Justice League: Past Imperfect 14
The following day, Plastic Man was showing Penny and Hula Hula around the Watchtower station. Although the station was League property, by mandate of the world council, the ISA actually manned it. Despite being agents of the ISA, none of them had ever been to the orbital platform before.
"Ah declare, this is even more excitin' then when we were aboard the space shuttle." Penny enthused.
"I just hope I don't knock it out of orbit." Hula Hula fretted through the radio transponder of his space suit.
"Don't worry. NASA, Star Labs, Wayne Aerospace, and Zatanna all certify that that suit is jinx proof." Plastic Man assured him.
Suddenly an alarm sounded. Hula moaned, "I did it again."
"I don't think so." Plastic Man said as an ISA watch commander approached him.
The watch Commander, one Nyota Umbwabe, reports, "Sir, we've been tracking a mysterious signal for several weeks now. Last week there was a faint reply and now there's a stronger, consistent signal."
"So who's talking to whom?" Plas wondered.
"The signal originates from a Kaznian comm sat." Umbwabe answered, "The reply is from deep space."
Plas's blood ran cold, "Is it Thanagarian?"
"We don't think so." Umbwabe explained, "We've intercepted pieces of the signal and it appears to be different than those used by the Thanagarians during the Occupation."
"Transmit a copy of the signal to the Hall of Justice." Plastic Man ordered, "I'll talk to J'onn and get the ball rolling."
"I've never heard anything like this before." L-Ron glumly admitted, "The Emporium must not trade with them."
"Are Shayera and Starman in the residence?" J'onn asked.
"Starman is out sightseeing with Ice but Shayera is outside giving a press statement." L-Ron answered.
"She's what?" Waller and Sue said in stereo. They rushed outside of the office and headed for the main doors.
J'onn turned to L-Ron and dryly asked, "Should we see what's going on?"
"Hawkgirl," Snapper Carr asked, "What's this announcement you're going to make?"
"I might as well begin." Shayera resolutely said, "As some of you know but rarely acknowledge, I put down the mantle of Hawkgirl after the Thanagarian crisis. I wanted to prove myself without the taint of my former identity and show that I was dedicated to helping this planet."
"The truth is, my dedication to this planet and her people are what got me exiled." She continued, "Now, the name Hawkgirl stands for something to be proud of again. I hear people call it out with approval and hope in their voices. It's a name I'm proud to carry once again."
"So," Angela Chen began to ask, "you're officially Hawkgirl again."
"Yes, I am." Shayera confirmed it.
"Is it true about the rumors between you and Hawkman?" Chen pressed on.
"There is no 'Hawkman and me'." Shayera growled, "Hawkman is a teammate. That's it."
A dozen questions flooded in asking about Hawkman. How close were they? Was he also an exile from Thanagar? Why hadn't he been seen until a year ago?
Shayera was ready to reply when Waller and Sue appeared. Sue guided Shayera away from the mike and showed her to the doors. Waller took over the conference and answered a few questions with the official lines.
Inside, Shayera headed back towards the library when Carter Hall stopped her. Like her, he was out of costume. He also wore a victorious smile.
"What did you suddenly win?" she asked suspiciously.
"Just a little wager between Booster and myself." His smile grew wider, "He said you'd never be Hawkgirl again. I said he was wrong."
"And what did you win?" Shayera ruefully asked.
"He has to do my laundry for the next three months." Carter laughed, "Let him fight getting feathers out of sheets."
"Well, I'm glad it worked out for you." She started for the library again.
He blocked her path, "There's something I want to show you. It has to do with your announcement."
"Carter, I…" she began to protest.
"Shayera, there is no us." He firmly informed her, "There will never be an us. What I want to show you is more important than that."
Dubiously, she agreed. He led her to his room. He slid a trunk out of the closet and opened it. Inside was armor. A woman's armor in ancient Thanagarian fashion.
"This is the personal armor of the first Shayera Hol that came to Earth. Her helmet was lost to Egyptian grave robbers but I unsurfaced the armor. It dates back to a time before the war with the Gordonians. It's a reflection of a time when Thanagarians helped the people of Earth and both thrived."
"Why are you showing me this?" Shayera's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I want you to wear it." He declared, "Symbolize what was and can be again. As you finally realized, people need their symbols. You've adopted your old title again, adopt this armor as well and make the circle complete."
Shayera softly laughed, "You used to say that about us."
"There was no 'us'. I was delusional to think so." Carter admitted, "For you, there's only John Stewart. Of course, the same is true for him only he's too stubborn to admit it."
A wan smile appeared on Shayera's face, "I'm glad you think so."
"I don't have to think it. I can see it." Carter assured her, "Now, shall I carry this to your room so you can try it all on?"
A genuine smile blossomed on her face, "Okay."
J'onn came to her door and knocked, "Shayera? It's J'onn. We need you in the comm center."
"She's changing clothes." Carter grinned as he leaned up against a wall.
Her door opened and J'onn was surprised, "Where did you get that armor?"
"It's not really armor." Shayera pointed out, "The human equivalent is chainmail with a few plates. It also happens to be my new costume."
"It looks Egyptian." J'onn noted.
"Actually it's Thanagarian." Carter corrected him, "But my research shows that ancient Egypt was sculpted by Katar and Shayera Hol of Thanagar. The first pair, that is."
Shayera clipped her mace onto her belt, "You wanted something?"
"The Watchtower has intercepted an alien signal. I was hoping that you might recognize it." J'onn explained.
"L-Ron can't?" Shayera was intrigued.
"No." J'onn replied, "Hopefully you or Gavyn will be able to identify it."
"Here's hoping." Shayera said and then she proceeded down the corridor out of the residence hall.
Shayera heard the signals and her skin turned ashen. Her eyes blazed like a hunted animals. J'onn could telepathically sense the depth of her terror and he asked what was wrong.
"That signal is Gordonian." Shayera answered, "They're the race that conquered my people. Where did this signal come from?"
"The original signal was broadcast from Earth through a Kaznian comm sat." L-Ron explained, "The Watchtower is still triangulating where the reply came from."
"So the signal came from Kaznia?" Shayera feverishly asked, "Vandal Savage rules there, doesn't he? We have to go there. Now! If Savage and the Gordonians team up we may not be able to beat them."
"She's right." Batman said as he suddenly entered the room, "We need to ascertain what Savage is up to. I've assembled a team."
"What about the fact that we don't have sanction to operate in Kaznia?" Sue asked.
"My team is made up of the loose ends of the League." Batman answered, "Hawkgirl, you'd fit right in."
"Good." Shayera said and moved towards the exit.
"Who comprises your team?" J'onn asked.
"Step out into the main hall and find out." Batman suggested.
They followed him out and found the Question and the Huntress leaned up on opposite sides of a pillar. Also gathered was Dr. Fate. J'onn had expected the first pair but Fate surprised him.
"Fate, I'm surprised to find you here. You don't often work with a team." The Manhunter observed.
"Call it a sense of destiny." Fate replied, "I sense a need on a cosmic scale. I am here to tip the balance in Batman's favor."
"I'm afraid I can't authorize a Javelin shuttle. We must be ready to disavow your mission should the worst happen." J'onn informed them.
"We have our own means of travel." Fate declared. A luminescent ankh appeared in the middle of the room, "Step through that and you will find yourself in Kaznia."
Batman led the procession. Fate brought up the rear. He turned to the Manhunter, "If you do not hear from us, presume the worst."
He and the ankh faded from view and J'onn was greatly troubled. Dr. Fate was arguably the League's most powerful member. If he was unsettled then there was trouble to be had.
"Lex," Tala said as she came up behind Luthor, "there is a great disturbance in the Earth's Nexus points. Something, or someone, is bleeding mystical energy out of most of them. Without this connection to the Source, most Earthbound mages will be next to powerless."
"What about the so-called 'gods'?" Luthor asked.
"Those are the only beings capable of this." Tala warned, "The epicenter of the damage is in Kaznia. There is an extremely powerful Nexus point there that the locals have forgotten how to tap."
"Vandal Savage, eh?" Luthor pondered it. Ceasing his ruminations he turned to Brainiac, "Summon Amazo, Lashina, Mantis, and the Ultra-Humanite."
"At once." Brainiac complied.
All of the listed Legionnaires were assembled in the Dome. Unofficially christened the Hall of Doom, the Dome served as the headquarters for the Legion of Doom. It was located in Bailya but it could be transported anywhere.
Tala explained the situation to those gathered. Luthor expanded upon her oration, "Humanite, I need you to ascertain what Savage is up to. Bring copies of everything his computers contain. Lashina and Mantis, your role is to deal with whatever is siphoning the energy at the Nexus point."
"Send a god to deal with a god." Lashina smiled, "I like your strategy."
"Why's the android coming with us?" Mantis acerbically wondered.
"He's there in case you fail." Luthor coldly informed him.
"Then we'd best be off." Lashina took charge, "Hey, Tin Man, open a boom tube."
"My name is not 'tin man'." Amazo replied, "You'd best remember that in the future."
Knowing Amazo's capabilities, Lashina changed her tone; "Amazo, will you please open a boom tube?"
"Certainly." He replied.
With a thunderous crack a wormhole appeared and the Legionnaires went through it. Tala went with them to be their guide. Luthor could only wonder what they'd face.