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Chapter Six; Parsifal

"What about your plane?" I asked.

"Damaged," Wonder Woman said bitterly. "I was about to land when I sensed Parsifal's influence and decided to retreat... But they shot me out of the air. it's rather embarrassing. Anyway, the plane crashed somewhere on our right."

"Would it self repair?"

"We'll have to see, but the damage was great."

Sssss

We suddenly stopped on our tracks.

Hiii!!!

Before us a man in red costume... armor? and blue cape stood. "You...!" Wonder Woman gasped separating from me to stand on her own.

The man opened his mouth. "I see you remember me Wonder Woman. I am the one that shall kill you. I am the Red Tornado!"

Red whirlwind covered his lower body from the waist down and he rose to the air in an instance. Diana looked up at him with crisis on her face and said, "Greek becareful, his powers are not suppressed by Parsifal for some reason... If only he'll remember who he is!"

"You know this crackpot?" I asked. Yes of course I know who Red Tornado is, but I didn't know why he was against us, though I have an idea about it. Another reason I asked was to not appear like I know everything just because I came from an alternate dimension, so I appear less threatening to anyone that cares.

"He used to be one of us.. One of the JSA. But he betrayed us all."

"You people keep saying that!" Red Tornado gathered red mists in his hands. "Betrayal implies I was on your side from the beginning, but I was never!" He threw the tornado mists down at us.

We jumped away.

I dived to the side barely avoiding the fierce wind. It was funny how fast we get used to luxury. For a moment there I wanted to sit ducks and absorb the attack until I remembered my power is currently unreliable.

The blasts followed us, rising dust and leaves around the clearing. I scrambled away in desperation "Got a plan Greek?" Diana asked after I avoided a close one.

Boom! Boom! Boom!; Red Tornado kept attacking.

"I do. I you could knock him out of the air and hold him down for a minute, I can maybe subdue him."

"What are you going to do?" I understood the unsaid question; when you don't have powers. I thought of it. Could I tell her I know Red Tornado might have a failsafe in his heel? She'll wonder how I know no doubt.

"Just trust me Diana." I sighed. "By the way, this guy is a robot isn't it? You know anywhere his failsafe is located?"

"I don't."

"Then we have to depend on a little bit of luck then." That much was true.

"Then let's do this, you better not steer me wrong Greek!"

"I never realized a person could be this adoring while dishing out a threat."

She scoffed. "Let's make this quick,"

All that was said while we dodged large and small tornados.

Wonder Woman suddenly stabbed her sword to the ground. Next she pulled out her tiara from her hair, throwing it quickly at the android.

The projectile flew in the air.

Donk!

It struck the robot on the forehead making him stumble in the wind. Next Diana pulled out her lasso and flung it up at him; which caught him in the torso, hands and all, binding him completely. Finaly with a grunt, the amazon princess pulled him down to the ground.

I started running towards the princess. There was only a rough plan in my head. With a dose of inspiration, I grabbed her sword and sprinted at Red Tornado.

The android has lost control of his powers in that brief seconds following his fall and was just getting on his feet when I reached him. A strong wind quickly gathered around him, concentrated at his upper body as he predicted an attack on the area, but I instead slid down forward like I making a sliding tackle, swinging the sword behind me as I passed.

Miraculously I struck the back of his right heel. More miraculously he stumbled forward falling on his face. He didn't seem to be getting up but I rose quickly either way and struck him repeatedly on each heel. Finally I roared and fell on my knees in exhaustion. Damn without my power I was out of shape. I looked at the robot.

Red Tornado didn't stir. I guessed it worked. That's the power of knowledge you dunce! The only reason you'd defeat me despite your powers and my lack thereof, is if I hadn't read enough comics.

Wonder Woman walked over. "Well, that was easier than I thought." She said. "Greek you are quiet amazing aren't you? You keep surprising me at every turn. Are you perhaps a god?"

"What are you saying? We just make a good pair."

"So I am the brain and you are the muscle."

I rolled my eyes in disdain as I rose to my feet. "Here, have your sword Ms brain. You'd still be fighting him if it weren't for my plan, but somehow you are the smarter one of us."

"That was contemptuous," Wonder Woman received the sword and sheathed it on her back. "One would think I am the one that always growls and grunts like an animal, but I guess it does not matter. What do you say we get out of here?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Good, I make the plan, you follow like a good lackey."

I grinned. "You are surprisingly childish."

Diana laughed. "Oh the innocence of youth."

Talking together we started walking away from the scene. It occurred to me that what we were doing was foolish. We were unnecessarily broadcasting our position to the enemy. But like foolish teenagers out on a date, we didn't really care. Except we weren't on a date were we? This was a battlefield, plus I was not ready to ask her out yet.

Still like all foolishness our talking bore an unwanted fruit. Gunmen suddenly appeared from the groves, trees and shadows ahead like silent ninjas, completely blocking our way. This men all wore civilian cloths but seemed well trained. Probably German elites undercover in the US, with the way they carried themselves. So assured and solemn; a dozen or so rifles pointed at us.

A man stepped in front of the group. He was middle aged and wore a brown trench coat, hat and glasses. On his hand was a revolver casually pointed at us. "Parsifal," Diana said coldly.

The man glanced at Red Tornado laying on the ground and clicked his teeth. "Useless!" He spat in accented English. "I'd have thought a person... Even a machine with powers will be enough to take care of two depowered mystery men. This thing turned out to be a sparkling plastic after all, it's infuriating! Ah..., whichever, your road ends here Wonder Woman."

"I have heard that said to me more than once," Diana replied tensely. "Here I am still standing."

"You are an impressive woman aren't you? But this is different, I have you just where I want you."

I looked at their exchange feeling some distance from this place as if it was not part of me. Parsifal is right, I decided, this is check mate; we are both depowered and the gun men are just too many. I glanced at Diana, despite what she was saying I could feel her tension. Alas she was just buying time. I took a deep breath. Do I have to die, for her to live?

What did the captain say? He said I was overcommitted. Till this day I don't know why that's a problem on a soldier. It was true though, I love fighting, I love risks_ in fact I thrive in situations like this. One could say I am overeager and unpredictable, after all I have personality disorder. I made peace with that a long time ago.

Parsifal was still talking. "You know, I had warned you in England, come to our side, it's not your fight, in factvyou could even stay neutral; go back to your island and Der fuhrer will repay you. Yet you were too caught up staging yourself as some kind of savior; a servant while you could have been a god!"

"I think we have different definition of the word," Diana replied. "What's a god to you Parsifal?"

"The one that decides who dies and who lives."

"That makes me one," I quipped. Then I charged towards the Nazis.

"James no!" Wonder Woman screamed.

Parsifal fired the gun. I stumbled as a bullet lodged into my forehead. My eyes were wide open. "No!" Diana threw her sword stabbing Parsifal on the chest. He fell before I did. His men were stuck in confusion for a moment then they started firing.

Diana pulled me to the ground behind her and crouched in front of me holding her shield up to block the gun shots. Everything felt distant.

I lay on my back and stared at the starry sky and the moon. So this is how far I go, I thought sadly. I haven't done anything yet in this universe... How pathetic. The fighting stopped at some time. I didn't know whether we won or not..., My consciousness started fading.

~~~~

Ku...

"Brave man you have there Diana,"

"Gundra, you'll not lay a hand on him."

"I am Gundra the Valkyrie, Gundra the shield maiden, you'll not tell me what I shall or shall not. In years past, meeting me is akin to death itself for I am the herder of souls. But today, I think death will be a waste on a man like this. He should live yet, one day I'll welcome such warrior to the gates of Valhalla. Until then, you keep him from such reckless act."

Wwwwoo!!!

BAAM!

I heard a crack followed by a hiss then something hit me on the chest.

"Farewell Diana, I'll take the Red Tornado with me, do not try to stop me."

"Thank you,"

"I didn't do it for you."

Ssshh~~~

Hu?

I opened my eyes and immediately sat up. I almost screamed in fright, turning to the side to see someone so close to me. Diana's face stopped inches before my face. She smirked. "Did I startle you?" She said, amusement glittering in her eyes.

"Fuck!" I ran my hand through my body. I was wearing the tactical suit minus the face gear because I didn't want to ruin my cloths in a fight. Nothing like bullets should so much as scratch me but a big hole was on my chest. I touched it. "What happened?"

"Gundra, she seemed to have taking a liking to you."

Those voices wasn't a dream? I rose to my feet. "I hope you don't mind polygamy," I said.

"I don't, though I always took you for the jealous kind. You really wouldn't mind if I court another man?

"Ha ha ha, very funny Wonder Woman." I turned to look at where Parsifal lay dead. His eyes staring at the sky wide eyed, a sword sticking from his chest. I was in a similar predicament just a minute ago. I touched my forehead and grinned. "Alive again, seems like I am writing my legend as go. What's next, I might be fighting aliens."

Diana smiled and rose to her feet. "You are surprisingly childish."

"The innocence of youth." I said.

Diana stared at me silently. There was a fire in her eyes I didn't understand. Now I am getting nervous. Finally she sighed as if resigned and looked at everything. All the corpses scattered around. She draped Parsifal's body on her shoulder then turned to me. "What do you say we get out of here?"

The invisible plane turned out to be in better condition than we thought but it still was not done self repairing. At Diana's direction I poured energy into it speeding up the process. Then we were in the air soon enough. To go meet the All Star Squadron.

The invisible plane eased to a stop.

I walked out followed by Diana. We were on a roof top. Wonder Woman picked Parsifal's body and walked towards a hatch door. We came into a bright hallway. Wonder Woman led the way navigation the hallways. The place was huge, we went past many doors and intersections. There were paintings hung on the walls too.

At last we came into a ballroom where everyone was. An assemble of bright colors and gaudy costumes. It was like an Halloween party only brighter. I spotted familiar profiles everywhere, inks in comic books come to live. It was all surreal to be honest.

Hawkman_ a shirtless guy with brown wings on his back_ The Flash, Hourman, Dr Fate, Sandman, Phantom Lady, Wildcat, Atom, and Mister Terrific recognizable by the fair play writing on his jacket. Then Starman and Commander Steel, the later who was wearing his arrowverse costume. I have thought of it more than once, but It was strange that I recognized most of them. It should have been difficult for me but somehow I could easily link them to their comic counterpart.

More I saw Green Lantern, Liberty Belle_ hu, my favorite All Star!_ Is that Uncle Sam and his freedom fighters in the corner? A group which consists of Ray, Firebrand, Black Condor and Human Bomb. The original versions of course. They was also a few I didn't know among the heroes.

But seriously they were too many of them that the gathering didn't look like a meeting of the squadron but a party. The fact that waiters went about serving food and drinks didn't help. Mystery men were eating and drinking and chatting amicably.

"What are you doing with that?" Hawkman stopped us at the door. "God is that what I think I am seeing?"

"Get out of my way Hawkman," Diana said. "It's important."

"But is it urgent?"

"...probably not,"

"Then please let it be for now. Let them enjoy the party, after the speech we can talk more darker subjects."

Diana looked into the hall where the others were enjoying themselves and nodded reluctantly. "I understand."

She placed the corpses just outside the door in a sitting position. She was still trying to steady it when I entered the room. Shit, I felt a little under dressed especially with my tatical jacket torn on the chest.

Hmm..

There was all kind of food in the buffet; from salad to sea food, to snacks and drinks heaped on the tables. I wasn't hungry but I spotted pizza and didn't know when my legs took me there. I picked a plate and loaded it full with the crowd favorite food then picked a can of coke and walked to a two sitter sofa with an empty spot.

Sandman was sitting at the other end of the sofa with his legs crossed. He nodded at me curtly, I nodded back. Beside that I paid him no mind, I stared eating slowly, taking my time to enjoy the food. Wonder Woman soon returned into the room and was quickly swallowed in the crowd. When I was half way into my meal...

"Mind if I sit?" A voice said. I looked up to see the Flash grinning down at me. I realized that Sandman was gone. My mouth was full so I only shrugged. Flash sat at the other side of the sofa. "I still haven't thanked you enough for saving me." He said.

I shrugged again and continued eating. What does he want me to say? Really I wasn't interested in talking at the moment.

Flash hesitated seeing my reaction. "Wonder Woman have been talking a lot about you, she says you are a really great guy. Now most people are curious about you."

"Just because she talked about me?"

"Yeah, since she sacrificed her life to save the world most treat her like she's a god or something."

"Sacrificed her life?"

"You know, the return of the gods thing?"

I had no idea what he was saying. What reality am I? Fuck, I am really lost aren't I? Or maybe I didn't read enough comics. Just then we heard a clear voice. "Hello," we turned to see Hawkman standing on a podium at the head of the room. Behind him stood Hourman and Wildcat.

"Leaders of the JSA," Flash whispered. "Green Lantern and me stepped down from leadership position earlier this year. You'd think we'll be replaced by better people. But Hawkman and Hourman love power." He shrugged. "Wildcat doesn't have the tolerance for it I guess_ that was why they wanted him as the third, less competition and all."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked. "It might get back to them."

"Oh let it get back to them, it has to be said. Diana is too kind to do it, Green Lantern is too cautious; Starman and Obsidian are just as power hungry. The JSA is a mess to be honest..."

Interesting. "What about Fate?"

"Half mad, half insane; human vs helmet and all, who knows how that's gonna end?" Flash scoffed derisively. "And Mister Terrific? He says fair play but don't cross that guy, he's a real dick. Atom is okay I guess but he's too narcissistic and self centered to make a difference."

On the podium Hawkman continued. "It's with gratitude and honor that I welcome you all to the first official meeting of the All Star Squadron!"

"See him talk like we are gathered here for him." Flash scoffed.

"Of course the president met with some of us, but that was no meeting but a decree. Bearing that in mind, today we'll like to discuss a couple of topics that'll cover how the Squadron is run, the topic will range from structure, leadership and duty. 'Coughs' Let's begin with duty.

"According to article x by the US president, the purpose of the All Star Squadron is to keep the peace on the home front. Banding up all mystery men across the states to one great team."

"Ugr, here he goes."

"The Squadron's duty is at home. We can in no uncertain term cross to the axis controlled region least we fall under the influence of the spear of destiny. Our purpose is here; protecting the citizens from Nazi saboteurs, Nazi mystery men and the every day hooligan.

That's our duty. And for that as chairman of the JSA I'll implore everyone to do their best. Next for the structure, I'll step back and let Hourman explain." A round of applause followed him as he stepped back.

Hourman stepped forward in his black and orange costume, black cowl and eye mask; he looked like a dark knight. "Good evening ladies and gentleman of the All Star Squadron. I'm Hourman, vice chairman of the JSA."

Another long speech begun.

THAT'S THE CHAPTER.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

ENJOY YOUR DAY.

Also I have marvel fanfic in production. Don't know if I'll post another of this one or that one first. ANYHOW, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.