Justice League Past Imperfect 47
The following morning, the NYPD sealed off a ten block cordon around the UN. The National Guard mobilized and set up a tented mobile command center. They then deployed to assist the police. The NYPD's Meta-human Response Unit was on hand at the UN to bolster the Guard's presence. The Legion of Doom was coming and everyone wanted to be prepared for them.
Most of the League was assembled. The few that weren't were off planet like the Green Lantern Corps or on monitor duty like the simply out-muscled Mr. Terrific and Nemesis. The Elongated Man also served on a monitor chair, assigned to defend the Hall of Justice in the case of an attack. Aquaman had moved his forces into the Adriatic and waited as a ready reserve if the League and the Legion should fail. The Creeper had just never answered his signal device.
They'd arrived, for those that couldn't fly, in three Javelin shuttles. Blackhawk flew the lead shuttle. Penny flew the second, and the injured Flash flew the third. The Flash had pulled his Achilles tendon while battling Captain Cold the day before. The injury would prevent him from running at super speeds for at least three weeks. Unwilling to be left behind, he volunteered to fly a shuttle.
Each shuttle's ability to carry twenty-five passengers would be needed today. While it was true that a third of their combined forces would be flying under their own power, the majority of flightless heroes would need an airlift. Luthor had not volunteered any aircraft nor did it seem the Legion had any.
Some of the heroes went inside the command tent and set up equipment. The bulk of them waited in the cleared courtyard. They didn't have to wait long.
A giant boom tube opened up and the Legion of Doom walked through. The tube closed and the villains stood opposite the heroes. Notable exceptions to the Legion's ranks included the Joker, Harley Quinn, the Scarecrow, the Mad Hatter, the Clock King, the Phantasm, Devil Ray, and the mysterious Darkwing. Another prominent exception was Ra's al Ghul.
There were a few notable newcomers. These included the Key, Atomic Skull, Jack O' Lantern, Owlwoman, and Captain Boomerang. It was rumored only the Key had agreed to become a Legionnaire so the addition of the others was a charitable bonus.
Luthor smiled triumphantly and he and the two simian members of the Legion approached the founding members' position. Luthor held out his wrists, "The Legion is at your disposal and so am I. Take me away."
"There is no need to be so melodramatic." J'onn advised him, "We need you to brief your Legionnaires on their assignments before we set out."
"Very smart, Martian." Luthor looked at J'onn in a new light, "My Legionnaires will resist you whereas they'll listen to me. Very well. Tell me your plan."
"Open your mind." J'onn requested. Within seconds he'd implanted the knowledge into Luthor's head. Luthor grinned, "Bold plan. It may prove to be futile but it is bold."
"Just tell your troops about it." Superman warned.
"Why Superman, such hostility." Luthor said in oily tones, "And we're allies now. How shocking."
"Luthor…" Superman growled.
"Have no fear." Luthor chuckled, "I'll address my fellow conspirators."
As Luthor walked away Superman turned to Batman, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The Question explained it to me." Batman revealed, "Luthor is presenting the Legion as a force in a conspiracy to disband the Justice League. As such, he's recruited the Key, gained the temporary assistance of Atomic Skull and the others, and recruited scores of on-line adherents. The Question referred to it as a 'masterstroke!'"
"He would." The Flash grumped as he leaned on his crutches, "He's got more screws loose than Luthor and his bunch put together."
Everyone but Batman and J'onn concurred. They kept their own counsel. Meanwhile, Luthor finished cajoling the Legionnaires and then he returned to where the Meta-human Response Unit waited. They took Grodd, the Ultra-Humanite and Luthor into temporary custody and prepared to transport them to Stryker's Island.
The Legionnaires broke and reported to their League team leader. The rest of the League assembled as well. Justifiably, there was friction.
Supreme faced off with Superman. It was their first meeting. Supreme set the tone.
"I killed the Superman on my world." He said, "Mind your manners or I will break you."
Superman grinned, "From what I hear all I need to do is call in Mary Marvel and she'll flatten you."
Supreme growled low in his throat and began to throw his arm back. Galatea caught it and spun him around to face her.
"Leave it!" she barked, "If I can deal with my feelings so can you." The last was delivered with a venomous glance shot in Supergirl's direction.
Supergirl ignored her comment and instead focused on the other members of their squad. The Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, Rocket Red, and Red Tornado would be joining the four of them. J'onn was there to smooth Galatea and Supreme's ruffled feathers since they would resist every order Superman would give.
John was gathering his team together. Joined by Starman, Kyle Raynor, Orion, and Lightray he would be assaulting the Gordonian battlecruiser. Going along with him were Spencer Hawk, Sinestro, and Star Sapphire. Stewart refused to make accommodations for Sinestro's insane hatred of the Green Lantern Corps. If he could work with Hawk, he could work with John and Kyle.
"Forgive me child." Black Adam said to Mary Marvel, "Our last meeting did not go as I would've wished it."
"Why?" Mary sarcastically replied, "Just because you beat me into unconsciousness? Think nothing of it."
Despite the scornful nature of her words she could see how they prickled Adam's conscience. Hope stabbed in her breast and she once again refused to give him up to his misguided ways. Of course, that's how he felt about the Marvels.
"Keep your apologies to yourself." Captain Marvel felt the need to defend his sister, "If you feel like picking on a Marvel, pick on me next time."
"I don't wish to 'pick' on either of you." Adam shot back, "I'm trying to guide you. You're just children and you don't see the foolishness of the Wizard's designs for this world."
"Pardon me senores and senorita," Aztek said as he approached, "but we are tasked with guiding the Javelins into Kaznia. Shouldn't we spend our time planning on how we are going to do that with Blackhawk, the Flash, and Penny rather than stand around and bicker like schoolgirls?"
Marvel and Adam were resistant but Mary brightened, "Exactly! C'mon guys, we got planning to do."
Marvel and Adam spared one last bitter glance toward one another and then they complied.
"Hey Penguin," Nightwing called out, "what's a cowardly canary like you doing here?"
"If you must now my fulsome featherbrain," the Penguin retorted, "even a canary will fight when its nest is threatened."
Batgirl elbowed Nightwing's ribs, "Told you."
"Gimme a break." Nightwing protested, "It had to be asked."
"No, it didn't." Batgirl said and nodded in Poison Ivy's direction, "Here comes the real surprise."
Batman stood in front of Ivy and she responded with a sultry smile, "Why Darling, are you waiting for me?"
"Why are you here, Ivy?" Batman cut to the chase.
Ivy placed her hand on her chest, "Why Batman, you doubt my veracity? I'm cut to the quick. But if you must know, the Gordonians are reptiles. Who knows what they'll do to the ecosphere to make it more comfortable for them?"
"Now I believe you." Batman admitted, "Welcome to my team."
Ivy had no reply to that.
Wonder Woman gathered Tala, Amazo, Lashina, Mantis, Superwoman, and Wondergirl into her team; "Our job is to deal with Ares and his alliance of gods. No matter what they throw at us, we get back up and keep hammering at them. Got it?"
Zatanna, Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, and Samurai added their voices to the Legionnaire choral. Wonder Woman was grim but she approved of their enthusiasm, "Very good. Now let's board the shuttle and get ready to get underway."
Hawkgirl addressed her squad, which comprised the bulk of the combined force; "Kestrel, Hawkman, and I will deal with the Aerial units first. Once they are neutralized I will be able to direct the ground offensive. In the meantime Barda will be my ground commander. Listen to her like your life depends upon it…because it probably will."
All of the teams boarded the shuttles. Parts of Hawkgirl's team rode in with Batman's. Batman's team only consisted of Nightwing, Batgirl, Plastic Man, Obsidian, the Question, Poison Ivy, the Penguin, Psycho Pirate, and the Atom. They rode in Penny's shuttle so that gave the plastic couple a few extra moments together.
The Marvels, Black Adam, and Aztek flew ahead of the shuttles and travelled at Mach 10. The shuttles matched them even though they could have gone faster. They headed across the Atlantic, would cross the Iberian Peninsula and then Italian airspace. Next they would swoop over the Adriatic and come to land in the Balkans. There they would enter Kaznian airspace.
Penny looked to Plastic Man, "Be careful mah Rubberband Romeo."
"I will Penny." He stretched his neck so that his face met hers. He passionately kissed her, "I have ideas for when the fighting's done."
"So do ah, darlin'!" she enthused, "Ah was thinkin' of stealin' this little ol' jet and taking a vacation in Italy."
"Let's give the shuttle back first." Plas grinned, "Then let's go on vacation."
"But for once, can we leave Hula Hula behind?" she pleaded.
"C'mon Penny, it'll break the big guy's heart." Plastic Man looked back into the cabin, "Besides, I think he's putting the moves on Poison Ivy. The poor guy'll need a pick me up after she's done breaking his heart."
"Oh, all right." Penny pouted, "Ah guess."
Plas kissed her cheek, "You're sweet. Is it any wonder why I love you?"
"I'll do anythin' as long as you keep tellin' me that." She admitted.
An alarm sounded and Plastic Man smirked, "Maybe you should get back to your instruments."
"It's just a reminder that we're over Spain. Next comes Italy and then the Balkans." Penny reminded him."
"Where we run smack dab into Kaznia." Plastic Man recited, "I'll alert the others."
He stretched his neck back into the middle of the passenger cabin, "Heads up people. We're twenty minutes away."
Plastic Man moved in close to Hula Hula's ear and whispered, "Work fast!"
As his friend's head disappeared, Hula Hula turned to Ivy; "How's that grape juice that I brought you?"
"Yummy." She coyly smiled, "Just like you. How about a kiss?"
"Ivy!" Batman growled as Hula Hula elatedly puckered up.
"Oh, come on." Ivy huffed, "The cretin's in the way. This way he'll just sleep it off and dream of little Ivy's to lust after."
"Does this mean you're still gonna kiss me?" Hula Hula practically begged.
Ivy leaned over and planted one on his lips. He passed out. She looked to Batman and threw her hands up plaintively, "What was I supposed to do? He begged me."
"Just keep your lipstick and your lips to yourself from now on." Batman warned.
Ivy sketched a salute, "For you, anything."
Batman knew better.
From the rear of the cabin, the Huntress whispered to the Question, "What's going on, Q? Why's Ivy acting like that?"
The Question chuckled, "Playing the heart breaking vixen comes as naturally to her as does playing the aggressor to you."
"She may play at being a vixen but she's still a homicidal bit…" the Huntress began.
"Tread lightly." The Question warned, "If not for the slight modicum of restraint that you possess you would also be considered homicidal."
"At least I don't flaunt my looks." The Huntress huffed.
"You could if you wanted to." The Question remarked, "You're a very beautiful woman. You just want to make a statement in other ways."
The Huntress grinned, "Thanks Q. You know how to cheer me up."
"Any time." The Question assured her.
"Admiral," the CO of the USS Carl Vinson, began to say; "all aircraft are aboard. We have hotshots one and two prepped and ready to roll."
"Good." Admiral Stark said, "The Justice League should be passing by any second now."
"I've got multiple bogey's in-bound!" the head of the radar section reported, "Coming in at…Mach 10?"
A deafening sonic boom rocked the aircraft carrier. The radar chief added, "And now they're gone."
"God help them." Stark opined, "No one else will."