DC Comics Presents: Killing Roy Harper
Chapter 17: Roy Harper and Chesire
By: Christopher W. Blaine
e-mail: darth_yoshi@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: Roy Harper™, Chesire™ and all other related characters and situations found in this story are ©2002 by DC Comics Inc. and are used herein without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2003 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
"Some people would say 'Roy, you have it made'," the Time-Guardian said before his captive audience. Behind him, seated at the half-circle table of the Legion of Doom, his fellow villains remained silent. This was the culmination of weeks of battling, searching and finally, triumph. The last heroes of this world had been found; the final throw of the dice was about to happen. "But I would have to disagree. First, the universe dumped me like a useless appendage during the Crisis and then I had to watch as some other Roy Harper lived out my life."
He stepped forward and put his hands behind his back. No longer clad in the costume of Speedy, partner of Green Arrow, he was dressed in the similarly colored costume of the Time-Guardian. "This Roy was a cannabis lover, a filthy addict that slept with foreign women and produced half-breed children. When a good woman like Donna Troy came along, and I can tell you we didn't have anything like her back in the 1940's, he simply used her as another plaything."
"You bastard! You killed Donna!" Aquagirl screamed. Her eyes were puffy from all of the tears she had shed. Her torture at the hands of Wonder Wendy was something straight from some sexually deviant hell.
"No, my dear, I killed a version of Donna. The real Donna, as we all know, is happily living her life out in the real world. What I had here was a whore that was trying to breed a child to siphon my powers away." He moved forward a little more and cast a glance at the Kryptonite chains holding Nightwing in place. "You see, I had this world all to myself, my own little piece of the cosmos. But then you, young lady, you especially, ruined my plans when you let the Dark Flash loose and allowed the Crisis to continue through time unabated."
The Dark Flash would have snickered, but at the moment he was in suspended animation in a large tube created by Alexi Luthor, the second-in-command of the Legion. The other members of the team still remained silent and Nightwing began to examine each one, calling up in his super-memory details about each one. He needed to know their weaknesses for the rescue that was sure to come.
Besides Alexi, there was also the Master Jailer, a man from Earth-1 who had a tendency to create almost perfect prisons. Beside him sat Wonder Wendy, a powerful woman from a parallel universe where she claimed she was molested by a group of heroes called the Super Friends. Her partner, Marvin, was languishing in the special prison Nightwing had constructed under the Warden's secret headquarters.
Next came the Grundy, an almost mindless killing machine that was somehow connected by some askew timeline to Solomon Grundy, a foe of the original Green Lantern. The Grundy was a fearsome thing to behold and he was already responsible for the deaths of Batwoman and Donna Troy.
The Composite-Superman, perhaps the most powerful member of the Legion next to the Time-Guardian, sat eating a sandwich, oblivious or simply not caring to the circumstances around him.
Had his vision powers been working properly, Nightwing assumed that he could see the other, newer members that were seated a little farther back. He knew that the battles against the heroes on this world, the formerly mind-controlled members of the Justice Society and Justice League, had been particularly bloody and that it had thinned out the membership of the Legion. Gone was Vandal Savage, the immortal man succumbing to death's embrace during the final, heroic stand of this world's Superman.
The Reverse-Flash was gone as well, killed by a bullet to the head after he had murdered Cinnamon, a member of the Wardens. Before that, he had murdered Detective Chimp, another Warden teammate.
Where the Time-Guardian was getting these new members was beyond Nightwing's ability to understand. His knowledge of temporal physics was growing, but it was not complete. He knew that this world, this Earth-T as he had come to call it, was actually a parallel universe the Time-Guardian had accidentally created. The original intent had been to alter the history of the true universe, the modern one created after the Crisis. He had failed because he had not understood that time will go to great lengths to keep itself correct.
In effect, the Time-Guardian had demonstrated the principle of Hypertime.
The Time-Trapper, another chronal villain, decided to put this whole timeline into a pocket universe, sealing it off from the rest of time. In exchange for doing this, the Wardens, under Nightwing's leadership, agreed to stop the Time-Guardian before he tried to pull of some other time-altering stunt.
The Time-Guardian, however, had other ideas. He had started this entire affair by killing the true Roy Harper before his time, creating a tear in the space-time continuum. The real Roy Harper was then sent to Limbo until events on Earth-T caused a hole to form between Limbo and the real universe. The prisoners of the pre-Crisis Phantom Zone, whose limbonic plane was slowly being absorbed by the modern version, took it upon themselves to raise an army to try and escape. Only the efforts of several dedicated heroes trapped in Limbo stopped the power mad and severely insane Mon-El from succeeding.
Now, the Time-Guardian, unaware that Roy Harper was alive and well on Earth-T, was preparing to leave this place forever and assume the life he felt he should have had in the real world. He would be powerless, of course, but that wasn't the problem. The real Roy had a small daughter named Lian; if the Time-Guardian subverted his life, his daughter would be lost forever.
Nobody was about to let that happen.
"But, I applaud you and your efforts, heroes," the Time-Guardian continued. "I know what that spark of do-good can accomplish. I had that spark once, back when I thought I was fighting for something worthwhile."
"A real hero doesn't expect a reward for what they do!" Aquagirl screamed. Nightwing feared that the events of the past few days might have been too much for her.
"I didn't expect a reward; I expected merely to live out my life. I expected to go to Heaven, I expected eternal bliss. What I got was an eternity watching humanity go about its business and realizing I wasn't even a footnote in the history books." His eyes started to crackle with small blue sparks, an indication he was back up to full strength. "I wish I could see how poorly you will die, but the Time-Trapper's mechanisms prevent my future sight abilities from working on this world. I guess I'll just have to watch."
He turned, ready to address his fellow Legion members for what would probably be the last time when the Black Flash, really Jay Garrick, the alternate of the golden age Flash that came with this world and the only hero to remain loyal to the Time-Guardian, quickly approached and whispered something into his master's ear. "Are you sure?" the Time-Guardian asked, disbelief on his face.
The Black Flash nodded and without another word, the two of them hurriedly left the room.
"That's right," the red-haired man said into the microphone, "Lana…it is Lana, right? Yes, I just felt it was time to come out, you might say and declare the truth to the world."
Lana Lang turned and smiled into the camera. "This is amazing, considering the events of the past few weeks. You basically crowned your self dictator and began threatening to destroy cities of your demands weren't met."
Roy Harper smiled and shook his head. "I know, I know; call it anxiety. It happens whenever…whenever," he moved up to the camera and got close so that it got a good shot of his face, "whenever a man comes out to tell the world he's really gay."
"That son of a bitch!" the Time-Guardian screamed. He pounded his fists on the control board for the huge monitor. "How dare he! How dare he!"
"What the hell is he doing still alive?" Alexi asked. "That's the real one isn't it?"
The Time-Guardian sneered. "He got a haircut, but yes, that's him." Actual bolts of blue-green lightning shot from his eyes and blew out several of the control panel's functions. Acrid smoke lifted into the air and the picture went black. The audio remained on.
"I also have a preference for young Asian men," the other Roy Harper continued to say to the reporter. "I have been known to wear women's panties into battle because it doesn't chafe as bad."
"Find him," the Time-Guardian said, turning to Alexi. "Send the entire Legion! Bring him to me! I'll choke the life out of him myself!"
"Thanks, babe," Arsenal said as the camera's were shut down.
"You're not really Speedy, are you?" she said, throwing back her own crimson mane. "And you're not gay, either."
"You're pretty bright," he said with a grin as he ran a hand through his newly cut hair.
"Hey, I was a super-hero once. As a teenager, I was Insect Queen. Maybe I could put on my costume and help out," she offered. "When everything was going screwy, I felt so useless. I mean, what good is someone like me against the Composite-Superman?"
"Being a good guy doesn't mean always being the most powerful on the block, lady. Tell you what; you go hide for a few days until this all blows over. They'll be after you as well."
She raised an eyebrow. "Got someplace you'd like to stick me, handsome?"
"Sorry, but I'll either be home or dead very soon, but it was great to meet you," Arsenal said as he moved to a window. "Really, you need to get out of town for awhile."
Arsenal pulled out his bow and notched a line arrow. It was good to have some equipment again. Most of it had come from the remains of this world's Queen Estate where Green Arrow had fought a losing battle against his power-mad adoptive son. The arrow unfolded in mid-flight into a grappling hook and took hold. With a cavalier wave and grin on his face, he swung away into the night.
"I didn't think you were the real one," the woman said as she watched him swing off. They looked alike, somewhat, but this Speedy not only dressed differently, but his body shape was all wrong. The man who was swinging into the night was hard, full of sinewy muscle, demonstrating a desire to maintain physical perfection.
His movements were different as well, like those of a finely tuned instrument ready to play. This was definitely not the same man who had tried to have her killed, who had in fact gone before the very press he would later threaten the world with and proclaim her death.
The almond-shaped green eyes of Jade watched in fascination as the body-double to her nemesis left the WGBS building. What had been the purpose of the broadcast if not to anger the real Speedy? Surely the figure swinging away had to know that making such statements would only bring the full-force of the Legion of Doom down upon his head. Perhaps that was what this person wanted? Perhaps, like she, he had a vendetta against Speedy.
She never knew why exactly the former chairman of the Justice Society had singled her out for death. She had been nothing but a political activist who was suddenly labeled a terrorist. In all of her life, despite the martial abilities she possessed, she had never taken another life. She did not even eat meat!
As Cheshire, the cyber-activist, she had rallied against deforestation, war in Qurac, and campaigned heavily for the United Nations to aid in removing the tens of thousands of landmines left in former battlefields all over the world. She had used strong language; she had made threats to expose certain private secrets of powerful men if they did not concede to her demands, but a terrorist? It was laughable. Even members of the intelligence community regarded her as nothing more than someone who took the First Amendment a little too literal.
Yet, the Legion of Doom had tracked her down and was she ever surprised when the partner of Green Arrow turned out to be their leader. It was more than your typical conspiracy buff could take and her biggest regret as the Composite-Superman had thrown her from the cliff into the sea was that she had no evidence to support the story.
The sea had not killed her, but it had taught her a valuable lesson. In this world, the lines between good and evil were being drawn daily and the only person you could trust was your enemy's enemy.
It didn't hurt that the man swinging away was good looking either.
"You didn't really think you could get away with this, did you?"
Arsenal regarded the furry man-like creature in front of him. "That's a real nice costume. Who are you? Feral Cat Man? The Slobbering Otter?"
"I am the Weasel! I am your doom!" the villain cried out, brandishing his claws. "You are an imposter who will be delivered before my new master!"
Arsenal threw down his glasses and dropped his bow. "Imposter? Hey, buddy, kiss my buttocks, okay? I am the real deal, not some could-have-been or should-have-been like your 'master' or yourself. I'm not some alternate created in some mad fantasy!"
They were standing on top of police headquarters in Metropolis. It had taken the Weasel a little over six hours to find the imposter, but the chase had been well worth it. If he were able to capture this man on his own and deliver him back to the Time-Guardian, then he was assured a spot at the table! Only the most powerful or most successful members of the Legion got to sit at the table. It was there that the direction and future of the team was decided.
"You don't really think that some guy wearing a fur suit is going to take me down, do you?"
"Ha! I can sense your fear!" the Weasel lied. The truth was that besides above average agility, he had no super-powers. From what he had been told about this Roy Harper/Arsenal/Speedy person, he had none either.
"No, I just ate some chili last night, Kitty-Man, or should I just call you the Pussy?"
The Weasel screeched and jumped in Roy's direction. He saw the attack coming from a mile away and his martial arts training both on the reservation and from his buddy Dick Grayson came into play. A clawed hand raked his chest, but he managed to get a good solid right hook into the Weasel's face.
They fell onto the hot rooftop, but their costumes protected them from getting too seriously burned. Still, both combatants preferred to stand up to fight it out and they split apart, rolled and came up in defiant stances. "A lucky shot is all that was!"
Roy smirked. "If you say so, Kitty-Litter. Don't you have to hack up a furball or something?"
The Weasel responded with a mad attack, claws and feet flying madly. It was all Roy could do to block them. He figured he had pushed too hard, but the fact that of all of the super-villains running around this planet looking for him, some wimp-ass loser that Firestorm had fought was the only one that could catch him infuriated him. It was as if the super-villains weren't offended enough.
He had guessed correctly, taking into account everything that the Wardens knew about the Time-Guardian, that the 1940's version of him probably held some prejudices deep down inside. After all, the Time-Guardian's generation had fought the Japanese during World War 2 so it made sense he would take offense that there would be a half-Asian child running around with the Harper bloodline running through it.
The Weasel got in two good hits and Roy went down, cursing himself for being so distracted. Anytime he thought about Lian, he almost seemed to lose it. If he lost her, not only would it tear him apart, but the would have the awful responsibility of telling Jade, Lian's mother. All of the faith and trust she had put into Roy would have been for naught.
Roy got up and punched out into the Weasel's groin, but it was well padded. "Looks like kitty got fixed," he managed to get out before a kick to the chin sent him sprawling onto his back.
The door to the rook opened up and two police officers stepped out, automatic pistols drawn. They ordered the two men to freeze, but the Weasel simply leapt out of their line of sight. Before Roy could roll over and call out a warning, the Weasel had dropped behind them and finished them off.
Now the circumstances had changed and Roy reached back to his quiver for an arrow. He could have used a bow right then, but it wasn't an actual requirement. With a flick of the wrist, he sent the arrow flying with superhuman accuracy.
The missile lodged deep into the Weasel's thigh and the villain cursed like a sailor. Fresh blood poured from the wound, but the Weasel did not pull it out. Instead, he left it in and let it's constant stinging pain fuel his rage. Roy reached back for another arrow and looked around for the bow he had thrown down. He needed some stopping power for this guy.
A female's war cry snapped his head back and he saw the most beautiful woman in the world jump down between him and the approaching Weasel. Though her back was to him, he recognized her "assets" immediately. "Ches?"
She didn't bother to turn around, but instead met the Weasel in combat. Within five seconds, it was obvious that the wounded villain was out of his league. Cheshire moved with grace and fluidity. She easily dodged any blows and strikes coming her way and replied with stinging chops and smacks of her own. When the Weasel overextended himself during a thrown punch, she deftly grabbed his arm and snapped it just below the elbow, whole at the same time using his momentum to push him face-first into the roof.
"Don't kill him!" Roy called out, not sure whether this was his Jade or another duplicate. When the woman looked up at him and their eyes met, he could tell it was not the woman he had fallen in love with. His eyes spoke of the pain of loving a woman responsible for the murder of billions; her eyes spoke of the pain of a lonely existence and betrayal.
"I don't kill anyone," she replied coldly. She indicated the police officers. "Which one of you did that?"
"If you're saving my ass, sweet cheeks, then you already know the answer." He started to get up. The Weasel had passed out from the pain and was lying limp under Cheshire's hold. "My next question is are you one of the good guys or the bad guys?"
She released her hold and stood up. Physically, she was a perfect duplicate to his own love and he somehow got the sense that she knew he was attracted to her. She lightened her tone. "I'm neither; I'm simply someone who wants to stop a great evil and go back to trying to help Mother Earth."
"Who's that?" he asked.
She looked at him like he was stupid. "The planet? Do you know how much mankind is poisoning this world? The toxins we dump into our oceans each day? Nobody seems to care right now because all of our super-heroes, or alleged super-heroes, want to take over the world! Everybody has forgotten about the common folk, the poor…"
"Oh my God! It's like talking to Ollie!" he said, smacking his forehead. "I'll just assume you want to help, okay?"
She nodded and frisked the Weasel. With a small shout of triumph, she produced a small electronic device. "Looks like some sort of key."
"Yep. I bet that gets us inside the Legion of Doom's headquarters," Roy responded.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" she asked.
He looked away. "Listen, more cops are probably coming. Let's leave Puss-in-Boots here for them and scram. I have some friends who would like to look at that."
"Freeze!"
Both turned to see several police officers pouring up and over the fire escape. Some were wearing body armor and carrying assault rifles. "Damn it! We don't have time for this!" Roy exclaimed.
A figure dropped from the sky and landed, a cape billowing in the breeze. "Supergirl?" Roy asked.
Though the costume was similar, the face wasn't. She turned to wink at Roy and ran a hand through her strawberry hair. "That's Super-Woman in case you hadn't noticed," she said.
Once a member of the Legion of Doom, Shyla, a Kryptonian scientist once convicted of manslaughter on her home world, had tried to kill herself rather than be alone or a villain. It took the words of a Hal Jordan that could have been to convince her that there was more to life and that she had been given a second chance to do some good.
Now, she was ready for that task. "Gentlemen!" she called out to the police. "My name is Super-Woman and I'm the new game here in Metropolis. I saw everything that occurred up here. The wounded man in the weasel costume is your murderer."
"We can't just take your word for it!" one cop called out.
"Gentlemen, you have no choice," she said. Then she turned and started to fly, going by and grabbing Roy and Cheshire as she did. "Don't worry, I won't let you go."
"Hell, I'm just enjoying the view," Roy said as he gazed down her top. A bit of heat vision to the groin changed his attitude. "Whoa! I'm on fire!"
The women laughed at him. "No! Look! Flames!"
Super-Woman waited a few more seconds before asking Cheshire to put it out. She obliged with a few quick punches. As they flew off, Roy puked onto the streets below.
"Who is this Super-Woman?"
Alexi shrugged. "I don't know, except she sort of looked like Shyla."
"I thought she left a note saying she was going to kill herself," the Composite-Superman asked.
"Obviously, she didn't!" the Time-Guardian snapped. "Take the prisoners back down to the Tombs! We'll deal with them later."
"What about the Weasel?"
"Send the Grundy to kill him. Failure is not an option in this group," was the cold response. The Black Flash bowed his head and moved away to carry out the instructions.
"There's something else, too," Alexi said. The Time-Guardian turned to him. "Well?"
The red-haired scientist cleared his throat. "Something is happening at the rift."
The rift was a place where different persons from different universes seemed to just appear. Vandal Savage had originally discovered it during the time the Time-Guardian had been recuperating. Sometimes a common person came out; other times it was some hero or villain from a universe that no longer existed. Alexi had measured the frequency of the rift and had determined it would only remain open another seven years.
"What? What is happening?"
"I think its being probed. I've got Wendy there with some monitoring equipment and in between her romp sessions with whomever comes through, she occasionally gives me a reading." He produced some papers, which the Time-Guardian scanned. Though he had amassed great knowledge in his life, he still preferred to hear rather than read, it made consuming large amounts of data easier.
"Something is coming. It looks like the rift was probed for its location and now something is on its way. I've got a fuzzy image that I picked up based upon forward tachyon radiation. Whenever something begins travel through the rift, it sends a radioactive pulse of temporal photons ahead of it." He then pulled out the picture. The Time-Guardian looked at it. It was fuzzy, but there was no mistaking who it was.
Alexi rubbed his chin. "It looks like Superman."
"Superman is dead."
"Look at the 'S' on his chest, dammit! That's no ordinary Superman! That's my Superman. Your Superman!"
The Time-Guardian nodded. "The first one. The original."