The Watchtower:

They begin with questions, with three sitting over the ranks of those assigned to wait nervously. They are a triumvirate that is both judge and jury, in the eyes of those below them...the Martian Manhunter, Superman, and the Flash.

"First up we have the Atom...Do we have an Atom here?" Superman says loudly, lifting the corners of his mouth and looking around in mock ignorance.

"Right here, Superman," says the shrinking man, average-built in a red and blue full body suit who steps forward from the crowd, smirking at the legend above him. "I'm the Atom."

On ceremony, Superman remains formal. "It says here that you were one of the seven endorsed by one of our current members to try out...Do you know which one?"

"I can guess," He says, looking over to Superman's left where the unusually still Flash sits, looking indiscreet with his head resting on his hand.

"We have a few questions for you Ray, and I hope you don't mind a little prodding..."

"Not at all. Prod away."

"Very well then...first of all, have you had much experience being a super-hero?"

"Only about...oh, I don't know, about thirteen or fourteen years worth."

"Yet you appear to only be years older than that yourself..." The Manhunter says.

"Yeah. There's a story to that. You guys should have it written down."

"It's right here...It was the crisis in time, J'onn. You were there," The Flash tells his teammate while pointing at a sheet of paper.

"So you have experience," Superman continues. "Have you ever been a member of the Justice League?"

"Yes, I can say that I have," he replies.

"That's good," Superman says, writing something down. "Now...If you were to join the League, would you be willing to make your identity known to the team?"

"Uh huh. Actually, I'll let it be known to every person in this room," he says, and reaches up to pull down his cowl to reveal a face even close friends just barely recognize with brown eyes and brown hair. "Ray Palmer. It's nice to see all of you here."

"Okay, very good.....And will you be able to dedicate much time to the JLA?"

"That's the only thing, really. I'd be up here with you guys as much as I could, but I have...a few things that need my care back at home. I hope you can understand that..."

"We have before," Flash says hopefully, nudging Superman, who nods.

"We'll see. One more question, if you don't mind, Ray.....Why do you want to join the Just League of America?"

Onlookers see the brightness come to Ray's eyes. His neck gets stiffer and he seems to be more like he was, like a wise uncle who has been waiting for this question his entire life.

"Ah. Now that's a good question! The real one. Well, there are a few reasons I'd like to be in the League again. First and foremost, the JLA does what's right, and I don't think anyone could argue with that. Second, it seems like things are getting to a point of really working again, and I'd like to be a part of that. And finally..." He pauses for a minute, and looks down to the floor before he looks back up to those three sitting up there. "Heh. Well, you see this body? Being young, it gives you a lot of energy, and with an older mind like mine, you know a lot more you can do with that energy. I haven't been in this type of shape in years, and I feel like I never have before. I have to do something with it besides just small time stuff around town and having some fun. I need to get out and live! And that's one thing you always do in the JLA."

Superman continues to write down more with speed rivaling the runner beside him. He whispers in the ear of J'onn, who nods wisely and says one thing back. Looking back to the Atom, who stands humbly with his hands behind him, Superman smiles.

"Okay Atom, you've gotten through the questioning flawlessly. You can go on and wait to begin the power demonstration...Good luck, Ray," Superman offers him, and Ray nods to him and the others then looks back to Firestorm briefly before walking through the door beside his questioners.

Flash raises his voice and raises his neck. "Next is Black Canary, sponsored by Wonder Woman. Black Canary, are you here...?"

She's there already with curves and fake blonde locks displayed. Despite her growing age, her beauty is undeniable and natural in design. Her blue leotard clings tightly to her body, and Plastic Man lends an exaggerated eye to the sight of her.

"Yowza! Too bad the fishnets are gone--" The Canary cuts off Plastic Man, ignoring him bluntly.

"Fifteen years. Yes. Yes. As much as I can as long as I have my own solo time. Because it needs someone between Wonder Woman's motherhood and Batman's arrogance, and so I can really do something worth something. And because there aren't near enough women on this team."

Wally pauses, confused, and asks slowly, "Excuse me? Not enough- -"

"Those are my answers. Do I get to go on?" The Flash deliberates with his friends for a little longer than last before, but finally comes back to their subject.

"Quick answers, Canary. We're letting you through, but I wouldn't be that snappy with Batman..."

As she walks past them she swings her hips and announces to them all, "I won't need to be."

"Well," Superman says uncomfortably, looking back to his notes with a strange look like an awkward grimace on his face that few have ever seen there. "Who's next?"

	The World's Greatest Superheroes..... "Moonstruck"
JLA #2 - February, Year One	by Will Short

Guy Gardner, the Warrior, stands proudly at center, his alien markings shining in the artificial light. As always, the Martian Manhunter's is a cool demeanor.

"We regret to inform you that you did not pass the questionnaire, Guy, and we wish you luck in the future. Thank you for your int--"

"Shove it, Manhunter. I'm gone." The old Martian is rarely spoken to in such a way, but for some reason he allows Guy to walk back into the teleporter room. The sound of the machine just barely covers up Flash's words.

"If only they could all be as quick as Dinah's..."

"Now...Firestorm. I apologize for the interruption," Superman says to the next participant, his signal to step forward, "But I suppose it's better that we got that out of the way. Are you ready?"

"Yeah...Go ahead." The words of the young man are much less nervous than some of the others before him.

"I see here that the Martian Manhunter is sponsoring you. How long have you worked as a superhero, Firestorm?"

"Ten years, I'm pretty sure."

"Have you spent any time with an incarnation of the League before?"

"Yeah...I was with the League for a few years in there."

Superman pauses for a moment and he is seen reading something off the high desk. "Firestorm, it says here that you once battled the entire League at once. Do you have anything you'd like to add to that statement?"

"Just that everyone makes mistakes," Is all that Firestorm can think up. "And that I was a lot younger, and a lot newer."

"A moment, please, Firestorm," J'onn says, turning to whisper yet again into his friends' ears, and none other than they truly hear what is said.

"One final question then," Superman continues. "It's the same as before...Why do you want to join the League?"

Firestorm begins immediately. "It's funny, really.....a few years ago, I wouldn't have even considered coming up here, or doing much of anything else. I recently had 'a bout with cancer', as the news shows always put it...really, it wasn't a battle, just the damn stuff taking over my body and me letting it happen. Chemo wasn't doing too much for me besides causing problems with my powers, and I was really close to just letting it take over everything completely. I pretty much gave up.

"But I got some help from some friends*...unexpected friends," he says, and can't help but think of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, who have already been flagged into the next area, "But friends that got something done. It's all really confusing, but another older friend ended up doing his own part, and I ended up getting out scotch-free. I beat cancer.

(* As seen in early issues of the defunct Extreme Justice series. -Will)

"When that was done, I wasn't really sure what to even think of it. I got rid of something that all the scientists in the world are still struggling to treat. I did a lot of thinking...alone, mainly. It didn't take all that long to figure out that I'd been given a second chance, pretty much, and I realized that sort of thing doesn't happen everyday or without some sort of reason. So I figure, why not actually do something with that second chance? People worth twenty of me have died out there for it! I just have to put what I've been given to use, or else I might as well have been left to die slowly with cancer back then."

Superman waits a minute, then leans back. "Good man," He says very clearly and all the while swelling the pride in his young guest. The feeling surprises Firestorm, thinking himself slightly more experienced than that. "Just a moment..." The legend says, falling back with the other two again for a short time.

"Well, Firestorm, it looks like you're in," Flash finally reveals. Firestorm, Ronnie Reynolds, finds himself releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Never let it be said that the League holds grudges," Superman comments himself while Firestorm takes his path past the three towards the door.

"Unless you're asking Guy Gardner..." The Flash adds, but the flaming body is already past them all, past the door and the others that still have to wait. They continue behind him as the door shuts. They have their chances.

"Here's one I haven't heard before," The Flash says questioningly and holding a paper in front of his face, "Iron M...?"

"*kzzt*Iron Hide. I came on my own. *kzzt*" Says a voice from within the container of emerald and violet, looking like a bulky metallic hunchback, through its speaker, a voice that none present recognize.

"That's quite a bold thing to do, Iron Hide," Superman comments innocently, to which Iron Hide retorts with slight implied distaste.

"*kzzt* I was told it was not an invite-only *kzzt*."

J'onn quickly breaks the forced silence. "This is true...We will begin the questioning, then, if you are ready."

"*kzzt* That's what I'm here for. *kzzt*"

"How long have you been working as a super-hero?"

"*kzzt* I'm not quite sure. Not long at all really...I'm rather new. *kzzt*"

"How long would you estimate, then?" Superman asks, mirroring Iron Hide's hostility in part.

"*kzzt* Less than a few weeks.*kzzt*"

"Fair enough. We must assume then that you've never been a member of the Justice League?" The Manhunter follows through.

"*kzzt* No...I've followed them closely, however. *kzzt*"

"If you were allowed to join the Justice League, would you get rid of the facade and reveal your identity?" Superman asks in an alternating flow with J'onn.

"*kzzt* I suppose that depends on whether I'm accepted or not, doesn't it? *kzzt*"

The Flash suddenly forces a lightning quick arm in front of Superman, who attempts to lean forward in anger momentarily.

"What's wrong, Supes?" Wally asks quietly of the Man of Steel, who frowns as he crosses his arms and sits back in his chair.

"Just a minute, Wally."

"If I am to ask you why you wish to join the Justice League, is there a chance that you will give us an actual answer?" J'onn asks, the dislike finally making way to his words as well.

"*kzzt*Certainly. *kzzt*" Is Iron Hide's response. "*kzzt* The Justice League has always been a symbol of the American way, what's right, and of course, justice. It is as much a representation as it is an upholder of all that and more...and that's something I'd like to be affiliated with.*kzzt*"

Obviously set aback by his explanation, the three heroes motion for Iron Hide to wait as they discuss quietly behind the barrier of their podium. The Flash begins the conversation.

"Okay, Supes, what's the problem? The guy is secretive, I know, and he's kinda overconfident too, but he seems..."

"His armor is lined with lead. My x-ray vision can't see who's on the other side and I hear something besides just his speaker when he speaks, possibly a voice changing device."

"Something keeps my own vision from seeing through his armor as well," The Manhunter comments, "Which is usually only done by psychic scrambling."

"So what do we do? He's obviously pulling something on us," Wally says, keeping his voice down and shrugging. "Go ahead and take him out...?"

"No," Superman says bluntly.

"No?"

"No. If he's coming here with technology like that, he obviously is smart enough to realize that we would figure this out. He has some sort of agenda, and I'd like to know what it is...let's pass him."

"You are sure, Superman?" The Manhunter only doubts his old friend lightly. "If he does have some sort plan then we should stop it as soon as possible."

"I want to see what he's really up to. We have all seven core Leaguers plus any number of other capable heroes against him...and I'm sure Batman will find it the mystery amusing, at very least."

"I doubt he'll even let us explain it before solving it," The Flash comments as they all raise their faces again to look out from their post.

"*kzzt* So? What do you think?*kzzt*" The man calling himself Iron Hide asks them.

"You're free to go through, Hide," Superman tells him. "You passed."

"*kzzt* Of course...thank you, gentlemen. *kzzt*" He lumbers on heavy boots of an unknown material towards the exit, Superman's eyes following his thick form with intensity.

"Uh...Alright, people, we're still trying to do this in a semi-orderly fashion," The Green Lantern says in a voice as intimidating as it is loud, which is very little of either. From behind the mask his eyes direct in the way of Aquaman, who stares at his own target.

"That means less chatter and less playing, Plastic Man," The king says, looking in Plastic Man's direction. He is busy curling like a serpent around the shapely leg of the Huntress.

"Playing with anything is the last thing he'll be doing if he doesn't learn some more gentlemanly manners," she says, gritting her white teeth. Frowning and dropping down, Plastic Man melts into a puddle off of her and slides to Aquaman, looking up with what are forced pitiful eyes behind his unique goggles.

Aquaman speaks hushed with him for a spell. "Plas, I'm supposed to be sponsoring you...can you take it down a notch, just for a little?"

"Aw, but A-Man...aren't my antics the reason you suggested me in the first place? No one can resist them!"

"Maybe. That doesn't mean you need to harass..."

"Alright, alright, fishy...I think she digs it though....."

"We're not going by any specific order here, guys...we're just wanting to see what each of you can do alone." He pauses. "Wait…Ah, geez, where's Guy?

"He didn't make it past the questioning, according to J'onn," Aquaman says. "Something about being knocked out in one punch some time…" Stretched smiles appear on the faces of Elongated Man and Plastic Man, while Booster Gold must resort to resting his face on Blue Beetle's shoulder to keep from making his laughter any more obvious

"I guess I'm not too surprised."

"So," Lantern continues with a sheepish look, "Who's first?"

"I will demonstrate first," the android avatar of the busy winds called the Red Tornado says quickly in response, stepping forward with red air already swirling lightly about his arms in a shy ballet. "If I must..."

"Sorry, Tornado, but those are the rules. Former Leaguer or not, each of you have to show what you can really do if you want to get to the last stage," Aquaman informs him, no actual apology in his words.

"Very well," The robot says, and with that the zephyrs playing in the air around him strengthen in frequency, spinning with the intensity of the heart of a tornado.

As he lifts himself into the air slowly with arms stretched to his sides below him, the Red Tornado's small hurricane spreads to his entire body and out into the rest of the room. "I have a general control over all forms of wind and air. I may increase the speed of winds to speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour, if I wish...they are currently at twenty-five." Green Lantern makes an uncomfortable gesture of the face to Aquaman, going unnoticed as the Atlantean King looks on at the site.

"As you may begin to notice by the feeling in your ears, I have lowered the air pressure of the room to that found at the peak of the Rocky Mountains. I could higher the pressure as well, though if I did so, the result would be the implosion of your inner ears...With the exception of you, of course, Aquaman," He adds, still raised above the crowd and riding the backs of the winds. Those watching on hold up their arms to block their faces from the violently increasing winds, and the Tornado takes this as a sign to stop. He lowers to the ground slowly, stray portions of his power still bolting from one part of him to another.

"My android body also allows me to communicate with other technology, either robot or simply machine in design." His rectangular eyes glow a warm yellow, and for a split second the lights in the cool room go out, only to reemerge again as bright as before. "I can control other machines, though to what extent, even I do not know.

"I must admit that I am not completely aware of a number of things I may be capable of...more than my mechanical body provides, the spirit of the wind element is within me, and I command it as much as it commands me."

The same look spouts from Green Lantern's masked eyes to Aquaman, who once again ignores it and smiles. "Very nice. Very nice..."

"Uh...Aquaman?" The Lantern asks and taps the king on the shoulder.

"Yes?" And pulling him aside to speak quietly into his ear, Green Lantern turns a nervous eye to the caped android.

"Don't you think he's a little...I don't know....."

"Unstable? Mysterious? Scary?" Aquaman asks in a similar whisper, albeit louder and more direct.

"Well, yeah."

"Kyle, I hardly think that to be even close to a good reason to deny his going to the next step. His powers are unique Besides, the League already as a member or two who rely on those attributes as their main source of what personality they have..."

Two faces jump to Kyle's mind, causing him to hesitate before he nods. "...Yeah. I guess you're right."

"Of course."

"Tornado?" Aquaman turns and announces, "Good job. You can go on to wait for the final stage."

"Thank you," Is all the Tornado says in his monotone synthetic voice, and Green Lantern makes a small arrow pointing towards the newly opened door.

"Right this way."

*I see you did not allow some through, Arthur,* Wonder Woman dictates through the telepathic link provided by their Martian teammate.

*There were a few that didn't really need to be in the five chosen. Bea's powers have diminished a bit since she left, and even she isn't sure why...Ralph's demonstration was interrupted by Plastic Man, with dangerous but amusing results, I must admit...*

*You chose him, Aquaman,* Batman adds in, sitting with his cape covering his toned body next to Wonder Woman. *What about Huntress?*

*She did some alright work,* Lantern joins, *But she, uh...Didn't seem to fit in too well.*

*Because she didn't have any powers to speak of,* Batman thinks coldly, and Kyle shivers without answering. *I see that your endorsement made it through, despite his lack of powers,* the detective continues as he watches the Green Arrow enter the room. Green Lantern's thoughts are unshared once more.

*Black Canary made it through,* Aquaman tells him. *I agreed with Kyle. I'm sorry, Batman, she just didn't seem to even want to be here.* That is enough for the Dark Knight, for the moment.

*This is the group you should be receiving, Diana: Red Tornado, Plastic Man, the Ray, Green Arrow, the Atom, Booster Gold, Steel, Firestorm, Black Canary, and...The new one...Iron something?* The king transmits, and suddenly the center of the telepathy makes himself noticed from the first room.

*Iron Hide. Keep a close eye on him,* The Manhunter advises. *His armor's specifications lead Kal and I to suspect that he may be here for something besides trying out.*

*Noted,* Batman thinks. *Now let's get this over with.*

Ten assorted figures stand before the Amazon Princess and her dark companion, who sit behind a thick pane of green-tinted glass. "Welcome to the final stage," Wonder Woman begins into the microphone. "This part of the examination allows us to see your combat capabilities in superhuman situations, the kind you will undoubtedly encounter if you become a part of the JLA."

"How do you mean...?" the masked young man in black and yellow, the second called the Ray, asks upwards.

"We mean that you will all be battling each other. Ten at once. The last five to go down will be taken into greater consideration than the others. No killing. You have sixty seconds and counting to prepare," Batman tells them, causing a look of distress to cross most of the faces below.

"Wait a minute! What about some of us who aren't exactly designed for battle? Atom here--" Batman cuts off Firestorm.

"You have to be prepared in this League, ladies and gentlemen. Twenty seconds left."

Firestorm looks for his friend, who he finds already shrinking down to less than inches tall. "You going to be alright, Ray?" He asks him, leaning over, and the Atom gives him a quick salute and smirk.

"You never worried this much about me back in the day, Ronnie. Just remember: it's every man for himself."

"Five..." Wonder Woman's voice comes over the intercom, causing more tension between those present...all except for the lone armored man, Iron Hide, who merely stands and waits.

"Connor," Black Canary says as she lays her hand on the shoulder of Green Arrow.

"Huh?" He spins quickly to take in the sight of her. "Oh--Oh, hey...Canary."

"Notice we're the only ones here without powers. Care to partner up?"

"Uh...I don't think we're supposed to. Batman said every man...or woman...for themselves."

"Batman says a lot of things...I'm sure he'll understand. He knows that semi-normal people like us need backup sometimes. Besides, there's a tradition in Green Arrow and Black Canary team ups."

"You'd be surprised how much I hear that sort of line..."

"Four...Three..."

"I call Dinah," Booster Gold says quietly behind the wall of his hand while pointing in Black Canary's direction. Plastic Man, now resembling a red, yellow, black, and flesh-colored copy of the Canary, puts his hand behind his head luxuriously with the other at his curvaceous hip.

"I bet you'd 'call' me if I looked like this, big boy."

"Heck, it's been so long, maybe I would..."

"Two..."

"You're pretty calm for someone who's only been heroing for a few months, man," Steel says to the lone man in armor. "Looks like we're both going for the position of 'knight in armor' guy." Iron Hide doesn't respond, and Steel waves a shining gray hand in front of the bubble-like helmet. "Hello? Anyone in there?" And with a deft speed, Iron Hide's hand grabs his in a crushing grip, still silent.

"One..."

Steel's eyes widen behind his faceplate. "Uh-oh..."

Then…It all begins with a nervous fury. Already holding Steel, Iron Hide lifts him by only the arm and throws him in a full flip to the ground, denting the ground below with his weight and force. "Ungh--!" He grunts, looking for some center of gravity and using his hammer as balance. Iron Hide won't allow it as he activates jets in his thick green boots and takes to the air with quickness towards his foe.

"Jets too, huh? Looks like someone's been comparing notes..." Steel says heavy-breathed and only half standing. He hardly has time to raise his hammer as the projectile that is Iron Hide rushes him into a wall, once again damaging its material. But Steel is prepared, and puts up some resistance, grappling his counterpart with shelled hands. "This fist-fighting stuff might be good for some of our type sometimes, but you'll see that there are reasons this suit's so heavy!" He cries happily into the face of Iron Hide. They exchange sparks, and John smiles slightly as his armor begins infiltrating its enemy's own. The smile fades slowly as he feels the same power thrust back on him and his body-covering weapon, which has suddenly stopped functioning.

"*kzzt* And you'll see that 'our type' aren't all on the same page. If your suit is an Apple, mine is a Pentium.... Compare notes to that, if you're awake long enough. *kzzt*" Iron Hide quips, and the bolts of electricity connect like spiders' webs in a full assault of Steel's body and mechanical skin. "Aggggh...!!" His cries of pain are ended shortly with the release of unconsciousness, his armor half-melted and useless.

"*kzzt*' Compare notes to that'...It has to be the costumes that make them talk that way...*kzzt*" Iron Hide says under his breath, oblivious to the contorted form slithering in behind him.

"Hey...It's just natural for some of us, big fella!" Says the animated voice of Plastic Man as he stretches his limbs around Iron Hide's own, smiling. "Maybe you'll stick around long enough to figure that out."

"*kzzt* I doubt it. *kzzt*"

"It is a bit demanding to pit them against each other like this," Wonder Woman admits, leaning back in her chair and still observing the battle below. Batman's tone doesn't change from before, as it rarely does.

"They'll have to deal with more than this on the League. I thought you'd be in favor of it, Diana," He says. "You are our resident warrior princess."

"Oh, I don't disapprove...Battle is unpredictable and can come at any time. But I'm not sure of how effectively this will tell us who is the best for the League..."

"I doubt it will. It just gives us a chance to observe."

Back down among the battling heroes, two male figures both emanating a bright glow are preparing for their own. Firestorm's flaming hair trails behind him as he dodges a misdirected blast of burning light from the Ray's fists.

"This is where I need to be, 'Storm!" he yells desperately. "The young guys deserve just as much of a chance...!"

"Of course they do, man...Hell, I'm still one of 'em! But the League doesn't care how old you are..." Firestorm tells him with wisdom beyond his youth, flying swiftly to the Ray's side and collecting nuclear energies at his hands then thrusting them in his direction.

"They care about how you think and what you can do. Example: You shoot your light-rays at me, while you sit there completely still and making yourself a perfect target for me. Then, for starters, I turn your stylish jacket there into...Oh, let's say lead." The beam fires from Firestorm's hands and strikes Ray unexpectedly, his jacket turning into a heavy gray copy of its former state.

"Hey--!" The Ray cries, suddenly being pulled down by the new weight of his clothing until on the ground.

"Wait--That's not all," Firestorm continues, circling above Ray and still stirring his unique power. "Now, I turn the ground right below you into water," Both saying and doing so, "And then make a little glass dome around you to keep you in there. It's all in the head...That and the wrist," Firestorm says with his sparring partner trapped in the semi-sphere of glass and in his normal form, bitterly staring out at Firestorm as he flies elsewhere.

"What have we here...?" The Nuclear Man asks, spying both Black Canary and Green Arrow assaulting Booster Gold with a kick from her strong boot and an arrow in Booster's jet pack.

"Now that's not fair, ladies and gents..." Booster says, suddenly having to maneuver through the air awkwardly. He fires a pulse ray from one of his wrist-shooters, hitting the ground below Green Arrow and sending him reeling for only a second.

"All's fair in love and war, Booster," The Canary says, jumping on his back and bringing him down even faster.

"Which is this then, babe?" he asks, smiling even as he approaches the ground. It hits him, face first and unyielding. Dinah stands up from his dazed body.

"The latter," She tells him.

"Team work," Wonder Woman comments to Batman, who replies.

"No less than I expected."

Plastic Man's pliable body is wrapped around Iron Hide's armor like a constricting scarf. "Problems, new guy? It's just little ol' me…"

Silently, he works against Plastic Man with an enhanced strength that stretches him further. "Geez, you sure know how to handle people!" Plastic Man asks under crushing grip, unharmed at first. "Not the talkative type, huuUUGHH!"

"*kzzt* Can't you people just shut up and fight? *kzzt*" He tightens his hands around the elastic neck. "*kzzt* Here. Talk all you like. *kzzt*"

"The League doesn't really like the cruelty act, stranger…" The Atom says as he shrinks to the size of a nucleus, jumping towards the turned armor. "Man--This stuff is dense! What is it, lead?" He asks while descending through the material.

"*kzzt* I can hear you, you know. You'll find more surprises in there. *kzzt*" Hide says, and suddenly Atom's tiny body is jolted with power enough to nearly knock him out, falling back out of his place in the armor.

"Did you see that?" Batman asks suddenly.

"What? Dinah and Arrow teaming up on Tornado as well?" Wonder Woman wonders.

"No. There was a power surge," He points to a screen, "All over the Watchtower, just as Hide shocked Ray."

"So he--"

*J'onn, Superman…We have a link with Iron Hide and that last surge. He's drawing power from the Watchtower itself,* Batman interrupts telepathically.

*We read you, Batman,* Superman replies. *There in a moment. We'll get the others.*

On the cold floor, Green Arrow and Black Canary continue their own battle with the swirling power of the Red Tornado.

"I apologize for what I am about to do," the android says with robotic sincerity. He raises his arms in the air, and wind twists around both Arrow and his partner as they're swept up.

"Uh, Dina," Connor asks from his spinning, "What are we supposed to do?"

"Improvise," she says, trying to retrieve something from her belt.

"Even with two, it's not really fair against this guy," he comments, reaching as well. An arrow in hand, he finally manages to fire it shakily. Upon striking the Tornado, it falls to the ground harmlessly.

"Like I said, Connor…" Canary replies, finally pulling a circular object up and throwing it in the direction of the Tornado, exploding on impact and causing the two powerless heroes to drop. "It's all fair, here."

"And you know…" she says, coming closer, "That does mean all of it." Her lithe body slides in next to his, the heat emanating from both.

"I--I'm sorry--?"

Suddenly he feels a slight pain in his stomach that subsides with numbness. Connor looks down to see a dart in his belly, then back up again, with eyes of shock to see a not so happy Canary.

"No, Connor. I am. We all deserve to be here," she says as he keels over slowly, the tranquilizer's effects overpowering him.

"Clever. But tranquilizers do not effect me, and your explosives can only do so much," Red Tornado's voice says from behind the Canary.

"If you want more, that's fine…But if you want to win…"

"Ray, you alright man?" Firestorm asks the Atom, whose tiny body lays in his gloved hand.

"Y…Yeah. I think so, at least," he says, rubbing his head and sitting up more, then standing. "You know…I've been thinking about this 'every man for himself' thing…" The miniscule man says, and a similar grin forms on both their faces. Soon they are flying under Ronnie's towards the Iron Hide, still distracted with Plastic Man's endless tortures.

"His armor has a lot lead in it," Ray explains.

"What should I turn it into, then?" Firestorm asks. "Denser lead? Or how about oxygen? Or maybe-"

"No…There's something in there that was ready for me, something that shocked me pretty good. I'm betting there's something else ready for maybe you too…"

Firestorm's eyes narrow, and he nods. "I can see it. There's a field around him on the outside. Not sure what that is, but it doesn't look good for anyone…"

"This doesn't either," says the Black Canary, hurtling towards the pair quickly with help from Tornado, close behind. As they approach, the Atom grows and jumps in front of Dinah with his hands outstretched. "Stop!" He yells, and surprised, the two do.

"What? What is it Ray?" She asks anxiously.

"Think about it: four of us left…Five with Plas…Divided up two on two against each other. What's the other alternative, besides all out war?"

"….."

"*kzzt* I'm getting tired of this. There's more to do… *kzzt*"

"Are you kidding? I…*GACK*…I can go all day! Just ask your mother…"

"*kzzt* Now you've made it painful…What are you smiling at? How sick are you? *kzzt*"

Plastic Man keeps smiling through Iron Hide. His long, slender arrow of a finger points behind him. Inside of the armor, a man turns his head, and sees the threat.

"Tornado: If you please…" says the Atom on top of Firestorm's shoulder. Tornado's eyes becoming burning coals as static begins dancing on his hard shell. Soon it covers Hide too, his armor sparking and whirring. The lights of the Watchtower flicker, and once stable, reveal Iron Hide kneeling on the ground meekly.

"I am not familiar with the saying…But I believe it has something to do with an apple," The Tornado says. "His armor is weakened, Firestorm."

"Thanks buddy," Ronnie says, aiming his glowing fist at the humbled Hide. From the small nuclear blast, the armor turns a lighter color. "There you go Ray. Plastic. No offense, Plas," He says, with the Atom jumping from his shoulder.

"And no more shocker, which means…" he says inside of the armor, searching and finally finding a single circuit and tweaking it slightly. In a short burst, the armor opens at its literal seams, showing the suited man inside.

"…No more Iron Hide…"

The Canary walks over, stands for a moment, and then punches the man in his face, drawing blood from his bald head.

"You--"

"Luthor…" Batman says under his breath…

"It rhas the old bald guy, Rhaggy!" Plastic Man barks from his dog form.

"Yes," Lex Luthor says, wiping his face. "And you should be glad I never strike women."

With a crashing sound, the doors to the room half-explode with great force, showing the other five Leaguers. Superman's expression turns from determination to disgust, and he flies over quickly.

"What kept you?" Batman asks above, and Superman, still looking at Lex, answers.

"The Watchtower attacked us, kept us back…Under someone else's orders. What are you doing in our base, Luthor?" he asks in the face of the businessman, who scowls.

"Don't take that tone with me. I've done nothing wrong…"

Superman picks him up by his suit. "Lex, I'm warning you-"

"You invited anyone to try out, didn't you? And look how I did." Superman frowns even more.

"Put me down before I decide I was assaulted by a global icon." After some hesitation, Superman reluctantly does so, with Lex dusting himself off. "You know, this isn't that far away from one of my own 'boys' clubs'. I'm surprised you haven't been called something like 'The Elite' yet."

"It's something we've been working on," The Flash adds unhappily.

"Yes, well, good luck with that. Sorry about the mess…I'm sure you can handle it. Oh, and you can keep the suit, by the way…As a trophy, if you like. But I hope that every time you look at it…" he says snidely, walking away towards the teleporter room.

"…You'll remember that I could have been one of you."

After a moment's silence, and the muffled sounds of particles being transferred, Green Lantern wonders aloud behind an impish grin.

"So… Who wants to help clean up?"

Later:

"…Yeah, Booster seemed alright with it. He said he really didn't see a reason it Beatle wasn't around…" The Flash explains.

"I'm glad he took it well," J'onn comments, waiting with the others around the table for Superman and the recruits to come in. "I spoke with Steel and Green Arrow to make sure they knew that they would always be considered for the League, but the Ray…He didn't respond well. Not even to me."

"I can't believe we just let him…Leave like that," Kyle comments, making a small jail cell with his ring.

"It's happened before," Batman says shortly. "We'll get our chance again."

"Here you are, ladies and gentlemen…" Superman's pervading voice says as the doors open.

"…Atom, Black Canary, Firestorm, Plastic Man, and Red Tornado, I'd like to officially welcome you to the Justice League of America."

Five proud people, whether their faces show it or not, stand before the other seven, and Plastic Man makes a question mark with his face.

"Not that I mind or anything, but, uh-Why did you choose us again?"

"The League is about working together as a whole, Plastic Man," Wonder Woman says. "You all showed the quality of teamwork naturally today, and since most of you have been Leaguers before, we know that we have experience for the team."

"Alright, alright--That's great, but what I wanna know is…What did I do for the team, besides getting my Irish butt whupped harder than my childhood years?"

"Hey, man-" Firestorm says, patting him on the back, "You were the distraction!"

As the others laugh, Batman leans back in his chair, facing Aquaman with a cold face.

"I have an idea that that was all Luthor had planned for us, anyway."

"What?" Aquaman asks.

"A distraction."

"Most likely. That…

"…Or a test."

From the Watchtower, to the rest of the moon, to the bounds of our solar system, and beyond, the power of these twelve illuminates, three shining beams protruding outward.

Truth…Justice…Life…

And elsewhere, below the moon, someone broods alone under the light of these shards of light, stroking a thin cat and watching a wall of flashing screens smiling.

NEXT: ""Apparitions"

The Hall of

JUSTICE

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