Legal disclaimer: I tend to liberally "borrow" character profiles and art from the Earth-27 wikia created by Roy Westerman with principle art coming from digital artist Phil Cho. Other creators and artists are found there as well and I will specifically list any creations with creator citations as I utilize them. In short, this is the single most comprehensive retelling of all things DC and beyond I have encountered. It's worth your time to explore.
Li Harper Cover Art was found on the Royalty-Free image website . Looking for a great Public Domain, free commercial art image or avatar? Go there!
That having been said, the properties, and their variations belong to DC Comics through WarnerMedia and its former parent, AT&T, and now the Discovery empire with notable exceptions. More on that in the footnote. I do not own DC characters or their interpretations and reimaginings. My own characters are implied Public Domain since I have not included a copyright notice as required by the 1974 revisions of the copyright statutes and regulations. While an intellectual copyright is implied without the due symbols and language, all such considerations are generally voided under CC-BY-SA, which governs this site, unless duly noted otherwise.
Open Source attributions are listed after the story concluded to satisfy legalese requirements. And all "super" characters other than Open Source have been seen in comic books before barring any original characters coming from the Earth-27 Wiki or myself. You can look into Public Domain Superheroes Wiki and the DC Database Wiki's own vaults to verify this.
Although this is primarily set in the DCAU, I incorporate attributes of dozens of interpretations of each character, comic telling era, and medium into the telling.
Chronological note: this story takes place directly after the Justice League Anthology story Oracle sees the Light and congruently with London's Calling.
Oracle's van pulled into the check-in roundabout for their hotel.
"I'm not getting out until it's really over," Oracle flatly declared.
"You wanted to bring your van," Jason Todd reminded her.
"I thought I'd be able to let you two drive as well," Oracle retorted.
"Not my fault you're anal retentive," Lian "Li" Harper retorted.
"Somebody just get the keys to our bungalow," Oracle demanded with a fraying, short temper.
"On it," Jason stepped out of the van.
"We really could've driven," Li was still defensive. The fact they'd come across the country from New Jersey to California, coast to coast, was because of her connection with the formerly incestuous identical twins, Brianna and Valeria. Last seen, Valeria had Gotten and STD and pregnant while having an affair and infected Brianna with the STD. neither of Val's diagnoses were in Bree's interest to accept.
But her own throat infection forced her to. They'd gone to an illegal doctor who'd turned out not only treat criminals but was also a biochemist working for the Fourth Reich in an attempt to re-engineer the "lost" Nazi super formulas that granted gen factor abilities to non-gen latents. He'd successfully completed the work from the last dregs that the Masked Leader could spare.
But when the FBI raided the lab, Bree and Val took off with the completed samples of the chemist's work. Seeing as he was killed the crossfire between the federal agents and his other "patients", Valeria and Brianna had the only remaining samples and they had no idea of what it was that they had. So Valeria called Li for help. Li arranged with Jason to do so and along the way, the Fourth Reich attempted to reclaim the formulas, the Justice League Outsiders intervened, and Brianna and Valeria shot themselves up with the formulas to cure themselves.
Then Brianna kicked Valeria out of her life...or so it had seemed at the time. Somehow the twins must've partially reconciled because they were on the run together again and this time Valeria was five months pregnant. It was an off the grid Homeland Security meta team after them.
The Americans had gone rogue before but not recently and they'd expanded their roster. Oracle's solution was to expand their's by contacting Bruce Alan Wayne, the former Batman's uncle. Since his older brother, Thomas', death, Bruce Alan had been on a Miraclo fueled vendetta against the Five Families and the Court of Owls. He'd deduced Batman's identity and when Batman went silent, Bruce Alan modified it to suit his purposes and so the Bat-Man was born. In a not-so-ironic twist, Bruce Alan had married Selina Kyle's namesake aunt, Selina Falcone and like her niece had Bruce Wayne's child and named her Helena Kyle, Selina Wayne had bore Bruce Alan their daughter Helena Wayne
The second Helena Wayne after Lincoln March, secretly Thomas Wayne Jr. had his own daughter. Now taking the surname Lincoln March, Helena was the Matron of the Court of Owls. The very foe her great-uncle had devoted his life to ending. Bruce Alan had been sixteen when Bruce was born and named after him.
Selina had been his junior by twenty years. Bruce Alan and Selina had trained Helena to eventually be Batman's next Robin. But his disappearance stymied those plans. So Helena became Bat-Man's Robin. Bat-Man also assembled a new Bat Clan. Those that stayed beside him on Los Angeles were Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl. Kate Webb and Jessa Carde hardly being original since the Bat Clan also had legacy holders in the form of a new Batwoman (Katrina Moldoff), a Batgirl (Carrie Kelley), a new Nightwing (Stephanie Brown), a Catwoman (Holly Robinson) as well as a Black Bat (Cassandra Cain) and a Catgirl (Kitrina Falcone). They also served beside Huntress, who as Helena Bertinelli, was the only surviving member of the Five Families' massacre of the Bertinelli Family.
Rounding out the list beside Arkham Knight and Oracle was Red Robin. The former Anarky recruited, like Steph, by Dick Grayson, the original Nightwing. Barbara Gordon herself has chosen Carrie Kelley as her successor just as Selina had trained Holly to take over the role. The United Nation's former spy agency, Spyral, had selected Katrina to be Batwoman. Selina had selected Kitrina as Catgirl and begun her training to be completed by Young Justice and Holly. Robin and Red Robin were also Young Justice members just as Batgirl, Batwoman, Black Bat, and Nightwing were members of the Outsiders.
Huntress had formed and led the Birds of Prey. Kate and Jessa had chosen themselves and their identities. Kate inspired by her aunt's exploits as a Spyral agent and Jessa similarly motivated after Bat-Woman interrupted her would-be gang rapists. Bat-Woman wore no mask to openly flaunt her identity. She'd even bleached her hair platinum white blonde to further garner attention. Jessa was more retrospect. Sort of. But as a blue-eyed, bleached blonde woman of Asian descent even with a mask on she drew attention and the Dynamic Duo never abandoned a chance to appear in the news, giving after action interviews. Katherine Webb-Kane and Bruce Alan Wayne had abandoned all hope of curbing their attention seeking behaviors but rather to exploit them for their own purposes.
Bat-Man was burdened with more individualists than just Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl. Arkham Knight and Huntress represented leaders of other teams. Catwoman usually operated solo or with Catgirl. Red Hood was an outsider to the group not an affiliate. Batwoman was another reticent member in the vein of the Huntress, Catwoman, and Catgirl. Robin was a willing and eager particpant. Red Robin joined in for her sake. Batgirl, Nightwing, and Black Bat were a team within themselves with or without the Outsiders. Their continued participation was based on Donna Troy's request that they moderate Bat-Man's extremists tendencies. So for Wonder Woman, they remained with the sub-team. Just as Red Robin, the former Anarky, spied on the Bat Clan for Young Justice Director Webb-Kane. Something Ulysses knew Helena might never forgive when she found out. It was a when not an if. Despite Kate and Jessa being the targets of his scrutiny. Not her parents.
Jason authorized the card payment and prepaid for the week before receiving the keys. they'd put themselves up in a five star hotel to allay suspicion and to make their time off more enjoyable. Oracle had chosen the Fairmont Miramar Hotel because it had a 2,491 square foot beach bungalow available. It had three bedrooms with two king beds and a double and two bathrooms. As well as, pathetic to her, 50 mbps wi-fi and cable TV. She'd hack the cable and provide her own internet. The Outlaws' American Express Black Card was covering accommodations.
"Now this is living," Oracle beamed as she wheeled into the bungalow.
"I suspended maid service but did stipulate we'd ask for towel service on demand," Jason told her.
"Jeez, this is bigger than my apartment back in Three Towers," Li remarked.
"Ain't it grand?" Oracle was practically delirious.
"If we stay the full week, they've got smaller rooms still available in the main hotel building," Jason informed them, "But this is booked out as soon as our reservation runs out."
"We'll get the bags, you call the girls," Jason called as he guided Li back out to the van, "Just luggage, costumes, and personal sidearms. With the alarm system wired, it'll prevent any thefts."
The "alarm system" was a motion detector that charged the van's surfaces with 50,000 volts if it wasn't disabled. Jason and Li hefted the heavy duffels into the bungalow.
"Brianna and Valeria are on their way to the rendezvous," Oracle announced, "Now we have to call in backup."
"Do we have to?" Jason groaned.
"We need somewhere to operate out of and this isn't it," Oracle stressed. Li and Jason suited up while Oracle prepped the van. They managed to reboard the vehicle unseen. Arkham Knight and Red Hood couldn't be seen inside so Oracle drove alone up front.
Despite Bree and Val's cosmetic affectations, Oracle easily recognized them. Of course, she'd been forewarned as well. The redheads had each dyed their hair different colors. Brianna was raven haired and Valeria had gone blonde. Both wore different kinds of large, obscuring dark sunglasses as she'd instructed them to. They also dressed to draw attention rather than deflect it. Counter-intuitive for people in hiding. That was the point especially now that Valeria's pregnancy was showing.
"Brianna? Valeria? I'm just double checking that it's you. I'm Oracle. We've spoken," she warmly introduced herself.
"You never said that…" Valeria trailed off.
"That I'm disabled?" Oracle laughed, "It doesn't bother me. Why should it bother you?"
"Yeah, Val. Why should it bother you?" Brianna sardonically asked.
"Why are you still blaming me?" Val whined.
"`Cause it's still your fault," Bree said matter-of-factly rather than scornfully.
"If you could return to your vehicle?" Oracle suggested helpfully.
They did and Oracle wheeled off, "I'll be back to have you follow my van."
"She's driving?" Valeria wondered.
"Welcome to the modern world, Val," this time Brianna was sarcastic. They waited silently in the car as a van pulled past them and waited.
"New Jersey plates," Briana started the car's engine, "Just like she said on the phone."
As they followed Oracle's van, Valeria was petulant, "When are you going to stop ignoring me?"
"When you grow up. You're about to become a mother and you still think you're in junior high," Brianna scolded her.
"Your my sister, not my girlfriend anymore," Valeria stuck out her tongue.
"Case in point," Brianna stated.
"I had to quit school," Valeria whined again.
"Should've studied harder to get scholarships," Brianna said dryly, "Or were you expecting me to pay for you for the rest of your life after you cheated on me, gave me an STD that should've been impossible to get if you were faithful, and got knocked up at the same time?"
"You suck," Val complained.
"You would know," Brianna grumped.
"You don't have to be like this, y'know?" Valeria asked.
"Like what?" Brianna snapped, "Let's have this out once and for all before we shock everyone that'll be listening in. You were more than my sister. You were the love of my life since I was eight years old. I proposed ot you when we were thirteen. You accepted and said you meant it. We got kicked out of our home for having sex with each other and mom and dad figured out we'd been doing it for three years since I proposed to you. I supported you as you went to one of the most elite schools in California. And you threw it all down the toilet. How's that for a goddamned reason?"
Valeria looked like she'd been slapped.
"Are you seeing anyone else?" Valeria quietly asked.
"That's none of your futzing business now, is it?" Brianna said coldly, "You reached out when you started getting stalked. I was too. And then that guy approached me and told me they wanted blood samples from both of us. Creepy old bastard told me he'd get them whether we were alive or not. So I got you and we ran and I called Li and got a hold of this 'Oracle' chick. Have you caught up yet or do I need to explain you're whole effin' backstory to you?"
Valeria burst into tears, "I'm sorry. It's the hormones."
"Kleenex is in the glove compartment," Brianna rolled her eyes. They fell silent as they drove the rest of the way into the Malibu Hills. They left the main road ontp a badly pockmarked road and eventually reached a house half buried by a the hill.
"What the futz happened here?" Valeria asked.
"Earthquake caused a landslide back in the Nineties. L.A. got hit pretty hard," Brianna explained despite wishing she didn't have to speak again. The garage opened to reveal three parked Batmobiles as well as a Rolls Royce and space for their vehicles.
"Where the hell are we?" Valeria wondered with eyes wide open.
"The Bat Cave?" Brianna wondered herself.
Selina Wayne greeted them at the garage's house entrance, "Oracle, so good to see you. Is that man treating you right?"
"Always," Oracle gushed.
"Good," Selina conspiratorially, "I'd hate to have to kneecap him."
"You must be our lost lambs," Selina greeted the twins. Bat-Man, Robin, and Red Robin awaited them within in full regalia. Judging by Bat-Man's limp, he wasn't juiced up.
"Aren't you too old to be Batman?" Valeria asked.
"Aren't you too irresponsible to be a parent?" Bat-Man inquired, "I know all about you too. Whatever hang ups you have with each other got left in the garage."
"I've got you set up over here," Selina guided Oracle to a bank of computers and monitors.
"Where are the others?" Oracle inquired.
"Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl are riding in," Selina explained quietly, "No one else has confirmed yet. Those two really were a couple?"
"Yup," Oracle was remote accessing her own network. Selina shivered and Oracle added, "Yeah, me too. Blame Red Hood for keeping them out of jail."
"The dossier you provided had some pretty chilling testimonials from the family and friends," Selina added, "Is Red Hood aware?"
"Nope," Oracle replied.
"The pregnancy is a complication," Selina decided.
"For everyone involved," Oracle confirmed it.
"I need to intervene. Bruce Alan is lording it over Arkham Knight again," Selina began to step away.
"Just warn him that Jason has Batman issues that easily translate into Bat-Man issues," Oracle suggested helpfully.
"And they're both armed and dangerous," Selina grasped it, "I'll manage them while you're busy."
"Thanks," Oracle gratefully replied. Across the expansive living room, Robin and Red Robin were meeting Red Hood and the twins for the first time. Except that both Red Hood and Robin derived from Earth-4's forgotten past in the New Universe.
"Don't I know you?" Robin asked with some apprehension.
"Why should you?" Red Hood couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu either.
"So you the reasons behind the trouble?" Red Robin inquired of the twins, "Domestic dispute? Running from the father?"
"No, he ran out," Valeria unhappily admitted, "Just like my girlfriend."
"You cheated on your girlfriend and got pregnant and an STD at the same time," Brianna corrected her.
"I wouldn't have cheated if she'd been home more often," Valeria accused.
"Maybe somebody had to pay for rent, the utilities, the food and the tuition you enjoyed," Brianna snapped back at her.
"Would you like a room?" Red Robin inquired, "You're sounding like exes."
"Why would we?" Valeria panicked.
"Can I talk to you?" Robin inclined her head to indicate to Red Hood they needed some privacy and to follow her. They stepped into an adjoining room, "They are exes, aren't they?"
"Yup," Red Hood tersely admitted.
"Gross," Robin shuddered, "Why are helping them?"
"I have a thing about strays," Red Hood sighed, "And for lost causes. They're both."
"Will they be a problem?" Robin asked.
"Not if we can separate them most of the time. They haven't spoken to each for awhile before the Americans came calling for them individually. Valeria, the pregnant one, reached out and contacted Brianna. They realized the same people were stalking each of them," Red Hood explained, "They got together and ran away from San Francisco and Brianna reached out to me."
"I'm not going ask why you're beholding to them. I really don't want to know. But why is a government sponsored super team chasing them down?" Robin cut to the chase. Red Hood finally explained the situation regarding the Nazi serums and that the twins had injected themselves with the regeneration formula.
"I contacted Batgirl and Nightwing earlier. They said a sample of a so-called immortality serum had gone missing as well," Robin told her, "Care to guess if your wayward twins kept one?"
"I'd hate to ask," Red Hood groaned.
"Oi! Everyone gather `round!" Oracle called out.
"Let's table this for now," Robin suggested.
"Good idea," Red Hood agreed.
"What have you found, Oracle?" Arkham Knight asked.
"The Americans were put together by an ex-Nazi scientist named Dr. Krigstein. He's well over one hundred years old and has been keeping himself alive through increasingly failing treatments he devised for himself," Oracle explained, "You stated that Krigstein had confronted you and wanted your blood. He knows you took the regeneration formula you stole from the biochemost who reverse engineered the Nazi super serums. Krigstein probably views a sample from one or both of you can give him the answer to reverse engineering the serum."
"He could've just asked," Brianna huffed.
"The sample size would probably need to be enormous. So it would likely be lethal to a single donor. But if pressure was applied, you'd reunite and you'd run. The objective would probably be to take you unawares in a strange city so you wouldn't know where or how to flee," Oracle finished her summary.
"We're so stupid," Valeria groaned.
"They would have taken you in San Fran anyway," Arkham Knight promised them, "But this way you have help they aren't expecting."
The lights blinked twice.
"Forget to pay the bill?" Red Hood joked.
"The garage has been accessed by approved company," Bat-Man explained, "Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl have arrived."
Brianna and Valeria didn't know what to expect but a completely unmasked Bat-Woman wasn't it. Other than her utility belt, the only Bat-signifier she wore was a tee shirt with Batman's original yellow encased bat symbol. although, the twins were especially not expecting the bleached blonde, blue eyed Asian Bat-Girl. Who seemed to wear a lot of pink. The dynamic duo also used off the shelf equipment. But unlike Bat-Man, Arkham Knight, and Red Hood, they eschewed firearms.
"So you two are the problem?" Bat-Woman sharply inquired upon seeing the twins together.
"Define 'problem'," Brianna challenged her.
"I have to be here. Ergo: problem," Bat-Woman snarked.
"Good," Oracle decided, "You're in time for the briefing on the opposition force."
"The field leader for the Americans is called the Comamnder. He carries two weapons, one strictly offensive and the second is both defensive and offensive. Observe the big screen for a clip of him in action," Oracle recommended.
"He's cute," Bat-Woman deiced right away.
"And our age," Bat-Girl commented. Then the Commander exploded into action using his M1911A1 Colt semi-automatic pistol and his shield.
"The shield is a titanium/steel allow," Oracle told the group as they hushed into silence watching the Commander decimate a group of terrorists.
"Next is Tank Man. He's the technical genius and his armor is as capable as any Rocket Red's," Oracle displayed Tank Man destroying a village filled with the same terrorists as the Commander was facing elsewhere.
"Storm-God appears to be a Norse demigod," Oracle explained as Storm-God channeled his powers through his axe.
"Titan has the ability to grow to enormous stature," Oracle said as he displayed his power, "Word is that Hornet, who has the reverse ability,can fly, and project bio-electric strings is his estranged wife. Apparently he filed for divorce claiming spousal abuse. Only she's the perpetrator."
"That concludes the original five Americans," Oracle stated, "Information is sketchy on the newer additions to the team. Here we have a set of fraternal twins: Mercury and the Indigo Enchantress. He's fast and she warps reality."
"And its nice ot see people of color," Bat-Girl approved.
"Next is Arachnid-Man and Arachnid-Woman," Oracle added, "The only powers they share are the ability to cling to any surface and super-strength. Everything else is largely undocumented."
"Then there's the Widow Makers. Elite government assassins recently assigned to the team by Sec. Bones and Sec. Waller," Oracle explained as three women were annihilating everyone in their paths. A woman in a form of armor with six extending spider-like limbs also appeared, "We have no data whatsoever other than a name: Widow Woman."
Finally, the strongest and potentially most dangerous foe: the oddly named Inedible Bulk. He appears harmless enough but what information is available states that if this man gets despondent or depressed, this transformation occurs," Oracle warned. The man's skin turned red and he grew inordinately large and muscled and he displayed resistance to harm and strength beyond that of any other American as he went on a rampage. Even greater than Storm-God.
"And this relic is Dr. Krigstein," Oracle displayed his official file photo, "This photo is dated 1952."
"He looked like that a week ago," Brianna told them.
"Yeah, Mr. Wrinkle Sag Bag," Valeria spouted.
"You're not helping," Brianna warned her.
"So he froze his aging," Robin surmised, "At least, until now."
"But with the two formulas in his possession, he can do like Baron Blitzkrieg and reverse decades of aging," Oracle explained.
"Why not turn to the Nazis themselves?" Bat-Woman asked.
"He's cooperated with the U.S. government for over sixty years. Their 'Masked Leader' will understandably view him as a traitor to the cause," Red Robin assessed.
"According to Homeland Security's internal records, Sec. Bones denied Krigstein's request to undertake this mission. Complicating matters is that Bones is aware that the Americans are off the reservation. He's assigned their recovery to the PATRIOTS led by one Maj. Lucy Lane," Oracle advised them, "And if her name is vaguely familiar, she's Lois Lane's younger sister. She's also a member of the Security Police Specialty Branch. Think the Army Rangers for the Air Force. She's a covert ops veteran leading a Homeland Security meta team. And since most of us here are wanted by the law, Maj. Lane will not hesitate to arrest all of us."
"So we do nothing?" Bat-Girl asked.
"We don't take the fight to the Americans just yet," Arkham Knight stipulated, "But we shelter Brianna and Valeria and if they find the track them here, we block them from taking the twins."
"From my home?" Bat-Man growled, "This was a setup all along."
"I think it's a marvelous plan," Selina intervened.
"And it'll give us time to get Batgirl, Nightwing, Batwoman, and Black Bat involved as well," Red Robin strategized.
"And Catwoman and Catgirl," Robin requested. Arkham Knight subtly nodded at Oracle and she secretly summoned the last two members of the Bat Clan.
"Who needs the posers?" Bat-Woman snorted.
"The so-called 'posers' are all better trained and more experienced than both of you put together," Bat-Man advised the Dynamic Duo.
"We'd best find you rooms before everyone arrives," Selina offered the twins and Red Hood. She led them upstairs, "We've cleaned out every room and prepped them as dorms for the assembled Bat Clan. Arkham Knight and Oracle need the ground floor guest room for obvious reasons. But other than Robin's room, we have two beds per room. I think you two will share one and hash things out before you turn on each during an inevitable crisis."
"Red Hood, I don't know who your partner will end up being. Other than Red Robin, all the men are spoken for in relationships. And despite my daughter dating him, we keep them in separate rooms for obvious reasons."
"Yeah, I noticed them," Red Hood agreed, "Young, dumb, and in love."
"I have a feeling you were there too before your heart was broken," Selina said sagely, "All right, you two can have this room. It's closest to Robin's so you can give her a knock if an issue arises."
"Red Hood, I'll put you next door. Robin is across the hall. The rest of the rooms will fill up fast and it's always interesting to pair Black Bat with Robin to keep her from sneaking off to Red Robin's room or the other way around. I swear that Cassandra doesn't sleep," Selina chuckled, "Because those two try anyway."
"I bet," Red Hood snorted.
"Anyway, these are them and you can bring up your belongings up at any time," Selina promised them.
"Now is as good as ever," Red Hood volunteered the twins.
"My back hurts," Valeria whined.
"Your lip is going to hurt," Brianna warned her.
"Hard to believe now that they were a devoted couple once upon a time," Red Hood ruefully remarked to Selina as they descended the stairs.
"It's not so hard," Selina graced her with a beatific smile, "It's a shame they shouldn't work out."
Red Hood was grateful for Selina's easy grace and lack of judgment.
Oracle could definitely see Red Robin's hand in the surveillance and detection systems as well as the external and internal security systems. The hillside and surrounding perimeter even had seismic detectors to catch those that came down the overlapping hillside to reach the front doors. the interior had been braced and the buckled portions of the mansion swallowed in the landslide had been sealed off.
But still left a domestic space the size of Wayne Manor. Originally cost and extravagance had obviously not been issues. Bruce Alan and Selina's personal fortunes were nearly exhausted in barely replenishable now that Derek Powers had forcibly merged Wayne-Power into being. Selina's family had been eradicated by Empress Penguin nearly as completely as the Bertinellis had suffered at her brother's hands.
Selina's only contact with the remaining Falcones was with young Kitrina, the other rebel. As Kittyhawk, Kitrina had disrupted and destroyed noted Falcone operations. A few deaths had even occurred in the process before the original Catwoman, Selina's namesake neice, Selina Kyle, uncovered Kittyhawk's identity and offered to train Kitrina to be more efficient and self-sufficient. Of course, Catwoman's idea of self-reliance was obtaining funding through thievery. Afterwards, she could dole out some vigilante style justice.
This time period was immediately followed by Catwoman and Catgirl's recruitment into the ARGUS built Justice League of America. Catwoman did a brief stint with the Justice League Unlimited following the JLA's disbandment. Then she returned to being a solo operative again. No less than three affairs with Batman occurred before he retired and she found herself pregnant with a Bat baby.
Selina was "independently" wealthy at that point and Presidentially pardoned from all of her priors. So Selina recalled Holly Robinson from her first protege's activities across the globe. The Cat found herself promoted into being Catwoman and with the leather catsuit and whip came her own protege, the Catgirl. With Justice Society forming the Young Justice program under the MLJ's banner, Catgirl found a team/family environment while Holly sorted out being the new Catwoman. She took over Selina's JLU reservist status. She also found herself falling headlong into a relationship with Kate Kane.
Kate been one of the last people dismissed from military service before "Don't ask, Don't tell" was repealed as a military policy and homosexuals were officially accepted by the military's ranks. If not the rank and file. Kate had wandered the globe before returning to find Wayne-Powers and Crows Security in existence when she arrived in Gotham. Col. Jacob Kane retiring from SpecOps to found a private security contractor. as startling as that was, Kane had also remarried and Kate found herself with a younger, Chinese-American stepsister.
Mary was a fourth-year med student and had opened an illegal clinic on the side to help the uninsured. Kate's cousin, Bruce Wayne, actually came up with an idea that suited Kate's desire to assist the downtrodden. He put in charge of the Wayne Foundation, independently chartered from Wayne-Powers despite it controlling a major stake in Wayne Enterprises. Derek Powers had manged to get the previous Director to ouster Bruce but Bruce controlled the Directorship and replaced the opportunistic previous director with Kate. Kate's role was to root out corruption with the Foundation and reapply its wealth towards projects Thomas and Martha Wayne would approve of.
Bruce owned 45% of Wayne Enterprises stock at the time of the merger with Powers Industries. The Wayne Foundation held seventy-five percent of the non-voting shares. Powers had managed to acquire ten percent and made a devil's bargain with the other 40% of voting share holders. Powers owned 70% of Powers Industries. So with his 10% stake in Wayne Enterprises, he owned a controlling interest in Wayne-Powers. Previously, the young upstart had utilized hostile takeovers to assume control of Cale Tech and the leaderless Palmer Tech and Kord Industries. Now, with Wayne-Powers to leverage, Powers had set his sights on Smoak Tech as well the divided, rudderless Queen Consolidated.
One of Powers' targets that had successfully outmaneuvered him was Ryder Corp. Ruby Ryder had signed away her controlling shares for an undisclosed sum to the next largest stockholder. The mysterious Erishkigal Narayana held over seventy percent of the publicly traded stock and now held one hundred percent of the reserved stock. There were no weaknesses for Powers to exploit just yet. The corporation had also made a turnaround and was no longer sinking into debt and was in fact paying off its debt ahead of schedule.
Starrware also continued to evade all of Powers' attempts to gain a foothold. It was the largets private tech firm in the world. With no plans to go public. Powers was continually amazed at how Karen Starr afforded her R&D and acquisitions despite so many of the projects and holdings proving to be failures. But Starrware was regularly infused with massive amounts of cash through rare earth and precious metals sales and Karen Starr wouldn't reveal the sources of these finds. But Starrware was the one corporation on Earth that wasn't dependent on the People's Republic of China for the rare earth metals modern technology was dependent on.
In fact, they ran a surplus and still never ran short fo their own needs. While the rest of the world was recycling copper at a tremendous rate to keep up with the continually rising demand, Starrware was selling off metric tons of it at regular intervals. With no mines listed as assets. The same ran true of all of their natural resources. Bruce Alan and Selina Wayne had taken special note of Powers' ambitions after he forced the merger with Wayne Enterprises. A merger Bruce Alan had unwittingly contributed to by leaving his proxy unattended for too long. Selina's fortunes dwindled as Carmine Falcone's did. She was Carmine's favorite sister but her holdings ha d been tied into his companies and the SEC and DOJ investigations and subsequential asset seizures had crippled Selina's income stream.
Fortunately Ulysses Armstrong had proven a genius at squatting. He'd reconnected the abandoned mansion to the city's power grid and water/sewer connections without the city yet realizing where the taps were or whee they fed into. The former Anarky's computer manipulations held and they city thought it was running a loss throughout its entire grid. The water and sewer pipes flowed despite the county being unaware that they were active. Fortunately for the Waynes and the Bat Clan, the pipes hadn't been disturbed by the landslide. Also too, the main power connection was underground as well and it merely taken repairing a severed connection at the nearest junction. Red Robin had supplied internal work orders for the repair even as he programmed the computers to disregard the now active connection. the tap into the meter also read as though the connection were still dead. That had required a simple enough mechanical modification.
Selina would be flying back to Gotham to sign paperwork provided by Carmine's lawyers distributing his remaining assets to her. In order to save his legitimate enterprises he had to give control over them to the one family member not involved in the Five Families. Selina had been chosen by default. The Valescra Mob had grown to replace the Bertinellis when the massacre destroyed the family. The only legitimate inheritor to the Berinellis' massive fortunes was Helena Berinelli and she was legally listed as being deceased. Despite the prodigious efforts by the Falcones, they'd never been able to secure the Bertinelli fortune. Unaware that Helena alone possessed the laser encoded diamond that contained all of the account information regarding the whereabouts of said fortune and its dispersal. They'd acquired the twelve carat diamond from a broker after Helena had cleaned out the accounts ten years after the massacre. She'd covertly transferred all the funds ot her new legal alias, Helen Burton.
Shortly thereafter Helen Burton had returned to America from Sicily to attend Gotham U. Earning a MA in Education, Helena worked as a substitute teacher to legitimize her presence in Gotham and entrench her secret identity as Helen as the Huntress tracked down those directly involved in the murder of her family. Once Tobias Whale was incarcerated, despite her inclinations, Helena moved to NYC until she married Vic Sage and the Huntress joined the Question in Hub City. Which by that point was even more corrupt than Gotham. But still hadn't fallen into the morass of Coral City. The trip had been planned in advance of Oracle contacting Bat-Man regarding the need for assistance.
"I suggest we locate these Americans as soon as they arrive in Los Angeles and dissuade them from pursuing our guests before they track down the mansion," Bat-Man grated.
"We actually have eyes on them right now," Arkham Knight revealed, "They arrived by chartered jet two hours ago. They're occupying a Homeland Security safe house in Orange County."
"And you're just now mentioning this?" Bat-Man was growing more irked by the minute.
"Just waiting for you to make the obvious call," Arkham Knight retorted, "The 'here' I referred to is the metropolitan area."
"Stop trying to manage me," Bat-Man was having difficulty not raising his voice, "I'm the Bat-Man of this Bat Clan. It isn't called the Arkham Clan or the Outlaws for a specific reason."
"Because you think you can fill your nephew's cowl by simply popping some Miraclo," Arkham Knight said with disgust, "While others of us have trained half or more of our lives to earn our reputations while you live off of someone's else glory. That goes for you two chief off the rack disciples as well."
"Maybe some of us don't need to be trained by the League of Assassins' chief reject," Bat-Man glowered.
"That reject led the near destruction of the Court of Owls you've been chasing for forty-seven years. With limited success, I might add," Arkham Knight retorted. Bat-Man threw his punch. Arkham Knight caught it, twisted and redirected the force and put Bat-Man head first into a wall.
"That's what training from a 'reject' looks like," he scolded Bat-Man.
Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl shifted their weight and Red Hood drew both of her pistols and aimed them at the appropriate targets, "Nuh-uh."
"Bat-Man!" Robin called out as he reached for his holster, "Dad! No fighting!"
"My daughter just saved your life," Bat-Man advised Arkham Knight before belatedly realizing his opponent was now holstering his sidearm. he would've never have gotten a shot off to begin with.
"If we can stop the posturing?" Oracle was irritated, "The Americans aren't sitting still."
"Are they headed for the pier?" Arkham Knight asked.
"What pier?" Bat-Man was disturbed that he was still playing catch up to someone else's operation.
"They are headed there," Oracle deduced, "The government trackers on their vehicles confirm it."
"What's going on?" Bat-Man asked.
"The Americans were too slow to capture the twins outright but they put a tracker on Brianna's car. Which is why we needed your shielded garage to buy us time to locate and disable the tracker," Red Hood explained, "While we 'dissuade' the Americans, the twins can make a clean getaway."
"That and the girls need one night of goid rest before they pack up and move on," Oracle finished, "They don't know it quite yet but I have no ID packages for both fo them. And there's job opening in Phoenix at the DA's office for Brianna."
"But…" Bat-Man waited for the other shoe.
"But we still need to 'discourage' Dr. Krigstein from pursuing them," Red Hood supplied, "Since it's obvious he's willing to go off book to track them down to acquire what he wants."
"Bones will just slap them on the wrist and what's required is a real 'Fear of God' moment," Arkham Knight supplied the last thread of explanation.
"Then it's a good thing we're here," Batgirl announced as Batwoman, Black Bat, and Nightwing entered the house from the garage.
"How many Tumblers did Batman have built?" Red Robin asked as he looked at the security monitor and the full garage.
"Five altogether," Arkham Knight informed him, "We have one. The Outsiders, have two, you have one and the fifth is MIA."
"Not quite," Oracle teased, "I just informed an interested party where it was at and left everyone else out of the loop"
"Good thinking," Huntress congratulated her as she and the Question also entered in, "Fortunately we were relayed here by the Birds of Prey teleporter and never caught sight of your Tumbler."
"We tagged along as well," Catwoman and Catgirl came in behind them.
"It seems you just volunteered to bunk with Red Robin," Selina smirked at her husband.
"God save him," Bat-Man groaned.
Bruce Alan drove Selina to LAX and saw her off. Everyone pretended not to notice that he was in his seventies compared to Selina's early fifties. Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle were only separated by ten years compared to their twenty. Still, it had made for a difficult first pregnancy at age forty-five for Selina Kyle. Selina Wayne, on the other hand, had been thirty-seven when Helena Wayne was born. Bruce Alan used the bathroom in the garage to re-don his Bat-Man attire. His age serving as a distraction from his leadership capabilities and Arkham Knight and Huntress challenged him enough already.
Bruce Alan had been in rehab when his brother, Thomas, was murdered. Seeing the raw ache of guilt etched on his young nephew's features had galvanized Bruce Alan to give up drugs and alcohol and his rage, like Bruce's, would pit him against dark forces for the rest of his life. He'd been tracking the local Owls in Rome when he came upon Selina Falcone. It was a whirlwind romance. One that had ostracized Selina from her family. It was only now, in disgrace, in prison, and slowly dying, that Carmine reached out a reconciliatory hand to his youngest sister. Even then, it served his own needs. But it suited Selina Wayne's purposes as well.
She and Bruce Alan desperately needed a fresh income stream. One that wasn't dependent on Wayne-Powers dividends. As the last member of the Wayne Family to hold stock in the company outside of Bruce Wayne's staggeringly large minority share and Kate Kane's matching share to Bruce Alan's much smaller portion. Kate and Bruce Alan combined still couldn't bolster Bruce's share holdings to overturn Powers' 55% alliance of shareholders. Kate and Bruce Alan each holding 2%. In a surprise move, Luke Fox had sided with Powers on the merger and gained 2% more joint shares to hold 4% of the corporation. Luke wanting to monopolize his earnings to fund his new career as the outlaw vigilante, Batwing.
The original Batwing had retired his costumed persona to concentrate on being Chief Inspector in his native African country. The rest of Batman Incorporated was either dead or retired. But a new Chief Man-of-Bats had joined the Justice League and Raven Red was now part of Young Justice. A new Knight had arisen in the United Kingdom. Squire and Ravager were currently in London investigating this newest Knight and his Page. Of course, the new Bat Clan, and especially the new Bat-Man, were supposed to be unaware of these events and circumstances.
But Selina had a very cordial relationship with her namesake niece now that the other Selina knew where her familial ties lay and Selina Kyle freely offered Penny-One's services. Alfred Pennyworth having raised Bruce Wayne and standing by him for decades as the Batman terrorized criminals. Sasha Julia Bordeaux (Pennyworth) stood by Selina and Helena Kyle as their faithful bodyguard. Selina finally relenting to Alfred's request that she hire his daughter before and after Helena was born.
Julia assisted Selina in getting fighting fit again after Helena's birth. Alfred shared baby duties as well as the cooking chores. But that was all Selina would allow Alfred to do. he was well into his seventies now and only his devotion to Helena as Bruce's unacknowledged heir kept Alfred fit and trim. Alfred would've had a coronary had he known about two-year old Elissa Wayne being raised by her mother, Queen Diana of Themiscyra, until her thirteenth year when she would come to Gotham City to attend Gotham Academy and get an education beyond the Amazon's homeland and limited scope. Damien al Ghul, Bruce's son by Talia, had been killed by the Daxamite called Supreme on Lex Luthor's orders to repay Ra's al Ghul for his defiance and leaving the Legion of Doom without the support of either the League of Shadows or its subservient League of Assassins. Only afterwards had Talia informed Bruce that she'd born him a son rather than having lost the pregnancy as she'd claimed earlier.
Her grief leading her to clone Damien and force grow him into adulthood and have him lead the Leviathan armies against Gotham as the Heretic. Her grief at losing her son a second time sapped Talia of her will to live and made her a willing subject of the mind wipe whereby her father replaced her mind with his. Talia inherited his role as Ra's al Ghul but her older sister, Nyssa Raatko, knew the truth regarding Ra's/Talia's sudden 'changes in taste' such as his/her sexual orientation.
Nyssa defeated Ra's/Talia in a ritual challenge by combat but then ceded the Demon's Head role to Black Canary. So Dinah Laurel Drake Lance Queen became the new Ra's al Ghul and married her lover, Nyssa, who would serve at her side as her Demon's Hand.
"Talia" was permanently exiled by the Shadow Seven that served as the Ra's' ruling council over the League of Shadows. Any attempt "Talia" made against the current or future Ra's al Ghuls would be a declaration of war and the League of Assassins would respond accordingly. So "Talia" took her Ubu clones and departed. The League of Shadows left her "father's" (ie. his own) accounts open for "her" to use. But sealed them from further deposits. Incongruously, "Talia" invested in both Wayne Enterprises and Powers Industries before the merger and sold Powers his ten percent in Wayne Enterprises.
In fact, it had been "Talia" that alerted Derek Powers that Bruce had sold off his ten percent majority stake to publicly finance Batman and Batman Incorporated even as he decided that the Wayne Foundation would also begin overtly funding the operations. "Talia's" revenge was complete after the merger when Powers halted any and all endowments towards Batman Incorporated and Bruce's corporate stipends, which added to his own personal investments into Batman's activities, also ceased to exist. So for the first time, Batman had been on a budget.
Only the positive publicity generated by Wayne-Powers continued affiliations with and support at cost to the Watchtower prevented Powers from yanking the service contract from the United Nations. But he did lessen the scope of the contract so that LuthorCorp and Zither Security were given access to providing materials, personnel, and security services ot the Watchtower. Of course, Lena Luthor and Candace Zither were affiliated with Vandal Savage's the Light. Savage having acquired dozens of allies under the Light's umbrella. Deathstroke and his Titans, Queen Bee, the Legion of Doom, LuthorCorp, the Shadowmages, the Deep Web operatives, Lois Lane, Iron Knife, Max Lord and Innovative Concepts, the Leagues of Shadows and Assassins, Mr. Freeze, the CADMUS II, among countless, faceless pawns contributed to the Light's increasing success.
A reborn Time Trapper, one of the original's former minions, had approached Savage and offered to help him leverage Glorith in the future in exchange for favors to take place in the 29th Century to cause the Flashpoint Paradox. With the Emerald Empress already laying her case for dominion in the 31st Century, she and her new Fatal Five had returned to that era. But that still left Glorith flitting in and between days, weeks, decades, and centuries adjusting tweaks to the very history she'd crafted using Dr. Manhattan's power but unaware of the Evil Queen's tampering using the Genesis Rose.
Then there was Saturn Queen. Eve Aries was proving both a benefit and a nuisance to Vandal Savage's ultimate plans. Saturn Queen had both handed him Superwoman and made available the treatment that would neuter Lois Lane's Kryption DNA spliced powers. She'd also unlocked the pre-Crisis memories of some of his cohorts and a few competitors. But seemed his largest competitors had already been aware of the true nature of the so-called "Near Apocalypse of 2009" and the Zero Hour it spawned.
Glorith's Rebirth had fashioned a single New Universe and New Antimatter Universe after the annihilation of the Multiverse and its opposite by the Anti Monitor. But it also robbed most everyone of their memories of that precursor past. Now Saturn Queen's "awoken" shared their multiversal past memories with their New Universe history memories. It could become a confusing muddle. But a Multiverse went far in explaining the various doppelgangers Glorith's lack of detail had provided. As well as the incongruity of Dakota City and Superior City's existences and why pocket universe's had been necessary to create Superboy, Insect Queen, and Matrix as Supergirl as well as Angor, and the aforementioned cities. Without knowing it, Bruce Alan, Selina, and Helena Wayne shared Earth-4 with Li Harper once upon a time. Along with the oldest Cyborg. Whereas the youngest Cyborg shared a common history with the Outlaws' Oliver Queen as Arrow on Earth-27.
So with Selina's tempering influence gone, Bat-Man decided to have it out, publicly and dramatically, with Arkham Knight and Huntress.
"Before we go any further, let's make one thing certain. This is my home. My rules. My Bat Clan. My word is law and everyone will comply or they can get the hell out now"
"See ya!" Red Hood called out and went to gather up the twins.
"Back to San Fran," Batgirl sighed and she and her Outsiders cohorts prepared to leave. Arkham Knight had Oracle making alternative arrangements to smuggle the twins out of Los Angeles. Huntress was calling in a teleport request. Even Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl seemed rebellious.
Robin caught up with Catwoman and Catgirl as they were first to go out the door, "Give me five minutes."
No one but Arkham Knight and Oracle overheard Robin's remarks to Bat-Man but he recalled everyone, thoroughly chastised having discovered the limits to his powers over those he'd originally united in this fashion.
"It seems I'm not Batman," he admitted.
"Damn straight," Huntress snorted.
"If I might make a suggestion," the Question intervened, "We should best prepare for a direct assault on the Americans at their safe house. Oracle has provided an address and informed me that it is in an uninhabited section of Orange County. So that minimizes the risk of civilian casualties"
"Good plan," Bat-Man gracefully allowed, "Robin, Catgirl, and Red Robin, you'll stay here to secure Oracle and our guests."
"Oh, that's bullshit!" Catgirl snarled.
"Actually, it's a good idea. I'll stay behind as well," Catwoman offered. Robin and Red Robin each looked betrayed. And then opportunistic. Bat-Man was suddenly very grateful Holly had volunteered to chaperon.
"Let's roll out," Bat-Man urged everyone.
Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl took Bat Bikes as did the Huntress and Batgirl. Bat-Man took a Tumbler and Black Bat deemed it necessary to ride with him. Batwoman and Nightwing got into a customized sports car Batmonile variant. The Question decided to drive the original Batmobile before the more traditional one based off of the World's Fair exhibit that had captivated Bruce Wayne's imagination when he attended with Andrea Beaumont. The coupe resembled a 1930s sedan with a bat face at it front with headlights serving as the eyes and bat wing fin projecting out of the roof and behind the car. This was before the second model was modified and built employing a reserve jet engine to attain high velocities. Arkham Knight and Red Hood joined the Question.
"And here we are again," the Question had involved the Outlaws in bringing down the Religion of Crime's incestuous sex cult that had been the vehicle for introducing Li to Brianna and Valeria. Li and Emiko Queen had posed as sisters wanting to join the cult. Red Arrow had been disgusted by Bree and Val but something about the twins pulled at Red Hood's heartstrings and she gave the twins cash and a means to escape Hub City before the Huntress led the raid on the "church" and uncovered its secret porn site connection whereby the "religious" act of having sex with a sibling or parent was live streamed and recorded for future sales.
The Religion of Crime was making millions off of the sibs' "liberation" to indulge their fantasies with each other. As underage, identical twins engaged in incestual sexual acts, Brianna and Valeria had been a top attraction. Yet through it all, the Hooded Terror had escaped arrest and prosecution. So the priestess was on to another religious scam in the name of the Bible of Crime and so the woman secretly named "Lora" quietly laughed all the way to the bank with Intergang's endorsement and support.
The FBI had swept up most of Intergang's operatives involved with the website operation. Some of the "victims" were undergoing counseling and court appointed probation that stipulated non-sexual, supervised contact between siblings. Many of whom had to be removed from their homes to enforce the rulings. Like Brianna and Valeria, two other couples had been underage.
But one involved seventeen-year old and fourteen-year old sisters and the eldest sister was facing criminal charges as an adult. The most defiant offenders also faced criminal prosecutions. Separation being the least of their prospective outcomes. Two women had been impregnated by their brothers. Another two underage, younger teen girls had been impregnated by their fathers. Those fathers were being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and it seemed at least one father molesting his child had profited from the streaming services as a willing, royalty earning participant. Fathers sexually active with their sons also faced the full scope of criminal laws. In a seeming hypocritical development, sisters with sisters and brothers with brothers only received the probationary status and mandated therapy. Mothers with child partners also faced a lighter prosecution than fathers but jail time was still sought in most cases. One such mother was bearing her son's child.
The Religion of Crime had recruited the church attendees from across the United States and portions of Mexico and Canada and relocated them to Hub City for the operation. Law enforcement officials across the country felt the Religion of Crime, in a very twisted turn of justice, had taken out one form of perversion from their communities. But families had been shattered and stigmatized by the actions of two or more members and no amount of therapy or criminal justice would quickly alleviate those burdens.
In a particularly demeaning move by Valeria's burdensome former partner, he'd revealed that he recognized her from her live stream performances and that was why he'd selected her as a sexual partner and described in vulgar detail how he'd frequently masturbated to the videos, and later, to the hope that she would pass on his gonorrhea to Brianna, freely admitting that he'd willfully infected Valeria. She'd broken her hand and his jaw in response. A factor that weighed into dismissing the assault charges against her. It would be years before Valeria would one day learn the pro bono lawyer that worked her defense had been turned Val's way by Brianna, who worked for the same law firm. Now they miserably sat in the Wayne's kitchen, silently being judged by Robin, Red Robin, and Catgirl while Catwoman tended to Oracle's periodic needs, such as food and coffee.
"Someone tipped off the police that a convoy of Bat vehicles was seen navigating the 405," Oracle announced. Everyone, save Oracle and Catwoman, shifted to the living room where Robin used the satellite television hook up to tune into the breaking news. It seemed the Bat Clan had met the Americans and a the expected confrontation was well underway.
The Bat vehicles surrounded the Homeland Security safe house the Americans had occupied.
"Last chance, Knight," Bat-Man growled at Arkham Knight, "Who is your asset?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Arkham Knight chambered the first round in his customized pistol. Red Hood did the same individually for each of her pistols.
Bat-Man did as well before swallowing a Miraclo pill. Rex Tyler, once again the Hourman, had taken away Bruce Alan's 1st Gen Miraclo and replaced it with a non-addictive variant developed by Rick Tyler, Rex's son and the second Hourman, that could be taken up to four times within the twenty-four hour framework that the last one had been restricted to a single dose in the same time frame. Both Rex and Rock had struggled with Miraclo addiction with 1st and 2nd Gen Miraclo. the 3rd Gen had been a single dose version with non-addictive properties. Well before Rick reformulated the pill into it s current incarnation.
Rex and TylerChem had also developed a curative substitute to replace the addictive Miraclo while Bruce Alan battled withdrawals. Rick and his wife, Jesse Chambers, had quit being Hourman and Jesse Quick when she'd become pregnant. Now Rick ran TylerChem and Jesse fell back on her academic training and was an associate professor at Yale. Dr. Chambers thesis had been a history of meta-humans and she was creating a new multidisciplinary department in the university to record, research, and catalog meta-humans outside of the government sphere despite the MLJ and Homeland's willing participation and support of the nascent department.
Jesse herself was meta-human royalty being the daughter of Johnny Chambers and Libby Lawrence, more famously known as Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle of the All Star Squadron that protected the USA after the Justice Society's indictment by the Committee on Un-American Activities and their subsequent disappearance until the mid-Eighties. the JSA's friendly rivals, the Minutemen, also fell into well earned or blatantly prejudiced disgrace. When the JSA returned from Limbo, having prevented Ragnorak, they found the landscape filled with the American Crusaders and the Watchmen. So they retired until after the Justice League formed.
Then the JSA Founders signed on as Training Officers before finally re-establishing the Justice Society for primarily that purpose and earning the MLJ Initiative's official seal of approval and support. The trade off was that the JSA was restricted from operating outside of North American borders, having received express permission to operate within the Mexican Republic and Canada's Commonwealth. The MLJ was the US branch of government law enforcement that lent its domestic operating authority to the Justice League as well having formed its own band of operatives known as the Mighty Crusaders and the covert Shadow Crusaders.
In addition, the MLJ was the parent of the WEB Agency. One operative had recently battled the Shazam Family for reasons unknown and Dora Keane, known as Darkling, wasn't speaking about it. Rather, she'd vanished from official circles. With the advent of the Young Justice program supplementing the JSA, the MLJ had stepped down the Crusaders' profile and rarely, if ever, called upon them anymore. one Shadow Crusader, Denise Madigan, known as the Flag Bearer had enlisted with the Outsiders. So it seemed the Crusader legacy had ended before it was truly begun. Another Shadow Crusader, Black Jaq, had joined the JSA.
The Sovereign 7 seemed to have settled down as well after the Crisis passed and the Multiverse was no more or at least, their adventures on Earth had significantly calmed down. But their battles against the Dark Circle raged across the stars. But in more terrestrial environs, the Bat Clan was beginning to realize the increasingly difficulties involved in locating and deterring the Americans.
When Walt Disney bought acres of orange groves and ripped them out to plant the "Happiest Place on Earth" in their stead, Anaheim exploded into a booming speculative real estate market that yielded the motel sprawl surrounding Disneyland as well as the future Anaheim Convention Center centrally located by the theme park. One such investor envisioned a near future pay off and built a multi-story hotel for those that wished to stay outside of the city limits with access to the park and other attractions provided. Only, few travelers ever came. An industrial area was built around the "Folly Hotel" as it became known. The federal government secured the property and expansive warehouse the investor built next to it it to cover a portion of his losses. Yet his potential clientele preferred building their own facilities. In the end, the feds acquired it at the price of the back taxes and as a federal property, it was then expempted for public taxes. Various law enforcement agencies traded it off between themselves using the warehouse as staging ground and the hotel as barracks until the criminals and cartels they sought discovered the properties and learned to mark every agent sequestered there and out surveil the surveillance.
It lay abandoned for years until the Dept. of Homeland Security was founded in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001 and the facilities were reopened. They considered it so known that they would be "idiot proofed" against using them. Or in short, no law enforcement agency in their right mind would use them. So they'd never be suspected of being used again. Homeland parked informants in the hotel and agents in the rooms and their vehicles in the warehouse.
That thinking prevailed until the Syndicate Underground managed to unveil the ressurgence of usage. So it lay fallow once again. But in keeping with cautious predictions, the electricty, water, and sewer bills were paid monthly and caretakers were put up to keep squatters out. the Americans would have been completely discreet if hadn't been for the fact they'd been tracked all along. Now that threat that Valeria and Brianna posed was understood, Sec. Bones had authorized the asset to proceed as deemed necessary to keep the twins out of Dr. Krigstein's hands. Preferably without losing the Americans as Homeland operatives.
That had put the asset in a bind until she devised an alternative stratagem to confronting the Americans directly and preferably without putting the twins down. If such a thing were still possible given the regenerative formula they'd both injected themselves with and potentially the Infinity and Super Soldier Serums as well. DNA samples obtained from the twins had proven that they did not possess the meta-gene so they're expression of the Super Soldier Serum, if they had taken it, would differ greatly from a Captain Nazi, Madame Libertine, Ace of Blades, or Captain Murder and wouldn't create a Majestic-class superhuman. Tather, the formula would create an equal to a Baroness Blood or a Commander. The perfected expression of the human genome at its current state of evolution.
As it stood, the Regenerative Serum made the twins nearly unkillable by conventional means. But a beheading was pretty hard to come back from. Especially if the bodies were torched afterwards. The pregnancy complicated everything. Especially for Dr. Krigstein. A child exposed to any or all of the serums would develop differently than a standardized human and a fetus could provide knowledge that the twins didn't need to provide if he could simply extract Val's baby from her body. The addition of modified stem cells would further his research far more than any adult specimen could. So Krigstein's timetable had moved up in order to capture Brianna and Valeria while the fetus was still developing. Their corpses were a secondary concern at this point and the asset had learned live capture was only a priority on Valeria until the fetal extraction could be accomplished. Then her termination was guaranteed. Supposing the Americans had made the same basic assumptions regarding the means and methods of doing so that the asset herself had deduced.
"The warehouse is deserted except for five RVs," Bat-Woman reported back. Bat-Girl had gone with her to scout the situation.
"Return to the back parking lot and meet up with the Huntress," Bat-Man instructed, "Inform me when you reach her."
"We could still cover all the exits," Arkham Knight impatiently scolded Bat-Man.
"You are not the field commander here," Bat-Man thrust a finger at Arkham Knight's helmeted face.
"I'd point that elsewhere," Arkham Knight warned him.
"Or what?" Bat-Man boasted, confident in his Miraclo boosted strength and durability. Using that finger, Arkham Knight flipped Bat-Man onto his back and didn't say a further word on the subject.
"I'm letting you have that one," Bat-Man growled as he rose, "We need to get in that lobby without having the staff alert the Americans."
"I really don't think that's anm issue any more," Red Hood nodded towards the main doors. Black Bat and the Question exited.
"The way has been cleared," the Question announced.
"On whose order?" Bat-Man tried not to roar.
"The Huntress found it advisable send Black Bat and I on ahead," the Question shrugged.
"Of all the goddamned treachery," Bat-Man fumed as he stormed past them both. He found the Huntress indoors consulting a placard dating back to the hotel's construction giving a generalized layout of the place.
"For all we know the various agencies have torn this place to shit so this is a rough bearing of what to expect," Huntress advised Bat-Woman, Bat-Girl, Batwoman, Batgirl, and Nightwing.
"Et tu, Dynamic Duo?" Bat-Man seethed.
"Uh oh," they said in stereo.
"A word in private?" Bat-Man requested of the Huntress.
"No, why don't knock yourself right here and now," Huntress glibly replied.
"You. Are. Not. In. Charge. Here," Bat-Man punctuated every word.
"Neither are you and someone needs to be," Huntress drolly replied, "You may have chased the Court of Owls around for forty-seven years but you didn't learn dick from it."
"Um…" Nightwing spoke.
"Shut up!" Bat-Man snapped at her.
"Is this you or the Miraclo talking?" Arkham Knight asked.
"It's the non-habit forming version," Bat-Man grated over the fact that he was suddenly the focus and not Huntress' usurping his authority.
"Um…" Nightwing said more loudly.
"I'm not talkinbg the drug, dipshit," Huntress replied, "It enhances whatever bad traits you already have. Like an unwarranted god-complex."
"Ouch," Question chuckled.
"Really, I need to…" Nightwing tried again.
"Shut up!" Huntress and Bat-Man said together.
"You should both listen to her," Arkham Knight said sternly.
"Why is that?" Bat-Man snapped at him.
"Because Black Bat took off as soon as she re-entered the building and is now scouting the premises without support."
"Why the hell didn't you say something?" Huntress turned on Nightwing.
"I tried interrupting the pissing contest but you wouldn't shut up," Nightwing snapped back.
"She took the stairs," Arkham Knight informed them, "There are four floors. If Huntress and the Question take the second floor, your so-called 'Dynamic Duo' the third with Batgirl and Nightwing to keep them out of trouble, and Bat-Brain and Batwoman take the fourth, the two of us will ascend the stairwell while you hold the elevator and begin a door to door, floor by floor sweep."
"Finally, someone has a brain," Red Hood quipped.
"And Cassie?" Batgirl asked.
"Has probably already found Krigstein, who is our actual target after all," Arkham Knight reminded them all.
"I feel stupid," Huntress admitted.
"It was juvenile how you engaged Bat-Man," Question agreed.
Huntress glared at him, "Not about that. The dickhead deserved it. I'm talking just standing here waiting for trouble"
"You're going to start breaking down doors, aren't you?" Question sighed.
"Damn straight," Huntress confirmed it.
"Let's find these assholes," Bat-Woman decided. Bat-Girl followed her down the hall.
"We'd better back them before they get themselves killed," Nightwing sighed.
"Why?" Batgirl asked but was already on the move with her.
"Follow me," Bat-Man decided.
"Not a chance," Batwoman warned him, "You'll get me killed."
"Coward," Bat-Man pressed forward and ripped the first door off of its hinges.
"Like I said," Batwoman murmured.
Red Hood picked the locks on the first-floor rooms and amenities and Arkham Knight would sweep in and she'd join him on the search.
"No wonder they aren't using the pool or jacuzzi," Red Hood stared at the holes in the ground.
"They're probably boring their butts off until they get a ping from Brianna's tracker," Arkham Knight predicted.
"You know no one followed instructions, right?" Red Hood inquired.
"Huntress and Question can get out whatever she stirs up. Batgirl and Nightwing can get out alive and Batwoman can as well," Arkham Knight shrugged.
"What about the other three idiots?" Red Hood asked.
"Who?" Arkham Knight coldly asked.
"That's what I thought," Red Hood snickered. The building shook so violently that the plaster on the walls and ceilinmg cracked and chunks dropped onto the floor and dust permeated the air.
"Remind me again why we're here?" Arkham Knight asked.
"Don't start," Red Hood sighed. The tremors shaking the building were coming at irregular intervals.
"Seriously, why are we here?" Arkham Knight repeated, "This does nothing to further our mission."
"The only reason those girls are even alive to be in trouble is because of our intervening," Red Hood asserted, "We can't just walk away now."
"Watch me," Arkham Knight warned her, "Now give me the real reason we're here."
"I don't know!" Red Hood was exasperated, "Something about them just made me snap inside. Despite their obvious hang up with each other, I thought they could be redeemed somehow. They obviously have moved on from having sex with each other."
"That was an unhappy accident," Arkham Knight reminded her.
"But it worked," Red Hood insisted, "And they were building better lives when this Krigstein character decided to dissect them."
"Look at what we do and how we do, Jason," Red Hood became agitated, "If they can be redeemed then so can we."
"And now we have it at last," Arkham Knight relented, "We don't need saving, Li. You should know that better than anyone."
"Than why do I feel like an imposter?" Li pleaded, "Why is there another five-year old version of me? Lian is identical to me. Why can I barely remember my parents? And why do Jade and Roy seem like my parents?"
"Because they are," Arkham Knight released his helmet and Jason met her eyes, "You don't have your Multiverse memories."
"Lex Luthor proved multiverses are an impossibility," Red Hood scoffed.
"Now they are. After the Multiverse was destroyed and a New Universe was fashioned from its ashes afterwards. You, Lian Harper are originally from Earth-4 where everyone was fourtene years older than their versions now. Bruce Alan, Selina, and Helena Wayne are all from there too. They were Batman, Catwoman, and Robin in that universe. The oldest Victor Stone was also from your universe. You were hooked up with my older version. That's why I became the Arkham Knight. Because he was and you were the Red Hood. And the persona made sense to me. It also broke me free from Nyssa," Jason explained to her.
"Which is why you looked for me and brought me into the Outlaws," Li realized.
"Ollie was from Earth-27 where everybody was half their counterpart's age from here. Which also explains why there were two Oliver Queens in this universe. And why there's a third Vic Stone that's also a Cyborg," Jason told her. Li knew it was true without question and it answered so many questions that she and Arrow had had for as long as they both could remember.
"But why do you remember all of this and I don't?" Red Hood inquired.
"It takes a special kind of crazy to remember the Multiverse before it was destroyed in what we now call the Near Apocalypse of 2009. Originally it was simply called the Crisis of the Multiverse. But now everyone's memories fit into the New Universe's framework. I should introduce you to Marian Drews. She's originally from Earth-2 and also remembers all this shit," Jason explained.
"Isn't she the Hellequin?" Li asked.
Jason shrugged, "That too."
He latched his helmet back into place, "You ready?"
"What about Oracle?" Red Hood asked.
"Doesn't have a clue," Arkham Knight promised her, "But that history is why you think you love me. But it's actually a version of me that doesn't exist anymore that you were in love with. Me, I've always been with Oracle. And she's everything to me."
"I've been an ass. Haven't I?" Red Hood said despondently.
"Just to her," Arkham Knight told her, "But you don't have to be now that you know the truth."
"God, I feel stupid," Red Hood confessed.
"It isn't your fault, Li. Forces I can barely comprehend destroyed and then rewrote history and recreated a universe from the wreckage of a multiverse. You were just caught up with the rest of us as it all got tangled and twisted up," Arkham Knight drew his pistol as the building continued quaking, "But we need to go. Now."
Red Hood drew both fo her pistols, "I'm ready for anything."
"Good. `Cause I think 'anything' has arrived," Arkham Knight led her outside.
Bat-Man found himself sailing through the air after being punched through no fewer than three walls. When he ripped the door off of its hinges, he'd found two bookish looking mentioning one was incredibly aged. Bat-Man assumed that was Dr. Krigstein. the other was an Arabic man who looked despondent upon seeing Bat-Man in the doorway.
"Allah, it begin again," he said in a depressed monotone. Then, as Bat-Man watched, the Semitic man's skin turned bright crimson and his muscles and body swelled to outlandish portions. His hair fell out leaving him completely bald and beardless. Thus the Inedible Bulk had returned to the realm of men.
"Bulk sad," the red man-monster declared, "You make Bulk sad. Now you die."
And then the Bulk hit Bat-Man. Only the Miraclo in Bat-Man's veins and coursing through his muscles and hardening his bones spared him from an instant death from the blow. As it was, Bat-Man found himself plowing into pavement and unceremoniously smashed into a dumpster. The Bulk jumped out of the hole in the fourth story wall that Bat-Man had created and stomped his way towards Bat-Man. Bruce Alan Wayne wondered if this was his day to die.
Arachnid-Man and Arachnid-Woman both came out of their rooms. Of course, Arachnid-Man was crawling across the ceiling when he did so. Unlike her male counterpart, Arachnid-Woman was masked. She ushered Dr. Krigstein to safety by carrying him down the outer wall that Bat-Man had punched through.
Batwoman was wise enough to let everyone go through. But that still left her facing Arachnid-Man. He was barely out of his teens, if he actually was.
"You shouldn't have come after the Americans, lady. We take care of our own," Arachnid-Man boasted.
"Trust me, the last thing I want is a fight," Batwoman promised him.
"Y'got a funny way of showing it," he declared. He fired off two streams of webbing from glands in his wrists. Batwoman extended her bo staff and snared the webbing, "Look kid, I don't want to hurt you."
"Ain't happenin'," he promised as he yanked the staff out of her hands. He was a lot stronger than his sleight appearance would suggest. A flash and a smoke bomb distracted him long enough for her to race underneath him, sprint down the hallway, and slam open the stairwell door.
"Yer not getting' away that easy!" Arachnid-Man declared as he wall crawled to reach the door, open it and descend down the open wall opposite the crisscrossing stairs. Batwoman dropped from where she'd braced herself above the door.
"I've got to find a new line of work," Katrina Moldoff swore to herself as she began descending the stairs.
Bat-Woman kicked open one door while Bat-Girl broke open the opposite doorway. inside, Bat-Girl found a costumed man reading a book.
"What are you doing?" Titan demanded to know and grew too a twelve-foot stature.
Bat-Woman, on the other hand, came upon a very naked woman grinding her hips into a very naked man's groin.
"Oh, God," Bat-Woman stepped back as Titan smashed through his doorway to pursue Bat-Girl chased both her and Bat-Woman into the opposing room.
"What the futz?" Titan roared upon seeing his wife, Hornet, desperately trying to achieve the thrill of climax again so she could finally get off. Titan and Hornet were technically divorcing but had gone for marriage counseling as a last minute resort thanks to the persuasion of Titan's best friend, Tank Man. The very friend whose penis was thrust deep inside his wife's vagina.
"God dammit!" Hornet swore as she shrank and insect wings grew out of her back she flew past Titan, "You asshole! You ruined it for me!"
Tank Man tapped his wrist watch and the components of his armor detached from where they stood in the corner and wrapped and reassembled around him.
"Titan, get a grip," Tank Man advised.
"You motherfutzer! This is why you wanted us in marriage counseling?" Titan wanted to know.
"You know I can can only cum with married women," Tank Man shrugged, "They're always so horny because they're not getting any."
Titan smashed Tank Man through the wall and grew as they plummeted three stories to the parking lot below.
"Let them finish each other off," Bat-Woman suggested.
"Good thinking," Bat-Girl agreed.
Hornet reappeared in her full height and costumed, "You bitches owe me an orgasm."
Her hands began to glow and then streamed bio-electric bolts.
Batgirl and Nightwing had moved down the hall and the commotion of Titan and Tank Man's rampage in the ground level as well the Bulk and Bat-Man on the floor above and then again on the ground alerted the Twins to trouble brewing. As Hornet engaged the Dynamic Duo, the Indigo Enchantress and the speedster called Mercury exited their room. Their dark skin glistened with sweat and the teens could swear the sibs were in a celebratory afterglow.
"Ick!" Nightwing exclaimed, "Don't tell me."
"Yup," Batgirl dryly responded.
"I said 'don't tell me'," Nightwing chided her. Mercury shoulder checked them and raced to block their exit faster than they could respond to.
"You just spoiled my day," the Indigo Enchantress declared, "So I'll end yours."
Reality itself began warp and bend as she waved her hands to and fro. Batgirl ended her ministrations with a batarang.
"Nooo!" her brother panicked and raced his sister off.
"Whadd'ya know? That worked," Nightwing grinned.
"What are the odds that we'd find more twins that...ick" Batgirl groaned.
"I know, right?" Nightwing agreed. The room Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl had been in exploded.
"Oh, hell. What're they into now?" Batgirl complained.
"Let's go save them," Nightwing sighed.
The Commander exited his room and saw Arachnid-Woman reach the ground and deposit Dr. Krigstein to his feet. Strapping his shield ot his arm, the Commander went out a fire escape to question the situation. Storm-God, who'd been sleeping of a good drunk, also joined them.
His axe flew through the glass window to reach his hand, "By gods, we have fight worth sobering up for."
Frankly, the Commander had been wondering how long it would take Titan to find out Tank Man was dicking his wife. He seemed to have an answer now.
A freshly masked Arachnid-Man suddenly appeared, "Did she get passed you?"
"Did who get where?" the Commander tried to get him to slow down.
"Batwoman!" Arachnid-Man declared.
"The Outsiders are here?" the Commander asked.
"I only saw her," Arachnid-Woman confessed.
"There's two more," Storm-God aimed his axe at Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl leaping out of the exploding hotel room with a diminutive Hornet flying after them.
"Who're they?" Arachnid-Man asked.
"Local vigilantes," the Commander answered, "It seems Hornet has a personal stake in this. Storm-God, separate Tank Man and Titan in case this is a coordinated attack. You two, defend Dr. Krigstein at all costs."
"Do I have to?" Storm-God whined.
"Yes!" the three Americans agents declared simultaneously.
"Where's the Bulk?" the Commander asked, "And the twins?"
"Some kind of Batman broke into my room and the Bulk is dealing with him,' Dr. Krigstein stated, "This must end now. It gets me no closer to my goal."
"A better question is, where Widow Woman and the Widowmakers?" Arachnid-Woman asked.
A masked woman with four cybernetic limbs extending from her back halted Nightwing and Batgirl's advance. Two women with pistols blocked their potential exit.
"Parlay?" Nightwing wondered.
"Too late for that," Widow Woman decided. The Widowmakers chuckled ominously, right before Black Bat knocked them both senseless.
"Run," she advised Batgirl and Nightwing. As Black Bat engaged Widow Woman and her spider-like limbs, Batgirl and Nightwing disarmed the Widowmakers. After practically strip searching them and piling an impressive array of weaponry, they Bat-cuffed and hogtied the two assassins.
"Cassie's right," Batgirl hated to admit, "We need to help the idiots."
Huntress and the Question reached the ground floor and exited to find a brewing disaster.
"What the hell?" Huntress bemoaned.
"Do we really want to know?" Question asked.
"I suppose not," Huntress agreed.
Arkham Knight and Red Hood felt the breeze as Mercury rushed the Indigo Enchantress away to seek medical attention.
"I suppose that was a good thing?" Red Hood had to ask.
"If reduces the opposition by at least one person, it's a good thing," Arkham Knight replied. They stood at the corner of the building as Arachnid-Woman delivered Dr. Krigstein to the ground and the Commander and Storm-God exited a side fire exit. Arachnid-Man soon followed.
"Ant idea of why those two are beating the hell outta each other?" Red Hood hated to ask. Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl made graceless landings.
"I'm betting they're involved somehow," Arkham Knight sounded weary.
"At least the Question and the Huntress aren't bleeding bad guys," Red Hood observed.
"No, any idea where Batgirl and Nightwing are?" Arkham Knight asked.
"Um...I've been with you," Red Hood thought he was mental.
"I'm not asking you," he replied.
"I never saw them," Batwoman said as she approached, "But Bat-Man is getting his ass handed to him."
"No biggie," Arkham Knight shrugged, "It might teach him some manners."
Batgirl and Nightwing emerged from the same emergency exit Batwoman had utilized.
"The guy with the shield is the brains," Arkham Knight recalled, "Red Hood and I have him."
"We do?" Red Hood wondered.
"You three rescue our would-be 'fearless leader'," Arkham Knight instructed.
"Black Bat is fighting some kind of…" Batgirl trailed off as Widow Woman came hurtling into the ground, "Or maybe she wrapped it up already."
"Damn, the Commander and Storm God got those two idiots to stop fighting," Arkham Knight complained, "New plan. Black Bat deals with the Bulk and you three are on us as we take the Commander and you provide a distraction for the rest"
"We have to tell Cass," Nightwing protested.
"She's already on it," Arkham Knight predicted.
Black Bat slipped under the Bulk's swing as he threw another punch at Bat-Man. She rudely shoved him aside as she did so. Adroitly taking hold of the behemoth's arm, she slid herself between his legs and threw his weight tio a near miss of Bat-Man and also interfered in the Bulk adjusting his weight and momentum to recover from the unexpected shortfall. The Bulk came crashing down and Black Bat emerged from between his tree trunk legs to backpeddle away from him to reset intro a fighting stance. A bloodied and bruised, despite the Miraclo coursing through his veins, Bat-Man was incensed.
"I had him, girl," he grated.
"No," Black Bat replied, "Didn't."
He knew it was hopeless to try and engage Cassandra in anything remotely like a conversation. She was still learning how to read and write much less speak. Her entire vocabulary, until parting ways with her father the infamous David Cain, had been martial arts and the methodologies of assassination. She'd even surpassed Cain's skills to nearly rival her mother's. Sandra Wu-san, better known as Lady Shiva, was still considered the nest melee fighter in the world. But Black Canary, Nyssa Raatko, and Cassandra were her near rivals.
Dinah Lance was now the Ra's al Ghul and married to Nyssa. That left Black Bat as her long term nemesis. Lady Shiva knew a day was coming when her unacknowledged daughter, only bred because the previous Ra's had commanded it, would finish her training with the reclusive Richard Dragon, the only man that had ever beaten Lady Shiva in a fair fight and on that day, Black Bat would seek out her mother for a reckoning. Lady Shiva had required Ben Turner's assistance to defeat Dragon. The Bronze Tiger had no interest in further assisting his one-time friend in a battle against her own kin. Turner had even gone so far as a member of the retired Suicide Squad to seek out Richard Dragon and seek his forgiveness for crippling him in an act of betrayal beside Lady Shiva at Ra's al Ghul's command.
Lady Shiva had done so to prove herself to the Ra's of that day. Bronze Tiger had been brainwashed and drugged into a fanatical adherence to the Demon's Head's commands. but that hold had been broken. Now the current Demon's Head and her Demon's Hand only required Bronze Tiger to engage those enemies he deemed worth of his attention. Dinah and Nyssa were selective enough that he'd never refused an assignment. But the mere fact the option was available to him stank of potential betrayal ot Sandra Wu-san.
Despite knowing it was the Question that had united Cassandra with Richard Dragon did little to assuage her resentment over Turner's particular situation. Lady Shiva had seen her death and it would come at Black Bat's hand. But, in the interim, she had to face the Inedible Bulk.
"Bulk sad!" the man-monster lamented, "Bulk smash you!"
"He's still on about that," Bat-Man complained.
"Problem," Black Bat mentioned.
"I know already," Bat-Man was impatient now.
"No," Black Bat turned his head by the chin, "Problem."
Having been refocused on the new arrivals, Bat-Man had to agree with Black Bat. Their troubles had only begun.
Tank Man was beneath Titan's full weight and the three-story tall man had no intentions of relenting. He'd known of course, there would be objections to his screwing Hornet, but come on, they were divorcing for God's sake. That made her nearly single in Tank Man's eyes. But as soon as she was available, he'd break it off. His fixation was with "forbidden" women. Preferably married ones. Titan just happened to make Hornet all that more arousing by acting out like this.
Sure, Titan was his closest friend on the Americans, but he'd screwed a lot of best friend's wives and then simply looked for a new "best friend" when things inevitably fell apart. Discovering the unnatural attraction between the Twins just made Indigo Enchantress all that much hotter to Tank Man. Thinking about her with Mercury just made him almost cum again. He wanted a piece of her tail and would gladly thrash Mercury to get some.
Unfortunately for Titan, Tank Man had landed face down. Which just meant he could apply all of his vectoring thrusters to gain a purchase and then flip Titan off of him. He just hadn't counted on flipping Titan into the hotel.
"Damn! They'll make me pay for that," Tank Man growled, "Titan, you just cost me millions. I'll beat your ass down for that."
Then he'd screw Titan's wife in front of him as payback.
Meanwhile, the object of everyone's ire was fighting Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl simultaneously. The hot tempered, insect sized woman was thoroughly trashing the two untrained and inexperienced crime fighters. The two vigilantes relied upon shock and awe tactics to unnerve and defeat street gangs. A trained government agent like Hornet tore them apart piece by piece. Hornet was slowly doling the punishment to make it last. Only Tank Man removing his codpiece and futzing her brains out in the parking lot in front of God and country would make her any less angry.
Huntress decided Arachnid-Woman's ability to cling and climb walls was unfair. But as the walls collapsed under Titan's weight, the playing field leveled out. Huntress discovered that despite Arachnid-Woman's superior strength, she didn't know how to maximize it. So Huntress proceeded to deliver a beat down to remember.
Arachnid-Man fired several web globs that the Question mostly evaded. But his hat and coat were covered in the silk . Question shrugged out of his coat and pulled the fibers from his fedora as he retrieved it from its place on the ground. Arachnid-Man thought he'd catch the Question by suprise while he did so. Instead he found himself soundly knocked out by a single blow.
"Amateur," the Question observed.
Storm-God rained down lightning to intimidate his three foes. Sadly, Batwoman, Batgirl, and Nightwing didn't even flinch. In fact, Batgirl bounced a batarang off of his head.
"What's wrong with you women?" Storm-God demanded to know. Now, if men showed such courage before him, he'd be aroused. But this was just simply irritating.
Arkham Knight and Red Hood split up to come at the Commander from two separate directions. The version of the super-soldier serum in the Commander didn't give him Majestic strengths but he was equal to a Deathstroke in his physical capabilities. But the serum also made him a borderline psychotic. So as the battle intensified, and aptly demonstrated why the Arkham Knight and Red Hood of Earth-4 had been so formidable together, the Commander was on the verge of losing it. So much so, he never recognized the new, emergent threat arriving at that moment.
Dr. Krigstein was making for the warehouse next door where his prohibitively expensive sports car awaited him. He had just key fobbed the door locks when a mist enveloped him. Turning, he saw a dark shape in the mist and his blood ran cold as he awaited his sentencing.
"Dr. Krigstein, your angel of death awaits you," the Phantasm announced.
"Nooo!" the doctor shrieked just seconds before the Phantasm thrust her scythe blade into his heart. Not that he'd ever truly had one. In the name of Nazi science, the "good" doctor had performed human experimentation on an epic scale. Andrea Beaumont was pleased that he'd finally been put to the ground. Now she had to extract the Bat Clan before Maj. Lane and her PATRIOTS arrested everyone.
"Everybody, hands in the air!" Maj. Lucy Lane commanded with her submachine gun shouldered and aimed at the likeliest target. The Bulleteer and the Fighting American were by her side. Guardian had taken the First American and US Angel around back to deal with anyone stupid enough to try and escape. Peacemaker and Agent Liberty had landed to thwart any escape attempts to be made by the Huntress and the Question. Arachnid-Woman was just collateral damage to them. Yankee Girl, Pat Patriot, Miss Victory, and Liberty Girl floated in the air above everyone. Freedom and Speedboy had spotted the Widowmakers bound in the rubble and were digging them out.
"Hands up! Weapons down!" Maj. Lane ordered again, "Or we will open fire."
"Maj. Lane, you know us," the Commander grated, "We're fellow agents."
"Not as of 0600 this morning. You've been disavowed, Commander. You and your Amercians are under arrest for conspiracy," Lucy told him.
"Conspiracy to do what exactly?" Commander sked.
"Kidnapping and human experimentation," Lucy told him, "Dr. Krigstein's notes were very specific and very revealing."
"Then you know we're dealing with two degenerates?" the Commander scoffed.
"Not my place to decide," Lucy retorted, "Now stand down."
"Would you?" the Commander asked.
"Oh hell," Lucy had to time to grumble.
"Americans assault!" the Commander yelled as he raised his shield and charged Lucy. Titan and Tank Man forgot their grievances long enough to join in the new battle. Storm-God bellowed a challenge to the four Majestic-class women hovering above the field of battle and two of them obliged him. Hornet decided to forgo her attack to concentrate on Peacemaker. Arachnid-Man came to and resumed his battle with the Question who was joined by the Huntress. Arachnid-Woman decided to switch off as Batwoman, Nightwing, and Batgirl confronted her.
"What the hell do we do, Knight?" Red Hood was trying to track three erratically moving targets with two pistols.
"We check on our missing member of the team," Arkham Knight recommended, "Follow me."
They skirted the battle and went to the warehouse where their vehicles were littered near the entrance.
Maj. Lane had her MP5-3A set to a three round burst. But had only let loose twice as the Commander presented a clean target. Until he's inhumanly managed to get his shield in front of the bullets in time. Fighting American had the strength and speed of two men but he was still being outmaneuvered by the Commander. Such as the ridiculous move the super-soldier had just pulled off. He'd charged the Fighting American and then flipped over him with his shield as a barrier between them. Then the Commander and landed and turned to mule kick the Fighting American and use his shield to deflect Lucy's third burst. She wished like hell Guardian was with them. Pitting Jim Harper and his shield against the Commander his own seemed poetic somehow.
Both were augmented people using scientific means developed decades ago. CADMUS had originally used genetic modifications theorized in Fifties in the cloning processes that had yielded the last few Guardians. James John Diggle hadn't undergone any physical or mental modifications when he became the second Guardian serving with the Justice Society of America. But the career soldier and former ARGUS agent hardly needed any. The Monitor had transformed his wife, Lyta Michaels, a fellow military and ARGUS veteran, into the meta-human Harbinger. She also served with the JSA. That Guardian and Harbinger gave the MLJ Initiative an increased voice within the Justice Society.
With the Mighty and Shadow Crusaders disbanded, the MLJ now heavily relied on the JSA and the Young Justice program for disaster and criminal interventions. It's own direct enforcement arm, the WEB Agency, being restructured into a Delta Force styled major intervention federal task force to be called in when the ATFE, ICE, the FBI, the US Marshals, and the Secret Service just weren't enough. Homeland Security and the CIA had their own meta-human operatives. As the PATRIOTS and the Americans proved out.
Lucy was just grateful that the Commander's shield was a chevron shaped affair rather than a concave shaped round alternative. Which meant he couldn't bounce it around like a frisbee. Given Jim Harper's past as a beat cop in the Forties, his shield was shaped like a police badge and why the hell was she always thinking about Guardian these days?
Guardian's feet skidded across a nearby gravel embankment between the hotel and a warehouse constructed nearby. His shield, and he himself, had just withstood the Bulk's first blow. First American and US Angel were proving a distraction so that the Miraclo fueled Bat-Man and the non-powered Black Bat inflicted the real damage. From his separated vantage point, Harper spotted Arkham Knight and Red Hood making way to distance themselves from the action before the hotel's wreckage. He decided to investigate the why of it.
Back behind the debris pile that had been a hotel, US Angel was impressed by the new First American. The previous one had been convicted of his unrelenting sexual assaults and harassment of her. Sec. Bones had come through. That First American was serving a fifty-year sentence in Fort Leavenworth. US Angel had been heavily involved in the selection process of the second First American. Thanks to her, the Fighting American, Speedboy, and Freedom had also been members of the selection committee. Maj. Lane and Guardian just made sense to be involved. Agent Liberty had also been a pleasant addition.
She could definitely work with the conscientious and courteous new First American whose records showed he wasn't a complete sleazebag like the last one. Who'd only joined Homeland when the Agents of SMASH rejected his application. US Angel had become his "partner" answering an online personals ad in the papers. First American was putting life in constant jeopardy to keep the Bulk's attention away from the nearly as strong Bat-Man and the equally deadly Black Bat. The PATRIOTS were well aware of Black Bat's service with the Outsiders. The Bat Clan had garnered Amanda Waller's attention and subsequently Bones'. But US Angel began to wonder what had become of Guardian after he took that last hit.
The ever-agile Arachnid-Man was dodging the Question's blows. But he somersaulted directly into Huntress' aim. So she put a crossbow bolt into his leg.
"Yeowtch!" Arachnid-Man yelped. Question's savage punches put him down.
Huntress pulled his mask off, "Jesus, Q! He's just a kid!"
"A very dangerous child," Question countered, "And our lives just got more complicated."
She followed his "gaze", "Damn."
While Batwoman and Batgirl exchanged quick-fire blows with Arachnid-Woman, Nightwing put her down with her electrified escrima sticks, "Booyah!"
"Great," Batgirl said dourly, "Now, deal with them."
"Shit," Nightwing whispered as she saw the newest threat.
Alix Harrower had never wanted to be a meta-human but her skin was nearly indestructible now and once she built up momentum she was virtually unstoppable. As the Bulleteer, those traits made her invaluable to a team she'd never intended on joining. So while Pat Patriot knocked Titan around, Bulleteer knocked him over.
"Nice," Pat congratulated Alix.
"For all the futzin' good it did," Bulleteer said dismally.
Pat Patriot turned around and saw the reason why.
Agent Liberty applied a magnetic inducer And froze Tank Man's limbs to his body, "Now!"
Liberty Girl ripped the power core out of Tank Man's chest plate. His armor immobilized, Tank Man became an over-sized paperweight.
"Good teamwork," Liberty Girl exulted in the victory.
"Seems we have grand standing visitors," Agent Liberty said grimly.
"Oh!" Liberty Girl gasped as she recognized the reason why.
Miss Victory dealt with Storm-God as Yankee Girl attempted to break his axe. But it was sterner than any implement she'd ever encountered. To trigger a temporary boost to her already Shazam-level strength she uttered the phrase, "Yankee Doodle Dandy!" and she snapped Stormbringer in half.
"Nooo!" Storm-God wailed.
Miss Victory put him down with a staggering right cross.
"Good job," Miss Victory offered.
"I think we've just started," Yankee Girl warned as she spotted the team's greatest rivals.
"Futz," Miss Victory growled.
Peacemaker, whose ordnance included exotic and seemingly needless weapons, zapped Hornet with an electrified flyswatter.
"Let them laugh at that now," Christopher Smith still raged at his Beacon of Peace helmet being commonly referred to as a toilet seat.
"Yore not takin' these hoodlums ta any hoosegow, ya'll undertand?" Uncle Sam asked as the Red Torpedo landed and the Freedom Fighters exited it. Even the Commander ceased resisting seeing that he and the Bulk were the last Americans still standing. Then he noticed the Dr. Krigstein was missing.
"Our orders were to return these rogue agents to Homeland Security," Maj. Lane informed Uncle Sam.
"Not no more, Honeybuns. We gots orders ta appreeehind these here runaways and deliver thems ta Sec. Waller," Uncle Sam retorted.
"Call me 'Honeybuns' again and you won't be delivering anyone anywhere because you'll be in traction for the next six months," Lucy warned him.
"Yore sure cute. Must be why's they keep ya `round," Uncle Sam chuckled. He wasn't dimly aware of the fact he'd just declared open war between two arms of Homeland Security.
"You need to return to Wayne's mansion and get those girls out," Phantasm warned, "And if you want to see Oracle live another day, you'll extract her as well."
"We're gone," Arkham Knight promised.
"She's our 'hidden asset'?" Red Hood was incredulous.
"No one is going anywhere," Guardian declared, "And you're answering for Dr. Krigstein's murder."
Blood was still coagulating on Phantasm's scythe glove blade.
"We don't have time for this," Phantasm slit his throat before he could resist.
"I'm so futzin' glad you're on my side," Red Hood decided.
"Go. I'll find my own way out," Phantasm urged. they duo "stole" the Batmobile the Question driven there.
"Everyone, cease and desist!" Black Eagle declared as the People's New Heroes made their entrance, "Give us the women and we'll depart."
"Whut wemin?" Uncle Sam asked.
"You are so clueless," Lucy said derisively.
"Got the drop on ya though, Hons," Uncle Sam winked at her.
She smashed her rifle but into his jaw, "You sexist pig."
Mercury and the Indigo Enchantress returned.
"Lookit! Negroes!" Uncle Sam just compulsively opened his mouth.
Widow Woman stunned Speedboy, another "Negro", and Freedom, a "Chinee", according to Uncle Sam and his 1776 mentality. She then liberated the two Widowmakers.
"Yore nit getting' anyone, ya Russkie bastards!" Uncle Sam bellowed.
"God help us," Lucy groaned.
Predictably, open hostilities between the various elements broke out. The Commander went ballistic as Phantom Lady exiled the fallen Americans in to the Shadow Realms. Unknown to him, to deposit them in holding cells in Belle Reeve for further processing. As it was, the Commander simply recognized a threat and responded. But Black Eagle, Russia's equivalent to the Commander blocked him while carrying his Russian Romanov Double Eagle emblem shield. The Romanov Dynasty had ejected the Mongols from Rus territories and united the Rus into the Russian Empire. So it had been reclaimed as a symbol of the Russian government in the post-Soviet era.
This move had been championed by former President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Who been restricted from running for President again by constitutional term limits. But he merely needed to camp out as Prime Minister for four years while Dmitri Medvedev, his own political protege play acted as President, and return to assume two newly reconstituted six-year terms as President before having to stand down again without a constitutional "adjustment".
"Where are the girls?" Black Eagle demanded to know.
"Hell if I know!" the Commander roared as he charged like a shield-wielding bull to trample Black Eagle. But he'd met his physical match in both ability and training. So the ensuing battle was brutal. Lady Luck managed to get Maj. Lane and Fighting American off to one side as Speedboy and Freedom joined in the party. Having disposed of Titan, Arachnid-Man, Arachnid-Woman, and Tank Man, Phantom Lady joined in as well.
"Well this isn't going to end well," Phantom Lady predicted.
"We can still manage to capture the Americans, find and detain their targets, eject the Russians from US soil, and arrest the hell out of these varied Bat wannabes," Lucy demanded.
"We're with you on all points except detaining the Americans," Lady Luck sadly informed Maj. Lane.
"The hell?" Speedboy blurted.
"Sec. Waller has a mission profile for them," Phantom Lady informed them.
"They're Homeland targets. She can take it up with Sec. Bones after we've recovered them," Lucy grated.
"We're Homeland too," Phantom Lady matched Lucy tone for tone, "And this is a Waller black bag operation to gather agents for another black bag operation."
"Look, Bones and Waller have survived three Presidential administrations in three years because od the accumulated filth they've gathered on every politician in America and beyond," Maj. Lane protested, "What they don't seem to have is leverage over each other. So if you can get me signed orders from Sec. Bones relinquishing the Americans into detached service with Sec. Waller's Dept. for Meta-Human Affairs than I'll happily gather my team and walk. But not until then."
"You're missing the whole damn point!" Phantom Lady snapped back at her, "There are no orders and never will be."
"Then get me verbal authorization," Lucy stared Phantom Lady down. Stormy Knight was not a woman used to being defied.
"Calm down, Stormy," Lady Luck advised, "We can still work it out."
"I didn't survive being a post-WW II popcicle to take shit from the daughter of a convicted traitor," Phantom Lady yelled at Lucy.
Lane aimed her submachine gun at Phantom Lady, "Tell it to your uncle. Now, put your hands up where I can see the,. Reach for any gauntlet or your hood and I'll put you down."
Phantom Lady could project solid Shadow Realm projections through her gauntlet controls and her hood being raised would interpose her into that same realm and make her a literal shadow in this Realm of Existence. Something the original Shadow Thief had failed to survive. But the new Shadow Thief had Daemonite tech built into her suit so she could survive the shifts and transitions between realities. Stormy utilized technologies developed by Doll Man to successfully do the same.
"We need to talk about this," Freedom insisted. Mary Loo was a former television producer and showrunner so she was used to negotiating compromises from uncompromising "talent".
"This is the wrong play, Major," Fighting American agreed.
"Let's kick their asses!" Speedboy demanded. Both Freedom and the fusion of the Nelson brothers groaned at the declaration of the former intern at the talk show Johnny Flagg had starred in and Nelson Flagg had written for before Johnny's "accident" and the physical merger of the two men with Nelson's mind controlling fused body in lieu of Johnny's brain dead absent psyche. The project had been funded by ARMS Control in its military contract to find and develop a perfect candidate for the SHIELD Project overseen by Gen. Marian Higgins. Higgins himself now serving a life sentence in Fort Leavenworth for his aiding and abetting Gen. Sam Lane's coup attempt to seize control of the United States and its Territories.
Pres. Olivia McKay, the very woman he'd oustered from office and made a fugitive, had commuted Lane's death sentence to a lifelong imprisonment alongside Higgins. But her Vice President, Jackson Mason, had been so unpopular, Congress called for a new special election to finish out McKay's final term. Lex Luthor had won that same election and served for a year before being unanimously impeached and removed from office. Only his appointment as Secretary-General fo the United Nations had prevented criminal charges from being filed against the former President. Yet another election was called for since Luthor had no Vice President.
Jackson Mason sought a fiull term as President against the newly legalized Durlan candidate, "Olivia McKay", who was now unencumbered by term limits. Constitutional Amendments made foreign born, even alien, candidates eligible to run for the highest office in the land and the two-term limit had been extended to four. To further incentivize McKay's reelection, she was able to finish her second term's final two years in addition to the now adjusted six-year terms she was now equally eligible to run for. Making her completely capable of being elected as POTUS for a total of 20 years with her already completed and completing terms included. Future Presidents would be eligible for 24 year totals.
In a surprising political compromise, McKay took Mason on as Veep again. The man himself was a supporter and loyal to McKay. He just wasn't long term Presidential material. But he was capable of completing an unfinished term. Given that Supreme Court had struck down legislation proposed in Congress to run another special election should the Vice President be considered intolerable by Congress. An effort at a Constitutional Amendment to the same effect had failed to pass ratification in either the House or Senate when needed a super-majority in both and the states refused to ratify it either. While the POTUS issue seemed settled, the rivalry between Secs. Waller and Bones wasn't.
"Major, we want to avoid incident here that everyone will regret," Lady Luck tried to reason with Lucy again.
"Legalities aren't 'incidental'," Maj. Lane argued, "We don't have the authority to just do whatever we damn well please. That's not the oath I swore to the Constitution and this country as a serving officer of the United States Air Force or as an attached agent of Homeland Security. You get me authorization from either my Commander-in-Chief or the duly appointed and confirmed Sec. for Homeland Security and I will happily stand aside. Until then, stand the futz down."
Lucy released the safety on her weapon. Lady Luck knew she'd run out of options. What came next required a lot of luck. But then again, Brenda Banks as Lady Luck had an infinite supply of it.
The Human Bomb could transform anything he made physical contact with into an explosive charge. Larry Trainor was the first Negative Man. The entity that lived within him had settled into a stable life with Larry on Danny the Street. The negative energy entity Larry gave birth to inhabited a Russian cosmonaut. The new Negative Man was a member of the New People's Heroes much lauded by President Medvedev just as TNT Todd was a Freedom Fighter. TNT Todd could project explosive energy rather than convert matter into explosive entities. The former FBI agent had been transformed during an investigation into a Russian sicentist brought into Los Alamos' nuclear weapons disposal unit. But the physicist had been planted to gather intelligence on the United States' upgraded nuclear arsenal.
Together, though opposed, they confronted Bat-Man, Black Bat, First American, and US Angel as they combated the Inedible Bulk. Negative Man's human body dropped insensate to the ground as the negative entity exited it. It passed into the Bulk and negative energy enveloped the man-monster. As the Bulk cried out in pain, TNT Todd unloaded magatons worth explosive power into the Bulk's hide. The behemoth went down and transformed back into a seemingly normal human being. The negative entity re-entered Negative Man and roused him.
"I'll take charge of that prisoner now," TNT Todd announced.
"I only want the girls," Negative Man announced.
"You'll have to go through us to remand that prisoner into your custody," First American proudly declared.
"What he said," US Angel was so happy to finally be on a partner's side.
"And we'll never surrender the girls to any foreign operative," Bat-Man declared as well. Black Bat watched and went into action even as the fores decided to act and the four-way struggle began in epic proportions.
Huntress and the Question sought cover as the Widowmakers opened fire at anyone that moved. Widow Woman attempted to engage Firebrand and Maj. USA. Before either reacted, Lady Flash had all of the Americans subdued and unconscious.
"Give me the women and I give you these three," Lady Flash attempted to negotiate wioth Firebrand and Maj. USA. Col. Ivanka Christina Borodin Molotova made two fatal mistakes: she wrongly assumed the Freedom Fighters had the ability to hand over the twins and she wringly assumed they would veen be inclined to if they could.
Danette Reilly's brother had been badly injured in the Pearl Harbor attack. As Danette went through his belongings to bring him some of his personal effects, she discovered his Firebrand costume and learned her brother had been a costumed vigilante before entering the service. She adapted his costume and wore it to thwart some saboteurs attacking a chemical plant. The event triggered Firebrand's meta-gene and she discovered she was a natural pyrokinetic. Recruited into the Freedom Fighters afterwards, she went with them to help liberate Nazi occupied Europe.
After the war she went into cryostatsis with the surviving Freedom Fighters. Freshly awoken in the 21st Century, Firebrand was trying to establish a life beyond government service. Maj. Gail Richards had become Maj. USA to abandon her life beyond the service. Gail had been attached to the ARMS Control SHIELD Project as Capt. Steve Dodgers personal liaison. He underwent modified treatment that had previously created the Commander. Both serums enhanced what a person already had within them. It affected the emotional mental health as well as the physical enhancements. The Commander's inherent instabilities came to light and Capt. USA's resentment of the ARMY for subjecting him to the experimentation manifested as he went independent of the government. Finding himself occasionally allied with the genderqueer Aunt-Man Capt. USA became infatuated with Aunt-Man. Maj. Richards on the other hand had carried a torch for Capt. USA and seeing him besotted with a man becoming a woman was too much for Maj. Richards.
Gail herself went through the treatment and became Maj. USA. Finding her emotional resentment magnified, Maj. USA eschewed men as a gender but still found herself unattracted to women. So Maj. USA was undergoing more then physical adjustments after her transformation. But her sexual reawkening came when she first saw Lady Flash and she finally understood how Capt. USA could fall hard for Aunt-Man. But the Freedom Fighters weren't a position to negotiate. So to Maj. USA's heartbreak, she and Firebrand began to fight Lady Flash over the fallen Widows.
Meanwhile, the Huntress and the Question discovered that Red Hood and Arkham Knight had absconded with the Question's borrowed Batmobile.
"Hang on, Q," Huntress contacted Rhosyn Forrest inside of Sherwood Florist in Seattle and requested a teleport extraction from the Birds of Prey's stolen teleportation device. the device was stored beneath the shop and it would be a relay teleport as Rhosyn materialized them inside of the basement and then again in Hub City. Thus leaving Maj. USA, Firebrand, and Lady Flash in a conflict they couldn't resolve. All the while, Maj. USA was wondering how a Russian woman would react to be asked out to dinner by a woman of color.
Manowar the White Streak was android created by a manic Will Magnus in an attempt to counter rogue speedsters. Homeland Security had taken possession of Manowar when they arrested Magnus and Manowar was easily repurposed into being a Freedom Fighter. the Freedom Fighter called Red Seal was his handler. Red Star was the third to carry the name and the first woman to. Like the others, she was subjected to radiation emitting from a meteorite that had landed in Siberia in 1967. Every generation since had a Red Star champion. Red Star's reflexes were fast enough to react to Manowar's persistent attacks. Meanwhile, Batwoman led Batgirl and Nightwing in leaving the scene and returning to San Francisco as soon as they could pull Black Bat free. Red Seal followed them to determine where they were going and why.
Indigo Enchantress' reality warping powers and Mercury's fleetness of foot were annoying to everyone involved. Yankee Girl and Miss Victory were the least affected and the best equipped to deal with the abrupt changes occurring all around. Valentina Vostok was Russia's Firestorm. Her own ability to alter physical compositions and atomic masses helped negate the more drastic outflows of Indigo Enchantress' power. Maj. America and Miss America were also equipped to deal with the Twins. Miss America's ability, like Cosmic King's in the future, was to manipulate an alter chemical compounds and compositions.
Maj. America was another SHIELD Project candidate. Reverse engineering the Nazi biochemistry that created the American General, Maj. America was the first successful candidate to display all of the meta-human abilities that the original formula had developed within the American General and while the original served within Task Force Z, Maj. America opted to join the Freedom Fighters. He was on task to put Mercury out of commission.
Vostok X was the Russian Multiplex to Russia's Firestorm. The fission to her fusion. But like Firestorm being a unimatrix version of the original Firestorm, and therefore weaker, Vostok X was also proportionately diminished compared to Multiplex's duplicating ability. Vostok X battled the Bulleteer and Agent Liberty while Pat Patriot and Liberty Girl fought with the Human Bomb and the Red Bee. While Vostoks were shot and trampled the Human Bomb's explosive power fended off Pat Patriot while Liberty Girl was harshly schooled in the martial arts by Red Bee. Her "normal" status not infringing on her confidence or ability to subdue a meta-human.
Hornet recovered far more quickly than Peacemaker had expected. Now he was forced to ally himself in defending her from the Freedom Fighters. Doll Man and Midge made proportionate foes for Hornet while Black Condor was left to battle Peacemaker. While Peacemaker wanted a peaceful resolution, he was more than fanatcially committed to killing the Native American to achieve that goal.
"By order of Congress, all parties are to cease and desist immediately while we undertake an investigation into everyone's legitimacy and purpose for being here," Tom Strong announced through an amplified throat mike. Princess Pantha and the rest of the Agents of SMASH, Congress' own personal meta-team, fanned out to detain everyone present.
"Ya'll gots no authoritay here, son," Uncle Sam protested.
"We'll let the courts decide that," Tom Strong rebutted his declaration.
"Ya'll better if'n backin' down now. Ah'm a feelin' a might ornery," Uncle Sam warned him.
"Bring it, Old Man," Tom Strong declared and the persistent struggle had a set of new new players.
"Yore sure is makin' me git riley," Uncle Sam rolled up his sleeves.
"You're oudated, Sam," Tom Strong informed him, "You're the product fofa bygone era."
"What Tom means is that you were a living emblem in World War II but your views are too simplistic for today's environment," Princess Pantha attempted to reason with the Living Spirit of America.
"I'll show ya'll some simplicity when I shove my boot up your ass," Uncle Sam declared, "Beggin' yore pardon, Miss."
"I tell him worse all the time," Princess Pantah laughed.
"Then yore no lady," Uncle Sam disapproved.
"I never said I was," Pantha's claws extended from her fingers, "Tom is literally strong but I'm the dangerous one."
"Kin we jist git ta the fightin'?" Uncle Sam wondered.
"Sure," Tom Strong broke Uncle Sam's jaw with a single punch. Princess Pantha lacerated his arm.
Uncle Sam reset his jaw, "Good thing Ah'm a real quick-liek healer."
"Good to know," Tom Strong's resolve intensified.
"Drop the weapons," Ms. Masque demanded while she covered Maj. Lane and Phantom Lady with her twin Colt .45 M1911A1s. Fighting Spirit broke Black Eagle and the Commander apart through pure brute force. Fighting American, Speedboy, Freedom, and Lady Luck all paused to see how the next few seconds would go. Predictably, they went to hell in a heartbeat as everyone opened fire or resumed the fighting. Except for Fighting American and his accomplices and Lady Luck, with whom Freedom opened a dialogue.
With the Inedible Bulk down and humanized, that left Bat-Man as the powerhouse. But he was already three-quarters fo the way through his first hour on Miraclo. As he fought against TNT Todd and wondered about Negative Man';s intentions, Black Bat pitted First American and US Angel against Pyroman and Red Queen then she withdrew to join up with her Outsider friends.
Cobweb and Greyshirt detained Widow Woman and the two Widowmakers that were present while Maj. USA and Firenbrand continued trying to apprehend Lady Flash. But Christina was too fast for either of them and the first recognize how calamitous the situation had crumbled into being.
"Everybody freeze!" Futara ordered. Red Seal cursed, having his being unnoticed until now blown wide open. Doc Savage, the Woman of Bronze readied herself for conflict. But the reunited Outsiders wanted no part of one. So as Red Seal summoned Manowar the White Streak, Red Star and the Black Terror 2000 followed the android to their location. As the Outsiders departed the secne, Manowar attacked Black Terror 2000 and the mechanoids battled as equals. Red Seal then engaged Doc Savage while Red Star was embattled by Futara. Thee international and intergovenrmental agency crises only escalating with every blow.
Indigo Enchantress' full fury was invoked when Maj. America clotheslined Mercury and then beat him into unconsciousness. Reality warped all around them and Firestorm and Miss America did their level best to keep the chaos from leaving the localized space. Meanwhile, the goddess indwelt human host called Promethea went all out with Miss Victory and Yankee Girl to reach the Indigo Enchantress. Miss Victory was the first to be bogged down. Even Promethea's magically spawned powers faltered. But once again uttering, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Yankee Girl's powers briefly doubled and made it so she could reach the Indigo Enchantress and knock her out. The reversion to normalcy caught everyone by jarring surprise.
"Good. Now where are women?" Firestorm wanted to know.
"We're taking custody of this pair," Maj. America announced regarding the Twins.
"No, you're not," Miss Victory grated.
"You're all under arrest," Promethea warned them. And now nothing was resolved despite their early unity.
Dr. Harrison Strange, Doc Strange to the world, employed an Allusun formula derived by Nabu during the Pharaohic reign of Khafu beside his wife Chay'Era and his champion Black Adam. Using it, Doc Strange's strengths and abilities matched Tom Strong's. Along on the mission as always, was his longsuffering former fiance, Virginia Thompson, and their teen companion and fellow adventurer, Mike Ellis. After a ten year engagement, Virginia had decided to call of the wedding. It had become plainly obvious that Strange would never marry her so she broke it off and began dating again.
Doc Strange himself was jealous beyond reasoning but not enough, apparently, to actually marry his working partner. Mike was just along for the ride as he had been since he was nine years old.
"Attention everyone, you're all under arrest. Please cease hostilities and surrender yourselves," Doc Strange called out. The Freedom Fighters, the Human Bomb and Red Bee, beside the PATRIOTS, Bulleteer, Agent Liberty, Pat Patroit, and Liberty Girl all halted even Vostok X ceased fighting...and everyone's focus came upon the Agents of SMASH.
"Oh shit," Virginia muttered.
"Now, now, cursing is a sign of a weak mind and weaker character," Doc Strange chided her.
"Took a look around, you idiot," Virginia snapped back at him.
He took a long hard look at everyone's faces, "Oh futz."
Following in his mentor's footsteps, before the pharmaceutical genius died and transferred his consciousness into the Black Terror 2000, his protege became the new Black Terror in his footsteps. Now the untested Black Terror was faced with subduing one PATRIOT, one pissed off American, and three determined Freedom Fighters. He knew Peacemaker was a homicidal maniac in sheep's clothing, Hornet wasn't much better, and Doll Man, Midge, and Black Condor had more experience at being heroes than Black Terror had been alive. So he decided to get their attention by swatting Hornet into the ground and smashing her underfoot.
"Do I have your attention now?" Black Terror asked. Like Bat-Man, Black Terror used chemicals to boost his strength, durability, and reflexes. Unlike the addictive Miraclo, Black Terror's formula didn't cause a physical and psychological need for the pill but it create personality imbalances with prolonged use and Black Terror had been using for days now so he was nearly as unhinged as Peacemaker.
"You're under arrest," Black Terror stated knowing it would create a conflict. Which he secretly craved at this point. He needed the outlet.
Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl came to to find themselves apprehended by the Green Mask. who, like them, was a new variant on an original theme. Green Mask watched with appreciation as Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl struggled to be freed and she admired the creativity of Bat-Woman's cursing.
Phantasm had lurked nearby as she contacted the necessary authorities to end this stupidity. as the teams arrived to take charge, Phantasm vanished in a swirl of smoke and mist.
The Justice League International, the Justice Society of America, and Young Justice on a training exercise, all responded to Phantasm's calling Col. (Ret.) Steve Trevor for the JLI, former USARMY General and current Director of the MLJ, Jack Latham, and Katherine Webb-Kane, the administrator of the Young Justice program and former Director the United Nations' espionage agency, Spyral. Phantasm's stoic report had generated an exceptional response and the combatants were too self-absorbed to notice. but that was all about to change.
Superman grabbed Uncle Sam and Tom Strong by the shoulders and they each punched him each on a side of his face.
"Yeowtch!" Uncle Sam was grateful his broken hand would heal rather rapidly. Tom Strong avoided the break but didn't hit anything else for a few minutes. Superboy and Wonder Woman confronted them and Princess Pantha. Hippolyta hadn't had the pleasure of working alongside the man her daughter had spoken so highly of. A genuine paragon of virtues compared to the brooding mass of conflicts that had fathered Queen Diana's child.
Hippolyta returned to the world as Wonder Woman in exchange for Diana assuming the throne and raising her daughter for her first thirteen years on Themiscyra before sending her to Gotham Academy as her unacknowledged father wished. But, according to Amazonian tradition, Hippolyta was exiled from her former kingdom to better establish Diana's rule. Just as Hippolyta's own sister, Antiope, had gone away after her abortive coup attempt. Wonder Woman also rarely worked alongside Conner Kent despite being one of Superboy's principal mentors. Superboy, Miss Martian, and Wonder Girl had earned their graduations into the Outsiders or the Justice Society but remained in Young Justice as peer support. Hippolyta was grateful they'd chosen to do so and she'd been honored to be asked to officiate at Conner and M'gann M'orzz's Earth-side wedding. while her parents would escape from the war on Mars to attend.
"This ends now," Superman declared flatly with no room for argument.
"Now see here, son. This here is a rightful dispute between the God given Executive and Legislative Branches of our here government. Y'all can't intervene," Uncle Sam thundered.
"I can and I have," Superman told them, "Walk away. Now."
Superboy came alongside Superman as Uncle Sam and Tom Strong tensed up.
Princess Pantha approached Wonder Woman, "We need to be the grownups."
"Agreed," Wonder Woman lassoed Uncle Sam and he disincorporated to reintegrate at a later date.
Princess Pantha took her husband aside, "We nede to listen here rather than start a pointless vendetta against the Justice League, Justice Society, and Young Justice all at the same time. Our superiors in Washington can sort this out."
Tom Strong relaxed and then tensed up again, "What if no one listens?"
The Wonder Woman named Artemis was joined by Hawkman and Miss Martian in quelling the disputes between between Maj. Lane, Ms. Masque, the Commander, Black Eagle, Fighting American, Freedom, Speedboy, Lady Luck, Phantom Lady, and Fighting Spirit.
"This stupidity stops now," Artemis declared with her bow nocked and readied to fire. Hawkman similarly looked ready to crush a skull with his mace. Only M'gann seemed pensive. But she was psychically engaging everyone.
"I'll stop if she does," Fighting Spirit offered.
"I'm game," Phantom Lady conceded.
"I'm with you, Babe," Ms. Masque holstered her pistols and wrapped an arm around Fighting Spirit's waist. Lucy safed her weapon. Fighting American, Speedboy, and Freedom edged closer to the Commander and Black Eagle. Lady Luck formed the final piece of the box surrounding them.
"My orders or to obtain the girls, not fight American heroes," Black Eagle decided.
"You're damn right I'm a hero," the Commander corrosively declared.
"You'll be the first to die if you don't cease and desist," Wonder Woman warned him. As the Commander relaxed, Artemis eased the tension off of her bowstring and Hawkman landed. Miss Martian withdrew from Black Eagle and the Commander's minds and her easing presence left them.
"Told you I was lucky," Lady Luck bragged.
"We still need to bring him in," Phantom Lady reminded her of the Commander's intended disposition.
"Not that again," Lucy huffed.
"Explain before I crack skulls," Hawkman warned them. After hearing about the dispute, he wished he'd simply smacked them all over the head with his mace.
"Take him," Hawkman decided.
"Don't. Resist," Artemis gave the Commander one warning.
"What about the girls?" Black Eagle wanted to know.
"What about due process?" Maj. Lane was adamant.
"I kill the next to speak," Wonder Woman advised them all. Phantom Lady and Lady Luck peacebly took the Commander into their custdoy. That left Maj. Lane kvetching with the unhappy couple from the Agents of SMASH. It also left Black Eagle explaining about Brianna and Valeria. Of whom, the JLer, JSAer, and Justicer had no idea of what he spoke about.
Supergirl, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Girl broke apart the battle Bat-Man still waged against the First American, US Angel, Negative Man, TNT Todd, Red Queen, and Pyroman. But as his Miraclo began to fade, Bat-Man saw reason. Hearing TNT Todd's official request, the group let him simply have the unconscious human element of the Bulk. Wonder Girl corralled the First American, US Angel, Red Queen and Pyroman aside so they could hash out the legalese still barring them from peacefully going their separate ways. Supergirl and Hawkgirl impatiently tried to make sense of Negative Man's assertions that "the girls" were here and needed to be surrendered to the the New People's Heroes to avoid an international incident.
"Little late for that," Hawkgirl humorlessly advised him.
Lady Flash stood down as the Flash and Blue Streak cornered her. Christina was well aware that Wally West was the Fastest Man Alive and that Blue Streak was a Russian national accepted into the Young Justice program.
"All we wanted was them to surrender the girls," Lady Flash protested.
"What girls?" Flash wondered and Blue Streak and Lady Flash went into rapid fire conversations in Russian while the Flash joined Stargirl in peacekeeping Greyshirt, Cobweb, Firebrand and Maj. USA's rhetoric about jurisdiction. In the end, it was Stargirl that decided that Cobwenb and Greyshirt should be allowed to take Widow Woman and the Widowmakers into custody. Which only upset Maj. USA and Firebrand. Flash left Courtney Whitmore defending her choice while he checked in with Lady Flash and Blue Streak to make sense of Christina's assertions.
The Flash stopped Manowar the White Streak and got him to settle down. Jay Garrick didn't know what Red Seal had done to set the android off but it seemed to revolve around their claims to jurisdictional rights over the captured Americans team. Arrowette and Wonder Woman watched over the protesting Futara and Doc Savage claiming their orders were more legitimate. Black Terror 2000 simply departed and left well enough alone while Red Star complained loudly that someone should bring her the two girls in question ro she she would singlehandedly find them. In the end, Jay surrendered primacy to the Freedom Fighters while Doc Savage and Futara protested the Flash's taking authority in the matter. Nubia and Arrowette just watched in amusement while the Flash desperately tried to get them to engage.
"What the hell are you all thinking?" Power Girl angrily demanded to know.
"A word, please?" Firestorm requested a private conversation to clear her end of things up. Strange Visitor was a natural arbitrator since she had no memories of her life as Sharon Vance before Kismet transformed her into a being of power. So she dutifully listened to the opposing claims brought forth by Yankee Girl and Miss Victory versus Maj. America and Miss America and Promethea's unwanted interference. Blue Beetle studied Jungle Girl's breasts in her cheetah hide bikini.
"Stop staring," Nyoka warned.
"Sorry," Jaime Reyes replied. But he really wasn't. The Anglo settler from Zimbabwe had a body built to kill.
"The Freedom Fighters have direct and concrete orders whereas your directives are vague to the point of being nonsensical," Strange Visitor decided, "Take your prisoners and go."
Maj. America and Miss America secured the Twins and for the Red Torpedo. Meanwhile Miss Victory and Yankee Girl angrily protested the injustice while Promethea stole away. During which, Power Girl desperately tried to get Firestorm to slow down and fully explain the New People's Heroes' exact mission and why they'd come to this location.
General Glory led Red Tornado, and Miss Quick in breaking up hostilities between Vostok X, the Freedom Fighters, the PATRIOTS, and Doc Strange and company. Maxine Hunkel enjoyed being the second Red Tornado rather just being Cyclone. But even her genius and patience were to be tested as General Glory put her and Miss Quick in charge of sorting out everyone's differences while the ex-cop conferred with his Russian counterpart.
After hearing all sides, Red Tornado looked at Shira Torr and shrugged, "Do you see any prisoners to take here?"
The general consensus was that it was the principle of the thing.
"Take your principles and go home," Red Tornado decided for everyone. The Human Bomb was unseen behind his helmet and visor but Red Bee looked vindicated. Doc Strange, Virginia, and Mike looked grateful to still be alive. While the Buelleteer, Agent Liberty, Pat Patriot, and Liberty Girl were decidedly put out of sorts. All the while, General Glory was incredulous upon hearing of the New People's Heroes' mission and the sheer audacity they had to kidnap two teenage girls in broad view of the world.
Azrael had an intimidating word with Peacemaker that shook even Christopher Smith's resolve. Wildcat told Doll Man, Midge, and Black Condor to simply take Hornet and see if she was still alive as they all departed with the rest of the Freedom Fighters. Kid Flash and Devilina Dare kept Black Terror isolated and ramped for a fight he couldn't win.
Green Mask was even impressed further when Bat-Woman and Bat-Girl got free simultaneously. But Chief Man-of-Bats, Raven Red, and Guardian took control of the situation. James John Diggle was especially concerned for Jim Harper since he couldn't find the other Guardian.
While the Agents of SMASH withdrew, the JLI dealt with the New People's Heroes using their international peacekeeping authoruty and sent the Russians home with a warning about operating illegally on foreign soil. Flash, Kid Flash, Blue Streak, and Miss Quick raced around the grounds and nearby warehouses before finding Dr. Krigstein's corpse alongside Guardian's. Maj. Lane invoked domestic jurisdiction over her teammate's murder and that of Dr. Krigstein. The JSA wasn't of a mind to dispute her.
The three intervening teams were dismissed and the JSA returned with the Justicers to break down events and how they unfolded with their students. Meanwhile, the JLers reported in with Steve Trevor, Sue Dibney, Shayera Hol, and John Stewart to weigh in on the Russian aspect of the situation and to further question members of the Outsiders who had been reported on the scene before the Justice League's arrival. In one solid turn, Bat-Man, Bat-Woman, and Bat-Girl were arrested and handed over to the LAPD on charges of vigilantism and assault.
Arkham Knight and Red Hood arrived to find the Wayne mansion in ruins while Catwoman led a defense against an unknown, bat-themed opponent. Actually, opponents. They were military-styled Batmen. Catwoman, Catgirl, Robin, and Red Robin were barely managing a holding action.
"Oracle got away," Red Hood noted for Arkham Knight's peace of mind.
"Time to take some names," he growled as he parked the Batmobile and go out. The pair came in guns blazing. Much to the Batmen's regret. They strategically withdrew by helicopter while Arkham Knight and Red Hood got everyone to safety using the spare Rolls Royce.
"Who the hell were those guys?" Holly loudly complained inside a hotel room Oracle had booked several adjoining rooms at the hotel that the Outsiders shared a bungalow in.
"At least Oracle warned us ahead of time," Kitrina decided.
"But my family is now homeless," Helena complained.
"You get used to it," Ulysses reminded her.
"I know. We were vagrants until we landed here," Helena dismally recalled.
"I never had a real home until I went to Gotham," Li counseled Helena, "You'll make your place your own when you find it."
"The girls are settled in and I have their new identities prepped. They're just too scared to travel right now," Oracle wheeled herself in after Holly let her in.
"I'm so glad you had warning," Jason was having a hard time holding his fear in.
"We're okay," Oracle promised, "I'm okay. They were good but no that good with cybersecurity. But they are government and I'm certain our government even knows they exist."
"That reeks of Waller," Li scowled.
"Doesn't it though," back when Oracle had a name and a past she'd been targeted by Waller. Deadshot had spared her. Paralyzed her but her spared her life with a warning to disappear forever. So that young woman had officially died and Oracle was born in her place.
"Your father, Kate, and Jessa have been arrested and processed by the LAPD," Oracle advised Helena, "But our mysterious friends have benefactors that go hihj enough the charges dropped and they were released. But they also fell off the grid."
"Dad's good but not that good if you can't find him," Helena joined Li's scowling. Then there came the ominous knock at the door.
Col. (Ret.) Jacob Kane entered in uninivited, "I know you all survived the skirmish with my unit earlier. I don't suppose any of you know where the young ladies are at the moment?"
Everyone blankly stared back at him, "I suppose I deserve that. Helena Wayne, I'm Jacob Kane. I'm your uncle on your father's side through Martha Kane's marriage to Thomas Wayne, your paternal uncle by birth," Kane explained, "I had your father and his companions released and they're in my custody. In fact. They're my latest recruits. Your laughably labeled 'Bat Clan' no longer exists. Bruce Alan Wayne, Kate Webb, and Jessa Carde are now members of the elite Batmen. You and Ulysses Armstrong are too young to join other than in supporting roles but I think you'll serve everyone's needs better within Young Justice. Where, by the way, Katherine Webb-Kane is my sister-in-law."
Still receiving a silent response, Kane continued, "You're all freed to go wherever you please with the young ladies in question. I and Crow's Security have no interest in them. The serums they took are of no further interst to my employer."
"And that would be?" Li interrupted.
"The United States futzing government. Now, stay out of our way. If you see the Batmen deployed, run the other way," Kane turned with military precision and exited.
"Both good news and bad," Oracle mused.
"My dad's a government stooge?" Helena refused to believe it.
"Kane is a former US SpecOps Colonel turned private contractor. So technically his Crow's Security isn't government and neither are his Batmen," Ulysses split hairs.
"What he is is a professional jerk off," Li grated, "How dare he presume to decide Brianna and Valeria's fate?"
"I think it's safe to say Waller did that," Oracle reminded her, "If Kane were contracted to collect the girls we wouldn't be having this exact conversation right now."
"I gotta call my mom," Helena left for her own room
"Sucks to be her," Kitrina decided before heading out for her own.
"Take care of her tonight," Holly made Ulysses promise.
"The kid's will zeta tube back to the K-Star tomorrow," Holly reminded the others of the imminent return to the ranch and the dorms supporting the Young Justice program, "I'll catch a tube to Gotham. You could come with."
"I can't leave my van," Oracle reminded her.
"`Sides, we have to get the girls set up somewhere," Li reminded everyone.
Jason drove the repossessed Batmobile back to Three Towers in Gotham. Oracle and Li dropped Bree and Val off.
Li sweltered in the Arizonan sun, "Phoenix? Really?"
"Brianna, you're starting a job with the Public Defender's officer on Monday. You just signed for your car and apartment leases. Here's your debit card with your new bank account prepared and first deposits made. Be sure sure to check them. Val, here's your bus tickets and transfer paperwork to the University of Flagstaff. You leave in the morning. You'll be in the dorms and here's your debit card. I have you booked into a motel next to the bus station. It rents by the hour so you'll have some...enthusiastic company next to you. It'll be preview for dorm life" Li handed everything off, "And here's your driver's licenses."
"You prepped all this before leaving to meet with us," Brianna understood.
"Where's Flagstaff?" Valeria asked, "Is it near a beach?"
Li and Oracle exchanged pained looks.
"Arizona isn't near an ocean," Brianna explained, "But you will be by the Grand Canyon."
"Is it close?" Valeria inquired.
"Actually it's about four hours thattaway," Brianna pointed. Valeria began to bawl.
"Good riddance," Brianna stormed off to check her furnished apartment and her new car.
"We'll take you to your motel. An RA will meet at the bus station and arrange for you to get some clothes and a computer. We've explained that you're coming out of a battered women's shelter," Li counseled Valeria.
"I'll give you references to a pediatrician before we leave you," Oracle finished the thought.
"So, how long did you consider a 'friendly fire incident' occurring while we were away together?" Oracle asked Li.
"Only before we left Gotham," Li sighed her admission, "But I was wrong. Jason explained to me how he was yours and liekwise but seeing first hand is believing. I just didn't want to before."
Li left out her multiversal origins predating the New Universe. Jason wasn't telling Oracle for a reason and she would respect that decision. She'd owed him that much considering he'd found her in this history and given her a family. Her actual real family as well as her Outlaws family.
"Any word from Beryl and Rose yet?" Li changed topics.
"No, and I'm starting to worry," Oracle confessed.
"Tell Oliver. He and Emiko can mount a rescue mission," Li suggested.
"Now them I've talked to," Oracle chuckled, "Ollie and Emiko took Laurel and left three days ago without a word from me."
"Maybe the spoke with Jason," Li suggested.
"Maybe," Oracle conceded, "He has been keeping up with events back in Gotham."
"Don't take it personally," Li advised him, "Jason Todd keeps secrets from everyone. Even himself."
Oracle just what that was supposed to mean.
Epilogue….
Jason accessed the seemingly abandoned car garage that required biometric security to enter. The garage was separated by two tunnels that led down below the Three Towers parking complex and resided above what Arkham Knight had unimaginative,ly dubbed the Bunker. The Outlaws' command and control operation. Only accessible through said tunnel and the elevator access that was also bioemetrically controlled. Six feet of concrete separated the Bunker from Knightfall's operations center. Unsurprisingly, Andrea Beaumont awaited Jason in the garage, "Classic wheels".
"There a reason for this intrusion?" Jason asked as he exited his purloined Batmobile.
"I'll be in town for a few weeks tidying up old business. I didn't want any friction between us," Andie warned him.
"Are you giving Bruce the same head's up?" he inquired.
"He's retired. But I'm alerting Barbara. I need GCPD to stand down. Let Charise Carnes know the same," Andrea made to exit. She climbed into a classic Aston Martin DB5 and raced out the tunnel he'd just entered through. Jason knew only heaven could help whomever was onm the Phantasm's hit list
Afterward: The following attributions fulfill the legalese of utilizing Open Source Characters
Iron Knife
Real Name
Unknown
Alias
Mbeli Ebedende
First Appearance 2014
PDSH wiki
Created By
Brandon Longstreth
Origins
The Iron Knife is a superhuman African warlord. He murdered his way up the ranks of various Congolese militias , eventually forming his own small army. Some time ago he claimed parts of Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Gabon. He named this territory the Iron Country and appointed himself president.
Africa's greatest heroes; Kwango Joe, Great Power Tyson, and the White Warlord, have all tried but have not yet been able to defeat the Iron Knife in combat.
Notes
Iron Knife is an open source character created specifically for use by anyone. Feel free to use it any way you wish.
AMERICAN GENERAL is an "Open-Source Character" and has been deemed so, specifically, for use by anyone by the original creator. The only rule about using him is that your work must have this notation:
"The character of the AMERICAN GENERAL is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving AMERICAN GENERAL, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed."
Devilina Dare
Real Name
Colina Amara Hill
First Appearance
August 28, 2018
Original Publisher
Open Source Superheroes Facebook Page
Created by
Marz Workman