Welcome back to The Injustice Wars! Last time, while fighting Brainiac's drones, Blaze and company successfully implemented their plan to seed Black Manta as a spy within Darkblood's empire. But as the new mole was getting sworn in, a mysterious ball of light crashed down outside Empire headquarters in Dr. Simon Hurt's barn, where the figure revealed itself to be a serpentine figure born from a gem with the ability to manipulate time itself. A figure the Nullverse knows as Vermillion. Today though, we focus away from the great threats and focus on something a little different. What do I mean? Read on to discover...
(Our tale resumes somewhere in New Jersey, where Plastic Man is harboring the interdimensional travellers he intercepted last time we saw him)
Plastic Man: (Checking around) Looks like we'll be safe here.
Hellboy: Somebody want to give me an idea as to why the hell we're running?
Plastic Man: It seems like every other day an army of death drones drop down from the sky and try to collect people.
?: What is this? An alien invasion or something?
Plastic Man: That's... exactly what it is... I didn't get your name.
Nekoto Wismer: Everyone calls me Nekoto Wismer. Mostly because you'd never be able to pronounce my real name.
Plastic Man: Taking your word for that. So, what brings all of you here?
Belial Aether: Truth be told, we have no idea. One moment we're battling an army of frog demons and next thing I know we're here, wherever here is. Now I do believe you owe us an explanation for what's going on.
Plastic Man: Believe me, I'd love to, but there's someone who tells the story better than me.
Belial Aether: Then I suggest you take us to them.
Plastic Man: Gladly. But we've got to move quickly.
(With that, the quartet moves out, and before long, arrives at some sort of chamber, where a single man stands facing a series of screens, as Plastic Man and his party walk in)
?: I take it these are the ones you told me about, Mr. O'Connor?
Plastic Man: Yeah, these are them, they're looking for an explanation.
(Now the mystery figure turns around, revealing three distinctive scratch marks across his face)
Vandal Savage: Then an explanation they shall receive.
Belial Aether: And who are you?
Vandal Savage: My name is Vandal Savage. I have walked this earth for thousands of years, seeking to ensure humanity reaches it's evolutionary destiny.
Belial Aether: Still doesn't explain what happened here?
Vandal Savage: Straight to the point, I like it. This world entered it's current state after one the people long called a hero turned into a dictator, and brought the whole world under his thumb. But as with all dictators, someone rose up to oppose him. And with aid from another realm...
Belial Aether: Wait, we're not the only ones from another realm here?
Vandal Savage: Not if my scouts are reliable. But that is beside the point. With the dictator deposed, the force that stopped him rose to take his place. And as you've seen, they have failed to keep order. Allowing a group of supervillains to rise to prominence. (Displaying the Society members on the screens) They call themselves the Society.
Hellboy: I take it they're responsible for the freaking robots coming up everywhere?
Vandal Savage: Correct.
Belial Aether: Then if you oppose the same enemy, why hide like this?
Vandal Savage: We aren't exactly on the same page. The Insurgency, you see, doesn't see that the fallen Regime had a point.
Belial Aether: That point?
Vandal Savage: Some lives need to be taken.
Belial Aether: That's the point of contention? Even I could tell you there's truth in that
Vandal Savage: I... strangely could sense that about you. The Anubite in your blood.
Belial Aether: How did you know I was the son of Anubis?
Vandal Savage: I knew Anubis in his prime. Great man really. Never thought he had a son though.
Belial Aether: Perhaps not in this world.
Vandal Savage: All that aside, that is how we got here. I have tried to put together a team to set things right, but we've had very little success in recruiting.
Plastic Man: Since all he's gotten, is me.
Belial Aether: Perhaps we can be of benefit to each other then.
Vandal Savage: What?
Belial Aether: We'll help you out, on the condition that you get us home somehow.
Vandal Savage: We will do what we can.
Belial Aether: Just to let you know, the three of us don't do well with taking orders.
Vandal Savage: You will be granted autonomy, under the condition that we act as equals.
Belial Aether: Deal.
(And with that, the two shake hands, forming an alliance)
Nekoto Wismer: All we need now is a team name.
Vandal Savage: A team name?
Nekoto Wismer: You know, a name the people can call us by. Some thing catchy, like the Strikers, the League, or the A...
Belial Aether: (Interrupting Nekoto Wismer) What about the Republic?
Vandal Savage: The Republic?
Belial Aether: It sounded catchy in the moment.
Vandal Savage: It's better than what I had.
Belial Aether: That being?
Vandal Savage: The Light.
Belial Aether: I definitely prefer the Republic.
Plastic Man: Me too!
Vandal Savage: (With a smile) The Republic it is then.
Belial Aether: So, what's first then?
(As the newly christened Republic discusses their plans, our tale ends for today.)
And that looks like a good place to end for today. So, now the Republic is fully ready to enter the game. Well, almost. They're still missing a few key figures. More on them later. But the faction itself is established. So, what comes after this? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!