[14th November 2010]
[Watchtower, Low Earth Orbit]
Green Lantern Guy Gardner evidently liked to wear sleeve shirts in this reality, go figure. Still getting a hold of him had been the first priority of the day, then explaining the situation, before we immediately went off to get Batman and ensure he hadn't be infested by any of the body snatching starfish-things called Starro. I'd have liked to ensure the safety of my friends first; but we were running on borrowed time here, especially once Gardner had accessed the Lantern Corps data on Starro the Conqueror. That and they were all currently in Mount Justice with Red Tornado, other than Zatanna and Artemis who'd been at the Magical Conference, so the danger relative compared to the Justice League was...less.
"And dat's another one clear!" Gardener announced, ring glowing brightly as the red-clad form of the Flash stepped through the Zeta Tube. With him now in front of me, and clean, that meant the entirety of the Justice League was now present except Red Tornado; I let out a relieved sigh as the speedster looked around in confusion.
"Am in the wrong meeting room or something? Or are we having a tour, because I love tours..."
Batman's usual cold and stoic growl cut across the bemused tone as I stood quietly to the side of Gardner, and apart from the Justice League members "Flash, there is a crisis and they are here to help with the matter. Fortune in his role as liaison from his organisation, and Lantern Gardner to ensure that none of us have been infected"
"By what? The Flu? I..."
"Flash sit down, we have much to discuss and little time" Hawkwoman stated commandingly as she and her husband took a seat at the rather large table to my right. All the other League members were doing the same, while Batman activated some fancy holographic computer screen with the handheld pad he'd copied the data I'd supplied unto.
No computers allowed up here, though I had hidden my telephone and other defences in my bags of holding and beneath the polymorph. Full combat gear had been the order of the day when the potential for even one of the League members to have been infested. Thankfully it wasn't needed as Batman began talking as maps appeared on the screen as myself and Lantern Gardner was motioned to sit at some free spaces at the table; I got the Hawks to my right, and Black Canary and Green Arrow to my left.
"Five hours Lex Luthor approached the United States Government, and they, in turn, approached the British and Irish Governments SHIELD organisation, in regards the appearance of this organism, confirmed as Starro the Star Conqueror by Lantern Gardner here. It is a starfish-shaped parasite that assumes absolute control of the body of anyone, and any animal large enough to sustain it, that it manages to make contact with. Luthor claims that it was inadvertently discovered when teams of LexCorp security, and mercenaries in his employ, were planning assaults upon the League of Shadows and came across these incidents..."
The images of the various locations, of several explosions and what looked like running battles, that are dated during the night of the insane ice-fortress attack. Soon followed by the images of the starfish-shaped creatures on the inside of buildings, on animals, and disturbingly on even a few children "They are in multiple locations, and this appears to be an infected Sportsmaster; further supporting Luthor's assertion of his continuing feud with Ra's Al Ghul seen during the Rhealasian conference. From the brief evidence, I would speculate that the League of Shadows managed to steal what Star Labs was calling the Echinoderm specimen from containment in its Gotham facility during the night of the vanishing. Then at some point after being captured the organism became active again and took control of Sportsmaster and whatever allies he possessed"
Superman was unhappy it seemed "Luthor Batman? Are we sure he isn't involved somehow? Or isn't trying to manipulate us into something rash?"
Batman nodded at Guy Gardner "Lantern Gardner?"
"Oh the damned things are real, and me ring ah green might here scanned an' there's a lot of these things in Bludhaven and edgin' inta Gotham. Just like what old baldy from Metropolis told magic-man over there, and all mates a while ago. Can't say if he's involved but the threats the real deal and needs to be dealt with A S A P or that little starfish will have a whole lot of big starfish lookin' ah conquer the universe again. Took the Corps to take'm down the last time and as awesome as I am there's only one of me here at the moment. I've sent word to Oa but we're gonna be on our own till they can get together a force ta kick the asses of this little mind controllin' starfish wimps"
Batman nodded as Gardner fell silent and lounged back into the chair "Which us into a significant issue; the Justice League cannot deploy to this, or at least without significant investment to ensure none of us are compromised. In cooperation with Red Tornado I have locked down the Zeta Tube network and handed over total control to him as, due to his non-organic nature, he should be immune to the effects of the organism..." he glanced at me "...Mr. Fortune if you please?"
I took a breath, then spoke despite the unease inside "As the official liaison from the Supernatural Hazards Investigation, Enforcement and Legislative Division I'm formally requesting that the members of the Justice League not get involved of any rescue efforts and to remain in a secure facility of your choosing unless absolutely critical. This request is also on behalf of the Irish, British, and American governments and will be amongst the recommendations currently being put before the Secretary-General of the United Nations"
"You expect us to do nothing with the world in danger?" Wonder Woman almost snapped at me, but to my surprise Hawkman voiced his disagreement while studying something on a data-slate before him.
"No, it is a logical course of action..." he looked up and then across his wife at me "...they are afraid we will be used as a more effective means of spreading the creature, or it will use our knowledge to bypass critical systems in what I assume will be a quarantine effort?"
"Essentially yes, if Flash or Kid Flash for instance was infested then hundreds could be infested by them in moments..." I nodded at the red clad speedster and then at Superman "...Superman could literally destroy cities or every defence installation within hundreds of miles before we could react. Every one of you have extraordinary power and ability...and this thing ignores willpower and assumes direct control of body and mind. Magic might protect minds, but there are no guarantees..." I sighed wearily "...and if it co-opts the Justice League then its game over for the Earth and humanity. It's the risk...we could lose divisions of troops, cities even, but not such concentrated power and knowledge"
I looked around at the faces at the table "I'm included in that by the way, as well as most competent mages, or Doctor Fate..." I caught the unhappy face of Giovanni Zatara "...can you imagine the knowledge of John Constantine in the hands of a creature that wouldn't care of the costs to any innocents? I can, and it's terrifying frankly"
His eyes widened and then hissed softly "God above...yes, the danger of such occurring. It truly can access the knowledge of those it controls?"
I looked to Lantern Gardner who held up his ring which glowed ever so faintly "Eyup, these things conquered thousands of worlds in the past and everythin' the sentients it enslaves it gets control and knowledge of. Its a hive mind ah sorts, and no idea if this young blank one or one that'll start tryin' to build spaceships if it gets enough folk taken over"
Captain Atom looked calm as he tapped his fingers off the table "You're speaking of implementing quarantine with the US military across the continental United States, the Canadians too?"
"No, we are going to request a planet wide quarantine effort and mobilisation to fight it..." I stated calmer than I felt right now. I looked towards Aquaman "...it's an aquatic life-form and its seaborne as best we can tell in the brief scan Lantern Gardner made in Bludhaven. Atlantis is in the firing line as it can control sea-life, and every coast is in danger now. Till we can get scanners across the globe we have no idea how far this thing has already spread in the week or so since it's been free and growing. The very basics are that we need to lockdown everything that'll allow the creature to make sudden expansions like teleportation, flight, and all other such means. To fight this SHIELD wants the United Nations to be more than just a talking shop, and the Justice League can help convince them of the seriousness of this; this is a potential extinction level for humanity. Lantern?"
"Eyup, these little things wiped out plenty of more advanced folks than us in the past. Ah can help get scanners of sorts drawn up, and chemicals and stuff that hurt the things, but this ain't goin' to be easy just because it looks like an itty bitty fishy"
The King of Atlantis gave a forceful nod "I'll order the mobilisation of the entire Atlantean military as soon as we finish here and have them coordinate efforts with the surface world's militaries. The children allowed to return to your magical conclave?"
"They should be safe there; we'd already secured the area around it for the event. Honestly it's one of the more secure areas on planet right now. If you wish them to relocate just tell us and we'll organise secure transportation immediately..." I answered honestly "...also, while I'm here..."
I glanced at the Hawks, then over at Martian Manhunter "SHIELD, and all three governments, are going to recommend to the United Nations that the governments of your worlds be informed of the danger and that Earth will impose a self-quarantine upon itself to combat the threat. On my own behalf I'm asking you to contact your worlds and inform them of the situation here...we...don't want the first warning they have is when those present here return home with holds full of mind-controlling hive minded starfish"
"Indeed, I see your organisation has a plan of sorts drawn up for such an event?"
Well Hawkwoman had been reading whatever Batman had sent around intently and I nodded as the table began to bubble with whisper between the Justice League members "It's not ideal, in fact it's an amalgamation of one against mind-controlling spirits or demons with an old CDC plan for combating a worldwide pandemic. This wasn't part of our organisational remit and we're proposing this as the best stop-gap till a more effective solution can be found. It is just we need to secure Belle Reve for instance, and ensure independent heroes such as Icon for instance, remain clean as well"
As I fell silent Batman raised his voice slightly "I have arranged a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in one hour and six minutes. A proposal is on the table and we will discuss and formulate a response within the next forty-two minutes. Mr. Fortune, Lantern Gardner, if you could please remain to confirm certain details as necessary?"
'What? I'm on your space station so can't really go far?' I thought in dark amusement but gave a nod and remained silent as the Justice League members basically started talking all at once...
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