#38: Agents of Chaos

"My brother was a bad, bad man. He used our parent's wealth to fund a terrorist organisation that caused hurt to so many people across this small marble of a world we live on. With his death, and my release from captivity, I decided to do something with this new chance of a life I've been given. I decided to take all the bad he did, and make good from it. So I want to present, for the first time, and hopefully not the last, Kobra, an organisation dedicated to promoting peace and well-being across Earth. My name is Jason Burr. And I'm here to help."

John Stewart, Earth's Green Lantern, paused the monitor so that Jason Burr's face hung on the screen. He turned to Queen Diana of Themyscira, Wonder Woman, the two of them sat in the control centre of the Justice League's headquarters, floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

"What do you think?"

"Jason Burr was kept in solitary confinement in the hidden Kobra citadel for nearly two decades. And with his brother now dead, he has assumed control of the organisation."

"Looks good for a man who hasn't seen the light of day for twenty years," said John, considering the image of the man.

"Make-up," said Batman, making an unannounced appearance. "Jason Burr was experimented on every day during his captivity. The extent of those experiments are unknown, but I'll tell you this, he's wearing make-up."

The Flash leaned against the doorframe, smiling. "Sure, but he's on television, Bats. Who doesn't wear make-up on television?"

Batman didn't answer. His glare was answer enough.

Wonder Woman smiled. "So, Batman, your thoughts?"

"None of them pleasant," he replied. "This is a man whose twin brother ran a death cult from the age of ten. Jeffrey Burr's first order was for his brother to be taken prisoner, and that imprisonment lasted for the majority of his life. If Jason Burr isn't damaged goods, I would be very surprised."

"There has been a Kobra since there has been recorded history," said Wonder Woman. "Even in the archives of Themyscira there is record of a 'Kobra' who sought to bring about 'the great darkness'. The Kobra cult later co-opted Hindu imagery into their madness, and from that point forward they sought to bring about 'Kali-Yuga'."

"An age of chaos," said Batman. He typed a series of commands into the computer bank and looked up at the empty screen. "Computer, create new profile. Name, 'Jason Burr'. Affiliated groups, 'Kobra'." He turned to the others. "This is just the beginning."

Wonder Woman placed a hand on Batman's shoulder. "It always is."

"Come on," said Batman. "The others are waiting. Let's begin."




The Justice League's base of operations was currently anchored in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The centre point of the artificial island was a sprawling tower, reaching upwards and nearly breaching the clouds above. Around the tower were smaller buildings, generators, residential areas, medical facilities, all dormant and empty unless there was need for them.

"I call this meeting of the Justice League to order," said Superman, tapping the ceremonial gavel against the ceremonial sounding block. "It's been a while, my friends."

Aquaman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter, Superman and Wonder Woman were all sat around the large, round table that was placed in the centre of the room. There had once been more seats at the table, more members of the Justice League than these seven, but that was a time ago now. The founding members were assembled. The meeting was in session.

"The world's been quiet," said Green Lantern, leaning forward. "This whole sector of space, quiet as a mouse."

"Hh. You obviously don't see what I see," said Batman, fingers latticed in front of his face.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, how goes Batman, Incorporated?" asked The Flash. "I have to say, I was shocked to see Bruce Wayne stand up front of the world's media and announce himself as the benefactor of Batman's crusade against injustice."

"I think we all were," said Superman. "But that's neither here nor there. I'm glad to hear you have found a way to reach more people, Batman."

"I'm not here to talk about that," said Batman. "The Justice League haven't met for six months. There hasn't been a need. Superman-- you worked with the Global Peace Agency to take down the Kobra cult last month. Green Lantern-- you dealt with the biological attack on New York so that there were no casualties. Flash, Manhunter, you've all dealt with similiar situations, situations wherein a Justice League could have done the job, but a single hero did what was needed. Wonder Woman, Aquaman, you too. Let's not waste anytime. We're here today to answer a simple question: Does the world need a Justice League?"

The priority alarm went off.

"Justice League," Blue Beetle's face flashed up as a hologram in the centre of the meeting table, "I need help." There was an explosion in the background. Beetle dropped the signal device he was using and the hologram projected back visuals from where he was hiding. There was a fire, movement. Beetle hurriedly picked up the device. "I'm forwarding co-ordinates to you now. Please, don't--"

The signal went dead.

"You were saying?" said The Flash.

"Don't," said Batman. "Blue Beetle is in danger. Manhunter?"

"I have the co-ordinates. Psychic link activated. Teleporters primed."

"Where is he?" asked Aquaman.

"Midway City," said Manhunter. "The co-ordinates indicate an underground complex under the city. I have never seen anything like it before."

"Let's not waste any time then," said Aquaman.

The Justice League headed to the teleportation booths, and were gone from the tower in an instant, headed to Midway City to aid Blue Beetle.

The teleporters buzzed down as the power faded from their cells. After a moment had passed there was a crackling, energy seeping back into the machinery. The teleporter flashed once more, and a figure slipped into the empty headquarters of the Justice League...


The Justice League materialised, ready for anything.

The floor was metallic, though above their heads cavernous rock was visible. They were outside what appeared to be a massive structure, metal and stone twisted together in a configuration that baffled the mind.

The doorway ahead of them was dark. The large, metal doors hung open.

]{Sit-rep,} said Batman, the psychic link echoing his thoughts into his comrade's heads.

{I cannot detect the thoughts of Blue Beetle,} said Manhunter.

{The walls of that structure are somehow blocking my x-ray vision,} said Superman. {And I can't hear anything beyond us seven. This is strange, people.}

{We take this slow.} Batman took the lead. At Batman's direction Superman was first through the door, then the rest followed.

{Hey--} Green Lantern's thoughts chimed up loudly. {My ring just said we passed through an energy field, did anyone else feel that?}

{My suit's circuitry went dead. Cowl-cam down.} Batman flexed his gloves. {Like an EMP just went off, but my suit has hardened electronics, that shouldn't be possible. This is feeling more and more like a setup.}

{Something capable of playing havoc with a power ring and your suit?} Green Lantern projected a construct and nodded his head. {I'm running a full--}

"What a pleasure!" boomed the voice of a figure standing on a platform ahead of the Justice League. "What a complete and utter pleasure!"

"Who--?" asked Aquaman.

Batman held up his hand, and Aquaman said no more.

Superman stepped forward. "Where's Blue Beetle?"

The man grinned. "That insect? Who is to say if he was ever here?" He bent over, and made a little flourish with his cape. "Your communications were easy to hijack. Your sensors so easily fooled by a hologram."

The man was wearing some kind of thin, grey armour, and over that armour were flowing, scarlet robes. At the head of the robes was a cowl, two fang-like protrusions above the man's temples, dull, green eyes above that.

Batman grimaced. "Kobra."

{I cannot reach his thoughts,} said Manhunter.

{You know what to do.}

"So close," said the man. "And yet... so far."

{Take him,} said Batman.

The Justice League flew into action.

Superman went straight for the robed man, but cried out as the chamber throbbed a sickly emerald. He fell to the floor and writhed in agony, and the reason behind his sudden weakness was clear.

"You think I would allow you entrance to this holy temple without her guardians ready for your arrival?"

The Flash was at Superman's side instantly, checking on his teammate. The Kryptonian was pale, sweating, unable to catch his breath. "K-kryptonite!"

A group of men, women and things took their place beside the robed man.

"Element Woman, would you kindly increase the strength of the Kryptonite you're generating?"

A white-haired woman in a crimson bodysuit that covered every inch of her skin but her face took a step forward. She wore white gloves that reached up past her elbows and boots that ended above her knees. Her hands were glowing green with energy. She raised her arms, and began to laugh.

"Let the dissection begin," said the robed man.

The team behind him went for the Justice League.

Martian Manhunter thought that turning immaterial would protect him from the black-and-white striped man who approached him. Try as he might, a mental probe didn't work; he couldn't pierce the curiously-attired man who had made a beeline straight for him.
"Who are you?" asked J'onn, keeping his guard up.

The man laughed, chuckled, cackled, then his entire body opened up from the middle outwards, revealing a black void that exploded outward, sending the Martian Manhunter out of the space he inhabited and to parts unknown.

"Psychic link down! They got the Manhunter--" said Green Lantern

Before John Stewart could do anything else he was engulfed in a pulsating storm of energy that strobed with every colour of light that existed in the spectrum, including some that didn't.

John pushed his ring, but the resulting emerald energy discharge was pathetic, a spluttering of light as he was engulfed in the seemingly-weightless cloud. He swung his fist into the centre mass of his enemy but the attack had no effect. His hand passed through the same cloud that held him tight. His very will was being drained from him, his ability to utilise his power ring snatched away, and he couldn't move to help his friends!

Wonder Woman made a move toward the man who was approaching her, wearing a black and amber bodysuit, with a mask that covered his face. His smile was visible though. He held in his hands a thick length of rope that he held taut.

"I've been waiting for this for god knows how long--"

"Let me teach you something about gods--" said Wonder Woman, only for the man to grab her by the throat and wrench the golden lasso from her side.

The man moved toward her between breaths and with one smooth, flowing motion he looped the golden lasso into a noose and strung it around Wonder Woman's neck.

"Say your prayers," said the man, tightening the noose around Wonder Woman's neck.

Superman looked up pathetically, unable to breathe. Element Woman was approaching, and The Flash was gone in a blink of an eye--

--Only to stop, mid sprint, screaming in pain as blue lightning wracked his body. He was down, and standing over him was a man clad in a silver, blue and black mockery of The Flash's own costume.

Element Woman grabbed Superman by the hair and wrenched him up. "You're nothing, you alien pig. Watch how Cobalt Blue saps the Speed Force right out of your darling Flash's body. Look at Slipknot. Look--!"

Element Woman pulled Superman's head higher, cricking his neck at an unnatural angle. Her hands were bleeding kryptonite energy directly into his brain. His skin was white. Black veins creased up under it.

"Look as Wonder Woman's own lasso chokes the life out of her. This is what you deserve. This is what you needed."

"N-no," said Superman. A blast of heat vision directly to Element Woman's face caused her to reel back in agony. There was distance now, and Superman began to crawl, trying desperately to get away from the energy coming from her hands.

Aquaman was confronted by a man who wore a black suit of armour. emblazed on the front of the armour was an odd arrangement of shapes. In the centre, a planet surrounded by rings, and then either side of that, two razor sharp stars.

"Who do you think you are?"

"You're the King of the Seven Seas, right? You talk to the fishies?" said the man, smiling.

"Rude." Aquaman threw a punch that could level a mountain, but his opponent caught the blow mid-swing. "How--?"

"I'm Planetmaster. You can survive the pressures of the ocean? I can survive the pressures of space."

Aquaman was punched so hard a tooth came loose, and he collided hard with the cavernous wall, shaking the entire structure.

The robed man was watching the chaos unfold. Batman was behind him, about to kick him so hard that he'd struggle to walk again, when he span around and dodged the attack.

"You're a coward," said the man.

Batman said nothing.

"I know what you're thinking," the man was moving slowly, the two men circling each other. "'Who are you?' 'What are you?' 'How are my League falling like dominoes, one by one, in the face of these terrible, terrible criminals we've never seen before?' So many questions!"

The man jerked forward and hissed, spittle flying from his mouth. Batman dodged the saliva, in case it contained something worse.

"It's because we believe in something greater than ourselves. Your Justice League? False gods. False deities. Believe in Kobra, Batman. Believe that Kali Yuga is coming, and it will arrive on the heels of your own destruction. Your death or your ruin. One or the other."

"Answer the question then. Who are you?"

"You can call me Lord Naga," said the man, as he pulled the cowl down from around his head. He wore a grey face-mask that hid his features, reminiscent of a funeral mask. Snake eyes and thin, stone lips, twisted up at the sides in a sinister smile. "And that's all you need know."

Batman was about to pull a batarang from his belt when he was wrapped in a thick, brown liquid that hardened after a split second. He arched his head back and saw a woman who appeared to be made entirely from clay.

"Hagen--?"

"Oh, no," said Lord Naga. With Batman restrained, Naga approached the woman who held the Dark Knight in place. "My dear Lady Clay is not that B-movie ham. She's the star of her own franchise. One that benefits the cause."

Lady Clay squeezed Batman tight, but it didn't stop him from pushing.

"How does this-- uughhh-- how does this tie-in to Kobra's new charitable face, Naga? What's the endgame?"

"Do you recognise this?" asked Lord Naga, holding a small, metallic device in his hand.

Batman's eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Yes, I would hope so." Lord Naga held up a Boom Tube generator. "I have set the co-ordinates of this device so that one side opens here," he pointed above the downed Justice League, "and the other in the heart of the Sun. A one time only deal, I'm afraid. You'll be gone, and no one will know." He leaned forward. "Goodbye, dear Justice League."

Superman, now restrained by Planetmaster, with Element Woman holding a hand against the Kryptonian's chest, was dragged to the front of the chamber.

"Any last words, Man of Steel?"

"F-five," said Superman.

"Oh, precise, I approve," said Naga. "Go on."

Superman smiled. "This. Isn't. All. Of. Us."

A blade zipped through the air and sliced at Lord Naga's hand, causing the Boom Tube generator to topple out of it. He cried out in shock, and turned.

"Priority calls go out to all active members of the Justice League," growled Hawkman. He gripped his mace, and under his helm, you could see him smile. "Did you start without me?"

Hawkman flew like a rocket toward Slipknot, slamming the mace down on the villain's hands and causing him to drop Wonder Woman. He arched around mid-flight and zipped straight through Lady Clay's elongated arm, separating it from Batman.

The Caped Crusader was free, and was headed toward Cobalt Blue.

The blue speedster laughed and vanished, before falling to the floor unconscious after coming into direct contact with Batman's outstretched fist.

"Run at me in a straight line. Great idea."

Ignoring the chaos around him, Batman knelt down beside his speedster teammate. "Flash, can you hear me?"

The Flash's eyes fluttered open. "D-did a number on m-me, Batman. Give me a second, need to get back up to speed--"

Slipknot was thrown across the room and landed in a heap. The two of them turned and saw Wonder Woman, rubbing her fist. She was angry.

"Okay, I'm up, I'm up," said The Flash, climbing to his feet.

"Take them--!" said Lord Naga, and the battle was on.

"Take this," said Hawkman, slamming his mace into the villain's face, splitting the mask open.

Lord Naga was down on his knees, but Hawkman wasn't finished yet. He was airbourne once more and in one movement grabbed Element Woman by the shoulders and took her up to the highest point in the ceiling.

"Can you fly?" said Hawkman.

"I'll kill you!" hissed Element Woman.

"Then you can't blame me for this," said Hawkman, dropping her.

Element Woman plummeted to the floor, but was caught at the last moment by Planetmaster, who had dropped Superman to save his team mate.

Planetmaster sighed in relief, turned, and was punched in the face by a bruised Aquaman. He went down, Element Woman clambering out of his arms and making her way back to Superman, hoping to take him down with her.

Superman saw her coming. He opened his arms wide and clapped them together, sending a compact burst of air at Element Woman that sent her flying into the wall behind her, next to Slipknot.

"Where's the Manhunter?" asked Aquaman.

"That man who looks like a Zebra sent him off to parts unknown, " said Superman.

"We should ask him nicely to bring him back," said Aquaman.

Superman cracked his knuckles. "Define 'nicely'?"

Meanwhile, Hawkman swung his mace toward the cloud of energy that held Green Lantern, and the Nth metal in his weapon crackled on impact, finally dispersing the thing that had kept John from the fight.

John fell to his knees, gasping for air. He looked up at Katar Hol, Hawkman, and nodded in thanks.

"Can you fight?" asked Hawkman. He put out his hand to the Green Lantern.

"Try and stop me," said Green Lantern, his ring sparking eagerly with energy.

Lord Naga clutched at his broken mask, obscuring his face underneath. Batman was about to apprehend him when a dazed Planetmaster barrelled into the Caped Crusader's side, sending him sprawling.

"This isn't the day," said Planetmaster. "We have to leave."

Lord Naga picked up the Boom Tube generator with his spare hand. "There's still a victory to be won."

Aquaman and a weakened Superman were wrestling with the Zebra-Man, Aquaman wrapping his tree-trunk arms around his torso while Superman had him in a full nelson. Zebra-Man was trying to open himself up again but Aquaman had his arms locked, and nothing was going to budge them.

"Where's the Martian Manhunter?" said Superman, gripping the villain tightly.

"Let me," said Wonder Woman, her voice croaking after the attack by Slipknot. She slipped her lasso around her wrist and then looped it around Zebra-Man's. "Do you know what my lasso can do?"

"YES," said Zebra-Man.

"Tell me," said Wonder Woman.

"MAKES PEOPLE TELL TRUTH," said Zebra-Man.

"Good," said Wonder Woman. She held up her wrist. "So what does this mean?"

"YOU TELL TRUTH," said Zebra-Man.

Wonder Woman leaned close to Zebra-Man's ear and whispered something. As she moved back, the villain's expression had shifted into something close to absolute fear.

"So you understand that if you don't bring the Martian Manhunter back, I'll do that to you."

"Y-YES."

Wonder Woman nodded. "Then do it."

The three Leaguers took a step back and the Zebra-Man opened his chest up with his back to them. The Martian Manhunter reappeared in the exact position he was in before the attack. Zebra-Man closed his chest, and the Manhunter knocked him out with one punch.

"What did you say to him?" asked Superman.

Wonder Woman removed the lasso from her wrist. "My secret."

Superman let it go.

"Welcome back," said Aquaman.

"It is like I never left," replied the Martian Manhunter. "Look out--!"

BOOM

A portal opened up above their heads, but they were suddenly away from the event horizon, having been moved away at impossible speeds by The Flash. Their resident speedster was hunched over, trying to catch his breath. "S-sorry, still... still..."

"It's all right," said Wonder Woman, patting him on the back.

Across the room, on the platform stood Lord Naga and his team. As The Flash had done for the Justice League, Cobalt Blue had done for the villains.

Naga had pulled his hood over his head, obscuring his shattered mask and face. "This isn't the end, Justice League. It's only the beginning."

The wind whipped around them, rubble and dust being pulled into the portal created by the Boom Tube. The floor was being destroyed, metal and stone was being torn from their moorings, and the entire chamber was collapsing in on itself.

"We'll be waiting," said Superman.

Lord Naga vanished with a flick of his cape, the rest of his team vanishing with him.

"Then let's get out of here," said Green Lantern, lifting the Justice League up on a platform. They moved above the Boom Tube, and then shot up through the stone above them. They burst through the ground a mile or so up, and then found themselves in an empty building. They were in the middle of a deserted ward, empty hospital beds waiting to be filled.

"Where are we?" asked Superman, as he x-rayed the area. "This place is empty, what is it?"

The ground began to shake, and the building all around them began to shudder.

"The Boom Tube is excavating a void beneath us, and all of this is being sucked down!" said The Flash. "GL, get us clear!"

The Justice League shot through the roof of the building in an emerald sphere, and the building beneath them filled the gap that had been created by Lord Naga.

Below them, dozens of journalists watched, and even more photographers and cameramen recorded the events that had just unfolded before them.

Jason Burr looked on, a horrified expression on his face. "Oh. Oh my God."

The Justice League descended, and landed near the assembled media presence. Superman glanced around. Batman had taken leave from the situation as it neared the public eye.

{Manhunter, what's going on here?} asked The Flash.

Jason looked distraught. "The hospital..."

"Mr Burr--" started Superman, confused as to the position they were suddenly in.

Cameras flashed. "Superman!" "Superman!" "Does the Justice League not believe in rehabilitation?" "Why did you demolish Jason's free hospital?"

The Flash raised his hands slowly. "There was a group of Kobra followers beneath this area, their actions led to--"

There were cries from the crowd. "Prove it!" "Yeah, prove it!"

"We can't..." Jason sighed heavily into a microphone, "we can't hold the Justice League responsible for what happened here. If what they're saying is true, then they had nothing to do with it! I'm sure they have proof of the events they claim took place?"

{My ring's auto-record went offline as soon as we entered that place,} said Green Lantern. {We've been played.}

"You have my word as a King, my vow, that we speak the truth," said Aquaman.

"Is that meant to mean something?" The crowd stirred. "Yeah, you just don't like him!"

There was a bustle as someone tried to force their way to the front. There was a grumble, a growl, and a man emerged, followed by a camera crew.

"Jack Ryder for WGBS! Superman, did you demolish Jason Burr's kindly-donated free hospital as an act of revenge for his brother's actions as leader of the militant Kobra organisation?"

"No--" started Superman.

"Does the Justice League think that the only people who can do good are people who wear capes and their underwear on the outside of their trousers? C'mon, Superman, give us a statement-- you just demolished a hospital for crying out loud!"

Wonder Woman took the mic from Jack Ryder. "The Justice League will cover the cost for the rebuilding of this hospital. Accept our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience." She turned to Jason Burr. "You will hear from us shortly."

{Get us out of here, Green Lantern,} said Wonder Woman.

John enveloped the Justice League in energy and they shot up into the sky.

Jason Burr wiped a tear from his eye.


"They made us look like fools!" said Aquaman, slamming his fist into the one of the empty teleporter tubes, shattering the plastic surface.

"We were played, that's for sure," said Green Lantern. "Do you think Burr had something to do with it?"

"We can't discount that," said Wonder Woman.

"Why did you say we'd pay for it all?" asked The Flash.

"Diplomacy," said Wonder Woman. "Nothing was to be gained by arguing. We were discredited. That was the plan all along. Our death or our ruin. Lord Naga said it himself."

"Where's Batman?" asked Hawkman.

"Probably back to his cave--" started The Flash, before turning to see Batman in the hallway behind him.

"Come with me," said Batman.

"You left us to deal with that mess," said Superman, following shortly behind Batman as the others followed suit.

"More important things to deal with," said Batman. "Look."

The main meeting chamber of the Justice League had been vandalised. The table was upturned. The computer monitors shattered. Equipment was destroyed. Millions of dollars worth of electronics broken into tiny pieces.

Painted in blood on the far wall, where the symbol of the Justice League was emblazoned, were four words:

KALI YUGA IS COMING

"This isn't the end," said Batman. "Kobra have declared war on us."

"How is this possible?" asked Green Lantern, his ring scanning the crime scene. "This place is supposed to be impervious to any and everything! This is our home!"

"We will rebuild," said Wonder Woman.

Batman turned to Superman. "I asked you all a question before this day started."

"Do you have your answer?" asked Superman.

There was no hesitation.

"The world needs a Justice League," said Batman.

"More than that," said Wonder Woman, "we need the Justice League. We're stronger as a whole than we are individually."

Superman smiled. "And we're back."