"What If: Act Two"

Issue #281

By David Marshall

"Happy birthday, dear Kyle! Happy birthday to you!"

"And many more...."

Kyle's older brother Mike added that same corny line every year. But at least he stopped singing that Kyle looked like a monkey and smelled like one too sometime during Kyle's sophomore year in high school.

Kyle Rayner couldn't help but enjoy himself. The celebration was three-fold. Not only was it his birthday, but he just opened the first major showing of his art work in London, and - if that wasn't enough - his girlfriend, Tara Heath, accepted his marriage proposal.

"I'm really proud of you son," said Kyle's father. Aaron Rayner was a military man, but every inch the family man first. He turned down many key assignments during his long military career to watch his sons grow up.

"We both are," Kyle's mother chipped in. As always, she stood at her husband's side. Kyle hoped his and Tara's marriage would be as wonderful as the one he and his brother witnessed every day of their lives.

"I know I don't tell you guys enough, but I love you," said Kyle. "I'm so happy to be a part of this family."

"Let's eat," said Tara. She arched her eyebrows playfully and flashed her best girl-next-door smile.

Kyle's dad wrapped one of his massive arms around the petite blonde's round shoulders and clinched her tight. "Now that's a woman after your old man's heart, son."

The family laughed as they sat at the table. Of course, Kyle's mom made his favorite for his birthday - lasagna. A chocolate cake with green and white frosting served as the table's centerpiece.

The doorbell interrupted the festivities.

"Who could that be?" asked Mrs. Rayner.

"I'll get it," Mike answered. He left the table and returned followed by another young man close to Kyle's age. Both were grinning.

"Look what the cat drug in," Mike announced.

"Tyler! Buddy!" Kyle stood and clenched the young man's hand and shook it. Their grip quickly evolved into an elaborate fraternity handshake. Once it was finally broken, they bumped chests then took a seat. "How the hell you been? Not heard from you in ages."

"Watch your mouth, young man," warned Mrs. Rayner. "You're not in a college dorm. Tara, be a dear and pass the dinner rolls, please."

"Oh come on, Maura! He's not a kid anymore. A little swearing never hurt a man," said Mr. Rayner as he took a serving dish from Tara and passed it to his wife.

"It will if he does it at my table," Mrs. Rayner replied.

Tyler and Kyle kept everyone entertained by rehashing old times. Everyone enjoyed the stories at first. At least until Tyler started talking about Kyle's old flames. No matter how hard Kyle tried to drop the hint to his buddy, he returned again and again to Kyle's college escapades. The stories of her fiancee's past conquests and exploits obviously made Tara uncomfortable. Finally, Mr. Rayner jumped in and steered the conversation to the possible closing of the base. He served long enough to retire and draw his full military pension, but some people weren't as lucky. And then there were the civilians who worked on base. What would they do?

Afterwards, the boys retired to the living room while Tara and Mrs. Rayner cleaned up. Mike flipped on the television.

"... most grisly crime scene in this town in half a century. For WMXY, Channel Five, this is Kelly Ashby."

"What's that about?" Kyle asked.

"You didn't hear?" Mike replied. He laid the remote on the coffee table.

"There was a murder on base," Mr. Rayner answered. "Three days ago."

"Here?" Tyler asked incredulously. "Kyle told me there's not a safer town in the country."

Mr. Rayner snatched the remote from the coffee table and found a college football game. "That's what we used to think too."

"Who was it, Dad?" Kyle asked.

"One of the girls who worked at the commissary- from over in Dowry. She moved here a couple of years ago with an ex-boyfriend. Word is that he was abusive, but he's not considered a suspect. Such a shame too. A pretty girl, about your age. Maybe you know her?" Mr. Rayner replied.

"I doubt it," Kyle replied. "Who?"

Mr. Rayner bit his lip and thought for a moment. "Alexandra... Dewitt? Yeah, I think that's her name. Half the boys on base would make excuses to head to the commissary whenever she worked. MP's found her hacked to pieces and stuffed into a refrigerator."

Kyle wasn't sure what snapped when his father uttered those words, but somehow he knew things weren't right. He shot up from the couch. "You're lying!"

"What did you say to me?" asked Mr. Rayner. His neck tightened.

"Kyle? Have you flipped your lid, man?" Mike asked. "You know you can't talk to Dad that way!"

"And you!" Kyle turned to Mike. "Since when do I have a brother?"

Mrs. Rayner ran into the living room with Tara on her heels. "What's going on out here? We heard shouting."

"Kyle's flipped his lid," said Mike.

"I'm perfectly sane," Kyle added. "This isn't right, any of it. I don't have a family or a fiancée! My father left mom and me when I was young! We struggled to get by on what little she made and the kindness of strangers. This house - I remember growing up here, but it's not real."

"Well nuts or not, you're not coming into my house and calling me a liar and accuse me of not taking care of my family," said Mr. Rayner. He eyed his son with a cold, glassy stare only a longtime military officer could muster and lunged across the room at him.

Kyle rolled out of his father's way and elbowed him in the back of the head. Mr. Rayner hit the floor.

"Oh, Kyle. Why can't you just be a good boy?" asked Mrs. Rayner. She raised a butcher knife high over her head and plunged it into her son's shoulder.

Kyle cried out in pain, but managed to avoid her next blow. She looked surprised when he kicked the bloody knife from her hand.

A fist caught Kyle in the jaw and whipped his head around. It was Mike and he hit a lot harder than he did when the boys were growing up. No! That was a false memory. Kyle didn't have a brother. Did he? What was going on?

Kyle staggered from the blow but Tyler caught him before he fell and pinned his arms. Mike struck him in the gut forcing the breath from his lungs.

Pain shot through Kyle's left thigh. He looked down and saw Tara biting through his jeans. He kneed her away but she took a chunk of flesh and denim with her. Blood spewed from the wound but he couldn't muster the air to scream. Meanwhile his family delighted in the beating they administered. They kicked and beat him until he was ready to pass out.

Kyle curled into the fetal position to protect himself the best he could. "This isn't right," he gasped as the breath finally returned to his lungs. It was as if his family were a school of sharks on a feeding frenzy and he was a chunk of raw meat thrown into the ocean.

"You hold him," Mr. Rayner barked. He recovered and was up once more. "I'll take care of the rest."

Mike and Tyler wrestled Kyle's arms apart. His mother and fiancée grabbed a leg each and pinned them to the floor. Unable to move, Kyle watched as his father retrieved the butcher knife and inched closer to him. It morphed into a machete as he closed the distance. Mr. Rayner bent down and grabbed Kyle by the hair and smiled wickedly. His blade brought blood as he teased Kyle's left cheek with it. There was no semblance of sanity left in the crazed man's eyes.

"You ever play chicken, Kyle?" Mr. Rayner barked. "Have you boy?"

"Please, don't," Kyle begged, his own blood trickling into his mouth. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me?" Mr. Rayner laughed. "That's the least of your worries, son. They hold you down and I throw this knife at you. The idea is to see how close I can get to you without hitting you."

"Stop," Kyle pleaded. "Something is horribly wrong."

Kyle's loved ones spread him out like a human windmill.

His father hurled the knife and buried it half an inch above Kyle's right elbow. He screamed once more and nearly lost consciousness from the pain.

"Looks like I lose this round," Mr. Rayner taunted. "Perhaps I should try again?"

"Yes, Mr. Rayner! Try it again!" Tara hissed.

Kyle never dreamed he would meet his end at the hands of his own family and friends. If only he could free himself. He wasn't sure why, but he made a fist with his right hand. A frivolous gesture, but he wanted more than anything in the world to strike his brother so he could free his right arm. Much to his surprise, an emerald fist leaped from his finger and knocked Mike through the living room wall and into the kitchen. A second burst slammed into Tyler. He crashed into Mrs. Rayner's china cabinet.

Kyle wasn't sure what was happening or was he? It was like watching a movie of his own life through a dense fog. Some images made sense, but others were as fleeting as wisps of vapor. A third burst revealed a ring on his right finger. He bound his mother and fiancée in floating cages with it. Two words echoed through his mind - Green Lantern.

He held out his right hand and another eruption of emerald energy leaped from the knuckle of his ring finger and slammed into his father. Mr. Rayner exploded into a blob of primordial goo.

"No!" Kyle screamed. His cry echoed for what felt like an eternity to his ears. Then he unleashed a verdant storm that bathed the darkness around him in the power of Green Lantern's light. There was an explosion as reality collapsed in on itself. Ripples of time and space swirled before his eyes like water obeying gravity in a flushed toilet. Even Kyle himself was sucked into the void.

When the proverbial smoke cleared, Kyle was face down in a pool of white. There was just no other way to describe it. He pushed himself up and looked around. It was as if he were nothing more than a green speck of paint on a three-dimensional canvas. While the landscape was void of mountains, rivers, or geographical features of any kind, he was not alone. There was another solitary figure walking toward him in the distance. No, not walking, but floating.

"Whew-wee!" whistled the mysterious landscape's only other inhabitant. "I didn't know you had it in you, Kylie-boy! Supes, I could understand! Even the Bat or Wonder Woman, but... you?"

"Mxyztplk!" said Green Lantern.

The imp removed his purple derby and bowed. "Good! Introductions are not in order. I'm afraid my social skills are woefully inept these days. Allow me to be a sporting chap and patch you up since you managed to free yourself."

Kyle's wounds disappeared. Wisps of green energy crackled at the face of his ring. "You used me."

"Used you? Au contraire! Everyone should have a dream and I allowed yours to come true! A family of your very own and a wonderful life. A real pity that you proved to be such a proverbial black sheep, or perhaps a green sheep would be more appropriate in your case," Mxyztplk replied.

How long was I your prisoner?" Kyle demanded.

Mxyztplk rolled his eyes. "A few weeks in Earth time, but time passes differently in the Land of Dreams. Some may spend years or even a lifetime reshaping the world as they wished it was. It depends on your dream."

A bolt of emerald energy leaped from Kyle's ring toward the Fifth Dimensional imp.

"Ah-ah!" Mxyztplk warned. "Home field advantage. My rules." An orange and purple fire hose appeared and doused the energy from Kyle's power ring.

"What kind of rules?" Kyle asked suspiciously. He knew of the mad imp's fondness of games from Superman.

Mxyztplk's face brightened. "You're much more reasonable than Superman. Anyone ever tell you that? He usually isn't ready to listen until I get one of his friends involved."

"What kind of rules?" Kyle demanded, his fists clenched.

"I'll undo my magic if you can awaken them," Mxyztplk answered.

"Them?" asked Kyle.

"The Justice League you dimwit! Surely you don't believe I attacked your silly meeting solely to kidnap the likes of you," Mxyztplk chortled. "By the way, a permanent JLA Security Council is a splendid idea! Too bad none of you will have the opportunity to serve on it unless you manage to bumble around and find a way to awaken the Sleeping Uglies!"

"And if I don't?" Kyle asked.

Mxyztplk's smile was the picture of unbridled malice. "You will all cease to exist and I will remake your world in my image."

"You've flipped your derby," Kyle protested.

"Is that any way to talk to the future ruler of Mxyztplkia?" Mxyztplk replied. "That's what I'll rename that dreadful mudball when I'm running the joint. Earth just sounds so passé. Now back to our fun. There's one condition. You have twenty-four Earth hours before I yell, "Bus driver! Move that bus!" and your planet gets a radical Home Makeover- sans Justice League of course. But I think you're way out of your league, if you'll pardon the pun. Twenty-four hours or your world is mine. I hope you don't mind if I take the liberty of continuing my renovations. The improvements I've already made are just the tip of the iceberg! Wait until you get a load of my long term plans for that cosmic eyesore!"

"What improvements?" Kyle asked.

Mxyzptlk shook his head and sighed. "Do they no longer teach Banter 101 during your Justice League pow-wows these days? I suppose I could blame it on this darker age but what's the fun in that? Let me give you a hint, my boy. The key is leverage."

"Dammit! What have you done to Earth?"

"Let's just say I'm having the time of my life keeping a few hundred of your best card-carrying spandex buddies busy. Nice place, Earth, but I wouldn't want to live there," Mxyztplk chuckled. "Anymore."

"I thought you only messed with Superman and Metropolis," said Kyle.

Mxyztplk's laughter chilled Kyle's soul. "Me? I rarely venture away from Metropolis. It's the most fun, by far. But they... they've learned how fun it is to cause trouble for you super types."

"They?" Kyle asked.

A large globe appeared and hovered in the air on a perfect twenty-three degree axis. Tiny lights flickered all over the orb. Mxyztplk looked delighted. "So many wonderful cities and so many heroes! So I thought what if each city... Why don't I let you see for yourself. Show yourselves, boys."

At first the globe resembled a teenager with a raging case of acne as orange and purple lights pockmarked its face at the location of Earth's major cities. Within moments the lights sprouted little mountains like one would find on a topographical map. As the mountains grew they developed into more recognizable shapes, until at last one of the them sprouted arms and pushed its humanoid form free of the globe. Then another. And another. And another.

Soon an army of Myztplks filled the room. Kyle was overwhelmed by the sight. "What the..."

A drum roll erupted with little more than a whisper and crescendoed to a deafening roar. The true Mxyztplk pulled a megaphone from thin air and spoke with deafening volume. "Ladies and gentlemen... Mr. Mxyztplk's Mighty Marching Men!"

Mxyztplk's army bowed.

"They're you!" Kyle exclaimed.

"I would carry one of those picture wallets but why bother? But like every proud parent I do have these," Mxyztplk bragged. He handed Kyle a bumper sticker that read, 'My Omnipotent Clones Can Wish Your Honor Student Out of Existence."

Kyle tossed the bumper sticker aside. "They're clones?"

Mxyztplk threw his arms into the air and smiled. "Well, hello Dolly! Chips off the old block! The spitting image of their dear old Dad."

"But why?" Green Lantern asked.

"Simple, my dear Emerald Imbecile! How does that old proverb go?" Mxyztplk asked. He scratched his head for a moment then smiled. "Oh yes! It's more fun to share!"

Gotham City, Wayne Manor

"Going out tonight, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

Bruce Wayne nodded. "I'm escorting a few orphaned children to the circus, Alfred."

Thomas Wayne shuffled into the room smoking his pipe. "A few? Don't let his modesty fool you, Alfred. Bruce is taking the entire East Side Boy's Home."

Alfred's face lit up. "Splendid of you, Master Bruce!"

Bruce shrugged off the compliment with his usual modesty.

Three hours later, he sat in a cramped, wooden grandstand with forty-seven troubled, rowdy youngsters. Thanks to his generosity, they each had candy, popcorn, and a soft drink. The boys marveled at the lion tamer and the man who walked across the burning coals. They gasped at the elephants and applauded the human cannonball. And on and on. But what really caught their attention, and everyone else's, was a family of acrobats.

The daring family scaled the evenly-spaced rungs of two tall ladders at opposing ends of the Big Top. Once they reached the pedestals- the husband and wife on one side and their son on the other- they bowed and basked in the crowd's adulation.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the Ring Master announced. "The highlight of our show - The trapeze, starring the Flying Graysons! John and Mary!"

A spotlight illuminated the elder Graysons before turning to the single figure poised opposite them. "And their young son and prodigy of the air - Richard!"

The crowd's applause was raucous. Even Bruce was caught up in the moment along with the boys from the East Side Orphan's Home. He put his fingers to the corners of his mouth and emitted a loud, shrill whistle.

John Grayson took a trapeze bar into his hands and swung himself into the void. His son swung from the other side on another bar. At the height of his swing, Richard let go of the fly bar and sailed into the air toward his father. Halfway to him, the boy tucked his legs to his chest and flipped. The crowd erupted once more when his father caught him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Dick Grayson!" cried the Ringmaster.

Richard Grayson, or Dick as the Ring Master called him, was obviously the star of the show. He performed stunt after stunt on the fly bars. Once, Bruce swore he saw the boy's foot touch the apex of the tent, but he showed no fear. And why should he? Both his mother and father had perfected their "catcher's lock" through years of practice.

After each family member showed off his or her skill, the Ring Master announced the Grand Finale in which Mary would attempt a deadly quad jump. He explained in grand tones how very few foolish souls even attempted such a dangerous gambit, but the Graysons perfected the routine to clockwork.

Dick stood at one pedestal with his father while his mother stood at the other. Showing no fear, she took hold of the fly frame and flew through the air. At the same time, John Grayson leaped from the other pedestal toward her. Mary turned two cartwheels in the air as she hurled herself toward her husband. At the last instant, she squared her body and reached for her husband's waiting hands. He caught her easily.

Dick swung the free fly frame to her and she joined him at his pedestal.

The crowd roared. It was an impressive display of skill, but not what they were waiting to see.

Mary kissed her son then fixed her gaze on her husband who'd moved to the center fly bar. She allowed herself a few deep breaths and took hold of the frame. She swung out once and then twice, high into the air to gain momentum. Finally, on the third swing she let go. She soared through the air and tucked her body, flipping once, twice, a third time. On her fourth rotation, she unfolded herself and reached for her husband's arms. John caught her as if the maneuver was mundane as retrieving the morning paper from the front lawn.

The crowd went nuts.

And then the eerie green glow.

SNAP!!!

Bruce Wayne looked on in horror with the rest of the crowd as John and Mary Grayson tumbled to their deaths. The boys from the orphanage sat in stunned silence. Around the tent reactions were as varied as the people who occupied the seats. Some prayed. Others cried. Concerned parents shielded their children's eyes from weeks of nightmares. A few even fainted. The only person in the Big Top who seemed unaffected was the Ring Master himself. His gaze was fixed on Bruce even as emergency crews rushed around him to the fallen acrobats.

Ignoring the callous Ring Master, Bruce turned his attention to the perch high atop the massive tent. He spotted the young Dick Grayson and couldn't imagine what was going through the boy's mind. What would it be like to see your parents die before your very eyes at such a young age? How would it affect one's mind? Would he recoil from the world? Or perhaps exact some matter of vengeance? Bruce's eyes wandered to the orphans in the audience with him. Were their losses as traumatic? He hadn't told anyone, even Alfred, but his plan was to adopt one of them to give them a fighting chance. He was sad to have another candidate for ward.

High on the pedestal, Dick Grayson crept to its edge. He looked for a moment as if he was going to join his parents in death, but instead descended the ladder slowly. The crying, the praying, those shouting for help- they all stopped and watched the orphaned boy's descent. The hushed silence remained even when his feet were firmly on the ground. He ran toward the twisted, broken bodies of his parents but never made it.

The authorities whisked him away quickly. Within minutes the circus crowd was herded away from the grisly scene as well. Bruce Wayne was caught up in a swarming sea of humanity. He had to get back inside and talk to Dick Grayson. Not out of pity. Not some false hope of vengeance. Not even an offer of kindness.

Bruce Wayne didn't know how, but he knew things weren't right. It was like waking up in a fog - still hazy, but he knew. The Grayson's deaths weren't accidental. The boy's parents were murdered and he could even prove it!

A brief moment of clarity. What was going on? The only thing Bruce knew for certain was that he needed Dick Grayson's help. The bereaved boy would have to suck it up and help him get to the bottom of the mystery, but it would have to wait until everyone got a good night's sleep. Alfred often exaggerated that Bruce never slept at night. What did his butler think anyway? That he was some kind of bat or something?

Las Vegas

Night fell on the City of Sin. Or more properly, it never left. For some reason the sun refused to nudge the city awake each morning. It hadn't for weeks, ever since the craziness was unleashed upon the world. Las Vegas was accustomed to the night life. Travel magazines often called it the city that never sleeps, but the moniker was never more appropriate. Half the citizens walked around like zombies. They were feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, usually associated with those in the far north of the world where the sun doesn't shine for six months. How was it always dark but few slept and those who did sleep couldn't wake up?

The city was closed to outsiders. Those who ventured into the city limits were quickly overcome by the tiresome malady. Businesses were closed down, partially because they couldn't field a sufficient workforce but mainly because of the crime. Chaos was a poor atmosphere for conducting business.

Green Arrow felt helpless. He could pin a bad guy to a wall by the fabric of his shirt, but what good was an arrow against a moon that refused to sleep or increased levels of melatonin in the population? But at least if he could do nothing about the lack of sunlight, he was still effective against the looters taking advantage of the city's sluggish circadian rhythm. It was easy to spot them. Find a business with anything of value inside and you were bound to find one or two. The LVPD could handle most of the break-ins. But there was one Green Arrow took a keen interest in.

The Emerald Archer traveled across the city on a series of wirepoon arrows. It was much faster to go over the city than to go through it. Once he reached his destination, he dropped to a fire escape and descended across the street from DreamMaker's Casino.

With the city in disarray his prey didn't bother to be careful. A front window was smashed. The alarm blared without ceasing, but the LVPD was stretched too thin to answer its cry or bother distinguishing it from myriad others. At least the broken glass and cacophonous alarm made it easier to enter the building and without fear of being heard. Green Arrow stepped through the broken pane.

A red-shafted arrow with a discharged explosive tip lay on the ground. Green Arrow smiled. He heard a lot about the smug new villain who used archery to commit his crimes. Proper introductions were in order.

Green Arrow snuck through the empty casino. The roulette wheels were still. There were no bells and whistles announcing lucky winners. The slot machines still glowed, but without the hustle and bustle of the gambling throngs, their splashy names and gaudy artwork were merely garish reminders of the way things were supposed to be. It was like walking into a ghost ship that even long-dead riverboat gamblers abandoned. Finally he saw the man he hunted behind a bar emptying a safe. The Spider.

Green Arrow removed a net arrow from his quiver and drew his bow. He released it and watched as the arrow flew through the air and released a small net that entangled the Spider's quiver. He wanted to enjoy their first meeting mano a mano. "Let me guess. Sore loser?"

The Spider whirled around and reached for an arrow, but was surprised to discover his quiver blocked. "Stay away from me, old man! Unless you want to die!"

"Old man?" Green Arrow asked as he sprung into action. "Maybe the right-wingers are on to something. This younger generation has no respect for their elders. As for dying, I've been there, done that and wore out the tee shirt."

Green Arrow leaped the bar but the Spider was waiting for him. He clutched a single arrow between his hands and buried it in the green-clad archer's gut.

The Spider looked delighted with himself. "You may have blocked my quiver old man, but I already had this diamond-tipped arrow out. How do you think I cut into the safe? Hurts like hell, huh?"

Because the arrow was so sharp there was little pain at first. Then the Spider twisted it. Every pain receptor in Green Arrow's body kicked into overdrive. He tried desperately to block out the pain, but even the simplest movements intensified the sensation. "God... hurts!"

"That's it, old man! Feel that? Not good, huh?" the Spider taunted. "I've heard stories about you! They say you're good - real good, but I got one word for you pal. Overrated!"

Green Arrow struggled against the arrow with both hands. He wanted to yank it out altogether, but knew from experience that removing it too quickly could possibly damage his internal organs or cause him to black out and bleed to death. His best bet was to keep the Spider from gouging it even deeper into him. "And I've got five words for you, kid."

The Spider didn't seem interested. He focused his efforts on wrenching the arrow and causing Green Arrow further harm. Which was unfortunate for him. A swift, violent uppercut met his jawbone, knocking him into the wall. His head slammed into the steel safe door as he sunk to the floor.

Green Arrow shook his fist. He hadn't hit anyone that hard in a while. It hurt. "Like I said kid, five words. I let my knuckles do the talking. You should've paid attention."

Despite the burning pain shooting through his body, Green Arrow drew his bow and aimed it at the Spider.

The groggy villain looked up in time to see Green Arrow draw. He rubbed his jaw and smiled arrogantly. "You don't have the nerve, Old School. Releasing that gut will kill more than me. What would your Justice League buddies think? Go on, old man! I dare you!"

Green Arrow gritted his teeth. "Typical Vegas tourist."

Spider looked confused. "What's tourism got to do with anything?"

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" Green Arrow replied. He let the arrow fly.

The look of shock on Spider's face was worth the pain of drawing the bow. Green Arrow hoped the hapless villain peed his pants. At the last instant, weighted tongues erupted from the arrow's shaft and bound the villain's hands and wrists. Bola arrows were usually reserved to entwine the feet of fleeing opponents, but they doubled as handcuff arrows whenever the quiver was depleted of them.

Green Arrow pulled up his tunic and examined the unwelcome invader protruding from his abdomen. The skin around the shaft was taut, which was both bad news and good. The good news was that the bleeding would stop. The bad news - even the slightest movement hurt like hell. Still he needed to insure the Spider was apprehended for good. He grabbed four net arrows and placed them on the bow at once. He fired and the nets pinned the Spider to the wall in a tangle.

"I need someone to patch me up," Green Arrow barked into his JLA communicator.

"Green Arrow is that you?" The voice belonged to Ray Palmer - the Atom.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm going to need some medical attention and a few hours of uninterrupted sleep."

"How close are you to a JLA teleporter?" Atom asked.

"I'll find one," the Emerald Archer answered. "Arrow out."

The United Nations Assembly

"This isn't possible," said Diana, the recently-crowned Queen of the Amazons. "We Amazons have nothing to hide from this body."

She stood before an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The Australian Ambassador dropped a bombshell on the world scant hours before. He claimed an unnamed American spy discovered documents that proved the Amazons brokered secret deals with the Olympian Gods in an effort to reestablish their stronghold on Earth as in eras past. According to the documents, the Amazons were defeated by the Gods three years prior in a war that was never revealed to the outside world. Since that time, Themyscira was little more than a pawn of the gods, who hoped to reclaim Earth by first disarming the nations of the world and lulling them into a false sense of security.

"Diana, Queen of the Amazons, how do you respond to the accusations levied against your people this day? Have your Amazons betrayed the human race to these powerful beings you worship as gods?" asked the Secretary-General.

Diana struggled to maintain her composure. Was this the proper way to repay her people for bringing peace to the world? Over two years without as much as a petty squabble, thanks to the Amazon intervention, and this was how Patriarch's World repaid them? The warrior's heart that beat within her chest yearned to show them just what it meant to accuse the Amazons of such treachery, but the well-trained dignitary knew better. There was something she wasn't seeing. "Madame Secretary, with all due respect, my people know nothing of this plot. I assure you if there is evidence to support such claims the violators will be punished severely. Our goal is a world at peace where everyone maintains basic human rights and dignity. We have no hidden agenda on the international stage. Have we not demonstrated that the last two years? We mediated peace where once there was only war. We led the way in humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters and in fighting poverty, illiteracy, and hunger in the remote regions of the globe. Surely that garners us some reasonable level of confidence among the great nations gathered here."

"The last two years mean nothing if you have sold us out to a group of other-worldly immortals posing as gods," answered the Secretary-General.

"If the Amazons wanted to conquer this world we would already have done so," Diana replied. She chose to ignore the insult to the Amazon pantheon.

"So you admit the Amazons have deeper motives?" asked the Israeli Ambassador.

Diana splintered the podium in front of her with her fist. "I admit nothing! I demand to face our accusers! If any of their claims are legitimate, I will personally put to death those responsible!"

A young man stepped forward. He wasn't the sort of person you'd take notice of if you sat beside him on the subway or across from him in a restaurant. He could be anyone - a farmer, a student, the CEO of a hot new dot com, an artist, or even a fireman. Even the finer details of his build were hidden beneath a brown bomber jacket. It looked out of place on him somehow, like it belonged to someone else, but Wonder Woman couldn't quite put her finger on it. He was handsome in a boyish sort of way, but certainly no Superman.

Diana shook herself. Where did that thought come from? What in Hera's name was a Superman?

The young man's shoulders slumped lazily forward as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his khakis. "I'm your accuser."

"Who are you?" Diana asked. "How dare you slander my people with such an outrageous accusation!"

"My name's not important. What matters is the name on these documents." The man handed over a small pile of documents to the Amazon queen.

Diana studied them carefully. The documents appeared quite damning, including an iron-clad pact with both Zeus and Ares that guaranteed the loyalty of the Amazons and the troops to supplement the power of the gods if needed.

"Tell me," Diana spat. "Who is the Amazon that betrayed our peace?"

The young man unrolled a scroll. "Read for yourself."

"No! This is impossible!" Diana argued. The bold signature was her own and signed with the royal seal. "This is an obvious forgery! I don't know who you are, but you have some explaining to do!"

She grabbed her golden lasso and twirled it high above her head. "You will tell us the truth."

"Amazon, halt!" ordered the Secretary-General.

"I'm not the one on trail before the United Nations," the man answered.

Diana pleaded with the Assembly. "This man evades the truth."

The smugly-confident man smiled. "Or maybe you'll permit us to use your lasso on you?"

"Truth is only a weapon in the presence of a lie," Wonder Woman replied. "And I have nothing to hide."

The accuser was unimpressed with Diana's posturing and her proverbs. "Then what better way to show the world that your ignorance of these documents is the truth?"

Diana surveyed the General Assembly. She sensed their agreement with the young man's words. He wasn't on trial before them- she was. "I agree to bind myself."

She wrapped the golden lasso of truth around her waist. "I, Diana, Queen of the... This isn't right. Something is horribly wrong. Green Lantern?"

A familiar green and white costume enveloped her accuser. "I'm sorry, Wonder Woman. You had to see the truth."

The United Nations Assembly faded away, leaving the heroes in a landscape of nothingness like the one Kyle awoke to.

"Kyle? What's going on? Where are we?" Wonder Woman asked. "The world was at peace and... and... I'm so confused."

"Mxyztplk," Green Lantern answered. "He's trapped the Justice League in dreamscapes of our own making. I suppose I'm so used to focusing my willpower that I broke free on my own. He's given me twenty-four hours to awaken the rest of you or we'll all cease to exist. I tried to free Batman but he clings too tightly to his fantasy. Then I thought of your lasso. Maybe we can use it to help the others?"

"What about Kal?"

"I've observed his dreams, but decided it was best to free him last, in case we need the whole team. If he turns violent we'll need everybody to stop him," Green Lantern answered.

"We should begin with Wally first," Wonder Woman answered.

Green Lantern shrugged his shoulders. "You're the one with the wisdom of Athena."

Gotham City

"... is in shambles tonight after the well-known villain Joker and his gang of miscreants showed up and successfully made off with the donations. The black tie affair was to raise money for the relief effort for those affected by the recent world-wide devastation. Authorities refused to answer questions for the media. However, one question remaining on everyone's lips is...."

"Where's my Ha-Ha Cola?" the Joker yelled from his favorite lazy chair. His voice echoed from the walls of his hideout. "You don't want this smile to turn upside down!"

A henchman quickly retrieved a soft drink from the refrigerator and presented it to the Clown Prince of Crime. "Sorry boss. We got caught up in our story too."

"Thank you, er... Say, I didn't catch your name,"said Joker.

"Pete, sir."

Joker sprung up from his seat and wrapped his arm around Pete's broad, muscular shoulders. "Ah, Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! What was it they called me in the story? Oh yes! The Joker! Notice how the name rolls off the tongue? It just screams headlines. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah, boss. Sure does."

"Did you hear the pretty lady mention 'Pete' anywhere in the story?"

Pete shook his head and gulped.

"That's right. You were lumped in with the others as a miscreant. That means it's my story and you're as much a player as the buffoons who showed up to donate their money to my favorite cause - me!" the Joker explained. "Understand?"

"Really, boss. I didn't mean nothing by it."

"I understand. Shake on it?" The Joker smiled innocently and extended his right hand.

Pete shrugged off the offer. "Oh no! I know this one. Electric buzzer. I may be muscle, but I'm not that dumb."

"What about this one?" Joker asked. He pulled a pistol and aimed it between Pete's eyes.

"Yeah," Pete laughed nervously. "You pull the trigger and a flag comes out the end with the word 'bang" written on it and I sweat bullets and you yuck it up. Or something like that."

Joker nodded. "Yeah."

The garish clown squeezed the trigger. He enjoyed watching Pete's brains splatter on the wall behind him. "Or something like that. Someone clean up this mess and bring me another Ha-Ha Cola! This miscreant tainted mine with his blood!"

"That was just plumb wrong, pardner," said a gravelly voice from the shadows. "Where I come from they call that a coward's shot."

Joker peered into the darkness of his hideaway. "Who's there?"

A man stepped from the shadows dressed in a Confederate Gray shirt, blue pants, and a cowboy hat. His face was hidden in the shadow of the hat's rim. "I reckon it's over for you and your boys. I'm sure there's a mighty fine reward for bringing you in and I'm not picky whether it's dead or alive."

"Who are you?" asked Joker.

The man spat tobacco juice on the ground and pushed up his hat with one of his six shooters. He was the ugliest human being Joker had ever seen. That was saying a lot since he knew Harvey Dent personally. His face was even more grotesquely disfigured than Dent's, if such thing were possible. Folds of melted flesh framed a wild-eyed stare and a frozen grimace that would make even the devil's heart beat cold. "Name's Hex, Jonah Hex. And it just don't look much like your day, pardner."

"Pardner?" the Joker preened. "How rich! You may even be more fun than the Bat! Get him boys!"

Joker's goons rushed the man who called himself Hex. Was this one of Batman's new allies? There was no word on the street about a hero named Jonah Hex in Gotham. Could he be a part of the craziness afflicting the world? If so, Joker approved.

Jonah Hex was fast. He dove for the floor as two of Joker's goons opened fire. They shot one another and fell to the floor. A third thug drew a glock and fired. The gun ripped into a shipping crate and sugar poured from the opening.

Hex rolled for cover behind the crates. "Hell'a gun ye got there, pardner! What do you reckon an old hombre like me could do with a fancy pea-shooter like that?" He peeked out from his position and fired a single bullet that struck the gunner's right hand. The shooter yelped in pain and dropped his piece. A second bullet tore into the man's thigh as he ran away.

"Stick around," yelled Hex. "The party's not over yet."

The man fell to the ground and clutched his leg.

Another of Joker's goons who was in an upstairs office made his way across a catwalk and got an angle on Hex. The bullet tore into Hex's left arm.

"Now you done made me mad!" Hex warned.

BLAM! BLAM!

A bullet from Hex's six-shooter tore a hole through the man's chest and he fell at Joker's feet from the catwalk. His dead body twisted like a pretzel when it hit the concrete floor. The Joker leaned forward in his chair. For the first time since the crazy Montgomery Scott wannabe arrived, he was concerned. He never had to worry about the Bat doing something like that. That was part of the joy in dealing with the so-called "heroes". They were so predictable. But this... Hex, he was different. His guns weren't gadgets for show or filled with knockout gas or some other silly means of apprehending his prey. They fired honest-to-goodness bullets and Hex wasn't afraid to use them.

Jonah Hex turned his sights on the Clown Prince of Crime.

"I thought I had one more henchman," said Joker.

"Reckon you killed him," Jonah Hex answered.

"Pete! That's right," Joker laughed. "Reckon I did. You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you?"

"Last I looked you were packin' a piece yourself," Hex answered.

"This old thing?" Joker removed his gun from his jacket and sighed before he tossed it aside. He knew Hex was much faster on the trigger than he was. It was the price one paid for hiring others to tote the guns so you could have all the fun. He finally understood organized labor's attitude toward outsourcing. Maybe there was a better means of escape. Trickery perhaps? Oh, how he loved trickery!

"One wrong move and I'll put a slug through yer heart, clown," said Hex.

He meant it too.

Joker needed to regroup. He wasn't prepared to deal with a wildcard. With Batman rumored out of commission he hoped to bring the city to its knees. He wasn't about to let a crazy, scar-faced cowboy spoil his fun. Staring down upon the wild-eyed hombre, he inched his index finger toward a hidden button on the arm of his chair. As he learned through the years while fighting the Dark Knight, it was sometimes better to save face than to have none left. "Please... we have no ill-will between us. We're practically brothers, you and I. Look at us. Why don't we both forget this ever..."

Hex's gun interrupted the Joker's stalling. A bullet tore into his creeping index finger before it found the hidden button. Hex spat on the ground. "No brother of mine would shoot a defenseless man."

The Joker writhed as searing pain shot through his arm. He jerked his hand to his face. His finger was barely attached by a thin strip of dangling skin. Blood gushed from the wound. Who was this man? Harvey Dent's long-lost twin or Roy Rogers on acid? For the first time in many years, Joker was truly frightened. Still he was no pathetic ninny and years of fighting Batman taught him to always be prepared to make a getaway. He lunged his mangled hand toward the control panel and his middle finger found the button he was looking for. Rockets fired underneath his chair and launched it toward the roof. The skylight doors opened and Joker rocketed through them into the night sky.

"TTFN, Buffalo Bob! Ha-Ha! Ha-Ha! Ha-Ha!"

Hex's guns blasted away.

Joker had to get away somewhere safe. Perhaps he could make it to Gotham harbor where he could parachute to the river. It would drudge up some bad memories, but it was better than being captured by Hex. He could come back for the loot... Come back for... What was that pain? It was even worse than having his finger shot off. At first it burned like a fire in his belly. Then the warmth of his own blood spilled onto his lap and mixed with involuntary urination. The spasms followed and the Joker fell from his rocket chair. As he plummeted through the night air, he wondered if Barbara Gordon felt the same way when he shot her. Did she see her life flash before her eyes? Did her fall feel as long? Of course not. She only fell to the floor and he was two-hundred feet in the air.

Joker knew his death would be sudden when he hit the ground. He cursed Hex for denying him the chance to best the Dark Knight. But in the end there was nothing to do but laugh and enjoy the ride.

Central City, The Flash Museum

"And you're sure this will work?" asked Barry Allen.

"Trust us," Diana answered. She reminded herself the likeness before her wasn't really Barry Allen, despite sharing the same clean-shaven face, well-groomed buzz-cut hair, and chiseled features of her former Justice League ally and friend. Speaking with him was difficult. The details were perfect down to the strength of his voice and even the same manly smell of cologne Barry preferred. But it wasn't her friend. He died in the Crisis. "We're here from the future, Barry. Reality itself depends on you getting the cosmic treadmill to speeds you've never before attained."

Barry regarded Kyle with suspicion. "Where's Hal?"

"It's a long story," Green Lantern replied.

"I've got time," Barry answered.

"He ... He died trying to get us back here to you. This isn't the first time we've tried to reach you," Green Lantern lied.

"Something doesn't feel right about this," Barry answered. "Why can't my future self do this? Or Wally?"

Wonder Woman dropped her head. Lying to Barry was difficult, even if he was only a product of Wally's Mxyztplk-induced dream.

"Oh," Barry replied. "Wally doesn't make it either, huh?"

"Please, Barry..." Wonder Woman stammered. "There isn't much time."

Barry Allen climbed onto the cosmic treadmill and twisted the face of his ring. A scarlet costume shot out from its face. Barry was in it before it even completely unfolded. "I always knew I would go out this way. Not on the treadmill, but as Flash I mean. Tell me, Diana. Do I save the world?"

Wonder Woman fought back tears as Barry's question tugged at her heart. Her mind drifted to the discovery of Barry's empty uniform years before during the Crisis. "Yes, Barry. You save us all."

The Flash ran faster than Wonder Woman had ever seen. The blurring image of his feet warped the fabric of reality around the treadmill. The ripples of time and space grew wider as Barry increased his speed. The very room itself wavered in the effect of the treadmill and forced Wonder Woman and Green Lantern to take cover.

Then Wally burst through the door wearing his Flash costume. His face twisted in confusion until he realized what was happening. "Uncle Barry! No! Let me do it! I'm the Flash now! Remember you wanted a nice quiet life with Iris? Stop!"

A tornado leaped from Barry's left arm as he rotated it in a tight, well-practiced circular motion. He strained to push the twister through the brewing cosmic storm. It slammed into Wally and knocked him off his feet.

"Sorry, Wally. I can't stop now!" Barry yelled over the roar of the storm. "Give my love to Iris and know that I love you like my own son!"

Raw Speed Force energy and a reality-bending maelstrom were not a good combination. The Cosmic Treadmill exploded. Light, color, gravity - everything was sucked into nothingness. When the dizzying effect finally ceased the remaining heroes found themselves in a blank canvas.

Wally West removed his cowl and buckled to his knees, oblivious to the Great Whiteness. Tears ran down his cheeks. "I tried to stop him! It should have been me. He said I was the Flash now."

"You are the Flash," Green Lantern answered. "This is Mxyztplk's work."

Wally turned to his JLA friends. "You don't understand. He was back in my life again. He was just here and we were so happy..."

Wonder Woman placed her hand on her grieving teammate's shoulder. "It wasn't real, Wally. Any of it. Come on. We'll fill you in while we awaken J'onn."

Oklahoma City

Hawkman rushed north toward Chicago. He was in Midland City, Texas verifying artifacts for a new exhibit on Egyptian royalty some old friends were putting together for an upcoming tour of American's heartland when he saw the news on television. Chicago was under attack. He had to return to his new hometown and defend it.

Racing along on the strength of a strong tailwind he spotted three beings flying in his direction. Whoever they were they would meet a most unpleasant fate if they tried to prevent him from returning home. He tightened his grip on his mace and sped toward them. Upon closer inspection he recognized two of them. "Alan! Todd!"

"Carter... Katar..." blushed the Emerald Gladiator. "I thought I recognized that wingspan! What are you doing so far south? I heard you were based in Chicago since your return. Figured you would have already met up with the JSA."

The heroes stopped in midair and hovered high above the clouds for an impromptu reunion.

"I was helping some friends in Midland when I heard Chicago was under attack," Hawkman replied. "I'm headed back there now. You said the JSA is already there?"

Green Lantern nodded.

"Wow, Hawkman," said Mikaal Tomas. "Which one are you?"

"The only one," Hawkman replied.

"I apologize, old friend," said Green Lantern. "Mikaal doesn't mean to pry."

"I understand," replied Hawkman. "I'm still sorting it all out myself. Todd? How are you?"

Obsidian regarded Winged Wonder carefully. "I'm fine, Hawkman. It's good to see you again."

"You too," Hawkman answered. "Who's your friend? You called him Mikaal?"

"This is Mikaal Tomas, Starman," Green Lantern answered.

Hawkman shook Mikaals' hand. "Starman, huh? That's quite a legacy to bear."

Mikaal smiled. "You don't know the half of it. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I've heard so much about you."

"The pleasure's all mine, son. So where are you headed in such a hurry?" Hawkman asked.

"Rio de Janeiro. A special mission for Oracle," Green Lantern answered. "Intergalactic warriors of Mikaal's race are trying to enslave the city. He believed them to be dead."

"What's the story in Chicago?" Hawkman asked.

"Time-misplaced Nazi invasion," Todd replied. "Who better than the JSA to handle it right?."

"My sentiments exactly," said Hawkman. "I'll radio Joe and let him know to cooperate with the JSA Mind if I tag along with you? You could use my experience against the intergalactic warrior-types."

"Joe?" Green Lantern asked.

"Good kid," replied Hawkman. "Joe Public. I'm teaching him the ropes."

"You know you're always welcome anywhere the JSA goes," said Green Lantern. "Once in the family..."

Mars

"J'onn will be pissed," said Green Lantern. "There must be another way. One that's safer."

"We can't wait for the Great Plague," Wonder Woman answered. "We have to do this ourselves."

The Flash blurred to a stop beside her. "I"ve searched the entire village and there's not a soul stirring. It's like everyone rises and sleeps at the same time."

"They probably do," Wonder Woman replied. "Collective conscience. J'onn doesn't speak much of his days here on Mars, but we have learned that much from him."

"This still doesn't feel right," said Flash.

Wonder Woman nodded. "Justice isn't always black and white."

"That sounds more like Mongul than Wonder Woman," Flash replied. "Spending time with Barry again - there's right and wrong, Diana. These people..."

"Are figments of J'onn's imagination," Diana countered. "We need you with us, Wally."

Flash dropped his chin. "I'm in. But I'm not proud of it."

"Are you ready, Kyle?" Wonder Woman asked.

Green Lantern nodded. "Let's do it."

The Emerald Gladiator took to the darkened Martian sky and circled over J'onn's home. Wally was right. Their actions were criminal- destroying an entire village as it slept peacefully. It sounded more like something one of their many enemies would do instead of the Justice League. But they had to break the Martian Manhunter free of Mxyztplk's dream. Experience showed extreme trauma could shock the dreaming victim awake. Unfortunately, most victims weren't blessed with a list of powers so long they could make even Superman jealous. Their only hope was that J'onn was ignorant of them as Kyle was in his own dream. So far the odds didn't favor such a scenario. Flash and Wonder Woman retained memory of their powers, as did Superman in his dreamscape when Kyle peeked in on it before. Maybe they would get lucky and J'onn wouldn't prove too difficult. A burst of energy from Green Lantern's ring bathed the home in emerald flames.

The dwelling proved more difficult to burn than the Justice League imagined. They should have guessed that with fire being the Martian's greatest weakness and fear that they would go to extra lengths to protect themselves from it. Green Lantern poured his willpower into the flames shooting from his ring. "The homes are more flame resistant than asbestos, Diana! Or maybe it's because there's not as much oxygen in the atmosphere as there is on Earth. I'm not sure which, but even with the energy I'm pouring into the ring it's like a Boy Scout trying to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together."

"Keep it up, Kyle!" Wonder Woman answered. "The walls are beginning to glow red."

Finally the power ring interrupted the communication. "Warning Green Lantern of space sector 2814! The use of your power ring for criminal activity is strictly forbidden. You must cease and..."

"Ring, shut up," said Green Lantern. "I don't like this any more than you do, but you have to trust me on this one."

The Martian Manhunter's home burst into flames at last.

J'onn's voice was the first that could be heard over the roar. He tried desperately to awaken his family and rescue them from certain death. A child's voice pleaded for her father to help her. She was trapped behind a wall of flame.

J'onn's voice broke as he screamed his daughter's name and assured her everything would be fine. She wasn't easily convinced. Again and again she begged for his help. J'onn's voice grew weaker until she no longer answered when he screamed her name.

The silence made Green Lantern sick.

Other Martians raced from their homes to help. They attacked the flames with water, but it took more than water to douse the power of a Green Lantern's ring. Some men busted out the windows to make an escape route.

A plume of black smoke rose quickly from the broken windows and blocked the burning inferno from view. A telling scream from within bore witness that the fire claimed J'onn's wife as well. She cried in agony until silenced by the fire. Finally, J'onn stumbled from his home through one of the broken windows. A group of men pulled him away from the burning abode. His lungs emptied themselves of the black smoke but he was mostly unscathed. Medical workers rushed to him and placed an oxygen mask over his mouth while a crowd of neighbors gathered around the grief-stricken Martian Manhunter to comfort him. One of them whispered into J'onn's ear and pointed to the sky. The emerald glow of the power ring made Green Lantern easy to spot. J'onn ripped off the oxygen mask.

"Uh oh," said Green Lantern. "This doesn't look good."

J'onn leaped into the skies after him. His powers were functioning just fine.

Green Lantern shouted into his communicator. "I need some help here guys! Angry Martian at six o'clock."

Wonder Woman intercepted J'onn's trajectory in midair and wrestled him to the ground. The blows they exchanged as they rolled across the barren soil caused the ground to tremble. The furious Martian was getting the better of the Amazon.

"Flash you're up," said Green Lantern.

"I can't," Flash answered.

"You have to," Green Lantern replied. "Or J'onn will kill Diana and that will be decidedly real. He's fighting like a madman but Diana's holding back until we can break the fantasy."

Flash hesitated for a moment then ran through the village at super speed to fuel the fire. It spread to other homes along with panic and terror.

"Now, Flash," said Green Lantern. "You can't let them escape."

Flash changed course and circled the city at super speed to prevent the Martians from escaping the fire.

Wonder Woman's blows proved more effective as J'onn succumbed to the intense heat. A powerful blow from her right hand knocked him into the western wall of the Concert Hall. It collapsed on him, but even in his weakened state he didn't stay down long. He shrugged off the debris and rose to meet her once again. This time his approach was less direct. A burst of Martian vision erupted from his eyes. Wonder Woman barely fended off the laser-like beams with her bracelets. They glowed and seemed to nearly melt into her wrists.

"Leave my people alone, intruders," J'onn ordered. "And leave my world!"

"J'onn it's us," Wonder Woman implored. "The Justice League. We're here to help you."

"By slaughtering my kinsmen?" J'onn asked. He became invisible.

Wonder Woman poised herself, knowing full well that in his immaterial form J'onn could move like a wraith. She waited for his attack from every direction - except one. He phased up from the ground and locked her in a full-nelson as he materialized. She struggled to break his hold but he held her firm. He used his hostage as a shield against any attack Flash and Green Lantern might unleash. "Cease your terrorist activities against my people or I will snap this woman's neck!"

"J'onn, we're the Justice League! You're one of us," Wally pleaded. "Remember?"

"You will surrender and stand trial for your crimes against society," J'onn answered.

"Sorry J'onn. Not today." Wonder Woman shifted her weight and plunged to the ground. As she fell she grabbed J'onn by the back of the neck. The unexpected move brought J'onn down with her and slammed his chin into the crown of her head. "Now Green Lantern! Give it all you have!"

Green Lantern turned up the heat. Never before had he projected such intense flame from his ring. The town exploded into a raging inferno as J'onn's fantasy faded to white. He grabbed frantically at the ruddy soil as if trying to hold onto something - anything, but it too slipped through his fingers.

"No!" J'onn cried and the canvas went blank. His mighty chest heaved up and down as he wailed. Then he turned to those responsible for his sorrow. "I have seen your minds, my friends. Though my loss was painful, I thank you for freeing me from Mxyztplk's Mayavana. Let's free Arthur."

Central City

A well-placed boomerang exploded upon impact against the chest of one of the Bee-Men. "Good day, mate!" Captain Boomerang taunted.

The Rogues held their own against the Swarm but already lost significant parts of the city to the creation of a master hive. From within that hive new Bees appeared to take the place of the fallen workers and drones.

The panicked populace nearly tore the city apart with it under siege. Looting was rampant, as was civil unrest with folks jockeying for position on the freeways. The infrastructure was taxed to the limit with long lines of folks evacuating the city. The Bees cut off the Keystone escape route and controlled the bridges.

In the Flash's absence the local authorities brokered a deal with the Rogues. Protect their city and receive a full pardon. The city they terrorized many times cheered them on as they battled the Swarm. It was an unfamiliar feeling - a novelty even for such a hardened career man like Captain Boomerang. At first the Rogues focused their attention on policing the people until they realized they couldn't play Flash. They had to do things the Rogue way and let the poor schmucks fend for themselves. That's when they made progress, but they were still on the defensive.

Thanks to an old ally, the Pied Piper, who calmed the frightened masses and led them away from Central Plaza, the Rogues had an opportunity to take the fight to the Hive itself and space in which they could work. They would not waste the opportunity. This was their final stand. Either the Rogues freed the city or they'd all end up as honey.

A familiar image appeared in each of the windows of the First National Bank building on the corner of the Plaza. A forty foot tall likeness of the Mirror Master was hard to miss and he was eager to get in on the defense of the Twin Cities as were most of the Rogues. It was one thing for them to fight Flash for revenge or sport. It was another altogether for a group of outsiders to attempt to wrest their hometown from their control. If anyone was going to take Central or Keystone it was the Rogues! These were their stomping grounds and they'd defend it with their last breaths. At least Captain Boomerang knew he would. Unless perhaps the Bees made a better offer, but so far no bargain was on the table

"Cold! Get me in!" yelled the Mirror Master from the bank window reflections.

Along with the other Rogues, Captain Boomerang provided a distraction to get Captain Cold closer to the Hive itself. Drones fell left and right before their onslaught. Razor sharp boomerangs parted head from body of many Bees. The new Trickster unleashed everything from marbles that expanded and encased the Bees within their shiny orbs to exploding rubber chickens against the defenders of the Hive. One good thing about the craziness that shook the city was the return of the Top. He found a smorgasbord of dead bodies to choose from and inhabited the body of a young police officer. More than once the Rogues enjoyed the irony of that one. Bees were scattered in every direction as he tore into them. Tore was a good word to describe it too. Arms, legs, and even halves of the Bee-men's torsos flew in every direction.

At last Captain Cold was in place. He lowered his gun and fired. A burst of ice blanketed a section of the hive beneath where Bees poured out from a comb. The ice laid on the hexagon-shaped chambers, each one a perfect reflective surface. Each individual comb was quickly populated with Mirror Master's image. As Bees flew out of the hive from the cones above him Mirror Master blasted them into nether dimensions with his special gun.

Cold turned his attention back to individual Bees. He froze them by the score but they kept coming. One managed to sneak past his defenses and got behind him. As soon as it latched onto him it burrowed into his back with its Stinger-Lance. Len Snart cursed as he writhed in pain and struggled against the stinger lancing into his back. Luckily, Captain Boomerang spotted the Bee and hurled a razor-sharp boomerang that took off its head in one swift motion. "You owe me Snart!"

Cold collapsed to the asphalt but recovered in time to introduce an overzealous Bee to his own version of the Ice Age. "How long we been doing this Digger?"

"Nearly seventeen hours," Boomerang replied.

Cold froze another group of Bees as he struggled to his feet. "No, I meant this whole Rogues thing."

"Many years, mate" Boomerang shot back. "Many years."

"In that time I've not saved your life once?" Cold prodded.

Boomerang knew what Captain Cold was driving at but enjoyed the upper hand too much to cede it so easily. "What is it you've told me long ago, Mate? All that matters is the now!"

Mirror Master hopped into the crystal reflections on the Bee-shaped ice structures left by Cold's gun. "If that's the case then we've got problems!" He pointed to the top of the hive where a large swarm of Bees dispersed in to the skies over Central City.

Mirror Master disappeared.

"Great!" Boomerang shouted. "Where the bloody hell did he go?"

"I don't know," Cold replied. "But I'm sure he's got something up his sleeve. He doesn't want this city to fall anymore than we do."

Then came the flames.

Cold's ice structures melted and quickly formed puddles. The Bees trapped inside fell to the ground. They were dead, smothered in ice.

"What the..." a befuddled Captain Cold asked

Boomerang smiled. "It looks like the cavalry has arrived."

The windows of the First National Bank blew out as Mirror Master returned with Heat Wave and Weather Wizard.

Weather Wizard whipped up an F5 tornado and steered it into the hive itself while Heat Wave busied himself with burning the Bees out. Cold, Boomerang, and Mirror Master picked off the Bees that attempted to flee and those who returned to assist them.

"Keep fighting, mates!" cried Boomerang. We've got the bloody buggers on the ropes now! What say we hit the First National after we wrap up things here since Mirror Master made it such easy pickings?"

The Maine Coast

"Are you sure this is right?" Flash asked. "I'd think Aquaman's utopia would lie beneath the sea."

"This is where the trail brought us," Green Lantern replied.

The Justice Leaguers navigated a rocky outcropping by the sea. The chill of the icy North Atlantic winds were brutal. In the distance stood a lighthouse.

"Arthur is a deeply private man. It will disturb him that we will see this," said J'onn.

"He'll be more disturbed if we don't," answered Wonder Woman.

Moving closer to the lighthouse the heroes noticed two men in the distance. One warmed himself by a fire. The other stood at the precipice of a high craggy knoll overlooking the angry, churning ocean. Mighty waves crashed around him, but he didn't flinch. As they grew closer it was obvious the striking figure on the knoll was that of the King of the Seven Seas.

"I don't get it," Green Lantern asked. "Why would he care if we saw this?"

"This is where Arthur learned his humanity," Wonder Woman replied. "It's a deeply spiritual place for him. We're violating his sanctuary."

Aquaman turned and regarded the motley band of garish costumes headed toward him, but then faced the sea once more.

When the heroes were close enough Wonder Woman dared to speak first. "Arthur?"

"Go away, Diana," Aquaman replied.

"You know us?" Flash asked.

"Of course I do," Aquaman replied.

"I see your thoughts Arthur," said J'onn. "You know why we're here."

"I'm not going back," said Aquaman.

"You have to," said Wonder Woman. "The world needs you. This isn't real."

The Monarch of the Seas shook his head stubbornly. "All I want is to be left alone."

"Not real? Why do you say that?" the other man asked Wonder Woman.

"None of this is real," Aquaman replied. "You...this setting... the call of the sea creatures, none of it. Whether by magic, or I'm in hell, or someone is tampering with my mind, I don't know. I saw through the illusion weeks ago, but it doesn't matter. This is where I need to be."

"Who's the old-timer?" Flash asked.

"My friends, this is Arthur Curry or at least a physical manifestation of the man I knew as Arthur Curry. He's the man whose name I took as my own," Aquaman answered. "Show him the same respect you would show me."

"You would deny the truth then?" asked the Amazon Princess.

"Who is to say what is truth anymore, Diana." Aquaman answered. "I have memories. Some of them are as real as yesterday. Others are just bits and pieces that swirl together like a cyclone in my head. You tell me what's real."

"Real?" Green Lantern asked. "What's real is that the world needs you while you sit here playing Robinson Crusoe and feeling sorry for yourself!"

Aquaman extended his hook. "Mind your tone, Green Lantern, or we'll see how real this hook is!" He faced the others and lowered his weapon. "Or maybe Kyle's the only one with the nerve to question me. You've politely ignored my changes in behavior and attitude through the years. You say nothing and pretend not to notice, but it's like I'm waking up from a long dream with each change. And just when I think I know who I am again, I'm someone else. You tell me. Am I the clean-cut, cheerful Kal-El clone who helped found the JLA or am I the angry long-haired warrior you see before you now? Am I a king with a throne in Atlantis or an environmentalist rebel? A soldier or a hero? Or maybe some would say an anti-hero? A storm brews in my soul and I must sort these things. J'onn, if you'd like to scan my thoughts you'll see that I'm in my right mind. Just leave, please."

"My friend I believe you're all these things," J'onn answered. "Allow us to help you."

"We'll make you a deal, Arthur," Wonder Woman replied. "Allow me to place my lasso around you and if you still feel the same we'll see you have all the time in the world to find yourself."

Aquaman shook his head, but then sighed deeply. "I want to know the truth and if that means destroying this illusion then so be it."

Wonder Woman lassoed Aquaman. "Arthur?"

"Let's go save the world," Aquaman replied.

"So you don't want to stay here?" Wonder Woman asked.

"These surroundings are merely illusion, but the storm in my soul is real. I will return to this place but not today."

"No," said Arthur Curry. "Damn you all! This isn't how it's supposed..."

The seaside dreamscape shimmered from view leaving the heroes in the same netherworld Kyle found himself when he first broke Mxyztplk's magic. "What now?"

"Now we free Bruce and Kal," Wonder Woman answered. "And may the gods have mercy on the imp's soul when we do."