JLU 2001 Fanfiction - Outsiders #2

Oliver Queen turned to Nightwing, nocking an arrow, and firing in one swift movement. His speed belaying his rugged appearance. In defense, the former Titan raised one of his indestructible escrima sticks, and batted it aside.

"Stop it, Oliver!" he said.

"Why should I?" asked Oliver. "All of you costumed punks, and your right minded ideas are only going to cause problems here."

"And what makes you so righteous," said Katana, as she got to her feet. "We came here only to help, but you are interfering."

"That's what I was doing, and you conservative warmongers had to come charging in like an elephant stampeding an anthill," said Oliver. "These people need help, not another bloody war."

Supergirl landed beside the former Green Arrow, and he focused his third arrow on her.

"I've always heard you were a pompous ass, but this beats all."

"Who are you supposed to be, Dearie?" he asked.

"The name is Supergirl, not Dearie."

"So, old steel tights found himself another member of his little troupe?"

Nightwing

What is Manchester? We are kind of busy.

The revolutionaries are moving out, and a meta of major power is on a collision course with them.

Damn, we'll be right there. Try to hold them off.

"Katana, Supergirl, Huntress, we have to get going," said Nightwing. "The rebels are making their assault."

"What?" said Oliver. "That's suicide."

"You should come with us, Oliver, so we can figure out what's wrong with you," said Nightwing.

"Like hell I will," he said. "I'm going to help the rebels!"

Oliver ran off. Nightwing shook his head, and motioned for the others to follow.

	*Taking You Outside Your Little Box...* OUTSIDE THE BOX Part III: Rough Patches
OUTSIDERS #3 June, Year Seven	by Mick Edwards


NIGHTWING	BLACK LIGHTNING	KATANA	SUPERGIRL	HUNTRESS	SHIFT	MANCHESTER BLACK

Shift shot off segments of his skin, which changed to a liquid metal shape that stretched, and then hardened into binding chains to contain the rebels in his path. Black Lightning flew above, energy arcing his fingertips, and striking the grass behind Shift. The new element man turned and saw his would be assailants run away from the fire that his teammate had sparked.

"Thanks, man."

"You're welcome, friend."

Manchester secluded himself a good distance away from the battle. He was scanning the mind of the dangerous engine of destruction heading their way. He could sense an alien presence in it; something that resembled Superman, but far darker. When he attempted a deeper scan, his astral image was cast out by the greater force inside.

Black Lightning landed beside him, and kneeled down to check on the hunched over telepath.

"Are you okay?" asked Black Lightning.

Manchester clenched his eyes shut, and a tinge of cold sweat beaded down his brow.

"I never sensed somethin' so cold and lifeless, mate."

"What do you mean?"

"Listen, Lightnin', if we make it out of here alive, then maybe we can have a good chat," he said. "But, for now; let's focus on keeping these rebels alive."

Black Lightning nodded his head, and lent his hand to Manchester to help him up.

"Thanks," he said. "Excuse me a minute."

Nightwing, are you readin' me?

What is it, Black?

I have a feeling the threat we are about to face is in blue boy's class. The good news is we got the rebels packin' with their tails between their legs.

We're coming your way, now, Black. Do what you can to hold out.

I doubt we'll be able to hold off long. Tell sweet cheeks to move her super butt over here, pronto.

Did he just call me sweet cheeks?

Just get over there, Kara.

Fine, Nightwing, but the next time he calls me...

Manchester cut the psionic connection, and chuckled at the thoughts he sensed from Supergirl. A sonic boom heralded her arrival, and she gave Manchester an evil look.

"Sweet cheeks, eh?"

"Not now honey buns," he said. "Company is arriving."

Manchester turned his gaze to the trees to their right, which began to tilt, and fall to the wayside. Standing on the other end was a creature that looked vaguely human with sharp talons.

"Hello, mate," said Manchester. "Care for a chat, or a fag?"

The creature looked at Manchester, and leaped at him with its talons aimed for his chest. Supergirl intercepted the creature, and swatted it aside.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I? I am Equus, and you're dead, babe."

"DON'T CALL ME BABE!"

Manchester, Black Lightning, and Shift were taken back by how forceful Supergirl crashed into Equus. The mere collision had created a mile wide impression in the ground.

"Does she always act like this?" asked Manchester.

"No, I've never seen her get so upset," said Black Lightning.

"Somethin's amiss," said Shift.

"What do mean?" asked Manchester.

"I can sense Kryponite in the area."

"Kryponite?" said Manchester. "Doesn't that stuff kill big blue and lovely hips?"

Shift nodded.

"I didn't know you could detect foreign elemental compounds, Shift."

"Neither did I, Sparky," he said. "In either case; I will look for the Kryponite while you two help SG."

Once Shift disappeared in a puff of smoke, Black Lightning gathered ambient electrical energy by making himself a lightning rod. When he was supply charged, he let loose the energy into Equus who had Supergirl on her back with his claws embedded in her stomach.

The resultant screams of both caused him to stop his attack. Manchester used his telekinesis, and pulled Equus off of her. Allowing her to catch a breather. From the south came Oliver Queen with his makeshift bow and arrows. He launched one, then two more into Equus' body.

The cyborg grunted in pain, and then pulled them out. "Is that supposed to hurt?"

Nightwing came next, tossing two wingdings into Equus' eyes. Katana followed up with three swipes with her sword, and Huntress shot off three cross bolts, as the final salvo.

Equus roared in pain, and started to pull the objects of his pain out. Supergirl got up slowly allowing her healing ability to mend her wounds. She rose off the ground taking in the ambient light energy around, and strafed Equus with heat vision. Her unclear thinking making her more and more reckless.

But, despite all they did, Equus seemed unstoppable.

Shift moved across the forest as a cloud of invisible air molecules. And after covering a half-mile square radius he found a red chunk of Kryponite. It glowed with a fierce intensity. Using his shape shifting powers, Shift turned to acid, and dissolved the red Kryponite.

Supergirl started her next run, but stopped as her mind became clear of the effects of the red Kryponite. She hovered out of Equus' reach and used her super breath to freeze him solid. Nightwing stepped aside, and let Katana deal the crippling blow.

With two swipes, Equus was sliced in half. The team breathed a sigh of relief, and started tending to their wounds. Manchester knelt beside Equus, and psionically probed its mind to see if the alien intelligence was still there, but he found nothing.

"Hrm," said Manchester.

"What's the matter?" asked Nightwing.

"Nothin' mate," he said.

The team turned to Oliver who started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" asked Black Lightning.

"Away," he said.

"Just like that," said Huntress. "I heard you had bigger balls then that."

"You don't know me girlie. Where I go is none of your concern," he said. "Don't bother following me."

Oliver ran off into the woods and disappeared.

"Screw this," said Huntress. "You said we would make a difference, Nightwing. And so far all we have accomplished is an encounter with the old coot who should be dead, and fought the super villain of the week."

"Hun--"

"--No, I'm leaving. I'm heading back to Gotham City."

Huntress walked off, and Nightwing started to walk after her, but Manchester placed grabbed his arm.

"Let go of me," he said.

"Trust me," said Manchester. "She never wanted to be a part of this anyways."

"What do you mean?" he said.

"She knows she can't have what she wants," said Manchester.

Nightwing's eyes narrowed, and his head lowered.

"Let's pack up."

Heathrow Prison, England;

Vera Black sat in her cell with her legs drawn in, and arms across them. Her attention was drawn to the blue astral image that flickered away, and a smile formed on her face.

Next Issue: Space Cowboy

Outside The Box:

I know many are expecting this letter column to be written by Dino, but he decided to step down, and allow me to take over the series with notes from what he loosely had in mind for this series. However, I have made alterations to some, if not most of his loose ideas. I think some will find my writing style is not so decompressed, but I'm sure there will be complaints that my issues are a little on the short side, etc.

But, I promise to do my best to put together a good run on the book, and I hope you readers stick around. Because unlike my first run with this series, I've come back with experience under my belt.

-Mick