawk on the tarmac before the Javelin would be towed into the hangar.
"I'll keep it mind," Zinda promised, "There was only enough work for one this time. Col. Trevor say anything?"
"He came here muttering something about, 'hear no evil, see no evil'. I think he was happy being ignorant and really doesn't want his bubble burst," Natalie laughed.
"Even you and I can only be so many places at once," Zinda admitted, "You said you had a recruit for me to look at?"
"You'll love her, Z. She got a doctorate in aviation design and maintenance with six hundred combat hours over Iraq and the `stans," Nat enthused.
"Sounds promising," Lady Blackhawk admitted.
Jessica Cruz had no idea a Green Lantern power ring would select her. She'd had even less of one regarding her refusal to accept. She feared many things in this universe but her Ring of Volthoom was no longer one of them. And without fearing it, she dominated the power ring.
"It seems we have reached an accord, Jessica," the ring told her, "You have now chosen me as I chose you. We are no longer master and servant, victim and captor. We are partners."
"Then I have a few requests. The first being, don't call me Jessica," she told it, "Call me something a partner would…call me J-Bird."
"I will do that from now on, J-Bird. Together we shall crush evil," the Ring of Volthoom decided.
"We might at that," Jessica agreed.
"Jess! Who are you talking to?" Ralph Dibney called out, "We gotta mission brief in five."
"On my way," Jessica whispered to her ring, "Don't get me in trouble, you cocky sonuvabitch."
She could swear she heard it laughing.
The Justice Society gathered at the K-Star. It had larger accommodations and the Young Justice team needed to hear the presentation the most. Joining them would be a third, heretofore unknown unit. Representing the Young Justice support system was Paula Nguyen, Sportsmaster's Tigress and Jade Nguyen and the younger Artemis Crock's mother. Paula had been confined to a wheelchair since a gang beating in prison where she'd been housed with the male population.
Pat Dugan and Cullen Row also were happy to represent. Hippolyta served as the training programs director. Kathy Duquesne, Rocki Ballentine, and the seemingly miraculously returned Sonia Alcona were also instructors and logistical support staff. Glory Fawkes was assuming the design and maintenance role for the aviation needs. Fran Craig was the new pilot.
Peer counselors were Wendy "Proxy" Harris and Marvin "Paragon" White and Marvin' mascot: Wonder Dog. A third peer counselor was Candace "Candy" O'Conner.
Hippolyta called the meeting to order, "Many of you were on the mission to Bailya. While it might seem a failure in some regards, in all the training ways it wasn't, you not only survived but came together as individual teams to fight back an unnatural foe. You cannot be accounted for Luthor's treachery."
She meant that for the Justice Society as well, "We had intended to wait a little while longer before introducing these people assembled to my left. You may recognize, or think you recognize many of them. A great many of them were te original Teen Titans. And their reputation precedes them. I give you the Outsiders."
Wonder Woman spoke next, "You may know me as Wonder Girl, Troia, or even Donna Troy. I've been promoted from Darkstar to a Wonder Woman. You're probably asking why we're called 'Outsiders'. We exist in a nebulous state of performing covert operation for the Justice League and Justice Society. Nightwing proposed the idea before he retired to start a family."
She let that sink in, "The Mighty Crusaders have the Shadow Crusaders to fulfill this role but the United Nations and MLJ neglected the idea when it came to the JLU. And the JSA hasn't ever needed one until recent days. So here we are," Donna proclaimed, "We're your senior advisors and a lot of hands on curriculum as devised by Hippolyta and Ms. Nguyen will require you participating in our missions."
The team made their own introductions, "I'm Tempest. I was the original Aqualand."
Whispered speculation went on about whether there was a new Aqualad hidden from the world. Karen Beeches went next, "I'm Bumblebee and you can guess why."
She shrank to insect size and used her electrostatic blasters to bowl a chair over. Everyone seemed suitably impressed.
"I'm Gar Logan," Raven swatted him upside the head, "Uh…make that Beast Boy."
"I'm Rachel Roth or better yet, Raven," she told everyone.
"I'm Omen," Lilith Clay announced. Her telepathy indicated her spooky appearance paid off.
"I was Merry, Girl of a Thousand Tricks. Now I'm just Gimmix," Jacqueline Pemberton told everyone.
"I'm Thunder and this is my sister Lightning," Annisa Pierce shared.
"And our dad is Black Lightning," Jennifer added to great approval. But many recalled hearing about their deaths.
"I'm Tigress," Artemis announced, "Yep, that's my mom."
"I'm Gal 13," Tracy Thirteen announced, "I cast bad luck spells. So don't piss me off. Ever."
Nervous chuckles met that. Hawk and Dove stood and Dawn spoke, "This is my siter who becomes Hawk now. The rest of you knew of my work with the Justice League."
"Weren't a lot of you dead?" Superboy interrupted.
"Yes," Dove simply said.
Cassie snickered at Conner's irritation. A extremely tall and exotic alien stood next, "I'm Koriand'r the Starfire. Call me Kori."
"I thought she went back to her world," came the whispers.
"I'm Hawkfire and as Flamebird I was a Teen Titan," Bette Kane cast a sidelong glance.
"I'm Batwoman," Katrina Moldoff had cleared the air with Rocki, Sonia, and Kathy.
"And we're the Wonder Twins. I'm Zan. You'll love me," he boasted.
"And unlike my humble brother, I'm just Jayna," she sighed.
There was a humorous ripple. Paula took over, "Despite my daughter's humility she serves to redeem the name Tigress where my stepdaughter only serves to further ruin it."
Artemis wanted to argue it was easy to be warped when your father named two of his daughters "Artemis Crock". So naturally they'd both grab the "Tigress" name. Her life was filled to overflowing with half-sisters. Artemis was her older sister on her dad's side. Jade was her older sister on her mom's side. And God knew where the newly revealed Sportsmistress fit in if at all.
"Now, in my day this was called a mixer. So everyone feel free to outgoingly mingle or stay shy," Green Lantern coaxed the groups.
Sir Ystin needed little coaxing to introduce her beloved Maid Maleen around. Roxy called Jade and Obsidian away. And they were reunited with makeover fresh half-sister, Mayflower.
Most thought it imprudent to build a solar powered resort on Egypt's border with Kahndaq. Disco Mummy knew otherwise. With International Operations setting up in Kahndaq, dignitaries would want to visit but avoid sitting under Black Adam's "enlightened" despotism.
For now, the servants consisted of Scarlet Rose, Anten Khulis, and the Green Mummy. All of whom has predictably abandoned her cause in Bailya. Ghazia and Myra Pyram had made their way back. King of the Undead had shuffled in that morning. Zenobia hadn't escaped yet and Black Pharaoh was still licking his wounded pride. Probably scratching around for the perfect bribe to get back in her good graces.
That was an unlikely outcome. At least Scarlet Rose had stood against the original Wonder Woman. Disco Mummy had never expected Hippolyta to reenter Man's World. And in further developments Diana was the Queen of the Amazons now. And there were no less than four Wonder Women running loose.
Ghazia and Myra Pyran were searching for answers regarding them. Hippolyta was a mythical figure. Artemis appeared to be more than she seemed. She'd been dubbed the Requiem. Nubia was mystery and Donna Troy was back from her interstellar adventures. But she was a child of Chronos himself so she was possibly more dangerous than Diana or Cassandra Sandsmark.
"Scarlet dear, could you get me another fruity beverage to imbibe?" Disco Mummy relished torturing Scarlet Rose. The foolish woman had sold her soul and had been shocked when the debt was called.
"Pineapple or Mango mai tais, or a Midori Sour?" Scarlet despised having to ask.
"The Japanese one," Disco Mummy was distracted by maps of Kahndaq. Black Adam and Isis had resurrected his ancient homeland out of a swathe of Libya and from Egypt. She was using physical maps so she could mark targets. Mummies generaly weren't the brightest. And she would need every mummy, discovered and not, from Egypt to invade Kahndaq. And the best part was, it wasn't even her goal to win. She'd bargained with the Muslim Brotherhood for her to retake Egypt's stolen lands. In exchange she'd get military support to lay claim on the rest of North Africa.
Afterwards would come the Arabian Peninsula. And she oh so looked forward to it. Scarlet returned with alcohol.
The captive mummified woman growled in her throat. Disco Mummy enjoyed the display of defiance but it was useless, "If you manage to break my hold over you, you also break my hold on your body. And you really will wither and die. Do you want to grant your siter that de facto victory?"
And Scarlet to admit it would be worth it…once she killed her supposedly immortal sister.
"Your Majesty," Lena Luthor said from the doorway of Crimson Queen's flat in Monaco.
"You weren't supposed to know my location," Crimson Queen was piqued.
"No, Lex wasn't supposed to know your location. And he doesn't," Lena corrected her, "May I come in?"
"Do as you please. Luthor funds paid for this after all," Crimson Queen.
"It seems strange that you would open the door yourself," Lena remarked.
"I have a minimal staff. Just a maid, a nanny, and a cook. Cinder provides security from a distance," Crimson Queen divulged.
"I see it's very light in here," Lena observed, "Does that affect you?"
"I can still defend myself," Crimson Queen assured her.
"I'm more concerned with El-Fadil," Lena admitted.
"Hence the courtesy call," Crimson Queen realized.
"His safety is a paramount importance to me," Lena divulged, "How is it you gave Lex's son an Arabic name when you ruled a Persian kingdom?"
"I was originally from Iraq but schooled in Jordan. After my education I began work on perfecting my sonic hypnosis techniques. Afterwards, Bailya's king couldn't wait to bed me," she revealed at long last, "Afterwards history was made."
"And Lex killed you and Nyssa Raatko remade you as a…?" Lena hesitated.
"Sex demon. Sex isn't evil but some say I am," Crimson Queen laughed.
"It certainly shaved twenty years off of your appearance," Lena remarked.
"Men like young and nubile. It makes them feel virile to eff someone that could be their own daughter," Crimson's Queen's comment held a dark humor to it. Lena could imagine what the woman, if she still qualified as such, did with her fed off of playthings.
"Could I meet El-Fadil?" Lena came to the point of the visit, "I won't tell him…"
"No, he wants familial connections. He remembers Lex in hazy dream kind of way," Crimson Queen shared, "Have Lex contact me and arrange a supervised date with El-Fadil. And lie again and say Lex doesn't already know where I am."
"I'll spare you that," Lena smiled.
"Maj. Lane, the Secretary would like to see you," an aide informed her.
The PATRIOTS and the Freedom Fighters along with redeemable factions salvaged from ARGUS and the Meta-Human Response Division were on campus getting special briefings. The Directorship of Homeland Security was a Cabinet position. Lucy knew any discussion would far ranging consequences.
Lucy wasn't at all surprised to see Gwen Cormaugh, Eve Eden, and King Faraday in top level discussions. And a name was bandied about: Task Force Z. The gist of which was Congress wanted SMASH as their private agents. The newly sworn in President wanted Task Force Z as his to run though Homeland. The administrative split between Homeland, FEMA, and the Dept. of Justice regarding the MLJ Initiative made it harder for unilateral Executive control. Just as had been intended.
Now she'd learn her role in this final frontier.
The IO nations agreed to place administrative centers in Kahndaq as well as the diplomatic embassies. But the compromise for receiving the ringing endorsement of the Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the People's Republic of China was basing operational controls out of Shanghai. Russia, the CIS nations, and China staying within the UN framework as well to give International Operations a voice within that body. Many smaller nations agreed to it as well. But most Arab and Persian states went all in.
Black Adam would host the IO in Kahndaq but he was a senior agent and not its leader. He and Isis toured Shanghai and they spoke quietly in Egyptian despite their power granting them fluency in ever known language.
"It's bad enough these people pollute their minds but now they have to poison their bodies with this industrial filth?" Isis was livid.
"That is why we remain a pastoral country," Black Adam reminded his wife, "We have enough toxins just from generating power."
"I can help for a few days," Isis summoned winds and shifted the jet stream to blow the pollution out of southern China, "This will affect Japan and even the United States as their weather patterns adjust. But the heavy rains with will also drive the particles into the ocean. Atlantean factions will petition Aquaman to stage an intervention."
"And thus we shall be ready for that impending invasion," Black Adam vowed. Isis sighed. She loved Teth-Adam but he was a lousy diplomat.
Unbeknownst the Black Marvels or even I-Ching, the League of Assassins had already infiltrated the IO. Black Canary's orders were to determine what the agenda really was and who the leading operative might be. A kill order would be forthcoming based on that data. Even more unbeknownst was that Grifter's SOS had been received on Khera and Lord Emp was leading a team of volunteer Kherabim and hybrids back to Earth on a one-way mission.
"I hate to draw you three from your party," Director Bones pulled on his cigar.
"It ain't a party, jerk weed," Wildcat gruffly snapped.
"It's a got a bowl of punch. Of course it's a party. Has anyone spiked it yet?" Bones asked.
"It's not that kind of party," Flash replied.
"Damn," Director Bones muttered, "I could really use a drink."
"Say your peace, Bones," Green Lantern asserted.
"The same dipshits at the United Nations that sent you to Bailya are talking prosecution for war crimes. Iran's exit from that august body tabled it. But from now on when you get a call to assist internationally, ignore it," Bones didn't quite order.
"What's your role in this?" Jay Garrick asked.
"I'm duly tasked with assembling what component pieces of the DEO, SHADE, and Spyral that haven't gone to ground. We're to be investigative. But you know field ops. You're investigating one minute and fighting for your lives the next. All in a day's work of course," Director Bones revealed, "I've put Adam and Eve Frankenstein in charge of the field team. He thinks he's in charge and she knows she is."
"Subtle," Ted Grant grunted.
"If you see Zatanna, tell her one of the first investigations we've authorized for is her band of merry misfits," Bones cagely warned them.
"If we see her, we will," Alan Scott played along.
"And I know that's not her little brother doing party trick," Director Bones nodded in that direction, "I wish you would've had that damn drink."
He called in for a teleporter extraction. Green Lantern turned to his fellow JSA Founders, "Quietly call together Rex, Wes, and Hippolyta. We need a Founders meeting to run this by everyone. And have Paula get Zach away when she can. Discreetly."
"Discretion's my first name," Wildcat boasted.
"No, it isn't," Green Lantern and Flash said together.
"Screw both of ya," Wildcat grumbled.
"Whoa!" Poison Ivy recoiled from the kick in the head she's just received.
Harley Quinn grinned like a Cheshire, "I'm tellin' ya, Red. This girl is gonna be a cage fighter."
And they knew for certain that Harley's baby was a girl.
"Is everythin' all right, Ives?" Harley asked.
"Sorry, Harl. I've just been thinking," Ivy admitted.
"`Bout?" Harley aslked. Ivy tended to get homicidal when she brooded.
"I never thought much about family. I did when I was a little girl tending momma's plants. I always assumed I could give my kids a better life than the shitty family I had," Ivy reminded Harley of her past.
"So, ya've had these demons fer years. Have ya figured something new out?" Harley wondered.
"You," Ivy insisted.
"Say wha…?" Harley was startled.
"We could make 'us' our family," Ivy explained, "We could become a family."
"I thought we had a good thing goin'," Harley was vaguely disappointed.
"Harl, you can still step out with walking erections. But I'm asking to you go across the bay and marry me," Ivy pulled a ring out from underneath a couch cushion, "This will make the engagement official."
"You wanna marry me?" Harley squealed, "I didn't think ya wanted ta marry anyone."
"Only you," Ivy admitted, "It's always been you."
Harley put it on, "It's sized!"
"You sleep like a dead turkey ever since your second trimester," Ivy dryly informed her.
"Whee!" Harley darted off into their shared bedroom. She came out wearing the ring and nothing else, "Ignore the stretch marks."
Ivy was completely silent and Harley laughed, "Ohmigod! Ivy, yer droolin'."
"Come here you," Ivy said low in her throat.
As Ivy lavished Harley with kisses, Harley whispered, "Now this is an engagement."
Three days before, Karen Starr had returned to Starrware to find Mary Batsons' resignation letter on her desk. And it was signed Mary Bromfield. Courtney Whitmore was grievously concerned. Billy Batson was out of his mind. And Karen's newsfeeds explained why. Black Mary stood with the other Black Marvels in Shanghai inaugurate IO's operational phase.
Karen felt very uneasy, "Good luck, Mary."
And then she settled into expect the customary phone calls from Billy and Court.
"Sooo…the grand plan failed?" Lana Lang asked Marian Drews at Eats.
"A few details went off the rails but I'm golden with Knightfall. And through her, Intergang. Luthor will be pissed Batman's still alive but Bats never showed. So I can't be blamed for that. And Luthor already hated the Nazi crowd," Marian pishawed it.
"Where's Stu?" Lana asked.
"Where do you think?" Marian said darkly.
"What if the Anti Monitor's agents found him?" Lana was alarmed.
"Then he'd annoy them to death. It's his thing," Marian said breezily.
"Do have you any idea of what he is?" Lana wanted to know.
"Do you? `Cause I sure as hell don't and I'm pretty damn smart. I'm smarter than Harley was on her best day," Marian stated.
"Harley was a certified genius," Lamna argued.
"And I'm a registered savant with an IQ over 240. I'm smarter than Stephen effing Hawking," Marian reminded Lana.
"What am I eating?" Lana asked about chef's latest food sculpture.
"I have no clue but tastes good," Hers was phallic, "I think yours is a vagina. Maybe its subliminal."
"Where did Stu find this freak?" Lana groaned.
Ambush Bug came into existence, "I hear I can get a hamburger molded like a centipede here," he raved.
"Over there. Order up," Marian directed him.
Lana face palmed. Marian reached across and rubbed her shoulder, "Y'know, if I were bi- or a lesbian I'd totally swap you dinners."
"Just shut up," Lana lamented.
Marian didn't belabor the point that she was actually bisexual. But she thought was best if Lana got in touch with her, and everyone else's, feminine side.
"How did this catch us cold?" Steve Trevor asked the admin staff.
"Karen Starr was caught by surprise as well," Shayera Hol had reached out to Power Girl.
"And it's not like Mary was checking in with us," John Steward sounded disappointed.
"Have we tried Helena Bertinelli?" Ralph Dibney asked.
"Huntress has six more hours of the school day to get through," Sue was swinging Alyssa around on her knee.
"Strong leg, Sue," Shayera enjoyed the scene.
"It's a bribe, isn't it Ally?" Sue confided in her daughter.
"Again!" Alyssa insisted.
"If you don't interrupt," Sue switched legs.
"Power Girl refused active membership, preferring the Justice Society to us," Col. Trevor complained.
"They have always treated her better than we have," Sue chided him.
"And losing Anna Fortune and Atom Smasher to the JSA as well could prove crippling. Don't even get me going John's destroyed Green Lantern ring," Trevor lamented.
"Anna has been actively and tacitly persecuted since her arrival," Ralph made a cognizant point, "Given an option where Al would go with her, of course she'd leave."
John stared at him and Elongated Man's feelings got ruffled, "I am a detective."
"But how does that help us?" Trevor asked grimly.
"Anna! Al! You're here!" Wenonah Littlebird saw.
"Just bypassing the Postal Service," Anna gleefully noted Owlwoman was with Jack O'Lantern, "I took the privilege of marking Liam as your 'plus one'. Is that appropriate? Or should I rewrite?"
Liam McHugh looked stunned and Wenonah seemed pleased, "It's perfect."
As the intended bride and groom sallied forth to continue handing out invitations, Liam was caught staring at Wenonah and it made her uneasy, "What?"
"Yer `kay with this?" he asked.
"I would've invited you as my date anyway," she confessed.
"Ya would've?" Liam honestly seemed clueless. Wenonah decided it was time to mount an intervention.
"We need to talk," she told him.
"Christ Almighty," he groaned.
"I think you'll appreciate this little chat," she grabbed his lapels and pulled him for a fierce kiss.
"I might at that," he admitted when she released him.
Red lightning streaked into the lobby as the admin staff departed from the executive briefing room. Wally West, the Fastest Man Alive had returned to Earth Prime. Shayera and John happily reunited their Other Trinity.
"You may not be happy to see me after all. Apokolips' civil war has spilled across the remaining universes. Darkseid captured Superman. Mr. Miracle and Barda were captured trying to rescue him. Lightray, Orion, and Bekka are the only New Gods willing to intervene."
"Other than losing Superman, and that's a big 'if only', what's the downside here?" Killer Frost asked.
Flash openly stared at her having just recognized Louise Lincoln.
"Boo," she enjoyed watching him flinch.
"Long story," Shayera whispered to him.
"The point being, Darkseid's forces could a multi-kilometer perimeter around the Fortress of Pain. Darkseid had used Superman as an excuse to abrogate the treaty with New Genesis regarding open conflict with Earth. Luthor has been authorized to employ Apokoliptan para-demons and tech to conquer Earth in Darkseid's name."
"Baldy only does what chrome dome wants for himself," Killer Frost reminded Flash.
"The only living weapon we have to employ against Apokolips is one woman. Darkseid has a daughter. Her name is Grail. And she's half-Amazon," Flash watched Artemis reflexively jerk, "And she hates her dad."
Epilogue: This has been a very long journey. I began and the finished the outline between April 2019-June 2019. But aforementioned health issues forced to abandon the project until June of 2020. What I discovered was that the outline, and the first five chapters I'd written while being slowly poisoned, were crap.
I went forward with Chapters 6-16. In the outline there were 20 chapters. But by reducing the inane babbling and sticking with the plot as intended I cut away four chapters. And in the end of the 16 chapters I had recovered the story arc leading to Part 32.
This arc is different from the others in that is 8 stories rather than the customary 6. Parts 1-6, Parts 7-12, Parts 13-18, Parts 19-24, and now 25-32 each form one piece of this largest puzzle box. The thing is, this monstrosity happened by accident. I wrote Part 1 with an undefined intention to write a trilogy using superheroes which was a genre dear to my heart but I'd never polluted those waters before.
I've been writing a Star Trek series that went from 1999-2019. With that 20-year anniversary I took a step back. But to get on task. I didn't originally intend to extend the Justice League DCAU Series beyond a trilogy but then after Part 2, I saw going to 6. And then 18. I tried to tie things off at 24 but there were too many dangling plot threads.
So with some honest reflection, I realized I needed 32 installments in the series to do it right. The looming question is how long will it take? My original target of 2022 got blown to hell. But I do have to shout out to a reader for asking me about the Near-Apocalypse of 2009. This became about that answer starting in Part 24. And as you've read I'm blending the Crisis (not the Arrowverse version) and the Zero Hour. Zero Hour marking the end of my comic reading days until the New 52. Now my 10 comic short boxes are full, my Comixology account is bloated, and I'm leaving DC Universe behind. But Comixology is still going to be my preferred comic resource. That and the endless hours I've scoured DC Database with.
So this DCAU series will draw on every DCU source era. Earth-One, New Earth, New 52, and Rebirth. But don't expect a Dark Multiverse. But I am outlining novellas for my anticipated Justice League DCAU Anthology series. Shorter stories with fewer characters with plots that have been razor honed and brought forth out of continuity. And of course, the Justice League DCAU Series runs congruently with the DCAU series Anthology stories. I cannot stress one simple fact alone: You cannot completely read one without the other. But if you aren't obsessed with continuity then you'll do fine. Half my readers only blindly read random chapters in a DCAU Series Part ? installment anyway.
And some of the PMs I get from people bitching about not understand Chapter 12 when they last read Chapter 4 are worthy of the disdainful silence they receive as a result. And I understand it's easier to begin with whatever installment is underway at the time. But if you want to know what happened from Part 1 - Part ?, read the stupid Parts in between. I will not be providing a chronological summary of every detail in between. You came to read, then read.
And: taking requests. This isn't asked of me much any more. Probably because word filtered down a few years ago that I always gave one answer: no. You want to learn how to write material for yourself?
Do two very simple things. First, read, and read, and read. Break apart how a writer composed something, why they did it, and what does it teach you about language mechanics. My writing style was born of that process. It is sloppy, inelegant, and mechanically imperfect. But people read it anyway. I have had exactly zero writing classes during my academic and post-academia years. I learned because I love the written word and wanted to know how to emulate my favorite authors. No matter who "published" them.
Secondly, try actually writing. It'll frustrating, painful, and may even have you committed to a metal hospital. But, if you're willing to learn and not get offended once you post something, then you're on your way. But just because you like what you've written, unless its about Batman and Wonder Woman screwing, odds are the bulk of your readers will remain decidedly neutral.
Other fan favorites seem to be Flash screwing anyone or anything with two or four legs, Superman and Batman screwing, Wonder Woman screwing any woman or four legged creature or groups of them, and any story with the DC Trinity screwing zombies, collectively or individually.
The outre and scandalous go over well. So do AU stories where adult heroes become teenagers and teenage heroes become infants. And feel free to create OCs. Just don't expect them to become the most important characters in whatever series you might end up writing. In the grand scheme of JUSTICE LEAGUE fanfiction, they aren't center of attention. Even obscure canon characters warrant more attention.
And if your stories revolve around any characters but the DC Trinity, expect flak. And if you don't burn the fatted calf to the gods of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, expect flak. Deviate from this hard won guidelines and you'll avoid a lot of grief.
I also employ many characters from Public Domain Golden Age characters.
One unique character is the 1933 pre-Action Comics #1 Superman by Jerry Seigal and Joe Schuster, famed for the iconic Superman we all know and, if you don't love, at least tolerate. The original was a homeless man boosted up by a mad chemist. And he was a villain. But he was a telepath. I'll forgo that part and give him physical powers aka Majestic. I'm also altering his ethnicity and for God's sake, I won't be labelling him "Black" Superman. He'll just be Superman until I change the name.
Open Source are characters specifically create for public use but require attribution in regards to the creators. Unlike Public Domain where such citation isn't required and no one cares. Open Source leaves the depiction partially up to the writer, a lack of attribution is simply rude and a case could be built for infringement. Just as DC and Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett could press legal claims against fan fiction. But the popular consensus is, that as long as fan fiction doesn't disregard 82 years of continuity and ethical standards, that it keeps the properties in the public eye and will lead readers and viewers to primary source licensed documents and media. Because the sheer diversity of the platforms outweighs any cost in the buyer's understanding. So with that in mind, we'll shift to this story's Open Source attribution.
"The character of Jenny Elsewhere and associated characters is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Elsewhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed."
While most of her adventures, as well as her various artistic interpretations, are under copyright to their respective creators, the character and idea are free for anyone and everyone to use.
So while Public Domain characters were not specifically addressed, the intent remains the same towards them. And most notably none of these characters, including the licensed and not excluding the Open Source and Public Domain variety, are main characters. They are always in a supporting role or acting as villains. Because honestly, you can never have enough villains. But the Justice League Unlimited is beginning its long transition from the conclusion of the television series to its Near Apocalypse of 2009.