[August 3rd 2010]

[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island]

"Now some may wonder who I am, or that promises have been given before by others! Promises that have led to poverty, misery and slavery! But not this time! Not from EL Presidente" the bearded Latin American man in the white military uniform and cap shouted out and raising a black gloved fist into the air. It was all in Spanish with English subtitles...because evidently this event wasn't really all that important with all the drug busts, arrests of politicians, and other 'major' stories the US networks were running. All I could at on the positive side was that it had managed to make to the morning news a day or two later.

"NO! I shall bring this fair island to prosperity and glory by my own hand! Already my enemies here on this island lie crushed beneath my boots, their ill gotten wealth seized and soon to be put to use in aiding our bringing our fair home moving away from these dark times and towards a bright and radiant future under my leadership! New houses and roads will be built! Jobs will be created by turning the former centres of your enslavement to powerful engines of industry that will bring wealth to all who live upon this island! A new police force shed of the corruption and decadence of the past! A Temple of Divine Blessings to heal the soul!"

Honestly it wasn't all that good a speech, but the people on the screen below were evidently lapping it to the annoyance of the rather attractive American reporter. Nice woman I'd found, Rosita her name and very unhappy to be send to jungle criminal island on a 'minor story' when she figured she should be in the big leagues like the Justice League. Well she had been till she and her crew had gotten put up in a penthouse suite and spoiled rotten on the orders of El Presidente Ned. Heh, funny how she'd even gotten what the forename meant in the naming conventions. Journalistic integrity mightn't have been all that great, but she had a pretty face and was actually rather bright. I could work with that.

Beardy general man though was continuing his wild gesticulations on the scream as the crowd went wild thanks to some rather subtle magical cues and the fact copious amounts of food, and more importantly alcohol, had been disrupted before hand along with upbeat music. For the moment though I just mimed with my mouth as I pulled the just finished baked vanilla cake out of the oven. An apology of sorts for my erstwhile Teammates upon my return, well partial return in reality but one worked with what life threw at you. I frown as El Presidente continued; I really need a cigar and more pink to add to the effect I noted as the smell of cake hit my nostrils.

"So be assured my people that I shall stand as a protector of you and your children from those who would seek to bring back these wicked ways! No more I say! No more! With the very last drop of strength in my body I shall defend this island! Well, that and heavily armed soldiery that stand amongst us and ready to crush any foreign intruder who dare set foot upon this holy ground of our island. So to my Enemies a Warning! The Past is Gone and Not to Return! Santa Prisca and its Nightmares are no more! From now on this beautiful island of sunshine and magic shall be known as Tropico! So I say to you! Viva Tropico! Long may the sun shine upon it and its people! Ad Astra per Aspera!"

"And the crowd goes wild! Woo-Woo!" I muttered as the various roars of approval on the screen were cut off and replaced with three presenters with sour looks upon their faces and immediately went into the problems of another supervillian seemingly taking over Santa Prisca. Dammit, couldn't they get the name of the island right? And I was not a supervillain thank you very much!

"Wowww...you dress really colourful for a supervillain you know that? Did you forget to bring a spare skull mask and the black paint or something?" the voice of Kid Flash came from behind me on the other side of the counter and I turned with the cheesecake in my hands to see him, Robin, Aqualad, and Miss Martian approach with mixed looks upon their faces. I smiled in a friendly greeting in my guise of John Fortune, still-technically-a-member of The Team as they called it. Which was a stupid name in my opinion, couldn't they even use Teen Titans or whatnot?

I placed the baked cheesecake down on the countertop "Rule 29: I shall dress in bright and cheery colours and thereby throw my enemies into confusion! Why that's just basic Evil Overlord 101 Kid Flash. That and I need to maintain a positive mental attitude and public persona so that my new citizens shall feel confident and secure under my new regime. Bright, warm, colours help with that I've been told. Anyway here I have just done cheesecake, and there's cookies over there in the jar freshly made as well that aren't straight outta the oven. Didn't think to see you guys for another little bit been honest"

"Wait...you have rules for..." Robin began to say before Kid Flash zipped over to the large cookie jar, opened the top and hands seemed to blur back and forth from it as he interjected with his mouth full.

"Dude...nomnomnom...you re like...nom...like the best supervillian...nom...teammate evar ya know. Nomnom. Like...mom...these are awesome cookies...nomnomom...by the way. So dark and broody means your good and...nomnomnom...bright and cheerful means you've gone to the dark side even more. Right. Got it!"

I glared at him "Those are for everyone Kid Flash. Sharing is caring remember!"

He froze in place, a half eaten cookie still in one hand and the other back in the cookie jar as I and the others looked at him. Then he blurred, along with that renewed munching sound but a moment, before appearing just beside M'gann with head half-tilted towards her as he spoke before any of us could get a word in "And I'm a caring guy ya know guys? Sharing and caring with my teammates like always!"

Said green skinned girl sorta ignored him, instead rubbing her elbow with the other hand, head to the side as she gave an embarrassed vibe as she looked beside me rather than at me "Hi John, I'm reallllyyy sorry I just left without saying anything to you when Uncle Jonn arrived. He just said it was important we not be seen involved and that our powers have..."

I smiled and waved at her as if it were a small "Oh don't be like that, things could have been worse in my opinion, so don't be all down about. I'm guessing everyone got a...debriefing...after you were all taken out of my merry employment?"

Robin folded his arms across his chest and gave an annoyed huff as the others winced or looked embarrassed at the words "We all got an earful about the consequences of our actions"

Kid Flash raised a hand like he was at school "I was told not to help you conquer Cuba, and to watch out if you start going bald for some reason"

I blinked at that. What the fuck "Hah?"

He shrugged as Aqualad glanced around "My King was less critical of our actions than his compatriots within the League were, but much was left to be desired of our teamwork and training he opined. That he was disappointed in our, my, performance and that we would need to improve in future missions to rectify such problems"

"Yeah he's right in that..." I sighed "...the whole thing was a mess from beginning to end, and I share a great chunk of the blame I'll admit..." I clapped my hands together cheerful though to relieve the suddenly depressed seeming atmosphere "...still it has it perks. We're all rather wealthy now, and I can afford to kit you out in super awesome magical gear even if I probably won't be let on many missions with you..."

The pinging and announcing voice of the Zeta tube announced the arrival of Superboy and cut my attempt at making amends with the others. Because even if I was going to be fairly limited on missions from now on, I could still help out in my own ways; such as giving magically enhanced gear. I was good at that after all...and I was already doing for my SHIELD employers and likely for my very own Dread Legions of Tropico in the days to come. Best to get the likes of Superboy even into armour in case someday somebody managed to get their hands on the in-theory weapons that could cut Kyrptonin flesh with ease. I waved at the angry looking Superboy as we all turned towards him.

"Hello Superboy, you should come here, I bring cake and cookies!"

"Rahhh!" he shouted-muttered to nobody in particular, seemingly considering ignoring us for a few moments it seemed before striding over while looking like somebody had stolen his candy and kicked his puppy. So it was either another awkward meeting with Superman, or he'd managed to do something in the meantime to get Batman mad at him. Or both maybe, Superboy really needed some help in my view and I'd done my best till I'd screwed up my time by taking over and island. Miss Martian was the first to speak, and yet again she seemed embarrassed for some reason. Something I'd missed since my last visit?

"Hi Superboy, is everything okay?"

"IT'S FINE. EVERYTHINGS FINE!" came the growling reply. I was going with Superman related problems then. Still at least he seemed torn between greeting us all and boldly fleeing towards his room. So I shrugged and avoided the subject while the others looked awkward as he came towards us; best to change the subject then before he blew his top. He needed to talk about it when he calmed down, but that was for later hopefully as he was abrasive enough already and training was coming up...

"Okay. Hi again General Superboy of My Glorious Tropican Legions! Now I've been meaning to talk to all of you about bank details and such so I can pay you at least your wages for all your great help to the government of El Presidente Ned!"

"What?" "Huh?" "What" followed in quick succession from my Teammates as Superboy seemed to blink in confusion at the question. I glanced around at them all.

"Well you were all a great help, I am the new government, and you were all legally deputised government employees during the extent of your stay...and I pay well too. Plus I'm pretty sure M'gann and Superboy don't exactly have an active source of income, or any savings I'd expect, considering circumstances..." I frowned as a thought hit me, or more accurately I remembered something I'd meant to ask earlier. I glanced at a confused Superbboy "...actually on that note. Have they sorted your citizenship paperwork yet? You'll probably need that to setup a bank account first"

Kid Flash looked back and forth from Robin to Aqualad to me "Wait...we can get paid for this?"

Superboy though was frowning deeply, while M'gann was looking confused and talking to herself "Uncle Jonn handles all that for me..."

I glanced at a confused Superboy "Problem?"

"What paperwork?" was his reply. I blinked and scratched at the back of my head.

"Hah? Wha' ya mean?"

He was frowning and half-glaring at me "What paperwork?"

"Well...I sorta assumed someone was giving you official papers making you a citizen and what not. Cover identity and legal standing, that sorta stuff. Like I got when I first got shuffled here by de boyos in the de government back home..." I frowned back at him and looked at the others for support "...someone has spoke to you about this...right?"

Unhappy silence indicated No, nobody had broached this subject or helped him be a proper legal person under the law. Which could be kinda problematic considering the weird-ass US legal system of this dimension when related to machines, aliens and non-naturally born organics. Or magic as I'd found out during my briefings before and after the Hyatt-Regency near disaster. I looked back forth between my teammates before glancing and Robin who gave a 'your move' indication of support and I massaged my forehead as I tried to figure out how to stop Superboy getting worked up again.

"Great, shoulda guessed. I'd offer you Tropican citizenship but that ain't exactly internationally recognised...I'll ask my Bosses back home. You can be Irish with a little persuasion... " and bribery too if need be "...so that's an option..."

'Oh thank God!' I thought to myself as Black Canary and the Martian Manhunter entered my field of vision and brought the brief conversation to an end. I needed to think this through more clearly first after all, and likely make some phone calls. Even if Black Canary didn't seem overly happy at me and my presence I smiled politely and made to grab the remote. Best not to have the coverage from a certain island on in the background when they were in front of us after all...

--