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

And so it had been, Booster Gold's apartment had just gone into a fiery explosion.

Oh God... BOOSTER!

"Hold on," Question told him. "Just hold on."

Batman had remained eerily silent, lowering the Batwing towards the remains that were still engulfed in flames.

The faceless man peered, Seeing into the apartment. Seeing the fire's energy, but furthermore... Seeing a lone man leap-

"He's fine," Question muttered.

There was a crash through a window that somehow hadn't already burst from the explosion, and Booster Gold - completely dressed in his gear - soared out of the apartment, flying below and past the Batwing. Turning his head down, the Question could See five men with jetpacks following him, attempting to close in on Booster Gold.

The Human Enigma undid the seatbelt that kept him strapped inside of the Batwing. Leaning forward, he grabbed the back of Batman's seat, speaking sharply, "Turn, follow Michael. Then open the hatch."

Batman grunted, as if he didn't need directions; he was already turning to follow Booster Gold. "What do you plan on doing, Vic?"

"Open the fucking hatch or I'll tear your very spirit out of your body."

Christ, don't threaten him! ...Can you DO that?

"There are people following him. Have to take care of them. Max. Max knows." Question turned his head, muttering, "Protect Michael. Have to."

Batman seemed to be considering his options. Finally, the Dark Knight growled, "I'm coming for you after you're finished. You're not off the hook, Vic."

"Mm-hmm." The Question sounded completely disinterested.

The Batwing followed the men, up to the point where Booster was settling down on a rooftop. The hatch to the jet opened; swiftly, the Question leapt out, falling with his feet first towards the fivesome that were slowing themselves to confront Booster Gold. The faceless vigilante landed onto the shoulders on one of the men, causing him to crash and immediately go unconscious after a rough landing on the pavement. Standing up, the Question turned quickly, his foot connecting with the edge of another man's neck, knocking him over.

Seeing that two of the five men had been dealt with quickly, the third lifted up his gun, preparing to fire at the Question. Ducking down, the Human Enigma grabbed onto the fourth man's waist, lifting him up and causing him to take shots for him. Tossing the body towards the man firing at him, Question turned to deal with the fifth member. However, the final man was shot down with a gold colored beam.

Immediately, Booster Gold approached, looking paler than normal and tired. "You again...? What the hell is going on?"

Jeez, he looks bad...

"Nothing good," the Question responded. "Not much time to explain. Maxwell Lord. He's after you and me. Need to run."

"Okay, WHAT?"

The Question held up his index finger. "Shut up. Pick me up. Fly low in the alleyways to keep out of sight so we can escape. Then I'll explain."

The fact that his life had been potentially saved by the faceless man, Booster Gold was quick to agree. He reached out and snagged the Question by the arm, taking off into the air and diving down to hover low into the alleyways as instructed.

Looking over his shoulder, the Question saw that more men were following them. Behind his mask, he narrowed his eyes, concentrating. Using Sight was one thing, but using his chi to attack in his state would make him weary fast. Still, it was worth a risk. Throwing his chi out, he attacked one of the men, enough that it caused him to spin out of control and slam against the others chasing Booster and himself.

It was enough, fortunately, that Booster Gold began to slow down, hovering between a skyscraper and an apartment building. Looking around, he said, "I don't see anyone else coming after us."

The Question lifted his head, Seeing around. No Checkmate, and the Batwing was lagging behind. Then he nodded. Enough time to explain before Batman would arrive. "We're fine."

Booster flew up towards the apartment building, settling onto the roof. Putting the Question onto his feet, the blonde placed his hands onto his knees and started to pant. "Okay then... start... talkin'..."

"First." Question peeled off his leather gloves, placing them into his pockets. "Hurting?"

"No duh... still have burns... from the explosion at... Ted's..." Booster tried to catch his breath.

Can you do anything...?

The Question nodded to him. "Hold still, Michael." Remaining silent, the faceless man rubbed his bare hands together. It appeared as though nothing was happening as he was performing this, which caused Booster to give him a look. Reaching out, the Question placed his hands onto the blonde's shoulders.

One moment was all it took, and Booster suddenly pulled sharply away; he had felt the rush of... something through him. "What the hell-?"

What WAS that?

"Reiki." Question pulled on his gloves. "A healing form of energy under the martial arts. The flow of chi of one body to the other, to aid in recovery. Tell me, do you feel anymore pain in your chest?"

Booster paused, then realized. "No."

"Good. The burns aren't gone. Hardly. But they'll heal a little quicker. With the pain reduced, you should be fine now. Until you push yourself unnecessarily again."

You're one to talk.

Question ignored him. "You want to know what's going on. I will be blatant, Michael. Men are trying to kill you. Men who follow Maxwell Lord's orders. All connected. Part of Checkmate."

"Okay. One step back - why's Max trying to kill me?"

"Because you attempted to help in Ted's investigation. You know there's something wrong. Only you and the Amazon listened to Ted. I also know about Checkmate, which is why they want to get rid of me. Whatever we have begun, Checkmate intends to attempt to finish it their way, while keeping the JLA and the rest of the unworthy Gods blinded... until they've been obliterated." The Question tilted his head. "Ted is the one who brought me to understanding of what's going on. You listened to him. Will you listen now?"

Booster Gold placed his hand to his head. "Max is... but Max is a sleezey business salesman. He's not evil, but he's not a great guy, either."

"Do you know why Ted is missing? Why he hasn't gone to see you?"

"No." Booster paused. "You know where he is?"

The Question nodded. "Everyone in the JLA knows. They've been fearful of telling you, and not for your own safety - but because they could be considered partially responsible-"

"Where the hell is he?"

"Gone. ...No, that's not accurate." The Question looked at him, who was incapable of watching. "Maxwell Lord killed him. His body is in the Watchtower."

Booster was silent.

I'm sorry, I'm so damned sorry-

"He died doing the right thing," Question murmured quietly. "But he died, with the Gods the people praise being blinded, refusing to see. Refusing to listen. Don't make the same mistake, Michael."

"He's..." Booster grabbed onto the sleeves of the Question's jacket. "He's gone...?" His voice was breaking, barely capable of speaking. "He's gone, and..." The blonde lowered his head, trembling.

Booster...

"I..." The Question was troubled, glancing around before focusing on him. He wasn't sure what to do with Booster holding onto him, as if physical comfort was well beyond him - which might have been so.

Don't look at me! Help him! You HELP HIM.

The faceless man was at a loss of words or action. With a hand raised in uncertainty, he placed it on the back of Booster's head. This was, somehow, a turn out he didn't expect. His own reaction had been one that was familiar.

Anger. Frustration.

Did he grieve? Maybe, his own way, he did. However, from what he had known, Booster had been losing basically everyone one at a time. It'd been inevitable.

Lifting his head, the Question saw the Batwing land on the roof next to them, the Dark Knight himself leaping out immediately. There wasn't a single word exchange between anyone; Booster Gold had let go of the faceless man and turned sharply, approaching Batman silently.

Much to Question's surprise, Booster landed a fist across Batman's face.

"You didn't LISTEN him! You-!"

Question, stop him! He...!

The faceless vigilante approached immediately, placing a hand lightly to Booster's shoulder. "Someone else you can blame," he told him quietly.

Booster Gold turned his head sharply, frowning behind his goggles. "But he-!"

"Is letting you hit him," Question told him. "Someone else we have to go after, Booster. It's not Batman."

"I...! ...Yeah... yeah, all right..." Booster was seething, teetering between rage and grief. Wordlessly, he stepped away from the Dark Knight.

"Hn." Batman brushed himself off. "What did you tell him, Question?"

"What he should know. The only one with ears, the only one who will listen. Maxwell Lord. Ted. Checkmate. The Gods. Not everything in detail yet, but that doesn't really matter to you, does it?" Question tilted his head to the side. "Can't go back with you, Batman. Michael needs me now. Unless you want to drag us both back to your cave against our wills. I'm sure Superman would be thrilled to hear about you not taking Michael to a doctor after all of this."

"Hell - I'm not going anywhere with Batman." Booster shook his head. "I'm done with the JLA and everyone else."

Batman turned sharply. "Michael-"

"No way. Ted was onto something, and you guys just...!" Booster's hands clenched. "I'm SICK of it. My sister, Sue, Skeets, Tora, now Ted? Forget it, Batman!"

"You can't force him. And you certainly can't force me, Batman." The Question peered at the Dark Knight. "Don't know exactly yet what you have against the JLA. What made you ignore what was said. But you'd best consider the results of your actions and the cause of Ted's death. In spite of what you think of me, there's a point. Maxwell Lord, who kept tabs on the JLA for so many years. Who would know your weaknesses. Would know who you all are, your contacts, your families - dead or alive. Whoever they are. Don't ignore it... or the Knight is off the board." The faceless vigilante turned around stepping away from Batman.

There was some silence between Booster Gold and Gotham's protector. The Dark Knight spoke first, "You're going to follow him, aren't you."

"He knows what happened, and what Ted was working on. Of course I'm gonna," Booster muttered.

"He's hardly the most stable-"

"Yeah, well, none of us are! And I don't hafta hear that from YOU."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Do you believe him?"

"Better him than you, Batman." Booster Gold turned around and followed the Question.

With a small grunt, the Dark Knight returned to the Batwing. Whatever Batman's remaining opinions were, he did not voice them or express them beyond mild annoyance.

There was a pause of silence between both the faceless man and the blonde, even as the Batwing flew overhead. Finally, Booster Gold let out a sigh, mixed with a little bit of every emotion he could manage to express in one breath. He crouched down, leaning over and draping his arms over his knees. The Question turned his head to look down at him.

"I don't think I ever said anything like that to Batman, ever," Booster muttered.

Yeah, well, someone had to.

"Ted's probably pleased," the Question remarked a bit wryly.

Booster lifted his head to look at the faceless man. "Did you know he was dead, even when you swung by at the hospital?"

This caused the Human Enigma to hesitate briefly before admitting, "Yes."

"Why didn't anyone TELL me?"

"For me, complicated. Too complicated. Would sound crazy to you." Question shrugged.

"Look, right now? Nothing's more crazy than hearing that Max was responsible for what happened to Ted. Whatever's happening now."

The Question placed his hands into his pockets. "...I can See things, no one else can. Hear. I walk between two worlds, with the art of feng shui. Can See chi, use it. Can See people, who died. See the chi of people, aliens, metahumans, mutants - whatever lives. Ted... came to me, hours after he died. Told me what happened. Had to get involved. He talked to me, about everything. So it began with seeing you, to contact the JLA and, bit by bit, find where Ted's body was."

"Okay, so... you can talk to dead people?"

Yeah, I know. Sounds crazy...

"In a way. Depends, really, if they're damned to stay or demand to stay. Ted wants to."

Booster considered this. By the look on his face, it sounded strange, but he still asked, "So... that doesn't really answer my question. How come you didn't tell me?"

The Question paused, then admittedly in a low, quiet tone, "When I was looking for his body, maybe I was hoping I really was just delusional and he wasn't dead. Maybe I was just hearing voices. Maybe I was just seeing things. Maybe I really was what everyone thinks... but I was right. And Ted was right."

I...

Another moment of silence was lingering, before Booster announced, "Okay, so that does sound pretty nuts, but right now I'm still accepting that... jeez, Max. Are you sure?"

"Not joking. Not joking at all." The faceless man's tone darkened and twisted into a form of anger that neither he or Booster were familiar with. "Maxwell Lord. I could See it, when I found him. I could See, what happened to him. In the complex where he was..." The Question turned around, placing his fingers onto the brim of his fedora. "Could See it," he muttered, furious.

"So we gotta find Max."

Question turned his head to look at Booster Gold. "Not right now. No. He'll be damned soon, but not now. You're still recovering... and so am I. For now, we live. Then we'll find Max."

"We just LEAVE him alone now, then?" The blonde stood up, frowning.

"Don't like it, either. But he'll follow us. He'll follow, and we'll deal with him then." The Question pointed down to the street. "Fly us down to that caravan. Get in the back, sleep. I'll drive."

YOU? Drive?

"I'm not tired," Booster grumbled.

"You will be. Take us down."

Booster Gold grabbed onto the Question by the upper arm, taking off from the roof and hovering down towards the indicated caravan. "How do you plan on opening it, anyway? Do you picklock, or-"

A loud CRASH of the window being broken with the Question's elbow answered his inquiry. As the car alarm went off, the Question reached inside and undid the locks on the doors. "Into the back," he told the blonde, going around to the driver's side.

"Can you hotwire?" Booster wondered, stepping into the caravan.

"No."

"Then how the hell are you going to drive this thing?"

Slamming the door shut, the Question took out a black object from his pocket. Flipping it open, it appeared to be a batarang. He stabbed it into the ignition, then turned the batarang as it acted as a carkey, effectively turning off the car alarm. The Question backed the caravan out, then took it down the street.

"Okay, that answers that," Booster muttered.

"Mm-hmm."

"So..." The blonde hesitated. "You really talk to...?"

"Yes."

"How can you prove it?"

Question tilted his head. "Besides everything that led up to this point? ... Ted told me about the time Batman discovered upon Guy Gardner's infamous glass jaw."

Man, Black Canary was PISSED.

Which would be something difficult for the Question to come upon; JLA information, even as stupid as such, wasn't very broad.

"I guess it's good enough to me. With everything else in the world, guess it'd be hard not to believe," Booster Gold pointed out.

The Question only nodded in response to Booster's words before telling him, "Shut up and sleep."

"Uh-huh. Thanks. Good night to you, too," he grumbled, laying himself down slowly in the back.

It only took about five minutes for Booster to fall asleep.

You'd probably be better off with Batman, both of you.

"Not really." The Question shook his head. "...Booster wouldn't have wanted to go. I don't. Not any of them. No Gods. No more Gods..."

Batman of all people-

"Thinks he's one. Looking, knowing. Knowing all of us. No surprise Max had files. No surprise at all. Our lives, weaknesses. Kept tabs, both of them. Both of them... Think of themselves as Gods..."

Look, I... I know he didn't listen to what I had to say. Not many of 'em did. But...

"Don't tell me you don't blame them, even a little, Ted. Even a little. They had no faith. No trust. Not in you. The Gods feel guilt for not listening - which is why they didn't want to face Michael. Why they won't listen to me." Question glared faintly at him. "Not ... just because I'm a little..."

Crazy? You admit it?

"Hn." Question lowered his head. "Different. Just different. Not delusional..."

Okay, we've established that. Look, seriously... I'm angry at them. A little.

"A little."

Yeah. ... A lot... I hate it. They didn't believe me. They didn't... respect me enough to think I was onto something or telling the truth...

The Question nodded, seemingly in satisfaction. "No problems with being upset, Ted."

Yeah, with you saying that? Not too comforting.

"Hm."

...Hey. ... Thanks for taking care of Booster.

The faceless man stayed silent to that, simply adding in second nod.

Around the time Booster Gold had woken up, he had no idea how long he'd been asleep or where they had stopped. It was around dawn, the sun crawling its way out of the horizon. Though he still have severe burns, Booster found that sitting up hadn't hurt as badly as it had the day before. Whatever the Question had done to help him, it certainly performed its task well.

Somewhere along the line, they had stopped. To where, Booster Gold wasn't sure, but it looked as though they were parked around the outskirts of a city that was quite gloomy. Peering into the front seat, he could see that the Question was sitting up against it, remaining still save for his steady breathing. He could have been sleeping, but there was no way for Booster to tell. It wasn't as if the faceless man had any eyes or anything.

"Question?"

The Human Enigma didn't not stirr. Not immediately. Seconds after Booster Gold spoke to him, he leaned forward and turned his head around to look at him, assumingly. "Any pain?"

"Not much. I still really don't get what you did, but it worked."

"Too long to explain anyway." Question shrugged. He pointed to the outskirts they were at. "Edge City. Didn't think Max would figure we'd go here. Not yet. Only a matter of time."

"Well, if we have time, can we get some breakfast or something?"

Some people can skip a few days without food because they're a little nutty, Question. Feed the poor guy; he's been in a hospital for DAYS.

The faceless man grunted at him. "Fine. Costume off. Don't want to be tracked down."

"Yeah, excuse me. I'm pretty sure all of my clothes is burnt to a crisp now."

The Question took off his jacket, throwing it to Booster Gold. "What size feet?"

"Ten."

Turning his head, the Question looked down to the passenger side of the vehicle. "Hnn, these won't fit you..." he mumbled to himself. Eventually, both socks and shoes were tossed to Booster.

"Pff!" Booster pulled a sock out of his hair. "Thanks," he grumbled.

"Close the jacket, put on the shoes. Take off your mask and goggles, put them in your coat. It'll do." The Question had, apparently, discovered a pair of sandals in the caravan, and was currently strapping them on. Reaching up, the Human Enigma peeled off the mask that had normally kept him so faceless. Quietly, he stuffed the mask away into a pocket before yanking out the batarang from the ignition.

Booster Gold stepped out from the vehicle, then turned to finally meet with the face he'd gotten used to being no-faced.

"Holy crap, you're that... uh... Vic Sage, right?"

The Question narrowed his tired eyes. "...You're wrong about that." He turned away and motioned Booster to follow him. "Down here. I See people. A diner, maybe. Eat, then we'll go."

"Why can't we take the van?"

"Out of gas."

"Figures," Booster grumbled.

Question led the way down the road, remaining silent. It didn't keep him from speaking.

What do you mean you're not Vic Sage?

The Human Enigma shook his head, muttering, "Too many names. None of them right. Not anyone. Just a question. Who am I? Don't know. Don't know, doesn't matter."

"Who're you talking to?" Booster stared at him.

"Not you. Him. Him. Ted."

"O-oh." The blonde looked immediately uncomfortable, unsure how to respond.

Question turned his head, frowning at Booster. "...Not comfortable?"

"Well it's... y'know, weird. I haven't really thought about it much until you started actually talking to him. ...And I'll never be able to talk to him again."

Jeez, Booster...

This caused the Question to pause, then turn to face Booster Gold. "...Let it comfort you that he's not really gone, then. He cares about you, Michael. And..."

"And...?"

"...Thank you for being a good friend to him." Quickly, the Question continued his way down the road.

It made both him and Booster pause.

Now WAIT a second! You can't just leave us hanging like that!

"Hey! C'mon - anything else?" Booster Gold hurried to keep up with him.

The Question felt better to keep silent to both of them.

The pair had gradually approached the diner, which had been fabulously titled "Diner". Nothing was particularly original about it, not even in design. Basic black and white tiled floor, waxed to the point of showing incredible reflection. Basic waitress in a pink uniform with an atrocious hairstyle. All in all, it was simple, but essential.

While Booster Gold had gotten himself a basic breakfast, pancakes and all. However, he had stared at the Question, who had ordered - for all reasons beyond him - cheesecake with hot fudge.

The red-haired man was prepared to take a bite, but he saw the blonde staring. "What?"

"How could... I mean... at THIS hour?"

"Haven't induldged in awhile, Michael. Eaten much of anything lately." The Question took a bite quietly. "Shut up and eat."

"You're real great company," Booster muttered, picking at a pancake.

"Mm-hmm. Eat."

Oh yeah. Another thing that sucks about being dead: can't ever have cheesecake again. Man...

With an annoyed sigh, the blonde paid better attention to breakfast than what his current companion was ingesting. While it was hardly a normal breakfast at all for someone more average than the Human Enigma, maybe it was normal for someone like the Question. Hell if he knew.

In silence, the pair continued to eat.

There was a sudden explosion that rocked the diner, one that seemed to take place in the kitchen. However, not missing a beat, the Question was still eating his cheesecake.

"Didn't you HEAR that? Or feel it?" Booster Gold demanded.

"Almost done," Question muttered. "Finish yours."

I have no idea if you're crazy, stupid, or just insanely calm.

"How can you-"

"Never know when it's my last meal," Question spoke truthfully. After a final bite and a sip of his coffee, another explosion caused the diner to tremble, to the point in which part of it started to crumble while civillians panicked. The Human Enigma lifted his head, frowning. "...Hm."

"'Hm'? What's 'hm' mean?"

"Means we've been followed." The Question stood up, lifting up the chair he'd been sitting in and throwing it against a window, shattering it. "Out, everyone!"

Quickly, the customers and staff alike hurried to the window, rushing out just as another explosion started to cause the diner to collapse. Booster grumbled, switching his forcefield on to prevent any damage coming to him or the Question.

Was it Max?

"Or someone hired by him. Part of Checkmate. We need to go," the Question told him.

"Go WHERE?"

"Wherever we can in Edge City. Get your things on." The Question went into his pocket, pressing his mask against his face. "We're on the run again," he muttered, pressing his beltbuckle; yellow gas leaked out, surrounded the man, rendering him faceless once more. Turning, he looked around, in case he would See someone out of place.

But no one that he could See that was familiar or could have been suspicious. Any of the customers could have been responsible.

Looking up, the Question Saw a helicopter go by. Already, he was positive it had to be Checkmate.

Eventually, his trenchcoat had been tossed back to him after Booster Gold had set on both his mask and goggles again after kicking off the footwear that had been given to him. "You want your shoes?"

"Hardly a time for that." The Question shrugged on his coat, then motioned for him. "We have to go. Fly us."

Taking down the forcefield, Booster nodded. "Yeah, all right. We gonna run into Max?" He grabbed onto the Question's arm, taking off.

"Who knows?" Question murmured.

"Here's hoping - I could really use something to smash."

The duo had flown deep into the city; the Question had become full aware that they were being followed, likely by Checkmate. He could See them, Hear them, and knew they would continue to pursue them. It was getting close.

The faceless man was unsure if escape was much of an option. Any movement they took, they would be tracked down. Though admittedly, a stolen vehicle possibly alerted Checkmate to their location... in which case, hadn't been the Question's best idea, now that he considered it. Booster had definitely alerted them to his location, to where they would go.

It didn't matter anymore, of course, the causes.

Question felt something flutter in his pocket.

Reaching into it, he pulled out the azure scarab, staring at it. It was glowing intently, the wings seemingly fluttering.

When the HELL did you get that?

"Shazam gave it to me," Question muttered. "...Dunno how to describe it..."

I thought for sure that... Do you KNOW what that is?

"Sort of."

Booster Gold glanced down, once he heard Question talking. "What the-? The scarab? Where'd you get that?"

"Good question. Keep flying."

It's active, but... when were you going to tell me you had this?

"Don't know," the Question muttered. "Don't know. Didn't know what I was gonna do with it. Just know the original Blue Beetle had it. Dan Garret. I..."

The blue scarab had lifted out of his hand, alarming the faceless man. The no-faced vigilante quickly reached for it, but it dodged out of the way of his grasp. Cursing sharply, the Question tried to reach for it, but it escaped from his fingers.

Booster Gold paused his flight, noticing the blue scarab flying around his head before sharply moving away.

He was drawn to it.

"Ted...?" The Question could See him watching it.

...I can't explain it... I just...

He turned to look at them.

I have to go.

The azure scarab disappeared in a bout of lightning, and he faded away with it.

"TED!"

"What happened?" Booster didn't understand, and it didn't help that the Question was writhing in his grip. "Hold STILL! I can barely hold onto you!"

The faceless man flailed out his free arm, as if there was some way to grasp onto what had already disappeared. "Ted! TED!"

"Stop MOVING!"

"Still there, still there- COME BACK!" The Question was unable to move his other arm as Booster grabbed onto it, calling out in an off-beat tone, sounding desperate. "Celebrate life! COME BACK!"

A gunshot rang out in the area, and Booster Gold cursed as he took a quick dive, letting go of one of Question's arms to hold onto his shoulder. "Stop having a fit - really really bad timing for it, Question!"

The faceless man tilted his head up, noticing the blonde's injury. Panic - he felt panic. Where did he go? Where did he go?

Not important at the moment. He had to focus, focus, focus and See them.

"Land us. And leave me," the Question told him quietly.

"Are you kidding? I can't..."

"You're injured. Do it. I can mask you long enough to hide you."

Booster Gold gradually lowered himself towards a rooftop, then turned to frown at him. "I can't leave you here. I mean... who else can I...?"

The Question shook his head, his voice shaking. "It looks bad. ... Awful. Surrounded. One of us needs to leave. You. You need to. You. Stop Checkmate. Undo the blind, undo the deaf. Undo the Gods, make them mortal..."

"You're making even less sense than usual!"

Quickly moving, the faceless man stood in front of Booster as another gunshot was made; the Question took the bullet into the scapula, in which he nearly fell. Hissing and grasping onto his shoulder, he stared his faceless face to Booster Gold.

"Leave. Live. Fight... do it, Michael. Finish what Ted started... and I'll do my part. Do my part... gone now..." The Question lowered his head. "Gone, gone... life, death, gone, celebrate life..."

"Question... I can't... what do I DO?"

"Leave! NOW!" The Question shoved him towards the edge of the rooftop. "Leave. I'll mask you. Go!"

Booster stumbled, staring at him. He scowled, biting his lip, then pushed off of the pavement, taking off into the air.

Concentrating quietly, his back to the men approaching him, the Question concentrated on his own chi, reaching out and sealing Booster Gold temporarily, from sight and Sight but his own. He would be safe, until they picked up on his trail again. He would be all right, until... until then.

"Gone gone... celebrate life..." Question turned around, holding open his arms. "Gone, gone. Death, and life. Ted... Ted, I can't Hear you. I can't See you. I'm your eyes and ears - or am I blind and deaf? Do I descend to God? Talk to me..."

"You haven't gotten very far."

Maxwell Lord approached, guards standing aside as he stepped towards the Question.

The faceless man shook, but not because of Max before him. Muttering to himself, the vigilante held his head. "Celebrate life. Celebrate life with me. I don't know how. Teach me. Teach me... talk to me... Ted..."

"Are those your final words?"

Question lifted his head. "Death and life... take death... and my life... by my choice. Not yours..." He stepped back towards the edge. "I'm ready... I'm ready... I'll celebrate now."

Leaning back, the Question began to plummet towards the streets below.

In the Watchtower, J'onn J'onzz had been monitoring, all the galaxy and all of the planet they were meant to protect. He wondered, at times, how things faired below.

But at the moment, he had thought back to Blue Beetle.

What had they ignored? Was the faceless man right?

J'onn approached the room they kept the body in.

However, he found the body standing.

"I want some cheesecake," Blue Beetle muttered.

Notes:

Reiki is a real form of healing arts from Asia. Sort of. The same principle is here, and I presume that the Question is capable of it...

By the way, I hope you guys love cliffhangers. BWA HA.

Keep reviewing!