26
Legal disclaimer: I tend to liberally "burrow" character profiles and art from the Earth-27 wikia created by Roy Westerman with art principally coming from digital artist Phil Cho. Other creators and artists are found there as well and will specifically list any creations with creator citations as I utilize them. In short, this the single most comprehensive retelling of all things DC and beyond I have encountered. In short, it's worth your time to explore.
That having been said, the properties, and their variations belong to DC and its parent, ATT&T, with four notable exceptions. More on that in the epilogue. I do not own DC characters or their interpretations and reimaginings. My own characters are implied Public Domain since I have not included a copyright notice as required by the 1974 revisions of the copyright statutes and regulations. While an intellectual copyright is implied without the due symbols and language, all such considerations are typically hampered under CC-BY-SA unless duly noted otherwise
"Shit damn effin' bloody hell!" Goldilocks exclaimed. What had seemed to be a simple series of bank jobs was going disastrously wrong. The concept had been simplicity itself. Heist banks owned and operated by Intergang for the purposes of laundering money and for inserting counterfeit bills into circulation. Intergang had acquired the printing plates the US Treasury had given to the Shah of Iran. Saddam Hussein had captured them and run off billions in unbacked currency. Intergang didn't care about inflation rates just profit margins.
Goldilocks had further propositioned that the Injustice Society hit all four banks simultaneously. The elder Flash left every day like clockwork being semiretired from crimefighting. His duties with the Justice Society and Young Justice took up his time. But the younger Flash had returned from his mysterious absence. During it, a mystery woman had taken up the gauntlet but observers reported she couldn't even break the sound barrier.
Max Mercury had reappeared after decades of being missing in action. But he'd relocated to a small Southern Gothic township where his services weren't needed. Goldilocks wanted to be in and out of the banks before the Flash, either of them, or some slower newcomer could hear of the robberies and respond. She especially didn't want the Justice Society running interference. Too many veteran Injusticers would lose their shit if it happened.
But it had been far too coincidental to learn that members of Intergang's 100 were suddenly on a tour of operations in Keystone and Central Cities. Which meant the broker who sold her the details to enable the Injustice Society to complete the scores had sold Goldilocks out.
But two of the more influential 100s weren't a part of the inspection. Julia Sazia was putting down a rebellion of mob bosses back in Boston. Knightfall's entire operation had been gutted by the efforts of a mysterious newcomer to the Gotham City scene. Empress Penguin had devastated the Five Families and Ignatius Ogilvy, the Emperor Penguin all in one fell swoop. And brought the League of Assassins in as a guarantor of the peace. There was still no indication if Batman had a reaction.
Crimson Queen was active again as was her great rival, Disco Mummy. But those two weren't remotely involved in Intergang despite Crimson Queen tight familial relations with the Luthors. After all, she was the mother to Lex Luthor's heir, Luthor El-Fadil. Lena Luthor was financing Crimson Queen's recent tear through the country, her agenda still unknown to anyone besides Lena. And Lena wasn't sharing the details with Lex.
But the 100 delegation was led by Brian O'Brien. He'd begun his storied career as NYC's District Attorney. Secretly he'd also been a low-level vigilante called the Clock. But Brian had grown disillusioned with both roles, seeing them as ineffectual. So he created his own political party and was swept into the mayor's office. And the Clock joined Intergang with the idea being to emulate Knightfall's business model of using criminals to regulate criminal activities. His presumptive politicos had taken the concept to Albany and even secured the governor's office.
Brains and her Gang were also highly influential 100s. Through Ms. Mesmer, Brains held the position of Chair"man" of the 100 while no one knew it was her. The post-hypnotic suggestion concealing Brains' identity also granted her two votes on the 100. Kong and Bulldozer supplied the muscle to enforce whatever decision was reached by the Assembly.
Queenie Hart was a former member of the Black Ace Gang that had found her calling as a regional director for Intergang. The largest metropolitan areas under her control were Chicago, Central City, Keystone City, and Dakota City. Little Miss Murder held the Bible Belt territories. Veiled Lady controlled the American Southwest and Beauty's singular territory was the state of California. Crime Boss held the Atlantic seaboard from New Jersey to Florida.
US Sen. Henry Ballard was still in nominal control over Intergang. But with Olivia McKay's impeachment upon discovery of her status as an extraterrestrial, Vice President Jackson Mason had made a spectacularly poor debut as US President. Having been sworn in the middle of election season, Mason found himself confronted by no less than a third-party rival of such a notorious figure as Lex Luthor, a man whom Mason has just granted a blanket pardon.
Lex was wise enough to leave LuthorCorp in Lena's extraordinarily capable hands. This allowed to him devote his energies towards campaigning. His lieutenants in the Legion of Doom were managing to terrorize the world with just his barest oversight. Ballard tried to curry favor with the presumptive president. But Ballard himself was detached from Intergang while he salvaged his own political career.
The mysterious figured known as Big Boss ran Intergang's operations through the 100, who passed orders further down to the 1000. The Hooded Terror was the high priestess of the Religion of Crime. She was the holder of the only original copy of the Bible of Crime. And under Hooded Terror's auspices, the religion had spread throughout the street level criminal elements.
But a further complication was that someone, Noah Kuttler to be precise, had sold all of Goldilocks' requested data to other bidders. The Calculator wasn't a moron. Knowing he'd burned a major client, he'd alerted the Big Boss regarding the multiple attempts to rob Intergang's four depositories. Besides the Injustice Society, the Brotherhood of Ill Intent, and the Red Hoods Gang had reached the banks first. So steps had to be taken.
"Bollox," Goldilocks continued her litany of curses, "Shade, give me a sitrep."
"Basically we're effed up the ass," came the laconic reply.
"Clock Queen, thoughts?" Goldilocks inquired.
"My abilities would be taxed beyond their limit to try and halt every one of these assholes. They've spread out like gonorrhea and I can only manipulate localized temporal fields," Tempest Fugit reported, "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. It's the effing Calculator that'll answer for this cock up," Goldilocks vowed, "Rival? Do you have an opinion?"
Goldilocks knew she'd thrown open a very wide door. Edward Clariss always had an opinion and even more complaints, "Rival, do you copy?"
"He took outta here," Fiddler explained, "Like his ass was on fire."
"Or he had an STD resistant to penicillin," Clock Queen opined.
"Izzy, you decide on whether or not hitting your bank is a viable option," Goldilocks decided.
"Well, gee, thanks," Izzy Bowen bitterly retorted.
"Thank Rival," Goldilocks told her.
She got an affirmative from her three squad leaders, "We're a go here as well. Hopefully this won't implode our timetable."
Goldilocks led her team against the Brotherhood of Ill Intent to rob the First Federal. She herself dealt with Atom-Master. The other woman's headgear created molecular blasts that Goldilocks found difficult to evade. But a freak electric storm enveloped Atom-Master's helmet, shorting it out and it partially exploded maiming Atom-Master.
"Bad way to go," Goldilocks murmured as two Intergang enforcers casually strolled up. Thrills was an electrically charged villain and the chief rival to Lightning Girl. Daffy was a former WWE professional wrestler with marginal gen activity.
Goldilocks just knew her day had just gotten much longer.
Alice the Mad Hatter simply stood still while Time Commander skipped through time to appear at various points around Alice, singly and simultaneously. Until he reappeared behind her and roughly took hold of her arm and jerked her around to face him. And therefore played right into Alice's less than merciful hands
She put her free palm against his forehead, "You thought you'd have your way but now all you want is to obey."
Time Commander went slack until Dragonfly and Cyanide Cindy, two ex-assassins, presented themselves. Alice smirked, "Aww, they'll be so blue when they discover they do not face one, but two."
And Time Commander pressed the attack on the enforcers.
Mist found it difficult to use her particulate fog form against the robot menace called Ultivax. But the Invisible Man and the Puzzler intervened. Giving Andy Nash a kernel of a plan.
Chuw Lull, the Faceless Hunter from Klamaria, and Kracklow the sorcerer, fought against Blue Damsel Fly and Swarm. Winnifred "Winnie" Schott, the Toygirl, pitted her demented genius against Blue Spark's technical brilliance.
Calendar Girl easily dispatched Mr. Poseidon to the afterlife. But Hit Coffee, the latest Black Hand, and Brick Bat confronted her. And as they volleyed a spray of bullets at her Page Monroe sought cover while wondering if she should've marked today for her funeral.
Shade led a detail to rob Intercontinental Savings. But his team was confronted by the Frontmen. In particular, Shade faced Botfly. Who menaced him until shards of metal that had been a bus stop bench liberally perforated Botfly. Metal Witch led Adhesive Man onto the scene.
"Don't worry, you're next," Metal Witch's metal bikini unclasped and fell to the street.
"Starting now," Adhesive Man boasted. Frankly, Adhesive Man was just annoying, not threatening. And Shade found Metal Witch's skankiness overwrote any appeal her body might have held.
Hazard tested the probability fields locused around her dice. Mr. Somebody had a hand thrust through his chest and as the arm attached to it solidified, the chest exploded. And so Bogey Man introduced himself. Becky Sharpe couldn't keep her breakfast down. Between Hazard hurling and the general gore splashed about, the Bee thought about joining Hazard.
But instead he warned her, "Weak stomach? Don't worry it'll be part of the landscape in a minute more."
Psycho Pirate wasn't amused as Diego Manero, "Spatz" Katz, and Marcus Kemp 2.0 blew Porcelain Doll into shards. Then they all reloaded their submachine guns. Regina Hayden emerged from out beneath cover.
She snapped her fingers, "Assholes! Over here."
Diego and Spatz looked at her and were reduced to howling infancy. Marcus Kemp 2.0, a homicidal robot doppelganger, took aim.
"Oh, eff," Psycho Pirate complained as she drew her cutlass.
At the Public Trust Community Bank, Clock Queen found herself opposed by Brains. Who had no powers except her 12th level intellect. Clock Queen opened her skull faced pocket watch she habitually wore around her neck, hanging between her corseted breasts. And Brains froze in time.
"And whatever shall you do now?" Tempest mocked her.
Matilda Mathis was the daughter of the infamous Dollmaker. And like her father, Dollhouse was an exceptionally skilled surgeon. But she was a serial killer and woefully unprepared for Ms. Mesmer's hypnotic power. Recognizing Brains' difficulty and the source of it, Ms. Mesmer hypnotized Dollhouse and pitted her against the Clock Queen. Ms. Mesmer deciding that anyone bedecked in full steampunk attire deserved a horrid death.
Bulldozer ran through Shadow Thief. And caved in yet another passenger car. Aviva Metula was guiding him towards a specific target. When he wavered, she created shadow constructs and stabbed at him. But she didn't him dead, just neutralized.
"So this is the girlfriend," Ragdoll happily recognized.
"Rags," Pigeon facepalmed.
"You know this idiot?" Defacer roared, "I thought you were done with this kind of crap."
"No, I said I wasn't seeing any other women right now," Pigeon clarified, "He's one of my boyfriends."
"Other women? Right now? Boyfriends?" Defacer sputtered her way through the pertinent quotes.
"You know I'm polyamorous. I love more than one person as a sexual partner at a time," Pigeon reminded her, "But this is over. You're too damn clingy."
"You're right. It is over. As soon as I kick his ass," Defacer shouted.
"Fine. Right now I hate him as much as I've hated you all these months," Pigeon shouted back.
"Eff you!" Defacer yelled.
"You effin' wish. I was the best lay you ever had," Pigeon snarled.
"Ladies?" Ragdoll interrupted.
"What?" they screamed at him together.
"Fight scene?" he prompted them.
"I won't kill him," Pigeon promised.
"Then stay the eff out of my way," Defacer stomped towards Ragdoll.
And Pigeon made a choice.
Over at the Excelsior Savings & Loan, the Injustice Society blocked the Red Hoods Gang from robbing the place. Red Hood One assumed the violin toting Fiddler was the weakest link of the team. But when she played, his glass helmet exploded, penetrating his brain and killing him instantly. It was Izzy's first murder. But it wouldn't be her last.
But Airmale flew by her like he was on a strafing run. The Green Lizard and Silhouette also came to interfere. Fiddler took stock and decided just which tune to play next.
A tidal wave of dirt and concrete buried two Red Hoods alive. 13 killed another by snapping his neck. Scarlet Ace shot one point blank in the head. But as 13 and Scarlet Ace switched to specialized custom weaponry, Geo-Mancer knew the former heroes hadn't done him any favors.
Killer Wasp's right cross shattered a Red Hood dome and drove shards into the man's brain. His bioelectric sting electrocuted another. He took flight and watched as a Manhunter attacked a third Red Hood, joined by his dog, Thor. The fourth Red Hood was executed by the woman called Black Widow. And now Black Widow, Manhunter and even Thor turned their attention onto Killer Wasp.
Gentleman Ghost phased his cane through two Red Hoods and solidified it inside of them. Lady Serpent released her pet cobras upon another but held her trained python in reserve. Alias X preferred knives and carved the very last Red Hood up. Afterwards, Gentleman Ghost wondered what the next step should be.
Wally West and Det. Patty Spivot had been consulting with regional STAR Labs Director Tina McGee concerning Dr. Harrison Wells' failed dark matter experiment. He'd lost containment and the resultant selective mutations had either activated latent gen factors or suppressed active meta-genes. Wally had been on Apokolips at the time.
"Dr. McGee, people are terrified to discover they've either gained or lost powers," Wally shared.
"I will take the matter under consideration, Mr. West," Tina replied dismissively.
"You also have to investigate the thefts from STAR Labs of components to create a dark matter emitting bomb," Wally refused to budge.
"Harrison told you?" she asked.
"After I noticed the missing containers and cross checked what they contained," Wally revealed, "Either you conduct an internal review under CCPD supervision or we'll do it for you."
"The Meta-Human Task Force grants us the authority to conduct ourselves either way," Patty advised Tina.
Tina detected a note that went beyond interservice pride, "Perhaps you'd like to join me for dinner to fully discuss matters, Mr. West."
"When and where?" Wally eagerly accepted.
Tina was twenty years older than Wally but it was obvious he didn't care. Patty, however, grated under her breath, "Cougar."
Wally was oblivious to Patty's irritation. Tina wasn't. And she was an excellent lip reader. And despite the terminology, Tina generally romanced men twenty years younger or more. She tended to gravitate towards men half her age.
"Very good, if you'll give me your phone number I'll text you the details in two hours' time," Tina could've done it right then and there but she liked baiting the hook. While Wally watched her input his number in her phone's contact list, Patty received a call from Capt. Joe West.
"Wally, Keystone PD has asked for your help in a case," Patty told him.
"My, my, Mr. West. You seem indispensable," Tina stoked his ego.
"It's a case you have to be there for in a flash," Patty knew his dual identity.
"Right! See you there," he hurried out.
"Didn't you arrive together?' Tina found the happenstance odd.
"Keystone already has a car waiting," Patty started for the door, "Let us know what you decide about the investigation. Pleasure meeting you."
After she'd left, Tina chuckled, "I hardly believe you found it pleasurable, Detective."
The Flash raced along across the closest bridge leading across the Mississippi to Keystone City. He was so intent on what could have the chief of police call him rather than Jay Garrick that he missed Rival's approach until he was body slammed and skidding across the road at over 120 mph.
"Rival," Flash growled as he got back up.
"The real Flash would never have let me get that close," Rival laughed at him.
"I understand why the Reverse Flash wants you dead. He can't stomach worthless imitators," Flash goaded him.
"Worthless?" Rival snarled.
"Did I say worthless? I meant pathetic," Flash taunted him further.
When Wally had become the Flash after training as Kid Flash under Barry Allen, he and Jay had shared the same speed limits. But Jay's speed continued to decline with age while Wally's had increased. But he still hadn't hit Barry's strides. Barry had been the fastest speedster in the Multiverse. Wally and Jay still didn't understand why Barry had vanished into the Speed Force never to return. Wally's Aunt Iris, Barry's wife, had been stranded in the future but had returned to introduce the extended family to her son and daughter. Of one potential future that is.
Bart Allen, Iris' grandson from yet another future she hadn't experienced, had come through time to train with Max Mercury under the code-name "Impulse". Unlike the Allen-Wests, Bart had grown up with his speed. So he was erratic, impulsive, and impatient to a fault.
"You'll die for those insults," Rival proclaimed.
"But who'll kill me? You haven't even been able to kill Jay for the last fifty years," Flash tormented further, "That's some colossal incompetence."
"AAAHHH!" Rival screamed as he surged forward. But Flash was already ahead of him and gaining ground.
Goldilocks' enchanted hair was nonconductive. But the rest of her body didn't share that luxury. And it was getting to be more challenging with every electric wave front that Thrilla yielded. And while Thrilla recharged, Daffy would press her own attacks.
So Goldilocks snared Daffy's throat and held firmly onto her. Goldilocks eyeballed the overhead flagpole. Thrilla began to emit electrical discharges. Daffy desperately waved her off. But Thrilla discharged anyway.
Goldilocks snared the pole and lifted herself of the ground while Daffy took the brunt of the electrical storm. She was smoking when Goldilocks released her. She knelt to check to see if Daffy was still alive. And she was but in shock.
"Too bad, Daffy. I honestly like you, too," Thrilla conceded.
Goldilocks didn't give Thrilla a chance to amp her power back up. Her hair entwined a parked car and she threw it at Thrilla. Goldilocks heard a satisfying crack as both of Thrilla's legs were broken. The woman howled in agony but Goldilocks left her under the VW. Now, they'd almost run out of time to rob the bank before it was estimated a Flash could intervene.
Time Commander skipped all around Dragonfly and Cyanide Cindy. But Cindy clamped a hand over Time Commander's mouth and he frothed and spasmed as he died from contact with her poison laced skin. While Dragonfly was distracted, Alice cupped her face with her hand.
"Say whatever you thought, this is what hesitation brought," Alice told her as she rewrote Dragonfly's mind.
"Dragonfly, what the eff are you doing?" Cyanide Cindy demanded to know.
"Buying us time to commit the crime," Alice replied.
While Cindy tried to determine if Alice rhymed on purpose, Dragonfly put three bullets in Cindy's gut, "What the hell does this all mean?"
Seeing Dragonfly was unresponsive, Cyanide Cindy covered Dragonfly's mouth and killed her teammate. Afterwards, she passed out. Alice looked thoughtful,
"She came to this city to try and more's the pity that she had to die," Alice remarked.
Utltivax crushed Invisible Man underfoot. Mist reassembled Puzzler's pieces and then pummeled her. Andy took the opportunity to rip apart the exposed wiring Puzzler had cut away at. Ultivax deactivated after an internal explosion crippled it.
Swarm's minute bodies overwhelmed Chuw Yull with their fully potent "stings". But she was tired and had to remerge her insect-like bodies into her human whole. Blue Damsel Fly had killed Kracklow and was also resting while Toygirl emptied two semi-tractor trailers filled with a total of four remote tanks. Drones were flying in from a private airfield where their chartered flight awaited them.
Winnie pitted the drones against the insect women. The tanks opened fire with twin 20mm rotary cannons at Blue Spark. Unprepared for such stiff resistance, Blue Spark used a one-off teleportation device to pull his partners and himself away. Toygirl redirected two tanks in each direction the boulevard ran in and committed two drones to their defense. That would insure the KCPD stayed far afield.
Calendar Girl ejected a spent magazine and reloaded with a fresh clip. Black Hand was doing the same for his MAC-11 machine pistols. She put a bullet in each leg. Brick Bat was problematic. He wore armor pieces everywhere put his jaw. So while he was busy inspecting Black Hand's injuries, she shot his jaw. The sheer amount of pain caused him to black out. Kicking Black Hand's weapons from him, she turned to rejoin the others and achieve the objective.
Near the Intercontinental Savings, Shade simply shifted Adhesive Mana and the still very naked Metal Witch through the Shadow Realms to parts unknown. Tired of this heist business already, he moved himself to Thule, Greenland. There it was still dark most of the day and no one would bother him. Especially not Goldilocks and that freak show, Alice.
Hazard rolled her dice and was gratified to roll "snake eyes", the ultimate roll of misfortune in craps. Bogey Man's intangibility harness blew apart knocking him out after phasing parts of his body while keeping others solid. The physical strain insured he'd be down for hours. The Bee's flight gear malfunctioned and he careened from one side of the street to the other, bouncing off walls at over 60 mph. When it finally failed, he was already unconscious.
Baby Doll drew her Magnum .44 hand cannon from the quiver she wore. Opening fire, each shot made her take ten steps back. Copperhead snaked around Black Death's touch and jabbed him with her venom injectors. The hybridized cobra venom killed him in seconds. Baby Doll managed to hit Harpy twice out of six shots. Despite the mystical nature of Harpy's power, she had to withdraw in order to focus on healing without further serious injury.
Psycho Pirate induced insane rage within Spatz and Diego and they attacked Marcus Kemp 2.0 with hesitation or reservation. After they tore the robot apart, they did the same to each other. And Psycho Pirate drank in every emotion.
In front of the Public Trust Community Bank, Ms. Mesmer had Dollhouse attack Clock Queen. But Dollhouse hesitated. Her father's "work" made it so they'd had to move every two or three months. Matilda Mathis had attended twenty-four high schools alone. She'd never made friends and never learned how to. But the Injustice Society, while not entirely approving of her hobby, at least accepted her. Some more than others.
"She's hesitating," Brains warned.
"Impossible. She'd have to be utterly detached from her own psyche," Ms. Mesmer argued
Clock Queen froze them in time while Dollhouse broke the spell. Tempest motioned towards the Gang members, "All yours."
Dollmaker withdrew scalpels from wrist sheaths and briefly worked on a tapestry for future reference, "I think a face swap is in order."
Shadow Thief finally had Bulldozer aimed at the appropriate target. He charged again, just as futiley, and ended up in the back of a garbage truck. She hopped into the cab and cycled the compactor. Unable to build momentum, Bulldozer would remain trapped.
Kong passed out from blood loss. Shiv considered killing him. But they were essentially on the same side most days. Now she'd lord it over him the next time they met. That and she'd noted he was hung like a horse. Which could prove enticing that same day as well.
Pigeon clubbed Defacer over the head with a loose chunk of concrete, "Why the eff did you bring that shit up?"
"She would've asked why you weren't killing me," Ragdoll shrugged.
"You did hear the part about my other boyfriends?" Pigeon asked.
"Yeah, your point?" Ragdoll wondered.
"I still can't believe how cool you are with my lifestyle," Pigeon admitted.
"I just want to be a part of your life. I'll do that however I can. It's not like our lives are prone to stability," Ragdoll confessed.
Pigeon was conflicted. What had started casually was rapidly becoming serious. Not serious enough for monogamy. She'd rather be chaste than that. And he was feeling it too.
"Peter, you have to hit me," Pidgeon insisted.
"No," he balked.
"They'll know I betrayed them," Pigeon warned him, "So you have to."
"I'm thinking chokehold," he admitted.
"Okay, I…urk!" she was out in under a minute. Then he grabbed the dropped concrete chunk and caved Defacer's head in. He was the one splattered with blood. None of it was on her. So Pigeon would be in the clear.
Finally, things had escalated at Excelsior Savings & Loan. Fiddler shockwaved Silhouette and she blipped back into visibility. Next, she swatted Airmale out of the sky. Shifting emphasis Izzy amplified the music from her violin. Green Lizard's ears and nose bled profusely. A strident note knocked him through a concrete wall.
13 and Scarlet Ace retreated rather than face Geo-Mancer's mounting wrath. The street rippled after them and cars flew into the air. But he was satisfied they weren't coming back.
Killer Wasp boxed Dan Richards to death. Then he electrocuted Thor. Dolly Baker made a hasty retreat. So it seemed the Manhunter and Black Widow weren't all that.
Gentleman Ghost exited the scene rather than dirty his hands further. Lady Serpent and Alias X recognized their overall cause was lost and quietly withdrew. Lady Serpent was unaware that Alias X was actually an agent put into Intergang by Black Canary and her wife, Nyssa Raatko.
Flash sent Rival screaming out into the Mississippi. Then the first Injusticer he took hold was Alice. Unaware she was the new Mad Hatter, he just thought her simplistic outfit was a poor choice in wardrobe considering the flamboyance of most super villains.
"You're not going anywhere," he warned her. And was puzzled as she pressed her free forefinger to his forehead. And his mind exploded.
Alice smiled, "Do you want to just be that guy? Or would you rather work as my spy?"
"Hey! Stop touching him!" Hot Pursuit skidded to a halt, "What are you doing?"
"Why not ask him? Or will you find the answer far too grim?" Alice tittered.
"Why are you rhyming?" Hot Pursuit was getting agitated.
"Why indeed? Maybe I just feel the need," Alice replied.
"Oh, you seriously need to shut up now," Hot Pursuit advised.
Flash released Alice and came round, "Patty?" he blurted, unaware that the dark matter had changed her.
"I don't blurt your secret identity in front of the bad people," she huffed.
"He's Wallace West and he believes he's simply the best," Alice laughed.
Flash stared at her. Hot Pursuit was more indignant, "She's been doing that."
"Wally's been on the phone and soon we won't be alone," Alice was enjoying herself.
"You called it in?" Hot Pursuit asked, "Who?"
"The Justice League," he answered.
"And we'll all have fun up until we're done," Alice chimed.
"Shut up!" the speedsters said together. Alice just snickered.
Jenny Elsewhere, the Intergang delivery vehicle, desperately tried to retain her mind. Music Meister had seemed harmless. Until she began singing. Now Jenny felt compelled to obey any command Music Meister uttered. So she created a portal and desperately fled anywhere but there.
The Injustice Society successfully robbed all four banks. Unbeknownst to them, the 100 were holding an impromptu conference. The Clock got straight to the point.
"We need to blow the banks," he stated.
"We'll lose faithful employees," Beauty argued.
"But we can shift the blame to the Injustice Society," Little Miss Murder advocated.
"We're talking the loss of over one billion dollars," Veiled Lady protested.
"All of which is FDIC insured," Queenie Hart bought into the proposal.
"I say do it," Crime Boss agreed.
Clock hit the trigger, "It's done."
And the explosions could heard as far away as Central City.
The Injusticers had barely made it out and were headed for their respective escape vehicles. Goldilocks saw Brains and Ms. Mesmer's faces had been carved off. Sometimes Dollhouse could be more trouble than she was worth.
As the dust settled, Alice darted off. Hot Pursuit began to follow but Flash blocked her, "What the hell?"
"I really don't know," he admitted. She tried again and he held onto her arm, "Stop that!"
She decided to go the long way around and he interposed himself again, "She has effed up your mind. You have to fight it."
"Check your heart as it's torn apart!" Alice called back at them.
"It's her, dammit!" Hot Pursuit found herself blocked again, "Argh."
The Justice League Unlimited had access to teleportation equipment again. So the JLers were deposited amidst the scene of the crimes. Maxima was nominally in command.
"Spread out. The vermin are undoubtedly attempting to flee from here," Maxima commanded in an imperious tone.
"Hey you, sexy," Music Meister called out.
Maxima recognized Music Meister as an extradimensional being. But she didn't seem to be from the Fifth Dimension. Which was good. One Mr. Mxyzptlk or Ms. Gsptlsnz was enough.
Music Meister began her song. When it ended, Maxima's loyalties belonged to her. So she set the former Almeracian empress loose. On the Superwomen.
Lois Lane and Lana Lang from Earth-2 were each a Superwoman. Experiments akin to the Everyman Project inserted artificial meta-gens into their DNA. The artificial genetic sequence was cloned off of samples obtained by Lex Luthor before Lord Superman murdered him. And those samples were from the Kryptonian himself. Of course, the sperm had never been utilized because of the lack of receptive ovaries to artificially inseminate. While Luthor hadn't survived to employ the genetic material, Mercy Graves committed Mercy Corp into developing a viable adult recipient.
Lois hadn't wanted to know who Lord Superman had been screwing. But she did volunteer to be the first test subject. Lana opted to stand beside her in the project. So both of them had Lord Superman's DNA grafted onto theirs. Lois received Majestic-class powers. Her strength, speed, invulnerability, and flight capabilities all neared Lord Superman's.
Lana had been the surprise. She manifested heretofore unknown solar powers inherent in the Kryptonian genome. Lana was strong but it wasn't comparable to Lois. But she could fly at nearly the speed of light, absorb and project solar radiation, and had Lord Superman's exotic vision powers. Her durability was far above human norms but subpar compared to Lois. Lois had fought in the battle that killed Lord Superman had crippled the other Justice Lords.
Lana had been held back as a secret weapon capable of absorbing solar radiation out of Lord Superman should Galatea fail to kill him. But she had. Which just opened the door for the Justice Lord's allies on Apokolips to mount an invasion. As antimatter swept through their universe, Lois and Lana had been selected along with the Heckler and Hellequin to travel to Earth Prime and prepare a last ditch defense against the Anti Monitor. Just as he'd chosen champions from across the vanishing Multiverse.
Due to the origin of their powers, Lois had suggested that both she and Lana be called Superwoman. And to wear the glyph of the House of El to redeem what it had stood for before falling from grace. Despite the Justice League's comprehensive briefing on friends and foes alike, the duo were completely unprepared for the savagery of Maxima's attack.
Lois hadn't quite been surprised to learn that this Clark had fathered children with Maxima and Queen Diana. Then again, this Earth's Lois hadn't lived long enough for him to force himself upon her like Lord Superman had her. And she had five children to show for it. Then again, the Clark of this world seemed decent enough if somewhat brittle with age, loss, and disillusionment. He wasn't the Big Blue Boy Scout of old and that disappointed Lois and Lana.
Still, they'd never met the Maxima of their universe so they were unprepared for her sheer physicality. The thought of meeting with Kalea-El in combat now seemed terrifying. And according to everyone, Kalea was sociopathic on a good day. Maxima avoided talking about her. And that was never a good sign.
To add yet another surprise, Maxima ripped out a sign post and employed ferrokinesis to transform it into two equally danger short swords. And as Lois found out as a blade crossed her arm, they were sharp enough to cut even her dense flesh.
Supergirl was still coming to grips with having merged with a dying Linda Danvers. Matrix formed the core of the personality, but Linda's memories rode next to hers. And some her instinctive reactions were pure Linda. Of course, the more she accessed Linda's memories, the more disturbed Supergirl became.
Linda was the willing sacrifice to a demon worshipping cult. She hadn't been a kind or noble person. Rather, she worshipped evil personified and wanted to join with it. But now Supergirl was Linda and Linda had joined Matrix in being Supergirl. And all of Linda's friends and family were ecstatic to have Linda "back".
But her new reality tended to distract Supergirl at the worst times. Like now that she was fighting both Geo-Mancer and Killer Wasp.
Sharon Vance had no memories of her life prior to her transformation into Strange Visitor. And that at the purposes of a Lord of Order named Kismet. But Kismet hadn't revealed the why of her plan or the what. But Strange Visitor had adopted the sigil glyph of the House of El without realizing she'd bene childhoods friends with Clark Kent and Lana Lang back in Smallville.
And she faced an irate Fiddler whose violin shockwave was threatening to rip her energetic body apart.
"What gives? It takes three of you?" Killer Frost had to complain.
"You were a member of the Legion of Doom," Copperhead said.
"Before you betrayed them," Hazard offered up.
"I didn't betray anyone. I just up and left," Killer Frost argued.
"Same diff," Baby Doll dismissed the idea out of hand.
Hazard could actually empathize. There were days when she reconsidered her place in the Injustice Society. But she'd made her choice. And they had a billion dollar heist underway and no one could be allowed to interfere.
Guy Gardner had been overjoyed to rejoin the Green Lantern Corps. And to replace John Stewart as the GL of Earth just rubbed the man's face in it. No one could accuse Guy of being a second rate punk now.
But Psycho Pirate and Clock Queen decided to humiliate him anyway. Clock Queen used her pocket watch accelerate time around Guy's ring. Then the braggart decided to posture.
"Ladies, there's enough of the Guy-man ta go `round," he boasted.
"I'd rather eat my own shit," Psycho Pirate provoked him.
"Ya bitch! Guy Gardner don't take 'no' fer an answer," he attempted to squash her with a construct. His ring didn't even flicker.
"It seems Guy Gardner struggles with the English language as well," Clock Queen taunted him.
"I'll feed ya yer teeth if ya don't shut it," Guy threatened her.
"Gardner, look ar me," Psycho Pirate made a face behind the Medusa Mask.
Guy had recently been a Fear Lantern and that depended on the ability master one's own fear and inflict it upon others. But Guy immediately pissed his pants as his fear overwhelmed him. He curled into a ball and began bawling in utter terror.
"That's certainly satisfying," Clock Queen admitted.
Jack O'Lantern's fiercely new visage fascinated Toygirl. She could make a veritable fortune copying it. Owlwoman confronted Shadow Thief. She extended her finger talons but they simply passed through Aviva. Winnie summoned her hold out pieces. Mechanized chess pieces rolled into town and attacked Jack.
General Glory was confronted by the team of Shiv and Ragdoll. Shiv was unhinged and Ragdoll was the deadliest hand to hand combatant that the Injustice Society boasted of. General Glory believed the odds were in his favor.
Rival opened the door for Hot Pursuit to chase down the Injusticers when he clotheslined Flash. They began to race all over Keystone and Central Cities in a deadly duel. Patty felt bad for Wally but Hot Pursuit had a job to do.
Sportsmistress joined a row of getaway vehicles as she drove up in a captured armored truck. But the 100 decided to personally intercept the departure. Clock found himself helplessly entwined in Goldilocks' hair. Once upon a time, the former fairy tale fetishist would have delighted in saying, she would have simply killed him. Instead she smashed his head off of the armored truck a dozen times over. He'd been slack for some time when Goldilocks stopped.
Beauty faced down Alice the Mad Hatter. The East Indian woman looked at her with some horror. Whatever condition Alice had, Beauty feared it was catching.
"What is wrong with your skin and hair? You're bone white," Beauty complained as she held Alice at gunpoint.
"That which you wish to know shan't be made to show," Alice replied.
Beauty decided to cure Alice by shooting her. Only she found she couldn't pull the trigger. And Alice broke into hilarity.
"I like your mask," Veiled Lady shared.
"I appreciate your veil," Calendar Girl admitted, "It's quite a look."
"Give us the money and I won't kill you. Just you and not them," Veiled Lady offered.
"Sorry, I've already booked my vacay and penciled it in," Calendar Girl replied.
"You'll have to miss it," Veiled warned.
"I never miss an appointment," Calendar Girl revealed.
Crime Boss wondered where the hell the fog rolled in from. And then Mist beat him senseless. She apologized afterwards.
Little Miss Murder saw Dollhouse was covered in blood, "You seem to speak my language."
"Art?" Dollhouse inquired thinking of the improvements she could make on Little Miss Murder.
"Of a sort," Little Murder agreed.
"Then let us make masterpieces," Dollhouse drew her Bowie knife from her back.
"Let's," Little Miss Murder enthused as she drew twin K-BARs.
Sportsmistress sat down her equipment bag and withdrew a football. Then she threw a pass at Queenie Hart. Queenie barely dodged it. It exploded behind her.
"Jesus! Grenades?" Queenie exclaimed.
Sportsmistress was already throwing another.
Music Meister kept humming to keep Maxima in thrall. Lois disarmed one of Maxima's hands. Lana burnt the other. Maxima and Lois fought hand to hand. In which Maxima was the superior combatant having trained since she could walk. But Lana's photon blast knocked Maxima out.
Lois rushed Music Meister but she'd already vanished. Lana approached, "Let's not do this again. Ever."
"I'd say she went easy on us," Lois opined, "Her reputation is known even here on Earth."
"And everyone knows her crazy ass daughter has beaten her twice," Lana added, "Problem?"
"Hmm…it's just, her and Clark?" Lois was disturbed by it.
"Don't think about it," Lana advised, "You'll just throw up."
Killer Wasp distracted Supergirl and Geo-Mancer took the opportunity to bury her under a ton of dirt, rock, and pavement. By the time she dug her way out, they were missing.
Fiddler played furiously until Strange Visitor exploded. She became an energy wave that went awash in every direction. Izzy didn't know if Strange Visitor could coalesce back into a whole. And she didn't wait to find out.
Killer Frost held the advantage against Copperhead and Baby Doll. So Hazard rolled her dice. Killer Frost's powers went out of control for just a moment. She froze the building façade she stood underneath. It cracked and fragmented and rained down. Killer Frost ran an obstacle course dodging fragments.
Hazard led her teammates to a waiting minivan. Since she was the one most normally dressed, she was the designated driver.
Guy Gardner simply fainted. Hazard rove up and collected Psycho Pirate and Clock Queen. Next, Fiddler, Geo-Mancer and Killer Wasp finished up the passenger manifest. Taking side streets they pretended to be late exiting civilians. Most of the cops were involved in battling Winnie's tanks and drones.
Shadow Thief used a shadow construct to stab Owlwoman. Jack O'Lantern panicked and blew apart Toygirl's chessmen in a single blast. He scooped up Owlwoman and flew to find the police to get directions to the closest hospital.
"Damn. He checkmated me," Winnie complained.
"Let's go," Aviva insisted. Winnie had a sports car nearby and drove them through the checkpoint.
General Glory had already knocked Shiv out with her own cobra staff. He used it to wind Ragdoll up and then choke him into submission. Lois arrived to check on him while Lana discovered what had happened to Killer Frost.
Rival returned the favor and knocked Flash through a barricade and into the river. Not wanting miss the rendezvous, he streaked past the embattled police and headed out for the airport.
"It's her again," Lana warned as Music Meister reappeared.
"Can I just freeze her ass already?" a testy Killer Frost inquired.
"She's dangerous," Lois advised her fellow JLers.
"So are we," General Glory stated.
"What's going on?" a filthy Supergirl asked upon arrival, "What happened to Guy?"
"I don't think anyone cares," Lana replied.
"We could use Jack O'Lantern and Owlwoman now," General Glory decided.
A soaking wet Flash made an appearance, "Has anyone seen Hot Pursuit?"
"Who?" everyone asked at once.
"Who's she?" Flash asked.
"Danger," Lois answered.
"Not for long," Flash darted forward as Music Meister began singing. And everyone went slack. Her job was to delay the Justice League long enough for her teammates to escape unscathed.
Goldilocks fired up the armored truck while Sportsmistress dealt with Queenie Hart. Alice approached the struggling Beauty. She casually touched the Indian woman's forehead.
"For as long as forever may be, you'll never be free from me," she implanted her hooks into Beauty's mind. And Beauty simply passed out. Goldilocks pulled up.
"As for your plan, now I'm your biggest fan," Alice promised Goldilocks.
"Um…thank you?" what else could she say?
Veiled Lady felt the first bullet puncture her. That was followed by a second and a third. She collapsed onto her knees and clutched at her gut.
"Sorry, but I don't have time to set this date," Calendar Girl kicked Veiled Lady's pistol away, "But perhaps we can schedule a later date."
She jumped into the rear of the armored truck as it pulled up.
Mist joined Calendar Girl. Dollhouse had lacerated Little Miss Murder but she also was losing a lot of blood. She passed out before Goldilocks reached her. And the rule was, the fallen get left behind.
Sportsmistress knocked Queenie out with her last football grenade and staggered Hot Pursuit. Elisa Fulcrum finished Patty with an ordinary baseball bat. The she joined the others in the rear of the truck and buttoned it up.
"Dollhouse?" she asked.
"Her share will pay her legal fees," Calendar Girl stated, "And we'll set the date to insure she never sees the inside of Iron Heights."
Music Meister knew when everyone had crossed over to Central City and were well on their way to the airport. She stopped her song and vanished. The Superwomen disabled the tanks while Supergirl downed the depleted drones. Guy struggled to stay resolved enough not to be skittish at every sound.
Det. Eddie Thawne had worked with the Flash before, "Two of yours are at Mercy General. One is victim of a stab wound. The other one has a flaming head. The redhead woke up and is harassing my officers. We found another but we can't identify her."
Flash streaked off to check on Hot Pursuit. He took her to Caitlin Snow's biomedical clinic at STAR Labs. He heard a voice behind him while Patty rested on a bed, "Well Mr. West, how is Det. Spivot?"
Wally turned to face Tina McGee, "Dr. Snow told you?"
"Heavens no," Tina laughed, "I'm afraid you two made it quite obvious. The odds of CCPD officers being summoned to Keystone at the same time two speedsters arrived is hardly a coincindence. Capt. West didn't help your cause any by placing the pair of you at a crime that didn't exist."
"You should be a detective," Wally told her.
"I am. What else is a scientist?" Tina asked, "I have to tell you, I left the UK to join STAR Labs. As its chief researcher I have my choice of projects. I can't imagine ever leaving or transferring."
"Why the disclaimer?" Wally asked.
"Because of my husband," Tina shared.
"You're married?" Wally exclaimed.
"Technically. He was abusive and I had him escorted from the home and a restraining order issued. He left for England before I could file divorce proceedings. But we've lived separate lives for twenty years," Tina revealed.
"So why tell me now?" Wally wondered.
"I know your greatest secret and now you know mine," Tina shared, "I want you to trust my honesty and discretion and I hope you'll reciprocate going forward."
"Forward sounds nice," Wally admitted.
"I've changed my mind about dinner. I want you to come to my house," Tina told him, "Dr. Snow told me about your metabolic requirements. I think I can provide a meal to put even you to shame."
"That'd be great," Wally jumped in.
"May I ask who Det. Spivot is to you?" Tina inquired.
"Patty is my partner in the lab and on the street. It turns while I was on Apokolips she was hit by dark matter and filled in while I was gone," Wally shared.
"You'll have to tell me about Apokolips. I've heard fantastic stories," Tina confessed.
"It's far from fantastic but it is strange," Wally clarified.
"I look forward to dinner for many reasons," Tina confided and exited.
The Injustice Society made their flight.
"Gentleman Ghost and Shade didn't make it," Izzy quietly murmured.
"They ran. At least Matilda, Cindy, and Peter were caught," Geo-Mancer retorted. Killer Wasp dozed in his seat. His bioelectric stings depleted his system. Andy cloud gazed.
Elisa and Regina played "one upmanship". Page worked on five crosswords simultaneously. Aviva watched online news from Israel. Becky was playing online poker.
Tempest studied Edward over steepled fingers while he had his customary meltdown, "We left three behind. Three! They can identify the location of our hideout."
"But they won't," Goldilocks promised.
"I can't be that certain," Rival snarled.
"Why do you think Alice and I flew in a week ahead of time?" Tempest asked,
"What are you saying?" Edward was suspicious.
"I froze judges, prosecutors, and police officials while Alice reprogramed them. Our people will be released tomorrow," Tempest revealed.
"And there's a second flight awaiting them," Goldilocks shared, "Paid for out of their shares, of course."
"You keep too many secrets," Rival stormed off.
"For a brilliant chemist, he's awfully dim," Tempest decided, "He's also a liability."
"There's insurance in place," Goldilocks assured her.
"It's too bad he isn't hale and hearty. He could've joined our final victory party," Alice spoke up.
"He's ill?" Tempest was intrigued.
"The process that gave him powers is also slowly killing him," Goldilocks told her.
"I could make it swiftly kill him," Tempest offered.
"But it's a matter of course that he'll become a stalking horse," Alice said.
"How?" Tempest asked.
"He'll approach the authorities and demand treatments. But he'll only spout gibberish," Goldilocks explained.
"When he feels he's almost free to fly, his mind will order his body to die," Alice wasn't making a prediction. It was a certainty thanks to her.
"How many people has she whammied?" Tempest was uncomfortable.
"All the veterans. They're the most likely to betray us," Goldilocks divulged.
"Good. But I wouldn't know otherwise, would I?" it was an accusation.
"You have to be awake and aware for Alice's gift to work. You of all people have the perception to know if that occurred," Goldilocks reassured her.
"True," Tempest had hope again. But it was false. Alice had imprinted every mind at Goldilocks' request. Even her own. But Goldilocks had volunteered.
Someone just had to awake. So Alice would rudely awaken her victim and then erase the memory of it. Tempest excused herself and went to the galley.
"Now you can crow. It seems even she doesn't know," Alice offered Goldilocks.
Clock Queen had always been the looming threat. Alice repeated her one demand, "Remember, Amanda Waller must cry, then she shall fry, and finally she will die."
Goldilocks didn't know why Alice hated Waller so badly but she could guess. Someone with Alice's power set would be labelled a domestic threat and incarcerated without just cause or due process. And Alice would've been kept in total isolation.
If the Crimson Queen had become Alice's Red Queen, who did she label as the White Queen? She made frequent references to this mystery woman but gave no clues as to her identity. But she was the one being Alice swore complete fealty to.
"Now we have time before we must commit a new crime," Alice hinted.
"We'll visit Central Park in two days' time," Goldilocks promised. The Wonderland statue was Alice's Mecca. Alice rapturously clapped her hands.
"We should go, indeed. For there you will find a friend in need," Alice advised Goldilocks.
"Who?" Goldilocks was clueless.
"We must, we must see her soon before she jumps over the Moone," Alice stressed the final word as a name.
But what could happen to the Enchantress? And how would Alice now? There were so many unknowns around her.
Goldilocks activate the sat phone, "I'll make arrangements for an immediate departure once we land."
"Very good, we really should," Alice approved.
Goldilocks had to sigh. At one time, Enchantress barely tolerated her. She would definitely regard Alice as a colossal pain in the ass. But they were both her friends. So Enchantress would just have to suck it up. Especially if Alice was aiding Goldilocks' assistance.
"The character of Jenny Elsewhere and associated characters is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Elsewhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed."
While most of her adventures, as well as her various artistic interpretations, are under copyright to their respective creators, the character and idea are free for anyone and everyone to use.
The three notable exceptions are: Alice the Mad Hatter, Clock Queen, and Sportsmistress. They are each and every one original characters even if all three are variations of original DC characters.