This is story made of six short stories, each focusing on a Lord. We will see new identities forged, old personas fall…and redemption that can only come from death. It will not always be happy, but in the end, each of them will find what they need.
The Father becomes the Son, The Son becomes the Father.
A Different Point of View
The scars still itched her.
She would move her shoulders a certain way, the muscles shifting, and she would get that unbearable feeling that bugs were wiggling under her skin, trying to escape. The only way to relieve herself was the roughly itch, fingernails digging into her back. Of course, after she was done, she would end up with a back full of bloody cuts.
But she would take the cuts any day. Blood meant that she was alive. Meant there was a chance she could escape this hell that was her life.
It had all started when the Thanagarians had invaded Earth, hoping to destroy it and bring an end to their war with the Gordanians. She had helped them, given them everything they needed to take down the Justice Lords. It should have worked perfectly, though knowing what she knew about their plan now, she was glad it had failed.
Thanks to Luthor.
Lex Luthor was not a man to like being without control. After a Thanagarian Commander had taken over parts of LexCorp, Luthor, from prison, had arranged for a little surprise. Revenge for daring to touch what he still considered his. How he had managed to hack into the Thanagarians' mainframe, she still didn't know. But whatever the case may be, he found all the information he needed and promptly broadcasted it all over the world.
The Lords had acted quickly…destroying the fleet, with Superman punching a hole in the flagship and letting Shayera's people know that if they arrived again, they would meet with even more resistance.
When Commander Hol had tried to reveal the truth about her, she had smashed him with her mace and told him to take his 'lies' elsewhere.
Through his actions, Lex had been given a pardon. A pardon that, whenever Shayera thought about a young man with shaggy red hair and a winning smile…made her wish she had never come to Earth.
Wally was dead because of her.
Oh, the others had told her that it wasn't her fault. That they should have done something about Luthor in the first place, that he should have been dealt with years ago. Superman blamed himself a lot, and made it clear that it was his fault, and his fault alone. Several times, John had almost said that it was Wally's own fault, but had shut his mouth just in time. With Superman letting them go all out, she had no doubt that the Lords wouldn't have blinked if she bashed his brains in for insulting Wally.
But still, she never forgot that if it weren't for her people, her mission to bring them to Earth, Lex Luthor would have remained in jail. He'd never have become a man of the people, the hero of the Thanagarian Invasion, and President.
He never would have killed The Flash.
&&&
When the Guardians had been getting ready to take each Lord to their respective city, with strict regards that they never dare try to contact another one of their fellow former heroes, Shayera had been the second to last. Only she and J'onn had remained, the Guardians ready to take her offworld.
Or, so she had thought.
Flying over the Heartland of America, the Guardians had paused and lowered down near a field, and shoved Shayera out of the green bubble. When she had asked them what they were doing, they had replied that they could no risk her going back to Thanagar and getting their army to invade Earth to take back control. She would stay on Earth.
She had argued with them that her people would never invade…they were most likely to kill her for failing in her mission. The Guardians would hear none of that, then turned to Guy Gardner and told him to "do it".
Shayera should have known it was coming. It made sense really; they'd taken John's ring, even though it would most likely never work again, and they'd also secured Diana's armor.
Yet, she'd still screamed when Guy's ring tore through her wings, cleaving them from her back in a rain of blood and feathers. Shayera, the great warrior, who had suffered through broken ribs and shattered arms with barely a whimper, cried like a baby as the guardians had Guy dig deep, scarring her back and sealing the skin, so that the wings could never be reattached.
"A mark for your wicked crime of corrupting John Stewart."
That was what had hurt the most. They didn't do it to punish her for her crimes on Earth, for the people she had killed…
They did it because John had gone bad. She was little more then an agent that drew John to the darkside…worth nothing more then that.
She'd cried hours after they had left.
&&&
"You're her, aren't you?"
Shayera looked up from the meager meal she had managed to gather from alley's dumpster. It had been only a few weeks since she had taken to the streets, living off the crumbs of the people that had once looked up to her. Now, they looked down at Hawkgirl, cheering her disappearance, while ignoring Shayera, the rat that was happy when she found a piece of stale bread crust.
Turning towards the young man, she had the strangest sense of Déjà vu. His voice was hard and cold, and his face seemed to be stuck in a permanent scowl. But there was something about the African American boy she could not place…something that tickled the back of her brain.
"I thought you were her…without the helmet and the wings…" That got Shayera's attention. His young man knew her…knew of her past. She quickly stood up, ready to fight her way out of the alley.
'Knew I couldn't stay forever.' She thought. 'Stupid to hope I would be able to disguise myself…'
The man gave her a dark grin. "You do remember me, don't you? What you did to me?"
"I hurt a lot of people, kid." Shayera said. "Refresh my memory."
The young man nodded. "Ok." He held out his hand, and Shayera screamed as the blast of electrical energy hit her, making her body twitch and skin burn. She could feel the scars stretching opening up and oozing pus and blood on the tattered remains of her shirt. The man twitched his finger, and she was pulled towards him, his eyes dark and menacing. "After everything I did for you…I look up to you all, every one of you! I thought maybe one day you would accept me as a fellow hero. Then you came to my home, publicly revealed my identity, and beat me down for daring to fight crime without your permission! Kidnapping Richie, forcing him to make weapons for you!" He sneered. "I was a fool for ever believing in you."
Shayera gasped. "V-Virgil?"
Virgil Hawkins, aka Static, nodded. "Night night."
Shayera never saw the punch coming.
&&&
Splash!
Shayera coughed, water dripping from her hair. Shaking her head from side to side, she blinked, focusing in on the image of Virgil standing above her, a bucket in his hands. She moved towards him, only to be jerked back into the wall, the chains Virgil had restrained her with holding tight.
"So it is true…your powers are gone." He raised an eyebrow. "Gee, I would have thought you'd keep the wings, at least."
Shayera looked down, her tone bitter. "Thank the Green Lanterns for that."
Virgil nodded. "oh, I will." He moved off to the side, and Shayera realized that she was in some home's basement. The windows and doors had been barricaded, and most of the furniture had been cleared away, pushed to the sides to allow them with a wide open space. She also took a moment to examine Virgil. He was a far cry for the skinny, wise cracking young hero she had met, years ago. He was taller now, toned and muscular. His hair had been cut, the dreads gone and now sporting a crew cut. His face was weathered, as if age had come to him way too soon. Truthfully, even though she knew he was only a year or two from twenty, he looked thirty.
"What happened to you Virgil?" Shayera whispered.
"You." He whispered. "You happened." He turned on her. "Superman and the rest of you didn't really plan ahead, did you? Just came here, decided to make an example of me. I wouldn't come to heel, so you decided to just blab my secret to the world. Filmed it for everyone." He pulled off his tight black shirt, revealing a mass of horrific scars. He ran his hand along the flesh, speaking softly. "This is where Superman used his heat vision…where your boyfriend sliced me with his ring…oh, and this is good, this is where you smashed me with your mace. Still can't lay on my side after that little gem."
Shayera was trembling as she looked at the injuries on the young man, the hero that had helped them against Brainiac years ago. "You…you wouldn't stop…you were going to get yourself killed…"
"HA!" Virgil laughed. "I was going to get myself killed, so your answer was to beat me!"
"It got you to stop fighting villains, didn't it?" She snapped, but the way Virgil tensed, she felt something dark creep into the pit of her stomach. "Didn't it?"
Vigil laughed, running a hand along his bicep. "Why did Batman hide his identity?" His voice cracked. "You all claimed you would handle the villains…deal with the bang babies. And you did…eventually. After you cleaned up your own rogue's gallery." His eyes shimmered with tears. "Left me though a year to deal with them…"
It all came crashing down for Shayera at that moment. "They knew who you were…where you lived…"
"Finally figured it out?" Virgil asked bitterly. "This ain't my house. My house is gone…Hot Streak burnt it down. That's how my sister dead. My dad was gutted by a fish. And don't get me started about any of the few friends I still had." He shook his head, pulling his shirt back on. "Couldn't even fight back, because I knew if I did, you people would be back and finish the job you started. You left me to die…because you couldn't stand the competition, could you?"
The woman once known as Hawkgirl lowered her head. "We didn't mean for it to go this far…"
"The path to Hell is paved with good intentions. My mom taught me that." Virgil said. "Sing me another one."
"…are you going to kill me?" Shayera whispered.
Virgil shook his head. "That would be to good for you." He picked up a lead pipe and threw it at her, Shayera reaching out and catching it. Virgil picked up one of his own. "I lost my family because I wasn't strong enough to stand up to you Lords…that isn't going to happen again. Static is going to return, but he needs to be trained, learn how to fight without his powers. Who better to teach me then a murderer?"
Shayera shook her head, eyes defiant. "I won't hit you…I can't. I have no powers."
"But you still have the skills. Your boyfriend, Superman, even Wonder Woman need powers to fight. But you have training…you're a soldier. A great Thanagarian. You still have the knowledge, and I plan to use it."
The red head frowned. "I'm not the right person for this…I can't fight…I don't have my wings…if you want revenge, if you want to beat me then just do it, but I can't help you. Get Batman…" she grimaced at that name. "He's the one that betrayed the Lords…got our powers taken away. He's had more training then anyone…your even preaching his little song about revenge. You should go to Gotham…"
The pipe lashed out, and Shayera grunted as it slammed into her rips, the bones cracking. Virgil twirled the weapon as he leaned down.
"I did call him…who do you think suggested I kidnap you?"
&&&
In the week that she had spent in the basement, Shayera came to several conclusions.
First, if she ever managed to find Clark again, she would drag him to Dakota and show him what his great 'Scare the Young Heroes Straight' program had done. Of course, that's assuming she didn't beat his brains in for imprisoning the other world's Flash and then trying to kill him later on.
Second, she knew beyond a doubt that Virgil needed mental help. The mass of scars had frightened her, but his paranoia at every sound showed her that the Lords actions had really done a number on him.
Third, Virgil was going to get himself killed. On the third day, he had finally gotten her to train with him, promising not to use his powers. Shayera had hoped that maybe, if she hit him in the head a few times, he would either realize how stupid this was and let her go, or go into a fit of rage and kill her, ending the torment she felt.
Instead, he had merely kept coming at her, demanding she teach him what he was doing wrong. So, the dance would begin again, and even chained, Shayera would be able to take him out. Virgil was right; he needed to be trained, or he would be killed in a few months.
And thus the lessons began.
&&&
She wasn't sure when they had reached the agreement. They didn't speak of it, that was for sure. A silent agreement, of understanding, passed between them. All she knew is that slowly, Virgil would not snip at her as much. He would stay down, talking to her. At first, it was about the Lords and how would go about defeating them, and about how horrible of a person she was. But, as the months wore on, and Virgil became stronger, the conversation would turn to other things, of the world she had not seen since he'd taken her, of his making a new costume, debates about his name.
Virgil was a fast learner, and for the first time in years, Shayera felt the trickles of pride in her student. Yes, student. They had accepted that after a month's time, though Virgil had said it sarcastically, with a mock salute and a "goodbye teach". But still, that understanding was there.
They reached an understanding, that while they may have had a dark past together, they needed each other now.
She was still surprised the day he removed the chains.
"Not like your gonna fly away." He had snarked, before throwing her the wooden sword (yes, she'd finally gotten him to switch to something that did less damage). "Besides, need to learn how to deal with a moving opponent.
As the weeks went by, and Static made his return to the skies of Dakota, Shayera had waiting nervously for him to return, pestering him with questions when he finally come back. He'd handled her for a few days, then in frustration told her to knock it off. Maybe it was the wounded look she gave him before she turned away, telling him that she could care less if he died, but the next day he had given her a walkie talkie and made it clear she was not to bug him when he was on the job. That lasted 10 minutes, when, hearing him having problems, she had begun to give him instructions. Lessons long learned in the field of leading troops came back to her, and Shayera was able to tell Virgil exactly what to do to save his life.
That was the day when they stopped being enemies and became partners.
&&&
"I know why he told me to kidnap you."
Shayera looked up from her meal, giving Virgil a critical eye as he mended his costume. They still stayed in Richie's basement, but had managed to repair it, make it a bit easier to life in. No TV, but plenty of books, a refrigerator, microwave, and a working toilet (something Shayera was eternally grateful for). Virgil, though having a room upstairs, spent almost all his time down with her, and recently begun sharing with her the queen size mattress he'd long ago given her to use as a bed. Of course, he'd told her to get no ideas, as he wasn't into bestiality. Shayera had laughed at that, especially considering how he cuddled up to her when he slept.
"What?" She asked, brushing back a strand of hair.
"Batman. I understand now why he said I should kidnap you."
Shayera raised an eyebrow. "Why is that? Because you needed me?"
"Nah…I think he figured you needed me." Virgil cut her off before she could argue. "Think about it; you lost everything. No home, no friends, no powers, no wings. You had nothing to live for, and no way to make up for your sins. Batman must have figured that you would never survive if you didn't find a way to make up for your sins." He paused from his work. "You act tough, but you have a good heart."
"No need to insult me." She muttered.
"You needed something, someone, that could turn out good. Something that you could point to and say, "I did that…and it was positive.". Batman knew you needed to make amends, and knew I needed revenge." Virgil paused. "He'll never let me live this down, will he?"
Shayera ran her fork across the cooling piece of beef. 'Is Bruce right? Did I need Virgil…to make up for all I did to the world?' She looked at the young man, and suddenly he was much older…and wearing a familiar face. 'or was it to make up for what I did for John? A chance to show I wasn't a corruptor…that I could instill good in a person.' She smiled. 'Thank you Bruce.'
"Hey, Lord Shayera…" Virgil snapped, but with a smile. "You still with me?"
Shayera merely nodded. "yea…I'm with you all the way."
Author's Note; Before people tell me Shayera is out of character, I based this chapter on the Shayera in Hunter's Moon. I think the Lords' Shayera would be in the same place as Hunter's Moon's Shayera.
