Counterpart Conferences

By Michael Weyer

Some might notice a bit of a shift in the summaries for my various IC tales referencing a "Phase 1." That's because I'm shifting up some plans and laying in more set-up before IC 2. And no, that will not be a straight take on CW's Crisis as I have much different plans for future epics as well.

For now, continuing to look at a few "talks" that set the stage of what is to come….

Earth-1

As the monitors flickered on, Oliver Queen settled back into his chair. It was quiet in the Arrow Lair with the rest of the team off on various missions. Only Felicity was with him, going over some logs as he prepared for the conference. On one monitor was the familiar face of Barry Allen offering a smile. On the other was the more serious countenance of Jefferson Pierce from Freeland. "Barry, Jefferson, glad you could make it."

"It's no problem," Barry said. "We've been handling things okay in Central."

"How's…" Oliver took a breath. "Your daughter?"

Barry winced slightly. "Still weird hearing that. But yep, she's still handling being in our time. She still can't find a way back to her home period. According to her, the entire Dusting was never supposed to happen. She thinks it may have shifted things up somehow so she's stuck here for the time being."

"Huh….She come more clean on things?" Oliver had visited Central City a few weeks earlier on a case and it hadn't taken long to sense Nora was hiding something.

Barry's face soured. "She did. Let's just say, it's a personal thing. I wasn't happy about it at first but…I'm trying to handle it." The tone of his voice made it clear it was still a tricky subject and Oliver decided to let it go. "How are things with you?"

"Not bad," Oliver stated. "Felicity and I are getting better. I admit, her attitude has changed since she came back, more supportive even if she can call me out but not with as much judgement this time around."

"Huh, Iris too," Barry noted. "Guess death and rebirth has a way of shifting your attitude.

"Sitting right here," Felicity spoke up. "Although I have to agree with what is being said and really annoyed at how I used to be."

"This isn't just catching up, is it?" Pierce stated more than asked. "What's up, Queen?"

Oliver took a breath. "I've been hearing from John and Layla as well as a few old contacts in Washington. There's been some growing buzz lately on some…measures involving metahumans."

The Flash and Black Lightning both perked up at that. "What kind of…measures?" Jefferson asked in a tight voice.

"Right now, it's just minor talk about possible checks, balances and such," Oliver responded. "But Layla thinks some in Congress might be pushing for more. Maybe some registration or official records of metahumans."

Jefferson's eyes narrowed. "Is that all?"

"No," Oliver admitted. "But they're not going to come out and say what else they'd want. Right now, it's just talk but it could become more down the road."

Barry blew out a breath. "Damn. I guess I should have known something like this would be coming up. Frankly, I'm shocked it hasn't happened already. Especially with what Central City puts out in terms of metahuman criminals."

"It makes a lot of people nervous," Oliver said. "I actually get it. I know you guys are good and so are the ones you work with. Problem being, a lot of metahumans don't have your morals."

"So we all just get lumped together?" Jefferson snapped. "Because that's what folks in power tend to do, judge everyone by the bad apples."

"No one is doing that," Oliver pressed. "But you have to admit, Jefferson, seeing gangsters or other people throwing out some super-powers isn't a way to get some people on your side."

"Which side?" Jefferson responded. "Because I've got a very bad history with folks saying I'm on the wrong side of an issue because of what I am."

"This isn't about your skin color…"

"The hell it isn't. We black people know all about how it is to be judged by what we look like, not what we do. I see it every single day and you haven't. It's a struggle you can't get."

Oliver glared. "I have been through a lot you haven't, Pierce. Don't talk to me about struggle."

Jefferson leaned forward. "Listen, Queen. You've been through a lot of hell I haven't. I get that. But at the end of the day…you're rich and you're white. You can never know what I go through. Not me, not my daughters, not my wife."

"I know that anyone, regardless of skin color, who goes around throwing lightning bolts is not someone the public is willing to trust."

"This from the guy who dresses in a hood and put arrows in people?! And unlike you, I don't kill."

"My city isn't yours."

"You're damn right it's not so don't start pulling the "white savior" card of coming down and trying to help us poor dumb darkies who just need help solving all our problems!"

"Okay, easy," Barry cut in, his hands raised as if he could physically get between the two. "Let's get off the really uncomfortable race issue that I fully admit I'm not the best person to chime in on and get to the metahuman part of it. Since, after all, there are just as many metas of various other races." He looked to the other screen. "Although, for the record, I spent months in prison for a crime I didn't commit when you didn't so I think I can talk on more of a raw deal than you."

Felicity coughed. "Um, tempting as it is to add my own two cents, I've been undermining Oliver way too much as it is. So how about maybe getting back on topic before we totally devolve into a C-Span debate?"

Oliver calmed down as he spoke. "It's why I want to talk on this. From what I gather, on the Avengers Earth, they did something like this and all it did was nearly tear them apart. I want to try and avoid that mistake."

Barry nodded. "The way they talked, the Accords were just far too broad and basically made any use of metahuman powers a crime. That can't happen here."

"He's right," Jefferson said, having calmed down. "Again, this is not too different from the debate about guns or other weapons. It's not the powers that are the problem it's how people use them. Trouble is, too many folks won't see it that way. They'll think any person with powers is automatically a threat. I get that a lot and so do my daughters. Course, it's different with us as black folks with powers tends to make folks nervous."

"What did I just say?" Barry protested. "And no, Jefferson, as it happens, folks can be just as freaked out about someone like me who can move at super-speed or Caitlin turning anything into ice."

"Which again makes people without powers worried," Oliver stated. "That's what I mean, we need to find a way to get in front of this before it gets out of hand. All it takes is one huge metahuman disaster and the pitchforks come out and everyone suffers."

"It may not even need that," Jefferson said. "If the buzz about this is already growing, that means there can be measures set now and just waiting to go."

Oliver nodded. "I won't lie...Part of me thinks some measures on metahumans aren't bad. You can't really try them the same way as a normal criminal. But I know full well how government agencies think and some of them don't have the best interests of the public in mind. Also, I know how easy it is for people to turn on folks who wear masks."

"It's different for you," Pierce stated. "You want to scare the bad guys and be intimidating. I wear it to protect my family, same as Allen." He held up a hand. "I get it, different methods. But you are right, the masks do make it look like we've got more to hide and it's harder to trust us."

"No wonder Kara and her cousin don't wear any," Barry noted. "Imagine someone with her power wearing a mask, it could be way too easy to mistrust and even fear her."

Oliver brushed at his chin. "We all have differences but I think we can all agree on one thing. When people get scared, they jump to making the wrong mistakes to keep themselves safe. We've all been through that. Right now, it's still just talk about what can be. However, we need to be united if it becomes something more serious. I don't want to fight you guys on this and turn into our own little civil war."

"That we can agree on," Jefferson stated. "All that does is make things easier for the bad guys. You know I've got a couple of kids with me now, Spider and Static. They're good kids but if someone were to start going after them for being what they are, that can turn them to a darker path."

Oliver sighed. "I know that. I've seen it. Again, it's why I want us to talk this over before anything more serious starts coming down from on high. Maybe we can even approach them with some sort of compromise, give them some illusion of control but make sure we don't have to give up our identities and be answerable to some agency."

"Hey, you're the politician now," Barry said with a grin. "Which is something I still can't believe..."

"He's right on that," Jefferson added with his own wry smile. "You can make a few public statements on this that we can't." His smile faded. "Look, Queen...as much as we disagree, I do know you're a good man who wants to do the right thing. I never approved of your methods but I can't argue with your guts. I'm willing to go along with you on your plans but I have to put my family first."

"I get that," Oliver informed him. "Unlike Stark, I'm not pretending I know all the right answers on this. My metahuman experience is different than yours just as you don't have the insight I do. This is something we have to work together on before it gets worse."

The Flash and Black Lightning nodded in agreement. "We've got our own issues in Central but Iris can help with the media stuff, make sure people don't see metas as all bad," Barry stated.

"We've got problems in Freeland but I can help as I can too," Pierce said. He looked to Oliver. "I'll go with you so far on this, Queen...But you better know that if I think you're going down the wrong road on this, I'm calling you on it."

"That's exactly what I want," Oliver informed him. "This is too big for any one person, only together can we hope to find a proper solution."

"It's not just us, though," Barry pointed out. "What about the folks out there we're not on a first-name basis with?"

Oliver drew a deep breath. "Those are the ones that worry me. I truly hate wild cards and there's too many of them in this world that can mar things up."

Gotham City

The wind whipped at her cape, allowing it to flow behind her. She gazed down upon the city, taking it all in behind her mask. As always, she felt a thrill at the sight, crouched atop a gargoyle looking down at the city. It had been only a few weeks but Kate Kane enjoyed the view as well as the feeling she got being in this costume. It felt good and right and something better to do than while away her fortune.

"Kate."

She spun around, a hand already firing off a Batarang. It flew through the air before easily being caught by the man standing before her. He was dressed much like her in a dark armored suit with a long cape behind him. His cowl fit over his head whereas the red wig flowed out of hers. Like her, at the center of his chest was an emblem looking like a large bat.

Kate blinked in surprise. "Bruce?"

Batman nodded slowly before tossing the Batarang back to her. "The wig is an interesting touch…"

"Helps the disguise," she responded. "Folks automatically look for a redhead." She took him in. "I didn't know you were back."

"I wanted it that way," Batman responded. "Just me and Alfred so far." He joined her on the edge of the roof, looking down at the city.

Kate frowned at him. "You're not going to tell me what happened? Where you've been? Why you're back?" He simply stared out and she sighed. "Of course you're not." She lifted her chin up. "If you're going to tell me to quit…"

"No," he said. "No, I'm not. I was surprised to hear what you're up to but…I can't say it hasn't been a help." He seemed to arch an eyebrow. "Of course, Lucius has told me your attitude can use work."

She smirked. "You're going to chastise me on a bad attitude?" At her stare, she sighed. "Fine, I admit it, I got an ego rush when I put the suit on. And trying to get out there and bragging a bit much. I was pissed when you left so suddenly. Not just the city but me too." She looked at him. "We needed you."

He was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I had…my reasons to go. And I realize they were wrong. I did learn some new things though. Things I suppose I had to learn."

Kate gazed at him. "That's pretty much all I'm going to get, am I?" She sighed. "Fine. I suppose you'll want the Cave back."

The left side of his lip twitched slightly. "You think that's the only Cave. It looks like you're not as smart as I hoped you were." He ignored her stare as he continued. "You can work there for now. You're doing good, Kate, attitude aside. You just need to increase the discipline."

"I was military."

"Until you were booted out."

"You know why."

"I do. The same reasons that give the fire to do this. Which is why I'll let you keep it up…"

"Let me?"

Batman went on as if she hadn't spoken. "I'm glad you're not being too brutal. And not killing."

"I wouldn't," she quickly said. "Not when I'm wearing this." She tapped the bat emblem at her chest. "I know what it means to this city. Whatever else you think of me, I wasn't going to disgrace what you built."

"I know," he intoned. "We'll talk later. I have work to do."

Kate glanced out at the city. "Gotham is rougher, Bruce. I know you think you've got the skills still but…" She turned to see he was already gone. She rolled her eyes upward. "Always gotta show me up," she muttered before firing off a grapple hook to take off into the night.

Earth-19999

The video feed on the television was dominated by the sight of various missiles firing off into the sky. The feeds switched about to show the objects flying from the United States, Europe, Asia, Russia and even some small islands. No matter where they fired, they seemed to have no arcs at all but merely flying upward and into the air. The feed now showed footage from the special Baxter Industries space station that showcased the thousands of nuclear missiles floating off into the vacuum of space.

The video screens now shifted to show a single figure floating in the air before a mountain range. His uniform was blood red and dark with a long cape flowing behind him. His face was strong despite his age and a uniquely designed helmet fit above his head. His voice was stern as he spoke.

"Citizens of Earth. I am Magneto." He spread his arms out. "Welcome to the first day of a new age. As of one minute ago, every nation on Earth has precisely one nuclear missile in its arsenal. More than enough to still cause severe damage, of course but not enough to create Armageddon and still maintain some weapon equality. Oh, you can make more but I would think this is a symbol that perhaps losing these weapons is a good thing for the populace.

"But make no mistake, I did not do this for the good of humanity. Far from it. I did so because any nuclear conflict would harm my people as well and I cannot allow that. For too long, mutants have been marginalized, assaulted, killed and hunted as animals. I have seen it happen long ago. I will not allow it to occur once again.

You built weapons to destroy us. Why? Because you are afraid of our gifts. Because we are different. Humanity has always feared that which is different, but I am here to tell you, to tell the world…you're right to fear us. We are the future. We are the ones who inherit this earth and anyone who stands in our way will suffer a harsh fate. I am not the one calling for peace for I know it shall never be." He leaned forward. "Why would we wish to seek equal rights? You are not our equals."

He waved a hand at the sky. "Those weapons have long been meant as a display of your power." He brought his thumb and forefinger with only an inch between them. "I have just given you the tiniest glimpse of my own. This is but a taste of what my people can do to you all. Let this be a warning to the world that we will not meekly go into the gas chambers this time around.

His face softened as he spoke in a warmer tone. "To my mutant brothers and sisters out there, I say this: No more hiding. No more suffering. You have lived in the shadows of shame and fear for too long. Come out. Join me. Fight together in a brotherhood of our kind, a new tomorrow that starts today." His face tightened once more. "We did not start this fight, humans. But we shall finish it. Give us the right to live and we shall in peace. Push us…and the blood that flows shall be on your hands."

The videos faded as the various view screens broke into telecasts of numerous anchors discussing the threat made just the day before. In the center of his main chamber, sitting atop a metallic throne, Erik Lehnsherr crossed his fingers in thought. He had made the right move, he knew that. It would cause some chaos but that was worth the attempt as the struggle would require far more sacrifices.

He felt it first, a shift in the electro-magnetic field of his lair. He turned his head as the energy crackled to form a three-dimensional image before him. It was an imposing figure dressed head to die in silver armor. Green clothing fit over him with a cape and hood that gave him a regal bearing. His face was completely covered by a metallic mask as his eyes took in the mutant rising from his seat.

"Magneto," he said, an echo to his voice. "I believe it was time we talked."

"Doom," Magneto stated. "I had anticipated this meeting. Although I had hoped it would be face to face."

"I have more pressing matter than to meet with everyone that concerns me," Doom replied. "I am intrigued by your message, of course. And by how far you will go to back it up."

"As far as I must," Magneto stated. "I do not bluff."

"No…no, you do not," Doom mused. "In that we are much alike." He carefully paced about the room, his hands behind his back. "You and I are not dissimilar, Magneto. I too felt the persecution of others in my youth. I saw my mother slaughtered because of it. I made a vow that never again would Victor Von Doom call any man master."

"Instead you would have everyone on Earth call you that," Magneto stated. "As evidenced by your recent attack on New York."

"You call it an attack, I call it responding to an act of aggression," Doom stated.

"Wasn't the act your attempt to destroy the Fantastic Four?" Magneto dryly asked.

"Merely my proving to Richards which one of us is the superior."

"Yes as proven when he defeated you."

Doom glared at him. "Merely a setback." He continued to pace. "Your actions are understandable, Magneto. But your methods may be at cross-purposes with my own."

"Meaning you don't want me freeing the world that you intend to conquer."

"And you don't want to conquer it yourself?"

"Only to ensure a much better world for my people."

"Justify it all you want, Magneto. It is still taking on the right to rule."

"And you do not? What gives you such a right?"

"I am Doom. That is all the right I require."

Magneto raised an eyebrow. "There is a risk in doing battle with me, Doom. The fact that you are here in a holographic form rather than yourself shows you are…" He paused. "Concerned for my abilities."

"Do not press me, mutant," Doom said in a dangerous voice. "Doom fears no one. I merely see no reason to engage in conflict at this time." His eyes narrowed behind the mask. "But do not mistake my discussion for weakness. Your actions have already riled up the world powers greater than I could. You have declared war on humanity."

"They declared war upon my kind first. I shall merely finish it. Unlike you, I seek a better world."

"That is where you are wrong, Magneto. I too seek a better world. The only one where humanity can achieve greatness…under Doom."

Magneto cocked his head to take him in. "You truly believe that, don't you?" he mused. "You honestly believe you are suited to rule."

"It is my destiny."

"I have had a harsh experience with those who claim destiny, Doom."

"Do not confuse me with those monsters of the past, Magneto. Doom may be harsh but I do not consider others inferior because of how they were born."

"No, you merely consider them inferior because they are not you."

"A unique choice of words from one who dismisses humans as not worthy of being equals." Doom faced the mutant. "Do you truly think you can win, Magneto? With all the armies of the world against you? Not to mention the X-Men and the Avengers?"

Magneto shrugged. "Every revolution begins with one man, Doom. Perhaps this will not happen in my lifetime...but I am willing to sacrifice my life for my cause. Can you say the same? After all, your cause is yourself."

Doom glared once more. "You would be best to leave rule to those born for it, Magneto."

Magneto crossed his arms. "We can spend all day crossing verbal swords, Doom. Let us make this clear now. I do not seek you as an enemy and you certainly do not wish to be one of mine. I don't even have to be on Latverian soil to crush that armor around you like an eggshell."

"And I do not have to even be on this planet to obliterate your entire base with the flick of a switch," Doom returned. Even in his holographic form, his presence was packed with menace. "For now, I shall allow you to continue on your quest, Magneto. Yet you must know you shall face serious conflicts in your crusade."

"As shall you." Magneto turned back to his seat. "Leave me to my brand of madness, Doom and I shall leave you to yours. And upon the day of judgement, when we face each other across a burning planet…we shall see who is wrong and who is right then."

"Yes. We shall." Doom continued to stare as his hologram flickered out of existence. Magneto gazed at the empty spot before turning back to his throne. He sat once more upon it as he mused upon the talk he'd just had and how he and Doom were both prepared to change the world.

Whether it wanted them to or not.

This was a huge set of talks I wanted to get out. I thought it good how the Arrowverse guys would recongize the problems of the Accords and avoid that in their world (with Ollie noting a key problem was Tony assuming only he could know best for everyone).

The Batman/Batwoman one was written out in some response to the previews of the series although it looks like it may be softened. And how the Dusting could drive Bruce to return.

And Doom and Magneto was just a natural talk as these two are so much alike that it's a fascinating contrast.