Part 3
The night was clear, but the tension in the air was palpable. The newly reformed Justice Society of America, led by Courtney Whitmore, also known as Stargirl, was preparing for battle. Word had spread through their network that the Injustice Society — a collection of some of the most dangerous supervillains the world had ever known — was planning a full-scale attack on a government facility that housed a cache of advanced technology. They were aiming to steal and weaponize these tools, posing a direct threat to national security.
Jesse Quick had arrived separately from the rest of the team. The black symbiote that had bonded with her had fully consumed her traditional red-and-yellow suit. Now, her costume was a sleek, ominous black with swirling red accents, lightning crackling intermittently across her body in a mixture of red and black energy. Her face was more serious than usual, her once-bright and warm eyes now holding a colder, more calculating gaze. The symbiote had made her stronger, faster, and far more ruthless.
She crouched on a rooftop across from the meeting point, watching the warehouse where the Injustice Society was supposed to gather. Her breathing was steady, her mind focused, and the symbiote's whispers urged her to attack first, to strike before anyone else.
Below her, Courtney, Yolanda (Wildcat), Rick (Hourman), and Beth (Doctor Mid-Nite) arrived. As Jesse observed them from above, she felt a pang of something she couldn't quite name. Familiarity? Guilt? She shook it off.
"They hold you back. You're beyond them now." The symbiote's words slithered through her mind like venom.
Courtney looked around, holding her glowing staff aloft. "Where's Jesse? She said she'd be here."
Rick grumbled, crossing his arms. "She's been acting strange lately. Maybe she's dealing with something personal?"
Yolanda narrowed her eyes and scanned the rooftops. "No. She's here. I can feel it."
Jesse's figure appeared in a flash of black and red lightning before them, materializing faster than they could process. She stood up straight, her dark suit radiating power. Stargirl and the team immediately noticed the changes.
"Jesse?" Courtney's voice was laced with surprise and concern. "What happened to your suit? Are you okay?"
Jesse's cold eyes flickered over them briefly before landing on Courtney. "I'm fine. The suit's an upgrade," she said flatly, her voice lacking the warmth and friendliness they were used to. "Let's just get this over with."
Rick glanced at the others, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You don't sound fine."
Courtney stepped forward, holding her staff out as if trying to bridge the gap between them. "Jesse, you don't have to push us away. We're your friends. If something's going on—"
"I *said* I'm fine!" Jesse snapped, her voice harsher than intended. The black lightning crackled around her, flickering with raw energy. Her outburst left the team momentarily stunned.
Before Courtney could respond, the warehouse door creaked open, and shadows began to spill out into the street. The Injustice Society was arriving, and their leaders — Icicle, Tigress, Sportsmaster, and Shade — strode forward confidently, followed by a group of lackeys armed with stolen tech.
"Showtime," Jesse growled, her voice cold as ice.
The villains came into full view, and Icicle sneered at the sight of the JSA. "Ah, the Justice Society. And here I thought we'd have some real competition tonight."
Tigress, always eager for a fight, cracked her knuckles. "I've been looking forward to this."
Sportsmaster grinned, tossing a grenade-like device from hand to hand. "We'll see if they can keep up."
Stargirl, already in a battle stance, raised her staff. "JSA, let's move!"