Chapter 8: Rescues'R'Us
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I decided to make a small detour. Pisboe, Virginia is not on the straight-line route from Metropolis to Keystone City, but it is not far off it either. I knew Batman would scold if he found out, but J'onn was my friend and I needed to know what had happened to him.
The flight took several minutes, giving me too much time to brood and worry. The cold lump in my stomach grew by the minute. If we didn't stop Luthor... but we would, I assured myself, and without any more friends dying. I did not know how I could keep that promise, but I made it anyway and felt better afterward.
Soon I was approaching the housing development where J'onn had been staying. I did not have to search for the house; the towering pillar of black smoke marked it all too clearly. The sun was setting, but I could just make out the few charred timbers that were all that remained. The fire must have been incredibly hot to have so quickly and completely consumed the house. My heart sank but my mind had already accepted the reality of J'onn's death.
Around the house I saw figures and vehicles. I assumed they were fire fighters until they started firing on me. There was no point in staying and, as Batman had said, there were others I could save. I dove away and picked up speed.
I out-raced the sun to Keystone City and arrived about an hour before sunset. I expected to find the Garrick's house surrounded and besieged. Instead the scene was straight out of Norman Rockwell. The house was in a residential section of town, a typical wood-frame house complete with lawn and a picket fence. There were a few pedestrians on the sidewalk and more people in their yards, talking among themselves. No soldiers armed with blasters, no armored vehicles, not even a policeman. I double-checked the locator, half-expecting to find the blip gone or the location shifted. But no, the blip was still there and clearly coming from the house. I landed on the front lawn, unsure of what to expect.
The front door flew open and Joan Garrick ran to meet me. "Thank God someone's come. I was at my wit's end. I don't know what to do with them all."
I raised my eyebrows at this greeting. She tugged on my arm. "Let's get inside. We don't want to draw attention. More than we already have," she amended.
It seemed that all the neighbors were staring at us. I would have thought that, after all these years, they would have gotten used to the Garrick's "flashier" visitors.
"It's that horrible broadcast. Half of them believe it and the other half aren't sure. As if," she sniffed, "Superman would ever talk like that."
Now I was completely confused. She led me into the house.
"Jay is in the master bedroom." Suddenly Joan looked old and scared. "I'm worried about him. I put Superboy in with him. Kendra and Rick are in Bart's Room. I put Bart on the couch in the living room."
She wrung her hands. "It was the best I could come up with, but they all need medical attention and Jay most of all."
Why were all these people here? And who were Kendra and Rick? The only Kendra I had ever heard of was Hawkgirl. I was trying to puzzle out who Rick could be when Joan opened the door to the master bedroom.
I gasped. Superboy lay on the bed in his costume. He looked battered, with bruises forming on his face and his eyes swollen half-shut. He was conscious, for his eyes flicked briefly to me, but he looked feverish.
Jay looked broken. His arms and legs dangled at unnatural angles and his breathing was labored. I guessed there were broken ribs as well. He was unconscious and sweat covered his face. Suddenly, my fear returned stronger than ever.
"He usually heals so fast," Joan fretted, "but I think he's getting worse instead."
"Where did they all come from?" I asked.
"Bart brought them. He tore out of the house about an hour ago, without any explanation. Jay followed him to keep him out of trouble. Bart returned a few minutes later, carrying Jay. He told me there was a big battle going on in Washington. He kept apologizing for not getting to Jay in time."
The tears started rolling down her face. "I told him to stop talking nonsense. I knew he did his best. Then he left again, said there was someone who needed him. He came back with Hawkgirl. She had bad burns on her wings and face. He was limping, I think he broke his ankle but he'd wrapped it up in something and immediately headed back out. Hobbling at superspeed. It would have been funny if it wasn't...."
She hiccuped and wiped the tears from her eyes. "He came back with Hourman that time. I'm not sure what's wrong with Rick; He looks OK but he hasn't regained consciousness. I could tell from Bart's face how much he was hurting, but he just turned around and took off again. Then he came back with Superboy. I think he broke his arm when he caught him. He would have gone back yet again, he was almost hysterical, saying he hadn't been able to get to her and Batman was going to be so angry. I told him I was going to be even angrier if he didn't lie down. I finally settled him on the couch."
She gave a watery chuckle. "That's when he thought of the comlink Batman gave him. We couldn't raise anybody but he hit the 'panic button' and we've been waiting ever since. I've been trying to tend to the wounded and he started flipping through the news channels, hoping to find out what's happening. Of course, what he found was that horrible fake Superman."
Fake Superman?
"I had to settle him down again. Bart was all ready to race out again and do I don't know what. I don't think he knew either. But now you're here and...."
I never found out what she expected me to do, for a shout came from the other end of the house.
"Aunt Joan! There's
another one!"
"Oh dear," Joan looked stricken and hurried down the hall. I followed into the living room. Bart Allen, Impulse, lay on an overstuffed
brown couch. The TV was on the far
wall. He held the remote in his left
hand. His right arm and left ankle were
bandaged but they were at odd angles that told me they were broken.
On the TV screen was Pete Ross, Kal's friend and the Vice-President of the United States. He looked anxious, nervous, uncomfortable to be in the spotlight, but determined. He spoke in a firm voice.
"...many of you saw the broadcast made by Superman just minutes ago. I felt it was my duty to immediately set the record straight. At 4:58pm Eastern Time, a special joint session of Congress was attacked by members of the Justice League of America, the Justice Society of America, the Titans, the group calling itself Young Justice and several unaffiliated superheroes. The President was critically wounded, but he was not killed in the attack. Several Secret Service men guarding the president were killed and several members of Congress are missing and possibly dead. Nearby units of the Human Defense Corps intervened to drive off the attackers. The HDC suffered casualties as well.
"There have been further attacks reported: in New York and Metropolis and at the Belle Reeve secure facility, where the attack resulted in the escape of a number of supervillains.
"These attacks were unjustified and unprovoked. They constitute acts of war against the United States on the part of the superheroes involved. Since most are citizens of this country, that makes it treason."
Ross paused and looked straight out at his audience. "All citizens of this country, metahuman as well as human, are subject to its laws. We will not allow any group to flout those laws or take the law into their own hands.
"As President Luthor is presently unable to perform his duties, I have been sworn in as acting President. My first act is to declare that a state of emergency exists throughout the United States. All metahumans will be apprehended and detained on sight, until it can be determined whether or not they are part of this plot.
The strain showed clearly on Ross' face. "This is a grave step to take, solely on my own authority. However the magnitude of the threat and the speed with which they have acted requires an immediate and decisive response. I will be convening Congress at the earliest opportunity to confirm and regularize my actions."
His face softened. "We must keep in mind that the superheroes may not be acting of their own volition. They may be mind-controlled or otherwise manipulated by some malign agency. For myself, I cannot imagine Superman acting in such a fashion of his own free will. I have given orders that lethal force should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, whether acting on their own or under the control of another, the threat they represent to this nation remains extremely grave.
"For the metahumans who are not involved in this attack, I urge you to surrender to the nearest authority. You will be detained – that is necessary in the present emergency – but only until your innocence is established. A few days, a few weeks at most.
"For the rest of you, for your own safety, I urge you to remain indoors unless you are needed for essential services. Do not hinder those – whether military, police or fire fighters – who are dealing with this threat. Obey any instructions they give you and provide any assistance you can. A hot line is being set up for reporting metahuman sightings. The number will be announced shortly. If you spot a metahuman, please report it immediately. That is the most important help you can provide."
He essayed a smile. It was not very convincing. "We will get through this and we will do it together. But the next few days are critical. Please remain calm and obey the proper authorities.
"God bless."
Bart rapidly flicked through the channels, but there was no more of immediate interest.
"That's torn it," Joan said crossly. "Arresting all metahumans! We've got to get everyone out of here right away. I'm surprised they haven't come for us already."
I was too. "They probably expected Jay to be with the JSA," I thought out loud. And, like me, they had underestimated Bart.
Bart and Joan looked at me. Although I had not said those last words aloud, I knew they both had heard them.
"Batman will be here with the invisible plane shortly," I told them, hoping it was true. "We can load everyone aboard and take them to Atlantis, where we will have the medical facilities to take care of them."
Joan looked doubtful. I knew she was thinking of Jay's condition. Would he make it to Atlantis?
Bart looked both relieved and fearful at the news that Batman would shortly be there.
"Hello? Anybody home?"
The voice was not Batman's, unless he had lost about twenty years and had a sex change operation. I moved to the door and opened it. Power Girl and the Star-spangled Girl were landing on the front lawn.
Joan pushed past me and ran out to hug them both. The younger one looked gratified, but Power Girl looked serious, almost stern.
She turned her attention to me. "Batman sent us to join you. Several of our teammates were critically wounded; he's taking them directly to Atlantis. He said for you to take the Tempe, Arizona pick up; he'll handle Fawcett City."
My heart sank. Without the invisible plane, I did not think I could get Jay safely to Atlantis in time.
Courtney looked up at me. "We covered his escape," she said proudly. " 'Cause enough noise and confusion that nobody notices the invisible plane taking off'," she quoted grinning. "It was fun. Sand had the hard job. He had to use his power to move through stone and concrete to sneak up on the snipers and take them out quietly."
"He'll be joining us shortly," Power Girl added with an edge to her voice. "Diana, I spotted HDC tanks and hover vans headed this way. We need to hurry."
My heart froze at this news. I nodded.
Suddenly there was a noise like sand being poured out on the ground. A figure rose up out of the front lawn.
"Sand!" Power Girl cried out. Her exaggerated relief demonstrated how much she had feared he would not make it.
Something clicked in my mind and I realized, "We are being made to be afraid."
"What's just what Batman said," Courtney replied.
I nodded but, with that discovery, I made up my mind. "Joan, where do you normally take Jay when he's hurt?"
"There's a Star Labs in town."
"Good. I don't think we can risk taking him all the way to Atlantis. He'll be captured, of course, but in his condition, they ought to just leave him there under guard."
"I'm going with him."
"You can't. They might use you as a hostage."
"How? They'll already have Jay. Who else are they going to use me as a hostage against? In any case, my mind is made up."
"We don't have time for arguments," Power Girl pointed out, the edge back in her voice.
I nodded. "All right, Joan. Power Girl, can you and the Star-spangled Kid take Hawkgirl, Hourman, Superboy and Impulse to Atlantis?"
"Are they here?" asked Courtney. "Is Captain Marvel here too?"
I shook my head, wondering why she thought he might be.
Power Girl turned to the Star-spangled Kid. "If you can carry Impulse, Stars, I'll handle the rest."
"Great!" she responded. "Rescues'R'Us! Low prices, satisfaction guaranteed!"
"Can you carry three?" I asked doubtfully.
"Sure. One in each arm and whichever is in the best shape will have to hang around my neck."
I nodded. I turned to Sand. He looked like he could barely stand, but I needed him. "Sand, you will have to cover our escape if the HDC troops arrive before we are gone. Once you are through here, I need you to go to a trailer park ten miles northeast of Tempe, Arizona. I will join you as soon as I am able."
He nodded wearily. "Who lives there?"
"Major Disaster."
"Oh joy." He tried to grin but it looked the rictus of a corpse.
I looked at the others. "May Gaea smile upon us all. Let's move."
Author's Note: My description of the Garrick's house comes primarily from the Flash: Rogues trade paperback, although the couch comes from Impulse #89.