The streets of New York City were quiet. Well as quiet as New York City could get on a midday afternoon. The hustle and bustle of thousands of people could be heard throughout the city echoing through the ground from the street and the subway straight to the ground below. Unknown to anyone there was a giant coffin in a forgotten underground cemetery and inside laid a very conscious body.
"Solomon Grundy born on a Monday
Christened on Tuesday
Married on a Wednesday
Took ill on Thursday
Grew worse on Friday
Died on Saturday
Was buried on Sunday
Then rose the next day."
The giant of a man if he could be called a man clawed at the inside of his coffin. All while repeating the same rhyme over and over again. His dried and peeling fingernails broke away as he clawed through the wood that kept him sealed in the ground and soon was digging his way to the surface. It wasn't long till Solomon Grundy broke through the ground of the subway derailing a train and injuring dozens of people as he made his way to the surface. The people who were walking over the area could swear that they felt the ground rumbling but, an earthquake in New York was more than strange. As people stopped in their tracks or came out of their businesses and places of work to see what was happening on the street a giant sinkhole opened up swallowing the street and the people on it and out walked Solomon Grundy repeating that same rhyme over and over again.
"Solomon Grundy born on a Monday
Christened on Tuesday
Married on a Wednesday
Took ill on Thursday
Grew worse on Friday
Died on Saturday
Was buried on Sunday
Then rose the next day."
The Bio-jet was now traveling at Mach-two on its way to New York City. On board sat the core of the team. Miss Martian was at the helm, Kid Flash and Nightwing were manning all internal and external systems. Artemis and Kaldur were operating the uplink to the Watchtower while Superboy stood by Miss Martian.
"We have confirmation that the party responsible for the damage is Solomon Grundy.", Artemis announced to the team.
"That zombie dude?", Wally inquired.
"Yeah. The guy becomes stronger every time he comes back from the dead.", stated Nightwing.
Kaludur looked down at his feet in thought. He was worried because last time the League had an issue with Grundy the creäture stood toe to toe with Superman before the League was able to put him down. Artemis noticed Kaldur and read his body language. She knew exactly why he was worried. She knew he cared for each and everyone aboard the Bio-jet like they were his family. Then there was the fact the two of them just confessed their love for each other a few hours ago. She slowly took his hand in hers making Kaldur look up at her. He looked at her and found everything he needed to reassure him of their capabilities to fully handle this situation in her eyes. He gave her a smile and she returned it. Looking at Artemis and Kaldur, made Megan think about her failed relationship with the man standing beside her. She looked up at Connor who took notice of the display of affection from his other teammates also. Unlike Megan however he put away his personal thoughts and emotions on a mission and didn't return her glace which made Megan's heart drop.
"We are five mikes out.", Nightwing said.
"Miss Martian please establish the mental link.", Kaldur requested.
She closed her eyes and linked the six of them together.
(Italic's represents dialogue over the mental link.)
"Testing, testing.", she said.
"Present.", Artemis stated.
"Here.", Wally said.
"Present.", Dick replied.
"Here.", Kaldur announced.
"Here.", Connor also said.
"Link is up and running.", Megan announced to the team.
Solomon Grundy was walking through the city and looked over head when he heard the roar of the Bio-jet. The first to hit him was Superboy who jumped form the aircraft and landed on him. Next blow was delivered by Kid Flash who hit him at a speed of two-hundred and fifty miles an hour. Miss Martian lowered herself along with Kaldur and Artemis to the ground telepathically. Nightwing fired an anchor into a near by building and swung down on to the street.
(Anchors are grappling hooks)
Artemis took an arrow from her quiver and readied her bow. Superboy was still landing blow after blow when Grundy caught his fist and landed a counter punch that sent him flying over three blocks away.
"I'm going to go get Connor.", Wally stated.
All that was left was a blur of yellow and red as he stated his last word. Kaldur charged in forming a huge two-handed hammer with water striking Grundy in the face. Artemis let loose with a couple of arrows that exploded on contact. Picking up a giant rock Grundy threw it at Artemis who had to do a back flip to evade his attack. Nightwing threw foam grenade at him. When it detonated it covered Grundy with a sticky bio-carbonated foam. Grundy ripped apart the foam like it was play dough.
"That didn't even slow him down.", Nightwing stated shockingly.
"Keep on the offensive.", Kaldur commanded.
"Kal!", Artemis screamed.
Blindsided by Grundy he slammed his fist into Kaldur's stomach sending the Atlantean flying into a nearby building which after hitting the wall promptly collapsed on top of him. Miss Martian lifted Grundy off of the ground telepathically and threw him into a building. Artemis ran over to Kaldur's location and began frantically digging through the debris.
"Come on. Come on. Come on. You just told me you loved me I am not going to let you go that easily", Artemis said aloud.
What she didn't notice was that Megan was right behind her and heard what she had said. She knew that Artemis's feelings for Kaldur ran deep but, in year the two of them have been together she had never mentioned the word love. Even when Megan thought that her feelings reflected those of a person who was deeply in love with someone Artemis would deny it. Megan couldn't help but feel the hurtful stabs of jealousy running through her. Megan shook her head back and forth shaking the random thought from her head. She then raised her hand and telepathically moved the bricks and other debris. At the bottom of the pile there was Kaldur the side of his head bloody.
"Damn it! Kal please say something!"
"I am okay Artemis. It is just a minor head wound."
"Oh God thank you!"
Artemis grabbed Kaldur and pressed her lips to his and wrapped her arms around him in a tender embrace. Megan's green cheeks flashed bright red at the display of tender affection in front of her. She chalked in up to her being hopelessly romantic in her downtime. Plus she really missed those kinds of moments she had with Connor.
"Not to interrupt you guys but, Grundy is kind of kicking my ass!", Nightwing yelled.
"We need to help Nightwing."
"Megan and I got it Kal. Catch your breath and get back in the fight when you can."
Kaldur nodded his head yes. Then the two women took off in the direction of Nightwing. Which at the time was riding the back of Grundy like he was a bull rider. Grundy slammed his back into a wall and reached behind him gripping Nightwing's arm and tried to throw him into the opposite wall. Nightwing fired an anchor in the wall behind Grundy in midair and hit the retract button on the controller which sent him flying back towards Grundy slamming his knees into Grundy's jaw. Nightwing let use a fury of punches and kicks which did little if anything. Grundy clasped his hand together and formed a hammer with his fist and struck the ground which set Nightwing flying backwards. Just then Megan flew transparently though the wall and caught him. Then Kid Flash appeared in front of them with Superboy on his back.
"Hope you enjoyed the piggy back ride"
"Shut up"
"What! Your heavy!"
As the Conner and Wally were bricking an arrow flew pass them hitting Grundy in the chest.
"Shut up you two and fight damn it!", Artemis yelled.
Superboy jumped at Grundy and delivered a left jab and right cross combo to his face. Kid Flash was moving his limbs at hundreds of miles an hour landing thousands of punches a minute. Megan picked up a car telepathically and sent it flying at Grundy. The vehicle sent him flying into the street. Grundy arose from the blow with a dislocated jaw. The creäture simply took his jaw into his hand and set the bone back into place with a sickening crack. Artemis fired three arrows back to back to back. All hit Grundy in the chest center mass with about a centimeter of width between each one. Grundy picked up the same car that Megan threw at him and was about to throw it back when it fell apart over his head thanks to the nimble fingers of Kid Flash.
"Well the car did need an oil change."
The group groaned at the joke that Wally made. A few hundred feet away Kaldur tried to get up for the third time when he concluded that if not broken his ribs were surely bruised. Kaldur concentrated and wrapped his abdomen in water making a liquid cast. He then took off in the direction of the battle. A right uppercut sent Conner form the ground floor to the top of a twelve story building. Megan telepathically took two cars and slammed them on either side of Grundy sandwiching him in between them. Artemis let loose a volley of arrows that hit Grundy in his legs, forearms, and chest. Nightwing removed a can of mace from his utility belt and sprayed Grundy in the face making the Grundy roar in anger. Blindly swinging back and forth Grundy hit Artemis and sent her flying toward a parked car. She would have hit it too if Kaldur hadn't caught her before she hit it.
"Got you! Ahhhhh!"
"Kal are you alright?"
"Ribs. We have to end this somehow."
"How?"
"Team form up on me.", Kaldur ordered.
"I hope this works Kal."
The team formed up around Kaldur and prepared themselves for a final stand against Grundy. Kaldur mentally thought of the orders and gave them to each of his teammates over the mental link and they each carried out each order with speed and precision. Kid Flash took steel beams and heated them up using the heat he generated from the friction of rubbing his hands together. Superboy bent the steel beams around Grundy's body. Nightwing threw all the foam grenades he had left at the Grundy sealing him in a cocoon. Artemis fired an arrow at a fire hydrate and broke the pipe letting water spill everywhere. Megan telepathically adjusted the broken hydrate to soak Grundy in gallons of water. Then Kaldur's tattoos lit up as he let loose bolt of electricity that fried Grundy's body. Grundy promptly was rendered unconscious.
Afterward aboard the Watchtower:
"Four-hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of damages. Not to mention the private lawsuits that are being filed against the League. The influx of injured patients to New York City hospitals has made the average admission rate sky-rocketed by eight-hundred percent. Not to mention that Kaldur was injured", Batman said reading the report that was filed Dick and Kaldur.
Still flipping through the report he spoke again.
"With all that taken in to account your team was still able to apprehend Solomon Grundy who has been secured by Dr. Fate and his team of magician's. Not to mention that you all demonstrated the ability to adapt and find a way to defeat your opponent one which has even given the League trouble in the past. As well as a healthy regard for human life as no one was hurt directly by the actual conflict once the fighting started to take place. As well as Kaldur once again demonstrating why he should be in command of this unit. All in all good job team. Hit the showers as for you Kaldur report to the medical bay as soon as possible to get checked out. Team dismissed."
Batman put the report down as the team exited the ready room. Just then Wonder Women walked in.
"So how bad is it?"
"Their team is not on file as officially being part of the League which is a good thing. As well as 'Team Justice' still is technically an unlisted black ops team that works for the League which is run by me so the likes of Superman can keep their hands clean of the more messier issues. So all in all the lawsuits should die off in a week or two. Astonishingly there were no deaths although there were a number of injuries not to mention the property damage. So not that bad."
"I don't mind getting a little messy Bruce."
"Oh really princess?"
"Really Bruce."
"I'll have to keep that in mind Diana."
Batman and Wonder Women shared a sly smile between themselves. Batman's comm-link buzzed in his ear taking him away from his moment with Diana.
"My private line. I have to take this."
"I hope to see you later Bruce."
Wonder Women gave him another mischievous smile before leaving the ready room. Doing what most other men could not have done Batman turned his attention back to his comm-link. He pushed the button on his cowl.
"Batman here."
"…"
"Wait a minute Lucius. Calm down and explain it to me slowly."
"…"
"The whole Yoshiro family?"
"…"
"Do they have any idea who committed the assassinations?"
"…"
"No Lucius. I will look into myself. If there was a contact put out on the Yoshiro family it shouldn't be that hard to find out who picked it up or who put it on the market."
"…"
"No I don't think that the deal will be legal and binding since it was never finalized. Nevertheless you might want to stay in Japan a few days. You can be my eyes and ears."
".."
"Good. I will be sending you the address to one of my penthouses in Japan you can stay there. Remember if you need anything else to charge it to the company."
"…"
"Thanks for the information Lucius. Over and out."
Eleswhere in Japan:
Jade was walking out of the shower in her high-rise apartment which was rented under one of her many aliases. She slipped a pair of boy shorts on then a tank top then walked out to the sprawling living room.
"Hey Lian are you hungry?"
"Yeah mommy!"
"You want some jello or some mac and cheese?"
"Jello!"
"You and sweets."
Jade happily got her daughter a jello cup from the refrigerator and handed it to her. The toddler took it happily then walked back to the part of the floor that had all of her toys on it.
"Thank you mommy!"
"Your welcome baby."
Jade sat down on the couch watching her daughter while taking a wireless keyboard and placing it on her lap. She typed in a secure password and brought up her accounts. As promised a two-hundred and fifty million dollar transfer to her account had taken place shortly after she left Yoshiro Tower. She then went to her contact page to see if anyone else needed her particular skill set.
"Hey mommy want to play with me?"
As Jade looked over at her daughter holding one of her stuffed bunnies with jello all over her face she couldn't resist smiling.
"Sure honey."
"Yah!"
Jade closed the pages on the computer only to have the eyes of Roy Harper staring at her. The picture she had chosen to be her wallpaper was a picture of the two of them holding Lian in their apartment the day she and Lian came home from the hospital after Lian's birth. She momentary wondered if he would be happy that she was once again what some people considered a villain? She remembered the times her mother chose the job over her. Did she really think that working with the League and saving a few lives would right all her wrongs? She still went to jail. She still had to live the rest of her life in that chair after she was injured. All she knew was if anyone tried to take her away from her daughter in any capacity she would kill them. She got up and walk to her daughter's play mat.
"Okay baby what do you want to play?"