[01st October 2010]
[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island]
Anger, pure seething anger at the stupid before me rose up from inside my frame. For a moment I was afraid I would spontaneously combust, or maybe have a Red Power fly to my finger, as I fought down the urge to just punch the stupid proposers of the stupid. Because this just took the fucking cake as the thirty second summary ended after I received what was supposed to be our marching orders. I maybe off The Team but these were extraordinary all-hands-on- deck circumstances with even the likes of Red Arrow cooperating with his mentor once again. But this plan...I hated calling it a plan as it was so fucking stupid that it insulted the very idea of plans...was simply looking to get one or more of my former teammates killed.
"No...No...this is a terrible idea..." as I felt my eye twitch as I slammed down on the growing urge to deal with idiotic commanders who up till now had been relatively sane. Though this was idiot world Justice League I was seemingly trapped in so maybe I shouldn't have expected anything but a plan like this. Talk about crushing one's faith in your childhood heroes...watching the sausage being made was such a bad idea "...such a bad idea that it will get someone, or all of my teammates killed"
Batman, Batman of all fucking people stood calmly beside Zatara and Captain Marvel and answered my statement with nonsense "They are ready. You are ready"
The world went red tinged...
"No we are not bloody ready! Superman struggles against Black Adam...I've fought Wotan! Your sending children without any support up against a group that bloody well can take down Justice League members in an even fight! And without involving the local authorities you stu..."
I took a deep breath, glancing back a moment and glared at my teammates as Robin and Kid Flash started to raise protests at my statement on abilities, then back to the startled Justice League members. Rage was the mind killer I reminded myself pushing it down, and I needed my mind to think right now "...No. No. NO! You know where the location of these costumed terrorists is...fine, I'm not under your authority anymore and I'm informing the legitimate authorities of this fact and getting support for my teammates if we're doing this..."
Breath, remember to breath
"...because there is no way in the Nine Hells those fucking freaks are getting that ransom, they either get taken out or get a cruise missile up their terrorist fucking arses. I've already spoken to Amanda Waller before coming here and have authorisation from the US government. I refuse to allow you to just throw them..." I gestured at my teammates...and Connor's new Direwolf evidently. Where in the fuck had he gotten a Direwolf from? "...into the fucking fire against murder machines like that because of some vague notion of 'being ready' because no one is fucking ready for this goddamn job. Not when are soldiers, with tanks and helicopters and bombs that could help back them up..."
"Involving the military forces of the..." Screw you Giovanni I wanted to say as he started to say something, but Batman held up a hand while Captain Marvel was staring at me a little wild-eyed. The Caped Crusader glared at me, but his voice was the gravelly calm tone that usually came out from behind that black cowl.
"We do not have time to argue over this matter, it can be discussed later Giovanni..." his gaze moved over me and Constantine "...and it will be I assure you. If that is your course of action, then get your support. But go, the longer we delay the more that are injured or killed by the Injustice League"
I nodded back as coldly and John's voice ruined the whole affair "Righto, so let us all get goin' on this field trip then kiddies!"
Batman glanced away from me and towards the British idiot as Zatara frowned deeply. This tension was just ridiculous considering I could feel the unhappy stares of one or two of my former teammates glaring daggers at my back "Go, be safe and..."
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[01st October 2010]
[Approaching Bayou Bartholomew, Arkansas]
"I can't believe you said we aren't ready...how can you say that Skulls?" Artemis muttered to me in the eerie silence of the Bio-ship as I ended my most recent call. Seemed that nobody was overly happy with me right now, including the ones who'd wanted me here at first, and only the fact that we'd spent nearly every moment on the journey here making calls, emails, and other attempts at coordinating a response had held off this.
I sighed and rubbed at my head. Gods above was I tired after everything, and we hadn't even got started into the nightmare yet!
"Because this isn't about us guys, I know you're all pissed at me but we're not ready. Often times the League isn't either I'll say. Nor are we here for glory, or to prove ourselves, or any nonsense like that. For if we fail there are lives, thousands of lives, on the line for that failure...and it's wrong to just act like that when there are thousands of men and women in uniform sitting in their bases doing nothing, not even knowing they can help save those lives..."
I took a breath as my blonde hair friend huffed at me before nodding, Robin and Kid Flash still seemed hurt along with Connor "...Kaldur. If this was Atlantis and an enemy struck like this and your King new of their base and army. Would he send one warrior or an army to seek battle with them?"
'Honestly, that could be a dumb question' I mused silently even as I spoke the words. After all, with the bizzaro world I seemed to have thrown myself upon, the King might just do that idiotic...
"Hmm...no, no my friend, My King would not do so. He would go himself with the Royal Guard to end any such challenge..." he answered to my relief shaking his head and looking around at the others in the silent cabin "...I fear our friend is correct. This task is about more than if we are ready as a team for the challenges ahead or not, nor is it a game. We go into battle against truly villainous foes that threaten cities full of innocents that our mentors must battle even as we speak now. To refuse to seek the aid of others in this task...would be wrong as friend John says"
Connor grumbled about being able to do so on his own, but at least that seemed to settle the others down somewhat as the tablet computer buzzed once again as documents arrived into the email, and then my phone began to buzz once again.
Communications technology or merely the arcane, allowed coordination and coordination could win close battles I found as the iron filled voice of Amanda Waller came back to my ears once again. Little Rock Air Base was prepping some white phosphorous bombs unto aircraft in case Plan A failed, and three A-10's were already in the air and vectoring towards the Bayou.
'Good, Good' I noted as we began to near our rally. Planes were in the air as were some attack choppers, and Constantine would have hopefully managed to have both Plan A ready when we arrived and I teleported him to this point.
Elements of the Arkansas National Guard were being mobilized and more importantly, a Special Forces team, equipped as best they could (without my weapons) for Meta-humans supposedly ready to link up with our strike force when we arrived at the rally point. Bringing as much force as possible to bear upon this 'Injustice League' was the only path to a victory with as few casualties as possible...
--
[01st October 2010]
[Just outside Bayou Bartholomew, Arkansas]
"Okay...buying by my affection is working a little I'll admit Skulls" Artemis grinned at me as she threw on the enchanted gloves and bracers upon her arms. Connor hummed in thought as he swung the new weapon in hand to test the warhammer's balance...he hadn't tried the flight ring yet I noted as I drove the last of the silver stakes into the ground and went to one.
"Good to hear, sorry I don't have one for everybody in the audience. Time was abit short and didn't have everything finished yet. Sorry now...got cast" I admitted touching the button and activating call. Constantine's voice came over it.
"Ready mate?"
"Ready here; Start...3...2...1" I confirmed and within moments we both began the chant as power manifested within the large ritual circle I'd spent a prepared spell on creating on the wild boggy ground. Gleaming light flowed within the circle for a few seconds, flashing then fading in the moonlit night air as suddenly a dozen heavily armed men, and a woman perhaps, clad in combat armour and balaclava-like face-obscuring things. John was in the middle of them and quickly stood as he and they teleported from the Eastern Seaboard.
"Right mate...ah, ugh got in touch with'em and he's comin'...but he's a bit cranky jus to let you know in advance"
'Well isn't that just great' I resisted muttering as my teammates gazed at the new arrivals with unease. At least if the entity turned up it would deal with one problem rather more effectively than we could otherwise manage with conventional methods "So he's on his way?"
John winced a little as the ground rumbled ever so faintly and I felt the approaching throb of magic. Like a supercharged Druid perhaps as I glanced in that direction "Guys, don't attack the big scary elemental that's about to appear"
"Ele-what-all?...what the..." Kid Flash started to ask before jumping startled as the plants and mud nearby rumbled and writhed before coalescing into a rather disturbing looking mass. Of course everyone was startled by the appearance of the massive elemental shape that was Alex Holland, aka Swamp Thing, and his booming "John Constantine!"
John waved his hands before himself as if to defend himself from an accusation "Now mate, ah bleedin' told ya it's not my fault. It's that crazy woman an' her plants that I told ye about. Me mate here wanted ya because iff'n we don't get help then we'll be burnin' down a lot of them plants of yours to get her!"
'Ohhhhh...he's fuckin big' I noted very much in my head as I looked up at the unhappy looking elemental glaring down at us. Well, it looked like John was in the friend-who-pissed-me-off stage right now with Mr. Holland so best get ahead of this. I leaned on my staff and took a breath; time to try make friendly with the big giant elemental who wouldn't like us burning down a chunk of the Bayou to get at the League of Costumed Terrorist Scum.
"Alex Holland, otherwise known as Swamp Thing, I have been asked by the United Nations Security Council and the State Department of the United States of America to request your aid in dealing with the notorious criminal Pamela Islay, otherwise known as Poison Ivy. As this individual wields the power of the Green we call upon the Parliament of Trees to either deal with this criminal, or to understand that the legally authorised forces in this region will take action to prevent her attacks upon the civilian population of the member states of the United Nations"
I'm pretty sure he was blinking at me, though that was pretty hard to tell with a big blobby mass of vines, earth, moss and other greenery before its gaze from me, to the others, and then to Constantine "Are you saying, very politely, that you plan to burn down our bayou?"
Okay honesty time then "Only if you and your lot don't do anything to deal with the crazy plant lady who says she's killing people in the name of the Green. In fairness we're asking you rather than just bombs away like many would prefer"
Constantine grinned "See, he's the very soul of diplomacy ain't Alex? Trained him meself I did"
A deep low rumbling echoed out from the massive elemental and a few of those present tensed till the reply eventually came "Mmmmmmmm...where do you find them John. But I shall help you, by the Will of the Parliment of Trees...best to encourage you to ask first as you say..."
The creature paused as we all turned to glanced at the large golden ankh that appeared in mid-air as a golden helmed man stepped through it with the bulkier form of Amanda Waller and some more armed soldiers just behind him. I'm sure Mr. Nelson would prefer to enjoy his continued retirement but we had promised to help him find his replacement (s) and had saved his life and house so time to call that favour in I figured Nabu was as straightforward, yet slightly dramatic, as ever with the voice of Doctor Fate filling the dark night's air around our merry band "Order will be restored"
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