Justice League: The New Wave (IC)

[ChasNicollette]

Stars and Bars.

It was, in a way, impressive how quickly Nash cleared the room. Almost as quickly as a fire drill.

They'd done this before.

Chase and Helligan waited. Patiently.

At that point Jo put on her glasses and stood up with a smile. She turned to the Feds. "Y'all wanna take this outside? Or are y'all gonna pay for the damages so Willy can redecorate? Again? Last time it was th Locals had ta pay..."

"Miz Nash," Chase began, "it is our fervent hope that this conversation won't result in property damage requiring federal remuneration. If nothing else, every major city in North America is rebuilding from the events of a few days ago and even The President's emergency damage-control coffers are running a bit bone dry."

"I'm Agent Helligan," Helligan introduced, then indicating her partner, "and this is Agent Chase. We're with The Department of Extranormal Operations."

"It's not our habit to clean up after ATF," Chase noted. "Though I would point out that the days of Prohibition are long done and you would probably make more money off of your 'old family recipe' by opening a microbrewery than by rumrunning between here and Oglethorpe. Mostly we're just here to ask you to fill out the appropriate Federal Authority Registered Metahumans forms and apply to be a licensed metahuman. Operating without a FARM license on file with the DEO is a fairly punishable offense, but honestly we consider it a duty before God and country, putting your powers where your patriotism is. Not to mention, based on all reports, we'd rather have you for us than against us."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo.

NJLHQ.
Metropolis.
Five Days After Kobra.
********​

The New Justice League's usual DEO liaison was Agent Cameron Chase.

But she and her usual partner were down south on some mission or other for The Department (apparently more nearby Agents were still too tied up with fallout from Kobra, Montgomery had been much harder hit than Metropolis, as it had less experience with this sort of thing, no matter the help of a vintage speedster from nearby Manchester).

So instead, The NJL was stuck with Peter "Marx" Meyer and his partner, David Boyajian. Or perhaps it was vice versa-- Meyer and Boyajian were stuck with The New Justice League. In any case, Meyer and Boyajian had decided that this babysitting detail was their punishment for botching the Kiz investigation, and they weren't all wrong.

Right now, they were standing in one of the converted firing ranges left over from NJLHQ's days as a fancy-pants police precinct, and Meyer was on his phone.

"Look, how long are we gonna have to stand here?" Meyer demanded, he thought not unreasonably. "This is not the best use of your tax dollars at work."

"Any minute now," Natasha Irons replied cheerfully, watching the two men-in-black through a bank of security monitors she'd set up for this very purpose. "Just stay... right... there."

And then she hit a button.

In a flash of blue-white light, a massive steel hammer with a LexIcon smartwatch on the handle folded into space just above Meyer's left foot and dropped like a stone, slamming down onto his toes headfirst.

"Ahh! Jesus! Fuck!"

"Booyah!" Nat whooped, punching the sky, and slapping five with a very startled nearby multidroid.

On the screen, Meyer fell to the ground as the hammer toppled away, clutching his foot. "Jesus, you mad scientista, you broke my foot!"

"Hardly," Natasha tutted, toggling the comm. "I calculated the weight and distance precisely, your metatarsals are only bruised. But if you want to get them looked at, your uninjured partner's right there to carry you to the medlab."

"You--"

Natasha hung up on him before he could spew any racist or misogynist or ableist slurs, and triumphantly stuck her hands into the pockets of her lab coat, smirking to herself. "Little birdie told me you like to torture suspects. You're lucky my new hammer was all I dropped on you."

She thumbed a talk-to-text app on her phone. "Compose email-- Luthorcorp R&D-- We've successfully perfected telemolecular targeting telemetry with the reverse-engineered teleportation technology adapted to LexIcon firmware. Ready to test on live subjects, preferably something single-celled first-- a protozoan or an archaeon--"

...but she trailed off for a moment, as footage from one of the other monitors had distracted her.

As the young man turned away to leave, the guard finally realized the watch was just a watch.

"Hey who should I say sends this?"

The young man pauses at the door and slips on a pair of sunglasses,

"You can tell him Garfield says thanks for the images."

He pauses, then shrugs and step outside, joining the stream of pedestrians outside on the sidewalk.

"Wait," Natasha frowned. "Did he say 'Garfield?'"

Leaving her email as an unfinished draft, she sprinted for the elevator.

She made impressive time-- the Irons family took athletics as seriously as they did academics-- and managed to burst out through the precinct house doors just fast enough to catch sight of him through the teeming sidewalk masses.

"GARFIELD!" she called, hurrying after him as best she could. "WAIT!"

She skidded to a halt just next to him, panting. "Lex Luthor-- cordially invites you-- to join The New Justice League."

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Wait," Natasha frowned. "Did he say 'Garfield?'"

Leaving her email as an unfinished draft, she sprinted for the elevator.

She made impressive time-- the Irons family took athletics as seriously as they did academics-- and managed to burst out through the precinct house doors just fast enough to catch sight of him through the teeming sidewalk masses.

"GARFIELD!" she called, hurrying after him as best she could. "WAIT!"

She skidded to a halt just next to him, panting. "Lex Luthor-- cordially invites you-- to join The New Justice League."

He hardly heard his name, but he did since his senses was not quite human. So he did slow down and did a half turn when ordered/asked to wait. Of course this being Metropolis, when somebody charges down a sidewalk after having shouted at person/s unknown you got out of their way. Since the woman came at him, he did step to the side, just in case he wasn't the Garfield she had called for.

But then she came to a sliding stop next to him and panted out an invitation to join the New Justice League.

Wait what?

Lex Luthor?

But wasn't Lex the bad guy? You know? The guy who constantly tried to kill Superman and rule the world?

Garfield stared at the woman for a few moments, becoming aware of people staring at the two of them.

"Lex Luthor? What does he want with me? And just how do you know who I am?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

A man ain't nothin' but a man.

But then she came to a sliding stop next to him and panted out an invitation to join the New Justice League.

Wait what?

Lex Luthor?

But wasn't Lex the bad guy? You know? The guy who constantly tried to kill Superman and rule the world?

There were rumors.

Articles circulated by The Daily Planet, opinion columns and letters to the editor and so forth.

That Lex Luthor was a madman who had opposed Superman at every turn.

But nothing had ever been substantiated. No charges ever filed. No proof ever uncovered.

There were corners of The Internet, of course, not-quite bordering on The Unternet, conspiracy mill websites and fringe niche web forums, that still fostered these rumors-- so it wasn't surprising that Gar had heard of some of this.

Dr. John Henry Irons, Natasha's uncle and founder of the Steelworks think-tank, had been good friends with Superman and had fervently believed these rumors, but Natasha had discounted them-- even Superman could make mistakes, and without evidence she couldn't as a scientist stand behind such foolishness. When she had left Steelworks to join the support crew for The New Justice League she and Uncle John had had a fight fit to tear a mountain in half-- an acrimonious split indeed.

They hadn't talked since.

But Alexander Joseph Luthor was the frontrunner for the 45th Presidency of The United States of America. Despite his billionaire status, he had fantastic populist appeal, and struck a fantastic chord right down the middle between conservatism and progressivism.

He was a genius and a visionary and a Renaissance Man for The 21st Century, and Nat Irons had zero regrets about hitching a wagon to his star.

Garfield stared at the woman for a few moments, becoming aware of people staring at the two of them.

"Lex Luthor? What does he want with me? And just how do you know who I am?"

"I work with The New League. I work with Kaldur-- worked with him, he's hurt now, he's going back to Atlantis-- he told me, the team told me about how he lent a guy named Garfield his LexIcon so that he-- you-- could download images and-- somehow metamorphose into a vast spectrum of zoological creatures. And you just gave that watch back, said you were 'Garfield'-- I mean, it is you, right? You're him? You're--" she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially "--'Beast Boy?' The invitation is contingent on your being him."

"But Lex Luthor is the founder and funder of The New Justice League and he would consider it an honor if the heroes who fought Kobra would unite under that banner. We were going to have our telepath lady try to find your mind, she did that with Velocity already, but she's been-- pretty busy this week."

 

[TertiusHuman]

He was totally flabbergasted, this was like the very last thing he had expected. Unconsciously he touched his chest, just above the pectorals and just under the collarbones and his right eye twitched slightly, a memory he wanted to keep suppressed slowly bubbling to the surface.

Yes... he was Beast Boy...

He took a deep breath and removed his sunglasses giving her a huge grin

"I have so many questions, I hope you can answer them and if Kaldur said that I'm good enough to join the team..."

He drifted off and started patting his pockets, the looked at her again.

"Do you have paper and pen? I may want to ask a few autographs."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Networking.

He took a deep breath and removed his sunglasses giving her a huge grin

"I have so many questions, I hope you can answer them and if Kaldur said that I'm good enough to join the team..."

Oh, man, that grin was as infectious as a rare virus. Nat instantly brightened when she saw it.

"I'll try, and he did," Natasha promised. "He's got an eye for potential, as a former sidekick himself and a mentor to the next generation of Titans. C'mon, I'll show you around."

He drifted off and started patting his pockets, the looked at her again.

"Do you have paper and pen? I may want to ask a few autographs."

"Heh. Well. Most of them are out and about right now. Busy lives and recruitment drives. And I'm more of a paperless digital type. But I'm sure we can think of something!"

 

[Lunaramblings]

Breakfast at Abel's

Wesley Edmund Dodds was walking back from getting breakfast for himself and Dian when he saw him. A large black raven sitting on the bannister to the steps. As he approached the Raven didn't budge. It sat there staring at him.

"Could morning Matthew. Want to come in for some breakfast or are you just here to be His eyes?"

The raven didn't budge from his spot, but cocked his head, and if it were possible, it seemed almost as if the raven cracked a smile.

Wes continued by and opened the door to the brownstone, letting it hang open just long enough to allow the Raven to enter if he wished. But still the Raven didn't budge.

"Suit yourself Matty. I'll meet him as soon as I drop off Dian's chocolate croissant."

With that he let the door fall shut. And finally the Raven left it's perch.

About thirty minutes later, Wes sat in the study where he has spent so many days studying with his namesake. As he closed his eyes and meditated, sending himself deeply into a meditative state, into a lucid dream, he thought not of this house, but of another. A house in a cemetery. A house that looked nearly as scary as the things that resided within it.

As he arrived on the steps the door opened, and a large reptilian creature stands waiting with a nearly comical look on his face.

"Morning Goldie. Sorry to barge in. Looking for Morpheus. Seen him?"

Goldie the Gargoyle nods and steps to the side.

"Thanks Goldie."

As Wes wonders through the House of Mysteries he is cautious to stay on the path he knows. Like any part of Dream, straying too far can be a disaster.

"Duh-Duh-Dreamhunter.... whu-what are you doin' here?" A meek and mild man steps from one of the rooms.

"Morning Abel. I hope Cain isn't around?" Wes smiles as he greets the hesitant keeper of the House.

"Nnn-nn-No sir. Cain is at the Hu-House of S-ssss-Secrets. Sir."

"Abel, listen brother, I told you before, I'm not Sir to anyone. Is the Dream-Lord here?"

"H-he jus-ju-just sat down for bru-brunch. He said you m-mi-might be co-coming."

Wes follows Abel to an exquisite dining room. Fine china and crystal goblets adorn the table.

"Good morning Edmund."

At the head of the table sits a tall thin man. Clad in a robe like night, edged in flame. With eyes like the deepest pools with a brilliant star in each. This is The Dream-Lord, Morpheus. Dream of The Endless.

Sitting beside him at the table is a rather large man in suit and vest. His cane and hat hanging on the chair back. His face is kind and looks more than a little like a famous writer. Beside this man sits a tall lean, imperiously clean shaven and neat man. His features nearly elven.

Wes knows the thin man and Morpheus. The thin man is Lucien. Head Librarian of the Library of Dreams. His former boss. But the heavy set gentleman, and Wes can think of no better word to describe him, is unfamiliar. As Wes nods to those gathered and takes a seat at the table Abel makes himself scarce.

"Lucien. Morpheus. I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met?" Wes offers a smile to the large man across the table.

"Gilbert. A pleasure to meet you. Morpheus has said that you are quite an important person, and thou I have only just met him, I have no reason to doubt his veracity."

"Well, far be it for me to argue with Morpheus. Though I have come to ask a question, and I hope that you don't mind if I do so in mixed company, Lord?"

"You wish to know why I prevented you from helping in the Cult matter, yes?"

"Lord, I... I could have made a difference. I understand that this woman was important, but so much damage was done. So many lives taken. Why?"

"We cannot save all lives. And, Edmund, the man I sent you for was one that escaped my grasp not long ago. His mind was warped by The Corinthian. I needed him countered. And it was this corruption that lead him to the young lady I asked you to save. She, like you and Wesley before you, she has been touched by Dream."

“The center of every man’s existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are the citadel.” The large man opines almost to himself as he dips a bite of biscuit in a luscious gravy and takes a bite.

“There is a corollary to the conception of being too proud to fight. It is that the humble have to do most of the fighting.” Edmund's smile fades slightly, but he seems almost pleased with the battle of quotations that was being waged.

Gilbert grins as he swallows and nods before responding. “The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.”

"As much as I love your banter,I will answer you plainly. I needed done what I asked. I sent forces to counter this Cult as best I could, but I still needed you to intervene in this matter. In the long term there was more at risk that day than just the lives lost on that day. The girl has a Destiny. She has been touched by my hand and it is my duty to protect her. And by extension, Dream-Hunter, it is your duty. But you are correct. There is a threat looming. One has been manipulating the Dreams of Man, and I am not going to prevent you from intervening. I ask only that you be cautious of whom you side with in the Waking World. I have seen the dreams of despots and tyrants, and one who's dreams make them pale in comparison is on the rise."

“Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.”

"So your saying that another conflict is coming. More than one really... Ok. I will do what I can to protect the Waking World. As you command."

In a split second the Dreaming is gone and he is back to the study in New York. His heart hammering as visions of destruction and chaos fill his head.

As the visions overwhelm him he hears Morpheus once again.

"This is coming my child. You can stop it if you act with care. Use the gifts I gave you. Let the Waking World see the power of Dreams."

 

[Wyldfire]

"Miz Nash," Chase began, "it is our fervent hope that this conversation won't result in property damage requiring federal remuneration. If nothing else, every major city in North America is rebuilding from the events of a few days ago and even The President's emergency damage-control coffers are running a bit bone dry."

"I'm Agent Helligan," Helligan introduced, then indicating her partner, "and this is Agent Chase. We're with The Department of Extranormal Operations."

"It's not our habit to clean up after ATF," Chase noted. "Though I would point out that the days of Prohibition are long done and you would probably make more money off of your 'old family recipe' by opening a microbrewery than by rumrunning between here and Oglethorpe. Mostly we're just here to ask you to fill out the appropriate Federal Authority Registered Metahumans forms and apply to be a licensed metahuman. Operating without a FARM license on file with the DEO is a fairly punishable offense, but honestly we consider it a duty before God and country, putting your powers where your patriotism is. Not to mention, based on all reports, we'd rather have you for us than against us."

This wasn't these two's first rodeo here. They were doin everything they could ta keep Jo calm. This kinda worried her. Too smooth when they're in a room with a tiger. Jo smiled a big warm one. "Why don't we take this outside so yer back up feels more comfortable, unless that is he can do what I just did?" With that a quick looky see with the x-ray vision thing. She caught sight of Supes and smiled. "Y'all brought a cutie with ya."

Jo didn't wait for the agents' reaction and sauntered out the door of the bar. As she walked she continued. "So, tell me more bout this whole duty ta Country thing. Y'all want me ta serve my country an give up my outta date wicked ways, so tell me, is this a paid gig or ya just want some sooper heroes fer free?"

She exited the bar still talking over her shoulder. "Did the locals let ya know the name they gave me?" Jo grinned, "Yer askin a Rebel ta conform ta yer rules and regulations." She turned and looked right at Supes. "Ya got a name guard dog?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

"S"-calation.

This wasn't these two's first rodeo here. They were doin everything they could ta keep Jo calm.

This was actually true. Leading into the Kobra catastrophe, they had been investigating a deceptively powerful magic-meta named Kiz and the clash between him and the consultant they'd brought in, John Constantine, had caused significant property damage on a busy New York City street even before Kobra showed up and Moonwing died. Neither was eager for a repeat of that. So, yeah, mollify first and ask questions where available.

Jo smiled a big warm one. "Why don't we take this outside so yer back up feels more comfortable, unless that is he can do what I just did?"

Chase frowned. "...what did you just do?"

With that a quick looky see with the x-ray vision thing. She caught sight of Supes and smiled. "Y'all brought a cutie with ya."

"He's got good genes," Helligan pointed out, not unreasonably, as Jo swaggered out.

As she walked she continued. "So, tell me more bout this whole duty ta Country thing. Y'all want me ta serve my country an give up my outta date wicked ways, so tell me, is this a paid gig or ya just want some sooper heroes fer free?"

"Well, public service and community-mindedness are of course to be encouraged," Helligan provided easily as they followed her out. "But there's any number of superhero teams you could apply for that have the resources for regular paychecks."

(She stepped out front and Superboy, leaning against the Buick and texting on his T-Comm, blinked, stood up straighter. No, he didn't have X-ray (or "penetra-") vision. (He didn't know if he ever would.) But right now the visual spectrum he could access was giving him plenty of information.

"Oh no," he mumbled quietly, "Sweet Home Alabama, she's hot."

He quickly checked himself in The GNX' wing mirror. "How's my hair? Still gelled up tight, yeah, slay Kon-El slay...")

She exited the bar still talking over her shoulder. "Did the locals let ya know the name they gave me?" Jo grinned, "Yer askin a Rebel ta conform ta yer rules and regulations."

"Admittedly," Chase mused, "The United States is a paradox. We celebrate our revolutionary history while requiring citizens to adhere to a rule of law-- but at any time we have the right to overturn that rule of law if it is the will of the people. We are a nation of rebels. We rebel. It's not so strange to want a Rebel to be a part of that nation's defense."

She turned and looked right at Supes. "Ya got a name guard dog?"

Superboy had been ready with a pick-up line involving pick-up trucks, but he got stopped short by that quip. "Hey, now, Krypto's the dog. I'm Superboy."

"As in... The Boy of Steel. And you're, what, The Girl of Spittoon?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Heh. Well. Most of them are out and about right now. Busy lives and recruitment drives. And I'm more of a paperless digital type. But I'm sure we can think of something!"

He chuckled and followed her on the way back to the building he had left just a few moments ago.

"I will have to invest in some pen and paper it seems. It seems like nobody ever has it with them. Or just a felt tip pen you know? When a signature is on a piece of clothing, it can go up on the wall. Why not, that seems quite legit to me."

He blinked and then leaned close enough for her to hear him and not be overheard,

"You ever heard of The Red?"

 

[Wyldfire]

Superboy had been ready with a pick-up line involving pick-up trucks, but he got stopped short by that quip. "Hey, now, Krypto's the dog. I'm Superboy."

"As in... The Boy of Steel. And you're, what, The Girl of Spittoon?"

Jo had hit a nerve. The cutie was feelin defensive. This was a good thing. She sauntered toward the dude of steel. "Awe sweetie, I didn't mean nothing by that. I just wanted ya ta know how these Feds think about ya."

She shot the Feds a look and turned back to Superboy. "Ya look a little lonely Supes. Ya look like you haven't just got ta kick back an have a good time with someone that don't want nothing from ya but bein friends."

 

[ChasNicollette]

...wait, the what now?

He chuckled and followed her on the way back to the building he had left just a few moments ago.

"I will have to invest in some pen and paper it seems. It seems like nobody ever has it with them. Or just a felt tip pen you know? When a signature is on a piece of clothing, it can go up on the wall. Why not, that seems quite legit to me."

"Totes legit!" Nat grinned at him, hands in her lab coat pockets as she glanced back at him. "I mean, I dunno what clothing you'd use. I'd say you could use one of Martian Manhuntress' capes, except you know I think her capes are... her?"

Then she glanced down at herself and smacked herself in the forehead. "...or, you know, there's plenty of lab coats."

He blinked and then leaned close enough for her to hear him and not be overheard,

"You ever heard of The Red?"

She stared at him for a moment. "The baseball team in Cincinnati?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

General Lee Disagreeable.

Jo had hit a nerve. The cutie was feelin defensive. This was a good thing. She sauntered toward the dude of steel. "Awe sweetie, I didn't mean nothing by that. I just wanted ya ta know how these Feds think about ya."

Superboy crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "Whatevs, babe. Ladies in uniform always want me for my body, it's a blessing and a curse. Mostly a blessing."

She shot the Feds a look and turned back to Superboy. "Ya look a little lonely Supes. Ya look like you haven't just got ta kick back an have a good time with someone that don't want nothing from ya but bein friends."

Kon's brow furrowed.

...wait, does the belle with the amazing Rogue accent have a point?

Tana's dead. Serling and I are awkwardly Somebody That We Used to Know. Roxy is friends-with-benefits with Ruby now and I can tell you without a hint of homophobia that that's... a little weird for me.

Dubbilex and Guardian are busy being LuthorCorp employees of the month, and that's it's own breed of brain cramp.

And everyone in The Titans is super angsty because we just lost our mentors a month ago and our boy Kaldur is in intensive care at Poseidonis General Hospital or wherever. ...but we're not really friends, are we? Titans? Titans are family.

Family's enough to get you through times of no friendship. Family's plenty.

Thus, he squinted, poked a finger in the air near Rebel's chest without getting within range of tac-teke contact.

"Hey, wearing the 'S' is a lonely business, I'm cool with a dry spell. You can't tell me that hanging with Aunt Bea and Uncle Bob-Bob and Cousin Cletus in a home that's mobile surrounded by four cars that aren't is all it's jacked up to be, hmm? I'm supposed to jump the tracks and what, be just another Cracker in the Barrel?"

"Eff. That. Noise."

Chase's expression was unreadable, even for her.

Helligan bit the inside of her cheek and prayed: "Please move away from the car, please move away from the car, please move away from the car..."

 

[Wyldfire]

Superboy crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "Whatevs, babe. Ladies in uniform always want me for my body, it's a blessing and a curse. Mostly a blessing."



Kon's brow furrowed.

...wait, does the belle with the amazing Rogue accent have a point?

Tana's dead. Serling and I are awkwardly Somebody That We Used to Know. Roxy is friends-with-benefits with Ruby now and I can tell you without a hint of homophobia that that's... a little weird for me.

Dubbilex and Guardian are busy being LuthorCorp employees of the month, and that's it's own breed of brain cramp.

And everyone in The Titans is super angsty because we just lost our mentors a month ago and our boy Kaldur is in intensive care at Poseidonis General Hospital or wherever. ...but we're not really friends, are we? Titans? Titans are family.

Family's enough to get you through times of no friendship. Family's plenty.

Thus, he squinted, poked a finger in the air near Rebel's chest without getting within range of tac-teke contact.

"Hey, wearing the 'S' is a lonely business, I'm cool with a dry spell. You can't tell me that hanging with Aunt Bea and Uncle Bob-Bob and Cousin Cletus in a home that's mobile surrounded by four cars that aren't is all it's jacked up to be, hmm? I'm supposed to jump the tracks and what, be just another Cracker in the Barrel?"

"Eff. That. Noise."

Chase's expression was unreadable, even for her.

Helligan bit the inside of her cheek and prayed: "Please move away from the car, please move away from the car, please move away from the car..."

"Yer from either th North or probably out West. Ya got Cali all over ya with that noise. Wanna slip th chain ta see how th other side lives?" And Jo was off at a speed that was faster than car but not ultra. She stopped real quick, squinted and the car's front two tires melted and she was off for The Nash "estate".

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Totes legit!" Nat grinned at him, hands in her lab coat pockets as she glanced back at him. "I mean, I dunno what clothing you'd use. I'd say you could use one of Martian Manhuntress' capes, except you know I think her capes are... her?"

Then she glanced down at herself and smacked herself in the forehead. "...or, you know, there's plenty of lab coats."


She stared at him for a moment. "The baseball team in Cincinnati?"

He shared the grin with her as she mentioned his idea sounding legitimate, he wasn't sure if she was just being nice on orders and if she was just being herself, but he liked having a friendly face who knew him. And he just had to chuckle at the idea of a room full of framed lab coats with signatures on them.

Then she asked about a baseball team, which took him aback slightly. "Ehrm I don't think so. I think it has something to do with my powers."

The fact that they had entered the building by now, made it easier to talk, "That woman who made me change and attack Cat and Raven? She mentioned that The Red flowed through me and apparently that made me easier to control. I have been wondering about The Red ever since, but all I find is some music band."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Legacies. (joint post with LuckyVic's Nightwing)

Wayne Tower. Penthouse Office.
After This.
********​

Bruce Anthony Thomas Wayne stood gazing out of the window of his office. Haggard, weary, leaning heavily on his cane, having just finished with his physical therapy with Dr. Kinsolving, having not yet changed back into his suit for his next board meeting... he nowhere near resembled the legend he once had been.

Unless you looked him in the eyes.

His eyes were still steel.

Some things you can't beat out of a man, no matter how much Venom is pumping through your veins.

"Mr. Wayne," his desk phone buzzed, what was her name, oh, he could recite the murder victims and methods of H.H. Holmes in chronological or alphabetical order but for the life of him he couldn't stand the trifles of office work, "your 10:15 is here."

"Yes. Thank you."

Ah. Right.

This conversation should be... awkward.

Were all fathers and sons like this together?

Would he have been like this with his father if Thomas Wayne had lived?

Ah. Hell with it.

"Send him in."

Damian walked into the office. He still wasn't used to seeing his father here. Hell he wasn't sure if he would ever get used to see his father like the battered man he currently was. Once the door closed behind him he finally spoke. "Father." it was a simple greeting.

"Damian," Bruce nodded back, pivoting slowly to face him with the cane for support.

"Welcome back to Gotham."

He hesitated.

Say something hospitable.

"I can. Ah. Make us some tea?"

"Please." Damian said as he moved further into the office and looked around the room as he did so.

The room was sparsely but ornately decorated.

There was a portrait of Thomas and Martha Wayne on the wall behind the desk.

There were pictures in frames on the desk itself. Small ones, four of them. Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian, each a school picture from Gotham Academy when Bruce had had them enrolled there, uniform and all.

There was a minibar, and the minibar had a hotplate, with a kettle full of water, and Bruce limped to that minibar and switched on the hotplate.

"Can't promise I'm as good with this stuff as Alfred, but he's been showing me a few pointers. You still prefer, ah, oolong?"

...sure, why would you know your own biological son's favorite things?

"I was a little surprised to hear you were in my appointment book."

More than a little. And not much surprised him, even these days.

"I thought Hell's Kitchen would be enough to keep even you plenty busy."

"Things have changed." Damian told him. "As you probably already know I've been a part of Luthor's new Justice League. Aquaman has until recently been leading the team. But as a result of injuries he recieved in our latest mission he'll be indisposed for awhile."

Bruce paused, frowned. "That's... less than ideal. Kaldur'ahm has an efficiency lacking in... most... of the younger generation of heroes. A trait I wish was more common in powered heroes in general. I hope he... feels better soon."

"And, yes, I knew of your involvement with this 'New Justice League,' and its direct connection to Luthor. I watched the press conference from a treadmill. Playing in his little privatized law-enforcement ant farm is, I suspect, part of a long game intended to get actionable intel on him-- but Luthor is a grandmaster in his own right, and such a game would be dangerous even for you. I trust you're prepared for consequences? If the likely future leader of The Free World declares war on you..."

"That's one of the things I wanted to discuss with you father." Damian said. "The Justice League should not beholden to any one individual, nor government and their agendas. As interim leader of the JL I'd like to remove the team from his influence the best way I can see to do that is to have others agree to back the League."

Bruce Wayne arched a forbidding eyebrow. "You're suggesting that Wayne Enterprises be one of these others? Buy up interest in The New Justice League-- perhaps eventually a controlling interest? I'm afraid that's not possible. It's dangerous enough that you're using Javelin 7s built using WayneTech components and parking them in a Luthor building-- I made sure they were untraceable back to my parents' company in case of a crash-landing, but still."

"Luthor has ironclad contracts with The City and County of Metropolis, I had Lucius look into it," Bruce shook his head, "back when he was first sinking his teeth into The Big Apricot's correctional institutions. And his 'New League' has the federal backing of The DEO. There's no way in, and you know what a financial wizard Lucius Fox Senior is."

The kettle whistled, and Bruce poured the tea-- not boiling, but hot-- over oolong tea bags in two cups, and let them steep.

"The best I can do is attempt some sort of antitrust proceedings, argue that this constitutes a monopoly, but we have to proceed slowly with that lest Governor Christie catch wind of it and use his connections with The U.S. A.G.'s Office to shut it down and garner support with his new new best friend."

Bruce smiled in a faint, pained manner-- some might argue that it was the only way Bruce knew how to smile and still mean it. "Damian. Son. Your mother trained you in such a way that you would be able to run my empire as well as her father's, if it came to that. You know how dangerous economics can be-- even more dangerous than geopolitics, in their way."

Damian nodded. "It's also messier than geopolitics." He added. "I'm well aware that it could take awhile to accomplish. However if you and a few of the new retired leaguers that also have considerable resources were to decide they wanted to partake in the founding as well as other resources to the League, like refitting the Hall of Justice in DC for instance for the new HQ. Granted we wouldn't be able to move in immediately we'd have to wait until it was ready. However it would put us in a position to keep an eye on Luthor if he does become President."

"Of the retired Leaguers," Bruce cautioned, "not many are left. It may just be me and Batson, and Batson's made herself... difficult to find. But I can try to loop in like-minded philanthropic donors. Loren Jupiter may have most of his resources tied up in his new Titans West endeavor, but I'll see if he can spare some assets."

"They've changed the access codes since I retired," Bruce frowned. "I haven't been able to break the lockout. Not to mention-- it would be like desecrating your grandparents' graves. But if we could reawaken the old headquarters in a way that would honor the real Justice League... and solve the mystery of their disappearance..."

He trailed off, and closed his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder if I've lived too long. But if we can make something of this. Then maybe I'll have lived just long enough."

Damian stood up and walked over the nearby window and looked out at the grand old city. It looked so very different in the daylight. Part of him, a rather large part missed this city.

Bruce Wayne moved up beside Damian, and handed him the steaming teacup, fully steeped. "There's cream and sugar if you want it. But I figured-- well-- black."

And then he turned to follow Damian's gaze out across the Gotham skyline. "I don't have to be a detective to know there's something else on your mind."

Damian took the cup and drank it black just like that. "I've been thinking about many things of late." he told his father. "That the Justice League needs something more than just the name to reassure the people." he added and then paused for a bit as he took another drink from his tea. He had to admit it wasn't bad. Almost as good as Alfred's had been. "Also I've been thinking that you were right after Dick disappeared."

Bruce Wayne wouldn't be Bruce Wayne if he weren't right about... lots of things.

He sipped his tea, watched Gotham City, and let Damian get to the point in his own time, but he would be lying if he said he didn't have a clue where this was going.

"Growing up I always thought that the mantle of the bat was mine to take on." he said. "Then I became Dick's Robin for a second time after your accident and I felt I started to feel that maybe I had other options. As well as the fact that I didn't feel ready for that. Then reason why I didn't feel ready is because I didn't think I could ever overcome the training of my grandfather and mother. That deep down I was still a killer, one made more deadly by your training. But I recently discovered that isn't so."

'Accident.' A charitable euphemism.

"Satellite footage suggested that you were the one to deliver the finishing move on Burr," Bruce pointed out evenly, with an air of curiosity rather than accusation, he wanted to hear the logic in this, how Damian had approached this conclusion. "And this makes you... not a killer."

"It's hard to kill someone that is immortal, which Burr is thanks to the use of Lazarus pits that he has access to." Damian explained. "So even though I struck the final blow it's only temporary. He'll be back and when he does I'll have had time to figure out other options to end things without having to resort to that."

"That's a Hell of a grey area," Bruce mused, swirling his cup of tea like it was a glass of Scotch. "But it has a certain logic to it. Ends and means."

"So you've had this... epiphany. This bat through the window. But what does it mean to you?"

Damian took a deep breath as part of him couldn't believe he was going to say this. "I'm ready to do whatever it takes to take on the mantle of the bat."

Bruce closed his eyes for a moment, and his hand holding the teacup actually trembled, his other hand flexing on the head of his cane. And then he nodded, in a way that suggested I always knew this day would come.

"Decades ago," he murmured, "when I first encountered my mentor, Henri Ducard, he told me-- 'If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely.'"

He smiled faintly. "'...a legend, Mister Wayne.'"

Turning again to face Damian, leaning hard on that cane, he squinted, sussing Damian out in a whole new light.

"You know that Tim has taken on the mantle for himself. And you two will have to work out between you what that means. But the Bat has always been bigger than just one man, and it can be bigger than two. But you know just as well as I do that this is a higher bar than ever you have faced before. Nightwing is a hero of the people, a Zorro, the balance between the blue skies of the day and the dark vistas of the night-- he can make mistakes and rise again. But Batman-- Batman has to be perfect. Fearless. You are the only one who can know if you are ready for that. If you truly believe that you are, then I will not stand in your way."

"I will discuss things with Tim and see how he wants to do things." Damian said which was another first for him since he and Tim never really got along. "I will need to update the suit however. The threats I saw in Central City have shown me that the dangers have taken another leap ahead and so will we if we are to stay ahead of the criminal element."

"Tim has certainly taken The Batman beyond any design I had ever envisioned. You have my... permission... to do the same in your own way. Only remember that Batman is not about... toys. Not about gadgets. Batman is about wits, and cunning, and psychological warfare, of striking fear into a superstitious and cowardly lot. Keep to that core, and you'll be prepared for anything."

He paused. He was trying so hard to be a... good father. Not the stone wall he had so often been with Dick, with Jason, with Tim...

...oh, Jason, so much regret, so many mistaken steps.

...but this was still so much uncharted territory for him.

Awkwardly he smiled at his firstborn, finished his tea at a swig, and set the cup down on the windowsill.

"Damian. Son. ...good luck."

And reached out to shake Damian's hand.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Innocence & Instinct.

Then she asked about a baseball team, which took him aback slightly. "Ehrm I don't think so. I think it has something to do with my powers."

The fact that they had entered the building by now, made it easier to talk, "That woman who made me change and attack Cat and Raven? She mentioned that The Red flowed through me and apparently that made me easier to control. I have been wondering about The Red ever since, but all I find is some music band."

"Oh! I kinda like their stuff," Nat nodded. "Their songs make me think of Superman, even though I think they're actually talking about God."

She frowned, though, standing there in the lobby of NJLHQ, and tugged her phone out of her pocket.

"But 'Red' and 'Animal Powers?' I don't grok the commonality. Hold that thought."

Her thumbs blurred on her phone for a moment-- Ruby Reed herself couldn't have touchscreened faster or more accurately-- and then she squinted at her results.

"...I'm not sure, but it seems like what you're describing is called 'morphogenetic fields,' a hypothetical energy resonance connected to animal evolution. I thought it was pseudoscience, honestly, but it could be a thing? It's creepy that she could use it to manipulate you, though, that sucks hard!"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"It sucked even more for me. It was like being locked inside your brain while your brain does things with your body. It was freaky scary."

He paused and held up a finger,

"Wait a minute... Are you going to experiment on me? Test how my power work? Look I don't mind helping out the good guys, but LuthorCorp does seem to get their hands on genetic research way too easily. But that is not my main concern."

He looked around and grinned at her, "As long as I have a pretty nurse or doctor working on me, I'm game."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Burning Rubber.

"Yer from either th North or probably out West. Ya got Cali all over ya with that noise."

"I was born a few miles outside of Metropolis," Kon replied, which was technically true, if you count the fact that he hadn't been so much conventionally "born" as patched together from modified human and Kryptonian DNA in the Cadmus equivalent of a Bacta Tank, and "and I spent a bit of time in Hawai'i, so there's your North and your way, way West. No Cali for me, I'll leave that to those Titans West noobz."

"Wanna slip th chain ta see how th other side lives?"

"You're kidding, right?" Superboy snorted. "My life is constantly off the chain!"

And Jo was off at a speed that was faster than car but not ultra. She stopped real quick, squinted and the car's front two tires melted and she was off for The Nash "estate".

"What?!" Superboy interrobanged incredulously as he took to the air and flew hard after Jo. "How come she gets heat vision and I don't? If she turns out to be my missing Kryptonian DNA given human form or something I swear to s2g--"

Helligan stood there staring nervously at Chase.

Chase stood there staring at The GNX and its slagged front tires. Staring so hard that it looked like she might spontaneously develop a form of vision power in her own right.

"At least... at least it's just the tires?" Helligan attempted awkwardly.

Chase didn't respond at first.

Then she put her phone to her ear. "Get me a chopper."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Stayin' Alive.

"It sucked even more for me. It was like being locked inside your brain while your brain does things with your body. It was freaky scary."

"Oh my God," Nat hugged herself, shivering visibly at the thought. "That's-- that's the actual worst. That robbing of agency, of not having control over your actions, your body-- that's-- that's like the deepest kind of assault. If someone did that to me, I-- I don't know what I'd do."

He paused and held up a finger,

"Wait a minute... Are you going to experiment on me? Test how my power work? Look I don't mind helping out the good guys, but LuthorCorp does seem to get their hands on genetic research way too easily. But that is not my main concern."

"As far as I know and as long as I have anything to say about it," Natasha assured him, "all samples are taken on a voluntary basis and any experiments carried out would be for your peace of mind and edification. Also we don't dissect people, even if they can turn into frogs."

He looked around and grinned at her, "As long as I have a pretty nurse or doctor working on me, I'm game."

"Oh, hey," Nat blushed faintly, fidgeting with her hands absently, "yeah. Our medic, Dr. Serling Roquette, she's a real cutie-patootie, so far as this cishet girl can tell. Just tell her you like The Bee Gees and you're in."

 

[Wyldfire]

"I was born a few miles outside of Metropolis," Kon replied, which was technically true, if you count the fact that he hadn't been so much conventionally "born" as patched together from modified human and Kryptonian DNA in the Cadmus equivalent of a Bacta Tank, and "and I spent a bit of time in Hawai'i, so there's your North and your way, way West. No Cali for me, I'll leave that to those Titans West noobz."



"You're kidding, right?" Superboy snorted. "My life is constantly off the chain!"



"What?!" Superboy interrobanged incredulously as he took to the air and flew hard after Jo. "How come she gets heat vision and I don't? If she turns out to be my missing Kryptonian DNA given human form or something I swear to s2g--"

Helligan stood there staring nervously at Chase.

Chase stood there staring at The GNX and its slagged front tires. Staring so hard that it looked like she might spontaneously develop a form of vision power in her own right.

"At least... at least it's just the tires?" Helligan attempted awkwardly.

Chase didn't respond at first.

Then she put her phone to her ear. "Get me a chopper."

Jo grinned as Supes followed. The Fed's would catch up but she'd get a little time. This FARM law thing could bring trouble to th family....... And Supes might let her know how bad. If it was bad enough Jo knew she'd give up.

She slowed down as she turned into the estate. It had been a plantation back in the bad old days. The main house had been burned down during the Civil war, but the family rebuilt just the blue collar side of a mansion. The old carriage house was converted and No was living in it. Her brothers shared one of the three farm hand mobiles while their houses were being built.

Jo came to a stop at her front door and waved Supes down. Once he landed she opened the door and entered saying "Come on in. Hungry? I could cook ya something..... Care fer a Tea," she picked up a jar of clear liquid off the coffee table and took a swig from it, "Or something a lil harder?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Oh, hey," Nat blushed faintly, fidgeting with her hands absently, "yeah. Our medic, Dr. Serling Roquette, she's a real cutie-patootie, so far as this cishet girl can tell. Just tell her you like The Bee Gees and you're in."

He liked that she blushed, it showed that she wasn't as hard as the most people in the business. "Who knows, perhaps it can help that I can turn into bees and buzz a Bee Gees tune..."

He grew silent then and a whistful look came to his face, "Now if only..."

He shook off the moment and walked over to one of the walls, inspecting the decoration and then turned back to face her, "OK so you got me back here... Now what?"

 

[Varshanka]

The Renegade Nightwing (Joint Post)

Several days ago...

Standing at the door to Wayne Manor Renegade knocked. Loudly.

The door opened to reveal a young woman in rather professional attire. “I’m sorry but we don’t want any solicitors on property.” she stated.

“Tell the boss that Renegade is here?” He replied looking at the girl. “Don’t quibble, argue, or delay. Just go.” he added, making a shooing motion.

“Master Bruce is currently at the Wayne Tower. If you want to talk to him you should make an appointment.” the woman said and began to close the door.

“Nice try. The other boss. Nightwing. If you don’t know who that is you’re an idiot.”

The woman didn’t know who that was, and she was about to get quite indignant with the man when she was stopped. “What’s wrong Elsa?” came the voice of Damian Wayne from behind her. Damian walked up and saw Renegade at the door. “Don’t worry Elsa I’ll handle this.” he told the Eastern European woman.

Once the woman had left Damian turned to Renegade. “What’s wrong?” he asked with a slightly annoyed voice.

“Just here to.. Chat. May I come in?”

“Yes we can talk in the study without anyone overhearing things.” he told him as he motioned for him to enter. The woman had already left not understanding why Master Damian had invited the ruffian inside.

Once across the threshold Renegade paused and looked around. “Nice digs. Hell of a heating bill though.”

“It’s been in my family for generations.” he said as he escorted the man to the study. Once there he offered him a seat. “So what brings you by?” he asked.

Pulling a device out Renegade slowly swept the room. Saying nothing. Once complete he put the item away and took the offered seat. “Man to man? I hate nosey people. Allies.. Someone has been asking about The New Bat.”

“The one with the Titans? What about him?” he asked. He wasn’t going to give Tim’s identity away.

“Actually, no. You. or rather Nightwing. To many names with references to Bat. Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood. Bat brain. Batarang. Damn, sounds like a fetishes dream date.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “So what has this… individual been asking about Nightwing?” he asked.

“Usual stuff. Where you hang from. Who are you. What kind of shit can you pull out of your ass.”

Damian didn’t say anything at first he just nodded and took that in as he thought of everyone that could be asking those questions. Finally he decided to just ask “And who is the individual that is asking these questions?”

“A gentleman with no hair on his head and a fistfull of dollars. I’m pretty sure he has ambition to be the highest politician in this country someday as well. I’d be a bit more careful when entering/exiting your hideout, or whatever cave/tunnel/secret hidey hole you have your shit in.”

“Oh it is. And I’ve already discussed that very thing with Kaldur before he returned to Atlantis.” Damian told him.

“Well, I’d be guessing he’s using EVERY,” she emphasized pointing at the ceiling. “Means at his disposal to locate you.”

“I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t.” Damian replied.

“Over confidence will get you killed. Or if he makes some weird law.. Locked up.”

“Not over confidence. Just a fact. If he wasn’t using every resource to find me and where I hang my mask he’d never find me. But you’re right he’s already garnered a lot of public love thanks to the image that he brought back the Justice League even if it is just another team being called that and not those that disappeared. We can’t let him use us anymore.”

“He uses me a lot, more than most, and never the way i’d like it to be. But just like the others that used my talents, I’ll outlive him. Hopefully after I get what I want.” Stretching out his legs, Renegades form ‘rippled’ muscles and sinew snapping as bones cracked and she reformed. “So on the plane you recognized me, even with a helmet and different form. How?”

“Honestly I wasn’t sure a first… it was just a hunch.” he said truthfully. “One that turned out to be correct of course.”

“Interesting..” she replied standing up with a cat’s slow grace. Clothing that had looked strange on him, looked sexy as hell on her.

“Are you only working for Luthor on this one, or are you working for someone else as well?” he asked as he watched her. It always creeped him out that he didn’t know which was the actual form, especially when she looked like she was now and moving that way only women could.

“I’m always working for Luthor. But I don’t tell him everything I know. He hasn’t contracted me to find Nightwing. So far I’m only being paid to work for The League. Plus expenses. Though my.. Employ is supposed to be secret. But you keep secrets, so I keep secrets.” Walking over to him she looked him up and down, like a chunk of beef hanging in a butcher shop. “Maybe one of these days we should.. Spar.”

His normal instinct was to tell anyone that challenged him in such away was to let them know up front that they would lose. Skill wise he doubted that there was anyone out there that matched him. However there were those that had more experience than he did. And even though he didn’t know much about Renegade, he knew enough that he or she was highly experienced. “I’m sure that would be….interesting.” he told her.

“Very interesting..” She replied, whispering as she changed back to the bigger muscular male form.

“I don’t think your boss will be worried about looking for Nightwing much longer though. He’ll be disappearing for a bit.” he said getting back to what they had been talking about before. He couldn’t get the image of the female form with all that red hair out of his mind though.

“My boss? Or nightwing?” Renegade asked, shifting form several times as he/she/they/it walked around the room. Settling on her Female form, at least for the moment, she looked at him. “I can’t let you kill him. Wound him all you want.”

“Not what I meant.” he told her, or was it him. He wasn’t sure. “There are things in motion, that if they continue a pace, Nightwing will not be returning to the team.” he explained.

“To bad. Was hoping to catch you in the shower sometime. See just what other ‘weapons’ you might be carrying.” Tilting her head to the side she smiled. “Unless you want to shower ... here.”

He was shocked how easy it was for her to turn from business to seduction. In many ways it seemed to him similar to how his father was with the Catwoman. “Well nothing has been decided yet.” he added deciding to keep the fact that when the time was right he’d be returning as Batman. “And in order to have a shower, shouldn’t we do something to dirty ourselves up?” he found himself adding.

“I’m always dirty, unless i'm under contract. Then I’m neat clean and professional.” Renegade replied. “Or would you like me to trash your office while I thrash you?”

And then she smiled. “Or we could just fuck, and then take a shower.”

He smiled “That last suggestion is actually what I was thinking.” he told her. “Follow me.” he said and led her upstairs to where his bedroom was.

 

[ChasNicollette]

He liked that she blushed, it showed that she wasn't as hard as the most people in the business. "Who knows, perhaps it can help that I can turn into bees and buzz a Bee Gees tune..."

"Oh my God," Nat snorted. "You're a living meme."

He grew silent then and a whistful look came to his face, "Now if only..."

Nat blinked. "...if only what?"

He shook off the moment and walked over to one of the walls, inspecting the decoration and then turned back to face her, "OK so you got me back here... Now what?"

"Now we give you the tour, give you the elevator pitch," the young lady scientista explained, "and if you like what you hear, we sign a bit of paperwork-- you can call a lawyer to look it over if you want --and get you a smartwatch. Maybe a suit, do you have a suit-- like a uniform?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

General Lee Inhospitable.

Jo came to a stop at her front door and waved Supes down.

He landed in a crouch, low-key superhero landing, and straightened.

It was interesting that she ran like that when she could fly-- didn't that Agent Chase icebox say this lady could fly? Kon could run like that too, but who ran when the skies gave you a clearer shot point to point?

Weird. No accounting for hick tactics.

Vaguely he recalled some historical note in his programming about some Swamp Fox guerrilla guy or whomever, but he was honestly more familiar with the movie "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson because the guys in charge of his education were kids of the mid-nineties early 2000s and they thought all kids Superboy's "age" still acted like that.

His brain contained some increasingly seriously anachronistic "WB" teen opera references and he was still mad about Joey and Pacey even though the damn show hadn't even aired in his decidedly short lifetime.

But still. As dismissive as he was of the back-country buck-toothed whiskey-swilling set, he still had enough backstory to know he shouldn't let his guard down completely.

Once he landed she opened the door and entered saying "Come on in. Hungry? I could cook ya something..... Care fer a Tea," she picked up a jar of clear liquid off the coffee table and took a swig from it, "Or something a lil harder?"

"Thanks but no thanks, Daisy Duke," he waved dismissively. "I'm not gonna be 21 for a long, long time. At least chronologically. And I've been off Waffle House cuisine since I understood that Bloodhound Gang lyric."

He pointed a thumb back over his shoulder. "You know, you totally just assaulted Federal property back there. And that Chase lady-- there are lesbians who don't love their wives as much as Chase loves that car. I should probably be rearranging your surprisingly nice teeth right now just to make sure I stay on her good side. But you could, ah-- make nicey-nice-- save me the trouble of trashing Tara O'Hara, here."