#1: A League Of His Own, Pt. 1 (Charlton / Tupper)

Prologue: A Quest for Immortality

In that haven of intellectual pursuit, sleepy little Ivy Town of the dreaming spires and perfectly manicured campus lawns, one man stewed in his hatred of the Justice League.

He was a little man, small in spirit and stature both, though his ambition and genius knew no bounds. In a university known for top-notch scholarship, he was in a class by himself, revered and respected by peers and enemies alike. Long had he dreamed of solving the ills of the world, saving mankind from itself with his science and technology… Then the Justice League came along. And he did not easily suffer rivals.

Forgotten was his Nobel Prize, forgotten his groundbreaking work on nanotechnology… What use were his seismic dampners when all it took was a Superman or Green Lantern to repair a cracked fault-line…?

They had stolen his thunder. The Justice League was taking his place in the annals of human history. How could he be a hero, when superheroes strode the Earth?

In his cozy campus flat, he turned on the TV--- and there they were. An oil refinery had exploded on the coast of Alaska; the Flash was pulling survivors from the building, faster than the camera could track, while Aquaman, perched atop a pair of dolphins, was directing a school of whales to blow jets of water on the blaze.

Snarling, he changed the channel--- and there they were again! The mutant ape Titano was rampaging in downtown New York, and going toe-to toe with the Martian Manhunter. He was finally brought down by Wonder Woman’s lasso, soothed into a state of calm…

Another channel was running a program called “Batman: Friend or Foe”, with the commentator Jack Ryder railing against the costume menaces, while still another program was previewed celebrating the career of Superman…!

In disgust, he turned away. Let them have the spotlight now, he grumbled to himself, retreating to his secret lab downstairs. They would not keep it long.

In the cold, light of science and technology, he powered up his machines and computers, studying his greatest creation.

Yes, it was ready at last. This was the greatest product of his genius, the invention for which he would be remembered for all time. The Justice League would never even know what hit them…!

“And then Superman was all like---.” Hal’s voice took on a deep and steely tone, “We’re the Justice League. We can take it. And the crowd just went wild!”

They were in the meeting room of the Hall of Justice. Green Lantern had one foot on his swivel chair, facing Batman who sat at the huge table, embossed with the JL logo. The Emerald Gladiator was regaling the Dark Knight with the events of the recently-concluded press conference, but Batman was looking bored.

“I know. I was there.” He dismissed Hal’s story as Wonder Woman walked in, smiling at them.

Green Lantern frowned. “What? No you weren’t. It was just the six of us---.”

Batman’s chair pivoted slowly to face Hal, and the Dark Knight told him in a level voice: “Just because you didn’t see me, doesn’t me I wasn’t there.”

Hal looked dubious, glanced at Wonder Woman, who shrugged meaningfully, then gave it up.

Batman’s mouth quirked as he turned from the ringslinger.

Like a ghost, the Martian Manhunter emerged from below the table, becoming substantial as he floated gently to the ground.

“I knew you there.” Came the sepulchral voice of J’onn J’onzz as he took a seat next to Wonder Woman.

“Impossible.” Batman insisted. “Not even Superman saw me, and he has x-ray vision.”

“I didn’t say I saw you.” J’onn corrected his friend. “I said I knew you there. There was no way you would miss this.” A faint smile softened his stern alien face.

The entrance of Superman and Aquaman saved Batman from having to answer that. They walked in together, continuing a discussion.

“… think it’s wise to accept the endorsement of any nation? Think of the message it sends to the rest of the world.” The King of the Seven Seas was saying, rounding the table to take his seat at the head. “The fact of the matter is, I just don’t trust your head of state. There’s something about him…”

“Fair enough.” Superman nodded, saying in a conciliatory tone. “I just felt we should at least consider President Lord’s offer.”

“Which was what…?” Wonder Woman asked, with some concern.

While it was agreed that Superman should be the spokesperson for the League, it was Aquaman who had been unanimously elected their first chairman. Superman graciously deferred the question to him.

“The American President has offered to extend diplomatic credentials to the members of the League, in addition to deputizing us as official law enforcement officers of the U.S. Federal Government.” Aquaman told them solemnly. He allowed them a moment to make up their own minds about the issue.

The Martian Manhunter spoke first. “That seems a bit proprietary. Perhaps a world governing body like the U.N….”

“Bad idea.” Batman interrupted, sounding annoyed. “The League shouldn’t be beholden to anyone, lest of all that buffoon Lord. The last thing we want to become is answerable to a higher authority with an agenda of its own.”

“Agreed.” Said Aquaman, glancing around the table. “In addition, I think we may find an inherent conflict if we are ever compelled to act in the best interest of the world, and it doesn’t coincide with the policies and doctrine of the American government.”

“Hey, I object!” Green Lantern shot out of his chair with an indignant cry. “Not too long ago, I was collecting a paycheck from Uncle Sam, and I was always proud to serve his interests. The USA is on the side of the angels, and always will be!”

“And no one is saying otherwise.” Aquaman said placatingly. “I have the deepest admiration for the ideals and principles upon which this nation was founded. I just don’t think it is the League’s place to act as a political symbol or tool, for any nation.”

At that moment, more than one of them were thinking that they had made the right choice in Aquaman as chairman.

“For all mankind.” Superman reminded them, crossing his arms over his chest and grinning; he had obviously been won over. “Do we need a vote?”

As one, they all shook their heads. Even Hal resumed his seat, his ire quickly dissipated.

Aquaman nodded. “Good, then let’s get down to business. First things first--- does anyone know where the Flash is?”

No one seemed to have an answer.

“He was going to take his wife home after the press conference--- she was the pretty brunette reporter who asked about the quote on the Fountain--- but I thought he was coming right back.” Hal told them. “He knew we had a meeting scheduled today…”

“For being the fastest man alive, he sure is late quite a bit.” Wonder Woman laughed lightly.

Typing onto the keyboard sunken into the table in front of him, Aquaman activated the Scarlet Speedster’s signal device. From an overhead holographic projector, a transparent image of a map appeared over the table, pinpointing the Flash’s location in Central City. The little lightning bolt icon blinked yellow and was stationary.

“He’s not answering his communicator.” Aquaman frowned. He looked up. “J’onn?”

The telepathic Martian Manhunter closed his eyes and focused on the consciousness he knew as Barry Allen. A long moment passed, and the Martian’s beetling brow furrowed.

“Strange. My powers of telepathy seem unaccountably weakened.” He opened his eyes, and frowned. “Not only can I not reach the Flash, but I cannot reach the minds of anyone who is not within a few feet of me…”

*Is this the first time you’ve noticed this?* Aquaman tested, using his own limited powers of telepathy.

“Yes.” J’onn answered aloud, for the benefit of the others. “Though I have not attempted to use my telepathic powers since our encounter with the Weapons Master a few days ago…”

Superman leaned forward arms on the table, looking concerned. “You were hit pretty hard by Xotar’s Matter Scrambler Cannon, J’onn. It’s not surprising you’re not quite 100% yet.”

The Martian Manhunter’s frown only deepened, but he nodded and muttered an apology to the team.

“No need to apologize, J’onn.” Aquaman told him. “Truth be told, I haven’t been feeling 100% since that case, either. Maybe we all need a vacation.”

That got a laugh. Except from Batman, who grunted.

“Look, I’m sure there’s a good reason for Barry missing the meeting.” Green Lantern spoke up. “Admittedly, it’s not like him, but he is a married man alone with his wife in the middle of the afternoon…” His smiled suggestively, causing Wonder Woman to blush and arch an eyebrow. “I’ll call him later and catch him up. Let’s say we just get on with the meeting?”

There was a chorus of agreement, and Aquaman nodded, going back to his keyboard.

“Alright, then, folks.” He summoned a holographic image of a goateed man in an outlandish black and white costume, topped with a fin. “This loony calls himself Dr. Light. He’s been seen around Star City, robbing banks and wreaking havoc with a special light-ray gun…”

Most of the others had already departed, going their separate ways and returning to their everyday lives, but Green Lantern and Aquaman stayed behind, sharing a pot of coffee together in the Monitor Room.

It was called that because of the state-of-the-art satellite system and surveillance devices that fed into all four walls of screens of varying shapes and sizes. The control console was designed to seat only one, and as it was GL’s turn on monitor duty, he manned the position, and Aquaman just stood, leaning against the back of the console.

“Man, I know we’ve been taking turns, but this has got to be the worst part of the gig.” Hal admitted, smiling lopsidedly at Aquaman.

“Not the most glamorous part of our job, is it?” Aquaman agreed, sipping his coffee. “Well, it’s just temporary. When we work out the bugs in the automated system, we won’t actually have to be here; our signal devices will receive automatic alerts. But for now…”

“I know, I know.” Hal grumbled, resigned to a long night of scanning images and scenes from across the world. He adjusted the controls, searching for something in particular. “Maybe I can pick up the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil.” He said excitedly, and was rewarded by a loud spate of Portuguese and an image of scantily-clad women on a catwalk, on a large, central screen.

Chuckling, Aquaman patted Hal on the shoulder.

“I’ve got to get back to Atlantis, or my wife will kill me. It’s our son’s first birthday, and we’re having a state dinner.”

“Have fun, Your Majesty.” Hal waved absently, already engrossed in the swimsuit competition.

His feet up on the console and his hands behind his head, Green Lantern watched the beauty pageant but listened to his iPod, singing softly along to Coldplay. He actually didn’t mind monitor duty as much as he’d let on. He appreciated the quiet downtime now more than ever; his life had gotten very complicated in the last 18 months, since he became the bearer of a power ring, and there were few opportunities for him to just sit and reflect on that. Hal Jordan never thought of himself as much of a sit-and-reflect type of person--- he was more of the leap-in-where-angels-fear-to-tread type--- so he was still working out the kinks.

It was a few hours into his shift when he realized, with a jaw-cracking yawn, how sleepy he was. The pageant had gone off hours ago and a bizarre Italian game-show was now on that involved the contestants taking off articles of clothing when they missed a question or failed a challenge, and Hal decided if he was going to be able to stay awake to see how a certain sultry Tuscan beauty fared, he was going to need a new cup of coffee.

So it was that he was away from the monitor room when a disturbing scene was picked up by a satellite camera. A screen on the west wall showed Superman falling from the sky, landing with earth-shaking force somewhere outside of Metropolis. Before the Man of Steel could get to his feet, he was assailed by a merciless brute, who pummeled the Last Son of Krypton into unconsciousness! When Hal returned, holding his steaming cup of coffee, the screen showed only a quiet stretch of road outside of town.

He sat the mug down on the console, and resettled himself. The Italian game-show had just ended, so Hal decided to check in with Barry, and find out why his friend had missed the meeting. But not only was the Flash not answering his comm, but the unit seemed to be off altogether. That was strange… Why would he turn it off? That really wasn’t like Barry.

Thinking that maybe one of them should check on the Scarlet Speedster after all, Hal next tried to hail Wonder Woman--- only to be met with the same puzzling results. Was this some sort equipment malfunction? He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the telepathic connection that the Martian Manhunter had established between them all, sending his thoughts out to J’onn J’onzz, but encountering only a deep and ominous silence.

He tried Superman. Nothing. And while he hated to interrupt his kid’s birthday party, he tried Aquaman next--- nothing. Batman’s comm unit was the only one still online, but the Dark Knight Detective was not answering it…

Convinced now that there was something wrong, Hal shot to his feet, his ring blazing and enveloping him in a pulsing green aura--- which was the only thing that saved him when the nearby wall exploded on him!

The blast still sent him reeling backward across the room, slamming into a plasma screen, which cracked and sparked spectacularly. Smoke filled the room, and dimly through the ringing in his ears, Green Lantern could hear the klaxon of the Hall’s alarms. He shook off the shock of the explosion, pushing himself to his feet. In front of him, a menacing figure was advancing through the smoke and debris towards him, kicking aside twisted bits of metal and glass.

“Pal, I don’t know who you are but you just made a big mistake.” He gritted his teeth and raised his fist, ring forward.

A spurt of emerald emitted from the ring, but to Hal’s astonishment, the beam just fizzled and died. He glared at it and poured all of his will into it, imploring it with every ounce of himself to unleash a torrent of energy at the oncoming menace. But the glow of the ring faded and went out. He could hardly believe it.

But by now, the enemy was upon him. A brutal backhand sent Green Lantern crashing into another monitor screen, the hero crying out in pain. He clutched his ring-hand, but found that he could not even summon enough willpower to light it up. In fact, his will to do anything but lay there and take a beating seemed to be draining out of him faster than he thought possible.

His attacker hovered over him, a booted foot poised to strike. The last thing that Hal heard was Batman’s voice from the console--- he had finally answered his comm!

“This is Batman. Lantern…? Hal, is that you?” Came the crackling voice of the Dark Knight over the Monitor Room’s speakers.

Hal summoned all his strength and will for one final effort.

“Bat---!”

The boot hovering above him fell--- and then all was darkness.