"Allies" Part Two
Central City “So, here we are, battling against a multi-tentacled alien from another dimension that just happens to have found a convenient portal here in the oven of a bagel shop.” Plastic Man surveyed the battle scene. Three tentacles were wrapped tightly around the Martian Manhunter’s throat and wrists, attempting to pull him into the oven. Wonder Woman had another six in her lasso, but couldn’t get enough purchase on the ground to pull them out as others were making her kick out to keep them at bay. Green Lantern was struggling to concentrate enough to create a containment construct, as he was laughing too much at what was happening. Of course, the two tentacles that had got under his radar weren’t helping as they tickled under his armpits. “And they say I’m weird,” Plastic Man sighed. Washington D.C. The juggernaut carrying the ten members of The Redressers made its way slowly across town, flanked on three sides by a police and army motorcade. “Listen, Patriot,” Quickening began. “I’m sure I speak for a few of us when I say that I’m still not keen on being probed by these scientists.” “Vivisectors would probably more accurate,” Behemoth growled from his position in the corner. “Call it what you will,” Patriot replied, “but we discussed this before and agreed that it was the right thing to do.” “I still think…” “We took a vote on it, Quickening,” Patriot snapped, cutting off his teammate. “We voted and then discussed it and then voted again until we were all agreed. It’s the only way.” “You argued until we all backed down, you mean,” Quickening shouted. Patriot stood up slowly, grabbing hold of a leather strap that hung from the ceiling of the van to steady himself. “From day one we said that we would do this together or not at all,” he began, looking around at all of the team members. “We all had to be one hundred percent behind any decisions before we continued, right?” One by one the others nodded. Quickening reluctantly did too. “We know that we can never be accepted if we don’t undergo tests,” Patriot continued. “We have to be up front with these people at all times, or we might as well quit now.” “Too late for that,” Behemoth grumbled. “Is it?” Patriot asked. “So you’re saying that with the powers we all have we couldn’t break out of this tin bus? That you couldn’t rip it to shreds with your bare hands or that Sleight couldn’t create a spell that could melt the sides and let us out?” Patriot waited for a few seconds before continuing. As he had thought, no one answered. “If anyone wants out now, they can go,” he continued. “But I believe that if anyone does go, then this team is at an end.” Silence again. “Any takers?” he asked, looking over at Behemoth who stared down at the floor. “Behemoth?” “I’m cool,” Behemoth replied, not looking up. “Quickening?” Patriot asked, turning to the one who had started the conversation. “I’m in,” Quickening replied, looking up at Patriot. Their eyes locked for a few moments amid the silence. Two men who were once good friends, and now were colleagues that worked together for the common good. Somewhere along the way, their friendship had faltered, but they still trusted each other and believed in each other. “Good,” Patriot said quietly, and with that he returned to his seat. Superman landed gracefully on the top of parking garage and surveyed the scene. After a few seconds he switched to using x-ray vision and then completed another sweep, walking slowly as he did so. Finally, he tried microscopic vision, checking out every crack in the ground. “Okay,” he said finally. “I give up.” The door of a green sedan opened and Superman casually turned around, just in time to see one of Batman’s feet stepping out of the vehicle and onto the ground. “How in God’s name did…?” “You obviously didn’t look hard enough,” Batman said as he emerged from the car and closed the door behind him. “I beg to differ,” Superman said. “You could be right,” Batman conceded as he approached the man of steel. “Perhaps you were looking too hard.” “Meaning?” “Meaning perhaps you’re so obsessed with looking so deeply for an answer that when one presents itself to you on a plate you ignore it.” Batman stopped just a few feet away from Superman, who he could see was pondering his last statement; carefully contemplating his next reply. “You were hiding in a car,” Superman said. “It wasn’t as if you were going to kill me.” Batman looked at him and smiled. Superman looked startled. “Who knows?” Batman said, his face returning to its usual stern, impenetrable look. “I might have been. Or indeed, it might not have been me.” “Enough!” Superman barked. “We need to discuss a few things.” “The Redressers,” Batman said softly. “Yes, I am concerned about them.” Superman glared at him. “We are concerned about them,” he said firmly. Batman ignored him. “They could be a potential threat,” he said. “However, they have given themselves up for testing. That’s a plus point.” “I don’t know,” Superman sighed. “As I said earlier, we’ve seen it all before.” “The Hyperclan,” Batman agreed. “Highly unlikely that they are White Martians.” “How so?” Superman asked. “They’re still under surveillance,” Batman replied. “Oracle has tabs on them all, and they’re all accounted for.” “The rogue awakening notwithstanding,” Superman said. “Yes,” Batman replied with a smile. “The one who thought he was Bruce Wayne. Heh.” “Could they have another invasion force?” “Unlikely,” Batman said. “J’onn accounted for them all when the mental suggestions were imprinted. There were no others.” “Which eliminates one possibility,” Superman said. “But leaves far too many others that are probable,” Batman added. “Are they being taken to S.T.A.R. labs?” Superman nodded. “How long will they be tested for?” “A day or so,” Superman replied. “Could be a week. I’ve been told it’ll take as long as it takes.” “Not sure I can wait that long,” Batman said softly. “Meaning?” Batman turned to Superman. Their eyes locked for a second or two and then Batman turned away. In that instant, Superman knew. “Be careful,” Superman said. “I have to know, Clark,” Batman said, as he set out for the roof. In one deft movement, Batman leapt high into the air, crossing over the edge of the roof and landing in the Batplane cockpit. He grabbed the controls and flicked a switch, turning off the autopilot as the cockpit roof closed over his head. S.T.A.R. Labs One by one, the ten members of The Redressers were led into separate anti-chambers, where they awaited one of four designated teams of scientists who were going to run the full gamut of tests on them. For some, it gave time for quiet contemplation; a time to think about what had happened so far and what might happen now that they have revealed themselves to the world. Others were angry, desperately unhappy that someone would be prodding and probing them, and taking blood and skin samples from them. For one of them, the woman known as Sleight, fear took hold. She sat alone on a chair in the corner of her room and thought to herself. She was nervous that the scientists might be like others she had met in the past; skeptical people, with a fear of the unusual and a hatred for things different. Her mind wandered back to the days when she was younger, and her powers first manifested themselves. As a child she had no idea what was happening, especially when one minute she was being teased by other children, and the next she was conjuring up a portal which sucked them in and deposited them over two hundred miles away on a small island. Their parents hadn’t been happy, of course, and neither had her adoptive ones. The entire town feared her and her powers and attempted to burn down her family home. When things got a little too much for the parents, they drugged her and drove her across the state with the plan to dump her and return swiftly. Unfortunately for them, due to her mystic powers, the drugs wore off quite rapidly. When the people she had trusted and grown up to love had switched to their backup plan, killing her, her powers had gone crazy. With just a thought, they aged into decrepitude in just a few seconds; their muscles withered and their bones weakened. She lay beside their barely alive bodies, crying and praying. After a few hours she left them, as they were surely going to leave her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the science team led by Professor Jean Dormer. “Good morning Ms…eh…” Professor Dormer began turning over the pages in her clipboard. “Sleight. Ms Sleight.” “Just Sleight,” she replied. “It’s my codename. We prefer them in the field.” “I see. Well, I hope you’ve been comfortable.” Sleight looked around the room. All it contained was a camp bed with a thin mattress, a toilet and wash hand basin and the chair she sat on. “Hardly the Ritz,” she sighed. “Well, I’ve come to take you away from all this,” Professor Dormer said, smiling. Sleight nodded and stood up. The White House President Luthor sat in the Oval office looking out across the White House lawn. His hands were clasped and he gently tapped his forefingers against his chin. “Mr. President,” a female voice called out over the speakerphone. “I told I wasn’t to be disturbed,” Luthor sighed. “Now go away.” “But sir,” the voice continued. “It’s a call from S.T.A.R. labs.” Luthor spun around and grabbed the handset, pressing it firmly against his ear. “Put them through!” he barked. “Ah… Mr President,” the voice was replaced by that of a man. Luthor instantly knew that this was someone in their mid-fifties. That was because he knew exactly who it was. “Go to secure line, Ludlow.” Luthor hissed. He heard two clicks on the line and a slight hum that faded after a few seconds. “This had better be good, Professor Ludlow!” Luthor growled. “For the sake of yourself and your funding.” “It is sir, it is.” Ludlow stuttered. “Go on man,” Luthor said. “Spit it out!” “The testing is going well,” Ludlow said. “And?” “And… Eh, I don’t understand Mr President.” “Are you not supposed to be one of the most intelligent people on the planet?” Luthor asked sarcastically. “Ye… yes, but I?” “I don’t want a progress report,” Luthor bawled. “I want results! I want a final document! I want to know how these people can be used by me, or destroyed by me. Do you understand?” “I…I,” Ludlow stuttered. “Yes Mr President.” “Do you understand?” Luthor repeated. “Yes sir!” “Good,” Luthor said softly. “Now call me when you have what I need.” “Of cou…” Luthor slammed the handset back onto the telephone. He stabbed a finger onto a button marked M. A few seconds later the response came. “Yes Mr President?” “Mercy,” Luthor began. “I want to see you right away.” “Of course, Mr President.” “And bring Secretary of Education Pierce,” he continued. “I may have need for him also.” The phone hung up with a click and President Luthor sat back in his seat, the leather creaking as he went. S.T.A.R. Labs Professor Ludlow walked hurriedly down the corridor until he reached examination room A. He pushed the doors open, not paying any attention to the signs outside Professor Dormer turned around abruptly as did the rest of her team. “Professor Ludlow?” Dormer said, surprised. “I need to see you now, Professor Dormer!” Ludlow snapped. “But, I…” Ludlow spun around on his heels. “My office!” he shouted. “Bring your notes, and get those of the other teams.” “I…” but her protests when unheard as he crashed back through the doors. “Yes sir.” Dormer turned around to Sleight who was lying on the examination table draped in an ivory gown. “I’m sorry about this,” Dormer said. “I’ll have to speed things up a little here.” Sleight nodded silently and smiled awkwardly. Central City “Plastic Man!” Wonder Woman shouted. “Could you please lend a hand!” Plastic Man sat in the corner, flicking through a baking magazine. He looked up at his colleagues who were still struggling with the multi tentacled alien in the oven. In the past few minutes, its attacks had tripled in ferocity and one of its tentacles had switched on the ovens above and below where it sat. The resulting heat was sapping the Martian Manhunter’s strength, and he was barely able to fight against its pull. “Maybe,” Plastic Man said softly. “Maybe not.” “Plas, would you just get your ass over here now,” Green Lantern shouted. “Not until I get an apology,” Plastic Man said with a grin. “What?” “From her majesty there,” Plastic Man said huffily. “But, I…” Wonder Woman began, but when she dropped her guard a sesame bagel shot out from the oven and hit her on the cheek. “Now that was worth the admission money alone!” Plastic Man laughed. “Plas,” Green Lantern shouted. “Please!” “I don’t see why I should,” Plastic Man said. “Since I’m a fool and a useless idiot.” “Aw come on,” Green Lantern sighed, the sweat pouring down his forehead as he tried his best to concentrate and keep his ring construct of a hand pushing at the alien. “Everyone says that, and you never mind!” “That may be so, green tights,” Plastic Man sighed. “But never madam. And such language from a royal as well.” “Plastic… Man,” J’onn said weakly, batting another tentacle away with his left arm. “I’m waiting,” Plastic Man said. “Plastic Man!” Wonder Woman shouted. “Help us now, or by Hera I’ll…” In an instant, it was over. The oven door was shut and the tentacles were gone. The Martian Manhunter was on the ground, together with Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, all dropping when the alien’s grip had broken. The Flash stood in front of the oven. “What’re you all doing sitting around?” Flash grinned. J’onn tried to catch his breath, so Green Lantern spoke. “Just holding the fort until you arrived, Wally,” he said. “I see and…” Before he could finish Wonder Woman leapt to her feet. “Where is he?” he growled. “Who?” Flash asked. “Plastic Man,” she replied, looking furiously around. “He left us in peril and we will have words.” “That’ll have to wait,” Flash said. “We have visitors.” “It will not wait!” Wonder Woman roared. “I will find him!” In the corner, a red and black pizza box quivered. S.T.A.R. Labs “I will not be tested!” With a wide sweep of his right arm, Behemoth knocked the monitoring machine across the room and into the far wall as if it were made of paper. The scientist leaning against it was propelled to the side and luckily was not in between it and the wall when they collided. His colleagues rushed to aid him, while another called to the guards outside. Within seconds, ten armed guards had surrounded him, but they were of no use. He swatted them away one by one, and for a few moments each of them was able to fly. Until they hit the floor. He roared out in rage, but at no time was he going to kill any of the guards. No matter how he was pushed. One of them was back on their feet, and they opened fire. The bullets smashed against his side, but they did no damage. Instead, they fell meekly to the ground, their velocity and power absorbed as they hit his skin. He spun around and grabbed the guard by the collar, raising him up to face him. The guard fainted as he saw his face. “That’s enough, soldier!” Behemoth spun around to see Patriot standing in the doorway. “Patriot,” Behemoth growled. “Put him down, soldier!” Patriot barked. Behemoth released his grip and the guard fell limply to the ground. “Now, what’s going on here?” “They want to stick needles in me and dissect me,” Behemoth growled. “We discussed this,” Patriot said sternly. “You agreed. We all did.” “I am so fed up with this.” “We must do this,” Patriot said. “They have tested me, and I am the same person as I was this morning. Nothing has been removed apart from some blood, urine and some skin samples.” “But…” “No buts,” Patriot snapped. Behemoth looked down at the floor. “Now, apologise.” “I’m sorry,” Behemoth muttered, bending down to pick up the slowly awakening guard. “Good,” Patriot said, patting his colleague on the arm. “Now, you know what to do.” Behemoth shot him a look. “We have to help them,” Patriot said. “They can’t pierce your skin otherwise.” “But, Patriot…” Patriot looked into his eyes. He saw the fear where anger had once been, and he wasn’t surprised. After all, beneath this strong exterior he was a man who had limits and new pain. “Please,” Patriot said softly. Behemoth nodded, and closed his eyes. Slowly, his body began to vibrate slightly and as it did so, it began to soften. The veins began to shrink and eventually disappear as the bulk and mass of his body began to reduce. His skin hue became paler, the deep blue fading into a more usual flesh colour. To the astonishment of the scientists and guards, his height decreased until he stood at five feet and eight inches. Finally, he stood before them as his true self. He reached out a hand to shake that of one of the scientists. “Ah, that’s better,” he said with a smile. “Professor Richard Vance. A pleasure to meet you.” The scientist’s jaw dropped. “Ah,” Vance said, grabbing his huge trousers which sat on the ground and pulling them up to his waist. “ A gown would be nice.” Patriot grinned, and turned to leave. From his vantage point in the ventilation shaft, the Batman’s eyes narrowed. JLA Watchtower Superman, Flash and Green Lantern sat around the table in the meeting room. In the middle of the table a hologram of the Martian Manhunter’s head was addressing them. “We still have no idea who or what that thing was,” he said. “Or where it came from?” Superman asked. “Nothing. What I can say is that it was not the person we were following. Post mortem on his head and some of the tentacle that was left behind after Flash’s intervention show that they had nothing in common.” “So what you’re saying is that our man just happened to stumble into that situation?” Superman asked. “It would seem so,” J’onn replied. “Luck on our part.” “I wouldn’t say that,” Green Lantern sighed. “Well, keep on it J’onn,” Superman said, ignoring Green Lantern’s comment. “Whatever killed our man also got the artefact we were after. It must be retrieved.” “One thing, Superman,” J’onn said. “Anything, old friend.” “Can I trade team members on this?” he asked quietly. “I don’t understand,” Superman said. “Well, it is taking half my energies to keep Plastic Man and Wonder Woman apart,” J’Onn replied. Flash laughed and Green Lantern joined in. “I don’t believe it,” Superman said. “Are they still at it?” “It is getting worse.” “Well, I need Kyle and Wally here to help surveillance on the Redressers.” “I see.” “So, I’m afraid you’ll just have to do your best.” “I understand. J’onn out.” As his image faded, Superman looked up at the grinning faces of Green Lantern and the Flash. Swiftly they lifted their hands to their faces, muffling their laughter. After a few seconds, Superman began laughing uncontrollably, which set the other two off again. “Watchtower from Oracle.” Superman spun around. He leapt to his feet, composing himself and stepped up to the communication screen. “Go ahead, Oracle,” he said, his smile fading. “What now?” Flash sighed. “Incoming message from Aquaman. I’m patching you through, Arthur,” Oracle replied and at that the communications screen was briefly filled with static and then the concerned face of Aquaman. “Arthur,” Superman said. “What’s going on?” “Trouble off the Eastern Seaboard,” Aquaman replied. “The Royal Flush Gang.” “Don’t they ever give up?” Green Lantern sighed. “Appears not, Kyle,” Aquaman replied. “However, I don’t have time for this. There are issues to be dealt with elsewhere, that need my urgent attention.” “Away from surface dwellers,” Green Lantern whispered. Flash stifled a laugh. “I heard that, Kyle,” Aquaman growled. “Sorry,” Green Lantern said, snapping to attention. Flash stiffened and his smile vanished. “Can you handle this, Superman?” Aquaman asked. “We’ll be right there,” Superman replied. “In the meantime, could you…?” “Aquaman out.” The screen went completely black. “Mr Congeniality,” Green Lantern whispered. “Transporter tubes?” Flash asked. “Yes,” Superman replied, but before Flash could start off to the transporter tubes he added. “Wait!” Flash turned and looked back at him. “I have an idea,” Superman said. “Oracle, get me S.T.A.R. labs in Washington.” King stood on the beach surveying the battle. Their 32 minions, each sporting a costume from one of the four suits and a number from two to nine, were attacking the local police and state troopers. Their battle suits allowed them to fly, amplified their strength and contained portable force fields as well as high tech weaponry. The protectors weren’t outnumbered, but they were outclassed. Queen strolled over towards King. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned to her and smiled. “It goes well, my King?” she asked. “It does indeed, my Queen,” he replied. “As it has before,” Jack added as he landed beside them. “And each time we have been defeated.” “Indeed, fair Jack,” King agreed. “But this time will be different.” “How so?” Jack asked. “This time we have a secret weapon,” King replied. “One that will give us an instant win.” “Do tell.” “All will be revealed when necessary,” King said. “Meantime, I must check in with Ten as she leads the infantry.” King turned to Queen and bowed. She curtsied back and he took his right hand in his, kissing it gently. “My Queen,” he said and with that he set off towards the armoured vehicle a few feet away. Before he reached it, he heard Ace’s voice in his ear. “King!” “What is it, Ace?” King asked, stopping. “We have bogeys at twelve o’clock.” King looked up to the North. In the distance he could make out an object getting closer and larger by the second. “Analysis!” he shouted. “Jet aircraft,” Ace replied. “Not army or air force issue, and it’s closing fast. I guess it’s the good guys.” “I think you are correct,” King said. “Ten, begin defensive manoeuvres.” In the jet craft, Patriot handled the controls. He looked out across the battlefield and ran the options through his head. “We have been given an opportunity to prove our worth,” he said. “Are you ready, people?” “We’d better be,” Mammoth said. “We have six surface to air missiles locked on us and heading our way.” To Be Continued... Previous Issue | Next Issue |
