29
Anna Fortune checked on Black Mary. Mary had insisted she didn't belong in the Marvel Family anymore and took on a similar pseudonym as Black Adam. Afterwards she'd regressed into, what seemed to be, thoughtful silence afterwards. But Anna just knew their teammates were still in mortal danger so she'd chosen the time to interrupt Mary's thinking.
"How are you doing?" Anna inquired.
Mary sat, staring at her newly acquired gloves and boots, "I still find the costume change startling."
"A change indicative of that within you," Anna supposed, "It is my understanding that some recess within your heart establishes what your Marvel outfit shall be."
"You mean I chose to wear this?" Mary was appalled by the idea. It stank of Mistress Mary's influence.
"Not in so many words or intentions," Anna sought to clarify, "Shazam spoke of his chosen recipients as mapping out a general impression within their minds. Black Adam did not always wear his current garb. But when he was reborn in this era, he had seen Captain Marvel in action and therefore subconsciously emulated him. And to be frank, your brother idolized Superman so when Shazam originally chose him, William sought to become his idol."
"The only Marvel I ever saw wearing this kind of outfit was Mistress Mary and I don't want to become her," Mary was getting angry now.
"You don't wish to but your fear is that you are becoming Mistress Mary. Therefore your heart manifested attire that would remind you of that you did not wish to emulate and therefore Black Mary was born," Anna explained in one fell swoop.
"So this is my mind putting the brakes on?" Mary wasn't certain she quite believed that theory.
"Essentially," Anna concurred, "You know your heart better than anyone. Tell me, do you secretly wish to be Mistress Mary or do you want a visible reminder of what you could easily become so that you avoid doing so?"
Mary looked hurt that Anna could suggest she could ever be Mistress Mary. Anna took hold of Mary's upper arm, "I too saw the predator we knew as Mistress Mary. You are not that wretched sadist. But you have started down a path that could lead to transforming into her. So take heart that you haven't already done so and take heed that you do not."
"But I still want to kill Johnny Sorrow," Mary replied, "And I wanted to do…things to him and have him do things to me. Things I'd never even thought of before."
"Yet every woman of a certain age thinks these things when it comes to a man…or a woman if such is their nature. You have just always been an innocent in affairs of the heart," Anna consoled Mary, "But your Egyptian benefactors have little regard for innocence so they will enflame the passions of your heart. Just as they obviously did with Mistress Mary. So once again it comes down to making choices of whether or not to allow the gods to rule your life or to forge your own destiny and employ the gifts they give you rather than be used by them."
"Did you have to make this kind of choice when you became an Agent of Order?" Mary wondered.
"In a sense," Anna confided, "I too was consumed with anger and rage over the injustices my family and I had been forced to endure ever since the Northern states forced the South into seceding. Nabu offered me an outlet for that rage, a focus with which to harness the anger and utilize it to build rather than destroy. But that choice came with a steep price. One I must pay every day."
"What kind of price?" Mary was slightly alarmed now.
"Consider the Lords of Order. They will achieve their ends at any cost to those less than themselves. Jack the Ripper was a fellow Agent of Order. We consider him to be a monster. But the Lords of Order have hallowed his name for ending a Chaos born plague carried by Jack's victims. They didn't know they'd bedded Agents of Chaos and been infected with a supernatural plague but the Lords of Order decided to kill off the carriers rather than risk a war with Chaos," Anna revealed, "My cost is a private penance that I must bear alone. I shan't talk of it further but each of us has our personal demons. You've discovered yours just as untold billions have discovered theirs before you."
"Why does there have to be a price at all?" Mary wondered.
"Mary, all aspects of life come at great cost. The food you eat, whether animal or vegetable, comes at the cost of another's life. No matter what you do in this life it comes with a great price," Anna posed the thought.
"But what could it possibly be beyond the obvious?" Mary questioned her.
"Consider how these changes will affect your relationship with your own brother. It is already strained by the burden of the knowledge you brought back from Earth-3. You wonder if there is a little of Mistress Mary and her insatiable sexual appetites towards her own brother that dwells within you. Now that you've stepped closer to wearing her boots, as it were, you will ask yourself the same with greater intensity," Anna predicted, "And what of Mr. Freeman? He loves you like a sister. But can he accept you as you are or only as he'd perceived you? You know neither of them has ever accepted the Black Marvel Families' role in the cause of justice."
"I…never thought about it," Mary confessed.
"Nor have you wanted to," Anna chided her, "It is a topic you'd prefer to avoid."
"This isn't fair!" Mary angrily protested.
"Little in our lives would be labeled as 'fair' were we to reflect upon them," Anna grew philosophical, "But consider this recompense. You are gifted with four equal measures of power from various gods. This makes you the mightiest Marvel in this or any other universe. I doubt Superman himself could defeat you in a physical struggle."
"I never asked for this," Mary said sullenly.
"Yet you revel in it," Anna pointed out the obvious, "If Shazam were to remove your gifts now, you would be lost. You may even go so far as to attempt anything in which to retrieve them."
"I don't want to be bad," Mary admitted.
"Yet a sociopath is born when that individual faces a choice of right and wrong and cares not one whit what the price of the evil will be for others and themselves," Anna pointed out, "You will reach that decision making point countless times from now until you die. The true test isn't being faced with the choice but rather how, and most importantly, why you choose what you do."
"How did you learn all of this?" Mary's divinely augmented wisdom told her the underlying truth behind Anna's statements.
"Through the experience of walking a similar path for similar reasons," Anna shared, "A path filled with as many regrettable incidents as commendable ones."
"Yet you're still an Agent of Order," Mary reflected.
"Order can be established through varying means," Anna divulged, "Some are uglier than others but they're also more expedient. I serve Order's cause but I haven't always championed mercy. That onerous truth is part of what I must bear."
"Anna…how many people have you killed in the name of Order?" Mary tentatively asked.
"More than both atomic bombs dropped upon Japan," Anna sighed, "But it was in the service of higher powers. Yet the weight of those actions threatens to crush my heart despite the official blessings and commendations I received for doing so."
Mary could hear the despair in Anna's voice, "You haven't ever told anyone…not even Al."
"Excellent deduction," Anna commended Mary.
"Anna, just how many secrets do you have?" Mary asked.
"Don't. Ever. Ask. That," Anna warned, "Order prizes their secrets above all else. If I were to lay out a litany of the things I have done in their name I would be forced to erase your memory. Not just the memories of my confession but everything about whom and what you are. And Shazam would be the one to tell me how to do it."
Mary suddenly felt a cold chill in her spine, "I can't say I understand but I accept your warning. Do you think we should rejoin the fight against Sorrow?"
"You tell me," Anna deferred to Mary's estimation.
"I have no idea of how I'll react when I see him again," Mary readily confessed, "But it's time I chose to help my teammates…if they'll still have me."
"I have few doubts about them," Anna admitted, "Save a small pocket of intolerance that seems to color a few individuals."
Mary sighed, "I'll deal with Jesse and Rick when the time comes."
Anna slipped her goggles back down and surveyed the landscape. Mary asked what she'd seen when she completed a full 360 degree sweep. Anna didn't like whatever it had been.
"The aether trails lead in opposing directions," Anna said.
"The what?" Mary hadn't heard that term before so Anna explained it to her. Mary thought about it, "I'm not splitting up. Not after finally meeting up with people again."
"Then choose which trail you wish to pursue first," Anna urged.
"Who is closer?" Mary asked.
Anna pointed and Mary decided, "We go to him. And we'll find out if it's Billy or Freddy."
"Then by all means, after you," Anna chuckled.
"Um…you're the one that can see which direction to go in," Mary pointed out.
Anna affixed her goggles again, "So I am. Fancy that."
Mary knew Anna was teasing her by that point. Still they kept pace with one another as they headed across the vast stretch of wasteland. And neither of them knew who or what to expect.
Captain Marvel Jr. was way past wondering if this dimension could ever run out of demons. He'd tried being merciful at first but his downed enemies just got back into the fight as soon as they awoke. Figuring a demon was a demon for a reason, Junior started tearing them from limb to limb. And with the Speed of Mercury and the Strength of Hercules he could tear apart a vast army in a short while.
Thanks to the endurance bequeathed to him by Atlas, Junior never tired and never faltered. But it did get bone achingly tedious. So as he fought a seemingly endless army, Junior knew he either had to break away from this vast cluster of enemeies or simply find a more efficient means to kill even more of them at once.
"Look out!" Captain Marvel warned Stargirl.
Courtney Whitmore ducked as Captain Marvel caved a demon's head in with a single blow as it had tried to attack Stargirl. Stargirl kept blasting away with both her Cosmic Rod and Cosmic Convertor Belt. Captain started swirling around in an ever expanding circle, smashing demons as he accelerated.
Finally he dropped back and joined Stargirl. He'd carved out a mile wide buffer in every direction. Stargirl felt it was time to bring up an important topic.
"Billy, I can't keep doing this. I need a break," Stargirl pleaded.
"Okay, follow me," he flew off in a seemingly random direction.
Stargirl followed and wondered why the demon horde didn't pursue them. Eventually Captain Marvel stopped in midair and pointed to the distance, "There! We can take shelter there."
"Um…where again?" Stargirl knew his eyes were magically enhanced but this was ridiculous. She couldn't see a thing.
"Just follow me," Captain Marvel urged her on.
They finally arrived at a decrepit structure situated alongside broken walls stretching across the countryside. Captain Marvel inspected it, "I think it must have been some kind of fort."
"You're sure it's deserted?" Courtney was feeling wary.
"Pretty sure. Nothing's moving outside," he strolled inside and called out, "Or in here!"
"There could still be a nest of critters waiting for us inside this wreck," Stargirl kept her Cosmic Rod poised and ready.
"Have a little faith," Captain Marvel chuckled.
They explored the whole thing. It was only populated by inhuman skeletons. Stargirl was finally ready to concede the point.
"You got luck, Batson," Courtney accused, "How'd you even know this was out here?"
"I didn't," Captain Marvel admitted, "Like you said, it was luck."
Stargirl used the Cosmic Rod to superheat some stones that had been thrown through the walls, "Hate to meet the guys that lobbed these mothers."
"Well that'll provide some heat and light. Which is good. It'll be dark soon," Captain Marvel shared.
"How do you know?" Courtney wondered.
"Because it took this long to get dark yesterday," Captain Marvel said as if it were completely obvious.
"There's still no food or water," Stargirl pointed, "You don't need either in your Marvel form but I kinda do."
"Trust me, I'll find some," Captain Marvel promised, "You just have to have…"
"Faith," Stargirl interrupted, "Yah, yah…just scoot already."
"I'll be right back," Captain Marvel vanished in a blur.
He returned some time later with several sticks and a dozen large to medium sized lizards, "Sorry, it's all I could find."
"It's edible…I guess," Stargirl looked grossed out. Which she was, "I'll fry them on the rocks."
He handed her an obsidian stone, "This'll make a good knife and the sticks can be made into skewers after you skin the lizards."
"Sure, why not? Everything taste like chicken, right? Even demon lizards," Stargirl was teetering on hysteria.
"Look, I found water but I need to make a container to carry it," Captain Marvel told her, "Will you be okay until I get back?"
"Sure, I'm the bad ass that killed the King of Tears," Stargirl settled down, "What else can this dimension possibly throw at me?"
"Exactly," Captain Marvel kissed her forehead and then whooshed away again.
"How `bout more kisses and less flying off?" Stargirl grumbled as she settled down to skin some lizards. She discovered it was every bit as disgusting as she's assumed it would be.
Captain Marvel came back much more slowly this time. He had a tortoise shell shaped wooden bowl the size of a small swimming pool, "You should see the lake this came out of."
"You carved that?" Stargirl was impressed.
"And these," he handed her two wooden bowls, "I went for cups but that would just take too long."
"How do you know this stuff?" Stargirl had to ask.
"Um…I never told about when I was a Boy Scout?" Captain Marvel hesitated.
"Nope," Stargirl smirked at seeing him caught.
"It's simple enough anyway," Captain Marvel chose to change the subject.
"I guess you really do have the Wisdom of Solomon," Stargirl just kept grinning.
"I see you have the lizards frying up," Captain Marvel observed.
"Yup. The Cosmic Convertor Belt channeled energy through my gloves so it got rid of the ick," Stargirl explained.
"I suppose its best I stay in my Marvel form in case something nasty does show up," Captain Marvel suggested.
"Coward," Stargirl snorted, "You're just wussin' out on eating fried lizards."
"Hey, more for you," Captain Marvel grinned.
"Pussy," Stargirl made certain a lizard was well done before eating it, "Oh God, if I wouldn't starve to death I'd never eat another one."
She was sitting on a rock but Captain Marvel unclasped his cape and laid it out. Courtney was using a bowl to drink some water, "That for me?"
"This way you won't have to sleep on the dirt," he offered.
"Or at least half of me won't," Stargirl kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Billy. You're taking such good care of me. I suck at the whole camping fiasco."
"It can't be that bad," Captain Marvel cajoled her.
"Pat tells this story better than I do but the fam went on vacay last year and it started out…" Stargirl told her stories until it got dark. And then she laid down. Rather than watch the horizon, Captain Marvel studied Stargirl. And thought everything was right on schedule.
Mr. Terrific crested yet another sand dune. In the distance stretched a rock outcropping. And it appeared it was buried in dirt rather than sand. Rocks and dirt stood a better chance of capturing water than desolate and porous sand.
It took time to reach it but Mr. Terrific scraped up some dirt and pressed it to his lips. He found it to be moist. So he searched and gathered up some flat rocks to use as spades. Digging, he estimated that he would strike pooled water within three to four feet.
If not he would just continue to dig until he found water or he became so dehydrated by his exertions that he passed out. Either scenario ended his tribulations.
Sentinel, like Junior, faced incalculable hordes. But unlike the Marvel, who relied upon brawn and stamina, Sentinel had a magic power ring. A power ring that could create any type of construct Alan Scott had the will and imagination to create.
And unlike Junior, Sentinel had fought Nazis and the Japanese Imperial Forces so he had a depth of insight into the means and mechanisms of warfare that even Achilles couldn't grant the Marvel Family. But Alan Scott had been an engineer before becoming a media mogul so he recognized the necessity of certain design principles.
So Sentinel easily slaughtered hundreds of demons simultaneously. Then he graduated to thousands and just kept escalating from there.
Flash literally deconstructed a demon fort similar to the one occupied by Captain Marvel and Stargirl. Jay Garrick had been a chemist by profession before unlocking the Speed Force. So he easily spotted natural processes of budding chemical interaction and decay. And after he toppled the fort, he used the flat of his hands combined with super speed to slice demon soldiers apart.
After Flash headed into the distance. As he raced along he discovered that there was marginal life within the Subtle Realms and its varying topography. The All Stars had arrived in a desolate zone and travelled through barren wastelands. But the more flourishing an area was the greater concentration of demonic occupants it possessed.
And the regions seemed to be divided into mini-kingdoms separated by the rock fence line fortifications nearly identical to Hadrian's Wall in Scotland. As he tore his way through these fence walls, he knew he was facing two realities. Eventually he was going to tire before or after it turned dark again. And he needed food and water. He'd needed it for some time now.
As Flash tore across the vast landscape he saw greater amount of vegetation existing nearer to the vast mountain range that had arisen as he traveled further afield. He decided to head for the mountains. The plants indicated there was water available and if there was it was probably nearer to the mountains.
Flash covered hundreds of miles in mere minutes and came across the rivers and lake that Captain Marvel had found earlier. And he discovered the lizards populating the rocks. Quickly building a fire, Flash skinned the captured prey with a rock flattened to an edge. And he skewered them before roasting them over an open fire. Unlike Captain Marvel's claims, Jay Garrick actually had been a boy scout.
Sand used his gas gun to try and breach the hourglass' seals but his plan failed. So he became actual sand and filtered down to the lower glass bulb of the hourglass he occupied. He had no means of determining how close to the ground whatever level he currently occupied actually was. His faint hope was that his control over soil and sediment could reach out and control the terra firma beneath the castle. And if it did, he'd break himself free.
Hourman resisted the urge to utilize one of his last two Miraclo doses. Instead he fought the demon patrol to a standstill. Then they began brandishing weapons. Hourman took an axe and a shield from one soldier. He'd almost decimated the demon patrol when a second foot patrol came upon him.
Hourman fought well but he was tiring and he knew it. He had almost activated his injector to deliver his third dose of Miraclo when a demon in the rear of the column began attacking other demons. Hourman couldn't fathom why it was doing so until it threw back its cloak and revealed itself to actually be Judomaster in disguise.
Feeling renewed vigor, Hourman kept from injecting any doses while Judomaster almost singlehandedly wiped out the second patrol. Hourman expressed gratitude, "Thanks. I had no idea that was you until you threw back your cowl."
"Neither did they from what I could tell while marching with them," Judomaster explained in her stilted English, "But I understood that they were to follow this canyon and meet with a larger army headed towards the castle we have already been at."
"How do you know it's the same one?" Hourman asked.
"The spoke of the castle. Singular. The demon barons that control the outer regions only dwell in garrisons and forts. And they never stay at any one place for any length of time." Judomaster shared what she had learned.
"Because their rivals would attack," Hourman understood the subtext.
"I suggest we climb down to the canyon and use it as a road. We will probably avoid most of the patrols that way," Judomaster suggested.
"Do you know where anyone else is?" Hourman asked.
She knew he specifically meant Jesse Quick just as her heart and mind wanted reassurance regarding Commander Steel's well being. And more than that…Sonia Sato knew she had reached the point where she needed to reveal the depth of her feelings for Hank Heywood III. And if he was already dead, she'd never forgive herself.
"No, I do not," Judomaster unhappily shared, "But I would guess everyone will seek to return to Johnny Sorrow's castle. We need to rendezvous there."
"Okay, it's a plan," Hourman agreed, "But we're in for a helluva climb. Trust me, I climbed out of there."
"Then you should be an expert on climbing down," Judomaster began her descent while Hourman marveled at being sassed by Judomaster. It seemed everyone's reticent teammate was going to come out of her shell after all.
Jesse stumbled, rolled, and came up in a fighting stance. The leading Hellhound tried to pounce upon her, but she sliced his side open and disemboweled it. Then she used a super speed chop to decapitate its rider. The other riders heeled their hounds.
"So, you have fangs after all," the troupe leader said approvingly, "Good. You'll make fair sport after all."
"You really have no idea," Jesse promised them.
Commander Steel stood atop a rock spire created by unknown geological forces. He waved down the passing Atom Smasher. Atom Smasher stretched out his hand and Commander Steel accepted a lift to Atom Smasher's shoulder. Then he situated himself for the ride ahead.
"I'm glad you came along," Commander Steel confessed.
"Don't take this wrong, I'm happy to see anyone, but I'd prefer it if you were someone else," Atom Smasher admitted.
"I know what you mean. I can't stop thinking about Sonia," Commander Steel shared.
The mention of Judomaster's name just made Al Rothstein worry again. Anna and Johnny Sorrow made hatred seem cordial. Anna and Sorrow redefined enmity. The battle between them had moved beyond personal. Now it was almost psychotic. And for all he knew, Sorrow still had Anna locked up in that distant castle.
"Take `er away, Al," Commander Steel urged.
"Trust me, Hank. We'll see our girls again. Before or after we finally rip Sorrow's head clean off," Atom Smasher promised.
Aztek blew a hole through the demon horde's ranks and he flew off over the horizon. But he could hear the howls, screeches, and screams of the demons pursuing him. All the while he searched for some landmark or anything to denote where the All Stars had been, or currently were. And he thought of Mary. Of whether she was still Mary Marvel or something different? And more importantly, was she still a friend or a newly acquired foe?
A dozen acid scalded hellhounds exited the ice cave, thereby leaving Metamorpho all alone. He could hear their whimpers and screams as the winds tore apart their ravaged bodies. Seeing as how they'd attempted to eat him, Metamorpho wasn't remotely sorry. But he was content to hunker down and wait out the wretched storm. He just hoped it would actually end.
A severe weather front closed in on Blackgate prison. It covered half of Gotham but it was the most powerful over the prison. Lightning flashed, striking out all across the prison and its grounds. The prison lost all power and communications as lightning destroyed its nearby transformer station. But the GCPD quickly realized it was a localized event. Commissioner Barbara Gordon quickly escalated the matter up to Homeland Security and ARGUS since some of the inmates were classified as weapons of mass destruction. But oddly, in Barbara's opinion, ARGUS was refusing to deploy the JLA. She'd just fervently wished Bruce was smart enough to avoid the area altogether.
Weather Wizard had created an "eye" to the intensity that surrounded the Rogues.
"You're really starting to get the hang of that weather wand," Mirror Master congratulated him. It had been less than six months since the original Weather Wizard had died and Mirror Master had recruited a replacement.
Weather Wizard had sat out the Rogues' last mission because there weren't enough elements for the weather wand to work with underground in tunnels and caverns, "Don't talk to me about competence. Our credit card scheme went bust because you let yourself be caught."
"Everybody's a whiner," Mirror Master complained.
"Hold up," Captain Cold said as red teleport flashes appeared before, "Those aren't ISA. So let's see who they're sending after us."
"Do-gooders," Heat Wave spat.
"I know some of these people," Captain Cold realized, "And most of have worked beside Deadshot."
"Who are they?" Pied Piper wondered.
"The flaming lady with wings is called Firehawk. She was gal pal of Firestorm until she killed a couple dozen people. She turned out to be some Senator's daughter so she got life instead of a lethal injection," Captain Cold began his description, "Two of the guys dressed rather cape-like are Puzzler and Savant. They each gave Superman a run for his money. Supes had to bring Batman into it before he could outwit either of them. Mr. Army Man is a mystery to me."
"I'll sit this out. I need to focus on controlling this weather system," Weather Wizard pointed out.
"That's all right. We've got this," Captain Cold assured him.
"Len, you don't suppose they've got the Suicide Squad up and running again?" Heat Wave asked.
"No, but that's where I saw Army Man. He ran the squad," Captain Cold remembered, "But none of Luthor's insiders have mentioned a revived Task Force X."
"Maybe he's been told and he just isn't sharing," Heat Wave theorized.
"Could be," Captain Cold said wearily.
Colonel Rick Flagg of ARGUS was also the former field commander of Task Force X. Now he was the King of Checkmate. Amanda Waller and General Wade Eiling served as the Grandmasters. Checkmate's hierarchy also included a Queen, two Bishops, two Rooks, the field agents were the Knights, and there were countless Pawns across the world.
Flagg warned off the Rogues, "Stay back or we will engage you. We have clearance to terminate any and all threats to this facility."
Captain Cold turned to his fellow Rogues, "Pick your targets and deal with these self righteous pricks. Army Man is mine."
Flagg fired warning shots at Captain Cold. Leonard Snart adjusted the beam on his cryoblaster. Widening the dispersal and shortening the range, he froze the moisture in the air in front of him. Flagg buried bullets into the ice while Captain Cold reset his weapon again.
Captain Cold moved away while Flagg shot grenades into the ice barrier, thereby shattering it. Captain Cold had noticed Flagg was sporting some very next gen stuff that even the military didn't have access to yet. He wondered how Flagg's assault rifle would hold up at hundreds of degrees below zero. So he took aim and found out. The rifle shattered in Flagg's hands when he reacquired visual sight of Cold again and tried to shoot him.
Fortunately the gun powder of the shattering bullet hadn't ignited. Captain Cold took the moment's victory to recall a briefing Grodd had held regarding the Suicide Squad. Task Force X had originally been a military special ops outfit led by a Major Rick Flagg. CADMUS had absorbed it after the military shut down when only two survivors returned from their final mission.
CADMUS had reformulated the Suicide Squad into a operations team composed of super villains either working to lighten their sentence from death row to life with a chance of parole or had earned a lighter sentence had were looking for clemency. But everything had to be earned. Dozens of prospective members had failed and been sent back to prison. But others, those that survived the "one-way" missions, had earned clemency before the Suicide Squad was deactivated once again by ARGUS.
The Legion hadn't uncovered what became of those people. Psi, King Shark, El Diablo, Black Spider, and Shrapnel had all served in the Suicide Squad. But they hadn't served long enough to earn anything other than a reprieve from their death sentences. So they had been looking at being returned to prison with life sentences with no chance of parole when the Legion recruited them.
The man before Captain Cold wore some kind of specialized uniform but he still bore a blackened shoulder patch and a darkened rank insignia that Captain Cold could have sworn was that of a full bird colonel. So he assumed his opponent was still Rick Flagg after having climbed a few more ranks.
Flagg had led every Suicide Squad mission before the super villain days. And had led the initial super villain missions with his infiltration of the JLU's era Watchtower space station to steal the mythical Destroyer armor being the first op. Which meant Flagg was going to be a difficult son of a bitch about this.
So Captain Cold lobbed one of his cold generating grenades at Flagg. The resultant cold wave lightly iced Flagg over. He'd enjoy a nice hibernation until they thawed him out.
Pied Piper played his flute for Savant. As expected, Savant's eyes began to glaze over. But then unexpectedly, Savant became fully alert.
Pied Piper played furiously but Savant steadily advanced on him. Piper could see electrical discharges coming from Savant's gloves. So they were a stun glove variant of tasers and electrical stun guns. All Savant had to do was grip any part of Pied Piper's body and he'd be knocked out.
But Pied Piper panicked as Savant came within reach and he began wildly swinging his flute like it was a bat of some kind. He cracked Savant's head and arms several times while Savant protested, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Hey! Quit it! Ow!"
"Why didn't my music work on you?" Pied Piper was in a panic after his music had also failed to influence Enigma.
"Because I'm wearing ear plugs that work as acoustic filters," Savant yelled between blows, "I can't even hear you play."
"Really?" Pied Piper suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Now I've got…" Savant froze over before he could finish that sentence.
"Thanks, Len," Pied Piper cheerfully offered Captain Cold.
"Let's check on the others," Captain Cold was all business.
"Really?" Firehawk was incredulous, "You're going to use a thermal weapon on me?"
As she lifted into the air and spread her wings, the air around Heat Wave sparkled and then coalesced into being a steel cage. He rattled the bars and then warily watched Firehawk as she floated in midair. She was more than highly amused.
"I don't think you quite get it. I survived a nuclear accident. The same kind that created Firestorm and Multiplex. And, just like they used Firestorm to create more like him, they used me as a template to create international Firehawks. We're one big nuclear family," she enjoyed her joke even though Heat Wave just glared at her.
He took aim at the cage's bars and melted them. With his insulated suit on, he didn't have to worry about the slag as he exited the ruined cage. Then he shot Firehawk in the chest.
She landed onto her feet and temporarily looked slightly stunned. But then she grew angry, "Now you've cheesed me off, pal."
She went airborne and Heat Wave volleyed shots at her forcing to climber higher. Eventually she was struck by several bolts of lightning simultaneously. She hit the ground and didn't move.
"Brilliant work, Mick," Captain Cold congratulated his frequent partner.
"Uh…guys? Can we bond later?" Pied Piper asked.
"Back to work," Captain Cold urged them on.
Deadshot used an even more advanced rifle customized to his exact needs. The specialized rounds could be felt even by Superman. Yet it wasn't doing him the slightest good against Mirror Master.
Mirror Master had come prepared for large volumes of gunfire. His adapted mirror was brandished like a shield. He felt like a movie adaptation of a World War II superhero. In modern days, the Guardian utilized a similar shield but his lacked the reverse kinetic properties of Mirror Master's. It could literally reflect any solid object back to where it originated.
So Deadshot eventually tired of effectively shooting at himself. He spotted the approach of Captain Cold and some other Rogues. So he stepped out of the equation.
"Hey! Lookit that! I chased him off," Mirror Master was unduly proud of himself.
"Floyd Lawton doesn't retreat. He repositions," Captain Cold warned him, "Everyone; keep an eye out for Deadshot. He could come at us from anywhere."
Puzzler quickly worked out the Trickster's entire shtick and his inventory within his bag of tricks. After tricking the Trickster into handing over his bag, Puzzler barraged Trickster with itching powder, sneezing powder, electric joy buzzers, and knockout agent laden fake vomit. He'd also tossed aside Trickster's revolver. He thought the sparklers in the bag might prove useful in thawing out Savant and Flagg.
He left Trickster to his own devices while he stole away to evade the Rogues. Trickster begged them, "Makeitstop! Makieitstop! Puhleasemakitstop!" as he scratched and sneezed away.
"Why do we keep him?" Heat Wave asked again.
"Aw…he's like our mascot," Pied Piper put forth.
"Just bring him along," Captain Cold sighed.
Weather Wizard found a high velocity bullet shattering the upper orb of his barbell-like weather wand. The next bullet went through his right thigh, and the impact knocked him off of his feet. Deadshot put another bullet through Weather Wizard's left calf.
"Shut the storm down," Deadshot ordered.
"You do realize you just destroyed the only mechanism within hundreds of miles even capable of doing that?" Weather Wizard sneered.
Puzzler joined them, "I think I can thaw out Flagg and Savant."
"I'll revive Firehawk and give the bastards a proper reception," Deadshot declared.
"We're not following them?" Puzzler was confused.
"That prison is about to turn into one massive kill zone," Deadshot explained, "Personally, I don't want to be caught in it."
"Okay, we'll go with your plan," Puzzler hurried off.
"Why, thank you," Deadshot scornfully replied after Puzzler had run away.
Heat Wave made the main gate red hot before Captain Cold froze it. The steel shattered like brittle glass. Mirror Master led the charge into the prison corridors. It took the guards a while before they determined all of their own bullets were coming back at them. They'd lost over a dozen men and women before that happened though.
So they drew their batons and prepared to fight close quarters. Heat Wave shot a sustained thermal blast over their heads. The fire suppression system detected the unusual heat and triggered the sprinklers. Captain Cold let the water soak the guards before freezing it…and the guards themselves.
They repeated these steps as necessary until they reached the fist cell block. Captain Cold turned to the Pied Piper, "I need a prisoner manifest."
"Be right back," Pied Piper volunteered.
Trickster was coming unglued as the victim of his own brand of pranks. Captain Cold grew very stern with him, "Trickster, I need you to guard this corridor. Can you do that?"
The strange utterance that came out of Trickster could have been either "sure thing" or a "go screw yourself". There really wasn't any way to know. Pied Piper returned.
"The warden was very helpful," Pied Piper boasted.
"Scudder, we need to move forward," Captain Cold ordered Mirror Master.
"Sure thing but my mirror shield is unidirectional. I can only block one threat at a time," Mirror Master warned them all.
"Heat Wave, you and I will watch the catwalks," Captain Cold determined.
They traversed several cell blocks before Captain Cold called a halt, "We have a problem. The meta-human block is independent of the rest."
"Meaning?" Heat Wave was getting exasperated by the endless guards.
"They have their own guard detail and power resources. It's probably the only wing left that still has power," Captain Cold predicted, "They're completely independent despite being built into the prison's interior."
"Good thing those Injusticer clowns already trashed the place," Mirror Master opined, "We'd be here forever otherwise."
He nodded towards the entrance to the meta block. As predicted the lights were on. But the large vault-like door was off of its hinges. Captain Cold knew Mirror Master had been right. Getting through that door would have cost valuable minutes. Because it was only a matter of time before Flagg's unit received reinforcements.
"Let's hit it!" Captain Cold shouted as the four Rogues charged the last guards standing after a brief but decidedly vicious encounter. Captain Cold studied the cell lock control panel, "Piper, you find the prisoners on our list. Call out the cell number and I'll release the door. Funnel everyone this way."
Captain Cold retrieved an access card from the supervising watch commander and unlocked the control panel. Then he looked around, "Where the hell is the Trickster?"
"We left him behind, remember?" Mirror Master told him, "Even for him he was off and that's saying something."
Pied Piper called out a cell number and Captain Cold liberated Half-Ape. Half-Ape preferred staying with Pied Piper just in case of technical issues that could arise. The Brain rolled out of the next cell. Mallah doted him after being released.
"Ah ma Cherie, it is wonderful having your chassis in my arms again," Mallah cooed.
Captain Cold and Heat Wave exchanged pained looks. Brain urged Mallah to exit with him and the ape thought it was a delightful plan. Toyman and Black Mass were next out of their cells.
Black Mass wanted his gravity bands and Toyman was petulant about wanting his mask. Pied Piper promised them Heat Wave would lead them to the personals lockers. Mick Rory was less than pleased when he found that out.
"Just do it," Captain Cold groaned.
"Follow me and try to keep up," Heat Wave waved for Toyman and Black Mass to follow him.
Pied Piper had Captain Cold unlock Hector Hammond's cell. Hammond retained his life support hover chair but he was attached to a psychokinetic inhibitor. Half-Ape did the honors of disconnecting and dismantling the system. Hammond floated out of his cell with vengeance in his eyes.
Pied Piper double checked the list. All the Legionnaires on it had already been released. That just left the rest of the Brotherhood of Evil.
Phobia was the first one out. Her cool disdain and aloof manner made Pied Piper want to return her to her cell. But Brainiac had been very clear. The Legion's new masters wanted everyone freed unless there was no option to do so.
Houngan wanted to know the location of his cyber-voodoo doll. Half-Ape gave him the bad news, "The San Francisco police bragged about how Superboy dismantled your doll down to its base components. I'm afraid you'll have to build a fresh one."
"He will pay," Houngan promised.
"I'm sure he will," Half-Ape replied. Fortunately, his half simian features made him incredibly stoic looking. But Pied Piper had fully caught the sarcasm behind his words.
Mammoth was in a standing position, with every limb locked down and restrained by titanium bands. It took an additional keypad entry to fully release him. Half-Ape was just pleased with himself that it had only taken four attempts to deduce the combination.
"Where's Selinda?" Mammoth asked.
"Next door down," Pied Piper called the cell number and the door opened to reveal Shimmer held in a stasis field so she couldn't get close enough to the door or walls to transmute them to other elements.
Mammoth pulled her out of the field and brother and sister were gratefully reunited. Half-Ape gave them wide berth as they left, "Are we done?"
"One last remaining," Pied Piper studied the list.
Gemini was the only Legionnaire or Brotherhood member who wasn't bitter. She seemed reflective. Pied Piper began to doubt she'd even leave with them.
"So, we're done here?" she asked.
"You're the last," Pied Piper answered.
"What about the other prisoners?" Gemini wondered.
"The Legion isn't in the business of freebies," Pied Piper replied.
"They could be a distraction," Gemini argued.
"They already are," Pied Piper stated.
Gemini's cheeks burned.
"We're making a clean exit," Captain Cold announced, "Just follow the Mirror Master single file and we'll be fine."
Captain Cold pulled Pied Piper aside, "You go ahead and see if you can find the damn Trickster."
Pied Piper jogged ahead.
Heat Wave had already located the former James Jesse. But that personality had wandered far off the reservation. Trickster was now calling himself Winslow Warshaski, Polish Prime Minister to the stars. But at least Black Mass and Toyman had found what they were searching for.
"I don't know, Len," Heat Wave said to Captain Cold. The whole column had stopped over the matter, "Maybe we should leave him behind."
"Somewhere in there James Jesse knows about OmniTech," Captain Cold reminded him, "How long do you think Saturn Queen, Lightning Lord, and Cosmic King are going to let him run loose even if his marbles are completely scrambled?"
"I got this," Pied Piper played next to Trickster just loud enough for him and him alone to hear.
The group exited outside to be buffeted by the storm. Captain Cold scowled, "They must have bagged Weather Wizard."
Mechanized suits of armor came towards them from four sides. Mirror Master didn't know which way to point his shield. Captain Cold helped him out on that.
"Keep that aimed at Deadshot!" Captain Cold demanded, "We can't give Lawton a clean target."
Captain Cold activated the boom tube and the others rushed in. Mirror Master backed towards it while Heat Wave and Captain Cold flanked him and opened fire at the Black Razors. They barely made it inside before the Black Razor units decimated the ground where they'd stood.
The Black Razors each popped their access hatches to reveal two man crews manning each armored unit. The Black Razor lead apologized to Flagg, "Sorry Colonel. With more time and prep maybe we could've actually made a difference."
"Don't feel bad Lieutenant. They got the drop on most of our Checkmate assets as well. If it hadn't been for Deadshot and Puzzler calling it in, we wouldn't have even kept our single prisoner," Flagg assured him, "Any word on our second team?"
"ARGUS communications is stating they've engaged the enemy. Another Black Razor unit has been deployed to Belle Reeve as well," the Lieutenant reported.
"God help them," Flagg wished them luck.
The Legion had arrived outside of Belle Reeve in force. As the alarms were raised, Giganta marched around the prison yards and knocked over guard towers. Sparrow Hawk brutally dealt with guards on the rooftops. Volcana forced the guards into a retreat by creating an ever lengthening spear point of flames. King Shark ripped open any doors the guards managed to close before Volcana forced them to retreat again.
Checkmate pursued them into the prison itself. When Signalman spotted the pursuit he split his people up between the two prison yards and the first cell block. It was in the first cell block that he faced Major Karin Grace. Karin had been Lt. Grace when she'd been the first woman in the US military to join a special ops group. That group was designated Task Force X.
After the dismantlement of the original Suicide Squad, Karin joined ARGUS and was a field operative for many missions. But recently, when ARUS dismantled the Suicide Squad program CADMUS had set up, Karin was brought in as Checkmate's Queen. With Nightshade, Silver Swan, and Black Orchid in the field with the Justice League Dark, Karin had the opportunity to lead in the field.
When Waller approached Karin, her only hesitation was working with Rick Flagg again. In Task Force X fraternization in the ranks was strictly forbidden. Yet Major Flagg and Lt. Grace had carried on a multiyear illicit affair. Both of them had nearly been court-martialed when it was discovered.
What respect and feelings Karin had for Flagg evaporated when he threw her under the bus to save his own career. Yet cooler heads in Washington had prevailed and Karin was granted an immediate transfer to the newly established ARGUS. And there she'd proven herself hundreds of times over. And Karin's singular goal at the moment was to take Signalman and his cronies apart.
Signalman's gloves discharged a sparkler effect while he waved them around. Karin's vision turned spotty but she was still determined to pound the flamboyantly dressed villain into the concrete, "You really think that show will save you?"
"Actually, I do. Take your best shot. Consider it a freebie," Signalman offered.
Karin gladly took it…except she found she couldn't move her arms or legs. Signalman smirked, "Someday you should conduct research into the correlation between visual stimuli and synaptic response. After all, it's nothing but signals. But in the meantime…"
Signalman punched her in the face until Karin was knocked out. Signalman had no idea of the corresponding significance of the name when he said, "Good night, Gracie."
Uncle Sam blocked Darkwing's path, "Hold it right thar, young feller."
"Get of my way, old man," Darkwing demanded, "Or taste my wrath."
"Well, I reckon ya are as rude as the day is long," Uncle Sam surmised, "But ya aren't dressed like that Wrath fella so I guess ya are some new squirt tryin' to make a name for yoreself. But first I gotta teach ya some manners."
Darkwing's arm executed a backhand and five throwing knives imbedded themselves in Uncle Sam's chest. He scowled, "Aren't you just an ornery cuss. I hate to say it but ya got my hackles up."
Darkwing executed a perfect backspin kick into Uncle Sam's jaw. He felt like he'd broken his heel. Uncle Sam just gave him a weary look.
"Are ya gonna keep this up for long?" Uncle Sam inquired, "`Cause some of yore buddies need some of my attention."
Darkwing stabbed Uncle Sam under the rib cage and drove the eight inch blade up into Uncle Sam's heart. Then he twisted the blade. Slapping away Darkwing's hands, Uncle Sam surprised Darkwing with his massive strength.
Uncle Sam staggered back and then pulled the blade out. Uncle Sam patted his chest, "Feels a mite like heartburn. Don't ya know ya kin't kill the livin' Spirit of America?"
Darkwing heard what sounded like an explosion but Uncle Sam's clothes were suddenly torn by it. And the annoying man staggered. Darkwing spun on his bruised heel to find Signalman nearby with a bullhorn. He aimed and triggered it again.
Uncle Sam's top hat was blown away and shredded while the man himself suddenly began bleeding out his ears and nose. A third shot bowled him over. The fourth one knocked him out.
"And sound is a signal carrier," Signalman said proudly.
Darkwing noted that Karin was on her back and bleeding. Many of the prisoners in the cell block were still clutching their bleeding ears. So Signalman hadn't shown them any mercy at all. Which raised him up in Darkwing's estimation.
"My thanks," Darkwing grudgingly conceded, "But all you managed to do was hurry things along. I allowed it because we have a time constraint. I would have eventually defeated this imbecile on my own."
"Of course," Signalman managed not to roll his eyes, "And like you said, we have a time constraint."
"I'd heard you retired," Black Spider spoke to Phantasm near the administrative wing, "I've also heard rumors that you're secretly a woman."
"Would either be a problem?" Phantasm asked.
"It's just curiosity is all," Black Spider admitted, "Unless of course you're serious about stopping me. That would be problematic."
"I've grown weary of working for criminals," Phantasm's modulator masked masculine voice answered sounding just like her father, "I began my career killing mob bosses. I decided to return to my roots."
"I can offer you an alternative that will insure humanity's safety and crush the criminal classes," Black Spider offered.
"You're in a curious position then," Phantasm noted.
"A necessary ruse to further my ultimate objective," Black Spider shared, "I started out as a vigilante and was branded a criminal by narrow minds with an outdated notion of justice. So I think we can relate."
"Trojans can be highly effective," Phantasm allowed, "Let's talk then."
"Discreetly," Black Spider counseled her.
"Edge this way," Phantasm's smoke ejectors began issuing a morphagenic fog. Phantasm grabbed Black Spider and pulled him down the administrative wing, "When the smoke clears they'll think we've both vanished."
"Excellent ruse," Black Spider chuckled, "Tell me, what do you know about Basilisk?"
"Just the name really," Phantasm admitted.
"Then prepare to keep an open mind," Black Spider requested.
Psi found herself covered in inky darkness. She shoved out in every direction with her TK ability and heard a resounding, "Oof!"
"You might as well drop this blanket, because I will find you and kill you," Psi promised.
Phantom Lady intercepted Darkwing's punch and kicked him in the face for his troubles. Then she shrouded Signalman in darkness as well. Each inky black field would sustain itself for a five minute duration without a renewal from Phantom Lady's darkness projector.
"Why is it women in this country dress as whores and rebel against their male superiors?" Darkwing demanded to know.
Phantom Lady's right cross answered him as effectively as her words, "Because of jerks like you. And don't think I haven't noticed you ogling my boobs."
"How can I not?" Darkwing cried, "They are so large and exposed!"
Phantom Lady punched him again, "They're a distraction aimed at perverts like you!"
While Phantom Lady fought Darkwing, Psi's vision cleared. She slapped a choke hold on Phantom Lady from across the distance. Darkwing pouted while Phantom Lady succumbed to the hold and passed out.
"I don't need help from brazen whores," Darkwing critiqued Psi's own outfit.
"Yet you're always leering at my body," Psi pointed out, "Go figure."
"I will not be mocked by a woman," Darkwing declared.
"Then you shouldn't talk to any," Psi retorted, "Now, we've got work to do."
"I will kill that bitch," Darkwing vowed.
"Somehow I don't think our new Legion leaders would approve," Signalman warned him, "And I wouldn't cross them."
"Then I will seek their permission first," Darkwing decided.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Signalman muttered.
Psi headed outside to check on the rest of the team. There she found Firebrand blazing away at King Shark. He was dehydrating and growing weaker by the second. Psi ripped off a steel pipe section from the surrounding fence and walloped Firebrand's head with it a couple of times. Then she used her telekinesis to sheer off a fire hydrant. King Shark basked in the spraying water.
"I bet you're hungry after that," Psi commented to him, "We have a whole prison full of uniformed snack foods."
King Faraday struck so swiftly and efficiently, El Diablo was knocked out before he could even defend himself. Serving as Checkmate's Intelligence Bishop, Faraday had retired from field ops years ago. He left them up to his stunning protégé, Eve Eden. But the world knew her as Nightshade.
Now Faraday knew the strategic thing to do was pull out and reinforce. So he exited Belle Reeve's main prison yard and vanished amidst the parking lot. And he contacted Amanda Waller so she could dispatch more forces to Belle Reeve.
Human Bomb simply blew apart the recently reforged Shrapnel. Signalman confronted Human Bomb and waved a light stick in a rapid pattern in the air. The stick blinked on and off at preprogrammed intervals. Human Bomb simply keeled over and fell asleep.
"Who needs to get bloody knuckles?" Signalman wondered aloud.
"How's Chato doing?" Signalman asked Psi.
"He's coming around but he isn't happy about it," Psi grinned, "And before you ask, I'd leave King Shark in the water for a few minutes longer. That's if you want him to be discriminating about the food chain."
Up above them Sparrow Hawk battled Black Condor. She'd never heard of the Native American before. But she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Of course, she couldn't use her sword in order to make it sporting.
But she saw the Legion stating to regroup so she phoenix punched Black Condor's throat. He choked and gasped for air and had passed out before she caught him and lowered him to the ground. Signalman knew she'd just been toying with the Freedom Fighter but he didn't criticize.
"You're our eyes, Danya. While we're inside, run a patrol and let us know what's coming," he instructed.
"You think they'll send backup?" Psi was amused by the fact Sparrow Hawk felt insulted by the fact Signalman would mention something so obvious as playing lookout.
"They always send backup," Signalman grimaced.
Giganta was tiring of Captain Boomerang's incessant throwing of his namesakes, "Stop it, you little worm. You used to be on our side."
"Well, now I've got a bomb in my head so you'll excuse me if I switch sides," Captain Boomerang sneered between throws.
"Then I hope you don't go off!" Giganta growled as she stomped on him.
As she trudged off, Captain Boomerang lay flat on his back inside a shoe print and weakly said, "ow."
Sarge Steel was Checkmate's other Bishop. He ran the Operations department. He'd been a top level field operative since before there was even a Task Force X or a CADMUS or an ARGUS. But he'd taken the last few years off from field ops. Now he, and his cybernetic right hand, were back in action.
His steel hand was the perfect weapon to knock Volcana out with. But then he felt a stirring in the hair just seconds before Sparrow Hawk sliced his mechanical hand off. He attempted to fight but he barely survived long enough to retreat.
Sparrow Hawk revived Volcana and sent her on to Signalman's group.
As they reentered the prison, the guards had set up a blockade. King Shark tore into them and began eating his victims alive. Darkwing grew restless.
"When do we just get to kill them all?" he grated.
"Knock yourself out. Just stay out of King Shark's way," Signalman offered.
"Where's Shrapnel?" Giganta asked.
"Still outside pulling himself together," Signalman answered.
"Oh, well I'll go out and stand watch with Danya," Giganta volunteered, knowing her power set was useless in tight confines.
"Has anyone seen Black Spider?" Signalman had to ask.
"Nope," El Diablo admitted.
"Damn. It's always something," Signalman grumbled, "Stay behind me and take care of the upper level catwalks."
Signalman's bullhorn blazed a trail through the prison while El Diablo and Psi brought in support against the upper decks. Volcana trailed a bit and roasted stragglers.
"Waste of good meat," King Shark called after her between mouthfuls. She flipped him off.
When the Legion trio reached the meta block, El Diablo visited cells and called out numbers while Signalman unlocked the lock control system and began releasing prisoners. Psi served as their conduit back to freedom.
Count Vertigo was the first to be freed. He demanded that his inducer be returned to him. Psi passed him of the Volcana. Copperhead was released out of a storage locker. Bane was bound just as Mammoth had been in Blackgate. And Reverse Flash was bound up and suspended in elastic bands.
Psi released Reverse Flash. KGBeast was still sullenly mourning the loss of his gun hand. Catman was in a body cast and left behind amidst his many protests. Spencer Hawk exuded a cold fury over the loss of his right hand and his power ring. The look in his eyes chilled everyone.
Man Bat quietly left the cell black. Queen Bee was indignant over being incarcerated with "mere" humans. She joined Counter Vertigo as Volcana was elected to take them to personal storage. But Doomsday presented a problem.
"They left that girder in his chest," Psi observed.
"And that kryptonite in the cell," El Diablo pointed out.
It vanished with a rush of wind before Reverse Flash returned, "Not anymore."
"Stand back," Psi instructed. The girder began to quiver and then lurched out in fits and starts before breaking free and hurtling across the block. Psi was disgusted, "He'd healed all around it and it was glued into his flesh."
"I guess that means his heart will grow back," El Diablo chose to the see the brighter side.
"But not fast enough," Psi grimaced, "I'll have to carry him until that happens."
Doomsday floated out of his cell and behind Psi as she made her way out of the cell block. As the group reached the first cell block, they found dismembered body parts strewn about amidst the blood and gore. King Shark looked unnaturally happy.
He patted his stomach, "First time I've really been full in months."
"Then we're out of here as soon as we gather our troops," Signalman decided, "Has anyone even seen Black Spider or know where the hell he even is?"
"I'm right here," Black Spider seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Where have you been?" Signalman demanded to know.
"Trying to recruit a former competitor," Black Spider easily admitted, "He quit the Legion to return to the life of a contract killer. ARGUS caught him and has been forcing him to work for them. I offered him a way out."
"And?" Signalman wanted to get to the punch line.
"He'll be in touch," Black Spider promised.
They group made it outside and collected Shrapnel, Giganta, and Sparrow Hawk as the Black Razor team was arriving with ARGUS tactical squads not far behind. But the Legion had already closed their boom tube before ARGUS was set.