Issue Four: "Sneaking Mission"

The call comes through late at night, the tower is quiet, you'd think empty, but you'd be wrong. She struggles in the darkness, clumsily moving her hand around the side of her bed, searching, groping away in the dark, until she grabs the phone and pulls it to her ear, suddenly awake. Alert.

"Baby."

"Who is this?"

"Who do you think?"

"Only person who'd be as rude to start a conversation with 'Baby', who has access to this phone line, who hasn't called me in a good long time... Vic? Is that you, you slimy bastard?"

"Darling please, I thought we were past all that! Besides... I have a propostion for you."

"If it's anything like the last time you came up with a proposition, nuh-uh, not this girl, not again..."

"I'm in Vegas..."

"You've piqued my interest..."

"... And I'm trying to save lives."

"Oh, lover, talk dirty to me, talk... Oh, wait. What do you need? Why me?"

"Carrie... I found something out. About the DEO. About the government, and... And they're killing people baby, they're killing men, women and children, and the Justice League don't know. There's no evidence. If I don't bring proof to them, they'll keep looking out for the big threats, not the little ones."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"I need your expertise. Your power. I need to save lives."

"Vic... If it's as bad as it sounds I'll get Josiah to charter me a plane to Vegas in two minutes. Maybe even less. You know I'll be there for you, just like you'll be there for me if I ever need any help. We're friends..."

"We used to be more..."

"A lifetime ago. I'll get back to you, I've got your cell."

"And I've got yours."

“Just a small town girl… Living in a lonely world… She took the midnight train going…” He pulls the car over to the side of the road, and clambers out of the front seat, and then opens the back door. “Anywhere…” He pulls out his ducttaped captive and then pushes him to the ground, causing the man to be knocked awake. “Just a city boy…”

“Mmmf!” The man screams beneath his gag, his eyes widening as he sees his kidnapper take out a penknife.

“Born and raised in South Detroit… He took the midnight train…” His attacker flicks it open and grabs the man by the arm, and slits down the duct tape, freeing him. “Going…” He smiles and then kicks the man down the side of the road, into a muddy puddle.

The man rips the tape from his mouth and screams at his captor, and then his eyes widen as he sees the shadowy figure of the man, his trench coat billowing in the wind, his fingers pointed at him in the shape of a gun. “Anywhere…” He turns and climbs back into his car, and then drives away, pumping up the volume of the radio.

“There are only a few superhero teams. Only one that the President barely trusts.” King Faraday looks around. “But he trusts the Justice League. Trusts them to do the right thing, even though they have, on more than one occasion, gone against the will of the American people…”

Aquaman places his elbows on the meeting table, places his hands against his chin, and replies calmly. “We don’t act for America, Agent Faraday. We act for the world.”

Faraday rolls his eyes, nodding. “I’m not going to drag this bit of exposition on for long, ‘heroes’… Straight to the point, we want you to bring in The Question.”

Batman steps out of the shadows behind Faraday, surprised. “Excuse me?”

Faraday turns and shakes his head. “Hrm. Don’t try and scare me, Batman. I know you’re a man. Nothing more. The Question is a vigilante, very much like yourself. He’s also a suspected terrorist, and also wanted for the murder of Aristole Rodor. I think you all know about that, don’t you? You’ve all spent some time in Hub City…” Faraday smiles. “We don’t like vigilantes, Batman. But we aren’t interested in YOU right now, we want The Question. It’s all legal and above board. He’s wanted for murder, and we would like you to bring him in.”

“We are not policemen.” Wonder Woman grimaces, angry. “We do not act as bailiffs, we are here, as sanctioned by the UN, to protect the world against threats that you cannot take care of.”

Faraday rolls his eyes again and slams his fist against the table. “You are EXACTLY that, Wonder Woman. You are policemen of the world, you… You are officers of the law and this is a job that you can take care of. He IS one of your own.”

“Faraday.” The DEO Director turns at the unearthly voice. “We shall discuss this. Please leave us.”

“Manhunter.” Faraday acknowledges the Martian Manhunter with a sneer and then turns for the door. “Alright. I expect him handed to us. I expect nothing more than cooperation. I expect you to do the right thing.”

“We shall discuss this.” J’onn nods at his words and then watches as Faraday leaves the room, escorted by Green Lantern. “Talk to them Jordan. Do the right thing.”

“Right Faraday, the right thing.” The hero laughs and then rolls his eyes, pointing to where the doors is. “You know your way out.”




“Goddamn aliens.” Faraday stands on the steps of the Hall of Justice and then waits for a moment, a black car rolling up with official government plates in moments. “You’re late.”

“Sorry boss.” Chloe Sullivan smiles and steps out the car. “How’d it go? Was Colonel Jordan there?”

Faraday grumbles, knowing the young agent was trying to get a raise out of him. “Hypocrites in their tower, looking down on us. They’re out of control. Come on, we’re heading to Las Vegas. Take us to the airport.”

“Yessir.” She smiles and climbs back in, turning the key in the ignition and heading towards the city.




Batman sits at the table and crosses his arms, a look of grim determination on his face. “The Question is one of us, we can’t hunt him down.”

Aquaman puts his hands up defensively. “I never said we would, Bruce, but he IS wanted for murder.”

Batman grimaces at the King of the Seven Sea’s words. “He’s no murderer.”

Aquaman nods. “Never said he was, but it’s all very official looking. “This warrant is two years old. If we bring him in maybe it’ll clear something’s up.”

“We’re NOT bringing him in!”

Superman looks around at the others. “What do you think Diana? Barry? Hal?”

Green Lantern bites his lip and then looks from his ring to the others. “This is a request from the President guys, I don’t know, but I think we should consider it.”

“Consider, yes. Actually do it?” Diana rolls her eyes. “I’m not here to do the bidding of Maxwell Lord. If I wanted to get preoccupied with politics I’d return to Themyscira, but I am here to help the world, to preach peace. I do not want to become known as an employee of Lord, as that would hinder my mission.”

“Hal’s right though, Diana, we’ve got to consider it, especially since Lord’s been so good to us!” Barry looks at the Amazon and then to Batman. “J’onn?”

“We do nothing.” The Martian nods. “We shall see how this all plays out. Batman is correct, The Question is no murderer. But we cannot dismiss President Lord. I must meditate on this, excuse me.” The Manhunter from Mars becomes immaterial and floats out of the room, leaving the rest of the League alone.

Batman looks to the others. “I’m with J’onn.”

“Fine. But we’ll keep on top of the situation. Barry, could you set the computers to monitor the news feeds for anything to do with The Question?”

“Already done, Big Blue.”

Superman nods and smiles. “Now, any other League business we can sort?”

“Anything you need fixing?” Claudette smiles as she enters the lab. “Anything at all?”

“Ms Moore!” The lead scientist smiles and walks over to the woman. “I heard about what happened, and I must say, I am proud of you!”

“He was bad for me. I know that.” She nods slightly.

“Oh yes, your divorce… No, I’m talking about last night…” The scientist smiles and nudges her. “I heard you made off with a handsome man at Stuff’s…” She winks at her.

“Yeah…” She grimaces. He’d left without a word. But does he know that? She doubts it. “He was nice. Really nice. Weird thought, heh.”

“So? What was his name?”

“Vic. Victor Szasz.” The lead scientist freezes and drops the test tube from his hand. “What?”

“V-Victor Zsasz? I’m from… Gotham and that’s the name of a serial killer Claude… I mean… Uh… Must be a coincidence?” She laughs uncomfortably. “He didn’t happen to have tally marks covering his body? Or anything…?”

“No, no… He was nice. Not… Not overtly a serial killer, you know? Heh… Oh yeah, that’s right, I came down here to ask if you could get me another key card. I’ve misplaced mine…”

The scientist smiles and laughs. “And you don’t want your veins to collapse after constant blood tests? Sure, I’ve got a spare one somewhere. Where’d you last see it?”

“I can’t remember, that’s the thing. If I find it I’ll report it found… But until then, you know?”

The scientist nods. “Sure thing Claude. Ok, here you go.” He hands her the new key card. “Keep your veins intact!”

“I was lucky to catch you. The jet setting life style that working for Josiah Power provides, must make it difficult for fitting in the little guy.” He hands her a glass and they sit.

“You were hardly ever the… Little guy… Vic.” She smiles and runs her finger round her glass. “So what can I do for you? You didn’t call me to come down here just because you want to reminisce about… Old times.” Her eyebrow arches. “Unless you do?” Her hand finds its way onto Vic’s lap, causing his smile to widen.

“There is nothing more I’d normally like to do…”

“Normally…”

“Normally. But there’s something I need your help with. Carrie… I’m going to be straight with you.”

She laughs. “Oh, really?”

He nods. “Yes. Baby… I want to break into a government complex that is contained in a pocket dimension to find out whether or not the DEO is kidnapping metahumans. Using them as breeding stock for a new race of soldier. I can get in, I won’t be detected, but there are more than one ways to be discovered in these places. Your powers would allow us to get around undetected.”

“Us?”

“I have another person coming along. You might know him, but I doubt him. Ted does though. He calls himself ‘Bug’. He’s a technological blindspot to anything with a computer chip in. He can stop a pacemaker and he can turn off cameras. And he’s on the pay roll.”

“Sounds impressive.”

“He sure is. Diminutive too, but impressive in what he does.”

“Ok Vic. Fill me in… Later.” She stands and takes his hand, and pulls him out of his seat. “I’ll be all yours… But like I said…” She leans in close, and nearly bites his ear lobe off. “Tell me later…”