Justice League: The New Wave (IC)

[ChasNicollette]

Anasazi Girls.

4. 3. 7. 6.

H-E-R-O.

SssshhCLICK!

"I am... WILDSTAR!"

Swirling blue anti-energy and Kirby Dots in a pale white containment suit, wings of power sprouting from her back...

...vast senses expanding in her head...

"Oh. Whoa."

She put both hands on her helmet, closing her eyes...

"I haven't been an energy being since..."

 

[LuckyVic]

Green Arrow looked around. He was surprised at how dark it was considering it was supposed to still be day time here. Then he looked up and understood why. Directly overhead hung the biggest chunk of rock he had ever seen.

Well okay he had seen bigger, but they had been mountains and had not been floating above his head!

Whistling appreciatively he calculated the distance between the tallest structure, being the Space Needle, and the bottom of the rock. Too far away for even him to shoot. There was no way he was reaching it without help.

"Okay, so it looks like the non flyers are not getting up there without the aid of the flyers among us. Anyone got a plan how we should split ourselves up?"

"No sense making a plan until we know what we're dealing with," Ruby pointed out. "Can we get a read on it with scanners or super-senses now that we're closer to it?"

She glanced down at her Dial.

"Speaking of knowing what we're dealing with..."

She thumbed the number 6.

The letter O.

Finalizing her Dial.

4. 3. 7. 6.

H-E-R-O.

SssshhCLICK!

Jo looked around to make sure everyone was okay as she growled "Someone needs to readjust that phase inverter." She the have a very confused look. "Teleported must a scrambled Mah head. Sorry y'all."

She turned her head up and gave Mount St. Floaty a good looking over with her penetravision to see what she could see.

"I am... WILDSTAR!"

Swirling blue anti-energy and Kirby Dots in a pale white containment suit, wings of power sprouting from her back...

...vast senses expanding in her head...

"Oh. Whoa."

She put both hands on her helmet, closing her eyes...

"I haven't been an energy being since..."

"Man-made scanning techniques will prove to be infective. The alien object has some sort of stealth technology that deflects our most advanced systems." came the dark foreboding, clearly artificial voice from just behind the newly materialized group of heroes.

When the group looked back there was a figure in black, with a cape covering him as if it were darkness draped over his shoulders. But even the most inexperienced of them would have no problem recognizing who this was supposed to be…The Batman.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120706185954/thebatmananimatedseries/images/e/e1/BAT_IN_THE_SHADOWS.jpg

 

[Zet_Cross]

"No sense making a plan until we know what we're dealing with," Ruby pointed out. "Can we get a read on it with scanners or super-senses now that we're closer to it?"

She glanced down at her Dial.

"Speaking of knowing what we're dealing with..."

She thumbed the number 6.

The letter O.

Finalizing her Dial.

4. 3. 7. 6.

H-E-R-O.

SssshhCLICK!

"Good thing my scanning system isn't man-made." GRID switches his visor to Scan mode and takes a reading of the floating landmass. "What's it look like up there Lysl?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

What's Goin' On?

"Man-made scanning techniques will prove to be infective. The alien object has some sort of stealth technology that deflects our most advanced systems." came the dark foreboding, clearly artificial voice from just behind the newly materialized group of heroes.

When the group looked back there was a figure in black, with a cape covering him as if it were darkness draped over his shoulders. But even the most inexperienced of them would have no problem recognizing who this was supposed to be…The Batman.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120706185954/thebatmananimatedseries/images/e/e1/BAT_IN_THE_SHADOWS.jpg

Wildstar's ocular wavelengths widened in her visored crackle of a face.

"Bat..." and then she smiled faintly, like she'd just tracked what was happening. "...man."

Ruby was, of course, part of Wildstar at the moment. And there had been that conversation in a medlab not so very long ago. She connected the dots. Hell, tracing paths was her stock in trade.

But they would find, in short order, that it wasn't just a technological phenomenon that was obstructing their sensory scans.

Superhuman senses like Karan's, Rebel's, Wildstar's, Rose's, these too would blur and smear and fragment if they tried to peer too close. Even G.R.I.D.'s Scan Visor would not come back with clear readings on the object-- alien technology far in advance of 21st Century Earth-1.

Mystical senses, too, like The Ghost Rider's-- which Raven would be able to confirm when she showed up.

Whatever this jamming signal was, it could defy a vast suite of sensoria.

Or maybe it was a variety of powerful jamming techniques working together? Tech and magic, used separately but synergizing perfectly?

 

[Wyldfire]

Jo shook her head. If she tried any harder she was gonna get sick. "Damn that sucked ta hell an back
Ain't ever had nothin block Mah penetravision before. These guys are good."

She looked at the new guy. "I always figured you'd be taller. Huh. Go figure."

 

[Varshanka]

Reappearing far above the object, Raven scryed, using everything she could as she focused her spells on seeing. Instead of floating or drifting.

Nothing.

Nothing was capable of peering into the murky crap it was casting out. Not eyes balls, or spells, not even the third eye of a caster.

And then.. she was shunted.

One moment she was dropping onto it from above, and the next she was shifted several miles to the west. And she couldn’t tell how.

Fingers flickered and she reappeared at the Space Needle, drifting down to the level of her ‘allies’. More like coworkers from the way they behaved.

Looking at the group, she sighed. The planet was doomed.

Sharing what little she knew, size, shape, and distance of the vessel, she shrugged. “Suggestions?”

 

[ChasNicollette]

Lockdown.

"My sensory wavelengths cannot perceive the interloper directly," Wildstar acknowledged, then held up the spread fingers of one hand and tilted her head to squint between them, "but my tracking sense is coalescing. I see its path, from where it has come. I see the jump it took through space to get here from the moon. I see that it has been hiding behind our moon for two weeks. Since the Day of The Kobra. And before that... it came from..."

Her face scrunched up, and Wildstar placed a palm on her visor-- grunted with effort--

"--so far away. Beyond my ability to track? Or they have covered their path the same way they cover themselves now."

Then she paused, and lowered her gloved hand from her helmet, and noted with eerie prescience: "Raven is coming. They sent her out to sea."

"I can think of worse places," Aquagirl smirked faintly.

Fingers flickered and she reappeared at the Space Needle, drifting down to the level of her ‘allies’. More like coworkers from the way they behaved.

Looking at the group, she sighed. The planet was doomed.

Sharing what little she knew, size, shape, and distance of the vessel, she shrugged. “Suggestions?”

"You approached it, and they didn't kill you?" Rose wondered. "Not that I'm not glad of that, I mean, I definitely am, but-- why wouldn't they just squish you like they did those poor fighter pilots?"

But before anyone could come up with a reasonable answer, Wildstar's oculars widened again: "Teleport inbound!"

"SNATIT REHTEGOT!" a voice split the air around them, and in an instant of flashing lavender light the circle that The New League had landed in had been surrounded by another circle of figures.

The Titans East: Superboy, Starfire, Kid Flash-- The Atom stood tiny upon his shoulder, Terra, Solstice, Grunge, The Knight-- even Red Arrow had returned from his walkabout-- and their own grim Batman dressed in red and in black.

And on the other side of the circle, The Titans West: Silver Bullet, Captain Marvel, Aztek, and it had been of course Zatanna's mystic speech that had brought them here.

As a member of both teams and guardian of Seattle, Teen Lantern stood poised between the two assembled groups, linking the semi-circles.

All of the members of The Titans who were not currently members of The New Justice League.

Batman stepped forward, glowering at... well... Batman. "Stand down, 'Justice League.' We'll take this from here. You're not equipped to save this city-- you can barely save yourselves."

 

[Wyldfire]

Jo took one look and there he was. Stooperboy in alla his self importantness. All she could say was "Oh sweet baby Jesus. First day on the job an you gotta show up?"

Thea looked at Roy. "What's up Red? Tell me this isn't gonna turn into a turf thing."

 

[ChasNicollette]

A Kid's Game.

Jo took one look and there he was. Stooperboy in alla his self importantness. All she could say was "Oh sweet baby Jesus. First day on the job an you gotta show up?"

Superboy snorted noisily, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows arching over his red-lensed sunglasses. "Wait, you're a member of The Justice League? You? Seriously, am I being Punk'd? Post-Ashton Punk'd?"

Thea looked at Roy. "What's up Red? Tell me this isn't gonna turn into a turf thing."

"Don't need to turn into any kinda thing," Roy drawled, "unless you guys make it a thing. Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'."

He did narrow his gaze under his baseball cap at the one calling himself Green Arrow.

"I know you know your shit, Wildkitty. But you're running with some damn amateurs, and now the professionals are here."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Connor looked from one Bat to the other. Oh great now there were two of them. Just what the world needed, two know it all detectives who thought they could run everyone's lives.

He had an inkling of who the one in front of him was. The color scheme was a bit of a giveaway, and although he didn't know the guys name he could guess who he had been. The other one he had his suspicions, but he would keep them to himself for now. Still he didn't appreciate the way Red Bat was looking down on them.

Moving forward he placed himself between the two of them and looked at him. "So, Red Bat I guess," he said with a small upturn of his mouth. "What gives you the right to give orders around here. Last I heard, the TITANS were backup for the league." He looked around at those gathered around and shrugged. "Anyone heard differently. Any of you TITANS been invited to join the league?"

Smiling he looked at the Bat again. "As for not being able to handle ourselves, well I didn't see you when we were fighting Kobra and his handpicked lieutenants. Oh I am sure you were all out helping save your own little parts of the world, That's what you are there for. However the LEAGUE is there to save the world and that is what WE did."

He turned his back on the wanna be Bat then and walked back towards his fellow Leaguer's. Without turning his head he talked back to him. "You reservists can remain on standby and help out the civilian military. Let the big leagues deal with the problem."

 

[ChasNicollette]

A Kid's Game.

Moving forward he placed himself between the two of them and looked at him. "So, Red Bat I guess," he said with a small upturn of his mouth. "What gives you the right to give orders around here. Last I heard, the TITANS were backup for the league." He looked around at those gathered around and shrugged. "Anyone heard differently. Any of you TITANS been invited to join the league?"

Aquagirl looked like someone had shot a dolphin in front of her.

Wildstar rubbed the back of her head.

"Not to undermine you, Arrow," Wildstar butted in, "but I'm a Titan. At least, Hotline is. And Kaldur. And Raven. And Cyborg was a Titan before he was asked to join the original League... Static was kind of a Titan for a little bit... and Nightwing did a tour a little while ago... and Wildcat's part of the Titan mentorship program..."

"I was a Titan before I went on leave to work on my waterbending in Atlantis," Lorena added, feeling awkward as Hell.

"To say nothing of the fact that The Titans were running around for weeks filling in for The Justice League while you guys were still figuring out how to find your asses with both hands, but whatevs," Kid Flash shrugged.

"I was a Leaguer before I was a Titan," Silver Bullet wisecracked, "and from where I'm standing I feel like I traded up."

He and Captain Marvel fistbumped.

Smiling he looked at the Bat again. "As for not being able to handle ourselves, well I didn't see you when we were fighting Kobra and his handpicked lieutenants. Oh I am sure you were all out helping save your own little parts of the world, That's what you are there for. However the LEAGUE is there to save the world and that is what WE did."

Batman Red didn't reply, he just narrowed the white lenses of his mask.

Meanwhile, Wally retorted: "Except without the intel and the serum sample we got together, and the spell Zatanna helped cast, you guys would still be fighting Mammoth-clones in the streets right now. And we didn't straight up assassinate any cult leaders on satellite footage in the process."

He turned his back on the wanna be Bat then and walked back towards his fellow Leaguer's. Without turning his head he talked back to him. "You reservists can remain on standby and help out the civilian military. Let the big leagues deal with the problem."

"You keep throwing around the name 'League' like it means something," Red Arrow grimaced, spitting on the ground beside him, "but what the Hell do you know about what names mean? You call yourself Green Arrow, where the fuck do you get off using that name? The real G.A. wouldn't have wasted two punches on an impostor like you in the streets of Star City."

 

[Wyldfire]

Superboy snorted noisily, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows arching over his red-lensed sunglasses. "Wait, you're a member of The Justice League? You? Seriously, am I being Punk'd? Post-Ashton Punk'd?"

"Ya know Stoops, Chase was gonna offer ya into th League, then she met th Belle a th ball."

"Don't need to turn into any kinda thing," Roy drawled, "unless you guys make it a thing. Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'."

He did narrow his gaze under his baseball cap at the one calling himself Green Arrow.

"I know you know your shit, Wildkitty. But you're running with some damn amateurs, and now the professionals are here."

"No, no, no. We ain't playing this people. We need ta work together Here," Thea said. Let's be reasonable here. New kid stand down. Green you oughta know better."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Child's Play.

"Ya know Stoops, Chase was gonna offer ya into th League, then she met th Belle a th ball."

"More like The Belle of The Ballsack, there, Auntie Bellum," Superboy snarked back. "Like I would ever join a team bankrolled by Lex fucking Luthor. LEX. LUTHOR. Might as well have joined a team with Brainiac!"

And then he scowled. "On top of that-- do you know how many clones your new pals Sherman's Marched that day? You know how that makes me feel, like, on a personal level? To be shown how... expendable they think clones are? I've barely slept a night since!"

"No, no, no. We ain't playing this people. We need ta work together Here," Thea said. Let's be reasonable here. New kid stand down. Green you oughta know better."

"I fhink we should let him talk, Coach Grant," The Knight frowned below her visor. "It's a fine fhing for 'im to talk to us like 'e's class an' we're brass. Not like a chav like me's never 'eard talk like that before."

 

[Wyldfire]

"More like The Belle of The Ballsack, there, Auntie Bellum," Superboy snarked back. "Like I would ever join a team bankrolled by Lex fucking Luthor. LEX. LUTHOR. Might as well have joined a team with Brainiac!"

And then he scowled. "On top of that-- do you know how many clones your new pals Sherman's Marched that day? You know how that makes me feel, like, on a personal level? To be shown how... expendable they think clones are? I've barely slept a night since!"



"I fhink we should let him talk, Coach Grant," The Knight frowned below her visor. "It's a fine fhing for 'im to talk to us like 'e's class an' we're brass. Not like a chav like me's never 'eard talk like that before."

"And I think we all need to calm th hell down and look the fuck up. We're givin our guests a bad first impression." Thea looked at the Bat twins hard.

"I know Bigbat would have both yer asses fer actin like this. You two stick throwers can measure yet shafts later. Lil S, you and Hillbillie Jo can get a room later."

She looked at Knight. "You ain't green. Look. Up." she pointed at the flying mountain. "This look like the time ta fight amongst ourselves?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

On the Clock.

Superboy made gagging noises at the suggestion he should shack up with Dixie Cousins, there. Of course, this was probably a case of him protestething too much, but he'd never admit that at the moment.

She looked at Knight. "You ain't green. Look. Up." she pointed at the flying mountain. "This look like the time ta fight amongst ourselves?"

"This isn't a pissing contest, Wildcat," Batman Red growled before Beryl could reply. "And like Red Arrow said, it doesn't have to be a fight. Just stand down and let us handle this. Just maybe we can get through this without slaughtering your primary opponents or destroying crucial parts of a city's infrastructure. Stand. Down."

 

[Wyldfire]

Superboy made gagging noises at the suggestion he should shack up with Dixie Cousins, there. Of course, this was probably a case of him protestething too much, but he'd never admit that at the moment.



"This isn't a pissing contest, Wildcat," Batman Red growled before Beryl could reply. "And like Red Arrow said, it doesn't have to be a fight. Just stand down and let us handle this. Just maybe we can get through this without slaughtering your primary opponents or destroying crucial parts of a city's infrastructure. Stand. Down."

"Batdude, you know we're here under DEO authority, right? But if you got beef an wanna be in charge, we'll support ya on it. But, we are here ta do our jobs." Thea looked at her teammates. "We made some mistakes with Kobra. But you guys weren't there, so back off the judgements, okay?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

It's Our Right to Fight.

"Batdude, you know we're here under DEO authority, right? But if you got beef an wanna be in charge, we'll support ya on it. But, we are here ta do our jobs." Thea looked at her teammates. "We made some mistakes with Kobra. But you guys weren't there, so back off the judgements, okay?"

"All officially registered superhero teams liaise with The DEO in one form or another," Batman Red replied tersely.

"Yeah," Captain Marvel pointed out. "We've got one of those liaison agents, too! Ours is from L.A. and she's a cyborg!"

"Yes, thank you, Captain," Batman Red squinted, then held up his wrist and touched a key on it, projecting a holographic screen up from it-- his PDA. On the screen was displayed an official document. "On the other hand, this morning I spoke with Deputy Director Bones himself. Our jurisdictional authority now officially overrides yours in this matter. As for judgments-- mistakes are one thing. Objective analysis of tactical and moral failures is damn well another."

His gaze darted from Wildcat to the other Batman at this. "Wholesale killing of human supervillains, not just the clone army? I can see destroying the bridge as a tactical response, but the Sports Complex? How many people were still inside those buildings when this team somehow magickally wiped it off of the map, 'Batman?' How many? Do you even know, did you even bother doing the math, or was it just-- collateral damage on their rampage? Nightwing and Aquaman were team leaders, and now you're... Nightwing's 'proxy.' The responsibility, the buck stops with you!"

"If you cannot control your team for the safety of human lives, I have no choice but to shut it down before more irrevocable harm is done."

 

[LuckyVic]

Damian knew that Tim was baiting him. And he had to admit that there was a part of him that wanted to just belt him one. He had tried for weeks to get in touch with him to discuss things privately. But he didn't get back to him. The number of civilian casualties were something that bothered him... it had bothered him during the mission. But he wasn't actually in charge then that was Kal'dur. But then again the excuse I was just following orders had been used throught history for far to long. "You're right I am Nightwing's proxy, however I am not Nightwing. And even though I am helping out with these people I am not their leader. And if I was, I'd say that the one that was showing poor leadership here is you." Batman said. "After all it was your team that began to make things hostile upon arrival." he added.

He was thinking about if he should give Batman Red a chance to defend himself. But decided against it. "This event is far more than what one team can handle. If you want to take jurisdiction, fine. But use the resources that are made available... two teams means twice the ability to deal with this quickly and with as few casualties as possible." He was sure Drake would be shocked by the offer of diplomacy.

 

[Wyldfire]

Thea looked at the Bat and his document and grabbed her phone and hit a key. "Chase, we got an issue here. Titans went ta Bones and Got jurisdictional authority on this. Request permission ta pull back to perimeter until the Titans screw the pooch. We can wipe their asses fer them then."

 

[ChasNicollette]

The Chase Quickens.

Thea looked at the Bat and his document and grabbed her phone and hit a key. "Chase, we got an issue here. Titans went ta Bones and Got jurisdictional authority on this. Request permission ta pull back to perimeter until the Titans screw the pooch. We can wipe their asses fer them then."

"...what? Bones has been in The Situation Room at The White House with an array of interdepartmental security heads since this broke at oh-dark-thirty this morning. How did they--?"

"Stand by and hold your position, Wildcat. I need to verify this."

And just before Wildcat's smartwatch went on hold, she heard Chase snap in no uncertain tones into her own phone handset: "I need Director Waller. No, I know, and I don't care if she is personally briefing President Obama as we speak, this is a Code 52, you get her on the phone."

 

[ChasNicollette]

A Lonely Place of Dying.

"You're right I am Nightwing's proxy, however I am not Nightwing. And even though I am helping out with these people I am not their leader. And if I was, I'd say that the one that was showing poor leadership here is you." Batman said. "After all it was your team that began to make things hostile upon arrival." he added.

Batman Red scowled.

"This event is far more than what one team can handle. If you want to take jurisdiction, fine. But use the resources that are made available... two teams means twice the ability to deal with this quickly and with as few casualties as possible." He was sure Drake would be shocked by the offer of diplomacy.

"Don't you dare," Batman Red snarled, stepping forward, poking a finger towards Batman's chest. "Don't you dare pick now to pretend to take the high road. I bring hostility because that's the only language you've ever understood."

"This 'event' is nothing that a competent team can't take in stride. And that. Quite frankly. Is not The New 'Justice League.'"

"Damn right, you're not Nightwing. You're not Batman either. You're not half the man either of them are. And--"

He clenched his teeth, and he held up that finger instructively.

"--if you don't take off that cowl right now and walk away from this, so help me God, I will rip it off of you."

 

[Lunaramblings]

The Sandman grind beneath the Mantle.

"Sure, Mister. If you think I can be useful, I'll come with you. I like to be useful, and help people."

The Sandman reaches out and places one golden hand on the Golem's shoulder.

"Ok kid. Hang on to your butt."

The Sandman had never done this outside of Dream. Never taken someone with him into the Leylines. As the Sands of Dream whip about them, the two physical beings vanish. The Sandman focuses. This was one of his most taxing gifts as it were, let alone dragging a giant obsidian Golem along.

The Sandman focused on the Lines of The Earth. Not just the physical cracks of the crust and the mantle, but on the lines that traveled deeper. He drew in power from his connection to the Dreaming. Few things are as potent as Dreams, for in them, all things are possible, they are where Hope lives.

Using this untapped potential The Sandman and Braddock arrive at the outskirts of the Space Needle Loop in mere moments. As they emerge from the Lines of the Slumbering Earth, The Sandman is shocked to see the gathered heroes seemingly facing off at one another rather than focusing on the threat at hand. They are bickering and posturing rather than coming together.

As the materialize just beyond the gathered Heroes, The Sandman speaks.

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster." The Sandman slowly cocks his head to the side, looking at the gathered "heroes". Placing himself in front of the Golem in case his words inspire violence rather than the unity he is aiming for. "I am The Sandman. I am here to help. And as a friend of mine once said, 'Trust dreams. Trust your heart, and trust your story.'"

 

[ChasNicollette]

lùhng léuih gāi jok fáan

As the materialize just beyond the gathered Heroes, The Sandman speaks.

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster." The Sandman slowly cocks his head to the side, looking at the gathered "heroes". Placing himself in front of the Golem in case his words inspire violence rather than the unity he is aiming for. "I am The Sandman. I am here to help. And as a friend of mine once said, 'Trust dreams. Trust your heart, and trust your story.'"

Grunge whipped his head around and scowled at this newcomer and his great bouldery friend.

"They have a saying in America, Gweilo," he grimaced, "about appropriating other people's cultures. Not to mention, here's one from Hong Kong-- faht dōu yáuh fó, which means 'Even the Buddha gets inflamed,' translation, I have had enough of this shit. Nobody asked you or your big Ben Grimm buddy to stick your noses into this, so feel free to fuck off."

 

[LuckyVic]

Batman Red scowled.



"Don't you dare," Batman Red snarled, stepping forward, poking a finger towards Batman's chest. "Don't you dare pick now to pretend to take the high road. I bring hostility because that's the only language you've ever understood."

"This 'event' is nothing that a competent team can't take in stride. And that. Quite frankly. Is not The New 'Justice League.'"

"Damn right, you're not Nightwing. You're not Batman either. You're not half the man either of them are. And--"

He clenched his teeth, and he held up that finger instructively.

"--if you don't take off that cowl right now and walk away from this, so help me God, I will rip it off of you."

"And just how compitent was your team when they were first brought together." Batman said calmly which added an even more haunting aspect to his modulated voice. "Or how about the original Titans, the original Oustiders, or for that matter even the original Justice League. Did these people make mistakes on their first outting? Yes they did. However it's what they do from now on, and how they learn from those mistakes is what will determine how history will remember them... or not." he added listening to the call through his suits communications suite. "As for this cowl... I suggest you talk to your mentor about that. Because only he can have me remove it."

Batman knew what skills Batman Red possessed. Just as Batman Red knew his own skills. As good as the older man was, Batman doubted that Batman Red could beat him in a fight. Plus if he tried to remove the cowl forcefully he'd be in for a shock.

 

[Lunaramblings]

Grunge whipped his head around and scowled at this newcomer and his great bouldery friend.

"They have a saying in America, Gweilo," he grimaced, "about appropriating other people's cultures. Not to mention, here's one from Hong Kong-- faht dōu yáuh fó, which means 'Even the Buddha gets inflamed,' translation, I have had enough of this shit. Nobody asked you or your big Ben Grimm buddy to stick your noses into this, so feel free to fuck off."

The Sandman looked over at Grunge. His gleaming golden mask hiding the grin spreading across his face.

"Cultural appropriation usually requires more than quoting a great man. But I'm not here to fight you. I have come to protect the world from those that would harm it. I am assuming that we are all here for the same reason. Now, I am sure we can sit here and debate past actions, but, as my mentor once explained, there is no land beyond the law, eventually we all pay for our sins. In the meantime, perhaps we should try to do good while we can, rather than try to tear down one another."