Justice League Past Imperfect 100
Penny stood by the Javelin. The Flash was eating his sixth meal since they'd arrived. Hula Hula had woken up with a headache, and Blackhawk was on the radio with Amanda Waller. Dr. Fate had brought Audrey over to their little circle. He was now standing there with his arms folded across his chest, impassively surveying the wreckage that the rest of the League and the Legion had left surrounding the castle.
A Kaznian soldier came up from behind them and he pulled out a survival knife and he came at Penny, "Die! For the sake of all Kaznia, die!"
Penny caught his knife hand with her right. She spun around, while keeping her grip on his right wrist, and smashed the fellow in the nose with her left elbow. She then drove her elbow into his solar plexus. After that she threw the winded man over her shoulder onto the ground.
"That, suh, is no way to treat a lady." She angrily declared.
More troops came up with their rifles trained. Hula Hula jumped, "Yaahh! There's more of them."
One held his hand up, "Wait! This one is not Audrey. She is too tall. She is wearing a flightsuit, which Audrey would never stoop to, and Audrey is a natural blonde."
"Well, ah declare, how rude." Penny planted her fists on her hips, "And just what do y'all want with Audrey?"
"She is wanted for war crimes by NATO and the Kaznian people." The squad leader explained, "She brought Vandal Savage back to our land and made him War Minister. That is why most of the army went underground. We've been fighting the tyranny of these two ever since. Audrey's crimes date back to the civil war where she authorized the use of death camps and the torture of women and children to learn the location of fighting men."
"Ah had no idea." Penny relented a bit, "Can you prove all of this?"
"The answers are in the castle." The leader proclaimed.
"The answers are here." Batman said as he appeared out of nowhere, "We're the ones that contacted you. NATO is en route. They should be here in twenty minutes from Kosovo. These discs will prove her guilt."
Batman handed over three CD-R's. The leader took them and stared at them for a while. Finally he smiled and held out his hand, "I am Sergei and you would be Batman?"
"I am." Batman replied.
Wonder Woman landed, "What's going on here?"
"These men are here to arrest Audrey and turn her over to NATO forces to go on trial for war crimes." Batman explained.
"Diana!" Audrey cried out, "They want to kill me!"
Wonder Woman turned to Fate, "I thought you were protecting her."
"Not from justice." Fate replied.
"Diana," Batman said gently, "I've seen the evidence. It's quite damning."
"Is there a problem?" Superman asked as he came to rest beside Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman looked Audrey in the eye. Instead of innocent terror there, Diana only found cruel bitterness. That made up her mind.
"There is no problem." Wonder Woman announced, "Do you need help holding her?"
"Thank you but no." Sergei replied, "I don't believe that she escape from sixteen men and women."
"You'll pay for this." Audrey growled hatefully, "You all will. You'll especially burn in Hell, Diana. I'll see to it!"
Wonder Woman watched as Audrey was led away, roped like an animal. In a very real sense, she thought, that's what Audrey had become. It made her sad.
She suddenly felt Superman's strong hand massaging her neck. "You're like a steel cable." He declared, "Let's hop in the shuttle for a little privacy and I'll work some of the knots out."
Wonder Woman already felt like putty in his hands but who was she to argue?
As they boarded the shuttle, Batman scrutinized the exchange. He thought to himself that Clark was in for an interesting time. He wished them both well.
Supergirl and Mary Marvel found Batgirl seated at a spare computer terminal at the command dais. Mary asked, "What's up?"
Batgirl's lips twisted in frustration, "The Question found records indicating that someone brokered the alliance between Audrey and Vandal Savage. He's checking with his fellow conspiracy theorists to find a clue. I'm checking the communications logs. All I've found so far is an encrypted file I can't begin to crack."
"Let me see it." Supergirl suggested. When Batgirl's face adopted a snarky expression Supergirl shrugged, "I'm used to advanced technology. Maybe I can spot something you missed."
"Be my guest." Batgirl pulled up the file and moved out of the chair. Supergirl sat down, peered at the file and gasped.
"By Rao!" she whispered and then said, "This is Argoan."
"Are you sure?" Batgirl asked as she leaned over Supergirl's shoulder.
"Technically, it's Kryptonian." Supergirl amended, "But since Argo was a Kryptonian colony, we shared a common language and tech base. This file is Kryptonian."
"Neither you nor Superman sent it, Galatea never learned Kryptonian, Supreme's from an entirely different planet, that leaves Brainiac as the culprit." Batgirl deduced.
"There's a worm imbedded into the file." Supergirl announced, "It'll translate the message into English."
She activated the imbedded program and an image appeared. Lex Luthor, as large as life, offered to contact Savage on Audrey's behalf for a "slight, nominal fee." After finding that communications log, Batgirl found nearly a dozen others. The very first one was transmitted in the clear with instructions on how to activate the decryption worm in future vidmails. Also communicated was the warning that the worm would only work on this computer's IP address. Any other system attempting to access it would be fried.
Batgirl went to find the Question. Supergirl turned to Mary, "How'd you like to have a little chat with Luthor?"
Mary grinned, "Sounds good to me. Wanna scare the crap outta him?"
Supergirl shared her grin, "That's the plan. Let's go before J'onn can say 'no'."
"Lead on." Mary giggled.
Five minutes later the Question was reviewing the vidmails and Batgirl was on the horn with the Martian Manhunter, "I turned around and they were gone."
"Yes." J'onn replied, "We heard the sonic boom they left in their wake. I agree with your theory that they are en route to confront Luthor. I'm dispatching a team to dissuade them even now."
J'onn left the handover of the Gordonian prisoners to UN and NATO forces to Captain Atom and Rocket Red. He used his signal device to summon the team he wanted to send after the impetuous young women. When he came down next to Penny's Javelin, they were assembled.
Plastic Man was there as their contact with the ISA since the ISA ran the Gulag. Superman and Wonder Woman were included as well. Captain Marvel would be sent. In a surprise twist, Black Adam demanded to come. J'onn didn't know why Adam insisted that Mary would listen to him but the Martian found it vaguely disturbing. His telepathy told him that Adam's claims could be justified.
"You're not going." J'onn informed him…for the third time.
"But the girl may not listen to her brother." Black Adam argued, "Let me help save her from destroying her very soul."
"Apparently I have more faith in her than you do." J'onn replied, "You are staying. Accept that."
Adam opened his mouth to protest yet again and J'onn beat him to it, "Remember, you are sworn to our service for now. You obey my orders until this situation is ended."
"But it has ended." Black Adam contended.
"It isn't over until the Gordonians are off-planet." J'onn informed him, "I trust my people. You know them. Have faith."
"I had faith in someone once." Adam replied darkly, "I was betrayed and my life has been shattered ever since." With that said, he stalked off.
J'onn shook his head. He'd gleaned a glimpse of Adam's past from his mind. A tragedy had occurred but it was hardly the fault of the wizard, Shazam. Over a thousand years of hatred were due to a misconception.
But it's a misconception he's willing to die for, J'onn realized.
Twenty minutes later, Mary and Supergirl had arrived at the Gulag facility buried within the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Although skeptical, the facility's warden granted the pair access to Luthor. They met in a visiting room divided by Plexiglas shield. They each sat at in chairs at a table. Dedicated microphones and speakers allowed the two sides of the room to communicate.
Luthor was led in and he smiled as he sat down and activated his comm gear, "Ah, so they send the brat squad. Is everything all right? Aren't my Legionnaires performing up to your exalted standards?"
"Your Legionnaires aren't the issue here." Supergirl snapped, "Vandal Savage and Queen Audrey are."
"Ah." Luthor smiled like a Cheshire cat, "You found the vidmails. I wouldn't have thought that the League would have translated them this fast. But then again, you are from Argo and the inhabitants of Argo were descended from Kryptonians. I should have thought of that."
"So you admit it?" Supergirl was astonished.
"I revel in it." Luthor chuckled, "I knew I'd eventually have to deal with that pretentious Neanderthal but I never imagined that the Justice League would help me do it. It was one of life's little ironies don't you think?"
"How many more ironies are there?" Supergirl asked.
"A few." Luthor smirked.
"How 'few' is a few?" Supergirl wondered.
"You'll just have to discover that on your own." Luthor wore a victorious smile.
"Mary?" Supergirl prompted her companion.
Mary rose, walked to the Plexiglas wall, and punched a hole through it. She ripped a section out so that she could walk through. Luthor was totally unnerved even as alarms sounded throughout the prison.
Guards rushed in and she swatted them aside. Grabbing Luthor by his jumpsuit lapels, she hefted him out of his chair and slammed him up against the wall. Luthor could see the smoldering rage in Mary's eyes and for the first time, he honestly wondered how far she would go.
"One chance, Luthor." Mary snarled, "What other surprises do you have in store for us?"
He could see the predatory instinct in her eyes and he knew he was the prey. For the first time, Mary Marvel lay revealed to him and he saw that she had far more in common with Black Adam than she did her do-gooding brother. The so-called Big Red Cheese would never have the guts to actually intend to kill Luthor if he didn't answer.
Even Supergirl was taken aback. In fact, she was so stunned she just stood there transfixed by the scene playing out in front of her. It wasn't until Captain Marvel rushed into the room that Luthor recovered his nerve.
"Do your worst." He smirked.
"Mary!" and anguished Marvel cried out.
Mary threw her punch. Her thumb caught his ear as her fist passed by his head. He cried out in pain over that and he could feel blood welling up as her hand punched into the steel wall behind him.
Mary dropped him and his knees went weak and he sank to the floor. Her gaze was cold and merciless, "Next time, it's for real."
She turned on her heel and approached Captain Marvel, "What's up? Why're you here?"
"What did you almost do?" a shocked Marvel asked.
"Ree-lax." Mary urged, "I had the situation under control."
As the superhuman trio exited the visitation room, Mary paused to look back at Luthor as the medics tended to his ear. Her mercurial transformation continued as she went from amiable to threatening once more. Then she shifted back to her ebullient personality again and caught up with her brother and Supergirl.
Luthor's sinister chuckle surprised the medic. The Justice League had no idea what it had on their hands but he did. All Mary Marvel needed was the right sculpting and a little motivation and she'd be joining the Legion of Doom.
Three days later, the defeated and demoralized Gordonians were assembled in their support craft. Orion faced them and activated a boom tube. The saucers flew into it and travelled home. At least they travelled to whatever spatial coordinates that they'd selected.
That same day the Legionnaires returned to Bailya and Luthor, Grodd, and the Ultra-Humanite were released.
A week passed and it found Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon enjoying Paris. Barbara looked out across the city from atop the Eiffel Tower. Except for them, the Tower was deserted.
"It must've cost a fortune to rent the Eiffel Tower for an hour." Barbara commented.
"What are a few billions worth if you can't indulge a fantasy or two?" Bruce asked as he held her in his arms, "Barbara? I have a question for you."
"Really?" she was surprised but then again this entire trip had surprised her. The minute the Gordonians had been sent packing she and Bruce had taken the Lear to France and been staying at a private chateau ever since. She thought nothing else could surprise her. She was wrong.
Bruce reached into his pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. Kneeling down, he took her hand and said, "I'm not one for words so I'll get straight to the point. Our lives aren't perfect. In fact, they're far from it but they are better together than they are apart."
He pulled a stunning five karat diamond solitaire out of the box, "What I'm getting around to is: will you marry me?"
Barbara's lower lip quivered as she answered, "Yes."
Bruce slipped the ring on and then rose and swept her up in his arms so that their lips could meet. They spent the rest of their hour on the Tower holding one another and making plans.
Back in Metropolis, Clark was surprised by a knock at the door. He opened it to find an even greater surprise.
"Diana!" Clark joyfully said, "Come in."
She did and she cast an appraising eye about, "This is very nice. It's Spartan without feeling cold."
"Thanks. May I say that you look great in civilian clothes?" he asked.
He'd never seen Diana embarrassed until now, "Thank you. Tell me what do you have planned for the evening?"
"I thought I'd eat in and then go on patrol later this evening." He answered.
"How would you like to go to dinner with me and then I'll help you with your patrol." Diana suggested.
He thought about it and then with only a moment's hesitation said, "All right. I'd like that. Where will we eat?"
"Kyle Raynor told me about a new Greek grotto style restaurant." Diana replied, "I thought we'd start there."
"Sounds good." He agreed, "Shall we fly or shall we walk?"
"It's a lovely evening." Diana opined, "Let's walk."
Clark grinned, "You read my mind."