Avenging Justice 2:
Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday
Epilogue
Earth, New York, New York City, Headquarters of the United Nations
"Thank you the members of this hallowed institution," a well dressed man spoke, his voice being directed across the main chamber.
His manner, dress and demeanor all screamed "politician" and a career one at that. His short, slicked back auburn hair made him look like a wolf in human form. The three piece suit he wore, would have cost a middle income worker's three decades of their pay. Coming from money, and pushing that out for everyone to see. As if this gave him the right to address, and Graydon Creed believed he definitely had the right.
"I come before you all, to tell you the truth. In our midst is a growing threat," he put on his best commanding attention voice. "One that if we don't put in check, will be the doom of us all.
I speak of course of these accidents that we call Superheroes. As many of you are aware, I started my career trying to put the Mutant menace in check, but as events in Sokovia have shown us, these Superheroes are just as dangerous.
Sure, we have the Super Soldier, Captain America, and the brilliant inventor Tony Stark's Iron Man. Yet on the same team is a former Russian agent, a rage monster, an alien prince and two mad scientists. Then we have an alien refugee that leveled a major city, two inductees in an alien police force, which we have no say in. Then there is the deranged mad man from Gotham, who is apparently starting a cult now."
As if to accentuate this, images of the Teen Titans and Batgirl, played on the screen. They were grainy, but it was enough to see more of Batman's allies moving about the city. Graydon paused for dramatic effect, letting the gathered diplomats look at the images on the screen scattered across the room.
"Then there is the powerful woman who claims to be a child of the gods, going against what we all know to be true and natural. Let's not even forget about the speed demon from Central City. How long till he figures out it would be easier to take the money from banks, rather than stop those robbing it. Or that reading someone's PIN number and staking their money, is easier than putting in an honest day's work.
In truth, we have given these 'heroes' too much leeway, too much room to operate. While Mutants are a threat to humanity, these beings gifted extra powers are just as bad. Sure, it's easy to say they came across these abilities by an act of God. However, I disagree, they may have been gifted, but they aren't from a higher power.
No, if there were a higher power at work, these would be the best of us, the best of what it means to be people. Not drunks and mad scientists, and definitely not psychopaths who get their jollies by beating thugs to bloody pulps. Even the best of America has succumbed to this influence, as shown by Captain America's continued belonging to the Avengers.
So, I stand here to implore you to go back to your respective governments, and have them vote to take up the Sokovia Accords. This will put a limit on these beings, keep us safe, and use these beings for our benefit. It is simple, these powered people would be separated, trained, registered and set to work for us. The penalties for not are harsh, but this is the future of Humanity we are talking about. We can not let this menace grow, but we can make them a boon for us."
Graydon Creed stopped and waited for the thunderous applause. This was his grand speech, the one that would start a new era for the future. He'd had writers compose, rewrite and tweak it till perfection shone through. This would be the speech that historians would point to, in the future, as where the tide turned. Next to FDR's and Churchill's speeches, this would be another "Big One" that would be taught in schools.
"Apologies, Mr. Creed," the representative from Australia said. "We have some other questions. Like, how you are connected to a known terrorist organization, the Friends of Humanity. Did you know they are still wanted in questioning of several incidents back home? Let's talk about those, Mr. Creed."
Earth, S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
Nick Fury watched, a slight smile etched on his face. The blowhard Creed was getting grilled now. Terabyte had wanted to hack into the United Nations and show the evidence that she'd come across, but he'd convinced her that would do more harm than good. Instead, he leaked it to a diplomat or two, well a few dozen really, that owed him favors. It was a stopgap though, things were changing.
The people of the world were becoming more susceptible to messages like Creed's. Messages of those led to suffering, pain and destruction. His grandfather had told him the horrors seen during World War II. The images burned into his mind, and had changed his grandfather forever. Something like that couldn't ever happen again.
"You two made a pretty impressive introduction," Fury said as he turned. "What you just saw is happening all over the world, and it may be inevitable. I'm hoping that it isn't, because that type of fear leads to bad outcomes."
"We'll do whatever we can," Seth said in his Krytponian armor.
Beside him, Lara nodded, "This is a lot all of a sudden, but we're with you."
Fury looked at them, knew that they were saying something that wasn't true. What he was about to have them do, nobody was prepared for. Not even the man they were trying to pick up the slack for, was prepared. He'd made mistakes, and learned from them. He just hoped that these two would have that ability. The attention of the world was about to be on them, and that spotlight tended to be unforgiving.
"Good, the world needs an example set, and now I'm about to ask more of you than it has a right to," Fury said. "I also know you have it in you. Anyone that stands against a monster, without knowing they can survive, that is the type of heroes we need."
"We're here," Lara said, with Seth standing up a bit straighter.
Fury shook his head, smile finding its way back onto his face, "Fine, I've took the opportunity to assign you codenames. Solaris and Luna, all data that could somehow connect you to your civilian identities has been scrubbed. We've saved the data to several secure sites, which are only accessible by high level S.H.I.E.L.D. members. As such it isn't perfect, but damn near it, allowing you a respite. I would suggest not being a Tony Stark and keeping those identities secret."
The Space Between Spaces, Time Within Time
Katara felt the flow, saw events moving about in rapid pace. The future, present and past all intermingled into one stream. A touch here and something in the past changes, a flick there, and the future barreled down a new course. A long look here and the present became a three dimensional map, movie and soundtrack all at once.
Since taking over, she'd took great pains to keep things going down a natural path. Outside forces wanting to transform this reality kept coming in, but she shielded it from them. It was an every present, ongoing battle, one where any lapse of attention could cause irreparable damage. That wasn't going to happen, as a Planewalker, she couldn't allow it.
Still, there were bumps and hiccups, despite all her work. Four just appeared, but already the streams were realigning, adjusting to the new blips. She focused in, willing to see how this played out. Sometimes one couldn't control everything, and had to let a little chaos come in to match the order. One can't exist without the other, so she was willing to see how this would play out.
Earth, New Jersey, Gotham City
Herb was a numbers man. Not like what every mob gang, normal gang or even the out of state gangs, no those were dirty accountants. He was legit, above the board, and worked a very boring job. Which was interesting considering the predicament he found himself in. Just days ago he had been complaining to his coworkers he needed a little excitement.
Now, as a gun was pressed into his face, Herb was reevaluating that particular want. The group of miscreants demanding all his valuables, including his work computer, had jumped him coming out of the subway system. Year ago he would never have taken this stop, no matter how close it was to home, because of the danger. Ever since Batman came into the picture though, that had changed. The criminals had started to fear the dark, and places like his stop became safer. Now with the news reporting that Batman was missing, or worse dead, things were getting bad again.
"Little Leo, I don't think you heard him. Maybe you should blow out those ears, that way he'll hear ya in the afterlife," one of the gang members heckled.
Their face paint and clothing kept one from knowing what they were beneath. Not that it would have mattered to Herb. He was straining to hold in the flight response, all he wanted to was to get out of here with his life. That might not be in the cards, as the gang member pressing the gun into his face, had a finger on the trigger. That finger was very, very twitchy and he saw the trigger depress ever so slightly.
Herb knew he was dead, and began to make peace with that when a dark shape fell over the group. Brilliant sparkling lights blinded the thugs as a heavy form landed in the center of them. The sound of metal ripping through skin caused the screams of the miscreants, even before the first metal blade met skin. The dark form took them down in a quick and brutal pace.
One of the gangsters got a lucky hit in, using a nearby two by four. The dark form grunted, and three blades attacked to a hand ripped into the gangster. They fell to the ground, holding their side, fear just exuding off of them. Another gang member came screaming at the dark figure.
"I'm going to end you for hurting my brother!" he yelled, and then fell down missing several teeth.
The quick and brutal blow left one of those teeth embedded in the dark glove, to which the figure pulled it out easily. Wisely the rest of the gang tried to flee, but soon each one was trussed up and waiting for the police. That left Herb still shaking as the dark form rose. He only found his voice when the dark figure spoke.
"You're okay, go home," the gravelly, nearly snarling voice said. "These punks will love, but with some new love marks."
Herb ran off, even as a young woman in red, green and yellow landed beside the dark figure. Her retro style visor, more in line with the nineties than something from this century. A bubble of bubblegum appeared from her lips, popped and was brought back in. Beside her the dark figure shot a look, but said nothing. He was always grumpy, even after a successful takedown.
"What do you see Sparrow?" the figure said.
The young woman shrugged, "It looks different. Like things are similar but also just a bit off."
"Right, this isn't New Gotham," the figure said.
Sparrow looked at him, "Then what's the play?"
"We get our bearings, get some answers and make a difference in the meantime," the figure said.
Sparrow took out her grappling hook, "Well, I hear sirens, so that's our cue to leave, Dark Claw."
Both shot off in the air, and into the night. Two blocks away the Teen Titans were handling the incursion of three new gangs into Gotham City. Batgirl was running down a smuggling ring, while a worried Commissioner Gordon looked at call after call coming in. The police force was being stretched thin, and things looked like they were only going to be getting worse.
At a nearby airport, two women descended the ramp of a private jet. One was a very beautiful and exotic woman with dark hair. The other was a woman with dark red glasses, pure white hair and what looked to be horns coming out of her head. Each carried a duffle bag, one in drab olive. Slade Murdock and Elektra Kyle took in the city, the smells, and the sounds. There was a mission to be done.
On a plane heading towards New York City, a very large man, dressed in white with question marks looked out. He mused as he watched the city come into focus, and even more as it opened up to engulf him. He let it wash over him, this was soon to be his city. His to mold, lead and exploit.
"When does an opportunity become a trap?" he asked himself. "When its value overshadows the risk."
The man took in the air, and Big Question knew he was home. It wasn't New Gotham, but that would also mean that it didn't have its protectors. He was sure there would be some here, but they could be no worse than Dark Claw, Spider-Boy or the Iron Lantern. No, this world wasn't ready for him, or the friend he brought with him. As if on cue, the large bestial man began to bay like his namesake, the Hyena.
Author's Notes
Thank you all for taking the time to read my little story. I started this project as a challenge. A way of taking two universes I love, and merging them together in a cohesive form. One thing that I loved was the feedback and guesses each of you gave. More than anything, I loved that this story was connecting and people were actually enjoying it.
So, it is my great pleasure to let you all know, the plan is to continue the story in a part three. The place to stop this at was a little hard to find, because ideas kept coming as what would happen next to these characters. However, there had to be a stopping point, that way the next part could start.
Following in the great steps of other trilogies, I decided to end this on a darker, but ultimately more hopeful note. Two great heroes down, the world coming undone, and the worst parts of us ready to take over. Yet, at this same time, two new heroes arising, new additions being added, and our better natures rising to meet the darker ones.
I will update when part three is set to start, and do know the plan is to continue this on. It takes some time to get a general idea of where everything is headed, as well as ironing out the details. There are other projects I'm working on, including original projects that I need to focus on. Fear not, and stay tuned, for the next part comes before we know it.