Issue #4
SOUND SYSTEM: Entrance opened.
Batman and Wonder Woman look confused at one another. From the entrance walks a figure. He stops in front of them.
FIGURE: They sent me to talk to some sense into you...
BATMAN: I figured they would... Dick.
Out from the shadows steps out Nightwing. He and Batman stare at one another.
NIGHTWING: You're lucky I am such an amazing student or else I would have blow my cover.
Nightwing sits down and lounges back.
WONDER WOMAN: Cover?
BATMAN: I needed someone from the inside to gather intel on the act. Nice work, Dick. Sometimes, I don't work a lone.
Wonder Woman rolls her eyes in an annoyed fashion.
NIGHTWING: Things aren't looking good, Bruce. Waller is growing impatient. She wants us to turn in whoever we know that didn't sign the act.
A burst of wind comes through the Batcave. The Flash slides to a stop in front of the group. He is panting, trying to catch some air.
WONDER WOMAN: Barry, what's wrong?
THE FLASH: The (breath) the Justice Society (breath) they're trying to take us in.
NIGHTWING: I know I was just telling them about that.
THE FLASH: (Breath) No, by any means necessary.
BATMAN: (Angrily) What?
THE FLASH: Oliver and Vic, they tried to get me to sign up. When I refused, they tried to take me down.
WONDER WOMAN: Kill you?
THE FLASH: No, no. Just knock me out.
BATMAN: Not lethal yet.
Batman walks over to the computer and begins typing. Wonder Woman follows.
NIGHTWING: How did you not set off the security system?
THE FLASH: (Slyly) Too fast, man.
WONDER WOMAN: What are you going to do?
BATMAN: You're right, Diana. This is bigger than one man. The fate of the world depends on this. It's time to stop taking this on by myself. I need a team around me.
Lois is laying in bed. Clark sits down next to her in the bed. He rubs his tired eyes.
LOIS: You haven't been to work in almost a week, Clark.
CLARK: I've been a little busy at my other job. I have to organize the Justice Society and discuss matters with the panel. This resistance is starting to become a real pain in my ass, but once this all is settled we can begin to do good. The world will be a better place to live in.
LOIS: Mhm.
CLARK: I just want to keep you safe, Lois. Out of harms way.
LOIS: That's impossible, honey. I'm a report. I go right to the danger.
CLARK: And I'm trying to limit that danger. Avoid the destruction, and make this world a better place with heroes the people can trust.
Lois sits up and puts her hand on Clark's shoulder.
LOIS: Sometimes - no matter how hard you try - you just can't avoid things. It will come in one way or another.
CLARK: You'll see Lois. This is the right thing to do.
Clark gets up and goes out onto the balcony.
LOIS: Where are you going, Clark?
CLARK: I just need to talk to someone. Don't worry. Sleep tight... I love you, Lois.
Clark loads up and flies off into the dark night sky. He descends down to a farm home. An older woman is sitting on the porch steps looking up at the stars. Clark comes and sits with her.
CLARK: Hi, Ma.
MARTHA: Don't worry, Super Mom signed the act.
CLARK: (Laughs) Good, I need her on my team.
MARTHA: What's wrong, dear?
CLARK: (Sighs) I just... with everything going on. I haven't been to work in a week, I barely talk to Lois. I have no personal life. I feel like I'm losing myself. I feel as if I surrendered Clark Kent, and now only Superman remains.
MARTHA: And what's wrong with that?
CLARK: I don't want to lose Clark.
MARTHA: Clark, let me let you in on a little secret. There is no Superman. I know the headlines say "Superman this" and "Superman that", but none of it is true. That's Clark Kent who is saving those people, and nothing's going to change that. You will always be my little baby boy. Don't let the cape confuse ya.
Clark smiles at his mother and the hugs her. The two sit there hugging.
Batman stands at a conference table with a look of determination. Sitting at the table are The Flash, Wonder Woman, Nightwing (Ronnie and Stein), Firestorm, Starfire, Shazam, Atom(Ray), Blue Beetle(Ted), Black Canary, Vibe, and Katana.
BATMAN: Why did none of us sign the act?
ATOM: Because, the act goes against everything we sign up for as heroes.
TED: It tries to clean up a mess that isn't there. It just limits what we are able to do.
BLACK CANARY: We fight to free people, taking that freedom away is the wrong way to go about it.
BATMAN: So everyone at this table knows what they are taking on by being here. We are going outside the law.
VIBE: Ooh, The Outsiders. Bam. You're welcome.
WONDER WOMAN: The Justice Society has made the move to take in those of us who have gone against the act by means of force.
STEIN: They can't possibly do that.
NIGHTWING: Actually they can, by law.
SHAZAM: I'm a kid and I even know this law is wrong. We can all see that.
BATMAN: Well then that's good. We will continue to do what we do, how we do, and when we do. We will fight any threat that comes our way with only one goal in mind: to stop the threat. Sometimes that gets messy, but that's a risk we need to take if we. We will fight this act and become marked as criminals to the world, but they will know that we are doing only what is necessary.
ATOM: Um, everyone, I love the enthusiasm here, really, but I don't think I only speak for me when saying that we are outnumbered and clearly out powered. I don't see how we have a shot here without a little more umpf on our side.
BATMAN: (Smirk) I'm glad you said that. Our first mission... is a recruitment one.
The screen in front of the table brings up a map. The map starts signaling GPS location and cuts in closer and closer to an area, until it finally reaches it's tracking point: Atlantis. The table looks at the screen in awe.
TED: (Smiles) You son of a bitch.
REPORTER: The Justice Society continues to save the day. Today the team took down Leonard Snart, also known as Captain Cold, during a bank robbery at Civic City Bank. Np causalities were reported during the incident.
Green Lantern shut the tv off.
GREEN LANTERN: Damn, we do a hell of a job.
VIXEN: No casualties now that's what I like to hear.
The Justice Society is gathered in their headquarters within the A.G.U.S. facility.
SUPERMAN: I have to agree to that.
Cyborg is sitting in a chair bored.
CYBORG: Easy to say when you're the one out their in the action.
GREEN ARROW: Don't worry metal head, you'll get your chance out there when they need ya. This was just a routine bank robbery.
The sliding door opens and Waller walks into the room.
WALLER: Great work today, everyone. You got the job done clean and efficient.
NIGHTWING: It's a little less fun without the explosions, but it gets the job done.
HAWKGIRL: (Laughs) Shut up, Nightwing.
The alarm goes off for a crime threat.
SUPERMAN: Looks like we have more work to do. Let's get to it, team.
WALLER: Actually, not so fast. This threat isn't authorized for your team.
SUPERMAN: Amanda, we're already suited up just let us -
WALLER: (Sternly) No. That is part of the act. Some threats aren't worth the risk of sending in a team of powerful beings to blow up the threat.
Mr. Terrific: Well, it looks like the threat is already getting handled.
WALLER: What?
The screen shows through security footage Batman and the rest taking on the notorious assassin Deathstroke.
WALLER: Superman.
SUPERMAN: We're on it.
WALLER: Good.
Waller walks out of the room and the sliding door closes behind her.
Deathstroke battles it out with the numerous vigilantes. He and Batman then start going toe-to-toe in a fight. Each one just narrowly dodging the other's attacks.
DEATHSTROKE: Damnit, Batman. I thought I would be done with your ass when you didn't sign the act. This is against the law you know?
Batman strikes Deathstroke right in the jaw.
BATMAN: I think the crime you committed outweighs mine.
Deathstroke swings his sword down on Batman, but Batman holds it off with his gauntlet. The two press at each other, trying to get the other to budge.
DEATHSTROKE: No matter, sparring with you is always good practice.
The two begin to Duke it out. Batman kicks him in the jaw.
BATMAN: (Yells) Now!.
Vibe blasts Deathstroke into the wall and slides to the ground. Black Canary is waiting by the wall and knees him in the face, knocking out Deathstroke.
BATMAN: I don't need the practice.
The heroes gather up Deathstroke and begin to carry him out of the warehouse.
ATOM: What are we going to do with him? We can't bring ourselves to the authorities.
SUPERMAN: That's exactly what you are going to do.
Superman descends as the Justice Society arrives behind him.
SUPERMAN: What is this, Batman. Have you gone out of your mind?
BATMAN: I'm just continuing to do the thing I do. And so are the others.
SUPERMAN: It's against the law. You know that. Hand him over and come with us so we can sort this out.
THE FLASH: Why so you can beat us up until we say yes?
GREEN ARROW: Barry, don't hold a grudge. We were following orders.
THE FLASH: We're supposed to be friends, man.
CYBROG: It wasn't personal.
THE FLASH: It sure felt like it.
SUPERMAN: (Sternly) Batman, hand him over.
BATMAN: No, I did the job. I'm bringing him in.
SUPERMAN: Then it looks like I'm bringing both of you in.
The two groups begin to battle it out with the warehouse.
Black Canary and Green Arrow match each other with each blow that they give. Green Arrow gets Black Canary down to the ground.
GREEN ARROW: Why are you doing this, Laurel?
Laurel counters and pins Oliver down.
BLACK CANARY: Because it's something I believe in. And I'm not going to back down just because someone bigger than me tells me too.
GREEN ARROW: You think this will affect our relationship?
The two continue to fight it out with each other.
The Flash is running around Green Lantern. The Green Lantern sets up a wall and the Flash runs into it. He gets up and races behind Green Lantern to knock him in the head. Mr. Terrific throws a T-sphere near Barry's feet and it explodes, knocking Barry backwards. Batman comes and throws a strike at Mr. Terrific, but he dodges it. The two throw strike for strike. On the shoulder of Mr. Terrific, The microscopic Atom hits his belt and grows to normal Size, smashing him to the ground. Superman and Wonder Woman keep tossing a nd throwing each other throughout the area. Hawkgirl swoops over Katana from overheard as Katana swings at her wings with her sword. Wonder Woman tosses Clark into the air, and then Shazam swoops in and punches him into a pile of large metal pipes, sending them all crashing on top of him. She comes down to Batman, who pulls down Hawkgirl to the ground with a hard thud using grapple gun.
WONDER WOMAN: Bruce, we're not ready for this. We need to retreat.
BATMAN: We can handle it -
WONDER WOMAN: (Sternly) Bruce.
Batman reluctantly nods his head in agreement. Superman throws the pipes off him and flies up with glowing red eyes,
BATMAN: (Yells) Blue Beatle, shine!
Blue Beetle sends out a bright light that blinds everyone in the area. All Superman can see is white. He falls to the ground holding his eyes. He rubs his eyes and when his vision clears up, Batman and his team are gone with Deathstroke.
The Justice Society is gathered around a conference table, with each hero looking solemn. Amanda Waller paces around the table.
WALLER: (Angrily) You let them take him? How. How could you possibly let this happen?
SUPERMAN: We tried to handle the situation. It get's tough when you're going up against other heroes -
WALLER: No. They're not heroes anymore, Mr. Kent. They confirmed that with the actions they took today. Going against the law. They're criminals now.
CYBORG: Come on, they're our friends.
MR. TERRIFIC: Yeah, you can tell that to my shoulder.
Mr. Terrific rubs his iced shoulder, wincing as he does it.
GREEN LANTERN: I'm going to have to agree. If they aren't with us, then they're against us.
VIXEN: Guys, let's take it down a notch here. Captain Cold, he's a villain; not them.
GREEN LANTERN: They blatantly fought against law enforcement and ran. That sends like criminals to me.
WALLER: And that's exactly how we are going to view it. This rag tag team of Batman's are now wanted men and women. It's a mockery to the Justice Society. I want an end to this nonsense.
SUPERMAN: We will, Ms. Waller.
Waller walks out of the room.
SUPERMAN: Well, you heard the woman.
CYBORG: we're really going to fight against our friends?
SUPERMAN: Yes, because it's the law.
The Central City Picture News Station is working on a story. Iris West is typing at her computer.
IRIS: Someone get me my notes on the interview with Superman. I need them right now.
Suddenly, a strike of red lighting comes in from the glass window. Zoom grips the back of Iris and holds her.
ZOOM: Everyone get out.
All of the workers swarm out of the door, running and creaming as they push their way through.
ZOOM: I'm not going to hurt you, Iris. I just need him to think I am.
IRIS: (Scared) How do you know who I am?
ZOOM: Call the Flash.
A red streak whips down a street, jolting the parked cars. The Flash runs and slides to a stop in front of Central City Picture News Station.
THE FLASH: I appreciate the help, Bruce. We need to end this Zoom situation once and for all.
Batman is speeding in his Batmobile, whipping around cars. He talks to the Flash through his telecom.
BATMAN: Well, we need to thin where he is coming from. He's apparently learned and harnessed all of his skills from you.
THE FLASH: Yeah, but a future me. He knows how to use his speed in ways I haven't even thought of.
BATMAN: Then you just need to start thinking outside the box. You're a scientist, use your knowledge.
The Batmobile screeches to a stop next to the Flash. The two run into the station, with Flash leading the way. Inside Zoom holds his wavering hand over Iris's chest.
THE FLASH: Let the woman go, Zoom.
ZOOM: Barry, you don't need to play games with me. I already know who she is, Iris West-Allen.
BARRY: (Confused) I'm not sure what you're trying to get at. I don't know who this woman is, but I won't let you hurt her.
ZOOM: Really? How early am I? Well then, she won't do.
Zoom drops Iris to the floor.
ZOOM: But he will.
Zoom races towards Batman and tackles him the the ground. He holds himself up over Batman and loads up his wavering hand.
THE FLASH: (Yells) No!
He races towards Zoom, rips him off of Batman, and throws him into the wall. The two race around the place, throwing blows in the process. The Flash begins to run circles around Zoom, picking up speed as he goes along. He starts vibrating his hand and a spark of energy load up in it. He loads back and throws it at Zoom, knocking him to the ground. Zoom gets up a little shaken.
BARRY: I've never seen that one before... There we go, Barry. That's the kind of intuition we need.
Zoom zips to Batman and continue to beat him down with quick punches. The Flash throws another one at Zoom, knocking Zoom hard to the ground. A breaking of glass is heard as Green Arrows jumps in through the window, and lands onto the Flash. Arrow shoots two arrow that create an electric line around the Flash, holding him down. Green Arrow loads up his bow with an arrow.
THE FLASH: What are you doing?
GREEN ARROW: I'm sorry, Barry. I tried to warn you. You're too much of a threat to the future of this world. This was your choice, not mine.
The Flash closes his eyes tightly, but a bright flash comes through Green Arrows chest. Green Arrow looks down, as a hand is sticking out from him. He takes his last breath and falls to the ground. Behind him, Zoom stands.
ZOOM: I'm sorry, Barry. I couldn't let that happen. I need you.
Zoom steps back and then runs out of the building. Batman walks over to Green Arrow and kneels next to him. He closes Green Arrow's eyes and looks down solemnly. The Flash stares at the scene with tears in his eyes.