A few days later:

I had taken up temporary residence in Keystone City. The house I has sought refuge in belonged to Congressman Thomas Burke. He was away on the nation's business in Washington D.C. His wife, the beautiful and much younger Cynthia Burke, had elected to stay behind during this legislative session. She was currently upstairs in the master bedroom with a needle dangling out of her arm. Cynthia had fought the first few hits of smack very admirably, but the addiction was starting to get it's hooks into her now. When she awoke, I planned another round of amateur pornography to go along with the already thick file I had compiled with Mrs. Burke. The conservative voters of Keystone would no doubt be shocked and dismayed if these revelations of drug abuse and extramarital sex ever found its way to the public. Blackmail was a dirty business, but one for which I have quite a knack.

I was poured into one of those luxury recliners, flipping through the television channels with the remote control. One of the reasons I take these little mini-vacations is because television reception is horrible inside the Ghost Zone, and I like to catch a game every now and then.

My attention was waning, but one of the talking head cable news shows suddenly made me sit up in my seat. The reporter was babbling about the dedication of a new JLA museum in Star City. The bleached-blond dimwit in front of the camera stood in front of two covered statues. She breathlessly told the audience the statues were purported to be new renderings of those fallen heroes, Green Arrow and Green Lantern, who had fallen in the line of duty while defending Star City. Before the news feed shifted back to some other piece of fluff, the reporter informed everyone that former JLA member Booster Gold would be attending the grand opening of the museum, scheduled a mere three days from today.

I ground my teeth in frustration as I clicked the television off. I had killed those two emerald bozos, and now they were being honored with a museum. Hell, they'd probably have a parade. It was too much to tolerate. I decided to crash the party, and show everyone exactly what I thought of their "heroes" and their museum. Booster Gold would make a fitting sacrifice to the folly of placing these costumed fascists up on a pedestal.

Possibilities and plans of attack were already running through my mind as I gathered up everything I had in Congressman Burke's home. His wife I left alone. She would soon have her own problems. I clicked the Cosmic Key and went home.

Three days later:

A good crowd had gathered for the museum's opening ceremonies. On the raised platform in front of the arched entry way was seated the mayor, several city council members, other assorted dignitaries, and Booster Gold, smiling like an idiot.

I had cloaked myself, and taken up a position behind the stage. I let the politicians yammer away into the microphone. I just shook my head when the mayor revealed the name of the museum would be the "Hall of Justice". Someone would die for that, I promised myself. Security around the event was light, but there was also a heavy media presence.

As the speeches began to wind down, I moved towards the stairs at the back of the stage. I slowly ascended as the mayor introduced Booster Gold. By the time he made his way to the podium, I was only a few feet away. Booster waved to the crowd, and the thought of turning all of those adoring cheers into screams sent a buzz down my spine.

I inched forward as Booster began his spiel. Reaching down into an inner pocket. I withdrew a present I had cooked up for just this occasion. I palmed and then activated the device.

Booster Gold's power is derived from his costume, which he brought with him from the 25th century. It was advanced compared to early 21st century technology. Unfortunately for Booster, he had been in enough tough battles that his suit had suffered considerable damage. He had been forced to make most of the repairs with available technology. That four century gap was an opportunity I was prepared to exploit.

I sidled up next to him, then switched off my cloak. My flair for the dramatic is a weakness, but I can't help myself. It adds to the fun. Booster started as I appeared, and the momentary lapse allowed me to slap my weapon onto his chest. A pressure sensor at the impact point activated the homemade immobilizer.

A minor electromagnetic pulse blossomed from Booster's midsection. His suit tried to absorb the energy, but the looping pulses fed on each other, and quickly became too strong. The surge shorted out many of his systems. I had to jump back to keep the feedback from affecting my own computerized programs. I flicked on my energized nightstick and waited for Booster Gold to crash.

He wobbled then sank to his knees with a strangled cry. I raised the nightstick above my head and prepared to bring it down upon Booster's rather empty head, thus putting him out of my misery. I think I was smiling at the time.

The fatal strike never fell. When the stick was raised to its apex, an arrow thanked into my helmet, right in the plate covering my forehead. It did not penetrate the armor, but my head snapped back under the impact.

I looked across the way and saw Connor Hawke, Green Arrow Jr., emerge from the shadows, another arrow already notched and ready to fire. He wasn't alone. One by one they appeared, shuffling forward like a squadron of deranged fundamentalists out to put an end to my fun. Connor was next to Black Canary. Guy Gardner, now a Green Lantern again, was busy ringing the crowd away to safety. Hawkman stood front and center, carrying both a big fucking mace and a grim look under his beak.

History united all of us. I had killed Oliver Queen and Kendra Saunders. Thanks to me, Hal Jordan was a comatose vegetable, and Fire was severely disfigured for life. Apparently, their friends and loved ones had come to try and even the score.

I kicked Booster Gold in the head, and sent him sprawling across the ground. "Come on, Carter," I said addressing Hawkman, "Is this the best you could do?" I smiled and accessed the Richard Dragon fighting programs in my helmet, just in case. "An archer, a third-rate Green Lantern, a time-tossed loser, and one very pretty bird." I reached up to click the Cosmic Key and return to the Ghost Zone. "Better luck next time." I twisted the key…and nothing happened, to my great surprise. My shock must have showed, because when I looked up, Hawkman was grinning.

"There will be no escape for you this time, villain. Your reckoning is at hand."

The voice came from behind me. I whirled and saw the golden helmed Dr. Fate floating above me. I hate magic, and this sorcerer was using it to block my escape. I gnashed my teeth and turned back toward the group of heroes. Gardner had finished getting the civilians to safety and had returned, hovering above the others.

"Okay," I said. "We'll do this the hard way." I assumed a fighting stance I had never used before. "Come on."