Author's Note: Yes, you read that right - I'm going with the whole "Aftermath" titling that others in the Infinity Crisis circle have done. Some ideas just aren't meant for my holiday specials and I didn't know when I'd be able to work this into an anthology the soonest, so I figured now would be a good time to start doing one-shots like these. It could prove a good way to get some of my other ideas out there too. This story revolves around character introductions and world building instead of high stakes action, but I wanted to make more of a mark on this particular world in the IC Multiverse than I have already and felt this would be an effective way to do it. I hope that it can have a good impact on the series going forward. With that out of the way, please read on and enjoy!

Earth-712

Brotherlyville, Pennsylvania, USA

Townhouses are a common sight in many cities across the United States, and Brotherlyville was no exception. It was a normal and modest town not far from Philadelphia populated largely by normal people, many of whom lived in scenic townhouses. That's what made one particular townhouse the perfect secret meeting place for a team of heroes. No, not the Squadron Supreme, but those who made up a team known as the Golden Agency. They had fought the good fight years and made their mark on superhero history long before them. Even years after many of them retired from the life, they would still come to this seemingly normal building to meet with one another and catch up. Within its walls, such a meeting was already taking place.

"So yes, I have started my search for an apprentice. I already have a few candidates in mind." a man spoke.

He was Professor Fayez Imam, the previous Wizard Supreme and one of the most accomplished and sought after magic wielders of his native universe.

Imam was an aged, bald Syrian man with a white beard and mustache whose eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He was seated at a large round table where three others also sat, with most of the chairs left unoccupied. The three consisted of a lithely built African-American man, a dignifiedly beautiful Swiss-born woman, and a brawny Hongkonger woman. All of them were on the older side, though they weren't quite as fully grayed as Imam.

"I am already testing their potential without them even knowing. After I've made my choice, I will approach them properly and begin to pass on my knowledge." Imam added.

"You're going to see that training a kid is rewarding," the Hongkonger woman nodded in approval. "I know you're going to say that learning flashy spells is harder than what I do, but learning to fight is trickier than some realize."

She was Claire Zhu, formerly the masked crimefighter Firecracker, whose quick and powerful punches were likened to explosions to the face by all those who stood in her way. These days she focused on helping out youths through her world class training gym back in Hong Kong, which she found just as fulfilling as a life of beating up the Golden Agency's foes.

"Knowing you, Fayez, you must've searched far and wide to learn about these kids. Where did you say they're from again?" the Swiss-born woman inquired.

She was Sieglinde Ludwig, who had used two different aliases in her storied life of adventure. The first of these had been Linda Lewis, the name she used for the sake of her American classmates at New Troy State University. The second had been the Dark Lark, the name she used as a superheroine that would later inspire her singer daughter's first album title, as well as something more.

"Well, given that our friend here teleported in from Sweden, I assume that's where one of them is," the African-American raised an eyebrow at Imam. "Am I right, P.I.?"

He was Stanley Stewart, aka The Whizzer, the super fast champion of the downtrodden who had been lauded by newspapers across the world as the Human Blur of Atlanta. This sobriquet of the Whizzer's would go on to inspire the name chosen by another who also inadvertently gained the gift of superhuman speed and helped found the Squadron Supreme.

"That's correct, Stanley. One is of that particular nation," Professor Imam nodded. "Though I doubt they are the stereotype you may be picturing. This potential apprentice is Iraqi through their mother, herself a descendant of a skilled mage from the bewitched island of Hufaidh whom I knew many years ago."

"I wouldn't be surprised if your Third Eye sensed that connection before you did." Sieglinde remarked.

"Is that all you wanted to update us on?" Stanley asked. "If it is, there's actually something I'd like to tell everyone. It ain't anything big yet, but it could be."

The three other Golden Agency alumni looked at one another and then all at him, waiting but a moment for him to begin. Stanley pulled out a handful of printed out photographs from his jacket pocket and spread them out on the table. The photos were of various urban and rural locations that possessed only one shared detail; a blurry figure that the cameras only just managed to catch in motion.

"These pictures ain't of me. Not Blur either. I checked and he was visiting relatives in Thailand at the time. That means we've got another speedster running around." Stanley spelled out.

"Are you sure, Whiz?" Claire asked. "Good pun, by the way."

"I'm sure, Firecracker," Stanley maintained. "Something in my bones is telling me that whoever this is, they were touched by the same fog that changed me. I just know it."

Professor Imam stood up from the table and pressed his hands down on his own chest.

"Nothing is ever certain, old friend, but I suspect you may be correct," Imam concurred. His unassuming civilian garb and sunglasses faded away, replaced by his light purple and orange yellow robes and blindfold. The mystical digit known as the Third Eye glistened over his chest. "If you can find this individual, Stanley, they could prove to be the key to learning what it was that gave you your powers and lead you to the Golden Agency. However, I must now make my leave."

He then turned away from the table and vanished in a flash of dazzling light, leaving his colleagues alone. After he was gone, they looked at one another.

"I like P.I. and all, but he's never been all that great with his goodbyes." Stanley sighed.

"He's still better at leaving on a good note than James ever was though." Claire sat back in her chair and glanced at a particular empty one.

The seat she was looking at was once regularly occupied by James Dore I, aka The Bald Eagle, a deceased member of the Golden Agency who wore a costume inspired by the United States' national bird. For a moment, Claire saw him there in his usual seat, alive and clad in his rather gaudy outfit. Back in their heyday, Claire had often joked that he should switch from the largely red costume to a brown and white one to better match his namesake. James would always angrily snap at her that her costume had a lot of red too, only for her to say that it made more sense with her considering that her namesake tended to actually be red. Then he would shut up and scowl as he fought back the urge to make a remark about a woman of her background wearing red at all.

"I swear, that flyboy never did like having me around," Claire frowned. "Thing is, I actually can imagine why."

Sieglinde patted Claire on the shoulder.

"James certainly had his faults, but he did mean well," she said to her. "We should all try to remember him as a friend, even if he was often…close minded."

"Hard to forgive him for that when he's the one who locked the damn door and hid away the key," Stanley looked at the floor. "I never talked to the guy again after what he said to his son for marrying that girl. Sure, she was related to the Phantom Pharaoh, but it's not like she chose to be…"

The three mostly retired superheroes didn't like thinking back to that day. None of the members of the Golden Agency did, not even James Dore I himself. For all their combined power and skill, the team hadn't been able to keep the Bald Eagle from saying things that he could never take back. A cold, uncomfortable silence permeated the meeting room.

"Let's try and forget that I mentioned him at all. I have to go get ready for my flight back to Hong Kong," Claire finally said, getting up from the table. "I promised a boy I'd help him get fit in time for some sort of tournament that's coming up. I forget where."

"Claire, if anything happens to delay your flight, give me a ring and I'll run you over there myself." Stanley offered, his mood lightening up significantly.

"Heh. Only if your wife still isn't the paranoid type, Whiz." She jokingly winked at her friend.

Claire then exited the meeting room, followed shortly after by the others. After exchanging goodbyes, she left the townhouse to go and catch a bus to the Philadelphia International Airport. Sieglinde and Stanley left the meeting room as well and waved goodbye to Claire from the window.

"Hmm…" Stanley murmured.

The speedster looked at a large framed photo that hung on a wall only a short walk from the front door. The photo was of a muscular Inupiat man of below average height standing in front of a sign that read 'Welcome to Known Goose, Alaska' in large blue letters. In the near background sat a small town blanketed in white snow. The man was Judd Heath, aka Whale-Man. When the Golden Agency was first founded, he had been the youngest of the bunch, having only been in his late teens at the time. Not unlike Claire, Judd had no actual preternatural powers and his moniker was intended to reference his great, but still human, strength and endurance.

"It would've been nice if Judd could've come today," Stanley looked back at Sieglinde. "You said you called him, right? Did he say why he couldn't come?"

"I did call, but he didn't say much other than that he was expecting a guest back home," Sieglinde thought back. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, Tina called a few days ago and…well, I may have another grandkid on the way. On the run here, I realized that I don't know if he ever started a family or not." Stanley explained himself. He looked embarrassed to admit to not having ever asked his old teammate and friend about such matters.

"Ah, so you wanted to figure out if he did. I understand, but don't feel bad about not knowing," Sieglinde nodded. She smiled at Stanley. "You see, he's been pretty private since he retired. I think if Judd has a family, he's trying to keep them from being dragged into the world of superheroes. Which…I understand."

Her smile faded, replaced by a far more forlorn expression. Stanley hugged her before it went the way he thought it would.

"You shouldn't blame yourself for what that lil' shit Decibel did." he said.

"Heh. It sure is a classic Whizzer move to comfort someone before they get teary eyed." Sieglinde smiled and hugged him back.

After a warm moment, the two old friends pulled apart.

"Thanks, Stanley. You can head out now. I'll lock up in a minute." Sieglinde gestures towards the door.

"Thanks. I really should get moving, now that you mention it," Stanley opened the door and stepped outside, but turned his head back before closing it. "But if you need to talk, I'm there for you."

"I appreciate that." Sieglinde said.

With all that said and done, and the meeting truly behind them, Stanley Stewart zoomed away. Within a short time, he would be out of Pennsylvania altogether. He planned to look into the mystery speedster after a little rest back at his place in Atlanta.

"Even after all this time, he still hasn't lost it." Sieglinde shook her head.

She then silently strode over to the wall where the picture of the uncostumed Whale-Man hung. She ran her fingers down the side of its wooden frame as she looked at the picture, as she wondered to herself why he had been unable to come.

Known Goose, Alaska

Just as in the picture that hung in his old team's secret meeting place so far away, Judd Heath stood in front of the sign that welcomed visitors to his hometown of . It was a pleasant place that many good natured souls called home. While Heath couldn't be called a young man anymore, he was still healthy and fit. A ringtone from his handy flip phone could be heard from his coat pocket.

"Here we go…" he took the device out and answered it. "Hello, Ms. Steel. I know you can see me, so you know I'm unarmed."

"You don't require weapons, Mr. Heath," a woman spoke over the phone. Her tone was playful, but only slightly. "I know you well enough to know that."

"Then you also know that I wouldn't hurt someone I saw grow up in this town." Heath countered.

The woman didn't respond. A figure emerged from behind some large trees and walked towards Heath and the welcome sign. She was a strikingly gorgeous Inupiat woman who was noticeably younger than him. One of her most striking features was that her long, flowing hair was pure white in color. She wore a form fitting chocolate brown bodysuit with white fur trimming along its low neckline, the sides of the hips, and cuffs, claw-like weapons mounted on each of her wrists, and knee-high white boots. In her hand was a smartphone, which she turned off to end the call now that they were face-to-face.

"Thank you for coming, Julie. Or Mink, if you prefer." Heath greeted her.

Julie Steel, aka the Mink. Years ago, she had lived a charmed life in Known Goose as the daughter of the richest family in town, but she turned her back on that in favor of a life of thrills as a notorious professional thief, all self taught. This would only prove to be an even more exciting adventure when it caught the attention of the dark and mysterious Nighthawk, who she would go on to clash with many times throughout her career. Yet now she was but a short walk away from where she had once led a simpler, less dangerous life that she had only come to appreciate after she left.

"I never thought I'd have one of the cape and costume crowd call me about a job," Mink's bright eyes fell on the town, then back on him. Learning that one of her kindly neighbors growing up was a retired superhero was already a shocking surprise to her, but that he had reached out to her in need of her services had been even more unexpected. "Especially not you, Mr. Heath. And before you tell me I can call you Whale-Man–"

"I understand if that'd be awkward," Heath smiled, but his face then grew more serious. What he was going to ask of her wouldn't be a walk in the park. "Julie, I…You know every trick in the book when it comes to stealing. That's why I need you to protect this and keep it from ever falling into the wrong hands."

Heath pulled out a sealed glass vial from his pocket. It was filled with a deep crimson material that resembled sand. It faintly sparkled when seen under the right light.

"Wait…So you're hiring me to keep something secure? Seriously? Me?" the professional thief motioned at herself.

"Has anyone ever successfully stolen something from under your nose, Julie?" Heath asked.

"Of course not, but…ohhh, now I get it!" She crossed her arms confidently. She took the vial from him. "Consider it done, Mr. Heath. But…What is it?"

"It is an alien substance. If it comes to it, it may just be what saves our world from falling to a great evil." Heath answered.

"...I know you're Whale-Man and all, but isn't saving the world more the Squadron Supreme's beat these days? Why not give this to them?" Mink questioned, an eyebrow raised up.

"Well…Here's the thing about them…" Heath began.

He then leaned forward and whispered something into Mink's ear, speaking so quietly that even a person standing right next to her couldn't make it out. Her eyes went wide and all she could do was gasp. Only then did she truly understand why this task would require her. She would have to be careful to make sure Nighthawk wouldn't catch wind of this Argonite. Their world couldn't let them have it all.

Introducing the Golden Agency, the Justice Society of America to the Squadron Supreme's Justice League! With most of the Squadron Supreme (besides Blur, who I plan on introducing in Infinity Crisis: Glimpses - Season 2 just FYI) already introduced, I thought it'd be fun to tackle the Golden Agency, a lesser known facet of their lore and put my own spin on it while also expanding upon the heavily reimagined world of Earth-712.

Some Notes:

- Professor Imam is from the original comics, where he serves as an analogue to the original Doctor Fate and was one of the only known members of the Golden Agency. I basically kept him the same here, but fleshed him out a bit by giving him an actual first name and background while eluding to his past training with other magic users, including the "Wizard Supreme" before him. I made him Syrian instead of Egyptian so he wouldn't be a total copy of Kent Nelson.

- Because I have my own plans in mind for who Blur will be and what he'll be like, I decided to make the Stanley Stewart incarnation of the Whizzer into a stand-in for Jay Garrick, the original Flash. He's black in this version as a reference to his Supreme Power counterpart, but he's more similar to the classic Squadron Whizzer, including the same backstory, the same family, and the yellow costume that's more evocative of the Earth-616 Whizzer, Emil Frank. So he's a "Composite Character" of himself, but also split apart so the character I introduce in Glimpses Season 2 can be Blur.

- Sieglinde Ludwig (alias Linda Lewis) is meant to be the Dinah Drake to her daughter's Dinah Lance, albeit loosely. After L1701E introduced Linda Ling-Lewis as Lady Lark in their Future Avengers one-shot, I thought it'd be interesting to have her mother be a part of this universe, in contrast to the comics' Lady Lark. Her being Swiss and the "Lewis" she passed onto her daughter being from an Anglicized alias just came to me while I was writing.

- Claire Zhu/Firecracker is a character of my own creation. She is based on Ted Grant/Wildcat and meant to be his equivalent in the Golden Agency. I came up with the "Firecracker" alias first and worked backwards from there. The decision to make her a woman even though Wildcat is a guy was inspired by a suggestion from Movie-Brat (Thanks for that!). Given that we've seen Squadron Supreme members have their genders swapped, it seemed like it'd be acceptable. I hope she gets to see more use whenever we see more of Earth-712 again.

- James Dore I/Bald Eagle is also from the comics, having been a Golden Age Hawkman stand-in. He's called American Eagle there, but I changed the name in order to make him more distinct from the character of Jason Strongbow, who I briefly included in the first chapter of Fathers and Daughters. That's because I have a feeling that I may want to give that particular character more to do next time I write anything pertaining to Earth-92131. Like in the comics, James Dore I is deceased. I decided to establish that the Blue Eagle that L1701E introduced in the same one-shot mentioned above is the grandson of the Bald Eagle. Given that he was named as James Dore III and not II, I thought that'd make sense.

- The "Phantom Pharaoh" mentioned in passing was an old enemy of the Golden Agency who is meant to correspond with the classic longtime Hawkman foe Gentleman Ghost. I imagine he's not exactly the same though, considering the family connection I threw in there...

- Judd Heath/Whale-Man is another character of my own creation, this time inspired by Al Pratt, the (initially) non-powered first Atom. I like to imagine that Tom Thumb was partially inspired to become a superhero by Whale-Man, having grown up appreciating that there was an Indigenous hero to look up to, even if he wasn't a little person of part of the Seminole tribe like him. Not much more to say about him at the moment, but I hope he came across well.

- Julie Steel/Mink is also from the original comics. She was designed to be the Catwoman to Nighthawk's Batman, which remains the same here. In the comics she was white, but I've decided to depict her as an Alaska Native and have her be from the same town as Whale-Man to give them a connection to one another. I obviously know that Alaska is home to people of all backgrounds, especially small towns, but I figured that it would be a good opportunity to include characters of that background.

- Also, one lass thing to mention that has nothing to do with comics; Whale-Man and Mink's shared hometown being named "Known Goose" is a cheeky reference to "Lone Moose", the fictional Alaskan town that is the main setting of the Fox animated series The Great North. I'm quite glad it got renewed for a fourth season! It's underrated.

Thanks a bunch for reading. Reviews are greatly appreciated.