This is Part III of the Memorial Day Special. Last time, after warning Supergirl that Brainiac is back and after Superman, the group was faced with a challenge. The group they have isn't going to be enough to stop Brainiac, and with knowledge from Supergirl, the Regime's remnants should already be mobilizing to get their forces together. With all of this in mind, Blaze decided the time has come to build up their forces, to prepare a new faction in this war. And with some help from new recruit and spy on the Insurgency Green Arrow, the Legion is born. So, how is their little recruiting drive going to go? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes not with Blaze, Green Arrow, and Flash flying through the streets of a major city, heading for the address of their recruiting target, Black Lightning. After a moment they stop, and Blaze, through Flash's radio, gets in contact with the rest of the Element Guard, to see how they're doing.)
Blaze: (Into the radio) Alright everyone, report in. How's the recruitment drive going.
(As each Element Guard member speaks, we transition to their location and meet the candidate they chose to go after.)
Rokko: Rokko here, Deathstroke is on-board.
Deathstroke: Not like you had to do much convincing.
Sizzle: This is Sizzle. Vixen's agreed to join the Legion.
Leroy: Leroy, reporting. Mr. Freeze was pretty easy to convince.
Twirl: Twirl calling in, Zatanna's in.
Blaze: Excellent work so far. Any word from the rest?
Blitz: I haven't been able to get a hold of Atom.
Tundra: And Batgirl is being very hard to pin down right now.
Blaze: Shade, what about you? How goes it with this Red Hood?
Shade: (Amidst bursts of gunfire) He really is not talking to me at the moment!
Blaze: Is everything alright over there?
(At this point, we transition fully to Shade's location, where we see Red Hood is still trying to shoot him.)
Shade: I'll let you know when I know for sure!
(As soon as he says this, Red Hood shoots the communication device out of Shade's hand)
Red Hood: Look, I don't know who you are, but I've got a lot of better things to do than stand around here wasting ammunition.
Shade: Then at least hear me out, Red Hood!
Red Hood: I remember you guys from the war, and if you think I'm just going to join Batman again, then that's one big hell no from me.
Shade: Batman? You think I'm here to get you to join the Insurgency?
Red Hood: What other faction is there these days?
Shade: You completely misunderstand my intent. I'm no representative of the Insurgency.
Red Hood: Then what are you? Regime?
Shade: Hell no!
Red Hood: (Holstering his gun) Alright, you've caught my interest. Who are you from then?
Shade: I represent the Legion.
Red Hood: The Legion?
Shade: A brand new faction. The one willing to tackle the big threats.
Red Hood: The Regime and Insurgency both said the same thing. What makes you different?
Shade: We see the threats that the other sides are ignoring.
Red Hood: By that I assume you mean looking out for the little guy. Unlike the "World's Finest" these days.
Shade: Of course.
Red Hood: (Extends a hand) If you can assure me that this "Legion" won't lose track of the innocent people in the background, then you've got me.
Shade: (Taking his hand) I give my solemn vow on that much, Red Hood. In fact, I'll argue for your appointment to that position.
Red Hood: I'm holding you to your word. (Takes off his helmet) And please, call me Jason.
(Suddenly, Shade's communicator crackles back to life)
Blaze: Shade! Shade, come in! Are you okay?
Shade: (Picking up the device) No worries, things got worked out. Red Hood's with us, on a few conditions.
Blaze: Whatever it is, we can meet them. Rendezvous with the rest back at headquarters and we'll discuss further once we get Black Lightning.
Shade: Roger that. Wonder how the others are doing?
(As Shade and Red Hood leave, we transition to the halls of Ivy University, where Blitz is looking for a certain office, eventually finding it, the door marked "Ray Palmer")
Blitz: This looks like the place.
(As Blitz knocks on the door, she discovers it's open. Realizing the opportunity here, Blitz sneaks into the office and starts looking around, but just as she does, she catches someone else in the room, a young man in an Ivy University polo)
Blitz: Who are you? And what are you doing here?
Atom: (Nervously) I'm Ryan Choi, Professor Palmer's TA. As to what I'm doing here, it's a long story.
Blitz: You're Palmer's assistant? Okay, good to know. Do you have any idea where he is? I've been trying to reach him all day.
Atom: That's the thing, nobody knows where Professor Palmer is. He just... disappeared during the days of the Regime.
Blitz: Disappeared?
Atom: Yeah. He just straight up vanished.
Blitz: Then... what are you doing here?
Atom: (Pulls out a piece of paper) Around the time Professor Palmer disappeared, he left me a note saying to come to his office and find a specific briefcase if he didn't return in six months. The office is about to be reassigned, so this is my last chance to see what he wanted to tell me.
Blitz: I think I know what he wanted to say. Have you found the case yet?
Atom: I've searched this entire office top to bottom and I've found nothing. And I'm running out of time.
(With that line, the Atom places his hand on a pile of papers, causing them to fall over revealing the briefcase he was looking for, as well as showing that it's unlocked. Turning around as he sees the papers fall, the Atom sees his name "Ryan Choi" marked on the top of the case.)
Blitz: Well, there's your case, I'd guess.
(With trepidation, the Atom opens the case revealing a modified Atom costume and a note)
Atom: Wait a second, this is the Atom's suit. (Facepalms) Professor Palmer was the Atom?! Now his frequent absences make so much sense!
Blitz: It looks like that's not all.
Atom: (Sees the note) What's this? (Reading the note) "Ryan. If you've found this, it means something has happened to me. I wish I could have told you the truth in a much more face to face fashion, but sadly that won't be possible. I'm also sorry to foist this responsibility upon you, but the mantle of the Atom must not go empty. And there's no one I trust more to do this than you. Take up the quantum bio-belt, become the Atom. I trust you. Your friend and mentor: Ray Palmer"
Blitz: It looks like there's a new Atom in town.
Atom: Are you crazy?! I can't just... become the Atom! I have no idea what I'm doing!
Blitz: I think we can help each other then. My friends and I are assembling a team. Hopefully we'll have more than a few veterans of the field joining up. They should be able to show you the ropes.
Atom: I'm still not sure. (Looks back at the suit.) But for Professor Palmer's sake, I've got to try. (Closes the briefcase and takes it with him) Count me in.
Blitz: Then welcome to the Legion, Atom.
(As Atom follows Blitz back to the Legion headquarters, we turn to the interior of a clock tower where a solitary figure sits alone, surrounded by computer screens, as Tundra enters)
Tundra: You've gotten pretty difficult to track down, Barbara.
(Surprised at the sudden voice, the seated figure turns around, revealing Barbara Gordon, alias Batgirl)
Batgirl: (Seeing the familiar face) Oh. Tundra. Didn't expect to see you again. What brings you back?
Tundra: Not what. Who. And that would be Barry.
Batgirl: I should've guessed.
Tundra: I see you're keeping up the Oracle thing.
Batgirl: Much to Bruce's dismay. He kept saying that once Brother Eye went online, I could rest. Yeah, right. I'm a Gordon, we don't retire that easily.
Tundra: Well... then I don't know how well this news is going to go.
Batgirl: I'm going to take a guess and say Batman finally relented and needs Batgirl back in the picture.
Tundra: I'm not here recruiting for Bruce. But Batgirl is needed again. There's a storm coming, and Batman isn't exactly proving to be on top of it. We've started a new faction and need you as part of it.
Batgirl: Say no more.
Tundra: Really? You'll do it?
Batgirl: You really didn't have to ask. I've been bored out of my mind as is.
Tundra: Excellent, then follow me, I'll take you to our current headquarters.
(And as Batgirl and Tundra leave the scene, our tale ends for today)
This concludes Part III of the Memorial Day Special. For the finale, continue to our newest story Silent Hill: Spyro's Lament. So it looks like the recruiting drive is going well so far. Don't worry though, next time, we get Black Lightning's answer. After giving so much time to Red Hood, Atom, and Batgirl, I figured throwing Black Lightning in here would just crowd the chapter, especially with what I uncovered researching what happened to him in the Injustice world. More on that next update. So, the Legion is steadily growing, with seven new members today alone. But will Black Lightning join up in the time when he's needed most? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!