Part VI

The Watchtower's conference hall had no windows. It had light panels designed to look like windows. But, its high cathedral-like ceiling and enormous holographic monitor screens gave it a spacious, airy feel just the same.

Shazam smirked to himself as he stared around the impressive metallic chamber, feeling an itchy urge to fly up and touch the polished ceiling – press his hands against the shiny, textured surface. He wouldn't do it, not with the biggest big shots of the Justice League staring at him. But, knowing he could…knowing his powers and strengths were on par with, if not greater than, many of the seasoned heroes seated at the round table in front of him – and that they knew it too, that they liked him, wanted him on their team…!

It had been about three months since he'd gotten his powers – three months of transitioning between being Billy Batson and the superhero Shazam – and it still felt surreal to stand among adults, look them in the eye, and realize they saw him as one of them. That weird feeling was even stronger here, where he stood, not just as a grown-up among grown-ups, but as a superhero among superheroes.

But it was a good weird. An amazing weird. After all, if anyone understood about secret identities – and the importance of keeping them secret – it had to be this group. If they didn't ask…and even if they did… There was no law saying he had to answer. He didn't have to tell them the big, broad-chested guy they were interviewing for membership in their League was basically the same age as Robin, if not a year or two younger…

And why should he? Here, in this place, with these people, he could be the adult hero he appeared to be. This powerful grown-up body…it wasn't a lie, it wasn't a game, it wasn't a costume he put on after school. He really was Shazam, and if Shazam belonged anywhere, it had to be here with these incredible heroes.

"Then, you are saying you are that wizard's heir," J'onn J'onzz spoke from the center of the group. Wonder Woman and Superman sat to his right; Green Lantern, Batman and the Flash to his left. "That, when he died, he transferred not only his powers to you, but his name as well."

"I guess, yeah. That's pretty much how it went down," Shazam said.

"And there is nothing more you can tell us about your background?" Wonder Woman said, her direct stare making him fidget a little. "I understand you are this wizard's chosen champion. But who were you before? Were you his student? Are you a being of magic? Perhaps, a wizard yourself?"

Shazam's expression tightened awkwardly.

"Hey," he said, opening his arms. "I am what you see, OK? Right here, right now, this is me. I told you all the important stuff about how I got this gig. If you want more, I—"

"It's enough," Batman said, and placed Billy's phone on the table. "It's not for us to pry into your private identity. If you have one."

Shazam blinked at him and accepted his phone back with a broad smile.

"Cool, man. Thanks. I knew you'd understand. So, then, like, apart from secret identity stuff… Are there any more questions? Or, anything more you'd like to tell me?"

"What would you like to know?" Green Lantern asked, his glowing eyes casting a greenish aura over his dark face.

"Well," Shazam said, "I know the Justice League is, like, the ultimate superhero team, right? It's like a team of teams. I have a team too. And I was wondering, like… If I accept your invitation and join my team to the League… Will they get to train here too? I mean, will they get to say they're part of the Justice League?"

"I don't see why not," Flash spoke quickly, oblivious to the looks of consternation crossing some of his teammates' faces. "I mean, we've been holding out membership to Nightwing for years now. He's the one who decided not to accept. Why not offer the same to the Shazamily? Isn't that what that article in the Planet called them?" He smirked at Superman. "With Shazam, here, as their senior rep, of course."

"This can be discussed in private," Wonder Woman said, shooting Flash a dark look.

"What?" he said. "Oh, come on! What did I say this time?"

Martian Manhunter frowned, and turned his glowing gaze to Shazam.

"As you said, you are new to the role you have assumed," he spoke in his low, solemn voice. "Before any decision is made on your end or ours, I'd like to ask you what we ask every candidate. Why do you want to join the Justice League?"

Shazam glanced around the table and furrowed his brow.

"First of all, I didn't apply for this," he said, unconsciously rising to hover a few inches above the floor. "You guys invited me, and I came. I have plenty of responsibilities of my own back home without taking on all this too. That's not to say I'm not proud to be here. I am! But…"

He shook his head and sank back down, his white-gold cape shimmering in the artificial light.

"This all came on so suddenly," he admitted, speaking more as Billy Batson than Shazam. "At first, I wasn't even sure I wanted to be a superhero…if I could even do it. My whole life, I'd learned the hard way, when trouble comes you keep your head down, you walk away, you never get involved… That's how you survive. When the wizard…when he said he'd chosen me… I was pretty much convinced there had to have been some mistake. I mean, I kept messing up, showing off, running away. Even when that Sivana guy showed up, I tried to convince myself it wasn't my problem, that it wasn't my job to face him. But, the more I tried to avoid it all, the more I realized I couldn't. I had to accept and use what I'd been given the right way, and that's what I've been trying to do ever since. But somehow… Even now I feel…I'm not quite there. That something's missing. It's like, I want to do what's right, but sometimes that takes more than just, like, super strength and lightning bolts, you know? It takes wisdom. Perspective. I guess I feel, if I got the chance to work with you, to learn from you and take that experience back with me… Yeah." Shazam straightened his posture and faced the League leaders straight on. "That's why I'd like to join the Justice League. It's because I'm so new to all of this. Plus, you know… My Family and I… 'Shazamily'…" He smiled a little. "If we're going to be facing down supervillains as, like, a regular thing now, we can use all the super-friends we can get."

Shazam hadn't meant to go full-confession, but his heartfelt words seemed to impress the group. Flash and Superman smiled, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern shared a significant look. Wonder Woman seemed thoughtful, and Batman pressed his gloved fingers to his lips.

"Well said," the Martian intoned. "And you're right, we did reach out to you."

"We formed this League for reasons very similar to those you just stated," Green Lantern said. "The line of work we're in…it can be pretty thankless at times. You gotta have friends to keep you honest. To motivate you to be at your best, no matter the setbacks."

"Lantern's right," Superman said. "We started this team, not just so the people of this world would have someone to call on in times of need, but so that we would as well."

"Yeah, what they said. I mean, we're all human," Flash said, then glanced around the table, noting J'onn and Superman. "Well, most of us. And, as much as we might want to do good, sometimes the pressure can get to be a bit much. I'm not just talking about the bad guys. I'm talking the cameras in your face, all the time. Reporters always running up to you with their questions… No offence, man," he said to Superman.

"No, that's fair enough," Superman said, and turned to Shazam. "There's a lot more to joining the Justice League than gaining access to the latest in tech and combat training. I remember how it was for me starting out. The excitement, the thrill of helping people - that never gets old. But, after a while, doing this job…"

His jaw tightened and he folded his hands on the table.

"It can be isolating and draining carrying the hopes of so many people," he confessed. "We all give so much of ourselves. Sometimes, perhaps more than we should…" He shared a deep look with Batman and Green Lantern. "But, living under the jaded stare of the paparazzi, the pundits just waiting for you to make a mistake so they can twist it and turn the people against you... At times, it's only natural to fear you may snap under the pressure. When that happens…" He opened his arms to the gathered heroes. "We're here. If you ever need to talk, or just punch something really hard… We're the ones who get it."

Shazam nodded. "Yeah..." he said. "Yeah, thanks. I appreciate that. And I understand. I used to be, like, the world's biggest loner, you know? I couldn't wait to grow up and be on my own, no rules, no social workers... But now I've got this dope family and, it's like, that's where our strength really is. Because we know we have each other's backs. That we can trust each other."

Flash nudged Batman's arm. "See, bro? The guy totally gets it," he said.

Batman grunted. The rest of the gathered heroes smiled…except for Wonder Woman.

"You OK, Princess?" Green Lantern asked.

"Diana?" Batman said, frowning at her pensive face. "Anything you want to add?"

The powerful Amazon rose from her musings with a shudder and quickly shook her head.

"No," she said. "I think we're ready."

J'onn nodded and fixed his gaze on Shazam. "Very well. If you wouldn't mind waiting outside?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure," Shazam said, his golden boots clacking as he moved toward the sliding door. "I'll just… Is out here OK?"

"Just wait for us in the antechamber," Batman said, watching until the door closed behind his white-gold cape.

Wonder Woman breathed a long sigh and frowned, her eyes narrowed in thought.

"He's gone. What have you been holding back?" Batman demanded.

Wonder Woman frowned at him.

"It's that man," she said. "From the moment he walked in this room, I felt… A presence…a power I haven't felt since I left Themyscira. The power of the gods! Brave Heracles...mighty Zeus...swift Hermes..." She raised her head. "That man is not what he appears. There is more there than the eye can tell."

"Wait…are you saying Shazam is one of the gods?" Flash asked, his masked eyes wide. "Like, from Mount Olympus? Then, what was all that wizard talk? Is he, like, in 'mortal disguise or something?"

"No," she said. "I don't believe that's it. But the power of the gods channels through him, I'm sure of it. Whether it's wizardry or not, if this Shazam is, indeed, favored by the Olympians and imbued with their strengths, I for one would want him on my team."

"Well, I guess you would know," Flash said. "Hey, maybe we should call him in again. Ask if there's anything to all this god stuff!"

"No need," Batman said in his best detective voice. "Shazam is not merely a name. It's an acronym, spelling out the bearer's attributes. Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury – Wisdom, Strength, Stamina, Power, Courage, Speed. Diana is right."

"Acronym. Yeah," Flash said. "And you figured this out...how?"

"Because I—"

"Because you're Batman. Whatever. You can spare me the details," Flash spoke over him, and shook his head.

Martian Manhunter folded his hands on the table. "Shazam may have answered our questions," he said. "But, he told us very little."

"He has secrets," Green Lantern agreed. "But, so do we all. It's not our place to pry into another's secret identity. Not unless we want to lose our own private lives."

"Good point," Flash said, making sure his mask was firmly in place.

Superman glanced around at his friends.

"Look," he said, "Shazam came here on my recommendation. I think we can all agree he's been at least as upfront and truthful with us as we've been with him. The question now should be, what do we think of him - as a man, and as a hero? Will Shazam and his team be a good addition to the League?"

A beat of silence followed the question as the members shared long glances.

"He's...sunny," Batman said, and his stern lips almost cracked a smile. "A bigger boy scout even than you, Clark. If that's possible."

"I like him," Flash offered. "The guy's a little immature, maybe. But, like he said, he's still pretty new to all this."

"It's true the man is affable," J'onzz said. "And I agree, he seems to have a good heart. But, it takes more than affability and good intentions to serve in the Justice League."

"He seeks our guidance," Wonder Woman pointed out. "An open mind, with powers such as his, should not lightly be turned away."

"I agree," Superman said. "Naive as he seems... I sense a deep hopefulness there. A refreshing eagerness to learn and to grow. To do some real good in this world. I think he has what it takes to make it in the Justice League."

"Then, we should take a vote," Batman said somberly. "All in favor of extending full League membership to Shazam, say 'aye'."

To Be Continued…


References Include - Shazam! (movie); Shazam! Volume 1, by Geoff Johns; Justice League: Secret Origins, Paradise Lost; Justice League Unlimited: Clash; Batman The Brave and the Bold: The Power of Shazam; Justice League: War; Shazam: Power of Hope, by Paul Dini; Shazam! The Deluxe Junior Novel, by Calliope Glass; HISHE: Super Cafe; Day of Vengeance #3 of 6: A Hot Night in Budapest, by Bill Willingham.

Thanks very much for reading and for your encouraging review! Your comments really help keep me going, especially when evil migraines strike. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned for more, coming soon! :D