Disclaimer: The Justice League is owned by DC/Warner Bros. Ghost Rider is owned by Marvel Entertainment. I've been away for a while getting ready for my graduation. I'll be getting a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
"Brutality" part 2
"Broken Wings"
Take these broken wings,
And learn to fly again
Learn to live so free,
When we hear the voices sing,
The book of love will open up for us
And let us in, yeah yeah
Mister Mister, "Broken Wings"
Bank 1 in uptown Metropolis…
"Get that damn safe open!" Hammerhead shouts as he gestures his tommy gun at the Rhino, "We need ta get this money, see?"
"I'm doing all's I can. It must be reinforced with some sorta metal," Rhino replies, "And who made you boss o'me?"
"I'm the boss," Hammerhead says, "Because I got the gun, see?"
"You two really are two of the biggest dolts I've ever worked with," the Shocker says as he makes his way towards the safe, "If we hadn't got sucked through that black hole yesterday, I would've ditched you idiots a long time ago. Move."
Shocker begins to blast the safe while Rhino steps aside and Hammerhead keeps an eye on the hostages. "Hey Flattop!" a voice says as Hammerhead turns around, "say hello to my little friend!"
Green Arrow shoots a small arrow into the barrel of the tommy gun. "Ha!" Hammerhead says smiling, "Ya think that's gonna work, ya Peter Pan punk? And the name's Hammerhead, see?"
"Two…One," Arrow says as the arrow explodes into an alloy that freezes the gun and Hammerhead's hands to it, "Whattahellisthis? You're gonna pay for this, see?"
"You shouldn't a'come alone, Robin Hood!" Rhino says as he charges only to receive a hard fist sending him down. He looks up and sees a hole in the ceiling and Supergirl standing in front of him. "He didn't," she says, "Surrender or be taken."
"And I hope you want to be taken," the Huntress says as she emerges from the shadows
"Ditto," Vixen says as she flexes her claws
"You girls picked the wrong party to crash," The Shocker says as he charges up
"Three women and a baby," Rhino says as he rises, "I'm gonna pound ya inta dust!"
"The big guy's mine," Vixen says as she calls upon the power of a rhino and charges. Rhino, in response, grins and charges at her as well. Once again, Rhino is sent flying.
Shocker blasts away at Green Arrow and Huntress while Supergirl approaches Hammerhead who is on his knees. "Looks like you guys are going to the slammer, Hammer," she says smiling
"Oh, I gotta trick or two in store for you, see?" he responds as he rams his head into Supergirl's bare belly. The blow sends her down with a gasp. "Hah! I can rhyme too, see?"
Supergirl rises angrily and taps Hammerhead on the top of his head, sending him into the floor, with only his head exposed. She then grabs the Shocker's wrists and crushes his forearm blasters. Huntress jump kicks Shocker and proceeds to beat him from pillar to post. As Green Arrow, Vixen, and Supergirl watch, Huntress puts on an exhibition of martial arts landing multiple kicks to Shocker's jaw, chest, and abdomen as well as throwing him around the bank. "Enough," he says, "I've had enough!"
"You haven't begun to have enough," Huntress says, "Get up and face me, coward!"
"That's enough, Huntress," Green Arrow says, "You don't want to really hurt the guy."
"And what would you suggest?" she angrily says facing him and pointing her finger, "Putting him in jail so he can break out? I say let him sit in there with a few broken ribs and a fractured collarbone and then maybe he'll get the message."
"You go, girl," Vixen says smiling while Supergirl looks at them indifferently.
Supergirl carries Hammerhead, Rhino, and Shocker to the proper security personnel. Later, Supergirl falls asleep, Black Canary (who was watching the javelin while the others fought) types an incident report, and Huntress sharpens her sword while Green Arrow and Vixen are in the cockpit of the javelin. "Why didn't you and Kara help me with Huntress?"
"I didn't see anything wrong with what she did," Vixen says, "It's not what I would've done, but it's not like she was killing him. We need to be a little bit more proactive anyway. None of the big guns were around to see it."
"Speaking of them, how are things with you and Green Lantern?" he asks
"Let's not go there," Vixen says, "That's a sore topic. I'll just say this; some people do some things that should lead to an end to other things. But some people don't want them to end, even though they say they've move on and proceed to bring other people into their lives. Some people need to make up their minds."
"Okay," Green Arrow says, "You've completely lost me."
"That was the point," Vixen says
Meanwhile at the Watchtower…
"You have to killlllll meeeeeeeee!" Johnny Blaze says from inside the observation room. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Flash, and Shayera Hol are gathered outside watching
"What do you think is wrong with him?" Superman says
"Well, Bruce err Batman," Diana begins with a grin, "Batman seems to think that Blaze is possessed by some sort of demon."
"That's obvious," Flash says
"The thug I questioned described a man wearing all black leather with a flaming skull and a spiked chain," Batman says, "This has to be him."
"Innocent blood will be spilled and he will commmmeee!" Blaze continues, "You will all suffer his vengeance!"
"If you build it, they will commmmeee," Flash says, "Geez, will somebody get this guy some Prozac?"
"What are we going to do with him?" Green Lantern says
"It seems as though the very fabric of our universe is being distorted," J'onn says, "Almost as if we are merging with another universe."
"I hope it's one with a lot of babes," Flash says. Everyone looks at him. "Hey, how is that a bad thing?"
Zantanna's voice cracks in over the intercom. "You guys might want to come look at this."
All the leaguers rush off except for Shayera. She stares at Blaze as he rants and raves. "Killlll meeeee…"
"Should I give you final rest, like I gave Grundy?" she says, more to herself than to him as she looks at her mace, "Am I nothing more than a destroyer of lost souls?"
"Who are they?" Superman says angrily watching the monitor. What he's watching is a battle between villains fitting the description of the Marvel Universe's Absorbing Man and Carnage, with Bizarro, Cheetah and Giganta battling Superboy across downtown Metropolis.
"I don't know," Wonder Woman says pounding her fist into her palm, "But we're going to put them down."
"Superboy's got his hands full with the creep with the wrecking ball," Flash says, "We better get down there."
"I'll take Longshadow and we'll handle it," Wonder Woman says
Batman eyes her grimly. Diana matches his look.
"We don't have time for this," Superman says, "I'll go."
Batman smiles at Diana so that only she notices. He leaves the room.
Meanwhile, the battle rages on…
"Bizarro like new friends," Bizarro says, "Bizarro says UUUNNNNNHHH!"
Supergirl knocks Bizarro into a building,
"Hey Superdude! We got your back!" Vixen says as she kicks Carnage in the jaw
"The name's Superboy," Superboy says, "And I don't need any UNNH!"
The Absorbing Man lands a brick hard right hand to the jaw after absorbing the density of some bricks. "Pay attention, ya lousy punk!" He winds up his wrecking ball and nearly takes out Green Arrow who just barely gets out of the way. Huntress and Cheetah began to fight with Huntress avoiding Cheetah's slashes and landing repeated kicks to Cheetah's ribs. Giganta swats Supergirl to the ground right next to Superboy. Carnage slashes Vixen across the ribs, drawing blood. Carnage then attacks Huntress who has Cheetah sobbing in pain from her assault. Huntress falls to her back and kicks Carnage off. He lands on his feet and turns to face her. "You wanna fight, little girl. I don't fight; I kill."
"Then come on, MONSTER!" she angrily replies and charges him pulling out her sword.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" both Huntress and Carnage fall to their knees as Black Carnary's sonic scream separates Carnage from his symbiote long enough for Huntress to recover and knock him out. "Now for that bastard with the wrecking ball."
"Hey are you okay," Supergirl says as she stands up over Superboy. His eyes are even with her chest
"I think I need some mouth to mouth," he says
"Excuse me?" Supergirl says frowning but also giving away a huge blush
Superboy looks down nervously, "I was chest choking…err I mean just joking cough"
(that single line came from a comic book I have where Superboy said that to Supergirl, I couldn't resist using it here)
Vixen calls upon the power of the elephant and charges Giganta, knocking her leg out from under her, but Giganta steadies herself as Supergirl flies up to meet her. However, Supergirl is cut of by a blur of black hair and blue stars as Wonder Woman knocks Giganta down with a left hook to the jaw. She lands right ontop of the Absorbing Man. Supergirl looks at Diana with spite, but the now present Superman yells out, "Kara, take care of Bizarro!"
The Absorbing Man crawls out from under Giganta and absorbs the matter of the concrete ground into his left arm. He swings at Huntress, who ducks him and slices his arm off with her sword. The Absorbing Man passes out from the sheer sight of his concrete arm split in half, but Huntress stands over him. "Beast! Now we'll see if you can absorb my steel!"
A hand is placed on Huntress' shoulder. She spins around only to see that it's Batman. He doesn't even have to say a word and she lowers her sword and walks away. Wonder Woman lands beside him. "Where did Superman go?" Batman asks
"I'm quite sure he can take care of himself," Diana replies
"If you believe that, then I'll have to give you a physical examination when we get back to the Watchtower, Princess," Batman says with no emotion in his voice whatsoever
"Very subtle," Diana replies grinning, "I like that."
Batman turns and walks away.
Not too far from where the battle rages an interested observer watches…
"Hush little Wonder wench don't say a word, poppa's gonna buy you a mocking bird," Lobo sings deeply as he bites down on his lip enough to draw his own blood, "And if that mocking bird don't fly, poppa's gonna cut yer throat an' yer gonna die."
He moves his eyes down Wonder Woman curvaceous body from afar and licks his bloody lips
"Enjoy the fun, Dirty Diana," he says growling lustfully, "You an' I are gonna have some real fun real soon. HAHAHAHAHA!"
Superman's superhearing picks up a presence from around the corner. He uses his x-ray vision to see through the building and find a group of what appear to be three soldiers and what appears to be a small tank. He flies around the corner.
"We have the situation under control," he says, "Call for extra support and you can take them into custody."
One of the soldiers walks forward. He's wearing all black with a blood red beret and he bares a resemblance to the younger version of Revolver Ocelot from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (short blonde hair, blue eyes, cocky smile, skinny frame). "I don't think we'll be needing any extra support. Tyler…"
With that, a blonde-haired woman with two braided ponytails who bares a resemblance to Cammy from the Street Fighter video games throws a kryptonite net over Superman while the tank silently blasts him with a ray that increases his gravity. He's caught completely off guard and goes down instantly. "All that equipment we brought," a dark-haired man says who bares a slight resemblance to Zartan from G.I. JOE, "And he barely put up a fight."
"He's just another arrogant male, Jacques," Tyler says, "You should feel quite at home back at the base with him. The mighty Superman, beaten."
The skinny blonde man speaks into a commlink, "Objective Complete. Get us out of hear."
With that, a boom portal opens and they all disappear.
Back at the Watchtower…
Shayera now sits inside the holding cell with Johnny Blaze. She's been listening to him rant and rave and now she is holding her mace by her side, considering an end to this. "What are you doing, Shayera?" Green Lantern says from behind, "You know you're not supposed to be in there with him."
"He's in so much pain," she replies, "Look at him, he's in agony!"
"What about my pain?" John says growing a bit angry, "He's possessed!"
"John, I don't have time for this," Shayera says facing him
"When do you ever?" he replies
Shayera attacks him swinging her mace with controlled aggression. John blocks her swings with a ring shield, but Shayera smashes through it. John goes down but pulls Shayera down ontop of him and the two kiss passionately. John reaches around and presses Shayera's body down ontop of him. She goes with it and forces herself on him. Tears began to flow from her eyes and John forces the mace from her hand, interlocking her fingers with his. "I was never a match for your aggressive style," he says as she pins him down.
"Hey John I heard you were…" Vixen stops in the doorway and looks in hurt and disbelief. Most women under these circumstances might just walk away. Some may even run away crying. Not Vixen. She cracks Shayera with a hard right hand to the jaw, knocking Shayera off of John. She then jump kicks Shayera in the throat. Shayera rams into Johnny Blaze who falls to the ground. Vixen moves in quickly before Flash tackles her. "You and this skank," she says, "In the damn holding cell!"
"I-I can explain," John says
"Explain it after I kick this red-headed stepchild's UUNNHH!" Shayera lands a grazing right hand to the Vixen's jaw. The punch rocks Vixen and Flash both as Vixen breaks free of Flash's grip only to find a wall of green energy between she and Shayera. "That's enough!" John says facing Vixen, "Now please let me explain!"
"I don't want to hear any of your damn explanations," she says slowly starting to calm herself. John expected to be slapped, but Vixen just walks right past him and leans over Flash, who is still sitting on the ground. "And you held me," she says, "You held me for her!"
"Looks like we're both in the doghouse," Flash says. Green Lantern can only reply with a solemn sneer. What could he say? It's his fault.
Vixen storms out walking right between the watching Wonder Woman and Batman, who had just arrived to the containment cell. She fights back tears as she goes down the hallway. She remembers the words of her mentor, "Never let them see you cry." She goes into the recreational room and pulls Supergirl away from her giddy-eyed conversation with Fire and Ice about Superboy. "He's so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute…" were her last words before being yanked. Shayera leaves next, but as she leaves, Wonder Woman blocks her path and stares her down. Shayera looks at Diana with a hint of "I can beat you" in her eyes. Diana grins.
"Diana," Batman says softly and Diana reluctantly lets Shayera go by.
Wonder Woman's quarters a little later…
Batman and Wonder Woman. Bruce and Diana. Locked in an embrace across her bed and kissing passionately. Bruce is still unsure about whether what he's doing is best for him or Diana but he has developed deep feelings for her. Their conversation prior to their hugging and kissing dealt with a variety of issues ranging from Diana's value of her virginity to Bruce's mortality and Diana's immortal beauty. But Diana makes sure that the subject of Longshadow doesn't come up. Their love seems like it isn't meant to be. Every piece of evidence that the world's greatest detective presents to himself points towards a failure. A relationship like this is too risky; she could get hurt. He's lost so many, mom and dad, Jason Todd, Harvey Dent. He couldn't bear to lose her. So why is he in her arms? He doesn't bother to even try to explain it to himself. He just gives in.
The Watchtower cafeteria…
"Hey," Shayera says as she approaches the table. The cafeteria is practically empty, at least this one is, except the group sitting at this table. That group is made out of Huntress, Black Canary, Supergirl and Vixen. On one of the many television screens is a commercial promoting Lex Luthor's presidency and a speech he will be giving in Gotham City tomorrow. "I need to speak to you, Vixen," Shayera says, "Alone."
"Get the hell away from me," Vixen says not even looking up
"I only wanted to apologize," Shayera responds with no emotion
"Apologize?" Vixen says jumping to her feet, "Kara, hold my earrings. I don't wanna get blood on them!"
Supergirl, Huntress, and Black Canary rise. Black Canary stands there, shocked by what she's witnessing, Supergirl blocks Vixen, and Huntress approaches Shayera. "You heard the woman," Huntress says, "Leave."
"I'm a founding member," Shayera says, "I hold the authority."
"Oh, now you are?" Supergirl asks sarcastically, still holding back Vixen
"Well," Huntress says pulling her sword and slicing a line into the floor between she and Shayera, "Your jurisdiction ends here."
Shayera stares at the four women before turning to walk away. Huntress laughs out loud.
"Don't worry, Vix," Supergirl says turning towards Shayera and yelling, "She isn't WORTH it!"
Somewhere on earth…
The pain is excruciating, but yet he takes it. Pain to break the mightiest of wills, pain to shatter the mightiest of spirits. He feels the invasion of his mind by thoughts of pure hatred. It won't stop, it never stops. He feels so weak, but as his hatred grows, so does his power. He lets out a primal scream. Steel hearts are broken and steel wills are bent. But for this man of steel, the beginning of his end may be at hand.
Back at the Watchtower…
"I saw him at the containment facilities," Longshadow says, "He is a threat to us all!"
"I don't have the slightest idea what Chief Bonkers is talking about," Superboy says. In the main lobby are many of the league members, but most notably, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Supergirl, Vixen, Power Girl, Huntress, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Steel. "We should be trying to find Superman," Superboy says
"We should be putting YOU in a holding cell," Longshadow says, "I SAW you. I remember; you were there too!"
"Hey, whoa dude, me smokem peace pipe or whatever. True enough, I am a clone," Superboy says, "That much you got right. But all this stuff about me being a threat is pure bull."
"LIAR!" Longshadow says. He turns to Wonder Woman and Batman, "Superboy cannot be trusted. I saw him at the facilities. He is a part of this."
"You did kinda show up here out of nowhere, pal," Flash says, "We thought you were dead."
"Yeah well, Flash my old buddy," Superboy replies, "I got better. But I don't really remember how."
"Well," Batman says, "We will let J'onn read your mind."
"He hasn't done anything wrong and I say he stays!" Supergirl says
"You have no say," Diana responds getting a bit testy, "We are the senior members and you defer to us!"
"Well the senior member I defer to is missing!" Kara shouts, "We're leaving! We're going to find Superman because obviously, you people could care less! Superboy, you're with us!"
Supergirl, Vixen, Huntress, and Superboy start for the door, but Diana blocks Supergirl. Green Arrow, Black Canary, Power Girl, and Steel look on as Diana says, "You are going nowhere. There's already enough confusion here and enough league members in the field. We will find Superman; Batman has the Question investigating as we speak."
Supergirl balls up her fists, "You must want to play tummy tag again. I'm not in the mood for this. Move."
An alarm sounds and all turn to the big screen. Batman's jaw drops as he watches Doomsday destroy an entire city block with by yanking a gas line up from the ground. An entire block of Gotham City. His city. He storms to one of his two-seater bat-planes and takes off from the Watchtower with hardly a word to Wonder Woman, who jumps into the passenger seat.
"We've got to get down there and take out Doomsday!" Supergirl says as she, Vixen, Power Girl, Superboy, Longshadow, and Flash board a javelin and take off. Green Arrow, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter and the other leaguers who aren't in the main lobby stay as backup. "Green Lantern is already engaging Doomsday," J'onn says to Batman's commlink, "He went to Gotham to cover Luthor's speech."
Liz Gomez was just working her late afternoon shift on the Watchtower. Perfect maid's job, cleaning, making up messy beds, etc. She always knew her life was in danger, but she believed in the league. She never even blinked when the bomb went off. The bombs, complex and unique as they were, were compounds that had an explosive reaction to water. Their makers created them in the forms of a bunch of blue toilet cleaning disks. And every toilet in the third floor bathroom had a bomb in it. She survived the explosion, but all it takes is a little blood.
The containment cell… Shayera Hol could hear and feel the entire Watchtower rock with the explosion of the planted bombs, but what she saw next shocked her into horror. She grabbed her mace and readied herself. Johnny Blaze's body had caught on fire. "Innocence blood… innocent bloooooood…" the flesh began to burn off his skin and his bones were ablaze with white fire. His head began a flaming, smiling, laughing skull. He became Ghost Rider.
"Innocent blood has been spilled," Ghost Rider says, "Vengeance is MINE!"
TO BE CONTINUED…