This is Part II of the Summer Games Special. Last time, well, let's just say negotiations with Aquaman didn't go so well, and he ended up rejoining the Regime with some negotiation from Wonder Woman. But all was not lost, as the Legion did walk away with a new member, the unlikely addition of Black Manta. They may not have gotten Aquaman, but his nemesis will work just as well, I hope. So how is the rest of the team going to react to this? Read on to discover...

(Our tale resumes in the Legion's headquarters, standing over a cloaked table, where just about everyone is in the middle of an argument regarding Black Manta having joined the group)

Green Arrow: You can't be serious. He's in on this now?

Blaze: I know Black Manta joining up isn't exactly what we were all expecting. Trust me, the entire thing could have gone so much better. But since we've lost Aquaman to the Regime, it's good to have someone who knows how to defeat him on our side.

Batgirl: But still, are you sure we can trust him not to turn on us in an instant?

Black Manta: Is that what you think I'd do? I'm hurt.

Batgirl: That's what the data suggests you'd do.

Flash: Look, I know this is going to be asking a lot. But he volunteered his services, something incredibly out of character for him.

Spyro: Probably because this is his chance to take out Aquaman.

Atom: But since Aquaman's with the Regime, wouldn't that kind of be a good thing?

Blitz: By "take out", we generally mean kill, kid.

Atom: Oh. Good point.

Black Manta: I know you don't trust me. And that's entirely warranted.

Rokko: But?

Black Manta: No buts. That's it.

Blaze: I know this isn't exactly what we wanted. But this is the compromise we have to work with here. It's either have Black Manta and his army of vigilantes or nothing. And against the threats we're facing, we can't afford to have nothing.

Supergirl: I say we give him a chance.

Black Manta: For once, the Kryptonian's got the right idea.

Red Hood: I'll second that.

Blaze: Then it's settled. Black Manta's part of the Legion.

Green Arrow: I don't like this one bit, but I'll go along with it. (To Black Manta) But if you even once look like you're going to betray us, I'll put an arrow between those giant red eyes.

Blaze: I'll be keeping personal eyes on him if it means anything to you.

Ember: If you trust him, sweetheart, I'll trust you can keep your eyes on him.

Flame: As will I.

Blaze: I'm glad at least you two trust me.

Spyro: Getting back to the story, you said Wonder Woman herself was there?

Blaze: She was the one who recruited Aquaman personally.

Cynder: This isn't good. If Diana's out, the Regime is gaining confidence. If I had to guess, they're about to try and do something drastic.

Blaze: And if we're talking drastic for the Regime, there's only one thing they could be trying to do. Free Superman.

Supergirl: If I know Brainiac like I think I do, releasing Kal will only trigger further aggression.

Blaze: That's exactly why they'll do it. Draw Brainiac out so they can make a spectacle out of killing him. Garner favor for reinstituting the Regime.

(At this point, a ringing can be heard coming from Green Arrow's pocket. Recognizing it's his cell phone, he pulls it out and answers it, recognizing the number as Black Canary's)

Green Arrow: Hello? (Listens for a second) What?! (Listening as she hangs up) Hello? Dinah?

Blaze: What was all that about?

Green Arrow: That was Dinah, and it looks like Spyro and Cynder were right. Diana just sent a message to Batman. They're going after Superman.

Blaze: Great. Just great. First we had Brainiac to deal with, now we've got to stop him and stop Wonder Woman from releasing Superman! Can anything else go wrong today?!

(And just as Blaze makes that pronouncement, one of the alarms starts going off, and Flash answers it, revealing a startling notice)

Blaze: Let me guess, it just got worse, didn't it?

Flash: Maybe. Word is getting around through our sources that the Enchantress is back in action.

Blaze: Enchantress?

Flash: An old sorceress hag, hasn't been seen before the Regime fell.

Zatanna: She's an old enemy of the JL Dark, back when that was a thing.

Blaze: Great. Yet another supervillain running around. Exactly what we DON'T need right now!

Flame: Blaze, sweetheart, are you okay?

Blaze: DO I SOUND OKAY?! WE'VE JUST BEEN HANDED THREE SUPERVILLAINS ON THE LOOSE AND WE'VE BARELY GOTTEN OURSELVES ORGANIZED!

Ember: Blaze, why don't you go take a few minutes to cool off. You're clearly under a lot of stress right now.

Blaze: Mom, we don't have time for any of us to cool off, we've got to stop Diana from releasing Superman!

Flash: Even then, you look like you could use the time to cool off. Leave us to worry about Superman and the like for a while. Take some time to calm down.

Blaze: (Hesitant, then relenting) Fine, but only because you won't be convinced otherwise.

(With that, we transition to Blaze's chambers, where she appears to be resting for a few minutes, but then just busts out crying. Through her tears, she opens her journal, leaving tear stains on the pages and pulls out a small wood cut, a portrait of her and Dragnarok, carved shortly after the founding of the Element Guard)

Blaze: I could really use your advice right now, Drago...

(And as Blaze's tears hit the wood cut, our tale ends for today)

This concludes Part II of the Summer Games Special. For Part III head on over to Dragons + Phoenix. It looks like Blaze is going kind of crazy in all of this. And the universe certainly isn't helping by piling supervillain after supervillain on her plate. Hopefully she find some ability to cope in time to stop the Regime from releasing Superman, as well as stopping Brainiac and Enchantress, who appears to be executing on her plans, whatever they may be. So, what's going to happen next? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!