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#7

"Justice Reborn - Part One"

By Mike Hintze & Josh Krenz

 

Dr. Bruce Gordon had been through more than most in his life, superhuman or no. A world-renowned solar scientist, Gordon was responsible for many of the most advanced breakthroughs in solar technology. He was also known for something far more sinister. As the human host for Eclipso, the mad god of vengeance. During a research expedition, Gordon came into possession of a black diamond that served as the receptacle of Eclipso's essence. The black diamond-originally bound into a massive gem called "The Heart of Darkness"--was one of thousands of crystals spread throughout the world. Trapped inside each of these diamonds rested the soul of the demon Eclipso. Using Gordon's body, Eclipso caused a reign of terror that was matched by few other evil men on Earth. Eventually Gordon escaped Eclipso's control, but the experience had forever changed Gordon. The once great solar scientist had a new mission in life-devoting his research and technological strength towards the destruction of Eclipso. At S.T.A.R. Labs Gordon quickly became one of the world's most valuable assets.

Bruce Gordon was a man of science, but he also had a healthy amount of respect for the supernatural. Perhaps this was why he wasn't as shaken up concerning his current location. Lesser men, women, and minor deities would have been completely intimidated by amazement. The walls were dark and foreboding, with dust covering antique furniture and draperies. The floors creaked like a closing casket, and echoed with the weight of eternity. A strange light broke through the cracks in the velveteen curtains, seeming to be sunlight, but Gordon felt it was something else. He felt strangely at odds in this place-as most mortals do in the realm of the unknown. Minutes seemed to bounce wildly like a red rubber ball through an Escher painting..time seemed flexible and spongy in this place..but he trusted his host.

After all, Gordon had learned never to doubt the Phantom Stranger.

"Greetings, Dr. Gordon."

Bruce turned to see his host, adorned in a well-tailored suit with a billowing cloak and a fedora leaving his eyes in shadow. "Stranger," said Bruce, "I don't know how long we've been here, but I think it's time we made plans. The League was infiltrated last I saw, and for all we know they're dead."

"Some are dead, yes," said the Stranger. "But all is not yet lost. The threat is still coming. But we will meet them. The Justice League is not yet lost."

The Stranger stepped aside and someone walked into the hazy light.

"Jason?!" said Bruce.

"Hey, Doc," said Jason Rusch while munching on a carrot. "Long time no see!"

Bruce went forward and embraced Jason. "I thought you were dead! After our landfall in the ocean.."

"Landfall in the ocean? Are you sure that's correct grammar? I woke up back on the Satellite," said Jason. "Then everything went to hell. The Stranger showed up and took me away..and here I am."

"Whoever was behind this attack on the League," said Bruce, "Now has to contend with Firestorm."

"Patience, my friends," said the Stranger. "The League you were a part of is no more. Ralph Dibny and Ray Palmer are lost. The Superman robot you knew is not what it seems. The Flash has been dealt with. Black Canary is gone. Green Lantern--a reprogrammed Amazo android--is now in enemy hands. The 'Batman' has been brought low. I do not know why such a ruse was perpetrated, but I do know it involves the coming of the Tyrant Sun. It must be stopped.*"

(*See recent issues of DCI 's Superman: The Man of Steel, Nightwing, Flash, DCI Showcase Presents and of course, Justice League!)

"I've never even heard of any Tyrant Sun in my time with the League," said Jason.

"Nor I in my research on superhumans," said Bruce.

"The devil's greatest victory is convincing the world he doesn't exist," said the Stranger.

"Sweet, The Usual Suspects ," Jason nodded, taking another bite out of his carrot.

"We must gather our forces before we can challenge these evils. I have more allies to seek out..you will be comfortable here until I return."

"Just where are we?" asked Bruce.

"This House..has many Secrets," said the Stranger. An instant later, he was gone.

"So," said Jason, "anything else to eat in this joint?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Night had fallen in the city. For most places this meant that the exciting club scene would be going in full swing, that the fun time was finally here. In this city, however, night meant you didn't go out..not if you valued your life.

Ken Ainsworth walked down the street, happy as a clam. He had hit the Devil's Casino and won big tonight. He had walked in with $500 and walked out three hours later with $50,000 and smelling of Long Islands . He was on a winner's high, and didn't put much thought into leaving the casino on foot to his hotel. Any other city, the casino management would have seen to it the customer left unmolested. But this city was different. This city was ruthless and always saw to it that the innocent was taken care of to the benefit of the guilty. This wasn't Gotham City .

It's a city called Bete Noir.

Ainsworth strolled along happily, whistling as he went. His hotel was two blocks away. That was two blocks too far in this town.

Footsteps sounded behind him. He didn't notice right away-senses still dulled by success and alcohol. The tempo increased, rapidly closing the distance between Ken and his shadow. Closer. The clicking of boots finally registered in Ken's mind-he was being followed. His winner's high faded, replaced by terror. Looking back, Ken noticed two men wearing dark hoodies. The apparel coated the men in darkness, obscuring their faces in the dull streetlight. Not knowing what else to do, Ainsworth started running. The two men gave chase.

Ainsworth came up to an alley's mouth. As he rushed past the dark entrance a pair of hands reached out and grabbed him-pulling him into the alley without a sound. The two men came up to the alley and stopped. They looked at each other then drew weapons before entering the alley. The darkness was nearly absolute.

Ainsworth briefly struggled, then stopped as he heard his taker speak. "Shhhh," came a whisper, "Stay here and stay down." The wind picked up and died down as quickly. Ainsworth looked around..was he on the building's roof?

The two stalkers looked further into the alley. "Hey, man," said one, "We ain't gonna hurt ya, we just wanna talk, is all." No reply came. "Seriously, man, come on out." His gun reflected some of the pale light.

"He's gone, man," said the other. "Let's go. I don't like this."

"The alley's a dead end," said the first. "he didn't leave. He's here, and ready to make us rich. Let's spread out."

His buddy didn't respond.

"Marc?" asked the first, "Marc, what the hell, man? Where did you go?"

"Marc can't come out right now," said a silky voice. "He's a little.sleepy."

Marc came tumbling from above and landed in an unconscious heap in front of his friend.

Two glowing dots floated from a fire escape against the side of the building. A gentle breeze moved the rusted structure back and forth-the old metal screeching in protest with each soft gust. The dots shifted and a female form manifested around them-they were eyes, glowing white with fury.

"Who the-aw, hell, no way, not you!" said the first.

The woman leapt into the sky, dropping gracefully in front of the hooligan. Dressed in scarlet robes, her face hidden in shadow, she marched forward. All that escaped the darkness of her hood were her brightly glowing eyes. "Yes, me," she said. "You know better than to try this here, this close to my stomping grounds."

"Look, we didn't realize we were so close to the Fallen Angel's turf..we'll leave and you'll never hear from us again, I swear!"

"Not good enough," said the Fallen Angel. "I obviously need to set an example."

"Oh, no," said the goon.

"Oh, yes," said the Fallen Angel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dolf was a longtime citizen of Bete Noir. He had come from Europe decades ago, choosing to live the life of a simple bar owner as the proprietor of Furor's. He was one of the first to befriend the Fallen Angel when she arrived in the city, and always kept an empty corner table open for her. He was not surprised to look up and see her scarlet cloak-still hiding her face--as she lurked quietly in her seat. He hadn't even heard her come in.

Except..that wasn't the Angel in her regular table. It was a man..a cloaked man.

"Excuse me," said Dolf as he approached the table, "But that table is reserved. Perhaps you would be more comfortable over here?" He gestured to a table across the room.

"I am expecting someone," said the patron. "The one this table is reserved for."

"Harumph," said Dolf as he fussed with his goatee. "I daresay that had better be so, good sir. This customer is a wee bit fussy as to who sits at her table. I hope you are truly in need..for I sense there is more to you than meets the eye."

"You have no idea," said the patron as he adjusted his fedora.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been one hell of a year.

When half of the city of San Diego fell into the ocean, it was one of the world's worst and most tragic disasters. It wasn't long, however, before it became one of the world's most amazing miracles of science.

Most of the citizens of San Diego that fell into the ocean with the city had miraculously gained the ability to survive under water, gaining the ability to breathe there and weather the pressures of the deep. Soon, the underwater ruins of the city came to be called Sub Diego. There was chaos as the government and others tried to understand what had happened and why.

That was when Aquaman stepped in and took control.

Aquaman became a de facto leader of the Sub Diegans, along with refugees from the destroyed city of Atlantis . The fabled undersea city had been decimated by an insane Spectre during the Crisis. Now, with support from the U.S. Government, Sub Diego was a society in its own right, with law enforcement and even a burgeoning economy.

The past year had been one of growth and innovation as far as the new city went. It had also met its share of challenges, chiefly among them the attack from the demonic creatures calling themselves the Sea Devils that had nearly led to the destruction of the city. Compared to his allies in the superhuman community, the past few months had been one of remarkable growth in the public eye. Arthur Curry was now considered a member of the international political community. Sub Diego, despite its still being a part of the United States , was rapidly becoming a force on the international scene in regards to scientific research--even tourism in the area flourished as people traveled from around the globe to witness the New SeaWorld.

After having exposed Progene Tech as the company behind the secret genetic alterations made to the formerly human Sub Diegans, Curry had pushed for a scientific surge regarding the transformations. Geist, the initial scientist behind the Progene project, was dead. The path was not blocked, however, as Aquaman opened the prospect of reversing the process to the international scientific community. Sub Diego was becoming a research mecca, a place of sharing knowledge for the greater good.

Things had been going well..until Arthur was paid a visit by an old friend.

Hal Jordan, Earth's most famous Green Lantern, had come to Sub Diego with disturbing news.

"It was Ray, and Ralph," Hal explained. "They were the ones who came up with the idea. Reform the League-this time using the Injustice Gang's satellite as headquarters. Ralph was still-well you know, not all there since his wife..."

Arthur nodded slowly.

Hal continued, "But Ray-well something was different with him. I met with the new League, and reserved my doubts. I'm sure you have read some of their...prospective rescues...in the newspaper."

"A few," Arthur replied. "I was not aware of their involvement, but their actions were reported here as well."

"I gave the benefit of the doubt, of course. Ray felt that it was important-critical--that the Justice League existed. For that, I praise his noble efforts. However, their efforts were empty. Something happened, Arthur-something happened on the satellite." Hal let out a sigh. "I'm sure you're aware that the Injustice Gang's satellite has been destroyed. I've searched everywhere for Ralph and Ray, but not even a trace remains. It is absolutely remarkable-almost as though they were never there."

The news was devastating to Arthur. Two of his longtime friends were missing, possibly dead. He shook his head and massaged his chin. After a moment's silence he looked to Hal.

"How could this have happened?" Arthur asked.

"We were all busy-you were needed here in Sub Diego."

"Ray is right. The world does need a Justice League. If we spend too much time focusing on the minutiae we forget about the whole. Things have already been set in play for Sub Diego, but right now the world needs my help."

Jordan looked at his old friend taking the stand. Curry was the stubborn king of the sea, and it always hurt him to leave his people-and more importantly his family. But Curry was a good man, and Hal knew that Aquaman's actions were always true.

His friends had died. He would see to it they were avenged. Hal was returning soon, but in the meantime, Arthur would begin the investigation. First though, he would need a detective.

The World's Greatest Detective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He floated in nothingness.

He felt nothing.

He was nothing.

How had be gotten here? Something had happened..something he had figured out the secret of, but too late. He had been too late. He was supposed to be a detective.

He had failed.

A dim light began to appear in his field of vision. The nothingness parted..

A woman..a beautiful woman approached him. She was stunning..angelic..

"Sue?" asked Ralph Dibny.

"Yes, dear heart," said Sue. "It's me."

"Then I'm..I'm dead, aren't I?"

"Almost," said Sue. "You're very close. You should be dead..but I made a deal for you. For your life."

"Deal? Sue, what did you do?"

"You have a purpose to fulfill. The League needs you. I'm going to need you."

"You-Sue, what is going on?"

"You'll find out, love. I promise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He felt pain. More pain than he had ever felt in his life. His vision was blurry..but improving. His head was a jangle of pain and nerves firing constantly. He crawled along, seeing his destination. How he had landed here, of all possible places, was a miracle.

Ralph Dibny's head was regrowing out of his elastic body. The dust of the moon fluffed into the vacuum as he crawled across the lunar surface. His lungs were full of pain..but he wasn't dying. He saw a short distance away sanctuary.

The ruins of the Justice League Watchtower, with its forcefield-contained atmosphere.

Getting closer.

Closer.

Closer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Issue: More mystery..and more hints as to the future of the Justice League in Part Two of "Justice Reborn"!