7 Justice League the Corps
I was a sailor, I was lost at sea
I was under the waves
Before love rescued me
I was a fighter, I could turn on a thread
Now I stand accused of the things I've said
Love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town
I used to make love under a red sunset
I was making promises I was soon to forget
She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown
But I left her standing before love came to town
I ran into a juke joint when I heard a guitar scream
The notes were turning blue, I was dazing in a dream
As the music played I saw my life turn around
That was the day before love came to town
When love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town
[Repeat Chorus]
I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side
But I've seen love conquer the great divide
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town
-U2 & B.B. King
The Star Sapphire Corps flew across the North American continent. Travelling from California they arrived in NYC on the opposite coastline. They brought the converted Legionnaires with them. Almost half of the Legion of Doom had been affected by the saturation of love.
Drawn to the original star sapphire stone, they reported to Carol in Times Square. The Legionnaires were set loose on their mission to preach the power of love. Carol knew that the indoctrination wouldn't last. These people didn't love easily or naturally but they would serve as an ideal distraction.
Some of the converts surprised her. Among their number were the Ultra Humanite, Major Disaster, Kestrel, Giganta, Big Sir, the Riddler, the Penguin, the Reverse Flash, Bizarro, Supreme, the Shade, Mirror Master, Volcana, Blackrock, Tala, Lashina, Rag Doll, Superwoman, the Clock King, Dr. Polaris, Captain Boomerang, Plastique, Captain Cold, Heat Wave, the Trickster, Golden Glider, Weather Wizard, the Top, Atomic Skull, Cheetah, Bronze Tiger, the Enchantress, Black Mass, Catman, Calendar Man, Queen Bee, Count Vertigo, Cheshire, Ultraman, Mammoth, and Shimmer. Carol had expected some of them because they exhibited love for one another but to gather that many had been a shock. Still, you used what you had while you had it.
The Marvel Family was all transformed and reporting their misadventures to J'onn and Sue. Clark and Diana arrived during this explanation and shared a similar tale. Sue got called away by the Green Lantern Corps on the secure hotline. John and Shayera also shared the story of the ring's trying to ensnare the Thanagarian.
"How'd you fight it?" Courtney wanted to know.
"It felt like I was ODing on love. Nothing that good can be for real," Shayera explained.
"It felt that way to me too," Courtney admitted, "But something interfered with it and I was able to break free."
"Ted Knight said the Cosmic Rod and the Cosmic Convertor Belt were bonded to you, I wonder if they provided the shock to free you?" John mused.
"I was freed by Courtney slapping me in the face," Mary said ruefully.
"It is a good thing that she did," J'onn shared, "Black Adam contacted us. Isis was also approached. Her connection to the Egyptian goddess that empowers her proved a natural barrier but it was apparently also very painful. Be glad you were spared."
Mary turned to Courtney, "Feel free to slap me anytime."
Courtney grinned, "Don't tempt me."
Sue returned, "That was Kilowog. It seems Carol Ferris is forming a Star Sapphire Corps. The rings you described match the description of those worn by Ferris' warrior women."
"Carol is free of the star sapphire?" John asked.
"It's more like she and the sapphire are cooperating. But Ferris is definitely calling her own shots now," Sue said, "It gets worse though. Sinestro and his Yellow Lanterns are on Earth and they're hunting the Star Sapphires."
"Do we have any idea where they are?" J'onn asked.
"The Sapphires just raided the Gulag and Stryker's Island. They absconded with half of the populations," Sue relayed the reports that she'd received, "Katma directed Sinestro to NYC. And before you ask, Kyle Rayner is in town with Kara and Sinestro thinks Carol is gunning for Kyle."
"He wouldn't be wrong. Carol has no interest in Kyle but the star sapphire does and if they are a gestalt then he could still be an object of desire and the star sapphire is nothing if not about desire," John surmised.
"Before you all take off looking for a fight, Kara and Kyle called in from the Women's Dorm. There's been a break in and Fire and Ice's signal devices were found abandoned on the floor," Sue added to the catastrophic news.
"How did the intruders get in?" J'onn asked.
"They shattered the outer sliding glass door. But Kara and Kyle can't detect any trace of someone scaling the building to get to the balcony. Likewise they can't detect any sign of an intruder on the roof," Sue described the scene.
"Tell Kyle to stay put and to beware of the Sinestro Corps," J'onn instructed.
"Miss Sue! I have news, your Operationalist. The Star Sapphires have been spotted in Times Square. They seem to have unleashed the Legion of Doom upon downtown and are now headed for the United Nations building," L-Ron announced.
"Sound a priority alert," Superman declared. "John and Shayera, you take the Marvel Family and head off the Sapphires. Everyone else will intercept the Legion."
John turned to the Marvels, "You heard the man, move!"
Shayera held him back for a second, "You're being all commanding again. You know what that does to me."
He quickly kissed her, "Hold that thought for later. Right now we have some ass to kick."
She grinned, "Even better."
Arven pointed to the sky and Owlwoman and Donna descended. Carol embraced them both, "Your arrival is most fortuitous, sisters. We're moving on the UN."
"How can we help?" Owlwoman asked.
"I need someone to lead the outer defense. I'm thinking you two would be perfect. Talia will be our interior commander. Fire, Ice, and Ivy will be among her shock troops. Arven, Maewen, and Fatality will aid me in securing the ambassadors," Carol proclaimed.
No one protested so she clapped her hands together, "So it's decided. Follow me, sisters."
They rose as one and then formed a delta wing as they flew over Manhattan. Even jaded New Yorkers stopped and pointed into the sky as the formation flew overhead. The UN Police didn't stand a chance and Carol soon strode into the Secretary General's office.
"Call the General Assembly," she ordered.
"Why should I?" the Korean SG asked.
"There are two ways I could motivate you," Carol assured him, "The first is this!"
She used the star sapphire to create a construct that smashed his desk. Afterwards, she smiled sweetly; "I much prefer this approach."
Her stone began to glow. Violet light washed over him and as it did so, an enthusiastic smile spread across his face.
"I'll summon them now," he paused and looked at the wreckage of his desk, "Only…"
She used a construct to lift the phone and place it in his hand. His smile returned, "I shall do as you asked."
"I knew you'd love to," Carol said as she exited the office.
The Javelin-9 flew towards the eastern seaboard of the North American continent. More specifically it was headed to NYC and its passengers were all anxious.
"I see them!" Galatea announced from the co-pilot's seat, "Let me out. I'll intercept them."
"Where are they?" Blackhawk asked. They were still ten minutes out even at the vast speeds that the shuttle was travelling at.
"The UN building. There's dozens of women dressed like Nightwing's description. Most of them are aliens," she reported.
"Tell Nightwing to let you out the back. Then have him join me," Blackhawk instructed, "And Tea?"
She turned from the cockpit door, "Yes?"
"Know that I love you," he said.
Her face lit up with joy, "I do. See ya."
She exited and then his instruments noted the rear deck opening. Drag reduced their speed. The door was closed less than two minutes later and his radar return noted a rapidly departing object. Galatea was putting the shuttle to shame.
"Be careful, baby," he said as though she could still hear him.
The cockpit door opened and Nightwing took over at the co-pilot's station, "You wanted me?"
"How're my passengers doing?" Blackhawk asked.
"Dove's ready to climb a wall but Ulla is simply distracted by the fact she wasn't chosen. She's taking it rather personally," Nightwing described the situation.
"I'm not sure I don't blame her," Blackhawk admitted, "I take it you've noted that all of our 'recruits' were women. Tea described a group of them around the UN and they're all women. Most of them are from other planets."
"Makes sense. Carol Ferris was chosen to the Star Sapphire by an alien. The parasite in the stone is an alien. She runs with the Green Lanterns. You don't get much more cosmic than that," Nightwing noted.
"So what's the scenario? What's she after?" Blackhawk wondered.
"Sounds like she's recruiting duplicates of herself, only the stones are affixed to rings rather than masks," Nightwing deduced.
"So I should be as nervous as I'm feeling?" Blackhawk asked.
Nightwing grinned. Blackhawk had never once admitted to anything nearing trepidation in his presence before. It was a show of trust. A trust that had been building up for some time now.
"Galatea resisted once. I'm sure she'll do so again," he assured Blackhawk.
"I hope so, because if she's not flying on the side of angels, who's going to take her down? I mean, an Argoan with a power ring? How do you beat that combo?"
Nightwing suddenly decided Blackhawk had a good reason to worry.
Kyle's ring pulsed twice. He tackled Kara and erected a force bubble, "Down!"
The entire penthouse suddenly fragmented and blew past them as though a mighty hand had swept it away. When the debris was gone, Kyle dropped the field and let Kara up.
"Sorry `bout that." He said, "I was just worried about you."
She tapped the buttons on his shirt one by one, "Most people would've left me to take care of myself. It's sweet that you care but it's also good that I'm invulnerable. That tackle would've hurt an Earth girl."
"Spare me the maudlin romance," Sinestro declared from the other side of the debris field. Once again his arms were imperiously folded across his chest and he looked rather insufferably pleased with himself.
"People live here, you jackass," Kyle shot back.
"They used to live here," Sinestro smugly replied. His self righteousness had always annoyed Kyle and that irritation was getting the better of him now.
Kara stepped in front of him and placed her hand on his chest to keep him back, "Cool it hotshot. He's goading you into a fight. If he wants you to fight I'd say that's the last thing you should do."
"Listen to her, Rayner. Her advice could save your miserable life," Sinestro declared. He appraised Kara in a new light, "I always thought you had the brains of a gnat. You're surprising me now. In light of this, I'll grant you a boon. Leave now. Walk away and live."
"You're kidding, right?" she asked scornfully.
"I was wrong. You are a gnat," Sinestro said disdainfully.
"Yeah, but this gnat is going to kick your ass for destroying my home. Do you know how long it took to build up the perfect CD collection?" Kara wanted to know.
"Your pathetic concerns do not interest me, only your surrender matters," Sinestro declared.
"Surrender to whom? You and what army?" Kara demanded.
Sinestro's smile was so cocky that Kara wanted to kick his teeth in as the Elite rose behind him. Sinestro's voice dripped with irony, "Why, I believe this is the army you're referring to."
"I think we may be in trouble," Kara opined.
"No kidding," Kyle retorted.
