Disclaimers and Useless/Useful Stuff to Know:
Don't own any of these characters. Never will. Wish I did. Major spoilers for "Countdown to Infinite Crisis". Good idea to read the comic first. Also, spoilers for the Question six-issue miniseries.
Warning: The Pool is Contaminated
by Alba Aulbath
An hour into his stay at the Watchtower, and eventually the Question had been given a sufficent enough amount of blood, enough to allow him a steady recovery. Though most would allow themselves the rest, one like the faceless man was more the restless type instead. Ted had done his part in attempting to convince him to just sleep, but instead there was refusal.
In spite of everything, the Question did not feel safe in the Watchtower.
Look, the JLA aren't the kind of guys who'll kill you in your sleep. Or kill you at all.
"Max would." Question's tone, naturally, had been dark and forboding. Unforgiving. Bitter.
He frowned. Max isn't here. Max wouldn't be able to know that you're here. J'onn said he didn't tell, and at this point I don't think Superman would.
"The Amazon?"
Diana? Please. Yeah right. So get some sleep, will ya?
Question shook his head. "Not safe," he muttered. "Not when the League knows I'm here. Entire League. Max will know."
Ted gave up for the moment, but remained around the area. Not once, since he contacted Question, had he left. Perhaps there was no where else to go. Perhaps afraid of what was beyond, if he let go of what anchored him to this plane of existence.
The fear was understood.
Question peered down the hallway, looking. Listening.
He Heard.
"J'onn, I was wondering. A friend of mine disappeared recently. I doubt you know who he is - a bit more infamous than most masked men these days - but I've gotten concerned. He has a mask that renders him faceless. Don't suppose you could look for me?"
"In the midst of things, I am unsure if I can spare a moment right now to look. ...A name?"
"He tends to call himself the Question."
"...I see. I will notify you if I come by him."
"Of course, of course."
The Question's hands clenched. "He knows."
What? How could he?
"If I disappear off the face of the planet, where else could I be?"
Point.
"Have to leave," Question murmured. He sat up, grabbing from a nearby table for his shirt and coat. "Now. Have to leave now. Ted, need a way out."
Question...
"You're my guide. Help me."
Lemme see you get up and walk, and I'll think about it. The tone was wry, as was the look he gave him.
"Ted." Question turned his head in the direction where he was. "Help me."
Look, I just wanna see you walk. So walk.
There was a mutter from the faceless man, aggravated. Setting aside his folded clothes, he gripped the side of the bed tightly as he began to sit up and ease himself to his feet. There was definite pain, as he leaned away from placing pressure on his wounded side. Stepping tentatively to the floor, he wavered faintly. Yet, stubbornly, the Question remained standing as he glanced at him to grant him a "so there" expression.
He shook his head. No good. You look ready to fall on your ass. Besides, you haven't even really taken a step, and I told you to walk.
"Ted..."
Hey, hey, hey! Don't you "Ted" me, and you get back to bed.
Question grunted at him and eventually sat himself back down at the edge of the mattress. "Can't stay..."
You're perfectly safe. You have the Man of Steel and a psychic hanging around.
"Don't trust them. Won't listen to us."
No offense, but if some faceless guy from Hub City came up to me talking about a dead guy and all that other random crap you spew, I'd probably try not to listen, either. The Question peered. Um. Joking?
"Hn." The no-faced man lifted his head, Seeing J'onn down the hallway.
It appeared the Martian also noticed him in his Sight, turning his head. You should not worry so, Victor. You have heard my conversation with Maxwell?
The Question nodded.
There is nothing to fear. Even if he has intentions to harm you, he would be incapable of doing so.
Such a subtle way of saying 'you're crazy'.
"Ted," Question grumbled.
If you require anything else, I will know. Please sleep, Victor. The Martian turned away and returned to his duties at the bridge.
He gestured towards where J'onn was, down the hall and at the main console. See? Totally safe.
"Not safe."
Lord, you're so damned stubborn.
Instead of lying himself down, the Question remained seated upright. Though he refused himself the need of rest - it'd been about two days or so since his last hour of sleep - he was fully aware of the temptation. Regardless, he felt he couldn't risk it, especially not in the Watchtower. Not when Max Lord was fully capable of spotting him and prepared to get rid of him for good.
Broken away from his thoughts, he heard the intercom sputter static at him before speaking a clear word,
"Checkmate."
Then it was gone. Question lifted his head, the brow area of his mask creasing into a scowl. "Ted." It was a way of inquiring 'you heard that too?'
I guess I can't pretend I didn't hear it...?
"Hm."
"Hm" he says. As if you're NOT smug, Mr. I-Told-You-So.
"Not smug," Question muttered. "Need to..."
Leave, I know. Okay. I don't like the idea of making you move when you've barely even recovered, though.
The Question did not make any attempts to reply; he had, once again, gotten himself distracted. Seeing a familiar Kryptonian begin his way down the hall, across from the Watchtower. Steady, quickly, coming towards his way.
"Where's Superman coming from? What room?"
I think... left from the bridge, where the teleporting pods are?
The Question's grip tightened on the sheets to the mattress. He was much more unsafe than he had presumed. Much slower than he liked, the faceless man pushed himself to his feet, wincing. Grabbing his trenchcoat and fedora - there was no time to fuss about putting on a shirt - he wavered as weak steps slowly brought him across the room.
Though he had his Sight, he was also fully aware of Superman being capable of x-ray vision; he was no doubt aware of the Question's struggle towards the door.
Also, there was the superspeed. The Question had only taken three steps, and Superman was at the doorway.
"Superman..." the Question began hesitantly. However, the Man of Steel did not respond, and instead stepped inside, placing his hand over a switch next to the doorframe. The door slid closed.
Superman then broke the switch, essentially locking both of them inside.
Oh shit...
"How long can Max control people?" Question stumbled away, attempting to keep his distance from Superman. Though it wouldn't likely do him a lot of good, considering the several powers the Kryptonian had.
I don't know. He said... before I... you know... he said he could even make Superman kill for him. I thought he was just bragging... Fuck!
The Man of Steel moved in a blink of an eye. All of the training in the world could not prepare the Question against the likes of Superman, no matter how talented he was in martial arts. The Kryptonian had slammed a fist against the faceless man's ribcage - which was essentially, in a matter of comparison, like a sledgehammer striking him.
Thrown across the room from the force, the Question felt his back land against the edge of one of the medical beds. Lifting his head, in spite of the pain, he saw Superman's eyes heating up.
"J'onn!" the Question shouted for the Martian, while he concentrated on his chi. Before he could be struck with heat vision, the faceless man projected his chi to leap and strike at Superman, taking him to the floor. A normal, physical blow from a human would have done little to nothing to the likes of the Man of Steel.
Earth chi, however, was not so kind to Superman, knocking him away and even likely bruising him.
The locked door was torn down by the Martian Manhunter, who stepped in the middle of the room with a shocked expression on his normally calm face. Victor, can you stand?
"Nn." Question grabbed onto the edge of the bed he'd landed against the side of, pulling himself up. He hadn't been able to project his chi very long considering how weak he felt, so Superman was slowly gathering himself back to his feet.
J'onn turned to the Man of Steel. "Superman?" Confusion in the psychic's tone.
The Kryptonian was disorientated, holding his head. "That's... strange. What...?" He then looked horrified. "Sage?" Superman turned sharply towards the faceless man.
"Alive." Question shrugged.
Fuck, it was Max, wasn't it?
"Yes." He did not doubt it in the least. Question turned his head towards J'onn. "Not safe here. Need to leave."
You believe it was Maxwell Lord who was responsible.
"You peeked. But that's the general idea." The faceless man nodded. "He called you about me. Previous to getting involved in what Ted was researching, I had never met him. Not until he shot me. He knows I'm up here, and he wants me gone."
J'onn's eyes narrowed faintly. For what reason?
"Know too much. Know what happened to Ted." The Question turned his head in his direction. "Know about them. So he used Superman to try to deal with me."
"That's insane. Max is no where nearly that powerful," Superman denied, then hesitated. "...Something happened, but I don't see how you can blame Maxwell Lord of all people."
It probably was him. When he was talking to J'onn - if he knows the system enough and has experts working for him - it would have been just long enough to infiltrate the security system to use the cameras. To see if you were here.
"Good enough for me," the Question agreed with him. "Superman came from the teleporting pods. Come from Metropolis recently, Superman?"
"Yes, but-"
"Max shot me in Metropolis," the Question muttered. "That's enough for me to be convinced he controlled you."
Superman turned to the Martian Manhunter. "J'onn?"
The psychic hesitated, glancing towards the faceless man. Silently, he gazed, and the Question could tell he was attempting to scan his mind. ...I do see Maxwell in his memories, he admitted. "But I cannot tell a delusion apart from a true memory."
"Then I'm delusional," the Question said darkly. "To you. I'm crazy."
Hell, even I know that.
"Shut up, Ted."
Superman eyed at Question, brow raised faintly. Regardless of his expression towards the no-faced man's conversation with the dead man, the Kryptonian chose not to remark.
Still, his face said enough.
"I'm leaving," the faceless man murmured, shaking his head.
Victor, you are even more injured now.
"Then set my bones and send me on my merry way."
The Man of Steel shook his head. "We can't keep him here against his will, J'onn. Humor him."
"Ha ha," the Question murmured, his tone biting.
Eventually, the Martian approached the faceless man, guiding him to a seat. "Very well. Please, relax." With carefully guided hands, the Martian Manhunter readjusted the broken ribs. "You should receive medical attention... but as Superman says, we cannot force that upon you. Still, I hope you make a wise decision for yourself. You are weary, you are injured. Do not pointlessly push yourself."
After his bones were set, the Question stood up. "...Nothing I do is pointless. Ted, tell me the way out of here."
All right. Go down towards the bridge - yeah, this way. Come on.
As the faceless man stepped out, Superman glanced towards the Martian Manhunter. "His claims - do you think it has any merit...?"
It is plausible. Likely, I am not sure. I can safely say that he has several mental illnesses, but I can also say that... through his eyes, he does see things that even we cannot. I am not entirely sure what technique he is using.
"He says he walks between two worlds - but I think he can see chi. He used it on me before you came in." Superman had guilt in his tone; he was aware someone controlled him, just not who was responsible. "Is he really speaking to Ted?"
I am incapable of knowing that. In his mind, he sees and hears him. Though, we cannot. It may explain why he knows what he knows, but his condition also suggests lack of sanity. I cannot confirm anything without further study into his mind.
"And we're letting him go." Superman sighed.
What other choice do we have...?
"None, I suppose."
Outside of Keystone, beams of light appeared before the Question made his way towards the city. It was calmer than Gotham, not as brilliantly glowing at Metropolis was. It almost seemed to be neutral ground, which was something he respected. Gazing into the city, he watched the blinding lights of energy moving at a rapid pace, lingering energy from the speedsters who guarded this city well.
Doesn't look like how Metropolis did.
"Metropolis is primarily earth energy. Looks more like lightning, doesn't it?" The Question tilted his head, then continued on his way towards Keystone.
Guess it makes sense. I kinda thought all the cities have the same kind of 'energy' or whatever you call it.
"Most do. Keystone is different. Speedsters tap into an energy source beyond everything else. And what do they call that?"
What, the Speed Force?
Question nodded. "The lingering energy effects the city. But it's energy we can use to our advantage."
How?
"We're in Keystone for two reasons. One, to have Linda Park-West report a story on the late Blue Beetle. Second... to make the Flash walk between two worlds, even for only a moment."
The Question made his way into the city.
While one was busy protecting a city, things were bound to happen without your knowing around the world, no matter how fast you were; that was what Wally learned constantly. Even the Fastest Man Alive had limitations to how quickly news could travel. So he had learned a few disturbing things from J'onn.
One, Blue Beetle had died. Shot to the head. His body had been taken to the Watchtower.
Second, a real piece of work who called himself the Question had been the first to discover Beetle's fate and body claimed he could see and talk to Ted.
Honestly, there wasn't much about the Question that Wally knew; only from some word of mouth, Superman and Batman alike. Still, it was enough to convince him that the faceless vigilante probably needed to be locked up with some other nutjobs. It was offensive, to him, that someone was claiming they were speaking to a dead man. Someone he knew. Even if Blue Beetle was a prankster and probably should have been doing things other than running around in a suit, he'd been part of the League before. He'd been one of them. And he'd been killed doing the right thing - presumably.
It was something they'd all like to assume happened.
What came as a faint surprise to him was when Linda had called him over to the computer briefly.
Brief it was, after he saw the e-mail she had received. No return address; just some words and photos and it was enough to get Wally irritated.
Turning away, he had left, red suit and all.
The last line had read:
P.S.
Wally can use this map to find me.
It looked like a simple MapQuest gif, but Wally had merely glanced over it before he ran out the door, well on his way to confront the one responsible for the e-mail. It was an unnecessary one, but it had asked for Linda to report a story on Blue Beetle's death.
From what he had heard, someone also requested Lois Lane do the same.
So the Flash was running down the street, alongside a tower, to the very top, to the roof. The exact location given to him on the map.
Standing was a man in a beaten trenchcoat that'd seen better days with a matching fedora set neatly on the top of his head, tilted down to shade away a faceless face. He also wore leather gloves, slacks, boots that could use some attention. It appeared he wasn't, for whatever reason could be conceived, wearing a shirt; it made the bandages around his abdomen evident.
Instead of greeting him, the faceless man had his head turned in a direction, looking at something. "It'll work," he said.
It was as if he was talking to someone.
The Flash narrowed his eyes. "So you're the Question."
"Hmm." The no-faced vigilante lifted his head, looking in the Fastest Man's direction. "Wasted no time, I see." Glancing away to the same direction as he had before, he scoffed, "To prove a point, Ted."
"Pardon?"
"Not talking to you." Question tilted his head, facing the Flash. "Need you to understand. Need you to know." He muttered, "Not crazy." He shot a glance to the side again. "Not."
His behavior wasn't really convincing. "Uh-huh," the Flash muttered, voice toned in sarcasm. "Who the heck are you talking to?"
"Ted." The Human Enigma peered toward the hero in red. "You know him."
"You're the one who found Beetle; you know he's dead. How do you expect anyone to believe you're NOT crazy when you claim to be talking to a dead guy?"
"I can See. I can Hear him. Talk to him. He came to me, I followed. Need to make the world See. Or at least... one person. Enough to make the rest do the same." The Question approached Flash, doing in odd sort of limp, as if to ease his wounded side. "Not crazy." He shook his head. "Need to make you See, Wally."
The Flash glared at him. "How did-"
"I peeked." The faceless man peered at him with his uncanny lack of features. Though it was a mask, there was definitely something unsettling about it. "Looked. Files. From Checkmate. Files on everyone. You. Superman. Wonder Woman. Booster Gold. Blue Beetle. Ted deleted them - not before he uploaded them onto a secure server. Several fire walls up. I can access them - only when Ted's help. Know about you. Know about most. Know about the Speed Force."
Nothing could possibly describe the puzzled expression on the Flash's face. So the Question continued.
"The Speed Force. Speedsters tap into it to use their speed. You, most of all." The faceless man pointed at the Fastest Man Alive. "You've used the Speed Force for yourself. Used it to go beyond limits. Used it, could See. Use it to See now. Prove me right."
"Assuming you're right."
"I am."
"Look." The Flash folded his arms. "I appreciate that you found Beetle. Seriously... he was a good guy. But, that doesn't give you the right to parade around, claiming you're talking to him. He's gone; maybe you're the one who's having trouble letting go of this."
It was quite possible that the Question was glaring at him. It wasn't necessarily that Flash could see it, but rather, in a way, he could feel it. It was unsettling. The faceless man peered at him, voice darkened, "Then use the Speed Force. See. Prove me wrong. Prove me I'm delusional. Prove to me I'm not in reality. Prove it, Wally West."
"How exactly can I use the Speed Force to see anything?"
Question shrugged. "Just tap into it. Just do it. I know. What I'm doing..."
"Sure you do."
"Look. Look, and see if you can prove me wrong." The Question crossed his arms.
The Flash was greatly inclined to tell him a flat out, resounding 'no'. After all, it was crazy; how could this man see the dead? Speak with them? Hear them? It was insanity. Superman had basically informed them as much, at any rate. Still, if it was a chance to at least show this madman that he was completely and utterly delusional, then it was probably a chance to finally put a stop to all of this nonsense.
"Fine, fine." The Scarlet Speedster shook his head.
There was concentration involved as he began to tap into the Speed Force. The speed, the race, the absolute fastness of it all always enthralled him, and it was the same feeling every single time-
What he didn't expect was for the Question to squeeze his belt buckle, and a gas in a faint yellow color coming out. It wasn't the Flash's intention to inhale it, but he did from performing a surprised gasp, then immediately coughed. "What did you...?"
"Stimulation. It acts as a catalyst. Only a little bit; won't kill you. If you breathed in a lot, well then..." The Question shrugged. "Using the Speed Force?"
"Yeah, I..." The Flash hesitated, looking around. His vision didn't quite... blur, but it seemed to blink between his normal sight and something completely unexplanable.
Keystone was absolutely gorgeous, with streaming lights moving at his own speed, rapidly and admirably. It was a haven. Heaven, if you will. At least, in sight.
Or Sight. What was the difference? Flash could See there was.
"Holy shit," he whispered.
"Gets better." The faceless man turned, stepping aside. "Look around the area, Wally."
The Flash turned his head to follow where Question was walking, but his eyes locked onto someone he was sure hadn't been there before.
He waved hesitantly.
It was very difficult to place shock into the Flash, but here had been a moment. He was speechless. He stared.
The gas didn't have a long effect on him; his metabolism had worked it out of his system quickly. And yet, even when his vision returned to normal, did he continue staring. That had been Blue Beetle, he was sure.
But Blue Beetle was very dead.
"What the hell did I just see?" Flash's voice was barely above being soundless.
The Question placed his hands into his coat pockets. "Into chi. You've just had a taste of the art of feng shui; the typical 'master' you see and hear of, normally, is the kind that utilizes their abilities to set things in certain positions in a room for energy flow. A true master sees into a world of energy, of chi. Even the dead, their lingering unfortunate souls, have chi. Ted included. The Speed Force, from what I understand, is a force with energy. Lightning energy, is the best way to describe it. Because of the speedsters that run around in this city, the energy lingers here. This is a special city; most are of earth energy. Utilizing both the Speed Force and the energy that's been drifting in Keystone, along with the gas, you were capable of seeing chi. Even for a little while."
"...And what about you? You see this chi?"
"I walk between two worlds. Constantly, I'm seeing both the physical plane of existence, and our essence." The Question turned towards where the Flash had seen Blue Beetle, even for only a moment. "Hearing those left behind. Ted included. He found something of interest - something he attempted to bring to the attention of everyone. Something everyone ignored. He asked me to help, after he died."
The Flash remained speechless for a moment. While he still firmly believed that the Question needed mental help, it was apparently true; Blue Beetle was indeed talking to him, lingering around. What was it that needed their attention so badly? What had Beetle died trying to do?
"What is it?" Flash asked. "What happened?"
"Checkmate. A government system, that much you know. What Ted and I know is, it's an organization that had developed profiles on every single metahuman, every single vigilante, every single madman on this planet. Ted investigated when no one else listened. He erased their files, after he secured his own copies into a folder on an integrated system based on Batman's layouts from his computer. I checked the files sometime ago on my own, to find out about what happened to Ted and his location. Had to do it on Nightwing's computer; it was connected with Batman's layouts, easier to access. Hidden folder; only I can access it. Regardless... Checkmate believes it's going to protect Earth from us. From every superpowered man and woman on this world." The Question suddenly paused, lifting his head.
"What is it?" Flash looked over his shoulder, but saw nothing of interested.
The Question shook his head. "...Checkmate. Know too much. They killed Ted. They're trying to do the same with me." He gestured. "You should go. ...Tell those who'll listen. Don't know how long I'll be running until..."
"The League can help, Question."
"No. They've tried. Nearly got me killed." The faceless man turned around. "Do what you can. I'll do things on my end."
The Flash quickly moved to block Question off. "Even if it gets you killed?"
"It's a cause I'm willing to die for."
"How can you say that-"
"Ted did it," Question murmured. "Flash. Don't be deaf. Don't be blind. Let the Gods be aware finally." He turned and took off, taking a sudden dive off of the roof.
The speedster raced over to the edge, watching Question land roughly onto a fire escape before leaping off to make a dash down from the streets below.
The Flash sighed softly, then glanced up.
It might have been time for a meeting with the rest of the League.
Didn't get to tell him about Max was grumbled.
"It bites," the Question agreed.
The faceless vigilante was running down the streets of Keystone, taking every obscure route that he possibly could. Hugging the shadows at every dark corner and every shady alleyway, he desperately attempted to escape the persistant members of Checkmate. While they had a helicopter in the sky for their eyes, there were also men following him on the streets. Several of them. The Question was used to being surrounded at the night, but not like this. Not by the government, not so many of them. He was confident enough that he could escape and continue on, but it was still going to be close.
Real close.
"They keep track," the no-faced man murmured, glancing over his shoulder, Seeing them.
Max could have rigged the teleporting pod to see where you were headed next. It's not that hard, and he does have access as much as I did. ...Well, not that hard for someone with my brilliance, anyway.
"Modest as ever." Question leapt over a fallen garbage can.
As he kept watch during his run, the armed men feet behind the Question's trail began to slow. The faceless vigilante was not particularly familiar with the city, so his decisions to pick and choose streets had been erratic. It worked well to lose Checkmate, at least thus far.
Keeping up his mad dash, the Question eventually found himself facing a wall. He remained absolutely silent.
Great, now where? I can walk through walls, but you're still at least human, last I checked. And alive.
"Going up." Question gazed vertically. "Gonna snag a lift. Know how a use a helicopter, Ted?"
Yeah.
"Good. You're going to tell me how."
While there was a wall blocking him off, there was a fire escape to the Question's left. He made a quick run towards the ladder, leaping up and gripping his gloved hands onto rusted metal. Pulling himself up, he quickly began to run up the fire escape towards the roof. The spotlight shining down from the flying vehicle seemed to easily find the Question as he climbed up towards the top of the roof. This did not slow down the Question, not once hesitating as he began to duck away and dodge from bullets being shot at him.
He, of course, thought it was crazy. With the faceless man, it was apparently nothing new.
As the gunfire continued after him even as he evaded, the Question leapt on top of a vent structured atop the roof; it was high enough to allow him to leap off, hands grabbing onto the edge of the open door of the helicopter.
You are SO INSANE!
While a gun was leveled at the top of his head, the Question pushed himself up enough so that he grabbed onto the ankle of the gunman, jerking his hand back and causing him to tumble out from the helicopter. Climbing his way inside, the faceless man found himself shot in the arm with what looked to be a tranquilizer dart.
Strange. He didn't feel sleepy.
Shrugging it off for the moment, the Question slammed his elbow into the face of the second gunman, then threw him out the door. The pilot looked at him with panick stricken eyes, toggling between getting rid of the faceless vigilante or controlling the helicopter. While the Human Enigma was prepared to make a decision for him, the pilot decided to leap out of the helicopter on his own, possibly hoping it'd crash with the Question still inside.
"Talk to me, Ted." Question sad himself down, grabbing onto the controls.
Gently- I SAID GENTLY! Gently, steer us up. No, that makes us go down - THE OTHER WAY! Okay, whew. Jeez, you need lessons; I've seen Booster drive a car better than that.
Question grumbled.
While he began steering the helicopter away from Keystone in no particular direction, the faceless man had started to feel overheated. Feverish, somehow.
There was a pause to think, then a pause for reaction.
The Question winced behind his mask. "Wonderful."
What's wrong?
"Got injected with something during our little commandeering." Question wiped his glove across his forehead. "No idea what. Not a tranq. Would have come into effect awhile ago."
God DAMN it, one thing after another!
Shaking his head, the faceless vigilante looked on ahead. "Keep on going ahead anyway..."
You need a doctor!
"And be found by Max?" Question glanced aside to him. "No. ...I'll be fine."
Lord, you are SO stubborn!
The Question did not reply.
He simply held onto some quiet hope that he wouldn't end up dead, either from the poison or passing out and crashing the helicopter.
Notes:
I have no idea if the Speed Force can even allow the Flash to See, but I like faking my way around in fiction so hopefully none of ya mind.
Frankly, this has to be the most boring chapter in the entire story. Or at least, I feel that way. How about the rest of ya? D'arrr.
The point of this chapter was to at least release into the JLA that the Question isn't entirely a nutjob, and that he really CAN see Ted. Or at least, energy that claims to be Ted Kord. Regardless, one step at a time to bring out the truth.
To the lovin' audience:
TheQuestionableFool: I like crazy Question. Even if he denies his lack of sanity, we all know the truth about that! Ever since reading LM's fanfic with Blue Beetle, the Question, and Captain Atom, I haven't been quite able to keep her version of Question out of mine anymore. It was very influential. Makes me really wish she finished that story. I'm very glad you're enjoying this so far; hopefully, you'll continue to do so!
iamhollywood: I try to keep from many superheroes from necessarily believing/getting along with Question. I think, basically, the only one to be able to deal with him all right is probably Green Arrow. But then, Question hasn't exactly teamed up with too many heroes He's only met Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Superman, and Batman, I think. I could definitely be wrong, though; I haven't collected all the comics. Besides, I'm pretty sure they feel similarly about a guy like Question.
bri's the man: I like this story too! So I've kept it up indeed!
Fate8: Hopefully, you won't need to know much about the Question... but it helps if ya do. Still, he is a unique fellah, and if that doesn't come across, I ain't doin' my writin' right! While Question might be crazy, he's also extremely intelligent and sharp; he's quite the detective in his own right. In regards to NW, he might follow up with what Vic was doing. However, I'm not a particularly good writer for Nightwing - so that's not a story I'm going to explore too much. It may be mentioned offhand later. Yes and no to the Checkmate files; before Ted deleted Checkmate's files, he uploaded them onto a branch of a server under Batman's computer - which is linked and can be accessed from Nightwing's computer. It's likely after Vic reviewed the files, he deleted them before leaving Nightwing's place. It's not something too important, I would think, but if it's something that needs to be cleared up it'll be mentioned in a chapter later.
Goph: No dead man is ever gone for good! Especially in the comic world. Regardless, the important point here is that the Question has started what he and Ted hope to be a domino effect - that the start they're making can save the JLA and several others before Checkmate can make their move. That's their hope, anyway. I'm very glad you enjoy my depiction of the Question; I try to incorporate his background, and the missing pieces in the mini-series to points which will be very important later...