"Allies" Part Four
Oracle's Headquarters, Gotham City J'onn J'onzz, Plastic Man and Wonder Woman arrived at the clock tower that Oracle used as her base of operations shortly before midnight. They had tried to contact her from Central City, but had received no response. They called the JLA Watchtower, where the Flash was on monitor duty. Unfortunately, the rest of the JLA were on other assignments so they could not check in on Oracle, so the three of them left the restaurant in Central City and set out for Gotham to investigate for themselves. As they crept silently up the stairs towards her main office, they felt slightly apprehensive. Oracle hadn't been acting strangely, but it was obvious that she also hadn't told them everything she knew about the mission to retrieve the artifact that she had sent the Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man on the previous day. That had not ended well with them and their quarry stumbling across some sort of dimensional gateway. That same gateway had revealed some horrific creatures, which had taken the life of their quarry. The JLA wanted answers and Oracle, as their usual information source, was the best person to give them to them. The sight that met them made them reel in horror. There, sitting in her wheelchair was Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Oracle. However instead of her normal pale complexion, her face was a light shade of green, and her features were all twisted. Her head was tilted to the side, her mouth slightly open with her tongue hanging out. Slime oozed from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were closed, which was the most serene and ordinary thing about her features. J'onn quickly determined that she was alive from her breathing, but it was labored and not at all regular. "Hera!" Wonder Woman called out. Oracle's eyes' sprung open, and her JLA colleagues took a step back. Her eyeballs were riddled with red veins, and her irises were purple. Her pupils were tiny pinholes right in the center, as if they were put in as afterthoughts. "Oracle, what…?" "Hello, J'onn," Oracle replied, her mouth twisted, and the voice that emanated from there was not the soft tone of Barbara Gordon but something harsher; something guttural and dark and evil. "Wonder Woman. Plastic Man. How good of you to join us." "Us?" Plastic Man asked. "What is going on here?" J'Onn shouted. "Evil!" Wonder Woman replied. "I can smell it." "Possession is probably the best way to describe it," Oracle hissed. "In laymen's terms that is." "Whoa," Plastic Man said. "Linda Blair is Oracle. How come you guys never told me?" "Hah!" Oracle shouted. "Plastic Man! Boy, you are funny. No, honest. You crack me up!" "I…uh, thank you," Plastic Man said nervously. "You really slay 'em back where I come from." Plastic Man felt a shiver rush along his spine. He didn't want to know where that was. "What have you done with Oracle?" J'onn asked. "Nothing," Oracle replied. "She's still in here. Having the time of her life really. No sitting in front of computer screens all day, or doing fool’s errands for the Batman." "Who are you?" J’onn asked. "You aren't seriously trying to reason with this, this thing?" Wonder Woman snapped. "Of course," J’onn said, turning to look at her. "What else can we do?" "Fight!" Wonder Woman announced, bracing herself for an attack. "We cannot fight Oracle," J’onn said. "No matter who is controlling her, she is still there and we would harm her." "But what good will reasoning do?" Wonder Woman asked. "Excuse me!" Oracle roared, lifting her left hand high in the air. J’onn and Wonder Woman broke off their conversation and turned to Oracle. "I am still here you know?" she hissed and then broke into laughter. J’onn glared at Wonder Woman, who eventually nodded and stepped back. He turned back to Oracle, who was now doing wheelies in tight circles. "Who are you?" J’onn asked. Oracle stopped suddenly, and then spun around ninety degrees until she faced them. Slowly she lowered the front of the wheelchair back down to the floor. "Answer me!" J’onn roared. "I heard you the first time!" Oracle snapped. "My name is unimportant, but if you must call me something, call me Molan." "So, Molan," J’onn continued. "Why have you possessed this woman?" "Simple," Molan replied. "I had needs for her body. She could get me help from a special group of people. The JLA to be precise." "So Plastic Man was right about the artifact," Wonder Woman said. "Indeed he was," Molan growled. "I'm glad one of you had the sense to question your colleague's lack of information on your mission. I mean come on, she is the one that does all your data collection and analysis does she not? Leave it to the fool to see the truth. It's always the way, don't you find?" "What is the importance of this thing to you?" Wonder Woman asked. "It is a means," Molan hissed. "A means with which I can return to the place from whence I came." "A gateway?" Wonder Woman asked. "A key," Molan replied. "A key which fits the lock which will take me away from here and back to serenity and peace." "So that explains the bagel shop," Wonder Woman said. "Partly," J’onn said. "It most definitely opened a door, but not to where Molan wants to go to. Am I correct?" "Indeed you are," Molan said, as Oracles hands clapped slowly. "It is a key which can fit in many locks and open many doors. It just happened that the poor unfortunate who stole it from me tried to use it in the bagel shop and when he did he happened upon one of those locks." "And when the door opened he was killed," J’onn continued. "As he deserved," Molan said. "He stole from me and meant to use the artifact for his own foul needs. He paid the price for meddling with something which he had no right to have." "Where do you come from, demon?" Wonder Woman asked. "That is irrelevant," Molan said. "All you need know is that I want to return and I mean you no harm." "But you used us to find the artifact," J’onn said. "What I do not understand is why you did not hunt it down yourself." "I tire of these questions," Molan said as he spat out some bile from Oracle's lips. "And this little lady grows tired of her new life as well." Molan laughed, and then abruptly stopped. "You know," he began solemnly, "if I don't get out of here soon, I'm afraid the consequences for this little lady will be terrible." "How so?" J’onn asked. "Well, lets just say that her mind will be crippled as well as her legs," he hissed. J’onn and Wonder Woman stood in silence, absorbing Molan's words. The White House Superman stood alone in the Oval Office. He had been waiting for almost thirty minutes, ever since he had received the call from President Luthor shortly before midnight. He had no idea why he had been summoned, but he was sure that the President was making him wait on purpose. Ever since Luthor had been elected as President, he had gone out of his way to prove to Superman that he was in a position of power now and could not be touched. Superman was sure that from in a darkened room, Luthor was bent double with laughter watching him wait for him. He heard the door open and spun around. President Luthor walked through the door slowly, his face bereft of emotion. "Superman," Luthor said as he closed the door behind him. "Mr. President," Superman said. "I'm so glad you could come at such short notice," Luthor said as he walked over and sat behind his desk. "Especially since it is so late at night." "Why did you call me here?" Superman asked as he folded his arms. "Directness," Luthor said. "I like that. So, since I respect it, I'm sure you will respect my problem." "Which is?" "Who gave you the authority to send rogue superhumans into a potentially volatile situation?" "What?" "These members of the Redressers," Luthor growled. "You allowed them to start a fight with other superhumans which caused damage to American soil and which could have had even wider ranging consequences." "The Royal Flush Gang were attacking an American town," Superman said. "We couldn't make it, so I asked if they could go." "So you admit it?" Luthor asked. "I admit that I sent them in, but it was to see how they would perform." "These are beings of incredible power," Luthor snapped. "They are not poodles." "They have revealed themselves to be on the side of good, so…" "So you allowed them to run amok?" Luthor asked. "We had surveillance on them," Superman replied. "If the situation had got out of hand we would have stepped in." "If?" Luthor roared. "If? My God, who do you think you are?" "A protector of the people," Superman replied. "Who are you?" "How dare you say that?" Luthor snapped. "I'm the President of the United States. You? You are just a super powered goon who thinks he can knows what is best for the American People, better even than the most highly elected official of this land." "I…" "Get the hell out of my office!" Luthor roared. "And do not come back until you know how to show your President some damn respect." Superman stared at Luthor. He felt the rage burning up inside of him. He also felt glad that the dampeners were in place in the Oval Office, otherwise he might have used his heat vision to burn Luthor's head clean off. Instead he smiled slightly and turned around. "Good evening, Mr. President," he said and with that he strode across the room towards the door. Gotham City "Leave this place, demon!" Wonder Woman roared. "Leave this woman and face us!" "Dear dear dear," Molan tutted. "Now which do you want? Me to leave, or me to fight you? I can't do both." "Do not toy with me, monster!" Wonder Woman roared. "You want me to go?" Molan asked. "You really want me to leave this woman alone in her misery?" "Molan!" J’onn shouted. "What do you want?" "I want the artifact," Molan hissed. "With it, I can go back home." "That is all?" Wonder Woman asked. "That is all," Molan replied. "Bring it to me and I shall leave this woman, this Earth and this reality. You have my word." "J’onn," Wonder Woman said, gesturing for the door. J’onn took one final look at Molan and walked slowly with Wonder Woman towards the door. "The artifact is our best chance, J’onn," Wonder Woman said. "We could not find it before, so how are you so sure we can find it now?" J’onn asked. "We have to," Wonder Woman replied. "The fate of our friend Oracle depends on us succeeding." "I do not know," J’onn said. "You said it yourself," Wonder Woman continued. "We cannot fight Molan while he occupies Oracle's body." "All right," J’onn said. "But we cannot leave him… them here. Someone has to stay behind to watch that she comes to no harm." "Well, Plastic…" "No!" Plastic Man shouted, as he rushed to their sides. "I am not staying here with that thing! No way!" J’onn J'onzz and Wonder Woman stood aghast as they saw the abject horror which was etched across Plastic Man's face. The White House "Enter," President Luthor said in response to the knocking that had come in three bursts over the previous two minutes. The doors opened and Mercy showed in Quickening and Sleight. "Come, come," Luthor beckoned, rising to his feet. "Thank you, Mr. President," Quickening said as he and Sleight walked over to the President's desk. "Take a seat, please," Luthor said pointing to the chairs in front of him. "You can go now, Mercy. That will be all." "Yes sir," Mercy said and left the room, closing the doors behind her. "Apologies for the lateness of the call," Luthor said as Quickening and Sleight took their seats. "It is an honor to meet you, Sir," Sleight said. "No matter what the hour." "You flatter me," Luthor said with a smile, as he lowered himself into his seat. "It is a great honor, Mr. President," Quickening agreed. "Well," Luthor began. "I am glad. However, I do not want to keep you too long tonight, so I will get right to the point, shall I?" "By all means, Sir," Sleight said. "The Redressers, your team, they are of great concern to me," Luthor said. "We can understand that, Sir, but let me assure you that…" "No need," Luthor said, raising a hand to stop Quickening in mid sentence. "Initially I did think that you might be a threat, but after S.T.A.R. labs did their tests, it all became clear to me that you are an asset, not a liability." "I… I see," Quickening said. "You, used to be lovers, am I correct?" Luthor asked. Quickening and Sleight looked at him, a little shocked that he would bring such a thing up, and more than a little surprised that he had the information. They then looked at each other and then back at the President. "I…" Sleight began. "That was a long time ago." "Indeed," Luthor said. "When you were both part of a militant organization." Luthor picked up some more paper and read it quickly. "Brother Mutanté, I believe it was called," he said, looking at them. "Quite the little activists weren't you?" "We…" "Just a small step from terrorists I believe," Luthor continued. "We were never terrorists!" Quickening shouted. "We opposed cruelty to others, born differently. Those who were enslaved by unscrupulous people for financial gain, just because they had a genetic quirk." "Did you or did you not, destroy several circuses?" Luthor asked. "They were promoting the pain and torture of innocents," Sleight protested. "In any case, we left the group when their views took a more threatening slant," Quickening added. "I see," Luthor said. "And through your shared love for championing innocent freaks your love for one another blossomed." "Yes, but it was before the Redressers were formed," Quickening snapped, offended at Luthor's comment about freaks. "It was over long before then. It will not interfere with our work." "Indeed it will not," Luthor grinned. "Especially now that I have some more information for you." "Mr. President?" Quickening said. Luthor picked up two pages from Ludlow's report and looked at them again. He stood up and leaned across his desk, offering them to his guests. Quickening and Sleight looked at each other again and then leaned over before taking the papers from him. Luthor sat back down in his chair, leaning back and studying his guests. They looked at the papers for a few seconds and then looked back at Luthor. "These are results of our tests?" Sleight asked. "Yes, they are," Luthor replied. "I don't understand," Sleight said. "Is there a problem? Some medical problem perhaps?" "You could say that," Luthor replied. "What?" Quickening asked, looking at the paper in front of him one more time. "I can find no…" "You aren't looking closely enough," Luthor said. "Or perhaps you don't have the whole picture." Luthor picked up another piece of paper, scanned it briefly and then stood up. He handed it to Sleight and then started to walk around his desk. Sleight began to read the paper, and Quickening strained to see what was written. Eventually, frustrated that he couldn't make out clearly the words he looked up at Luthor. "What is it, Mr. President?" Quickening asked. "Its simple," Luthor replied with a grin. "You are brother and sister." Quickening was stunned. He stared at Luthor for what seemed like a lifetime. "What?" he eventually said. "It's all their in black and white," Luthor said. "DNA and blood test prove it." "No," Quickening breathed. "And more than that, you are twins," Luthor said, unable to hold in the laughter any more. "Twins?" Quickening asked, turning to Sleight. Sleight said nothing. She sat shaking, tears streaming down her face as she gripped the page tightly in her hands. "Not identical twins," Luthor said. "But twins all the same. And you were lovers too. Once." Quickening shot to his feet and leapt towards Luthor. Luthor stepped to the side, and Quickening fell to the ground. "Your powers are useless in here," Luthor laughed. "You're as clumsy as an old man. And let me tell you, if you try to attack me again, I will have your sister killed. Understand?" Quickening looked up at Luthor, the hatred in his eyes apparent. "What…" Sleight began. "What are you going to do?" "Me?" Luthor asked, as he walked around beside her. "I am going to do nothing. As long as you do something for me." "Never!" Quickening spat. "Quickening!" Sleight snapped, wiping the tears away from her eyes. "Be silent." Quickening shot her a look, but when he saw the pain in her eyes he relented and looked away. His stomach was churning at the thought of what they had done, even though they hadn't known at the time. "The stigma will ruin you," Luthor said. "And your team would be destroyed as well. All their noble ideals will be scattered just because of some incestuous affair between two of their members. It will kill Patriot, you know?" "What do you mean?" Quickening spat. Luthor picked up some more of the dossier and flicked through it. "The evaluation showed that he has been under great stress, both physically and emotionally," he said. "It appears that he is a lot older than he looks. Much, much older. My scientists believe that the only thing keeping him going is his faith in his mission." Luthor tossed the papers at Quickening, who let them fall on him and scatter. "If his mission is lost, then so is he," Luthor said calmly. "What do you want?" Sleight growled. "Take out the JLA," Luthor replied coldly. "What?" "You heard me," Luthor said. "The JLA. I want you and your team to destroy them. I want them torn limb from limb. I believe that you and your colleagues can do it. The dossier says so." "No," Sleight protested. "If you do not, the truth will come out," Luthor growled. "But we respect them," Sleight said. "We look up to them. We want to emulate them, not kill them." Luthor laughed heartily at her comments. "They are not the enemy," Sleight said. "No," Quickening continued, as he stared at Luthor. "Although we now know who is." Luthor stopped laughing and leant forward. He fixed Sleight in his gaze. "Do this one thing and your past is gone," Luthor said coldly. "Cross me and believe me, people will hunt you down with burning torches." Sleight sat in silence. Quickening stood up and walked to her side. He placed a hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away from him. He took his hand away quickly and placed it behind his back. They both felt so ashamed at that moment, and even though they did not know that they were separated at birth, they still felt dirty and evil. "All right," he said. "We'll do it." "Splendid," Luthor said. "Splendid." Central City Wonder Woman stood beside Plastic Man in the bagel shop as Green Lantern swept the area with a ring construct fashioned like a huge metal detector. Ever since the discovery in Oracle's headquarters, Plastic Man had hardly said a word, and while normally Wonder Woman would have relished the peace and quiet, it disturbed her that he was so silent. "Are you all right, Plastic Man?" Wonder Woman asked. "Hmm?" Plastic Man asked, his concentration not on her or Green Lantern, but on some spot on the wall across the room. "You… you don't appear to be yourself at the moment," Wonder Woman said. "Umm?" Plastic Man muttered. "I'm. Eh, yes." "I'm concerned," Wonder Woman said softly. "What?" Plastic Man asked. "Uh, don't be. I'm just tired is all." "Are you sure?" Plastic Man turned to her. She looked in his eyes, and she saw a pain and a terror that she never thought she would ever see in him. "I'm…" "Got it!" Green Lantern shouted triumphantly. "Brilliant!" Plastic Man shouted, leaping to his feet and running over to where Green Lantern stood. Wonder Woman watched as he excitedly waited for Green Lantern to pick up the artifact. Washington D.C. "What nonsense is this?" Patriot shouted. "We've told you," Quickening sighed as he sat, looking bored. "No," Patriot said. "What you have told us is complete and utter nonsense. Why on earth would the JLA threaten to kill the President?" "We have it on good authority…" "Quickening, don't be an idiot!" "Who are you calling an idiot?" Quickening bellowed, leaping to his feet, "Anyone who could walk in here and try to tell us that the people we respect the most, the people for whom truth and justice is the cornerstone of their very beings, are plotting to kill the President is clearly not right in the head!" In an instant, Quickening was at Patriot's side. "Never call me an idiot, Patriot!" Quickening growled. Patriot stepped back, but before either of them could say or do anything more, the tiny figure of Bug flew between their faces. She held out her arms wide, not touching them at all but doing the best she could to separate them. What was more worrying to her was the fact that should either one try to headbutt the other then she would be squashed. "Stop it!" Bug shouted. "Stop it, you children!" "Who are you calling…?" "Quickening, shut up!" Bug snapped. Quickening started to respond, but he didn't. He couldn't. Instead, he backed away from both Bug and Patriot. "That's better," Bug said. "Now if you boys are through playing, perhaps we can get to the bottom of this." Patriot stepped back and smoothed down his costume. "What is going on here?" Astonish asked. Quickening looked over at Sleight. They hadn't talked much on the way over from the White House, but they had at least come up with a story and a backup plan. As it was, the story wasn't working, and though Sleight hated the prospect, Plan B was the only option now. She closed her eyes and felt the elemental forces build up inside her. At times she could not contain her powers, such was their growth over the past few years. However, through meditation and visits to retreats around the world, she had managed to get a better handle on controlling them. Still, it took all of her concentration to keep her magics in check and at this time with her emotions running high it was even harder. The Nevada Desert Superman, Batman, Aquaman and the Flash had been waiting for over an hour when they spotted the green bubble appear in the distance. The first rays of sunshine were peaking over the mountains, as dawn approached. In a few seconds, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman touched the ground, dragging the green bubble and Plastic Man therein, behind them. Plastic Man held onto the artifact for dear life. "Good work people," Superman said. "Where's J’onn?" Wonder Woman asked. "Yeah, where is he?" Plastic Man asked excitedly as he looked frantically around. "He's on his way," Flash said. "He's bringing our new little friend." Plastic Man backed off slightly, but not enough for anyone to notice. No one except for Wonder Woman, who had been keeping one concerned eye on him all night. "Why the Nevada Desert, though?" Green Lantern asked. "Simple," Batman said. "No civilians in case things get nasty." "I wish he would hurry," Aquaman said, wiping the back of his hand across his brow. "I seriously would rather not be here right now." "Plus," Superman said. "We're close enough to a water source in case Aquaman needs it." "So, what's the plan?" Green Lantern asked. "We get him to leave Oracle first," Batman replied. "Then we open the portal and let him out." "And if he won't leave her first?" Plastic Man asked nervously. "He has no choice," Batman replied. "We have the artifact." "And you think it's that simple do you, Batman?" Plastic Man asked. "Batman?" Batman muttered. Wonder Woman nodded towards Batman when she saw the confused expression on his face. Batman acknowledged it and stepped to the side, allowing Superman to step forward. "If we destroy the artifact he cannot go home," Superman said. "And if he kills Oracle, we're screwed!" Plastic Man snapped. "Plastic Man, we…" "Superman!" Wonder Woman called out, interrupting him. "What?" he asked. "We have visitors," she replied staring off into the distance. Superman followed her gaze and used his telescopic vision to focus. "The Redressers?" Superman said. "What are they doing here?" Aquaman asked. "Perhaps since they took down the Royal Flush Gang they think we need their help all the time," Green Lantern said. "I don't think so," Batman sighed. "Let's give them the benefit of the doubt," Superman said as the jet plane came to a gentle landing a few hundred meters away. Flanking the vehicle were Idol, Bot and Astonish who had flown along beside it and now stood silently, their arms folded. Superman slowly began to walk towards them as the jet doors opened. Patriot, Behemoth, Sleight, Torrent and Bug exited the jet and formed up in front of it. As they did so, the other three joined them. Together, they marched towards Superman. "I don't like the look of this," Green Lantern sighed. "Patriot," Superman said. "Superman," Patriot said in response. "Is everything all…?" "You know fine well that it is not Superman!" Patriot snapped. "Do not insult our intelligence!" "I…" Superman said. "Now wait a minute." Superman felt a fierce wind hit him full in the face, and caught the blur of Quickening as he ran around him a few times before stopping beside Patriot. "You are going down," Quickening said. "Patriot, we should talk this over," Superman said. "Nothing to talk over tough guy!" a booming voice echoed around the mountains. Superman looked up as Mammoth, at full height, slowly rounded a mountain. He stepped gingerly over a few of the smaller ones as he came, and continued until he stood behind the jet. "None of us want to fight," Superman said as he sensed the other members of the JLA walking towards him. "You are dangerous," Patriot said. "It is time." "Well, this should be fun," Flash said. To Be Continued... Previous Issue | Next Issue |
