STARMAN: STELLAR ALIGNMENT
Chapter One
"Unlucky Numbers"
Originally Presented in JLA # 8-9
Written by Curt Fernlund
[Return to Introduction] [Proceed to Chapter Two] [Proceed to Chapter Three]
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STARMAN: STELLAR ALIGNMENT Chapter One Originally Presented in JLA # 8-9 Written by Curt Fernlund |
JLA # 8 - Unlucky Numbers, Part 2: "Seven the Hard Way"
The following are excerpts from JLA # 8. Previously, the JLA have been on the hunt for the villainous sorcerer Felix Faust, who is attempting to boost his waning magical power...
Ashland, Oregon:
The Next Morning…
Habit forced Jack Knight to look up and around at the tinkling sound of a silver bell. At his own shop back in Opal City he had a similar bell set to jingle whenever anyone stepped through the doorway and entered Knights Past. He was glad to see that some things remained constant wherever you were.
The man that had entered the Brass Rubbing Centre looked familiar to Jack at a glance- not someone that Jack knew really, but more someone that he had seen, like a face passed on the street every so often but never quite set in memory. He was dressed in an off-the-rack suit and shoes and looked as though he had just gotten his hair trimmed that morning. Jack could see the tan lines where his beard used to be and, in fact, the man had a bit of red soaked tissue pasted up under his chin. Jack had to smile. He had been there.
Jack Knight went back to thumbing through the poster boards of old play posters encased in plastic. He was on a buying trip to the West Coast, making stops in Seattle and Portland, San Francisco and finally in San Diego where he would round out the trip at Creation; the Comic/Sci-Fi Con held there annually. He had rented a car in Seattle over a week ago and was taking a leisurely drive down Interstate 5 into California where he would then shift to the Coast Highway and pass through the Redwoods and Big Sur before hitting the Bay Area with a buyer's vengeance. It was half business, half vacation- though more vacation he had to admit- and he was enjoying himself for the first time since taking up the mantle of his father and brother's legacy.
Starman! It was still hard to believe sometimes.
Thinking of his new mantle Jack's gaze drifted back towards the man that had entered the shop. It had something to do with his other life, his life as Starman that made Jack think that the man looked familiar. He hardly seemed a hero though; one who ran in the Meta circles, but then again neither did Jack. Jack Knight was just a guy with a stick after all- a stick that could incinerate the world!
The man however looked frail and haggard, like he had not had a decent meal in weeks. His suit was a little baggy covering his slim frame, and as Jack looked him over he noticed that his socks did not match- one blue, one black. His hair was trimmed but windblown, and he had a look in his eyes like he was expecting something to happen at any moment. That more than anything made Jack nervous.
His father would have known instantly who the man was. It had been his job for fifty years to know things like that. Even David would have known probably, with his fanatical hero worship attitude. Jack's problem was that he had never cared. Oh, sure, he was proud of his father- Ted Knight, the original Starman- and even of his brother David who had taken his father's place. Though he would never admit it, his opinion of his brother had soared when he had put on that gaudy red and green costume and flown off into the starry night. Something Jack would never have done in a million years- not if tragedy and violence had not forced him to. Now David was dead and his father was retired and somehow Jack Knight was the new Starman. Go figure…
The man seemed edgy, and Jack could sense- almost feel the dread that hovered over him like a dark cloud. He was expecting the worst, glancing about the shop nervously as he approached the cashier's desk. Jack forced a smile, breaking his gaze from the man's haunted eyes and went back to browsing the old posters, trying to get his mind back on his work. He was looking for relics, cool things that people would pay money for from times past. Jack knew that the Brass Rubbing Centre worked hand in hand with the Southern Oregon Shakespeare Festival and often got first dibs on old play props, costumes, playbills and posters. Memorabilia, that was the ticket, and what Jack loved. There were little shops like the Rubbing Centre all up and down the Coast, and Jack hoped to hit them all before his trip was over-
"No, Faust! I told you that your credit's no good here! You still owe a bundle for that-" the man behind the register glanced up and looked around, then lowered his voice to a harsh whisper- "that cape that you wanted last summer. You said you were good for that!"
Faust…
Jack stared at a poster hanging in front of him on the wall for the current play at the theater- the Tempest- as he tried to remember that name. Faust was a name from a play too. Maybe that was it-
"Idiot!" the man shouted leaning into the guy behind the counter. He reached into his jacket pocket and Jack had visions of bullets blazing, ripping the cashier a few new holes before the man pulled out a thick wallet. He pulled out a wad of bills that would choke a horse and flopped it onto the counter.
"I am Felix Faust! Consider all debts paid, and know that the Cloak of the Magi did not work! Regardless, I wish to look over your archives."
The poor guy behind the counter was stuttering and turning a bright shade of red as he tried to catch his breath. Jack could not blame him. The man- Felix Faust had dropped a load onto the counter. Jack would have let him thumb through his Marvel Mystery Number Ones for a wad like that- greasy fingers and all.
Felix Faust though- Bells were ringing in Jack's head now as he finally put the name to the face. Faust was a ten-time loser that had fought the Justice League about a hundred times or so. Total waste of the Meta in Jack's opinion. He had never understood- when his dad had told him and David the old stories of the Justice Society- why guys like Per Degaton and the Gambler thought that they had a chance in hell of beating the likes of the Flash and Green Lantern let alone Doctor Fate and the Spectre. The Justice League had its fair share of losers too, and Felix Faust had always been at the top of the list, at least according to what Jack saw on the TV.
The cashier apparently decided to give Faust the benefit of the doubt and snatched up the wad of bills before Felix changed his mind. He led the villain towards the back of the shop, past a suit of armor and a display of archaic iron swords and through a shuttered door in the back wall that said 'Employees Only'. Jack figured that the guy thought Jack was fairly safe, leaving him alone in the shop, and that was fine with Jack.
Jack Knight sighed long and hard at the poster of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' from a Seventies Kaluta painting before slipping away towards the front door. If it was Felix Faust- and Jack suspected there was no doubt of that- he was probably up to something, and odds were that there would be trouble. Probably a fight! A couple years ago and Jack would have dipped out the back and left the super-stuff to his father or brother. Superman even! But Ted Knight was retired and half a continent away, and David…
David was dead!
Jack was Starman now, and it was his own bad luck that Felix Faust had dropped into his lap. He could take the magician he figured, but he might need his rod, and that was in the car parked outside on the street. Jack slipped out the door as quietly as possible, grimacing and looking up as the little silver bell jingled overhead…
Ashland, Oregon:
Later…
The Red Tornado shifted the air about him as he flew over the Cascades. He called on the winds to shift and blow from behind, increasing his speed as he soared towards the rendezvous with the Batman and Zatanna and the rest. The winds swirled at his command and blew behind him, pushing him along as his funnel of air churned, propelling him forward.
In the distance he could see the column of smoke rising into the air. Obviously his destination, the Tornado arched his body and adjusted his flight to meet whatever disaster could cause such an effect. He shifted his thoughts and redirected the winds, a gust catching the spiraling smoke and carrying it up and away from the city. It was simplicity itself. He was the world's Air Elemental after all.
He saw the flames from far away as he swooped over the mountains. He could see the tiny dots of the others; Firestorm, the Fire Elemental soaring through the sky, and another that he did not recognize. A man with a sparkling staff, flying as well. He could see the Meta energy warping the very air as they all deployed their powers, the two in the air and another on the ground. That was probably Faust, the one on the ground. His energies reeked of mystery and confusion- powers that disrupted the natural flow. Chaos! The Red Tornado arched around, sending a funnel through the flames to snuff them, suck out the air and extinguish the fire. He was still over a mile away.
He saw the fire start to die as he dove towards the 'fight'. He saw energy rippling off of Firestorm, and he saw the other, the one he did not know blasting away with energies that seared the air and burned the sky. On the ground, Faust waved his arms about and gestured at his attackers. The Tornado saw the ground ripple and rip as things climbed free of the earth; dead things. Fire arched up, and the man with the staff swooped to one side. Firestorm gestured and the things on the ground dissolved in a green mist.
The Red Tornado weighed his options, calculating the best attack to bring the battle to a close when a roar of engines diverted his attention. The Bat Plane was arching over the Siskyus to the south, coming out of the sun with a dramatic flare. The Tornado dispersed the resistance before the plane and fell back into position. The Batman was on the scene.
The fight was over…
JLA # 9 - Unlucky Numbers, Part 3: "Seven Into Thirteen Won't Go!"
Ashland, Oregon:
Just a bit before…
Jack Knight dug through the debris that had accumulated in the back seat of his rented '79 Nova rag top. It was almost a shame that he did not need a car, as Nova convertibles were almost non-existent, and the one he had got at the Avis desk in Seattle was almost cherry; nary a scratch on the periwinkle blue chassis and the upholstery was immaculate, smelling of old leather and vinyl. There were half-moons on the hubs and the engine had been rebuilt to optimum performance. It was almost worth going into debt over-
"Yes!"
Jack pulled the Cosmic Rod out from under a pile of vintage Hawaiian shirts he had picked up for a song in Portland. He did not even know why he had packed the thing in the first place, but now he was glad that he had, watching the golden metal sparkle in the sunlight. He had been hoping for a relaxing West Coast vacation tooling down the Coast Highway in search of nostalgia, but it seemed that Lady Luck had dealt him a dummy hand again.
He had run across a super-villain of course, and knew why his dad had always seemed so haggard. Metas were apparently drawn to one another, and even though Jack was technically a norm and still new at the game, he was not exempt. He had run across Felix Faust in a small shop in a small town and felt obligated to do something about it.
His dad would be so proud, and hopefully so would be…
Ashland, Oregon:
Now…
Felix Faust held the Book of Nimbus closer to his chest in a vice-like grip, hoping and praying that the tome would give him the power that he would need to fight off his attackers. He mumbled something, a simple spell that disrupted the natural order, and plumes of fire arched skyward. The boy with the golden stick dodged, easily arching away from the threat. Firestorm was engulfed, but after a brief bit of confusion, seemed unharmed. Felix Faust cursed!
Flames danced and evaporated, fluttering away on the breeze like a flock of small glowing birds. Faust watched as the two heroes arched and swooped in their respective flights, the flame headed Firestorm gracefully traveling under his own power, the other being propelled along by the long golden rod that he clutched with some fervor. Firestorm he knew of course. Faust had fought that particular thorn in his side time and again in his useless, depleting confrontations with the Justice League. He was a powerful opponent, commanding the ability to transmute matter and direct blasts of atomic fire from his hands. Luckily, even after all this time he still seemed something of a novice, and almost hesitant to use his powers in any productive manner. Faust could use that to his advantage, and hoped that he could put the hero away before his cursed comrades started crawling out of the woodwork.
The other, however, was a mystery. He was young, in his twenties Faust believed, and obviously still new at the hero game. Faust could see some of the power that the boy commanded- aside from the golden blasts of energy that he randomly fired. Felix Faust used the stars in his own works, his magicks; the very stellar energy of the constellations made him stronger. The sorcerer could see that stellar energy harnessed in the boy's glowing rod- a field of force that surrounded him as well as propelling him through the sky at his command. The star force was strong in that one, and vaguely familiar as well, though Faust could not quite place it. No matter-
" Fulmen !" he shouted, directing his hands in a sweeping arch and a second later lightning erupted from the otherwise clear blue sky. The crackling bolt of energy flashed down from the heavens, twisting and spreading out to match Faust's gesticulating fingers. The bolt blew past Firestorm but trained on the other's glowing rod. Energy danced along the metal as Faust had planned, the boy's weapon actually attracting the primal electricity. The boy glowed even brighter, and Faust could almost hear his scream as thunder rolled and boomed overhead. Faust laughed as the hero began to plummet towards the ground…
Jack Knight had somehow known from the first time that he had been forced to pick up his father's Cosmic Rod that it would be the death of him. He had envisioned being struck down by one of the original Starman's old foes out on some vendetta; maybe frozen and dying of hypothermia by the Icicle, or dancing to death caught in the mind control of the Fiddler. Or something equally stupid like that!
He had not expected to fall to his death, however. Of all the ways he thought he might die, that had not crossed his mind since that first time weeks before, when he had actually found the guts to rise up off the streets of Opal and soar through the buildings. Everything that had come before, all of the negative memories that came with the rod, all the hesitation had vanished in that instant when he had sailed up and over the rooftops and saw his city in a way that few others had before. It had been beautiful!
He had flown! Flown like the birds up above the sparkling lights and shining spires of Opal City. It had been a breathtaking experience, and he knew then and there why his father had done it. He knew why David had taken up the rod. He knew why Superman did it! He had 'stepped' into another world, and once he had passed that invisible threshold that separated the Metas from the norms he knew that it would be impossible to step back. It would be a living hell to leave it all behind. He had flown-
And now he was falling!
Electricity still crackled and danced over the Cosmic Rod- the Star Staff. His hands were charred and numb, tingling from the energy, and it was only force of will that kept his fists tightly gripping the burning metal. He could smell his burned flesh, and his hair was still charged and dancing as he picked up speed, falling. He tried to gather his thoughts, tried to concentrate on staying aloft but he could not think. His brain had fried from the blast and he was half blind, blobs of swirling color expanding in his sight. He could hear the wind whistling past the ringing in his ears, half-deaf from the peal of thunder that had exploded around him. Who had known that Felix Faust had that kind of power? Jack had thought he was a putz. Go figure-
He thought of Sadie as he fell, still struggling.
He thought of his father. Would dad be proud? Would the original Starman be impressed at the way he had died?
He thought of David and wondered if his brother had still been alive when he finally kissed the concrete.
Shit! he thought, remembering where he had put that Sentinel of Liberty badge he had thought lost a few months back. What a stupid way to-
Jack blinked, trying to focus his eyes and see past the glowing blobs that still clouded his vision. He heard music- sort of- the tinny sound of a cavalry charge, the most famous, hummable tune of the old Western Serials and John Wayne matinees. He stared, squinting as a shadowy thing slowly blurred into shape, and he knew that he must be dreaming- or dead. Hell was a stupid place-
There was a bugle attached to a giant spring bounding up towards him. The source of the off-key tune of course. That made sense. What did not make sense was that the thing- bugle, spring and all- the whole stupid contraption was a bright, fire engine red!
Worse, it was smiling…
Dinah Laurel Lance stared up into the sky, shielding her eyes from the midday glare with her hand. She had had her doubts that Plastic Man had the ability to reach the kid- Starman she thought- before he had fallen too far and too fast. She had watched in disbelief as her teammate had morphed his elastic-like body into the form of a giant spring and bounded without hesitation up into the sky. He could not fly, but he must be incredibly strong as his body arched up and up, propelled by his wiry muscles. The man was apparently full of surprises, and not quite the lecherous idiot that he first appeared.
They had appeared in the telltale glow of the JLA's teleporter beam just seconds before in front of the city's bus station. Not the best of choices she would have thought, but whoever had preprogrammed the Watchtower's teleportation system had apparently thought it convenient to place the conveyed in a centralized position and close to more conventional and convenient transportation. Lacking a receiver station in all but a few cities worldwide she supposed that it made a certain kind of sense, but she wondered what would have happened had there been a line of people waiting on a bus? She assumed that the computer made allowances, and she knew that the original Thanagarian technology would have compensated. God knew how much more effective it was since J'onn J'onzz had gotten his hands on it.
Plastic Man had not seemed bothered in the least as he had bounded away in the form of a beach ball as soon as his molecules had stabilized. The Black Canary had stepped away from the transport field immediately as well, though for different reasons. Oliver had always hated the teleporters, and it seemed that a little of him had rubbed off on her. She was starting to hate the teleporters, and grumbling more and more over the little things. Worse, she was starting to make the means meet the ends however possible, and that was Ollie through and through. Of course, he always kept the rights of the people in mind, even if he was pinning them to the wall with an arrow or six. That had been most important to him, and she thought that she might be forgetting that-
She had forgotten that with Bob, back in San Francisco. She had lingered behind as Plastic Man had left the bar to coordinate the computer with Batman's wishes. She had promised Bob a treat for his help, but as she looked down at the criminal, his nose bleeding and his knee shattered she had felt nothing but contempt. He had been licking blood from his lips, looking up at her expectantly, and perhaps a little fearful and she had smiled. She gave him a treat-
In the end, she had left Bob crying in agony. He would not be walking for some time, or threatening anyone with a gun for that matter. Hell, he would need someone to spoon feed him for weeks. She had gotten the names of the other three men that Faust had employed however, and she and Plastic Man had made a quick side trip just a few blocks away to gather them up as well. Batman would be happy with that, as it really had not taken long. As long as he did not find out the methods she had used, he would be happy.
As though he were one to complain about 'use of force'.
Dinah was not sure about Plastic Man, and had been glad that he had left her alone with Bob. She did not think that he would rat her out to Batman. As Eel O'Brian, Plastic Man had a shadowed past himself, darker even than Dinah's mother, the original Black Canary. When she had told O'Brian what Bob had told her, he gave her a knowing look and oddly said nothing. He smiled finally with a shrug and bowed, motioning that he would follow her lead. She had liked that.
Finally, with the other three thugs bound and waiting for the police, the two of them had used the JLA teleporter to relay them the few hundred miles between San Francisco and Ashland, bypassing Batman's original rendezvous point of Redding. Apparently Zatanna had made a logical guess as to where Faust was heading, and as soon as the Canary and Plastic Man stepped from the teleportation field she saw that the sorceress had been right.
O'Brian had pointed out the plume of fire shooting into the sky and they both heard the tail end of the explosion still echoing through the city streets. Smoke was billowing skyward in great gray clouds and she could hear as well the sounds of sirens in the distance. Civilians were standing around in a state of shock, made all the worse as Plastic Man bounded by; a huge red ball with a curly shock of hair and an ear to ear grin. Without a thought to the danger ahead the Canary charged after her partner, her mind already racing to plot a course of action.
They had both pulled up short, watching in shock as a bolt of lightning erupted from the clear blue sky. It was awesome, and terrible as well, and Dinah gasped aloud and helplessly as the energy cascaded about the flying man with the stick. The lightning seemed drawn to him, as his weapon acted as a lightning rod. He glowed brightly as the first whiff of sizzling ozone wafted down her way, making her gag. A deafening clap of thunder that shook the Canary to her very bones choked off his scream. She winced-
"Oh my stars and garters!"
The Black Canary glanced at Plastic Man- now looking like a giant red ape- then turned her attention skyward. Her stomach lurched in sympathy as she watched the man starting to fall.
"We've got to save him! Get up there somehow…" The Canary stepped forward, as though about to run under where the man was falling, maybe to catch him somehow, even though the impact would probably kill them both. She felt O'Brian's hand on her shoulder, staying her-
"Got it covered, BC!" Plastic Man said as his legs seemed to merge into one and started to coil and compress. "I may not be Big Blue, but these buildings I can bound over in a single leap." And just like that he was gone.
The Canary watched as the Plastic Man's body morphed again and again. First he took on the head of an oversized bugle as he neared the dazed and falling Starman. Then his whole body had shifted, a semi-liquid mass of red that took on the shape of a giant catcher's mitt that softly caught the falling hero. Within moments the pliable hero had billowed out into a parachute, and the Black Canary watched, impressed, as her companion directed his slow descent away from both the fire and the fight.
She watched a moment longer, then focusing on Firestorm as he circled overhead, activated her League communicator-
"Firestorm!" she shouted. "Where's Faust?"
"Nice to talk to you too, Canary." Dinah Lance grimaced at the staticky voice, wishing that Batman were there to keep the soldiers focused. She sighed-
"Faust, dammit! Where is he?"
"Down by the fire still," Firestorm said with some hesitancy, "but be careful! He's got some kind of book! Maybe a magic book, giving him powers! He's a magician-"
"I know that!" the Canary snapped, already charging down the slight hill towards the fire. She could see the flames dwindling as she ran, getting lower with every stride. Oddly the smoke seemed to be dispersing as well, rising just a few dozen feet before dissipating on the wind-
Of course! she thought and shifted her com-link-
"Tornado!" she shouted, scanning the sky for yet another member of her team. She saw him then, still in the distance, hovering. His red body was a small blur on the horizon but she saw the tell tale cyclonic winds whipping away from him. He was putting out the fire!
"I am… here."
"Good job, Reddy! Move in closer though, in case we need back up! Firestorm! Run interference until I get a fix on Faust! Keep his attention occupied! Plas! Soon as you settle and secure that man get back over to the fire. I'm going to need you. Faust doesn't know you or your powers except by rep- hopefully. We can use that!"
The Canary only half-listened as the three men acknowledged her orders. Technically, she was the oldest Leaguer on site, despite that she had only just rejoined the team with the other three. She had been an original member of the original team and that gave her a degree of seniority and, she hoped respect. In the absence of the likes of Superman, Batman or the Martian Manhunter it was up to the senior member to take charge. That was her, and she found herself actually looking forward to-
"Batman is… here."
The Canary sagged at the almost cryptic, emotionless statement broadcast by the Red Tornado. She kept running, but knew that at any moment the Batman would be taking over. That was his way. He always had a plan, and it usually meant that she would hang back in reserve with her sonic scream at the ready, or at best he might allow her to beat on a few thugs. That was her job she supposed, in the end, whenever the Batman was around. She was just another soldier like the rest.
She would change that, if she could, but later…
Felix Faust sighed in despair as he saw the silhouette of a giant bat pass before the sun. It was the Bat Plane of course, a newer version than he had last seen but easily recognizable none the less. It meant that the Batman had arrived, and unless he got very lucky, Felix Faust was about to be defeated-
Again…
But then, luck was on the side of Felix Faust this time. The Wizard had seen to that when he had generously given the depleted sorcerer one of the fabled Luck Stones of Bel! The stone had come through time and again so far, most recently in the now smoldering remains of the Brass Rubbing Centre just a few minutes before-
He had convinced the cashier of the shop to let him into the vault in the cellar, that warded space where they kept their more valued and secretive items for sale. It had cost Faust a bit more than he had expected as he had forgotten about his accrued debt, but he knew that it would be worth it in the end. The Centre had always had a good supply of magical items and artifacts; potants and herbs, foci and fetishes. As he had followed the cashier down the old rickety stairs and his eyes adjusted to the sudden flare of the overhead bulb of light he saw that he would not be disappointed.
The cashier had allowed him to peruse the shelves and boxes on his own but under a watchful eye. Store policy, Faust suspected, but he knew too that word of his recent stretch of bad times had probably preceded him. Still, he had the Stone, and he had the money to pay so he saw no problems.
He sifted through the wide array of arcane artifacts. Some of the things he recognized, such as the strange mixtures that lined the shelves in sealed jars. He thumbed through an assortment of low-level props; canes and cloaks and the like, all better suited to a more mundane stage magician. He scanned the books, trying to recall his ancient Latin and Arabic, trying harder and in vain to translate the many obscure titles. It would take forever at the rate that he was going, and something gnawing at the back of his mind was telling him that he did not have forever. Time was running short!
He had not wanted to use another charge of the Stone. He knew that he only had a limited number of uses before he would have to give the magic bauble away as the Wizard had, and he had at that point already used four of the seven chances. Still, he needed to be away-
Felix Faust slipped his hand into his pants pocket and gripped the stone in his fist. He wished as he glanced about the musty basement storeroom, hoping that the Stone of Bel would know what it was that he wanted better than he. He slowly turned in a circle, trying to look at everything as he hoped to spot something that might pop out at him, something he had missed before. A spell book or an artifact, anything to recharge his waning skills and powers!
He felt his hand getting warm…
The cashier had looked up as wards that had been etched into the dusty walls and floor began to glow. Faust paid the man no heed as he had stepped towards him, exclaiming over Faust's actions. His eyes were locked on the sparkling gold leaf script on the spine of a thick book that had sat unnoticed on one of the lower shelves of the bookcase.
Faust strode forward past the cashier and plucked the ancient tome from the shelf. He licked his lips as he stared lustfully at the Old Latin scrawl that had been undecipherable just moments before. He blew dust from the pages and caressed the battered cover lovingly, whispering the title- an act that would make the book his own-
"The Book of Nimbus…"
Faust felt the cashier's hand on his shoulder even as he had started to turn. The man's face was a mask of confusion, his eyes wide as his attention shifted from the sorcerer to the book in his hands and back again. He stuttered-
"Wha- What's going on?" he stammered, reaching for the book. Faust's book! "What did you just do?"
Felix Faust stared daggers at the mundane little man as he tried to grab at the Book of Nimbus. Faust clutched the tome to his chest and suddenly remembered the words to a simple spell that would keep the normal's grubby hands off of his soon to be property. It was as though simply touching the powerful book of spells had awakened the sorcerer's memory to those mystical and mysterious words of power that had lately been so elusive. Faust smiled-
"Glaciare!"
Felix Faust laughed as ice instantly formed about the startled cashier. The man had started to protest, but his words literally froze in his throat as an icy sheen of frost coated his stiffening body. His final breath escaped in a wispy cloud of steam as his eyes glazed over and cracked. The man died instantly, and if Faust had had the mind to, he could have shattered the now fragile body with a simple tap of his fist. But Felix Faust had learned from his mistakes and thought better of it. The Justice League would be on him soon enough, and they had powerful allies, magicians of their own that might have the power to restore the cashier to some semblance of humanity. Faust was no murderer- at least in no outright manner. People had died as a result of his machinations in the past, and of course there had been sacrifices to make, but those did not count. Better not to incite the League to excessive violence. Better to allow them to go on thinking that he was still a bumbling incompetent.
Better yet to slip away before they even arrived. He would take his new treasure and disappear for a time until he had fully restored his powers. Maybe Canada he thought as he glanced at the frozen man in passing and shook his head. Mexico!
Faust had just started up the stairs when he heard the now familiar words-
"Freeze, Faust! You're under arrest!"
Felix Faust looked up at the young man in the bowling shirt and goggles. He hardly looked a hero, but the golden staff he held seemed impressive enough. Still, despite the situation, Felix Faust had had to laugh-
Freeze indeed! It was just so ridiculous…
Zatanna watched as the Batman's hands glided over the controls of the Bat Plane. He was like a concert pianist at his work, his fingers flying over the buttons and dials like the ivory keys of a grand Steinway. He was intense at his work however, and Zatanna knew that his mind was awhirl with all that was happening around him as he sorted out the situation and all of its contingencies.
It had taken longer to wait for the Justice League's bulk teleporter to transmit the Bat Plane to Sacramento from Gotham than it had to fly to Ashland. Why they did not simply teleport themselves the few hundred miles she did not understand. The Batman wanted his toys perhaps, or maybe he did not trust the teleporters in the face of the magical energies they might potentially be facing. Not that she blamed him in that.
Faust had the potential to be a powerful sorcerer, but he was erratic and quite often confused. She had seen the man conjure demons and elementals in one breath, then stumble on a simple spell of Knock in the next. All too often, Faust had beaten himself, and in that she supposed that the League was lucky. If his luck was better they might actually have a fight on their hands.
Still, magic was an uncertainty. Teleporting down into the midst of a Blade Storm or an Inferno would not be the wisest move and she could not fault the Batman's reasoning for summoning the plane. It had held them up however, and threw them off of whatever timetable was clicking away inside the Batman's head.
Zatanna had spotted the Red Tornado as soon as they had topped the horizon, coming over the Siskyu Mountains to Ashland's south. The android turned air elemental was hovering in place not too far above the city and without even using her own special sight she could see that he was trying to contain a raging fire with his control of the winds. There was a hazy cloud of smoke dispersing over the valley below, and she could just make out the flaming structure on the ground in the distance.
She saw Firestorm as well, another old friend from her own earlier days in the League. Like Zatanna and the Red Tornado, he had been a member in the past and one of her own teammates on several occasions. Firestorm was flying about a drifting red parachute as though guarding it as it floated towards the ground. There was a half limp form in the chute's harness that she did not recognize, but a moment later she realized that the chute itself must be the Plastic Man. She wondered who the unconscious form might be- as it was a man and not a woman, thus not the Black Canary, the last member of the Batman's impromptu team. Try as she might, Zatanna could not see her final friend as she scanned the ground, nor for that matter did she see Felix Faust.
"Starman!" The Batman's cold voice cut through the relative silence of the Bat Plane's cockpit and startled Zatanna out of her scrutiny of the ground.
"What?" she asked, wondering what he was referring to, then realized even as he explained.
"Starman from Opal City. A new hero connected to the original, apparently, as he's holding a version of Ted Knight's Cosmic Rod. The dazed man that Plastic Man is lowering to the ground is Starman. Hh- Wonder how he's involved in all of this."
Zatanna barely shifted in her seat as the Batman spun the plane about and cut its speed. Her stomach lurched a bit as they suddenly started to drop from the sky, heading for a patch of street wide enough for the Bat Plane to land safely but close enough to the fire.
"Get ready, Zatanna! The monitors have spotted Faust farther down the hill, moving away. He's heading towards the train tracks in the north east of the city."
"Why not simply land closer to him?" she asked as she felt the cabin pressure adjusting. She heard the hiss of escaping air as the seals broke and the hatch started to open.
"I needed the plane available," the Batman said after a moment, "but we're too big a target in it. I don't trust Faust's unpredictability to do something effective."
"You don't want him to get lucky, you mean?"
"Hh- I make my own luck. Let's go!"
The Batman was out and on the ground even before Zatanna had removed her safety harness. He helped her down, realizing the difficulty she had in her heels. She was briefly disappointed that he did not glance at her legs at all, but kept his attention focused on the battleground and the task ahead. With a sigh she realized that she had best do the same.
"Dad?"
Jack Knight moaned as he looked up with bleary eyes at the familiar crest that adorned the cowl of his father's Starman costume. He was glad that his father had arrived and knew that the battle was as good as won. He could relax now and-
Why was his father wearing goggles?
He blinked as the elongated face leaned in close. He saw his own bewildered expression reflected back at him in the dark glass of Plastic Man's goggles.
"C'mon, Star Boy! Up and at 'em!" Plastic Man's plastic hand patted his cheek and Jack yelped. He tried to scurry away backwards, his hands instinctively grabbing for the Cosmic Rod.
"You ass!" he shouted, his fingers curling about the staff. "Don't ever do that!"
Plastic Man's head swirled and reverted to its semi normal appearance. "Do what, kid? Save your life?" He sounded annoyed and Jack sulked at the rebuttal. The man had just saved his life.
"No. Don't mock my- Don't mock Starman, that's all. He-"
"Sure, kid. I understand." Plastic Man nodded and smiled, his face and body looking normal for a moment. "Ted Knight's an old friend. An old friend, if ya catch my drift." He sounded almost sad, and Jack felt bad about snapping at him. "I'm sorry about David, Jack. He was a good kid. I hope ya got his killer."
Jack Knight blinked. He had not expected this-
"Yeah. Yeah, we did." Jack sighed, rubbing his hand through his hair to chase away the last of the electrically charged fuzziness. It was still hard to think. He looked up at Plastic Man with a new respect, or at least more consideration-
"Look, I-" Plastic Man waved him off.
"Fuhgidaboutit!" he said, his body going rubbery again as he stretched his neck up into the air to get a better view of the surroundings. Jack watched for a moment, then used the butt of the staff for support as he tried to stand.
His legs were a bit weak and shaky but he managed to stay upright by leaning on the Cosmic Staff for a moment. He could hear something in the distance, maybe the sounds of battle going on without him, but he could not see a thing but the last wisps of smoke rising from the other side of an overpass. He took deep breaths, trying to clear his head, wondering what had gone wrong-
He had just gone down the old, dark staircase that led to the basement of the Brass Rubbing Centre. He saw Faust heading his way and carrying some old book, a big grin on his face like he had just scored big time. Behind him was a glistening statue that almost looked to be an ice sculpture, but could not be of course. It almost looked like the cashier, who Jack noticed, was otherwise absent.
Jack got a sudden nervous feeling and raised the Cosmic Staff, ready to blast Faust into unconsciousness. He had hesitated though. He was supposed to be a hero. He wondered what his father would do in a case like that and did what he thought was the right thing. He gave Faust a warning.
Faust looked surprised for about a heartbeat, but then the look on his face turned to one of resignation. It was as though he had expected some form of confrontation, like he expected to get caught. Jack had seen him start to concentrate then and he raised the Cosmic Rod up and leveled it at the magician.
Jack knew that he was not his father. He knew that he was not really Starman yet, despite what the Opal papers might say. Not until he proved himself over and over. Still, he did not have to be his father to notice Faust's hand clump into a fist in his trousers pocket. He was either suddenly happy to see Jack, or he was up to something. Jack suspected the latter-
He swung the Cosmic Rod around intending to fire a warning blast at the sorcerer's feet. Just a little show of power to let the man know what he was up against. As luck would have it though, as soon as he focused on the staff, his fingers depressing the raised stud that would unleash the energy, the old and dilapidated stairs decided to give way. Jack had heard the loud creak of rotting timber, but before he could react he was falling to his butt in a shower of dust and debris.
His shot went wild, already released, and even over the crash he could hear the sound of Faust's startled yelp. Energy spewed forth, the thin golden beam blaring through the clouds of dust. The blast sliced right through the leg of the ice statue as Jack saw in slow motion, the way those things played out. The statue started to slowly topple, but Jack's gaze was still fixed on the beam as it plowed into the old gas furnace tucked away in the corner of the cellar. Jack's eyes went wide-
The basement exploded in a bloom of light and sound. Jack saw the shimmer of Faust's silhouette just before he faded from sight, but by then he had other concerns. His hands clutched the staff and he saw the brief flare of energy surround him as he floated up and away. He rode the shockwave of the blast, somewhat haphazardly, tucking his head as he soared back up through the hole where the stairs used to be. He felt the force of the blast on his back, overtaking him and pushing him along. He smashed through an overhead skylight, blessing his luck as the field about him kept him from getting fried. Screaming all the way, his teeth rattling with the thunderous force he spiraled up and out of the devastated building, riding the wave.
He sailed up and into the sky, finally managing to right himself as the force of the explosion petered out. He was warm and smoldering despite the protective field of cosmic energy, and his ears were ringing like an old school bell but he had survived. He was alive…
"You okay, buddy?"
Jack whipped around, leveling the cosmic rod at the voice but managing not to fire blind. He immediately recognized the fiery headed man in the orange and yellow suit that hovered in midair not too far before him.
"Firestorm!" he sighed in relief, happy to see a familiar face. A hero's face! "Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little singed."
"Glad to hear it." Firestorm had said with a smirk as he looked Jack over head to toe. He was probably a sight; his blue jeans and bowling shirt smoldering, his hair flapping in the quickening breeze. His face was probably covered in soot-
"Who are you?"
Jack had smirked then. He had figured that the superhero community had some secret files or something that let them recognize one another- even the newbies like him. Jack guessed that his dad hadn't submitted the paperwork on him just yet. He smiled, actually extending his hand at the man with the atomic reactor in his bloodstream-
"I'm Starman-"
It was then that the lightning had struck…
The Batman charged down the slight incline of the hill, quickly gaining on the fleeing form of Felix Faust. The magician was heading for the railroad tracks, the old line of the Union Pacific that ran freight from Mexico to Canada. He could hear the far off plaintive cry of a train's whistle and knew that Faust was hoping to jump the train as it passed. How he expected that to stop the Batman and the Justice League he had no idea.
He could hear the sound of Zatanna's short choppy steps as she labored to keep up in her high-heeled shoes. He did not want to leave her behind as he suspected that he would need her magical prowess when he finally confronted Faust. He did not want her slowing him down either, however. Faust would not escape if the Batman had his way. He turned on his radio-
"Firestorm!" he said, not waiting for a reply. "Pick up Zatanna and follow my path. If you can head off Faust before I do, do it!" Batman closed the link and ran all the faster certain that his command would be obeyed.
He had been following Firestorm's career since he had left the League the first time, and especially with interest when his powers had gone off the scale and he had declared himself the Earth's Fire Elemental. To the Batman he had ceased to be Firestorm at that point and he had become a threat. He had potentially gained the power to actually threaten the planet's environment. He had gained power on a scale comparative to the Swamp Thing, and that gave the Batman pause.
True, Alec Holland was essentially a force for good, but anyone on that level of world altering power had to be considered dangerous. Firestorm, the Swamp Thing, the Spectre, and even Doctor Fate and Superman for that matter all needed to be watched.
Luckily Firestorm's added energies had apparently left him or had been suppressed somehow. Since then however, when Firestorm appeared he seemed hesitant and unsure, as though he had forgotten how his powers worked. In some ways that bothered the Batman more than the elemental energies did. The boy (and Batman was sure that he was a boy, or at most a young man) had the power still to alter matter. Too much power to possess and not know how it worked. Something had changed in the boy, and the Batman had decided that the best way to keep watch on him was to get him back in the League. That was why, despite Luthor's manipulations at the time, the Batman had secretly backed the boy at his try out.
And the Red Tornado for similar reasons. The Tornado had been through a hell of his own, caught up in the whole elemental affair with Firestorm and Nereid the alleged water elemental of the planet. After that he had joined Doctor Mist's ragtag group of heroes, the Linear Men.
Throughout that, according to Batman's sources, the Tornado had appeared damaged and barely sentient. He had lost his ability to speak for a time, and had spells of lost power sporadically when his body simply shut down. Strangest of all was the fact that his inner android mechanisms were gone. His body now seemed a hollow shell, apparently containing the forces of nature that made up the air elemental that he had become. If one believed in that-
The Batman had his doubts. The Red Tornado had always been a wildcard. Worse, he had been a threat in disguise, originally created by T.O. Morrow to infiltrate the Justice Society. He had rebelled against Morrow of course, and eventually joined both the Society and the League and had proven himself a valuable member of the team on many occasions. Still, there was always the question of the Rannian air elemental that had initially powered his android form. What was that now? How had it stripped away the Tornado's inner workings, leaving a hollowed shell? How was there even a persona?
Whatever the answers, the Tornado was essentially out of this fight unless needed. The android was busy with the last of the dwindling fire and smoke, doing his job to protect the city and its inhabitants. A job that he should not have even had to do with Firestorm on the scene. The nuclear man should have simply transmuted the burning structure into stone or some other material that did not burn. Better yet he could have altered the very air and suppressed the fire, changing the oxygen feeding the blaze into some other harmless gas. Firestorm had missed the obvious, which was why he needed to be back in the League. He needed guidance and watching. He and the Tornado both!
The Batman saw the Black Canary as he chased after Faust. She was running full out, coming in from another angle down the hill from the fire on another street. Of the current team on the mission, she was really the only one that the Batman did not concern himself over.
The Black Canary was one of the original League, and she had been a member of the Justice Society as well. Though he could easily beat her, she was one of the few physical fighters that he respected. People like J'onn J'onzz and Wonder Woman even to an extent relied too much on their physical strength rather than their learned skills. The Canary was a Meta with her sonic scream- her Canary Cry- but she did not rely on that power to do her work for her. In fact she had lost that power for a short while some time ago and had actually enhanced her more personal traits due to the loss. She had gotten better at her abilities, and that had impressed the Batman.
More recently she had weathered the death of her lover, the Green Arrow. Oliver Queen had been the Batman's friend and he had mourned his passing, and Green Arrow's as well. He knew however that the Canary had probably been devastated by her loss. She had, as expected, dropped out of sight for a time- but a remarkably short time! Batman and most of the others had been surprised when she had arrived for the tryouts for the new JLA. The Batman had watched her closely throughout the trials, sure that she could easily pass any test or trial. He was more concerned with her attitude and how she was coping with her loss. He had seen no problems.
In fact he had been quite impressed with the way she had handled herself on this particular assignment. She and Plastic Man had easily found and captured Faust's six henchmen and learned that Faust was heading north from them. She had taken command on site here in Ashland, and the Batman followed her deployment with a silent agreement. If he had not arrived, he was certain that those on hand, guided by the Black Canary, would have dealt with Faust with little trouble-
The Batman glanced up as Firestorm raced by overhead. Zatanna was cradled in his arms as he arched higher, trying to stay out of the magician's range- if he had one. From the far side he saw the new Starman flying in at a low angle, apparently none the worse for wear. He was bearing Plastic Man with one arm and guiding his flight through the Cosmic Rod with the other. The Batman wondered how he had gotten involved with all of this and he debated sending him on his way. Batman did not like variables that he had not expected thrown into any equation.
He had heard of Starman's work in Opal of course. The initial battle with the Mist that had killed David Knight and other, lesser cases. He had done good work, but much of what the Batman had read interpreted as luck more than skill- if he believed in luck, that is. If there was any support to there being such a thing, Starman's case file was it.
Still, Batman respected Ted Knight, the original Starman. He had had a long and proud career. That in itself was reason enough to give his son a chance and the benefit of the doubt. Batman would see if he could follow orders. If he wanted to work with the League, then he had to toe the line as well-
"Plastic Man! Tell Starman to drop you and fly ahead with Firestorm." Batman shifted his attention to the Nuclear Man. "Firestorm, when Starman links up with you I want the two of you at thirty feet out. Opposite sides! Power up but do not attack directly! Divide his attention!" Batman started to direct his attention to Zatanna, then thought better of it for a moment.
"And Firestorm- Put Zatanna down first!"
The Batman paused to watch as his team deployed itself. He did not necessarily like being leader, but there were times when it was necessary. Left to their own devices, most of his teammates would attack and pummel their opponents with no regard to their surroundings or the very people that they had sworn to protect. Superman and J'onzz were no real problem most of the time, but the Flash and Green Lantern were still too young and new to understand that every action had a reaction, no matter how many times they might have heard that. Even Wonder Woman had a tendency to get caught up in the heat of the battle, despite her allegedly superior Amazon training.
This group was good though, even with the forced addition of Starman. He and Firestorm were circling Faust now, overhead just enough to be a threat, but far enough out to avoid an attack. Zatanna stood in the background, doing whatever she had to do to get her Meta power mentally prepared. When the time came, Batman knew that she would be ready. Plastic Man too, despite the fact that he was taunting Faust while they waited for the Batman to join them. They had circled Faust and brought him to a stop just short of his goal; the railroad tracks. Batman could see the plume of steamy smoke churning from the swiftly approaching train-
"You waiting for an invitation?"
Batman turned to face the Black Canary. She was barely sweating, and he assumed that was from the heat rather than exertion. She was not out of breath in the least.
"No. I was waiting for you to catch up. You did good." Batman turned away, but not before he saw the look of surprise that flared on the Canary's face. His slight smile was hidden within the shadows of his cowl. "Let's go."
He started running again, and within a few steps the Canary was by his side. He half-considered adding her to his team in Gotham if he thought she might accept. It would be a long move for her, but he suspected that the West Coast had lost its novelty for her of late. He would wait and see how she did in the remainder of the day. If all went well, he would give her the option later.
If all went well with Faust…
Felix Faust sagged, breathing hard- gasping for breath. Sweat was pouring from his brow, dropping to the dirt at his feet as he leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. He so did not want to vomit.
If only he had had a little more time. Simply holding the Book of Nimbus had brought the words of power back to him. He could call forth the simple spells again, and that was with the book cradled under his arm. Imagine what he might have accomplished had he actually had a chance to open the tome and read its wonders, learn its spells. His waning powers were returning, slowly but surely. He would have been invincible, and when he had chosen the time and place to confront the cursed Justice League he would have won.
Now however he was exhausted and out of breath. He was sweating and smelling and had been driven to ground. His foes had surrounded him, drawing their net ever closer as they awaited the word to attack. They were cruel and heartless. They were the perfect enemy. He wished they would just leave him alone-
"Surrender Faust!"
Felix Faust turned at the sound of the cold hard voice that he knew so well. He saw the Batman standing there, the warm, dusty breeze stirring his long cloak menacingly as he stared down the hill with contempt. He looked strange standing out in the middle of the gravel street in broad daylight. He seemed almost comical, so out of place from the mean streets of Gotham. Beside him stood one of his lackeys, the Black Canary looking haughty and conceited with their impending win. Faust wished that he could wipe the smugness from her pretty face. He wished that the Martian was there instead of the Batman. At least J'onn J'onzz had a weakness that could be exploited.
Still, there was one chance-
The Batman saw him somehow. He saw him shift his weight or flex a muscle in his face. Whatever it was that gave him away, Felix Faust would never know as the Batman made his move.
Faust saw the Dark Knight slip his hand within the folds of his cloak even as he started to speak the word. The Batman's hand shot out and something small and sharp flittered through the air, angling towards the magician-
"Incendere - Eeee!"
Faust screamed as the bat-shaped darts dug into his flesh. Pain racked his hand and blood spewed from the three wounds. His arm went numb as sensation died, forcing him to drop the Book of Nimbus. Fire exploded up the hill where the Batman had been standing, but both he and the Canary were already charging his way.
Panic clutched at Felix Faust as he started to grab at the book with his good left hand. His fingertips brushed the battered cover just as it started to fade away. He looked up to see Zatanna smiling smugly at him and holding the book. Faust cursed, knowing that she had used her foul, back talk magic to spirit the tome out of his reach.
He straightened up and turned, intent on flight once more, but before he managed a step, bursts of energy blasted the ground all about him. He staggered left and right, fear blinding him as Firestorm and the boy with the staff cut off his escape. He was trapped!
Within moments he would feel the Batman's hand on his shoulder. That was if the Canary did not reach him first and kick him into unconsciousness. Or if the Plastic Man did not wrap him up like a snake. He even saw the Red Tornado drifting closer now, his mission apparently over, and the fire apparently out. It was over. Unless…
All subtlety aside, prestidigitation forgotten, Felix Faust dipped his hand deep into his pocket. He felt for the stone, the Luck Stone of Bel, and curled his fingers about its smooth cold surface. It was his last chance- his next to last chance. He still had two callings on the Stone before he had to give it up. If luck could not save him now, then nothing could.
He clutched the Stone.
Wished…
Felix Faust screamed as the Stone burst aflame in his pocket. He whipped his hand away, his fingers still wrapped around the glowing, burning rock. He saw that his pants were on fire as he screamed again, trying to flip the Stone away, feeling it burning, searing into the fatty flesh of his palm. His hand burst into flames.
Faust stared wide-eyed in horror. His mouth was open wide, but he heard no sound escape his lips. He did not understand what was happening. What had gone wrong?
He turned and saw the Batman staring at him in disbelief. He did not understand either. Beside him, the Black Canary looked on in horrified shock, unable to move. That smug look had drained from her face at least.
Faust staggered, turning from one to another of the dumbfounded Justice League. Any one of them could have saved him, but instead they just stood there- floated there- stupidly watching as the fire started to race up his arm and over his body, engulfing him with its cold burning flame.
Even Zatanna- especially Zatanna! Daughter of the Great Zatara, she should have understood what was happening to him. She could have stopped it with a sentence, eased his pain and horror with a few backwards babbled words. But she just stood there with her hands on her hips, her top hat tilted to one side, watching…
Smiling…
Then Faust knew. Suddenly he understood. He had been tricked. He screamed again as with realization, the fire washed over him. It was not a scream of pain or horror however.
It was a scream of rage…
The JLA Watchtower:
Later that day…
The Batman sat in the suspensor chair of the Womb, enjoying the relative silence while it lasted. He had the volume muted on all of the machine's monitors, the computer cued to attract his attention should anything warrant it. He was thinking, finishing the log entry of the latest strange case of Felix Faust. He cleared his throat and continued-
"We were all somewhat confused at Faust's sudden, unexpected collapse. Expecting some trick, I told the others to stand ready and bent down to check the man for vital signs. He was breathing shallowly. He was alive, but his eyes were vacant and staring into space. Whatever had been in him had left, leaving behind an empty husk of his body.
"There was nothing left but the clean up then. I assigned Zatanna and Firestorm to remain behind and use their unique powers as best they could to set things right in Ashland. Between Zatanna's magic and Firestorm's matter manipulation I figured they were best suited to render aid and compensation in the name of the League. Both are well aware of the League's policies, and anything beyond their ability to deal with will be referred to the legal department for study
"I sent Plastic Man and Red Tornado on ahead with Faust's body to the Department of Meta Affairs Hospital in Washington. They are better suited to deal with whatever trauma that Faust is experiencing than the League's facilities, though I told Plastic Man to offer our aid through Zatanna or the Martian Manhunter should they need it- pending J'onn's agreement, of course. I doubt that the DMA will need our aid however, as the last I heard they had recently acquired a telepath of their own.
"Zatanna speculates that Faust is in his current state as a result of a spell that he tried to unsuccessfully deploy. In layman's terms that can be translated into his Meta power failed him at a crucial time. It is my belief that his already failing powers burned out altogether, and the resulting stress and trauma was too much for Faust's already bruised ego to handle. I make a note of my recommendation to transfer Faust to Arkham should the DMA fail to get a positive response.
"On a side note, Zatanna identified the book that Faust had in his possession as a 'spell book'- in particular, the Book of Nimbus. I do not pretend to understand how a book enhances a Meta's abilities, but Faust has done so on many previous occasions, beginning with his first encounter with the League. See File Number 01/13- Faust, Felix.
"Also of interest was a small, smooth stone that was found at Faust's side while inspecting the body. It resembled a marble, shaded blue and at one time might have been clear but the interior was now fractured, clouding the view within. Whether this was another focus of Faust's Meta is indeterminable. At least until the man regains sentience and tells us.
"Finally, Black Canary and I approached Starman after the battle to thank him for his assistance. I kept the Canary with me for this due mainly to her association with the Justice Society of America, a connection that the boy has as well. Starman is new and green, but I believe he has potential. With the proper guidance I believe that he could be as successful as his… predecessor, the original Starman, Ted Knight. The Black Canary of course suggested offering him membership on the spot. I was hesitant, and still am. He is good, but I believe he bears watching before we offer him League membership. Too, I feel that he is connected with the JSA through the heritage of his name, and if rumor is correct, his place may already be spoken for elsewhere. Regardless, we thanked him and future meetings were assured by both sides if needed.
"Remarkably, he seemed more impressed by the Black Canary than he did with me. I wonder why?
"Strike that, computer. Last two sentences. End log and save!"
[Return to Introduction] [Proceed to Chapter Two] [Proceed to Chapter Three]
Story © 2010 Curt Fernlund and may not be reproduced without permission.