27
"We need to get moving," Sand said apprehensively. He hadn't told his fellow All Stars of the ghost of Wesley Dodds coming to him and passing along the precognitive gifts of the Sandman. "Gift" was a generous overstatement though. "Curse" was more like it since his every moment asleep was filled with the prophecies of doom for countless millions across the globe and he could only affect the outcome of a chosen few.
That being said, Sand had experienced dreams regarding a return to the Subtle Realms. And every vision had ended in horrific disaster. For him and the team. At this point, Sand just wanted to grab Mary Marvel and return home, if anyone was left alive to do so.
"We need a way to find and track Mary," Sentinel complained, "And my power ring is restricted to its most basic functions in this world. I can't do much more than create constructs from my imagination and willpower."
"And I've deployed my T-Spheres around our perimeter and Flash and Jesse are already scouting the horizon," Mr. Terrific reminded him.
Jay Garrick, the original Flash, and Jesse Quick were well out of sight scouting out the foothills beyond the broad plain they'd arrived upon. Mr. Terrific's mask alerted him to incoming speedsters entering the T-Spheres' scanning range, "And Jay and Jesse are on their way back."
"Not a moment too soon," Hourman fretted over his wife's safety. It seemed everyone was getting nervous in this warped dimension.
Atom Smasher noticed that Anna Fortune stood apart from the others. She also had the goggles she habitually wore propped up on her head lowered to her eyes, "You're missing out, Anna."
"I rather think not," Anna said as she gazed out across the horizon, "Ah, there it is. We need only gather our companions and set out to find Mary Marvel."
"Um…that's the point. We don't have a means to do so," Atom Smasher knew Anna was hyper aware of her surroundings so how had she missed such an obvious dilemma?
"I have the means, Albert," Anna said dryly.
"Should I tell the others?" Al Rothstein asked.
"By all means," Anna declared, "It will distract them from their fretting over the Flash and Jesse."
The All Stars had recently encountered Amos Fortune, Anna's great-great nephew. It seemed the members of the Fortune family were fated to be involved in the arcane. Amos had the ability to project the imagery from tarot cards and bring it to life. He'd pitted the tarot against the All Stars in an effort to avenge the Fortune family's fate after Anna had been driven from the plantation in 1867.
Nabu, working through a different Fate host, had found Anna and taken her in and moved her through time to the modern era. Studying to be an Agent of Order, Anna still dwelt in Salem, Massachusetts inside Fate's Tower. Anna had always been a divisive figure amongst the Justice League Unlimited, the Justice Society of America, and now the JSA All Stars.
"How can you track Mary?" Atom Smasher asked.
"Aethers, m'dear," he could hear the humor in Anna's voice despite her mouth and nose being covered by her mask. But laugh lines formed at her eyes and her eyes sparkled with mirth, "We need only track the aethers that conduct the powers Shazam bequeaths the Marvels."
Flash and Jesse arrived while they were discussing the means and methods. Flash reported in while Jesse reassured Hourman, "All I could find was large caravans of nasty critters. It's like being in Limbo all over again. I keep expecting Surtur to jump out of a hillside."
Sentinel was the only member of the original JSA still with the team that had spent the thirty years between the Fifties and the Eighties locked in Limbo battling Surtur, master of the fire demon armies, to prevent him from unleashing the Midgard Serpent and beginning Ragnarok and destroying the Earth. The JSA had been immortal in Limbo and always regenerated from harm. It took a direct action from the Specter to liberate the men and women trapped there and they'd returned to Earth twenty years younger than when they'd entered damnation.
"I ran a hundred miles across every stretch of the horizon and couldn't find anything other than demon settlements," Jesse hated to admit.
"Anna has a way to find Mary," Atom Smasher interrupted, "She said it has to do with aethers."
"That's a term from alchemy," Flash told everyone. As a chemist he was familiar with Victorian chemical terminology.
"Anna, can you really track Mary?" Mr. Terrific was willing to grasp the straw.
"Quite," Anna happily confirmed it.
"Would you mind sharing how?" Hourman impatiently wanted to know.
"With these," Anna slid her goggles down over eyes again, "When Dr. Fate gave me these I wasn't certain what use they'd be. As it turns out they're tailor made for situations like these."
"Khalid gave these to you?" Flash asked.
"No, Kent Nelson was still Nabu's host as Fate when I received them. They allow me to perceive the fluctuations of mystical energy as transmitted through atmospheric gases. In this case I can view the streams of energy Shazam imparts upon the Marvel Family. Both Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. have streams of magical empowerment connecting them to the Rock of Eternity. So does Mary. Her connection is a faint trail well over the horizon. I fear she is some distance from us."
"And you didn't mention this earlier because…?" Sentinel had to wonder.
"I'd never had cause to test these little gems out," Anna slid the goggles back to their usual place, "And I wanted you to feel as though you were accomplishing something."
"Why you grandstanding little…!" Jesse found herself so angry she was at a loss for words.
"Easy, hon," Hourman advised her, "We know from experience Anna isn't above casting spells against teammates."
Anna rolled her eyes. It seemed casting that memory charm against the Question and the Huntress would haunt her forever even after the JLU had exonerated her from criminal mischief but only because she'd erased the evidence of everything but the charm itself. Zatanna had traced it back to her but malicious intent couldn't be proven.
"Look, I don't care why she didn't say anything sooner," Sand fumed, "But if we have a means and a method for finding Mary I say we hurry up and do so before we attract any attention."
"It's far too late for that," Anna warned them, "We have been noticed and noted. All we can do now is move swiftly and pray."
No one had ever heard such sentiments from Anna before. Sentinel turned to the team's speedsters again, "Jay, you lead Jesse out ahead of the group. Just periodically double back to get changes of direction from Anna."
"As if she'd tell us," Jesse snorted.
She raced off before anyone else could comment. Jay shrugged and followed her to overtake her and discuss matters. Sentinel used his ring to lift Sand, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Atom Smasher, Commander Steel, Judomaster, and Metamorpho. Captain Marvel, Stargirl, and Junior flew escort around Anna. Aztek brought up the rear.
Seven hundred miles later, Flash and Jesse were embattled by hordes of demons surrounding them. Flying demons came at the All Stars in the air. Sentinel lowered his passengers so they could assist Jay and Jesse.
Sand buried demons beneath the ground as the attacked him. Hourman injected Miraclo and had an hour's worth of super strength and durability that he used to tear demons apart. Commander Steel already had the same attributes and used them to maximum effect. Metamorpho shifted throughout the periodic table to sear, singe, burn, incinerate, bludgeon, and poison demons.
Mr. Terrific's T-Spheres used their energy projection capabilities to blast demons down to their constituent atoms. Jesse and Flash used their speed and momentum driven kinetic energy to slice through demon ranks. Atom Smasher grew in stature and strength and stomped and crushed demons.
Aztek's mystical armor gave him the strength and protection to freely use his magical energy bolts to tear through flying demons. The Marvels used their speed and strength to kill demons. Stargirl's Cosmic Rod and Cosmic Convertor Belt allowed her to obliterate demons. Sentinel used a rotating corollary of constructs to attack demons.
Anna watched as Judomaster evaded every demon attack yet delivered invariably lethal blows. The All Stars had roughly formed a circle and Anna was its center. Which worked to her advantage.
The demons poured out over the horizons and darkened the skies and blanketed the ground. Anna selected the spell casing she needed and loaded it into her arm cannon. Then she fired into the ground.
"Hold on!" she yelled to everyone as a white mystical vortex formed beneath her. Demons began slipping through the air and across the ground as the vortex sucked them in. They began moving faster than anyone save Flash or Jesse could track. They were drawn in from beyond the unseen distance. And when the last of them had been drawn in, Anna alighted next to the vortex and tapped it with her forefinger and it vanished.
"Wow!" was all Courtney Whitmore could say.
"You said it, Court," Captain Marvel agreed with Stargirl.
"They're all gone," Jesse marveled.
"But there will always be more," Sand grumbled.
"And I only have one more similar spell casing," Anna warned them all, "I bought us time and temporary liberty but I have to use this last casing sparingly."
"Anna, would you continue to lead the way?" Flash asked diplomatically.
Anna slid her goggles over her eyes again, "Mary is still roughly in the same direction."
"Roughly?" Captain Marvel fretted over the fate of his twin sister.
"We are still wishing she's still capable of independent movement, are we not?" Anna asked.
Stargirl watched her boyfriend's jaw clench. After two weeks alone in the Subtle Realms, Mary had undoubtedly fought her share of demons. She had the Strength of Hercules and the Stamina of Atlas, but could those bolster her from weariness of the soul when there was no hope of escape?
"She's okay, Billy," Stargirl assured him, "We'd know it if she wasn't."
"She'd better be," Billy Batson said with such vehemence. She'd never heard it from him before. But she had from her biological father. And he was now a henchman for the Penguin.
"Bor-ring," Kitrina Falcone complained.
"You're still too young to go into the casino proper," Selina Kyle reminded her protégé.
"But I can risk my life every other day with the JLA?" Kitrina griped, "Where's the fairness in that?"
"You of all people should know life is never fair," Selina referred to Kitrina's birth into the Falcone crime family, "I'll observe Cluemaster here while you search his hotel suite."
"Great. Panty raid anyone?" Kitrina grumbled as she left to return to the hotel she and Selina also occupied.
Selina slinked into the casino, catching every male, and a number of female, eyes. And as she'd hoped, she caught Arthur Brown's eye as well. He swiftly made his approach, playing the high roller bit to the nines.
"Catwoman," he said with a mischievous smirk.
"Do I know you, Cluemaster?" Selina sidled up to the bar and ordered champagne.
"Oh, now you're wounding me," Cluemaster complained.
"I hear you're still rather close with your ex-wife," Selina barbed him, "But not so much with your daughter."
Selina sipped her champagne. It was a Krug non-vintage. She'd always preferred the grape mix in the non-vintage bottles.
"Why are you here?" Cluemaster dropped all pretenses and got straight to business. He obviously wanted to know if there was a conflict of professional interests.
"If you have something in the works, don't worry about me. I'm retired and independently wealthy these days," Selina assured him with utter sincerity.
"Independently my cummerbund," Cluemaster snorted, "You stole every cent you have."
"Except for those fabulous dividends I received from some rather exclusive clubs," Selina needled him again.
"Yes, well I've never had the advantage of working with either the Legion of Doom or the Justice League Unlimited whereas you've flipped both sides of the coin, haven't you?" Cluemaster almost made an accusation.
"But fortunes change," Selina winked, "Why else come to a casino?"
"Clever girl," Cluemaster grudgingly admitted, "I have an operation in effect here in Monte Carlo. Stay out of it if you value your life."
"I'm not recklessly throwing my life away these days," Selina assured him, "Besides, you have other concerns besides me."
"Meaning?" he was instantly suspicious.
"You have your own adversarial baggage," Selina took another sip and watched him over her glass.
"Spoiler is a well named child without the means to fly transatlantic," Cluemaster hissed.
"Nevertheless, overconfidence kills. Or in your case, spoils," Selina flagged the bartender for another.
Cluemaster impatiently checked his watch, "If you'll excuse me, I have five minutes to report to the baccarat table. Hopefully we won't be seeing much of each other."
"Trust me, if I have my way we won't," Selina picked up her newly delivered champagne flute and casually followed Cluemaster to the private high stakes table.
Kitrina snagged a maid's universal pass key to enter Arthur Brown's suite. And she promptly ducked as a metal quarterstaff was swung at her head. Dropping low, she executed a classic leg sweep. Spoiler landed on her butt but rolled over her head onto her feet, sweeping aside her cape with her hand.
Kitrina was in a fighting stance and so was Stephanie Brown, "Steph? What the hell?"
"What are you doing here?" Spoiler asked.
"My job," Kitrina huffed, "And you've obviously trashed the place. Ever hear of finesse?"
"I don't have time for finesse," Spoiler retorted.
"Your dad's in a high stakes game with scheduled rest breaks," Kitrina shot back at her, "He'll be busy for a while."
"But his goons won't be," Spoiler threw at her.
"What goons?" Kitrina asked, rather puzzled until the door knob began to jiggle.
"Crap!" Spoiler headed for the balcony.
"Wait for me," Kitrina hissed.
Spoiler got out on the balcony and fired a Bat grapple gun at the roof, "See ya!"
She ascended, leaving Catgirl behind. Kitrina swore as the door to the suite began to open. Getting up on the ledge, she leapt across to the adjacent balcony. Using her multitool, she jimmied the door and entered that suite.
Listening through the connecting wall, Kitrina overheard the brilliance of the stooges trying to figure out proper protocol concerning a break in of a super villain's room. Finally they decided to alert hotel management.
Kitrina slipped out of her refuge and headed for the roof. There, she found Spoiler waiting for her, "So you made it after all."
Kitrina hit her so fast, Stephanie never saw it coming, "You ever hang me out like that again and I will bury you if I survive."
"Spoken like a true Falcone," Spoiler retorted as she got back onto her feet.
"Don't even go there," Kitrina warned, "You're not the only one with family issues."
"Sorry," Spoiler was honestly repentant this time, "But why are you here and why didn't you know about dad's goon squad?"
"Because Sue's briefing didn't include them," Kitrina shared. Seeing Spoiler's confusion, Kitrina gave her the room number she shared with Selina, "Change into civvies and meet me there. I'll clue you in after you arrive."
"Okay," Spoiler agreed, "Just go easy on the word clue. Bad connotation and all that."
"Right," Kitrina agreed.
Stephanie arrived at the room an hour later, "God, this room rates. Waller only gave me this little shack in comparison."
"Welcome to the JLA," Kitrina said wryly.
"So why are you, and I presume Catwoman, here?" Stephanie asked.
"You're the distraction while Selina and I pursue the real objective," Kitrina let Stephanie know.
"Shit! Waller's using me," Stephanie realized.
"Like I said, welcome to the JLA," Kitrina said ruefully this time.
Hotel management contacted the casino and special permission for an emergency end to the day's card play was granted to Arthur Brown so he could return to the hotel to discuss matters with the police. Selina inwardly groaned as the casino manager made the cessation announcement. She remained well after Cluemaster had left in order to maintain appearances for any agents he'd left behind. When she did leave, she wondered just how Kitrina had screwed the pooch on this one.
Across the casino, Rocki Ballantine observed everything. Idly she wondered just how the hell people afforded places like this. Even the drinks cost more than her usual meal out.
After Sonia Alcona left Gotham and took the Batwoman identity with her, Kathy Duquesne had gone on to legitimize her family's business interests. Rocki had finally married her fiancé, Kevin. But Kevin hadn't realized he was HIV positive until it was too late.
The particular gang rapist that infected Kevin had an arrangement with Blackgate's doctor whereby test results from health screenings were hidden and falsified. Therefore the rapist had unencumbered access to the prison population and victims like Kevin never knew the truth about what had happened.
Everything came to light after Kevin was diagnosed with AIDS three years into the marriage. He only lasted a year after that. Rocki never told Kevin she'd contracted HIV from him. She sought to spare him that pain.
Waller had threatened Rocki's business interests, that much was true. But where Rocki had thrown herself into the company to assuage her grief, there were also practical reasons for her recruitment into the Justice League of America. Now she had access to the same next gen HIV antiviral medications Mia Deardon received for being Speedy. Rocki felt a great deal of compassion for Mia. At least Rocki had been accidently infected by someone she loved. Mia had knowingly been a victim of some pervert while she was forced into prostitution.
Rocki perked up as a rather unsavory fellow followed Selina Kyle out of the casino. It seemed Cluemaster may have brought along some friends after all. Waller had given Rocki a black Amex card and she paid her bill with it and followed the follower.
Something about Kathy's mad plan for revenge against Catman had triggered something inside Rocki. She was probably going to die a horrific death. And there was no telling when. Her company was one legacy she was leaving behind but Batwoman was another.
So when Waller came to her, Rocki resisted pro forma but she'd really already said 'yes' before Waller even asked. And Waller knew it. They'd negotiated the terms of employment anyway because Waller knew about Rocki's diagnosis.
Rocki wasn't supposed to interfere in either Catwoman's or Spoiler's operations unless the shit hit the fan. Seeing Selina's irritation, and her added annoyance at being followed by such an obvious stooge, let Rocki know that while no one was actively shitting yet, their pants had fallen to their ankles. And Rocki found the prospect of going into action again very exciting.
Shayera Hol and Barda were locked away in the deepest dungeons within the Hall of Doom. Both used an hour of brute force and then an hour of finesse to discover that their cells were designed to hold Kryptonians. Thanagarians and New Gods were just fodder to feed the dungeon by comparison.
Captain Atom's sagging containment suit was hooked up to energy siphon manacles and every spare iota of power was drained from him in addition to the damper rods thrust through the suit. It took Luthor threatening to do the same to Major Force to keep him from visiting Captain Atom and gloating. Luthor promised Major Force he'd see action soon enough.
Luthor employed his oiliest smile on the LSV Founders, "Truly your plan is a success."
Luthor chuckled as Superman, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Atom and Mr. Miracle knelt before them. He kissed Saturn Queen's hand, "Truly you are a marvel."
"Flatterer," Saturn Queen replied, "But your mind still revolves around your plan to eventually betray us."
Luthor smirked, "My mental defenses were prepared by the best yet you slide through them like they're tissue paper. You are truly incomparable in this century."
"In any century," Saturn Queen sniffed, "My only rival won't be born for another thousand years."
"Do you have the briefing files we require pulled up?" Lightning Lord returned them to the business at hand.
"Yes, Brainiac has secured the Justice League International's own personnel dossiers as well as the DEO and ISA files on each member," Luthor happily reported, "Most of it is redacted for public consumption. And there is a dearth of information regarding Dr. Mist."
"Mist?" Cosmic King paused, "Our history doesn't record a Dr. Mist ever existing."
"Oh, he's gone through several pseudonyms over the last six thousand years. Dr. Mist is his latest. He's purported to be a mystical immortal of the race of Homo Magi," Luthor briefed them, "But that's uncorroborated."
"We'll take appropriate measures," Lightning Lord assured Luthor, "This Mist will hesitate to strike back at such 'heroes' as Superman and his ilk. However, thanks to Saturn Queen, the Justice League Unlimited will not have any constraints but those we give them."
"Why, may I ask, are you stressing such importance on the JLI?" Luthor had to wondered, "Their ranks are filled with second tier heroes at best. The JLA and the JSA All Stars are more suitably staffed with people you could use to further your aims."
"Because the JLI holds the respect and awe of the rest of the world beyond the United States," Cosmic King was irritated by having to explain, "When the other worldwide heroes see that the JLI has capitulated to us, they will lose heart and that is the first step of any campaign."
"But the JLA and the All Stars are a far greater threat than the rest of the world," Luthor was irritated to have to repeat.
"Both the JLA and the All Stars will resist us to a man and a woman, but in the end, sheer superiority of numbers will drive them into the ground," Saturn Queen promised.
"And the Shining Knight?" Luthor probed, "He's a member of the All Stars now."
"A momentary weakness imposed upon me," Saturn Queen was irked by the line of questioning, "After we capture him, I'll kill him myself."
Luthor doubted it would be so easy for Eve Aries to accomplish no matter what she told herself and others. And the narrowing of her eyes told him she'd read his mind. So much the better.
"We'll use the same Legionnaire team we employed in Philadelphia against the Dome," Lightning Lord dictated.
"I would recommend greater numbers," Luthor retorted.
"Against so-called 'second tier' opponents?" Cosmic King sneered, "We've made our decision. Our arrangement means you make it a reality."
Luthor realized that despite Lightning Lord and Saturn Queen disagreeing with Cosmic King's tone they'd back him to the death. They truly functioned better as a team than mere individuals. But crippling them wasn't a mere matter of killing one component. He'd have to kill them all.
"Very well," he acceded, "You've proven right so far. Just remember though, it only takes one mistake to unravel plans at this level."
"And you remember, Lex, that your usefulness is finite," Cosmic King warned him, "Don't prove yourself to be expendable."
"I suggest we brief our shock troops now," Saturn Queen intervened in Cosmic King's battle of wills with their ally.
As Luthor began to have Brainiac gather the required team, The LSV Founders sent the JLU team ahead to the briefing room. As they strolled the corridors of the Hall of Doom, Saturn Queen brought up a point, "I hate to broach a delicate topic but we need to dispatch a team to Gotham City."
"This again? He's one man," Cosmic King scoffed.
"One man that can bog down the occupation of this planet for years to come," Lightning Lord agreed with Saturn Queen, "Eve is right. Batman must be dealt with at the onset."
"I'll lead the mission then," Cosmic King offered, "You two march on Paris."
"All right, Laevar. Assemble a team. Mekt, remember, I need a moment alone with Ultraman," Saturn Queen insisted.
"Your plan is too risky," Lightning Lord protested, "He's a misanthrope. Who knows what that dullard feels regarding the concept of family."
"Why Mekt, you're worried about me. How sweet," Saturn Queen was truly touched, "But I'm a grown woman. I can manipulate one dullard."
"Remember why we're doing this," Lightning Lord urged, "We're fashioning a new future for the United Planets. A future free of the threat of the Khund or the Dominators. There won't be any more Fatal Five, no Time Trapper, no Universo, no Mordru, or Glorith. It will be a perfect future that we rule."
"And if I'm successful, we'll have the perfect champion to lead our Legion in suppressing any dissent," Saturn Queen did her own reminding.
"But we'll still be beholden to Darkseid," Cosmic King snorted.
"Once he wins the multiverse, he'll be too preoccupied to watch us foment rebellion against him and lead the oppressed sentients of fifty-two universes against Apokolips," Lightning Lord reiterated their ultimate goal, "Then those universes will give us whatever we desire out of sheer gratitude."
"Laevar, you have another variable to deal with as well," Saturn Queen interjected, "Nyssa al Ghul's Injusticers can prove to be valuable allies or implacable enemies. If you can't persuade her to enlist with us, kill her. Even then, if she joins with us she's ambitious and will have to be watched."
"I'll approach her after I deal with Batman," Cosmic King decided, "Afterwards I'll approach this 'Nyssa'. She'll side with us or die. It's that simple."
"We'll see," Saturn Queen mused, "Few things in life are ever that clear cut."
As the Legion prepared to mobilize, Saturn Queen took a private moment with Ultraman alone, "I know you've never had a family. The children at the orphanage mocked you because you were slow after your injuries when the rocket that brought to Earth was damaged."
"I showed them," Ultraman growled, "And the Kents for finding me and giving me away and handing my rocket over to the government."
"Yes, you proved to them who the better man was, Kal-L," Saturn Queen agreed, "But everyone needs a family."
"Mine's dead," Ultraman said sadly, "The rocket was busted up but it told me that much. And Superwoman asked me to be part of the Crime Syndicate but they're all mean. They think I'm stupid. Except for the new Power Ring but she's scared of me. She's scared of everyone."
"We can be your family," Saturn Queen offered.
"We?" Ultraman was confused.
"Lightning Lord and Cosmic King can be your fathers and I can be your mother," Saturn Queen explained, "If you'll let us."
"Two dads?" Ultraman thought about this, "Are they gay?"
"No, but it doesn't matter. People like us, people like you, make their own rules. In our world anything is possible," Saturn Queen assured him, "And you can help make our world a reality. And in exchange you'll have the family you always wanted. I'll look after you as only a mother can."
"I'd like that," Ultraman said dreamily.
"Then look into my eyes and we'll seal our bargain," Saturn Queen reached into his mind and barely made any adjustments at all. Ultraman was sincere and when she knew this she kissed him on the forehead, "Now, let's go meet people and you can make me proud, son."
"I will, mother. I promise," Ultraman vowed.
Saturn Queen just smiled.
Dr. Mist decided to auger the portents after Sue Dibney contacted the JLI administration. He saw only conflict but the conflict was confusing and undecipherable. He had Belphegor summon the JLI. And no sooner had they assembled then the Legion of Doom boom tubed into the streets outside the Dome.
The JLers scattered to deal with the threat. But to their surprise and dismay, the JLU seemed to have sided with the Legion for this encounter. The JLers engaged the other JLers and the Legionnaires.
"Hold still, ya flippin' yabo!" Jack O'Lantern snarled at Green Lantern. So far, John Stewart had done little else then erect barriers to protect him from Jack's magic lantern. The lantern let Jack fly, project energy beams, create flames, and erect his own energy barriers. And if Jack were to be separated from the lantern, he could control it remotely with his mind.
Paired off against one another, it seemed to be a fair fight. But Daniel Cormac wasn't alone. Wenonah Littlebird, the Native American JLer called Owlwoman was also in the fight. Owlwoman and Jack were the power couple in the JLI. She had the supernatural ability to fly, extend talons from her fingertips and had inescapable tracking abilities.
So while Jack attacked from in front of John, Owlwoman attacked from behind. Jack saw the exact moment a switch was thrown in John's mind. He tried to erect a barrier in time, but the punch beam John fired shot through Jack's head before he could. Jack dropped his lantern and fell to the pavement below.
Owlwoman screamed as she landed next to Jack and cradled him for the final time, "Daniel, oh Daniel, what has he done to you?"
"He's killed me, darlin'," Jack told her, "Only the lantern is givin' me a chance ta say goodbye."
She pulled off his mask and she saw his eyes glazing over, "Don't you leave me alone, dammit!"
"Wenonah, don't lose yerself in hate. Too many of my countrymen have done. It poisons the soul," Jack pleaded.
Owlwoman kissed him and whispered, "Don't go."
"I can't help it, darlin'. I love ya. Always have," Jack promised her.
"Jack, I love you too. I always will," Owlwoman saw Jack's lantern vanish.
His last words were slurred but they sounded to her like he said, "Look, the wee folk have come fer me."
Jack died in Owlwoman's arms while she remembered the Sidhe had given him his lantern. And then, inexplicably, Jack's body dissolved into glittering sparks in Owlwoman's arms. She was temporarily lost in grief but then the anger began to build and she had one desire in this life: to kill John Stewart.
He encased her in a force bubble to keep her at bay.
Ulla Paske sought refuge in flight. The Flash had pummeled the Little Mermaid and the Tasmanian Devil. Ulla's jaw and face still ached from the blows he'd rained down upon her. Only the fact she was half-Atlantean and bred for bone crushing depths had kept her from being knocked senseless like poor Tasmanian Devil was getting pounded away. Even the Devil's greater than human strength and quick reflexes didn't give him a chance against Flash.
Ulla knew she had two options. She could fly as far as she could across the Atlantic and seek help or she could swim for thirty hours before being forced to fly again. Then Belphegor's mental voice filled her thoughts and she knew about the JLA and All Star's impending arrival. So she headed for the airport to greet them. Her UN credentials would gain her access to the secure terminal.
Having beaten Tasmanian Devil into ground, Flash followed Ulla as she flew across town. Even in the air or under water, Little Mermaid was slower than Wally West could run along the ground or run across the water's surface. He'd be Little Mermaid's nasty surprise when she reached wherever she was going.
"I can't believe that nitwit Goldilocks even has a sister," Superwoman mocked Godiva.
"Beware your tone," Olympian growled.
"Oh-ho! Sister dear has an admirer. A rippling mass of muscles admirer to boot," Superwoman said lustfully, "Maybe I'll have you as my new boy toy when this is done."
Godiva was surprised to discover she had mixed feelings regarding that prospect. Olympian charged into battle. Superwoman ripped the Golden Fleece from his shoulders and draped it across her own.
"Now I just happen to recognize this little beauty and now it's mine," she boasted.
Olympian's strength waned as the Amazon's waxed and she quickly subdued him, "Now for…sister dear?"
Superwoman looked around to find Godiva was missing. She snorted in derision, "Some hero."
"Watch out! She's going to…" Tuatara began to say but Atomica had already shrunk, "Never mind."
Thunderlord clutched his head as he had an Atomica produced stroke. She reappeared after he'd collapsed.
"Now there's no need to…" Tuatara began.
Atomica kicked him in the balls, "What?"
"That," he wheezed before falling over.
"Remember Kimiyo, only broadcast yellow light wavelengths," Rising Sun advised Dr. Light.
"How could I forget Izumi? I served beside several Green Lanterns," she replied.
They hit Power Ring with everything they could in the yellow light range. She hardly noticed. Jessica Cruz was swept away by nightmares created for her by the Ring of Volthoom as it blinded her to her real opponents with those it fashioned to direct her panicked ire against.
Dr. Light and Rising Sun barely evaded the monstrous constructs flying towards them. Dr. Light began to panic herself, "Izumi! They're immune to the light!"
"Time to employ other methods then, Kimiyo," Rising Sun grimly urged.
Rising Sun resorted to the full might of his solar powers while Dr. Light utilized her photon bursts which were the ultimate expression of her potential. Even then, they barely held out against Power Ring's constructs. And as their fear grew so too did the Ring of Volthoom's power. And it savored every delectable moment of the Japanese heroes' terror.
"Is that a woman?" the Germanic Wild Huntsman asked Bushmaster.
"Maybe once upon a time," he replied.
"I haven't been reincarnated throughout the ages to back away from a threat because it was a woman once," Wild Huntsman dispatched his hound.
But Blockbuster ripped the jaw off of the hound and it died whimpering. Wild Huntsman spurred his steed on. Blockbuster's fist caved in the horse's head as Wild Huntsman was thrown from the saddle.
Blockbuster grabbed hold of the attacking Bushmaster's throat and crushed his neck, killing him. Wild Huntsman swung his battleaxe but Blockbuster caught it. After crushing the arm, she ripped it from his body. Taking his battleaxe, Rachel Sand clove Wild Huntsman's head in two. She tossed the axe aside and went looking for more excitement.
"Let's get her," Vapor snarled as she and Echo faced off against Psi.
Vapor transformed into an acidic mist and drifted towards Psi. Echo was Terri Eckhart in civilian life and pop culture. But she was no longer the innocent pop princess she'd been when she'd joined the Conglomerate. The years of concert tours across the world had jaded her. As her barely there leather outfit attested to compared to the modest body suit she'd warn until joining the Justice League.
Vapor didn't know what had changed inside Echo but she desperately wanted to melt whoever was individually or corporately responsible. Psi used her telekinesis to push Vapor towards Echo. Echo had a new attitude but her powers were unaltered. She reflected Vapor back at Psi.
Caught in the squeeze between them, Vapor shifted off to the side. With Vapor's threat temporarily deterred, Psi focused on Echo. Psi reached out with her TK power, which Echo reflected and Psi lifted herself off of the ground.
"I get it," Psi grinned, "Whatever I send at you you send straight back at me. But just how potent is your power?"
"Potent enough," Echo promised. But as Psi was guessing, it was unidirectional and only worked against threats Echo was aware of.
Psi lifted a football size rock from the gardens surrounding the Dome. And then she cracked Echo in the head with it. Echo collapsed and lay on the ground groaning.
"I'll kill you for that," Vapor vowed as she drifted toward Psi again.
"I really don't think so," Psi warned Vapor, "Your attitude was mentioned as being problematic as well as your attachment to Echo here. After all, you helped recruit her first into the Conglomerate then the Global Guardians. But she was the one to talk you into enlisting with the Justice League."
"What's with the résumé?" Vapor wondered. She'd almost reached Psi.
Psi smiled, "Actually, it's an obituary," Psi dispersed Vapor like so much bad gas, "Shoulda traded up in the power department, honey."
Reverb used his vibration powers to shatter Killer Frost's ice dagger in mid air. Cisco Ramone wasn't the only member of the family to have the gift. While Cisco had become Vibe to genuinely help people. Reverb had joined the Conglomerate for the paycheck. And he'd stayed with his teammates out of a grudging sense of loyalty.
Praxis created a TK shield to prevent his being harmed by Volcana's pyrokinesis. No one had seen Gypsy since she'd camouflaged herself. Killer Frost simply froze a ten foot periphery around and including Reverb. Volcana created a pillar of fire all around Praxis and squeezed it in until he passed out from lack of air and heat exhaustion.
Killer Frost looked around. Volcana asked the obvious question, "Weren't there three of them?"
"Hold the fort," Killer Frost instructed, "I'll find her."
"Who 'her'?" Volcana wondered.
"Our missing JLer," Killer Frost told her, "Her name is Gypsy. She was a teen runaway that ended up joining the original Justice League Unlimited. She quit the JLU to go back home and finish high school. But Despero came to Earth looking for revenge and he killed her parents. After the newly rechristened JLU defeated Despero once and for all, J'onn Jonzz tried getting her reinstated into the UN version of the team. When her application was denied, she wandered for a bit before being recruited to the Conglomerate's corporate super team."
"And then she joined the Global Guardians and now the JLI. Got it," Volcana said dismissively.
"Don't be flippant," Killer Frost tersely warned her, "Her camouflage ability renders her virtually invisible. And she's smart. Very, very smart. She survived Despero's attack long enough to summon help from the JLU. And Despero is a telepath and can see in the UV and infrared ranges."
"So why'd he off her folks?" Volcana finally asked.
"Because Gypsy lobotomized him the first time he came to Earth. No one knew then he'd be able to regenerate like Doomsday," Killer Frost explained, "So his attack was as personal as it could get."
"So you think she's a credible threat," Volcana realized.
"But not for much longer," Killer Frost grinned.
Maxi-Man used his strength to throw vehicles at Signalman while Dark Ranger dealt with KGBeast. Maxi-Man had to admire Dark Ranger. The man had nothing but his training and natural athleticism to use against KGBeast. And he was knocking the Russian senseless.
"Trade off!" Maxi-Man called. He then crushed KGBeast's gun hand before knocking him out with a left cross.
Signalman had used a fireworks projector mounted in his glove to overload Dark Ranger's optic nerves. The man had been blinded as a result. Maxi-Man stepped in only Signalman did the same thing to him as well.
While the two JLers groped about, Signalman went over and kicked KGBeast in the stomach, "You and that stupid gun."
Blue Beetle flipped and jumped all around Count Vertigo, taunting him all the while. Vertigo removed his inducer from his belt and triggered it. Blue Beetle collapsed onto the pavement and retched his guts up.
"You shouldn't have annoyed me so much," Count Vertigo warned Blue Beetle as Ted Kord found he couldn't even get off the pavement much less stand and fight.
Booster Gold was in the air battling Sparrow Hawk. Booster's LSH flight ring allowed him to fly and a certain degree of maneuverability but Sparrow Hawk was a creature of the air. She flew evasive patterns all around Booster while he lamely tried to clip her with a gauntlet mounted proton blaster.
He spotted Blue Beetle's difficulty, "Ted!"
Sparrow Hawk ran her sword through his abdomen. As she kicked off away from him and her wings beat to gain her lift, "Distractions will kill you, Booster. And I certainly will."
Booster sank to the ground and his knees buckled and he abruptly found himself sitting on his haunches. Sparrow Hawk landed before him and lifted his chin with the flat of her blade, "Give me a reason not to kill you."
"Because I'm cute and I know the future," Booster weakly said.
"You're not that cute and I already have sources on the future," Sparrow Hawk smirked, "So I guess you're out of luck."
The Thanagarian drew back her sword in a two handed grip and Booster just defiantly stared her down.
"How many of him are there?" Goldstar asked as she used magnetic blasts to render Multiplexes into dissolving crystals.
"As many as he wishes until we render the original inert," Starman informed her as his solar blasts blew Multiplex doppelgangers apart.
"And how do we do that?" Goldstar asked in frustration.
"Follow me," Starman began to lift off the ground but the various Multiplexes dragged him back down, "Or maybe not."
"This is pointless," Goldstar fumed.
"These things frequently are," Starman said dismally.
She knew Starman was still grieving for the loss of his husband. But Goldstar also knew it wasn't the time to give in to despair. But before she could say anything, Multiplexes jumped all over Starman and beat him into the ground.
More of them took hold of Goldstar and dragged her to the ground as well before smothering her so that she passed out.
Shrapnel's opening "salvo" perforated Red Tornado. Firestorm began to panic as Shrapnel slowly began to reassemble himself.
"Crap, Professor. I don't know anything on how to reassemble Reddy. We're on our own," Firestorm spoke to his disembodied other half.
Easy, Ronald, Martin Stein spoke only in Firestorm's head, Do not forget about Shrapnel's companion.
Giganta suddenly grew ten stories tall and tried swiping Firestorm out of them air. As he flew around in a vaguely evasive pattern, she connected. Firestorm bounced off the pavement and found himself between her legs. Looking up, he got quite a view.
"Geez, lady! Trying wearing some underwear. Think about the kids for God's sake," Firestorm ranted.
"Kids like show and tell," Giganta giggled, "It's the law of nature. You've seen mine now show me yours."
"I'm not gonna…" Firestorm's protest ended when she clapped him with both hands. He hit the pavement below and Professor Stein tried to focus him as Giganta stepped on Firestorm, Try and focus, Ronald. You need to devise a way out. You need to…
Giganta stomped on Firestorm crushing him enough to end his internal debate. Then she shrank down to her usual seven foot tall height. She idly waited while Shrapnel pulled himself together. And she decided to see just what Firestorm had in his pants.
Black Bat dueled Darkwing while Batwing faced El Diablo. Cassandra Cain and Darkwing were both products of the League of Assassins. Their combat was brutal, swift, and unyielding.
Despite Black Bat's superiority in skill, Darkwing still felt it was beneath his dignity to face a woman in combat. A sentiment he'd had not quite beaten out of him by Cassandra's mother, Lady Shiva. And now the daughter was continuing the family legacy.
Batwing fought El Diablo as the boxer brought all of his skills to the fore. But he wasn't bringing Batwing down. But the African police detective knew something had changed with El Diablo. He'd shaved his head and covered his head in a skull-like tattoo and the rest of his body with bone tattoos.
"What's…uh.. up…unf…with…ugh…the tattoos?" Batwing asked between blows.
El Diablo stepped back, "Yeah, that. I guess I should show you since the old methods aren't working."
"You have new methods?" Batwing was curious. El Diablo had begun his career as a prizefighter and then become a masked vigilante. A murder conviction had brought him to Belle Reeve Prison where the Suicide Squad had recruited him. Before sending him back to Belle Reeve and into the arms of the Legion of Doom.
Flames enveloped El Diablo's body and he ignited Batwing's flight pack. Batwing removed the pack but it exploded and knocked him unconscious. His body armor had saved him from greater harm.
Black Bat leveled Darkwing with a backspin kick. He was obviously reeling so El Diablo intervened by surrounding her with a column of fire and causing her to pass out. Darkwing was irate.
"The kill was mine!" he grated.
"Actually, it looked like it was hers, jefe," El Diablo replied, "And as our new partners requested, she ain't dead. But if you try and harm her before she's collected, I'll show you God's special place for those that rape and kill helpless women and teenagers. And when I'm done, I'm sure our benefactors will want a piece of your tail too."
Darkwing fumed but he lapsed into a sullen silence.
Ultraman came upon the Super Friends and knew he should deal with them. Black Vulcan opened hostilities by stunning Ultraman. But the Kryptonian marched on Black Vulcan until he could hit him and knock the JLer out.
Samurai tried to burn away the oxygen from Ultraman and suffocate him. But Ultraman held his breath and then used a puff of ultra breath to bounce Samurai off of a nearby building. Using ultra speed, he reached Samurai and knocked him out as well.
That left Apache Chief. The JLer lightened his atomic density to Ultraman originally went through him when he threw a punch. As Ultraman whirled around to reengage, Apache Chief tightened his density so he was diamond hard.
His punch into Ultraman's nose actually drew blood. Ultraman merely grinned and unloaded a right cross that split Apache Chief's skin at the neck. A second and third blow added to the injury. Apache Chief realized if he endured another strike his neck was crack in half and he would be beheaded.
Reverting his density to its lowest point would probably detach his head as well since it would effectively phase off of his shoulders. So Apache Chief reverted to human norms and the wound began to heal. But Ultraman knocked him out anyway just to be safe.
Ultraman knew his mother and fathers would be proud of him.
King Shark ravaged El Gaucho and Wingman. Despite their being the greatest heroes their respective countries had too offer, and being formerly affiliated with Batman, Inc. they lacked Batman's intense drive and impossible skill set. But despite his growing appetite, King Shark didn't feed on them or maim them. His claws had left marks that would scar over but he figured those would be conversation pieces. With the two heroes subdued, King Shark started counting down until his next meal. Which would have to be soon or he would eat his two victims.
The Knight knew Black Spider by reputation. Batman had briefed every member of Batman, Inc. on the former vigilante. Black Spider had targeted drug dealers and operated as a hit man to finance his war on drugs. Eventually he'd been captured and subsequently volunteered to join the Suicide Squad.
But there were fourteen months of Black Spider's life that were unaccounted for. And it seemed Black Spider had studied ninjitsu during that period. Because rather than stand off at a remote distance and kill the Knight and Squire, he engaged them face to face.
And the Knight realized his son was inadequately trained as the Squire to face a foe like Black Spider. Beryl Hutchison would have provided a real challenge to the Black Spider but mercifully, Black Spider used a nerve pinch to stun the Squire rather than toy with him.
The Knight didn't go down anywhere as easily. Black Spider found himself respecting the Brit's tenacity. But he did fall nonetheless.
Saturn Queen had spoken into Black Spider's mind and revealed she knew his ultimate ambitions. While captured and tortured by Basilisk, he'd eventually come to see the legitimacy of their cause. So he'd returned to the United States and allowed himself to be captured for the sole purpose of joining the Suicide Squad.
But he'd been rejected by Waller from joining Checkmate. So he was going to kill and betray a number of people within the Legion in order to validate his recruitment into Checkmate. Afterwards he would lure Checkmate and the Justice League of America to Basilisk's Mexican headquarters and let Regulus deal with them directly.
Saturn Queen merely added names to his target list and she wanted an invitation to meet Regulus after it was done. Basilisk could have a place in the new world order the LSV Founders were putting together if Regulus had the wisdom to enlist. And she wanted Majestic's location from Regulus.
Man-of-Bats and Raven Red were formidable against threats across the Native American Nations but a meta like Blockbuster was plainly out of their weight class. Still, they'd fought well before Blockbuster carefully rendered them unconscious. She'd already been mentally reamed by Saturn Queen over the losses of Wild Huntsman and Bushmaster and frankly she didn't know if she could survive a second "object lesson".
Mr. Miracle stunned the Hood with a gas grenade while he weaved in and around his opponents on his hover discs. Nightrunner proved almost impossible to run to ground, so Mr. Miracle bracketed him with a salvo of stun grenades. Scott Free had been very impressed with the Arab's stamina and agility.
Mr. Unknown proved more difficult because of his stealth suit but Mr. Miracle's Mother Box tracked him down and Mr. Miracle barraged him with gas grenades. Mr. Miracle didn't believe in lethal weaponry despite being raised on Apokolips. But he also condemned lethal force even in the war between New Genesis and Apokolips. A view Barda respected but couldn't fathom and made his self imposed exile on Earth tolerable to his father, Izaya the Highfather of New Genesis.
Mr. Miracle didn't expect his fallen opponents to get up anytime soon but he bound their wrists just to be safe. Atom joined him momentarily.
"How did it go?" Mr. Miracle asked.
"I ended up against Fire and Ice. No pun intended but they simply froze," Atom chuckled, "I took Fire down with a series of punches. I had to create a stroke in Ice to bring her down."
"Will be any permanent damage?" Mr. Miracle worried what the LSV Founders would say and do if there were.
"Scott, she's an ice goddess," Atom reminded him, "She's as resilient as a New God. So no, I don't expect there to be any permanent after effects."
"I'd say that's a good thing," Mr. Miracle stressed, "For you."
Atom realized he was probably right.
Jet thought her electromagnetic abilities would easily overwhelm Lightning Lord. She had no inkling what his abilities were but he laughably supposed the lightning crests on his uniform should have given something away. His own electrical abilities stunned her. Manticore tried to use brute force and endurance to squash him but his lightning powers nearly electrocuted the man. Mekt knew only his brother, Garth, and sister, Ayla, would ever have powers to compare to his. And even then they were weak shadows.
Cascade converted her body to water and she doused Lightning Lord in an effort to short circuit his powers. But the Indonesian woman discovered he was immune to his own powers as he channeled voltage through her. She passed out and reverted to her human state at his feet.
Freedom Beast merged a cat and a dog and pitted the hybrid against Saturn Queen. She waved a finger in the air and it fell asleep. Freedom Beast's eyes went blank and he attacked his teammate, Fleur-de-Lis. But Fleur-de-Lis' years as a covert operations soldier worked to her favor and she quickly bested Freedom Beast. But then she bent the knee before Saturn Queen.
"Command me, my Queen," she implored.
"Hold that thought," Saturn Queen requested.
"Neat trick but it won't help you against Chrysalis," Templar Knight laughed at her.
"No, I can't affect a robotic mind. But you can do my work for me," she commanded.
Sandstorm turned into sand and blew around and into Chrysalis. He embedded himself into her joints and she started grinding to a halt. Templar Knight and Fleur-de-Lis literally began tearing the robot apart.
Before she deactivated, Chrysalis deployed her synthetic butterflies and they stung her two physical attackers into unconsciousness. Sandstorm's current silicate state was beyond her capability. But the butterflies deactivated as Chrysalis did.
"She could prove to be a useful machine," Saturn Queen mused.
Only Seraph, Centrix, and Tundra still opposed her. She discounted Centrix out of hand. She could see in his mind he'd been a hotshot advertising exec who'd then founded his own agency before stepping down from active participation to train as a superhero in order to relieve the tedium of his life. It sounded a lot like the worst of her Legion of Super Villain members. So she turned him against Seraph.
Bitter winds attacked Saturn Queen as Tundra brought snow flurries to Paris. But the Russian fought Saturn Queen in her mind as well. But she broke as so many others had before her.
Afterwards it just took "persuading" to convince Seraph to abandon Jehovah for her.
Belphegor monitored the situation from the heart of the Dome's command center. She'd gotten Ulla away and Godiva had received instructions as well. Vapor was lost to any detection.
And she sensed J'onn's mind even before a phased into the room. She swiveled her chair to face him and rose, "I was expecting you."
"Then you know there is no hope for you," J'onn stated rather than asked.
"There's always hope, you Martian moron," Belphegor projected all of her mentalist might into J'onn's brain. But wasn't an attack. It was merely a suggestion. A suggestion that would hopefully bear fruit in dark days.
J'onn used his fist to quell Belphegor's little one woman uprising. Then he draped her over his shoulder and carried her out into the streets.
Unnoticed by J'onn, Gypsy dropped her camouflage and took Belphegor's place at the control systems.
Superman came to Dr. Mist's meditation chamber, "Doctor, it's time to meet some people."
"I'd rather not," Dr. Mist sighed, "I rather know their type. Would you care for some tea or coffee?"
"If you won't come willingly I will make you come," Superman warned him.
"You will try, won't you?" Dr. Mist asked dismally.
Despite Superman's vulnerability to magic, he still fought hard enough to destroy the meditation chamber, several storage units, and most of the JLI's training center before Dr. Mist finally bound him up with magic.
"Bravo, Doctor," Saturn Queen clapped her hands in appreciation, "You've neutralized one of the two greatest heroes of this age. Any age actually."
Lightning Lord jolted him with enough electricity to stun Superman. But Dr. Mist had a counter spell prepared to deflect the barrage, "I'll never surrender to the likes of you."
"Pity, you don't even know what are our likes are," Saturn Queen broke into a smile, "Let me show you and then you can decide."
Dr. Mist stiffened, went rigid, and fell over. His magic manacles evaporated and Superman was liberated.
"Eve?" Lightning Lord looked uncertain.
"It seems he had a mental conditioning that he'd prepared in case a highly skilled telepath entered his mind. I fear I've broken him," she shrugged, "Too bad. He would have been useful. Kal-El, be a dear and carry the good Doctor outside."
"Of course, my Queen," Superman bowed.
"I could really learn to like this," Lightning Lord chuckled.
"It only gets better from here," Saturn Queen promised him.