"What If: Act Three"

Issue #282

By David Marshall

Gotham City, Wayne Manor

"How are the grades coming, Dick?" asked Bruce Wayne.

Dick Grayson held up his report card. "Got them right here, Bruce. I... got a B in pre-algebra."

Bruce Wayne snatched the report card from his ward's hand. "Pre-algebra, again? Dick, we've gone over factoring a thousand times."

Dick sighed. "I know Bruce. I still have a lot on my mind."

Bruce placed a reassuring hand on Dick's shoulder. "I know. Tomorrow's the six month anniversary?"

Dick nodded.

"You know what you need?" Bruce asked.

"What?"

"We need to get you out of this house for a change. All you do is go to school and come home," Bruce replied.

Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne's trusted butler, appeared as if out of nowhere. It spooked Bruce how his butler could appear and disappear so suddenly. He'd have to learn that trick one day. It could definitely come in handy around the hospital. "Splendid idea, Master Bruce."

"I don't know," Dick answered. "What would we do?"

"How about a movie?" Alfred suggested.

"A movie?" Bruce asked. "I haven't seen one in ages. How about it Dick?"

Dick Grayson forced a smile, as if he didn't want to disappoint everyone else. "Uh... sure. Sounds fun."

"I'll get your coats," said Alfred.

"Get Mom and Dad, too," said Bruce. "We'll make it a family night out."

"Certainly," Alfred replied before disappearing in his usual fashion. Moments later he returned followed by Thomas and Martha Wayne.

"Alfred told us about your idea, Bruce," said Thomas. "Splendid."

"It was actually Alfred's idea," Bruce replied.

"What will we see?" asked Mrs. Wayne.

Dick seemed a little more excited. He grabbed the local paper and turned it to the Entertainment section. "Attack of the Alien Brain Farmers?"

"Oh heavens, no!" said Mrs. Wayne. "What a dreadful title!"

Dick sighed but plugged right along. "Slumber Party Massacre? All Alone? Star Towers? Beneath?"

"Perhaps something we'd all wish to see?" Bruce asked.

Thomas grabbed the paper from Dick and studied it carefully. "Here's one - a real classic at the Bijou! The Mask of Zorro!"

"Zorro?" Dick groaned. "How lame!"

Thomas dropped the paper and retrieved an umbrella from the urn by the door. He swashbuckled his way around the room, cutting an imaginary swath in the air that ended with him pantomiming a prominent 'Z' in Bruce's chest. "Nonsense, boy! Zorro has it all - Adventure! Romance! Mystery!"

Dick chuckled which was no small feat for Mr. Wayne. The boy rarely smiled since the day Bruce brought him home. "Ok, we'll go. We'll go."

"My roguish skills convinced you, eh?" asked Thomas.

"No... I was afraid you'd hurt someone with that thing," said Dick.

Everyone laughed.

"I'll call Mrs. Crayton and let her know we'll pick up the costumes for the masquerade ball tomorrow," said Martha.

"Take your time, Mother," said Bruce. "We still have to get ready."

Thomas Wayne turned to go. "Alfred, if you would get the car please."

Alfred nodded. "As you wish, sir."

The butler was nearly out the door when Thomas called for him again.

"Yes?" Alfred asked.

"Make that a cab," said Thomas. "It's unseasonably warm tonight. It'll give us an opportunity to walk around the city after the show and spend some quality time together as a family."

Alfred turned to leave but stopped and shuddered.

"You okay, old friend?" Thomas asked.

Alfred nodded. "Just a cold chill, sir. That's all. A chill."

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hawkman swung his mace hard and relished the feeling when it struck the Talokian's rib cage. The unmistakable crack of bones filled the air followed almost instantaneously by the pained cry of his maimed foe. The force of the blow sent his opponent reeling, taking out another three of his comrades.

It had been awhile since Hawkman met such formidable opposition. Earthmen fought much differently - even the best-trained. Fight or flight was ingrained as part of their biological makeup. They fought to rid themselves of an opponent or to make a means of escape. Not so with many of the galactic warmongering races. Flight was never an option. They were committed to giving their last breath in battle. It was glory and freedom in one. To die in battle was one's final masterpiece in the art of violence.

Oracle asked Green Lantern, Obsidian, and Starman to assist with the Talokian invasion. Hawkman joined the trio over the skies of Chicago. Flying alongside the JSA once again felt right. Perhaps it was time to rejoin their ranks?

While Hawkman toyed with the idea, several Talokians surrounded him and cut him off from the JSA. The part of him that was Carter Hall looked to the sky for flight. Katar Hol would allow no such thing.

The Talokians attacked quickly once they were in position. Hawkman fought them but had little room to maneuver his mace. A Talokian grabbed his left arm and wrenched his shoulder from its socket. Of course it wasn't the first time he suffered such an injury. It had been done so many times in the past he hardly noticed the pain.

Reaching underneath his wings, Hawkman found a quarter bo staff. Despite furious fists striking him repeatedly, he managed to retrieve the weapon and unsheathed it while striking his attackers in one smooth motion. The lead-weighted bo cracked whatever bones it struck. However, one of the Talokians managed to slip behind him out of the bo's path and safe from the mace still dangling from his right wrist by a leather wrap. He anchored himself between Hawkman's wings.

The Talokian dug his fingers into Hawkman's throat. Years of training and experience went to work immediately. There was no time to waste wrenching the strong hands from his neck. The attacker already had the advantage and his fingers were closing around Hawkman's Adam's apple. Instead the Winged Wonder slipped the staff forward in his hand, making it about a quarter of an inch longer than the distance between his forearm and elbow. He jammed it backward into his attacker's solar plexus. The Talokian released the choke hold immediately. Hawkman spun around and nearly took the alien's head off with his mace.

The taste of blood on his lip brought a menacing smile to Hawkman's lips. He ran his tongue over the congealed trickle. Satisfied that it was not his own, he lashed out with his mace once more. His teammates were counting on him and he wouldn't allow the Talokians to divide their ranks.

Teammates? He couldn't believe the thought even went through his mind. It had been some time since he thought of himself as a JSAer, but it felt natural. So did the JLA.

Hawkman looked for someone else to hit but the Talokians fled before him. How ironic that he was the only one of the four heroes that didn't possess a power so terrible it could tear asunder a small world, and still the Talokians were eager to choose new targets.

A bolt of energy from above felled the fleeing Talokians. Hawkman looked up. It was Mikaal Tomas... Starman! "Thanks Starman!"

Even in the heat of combat, the bearer of the Starman legacy somehow managed to smile and wave. And not the scary kind of smile Hawkman reserved for his foes either. "Mikaal is fine and I'm happy I could help."

Hawkman was impressed. What a pleasant young man, a real credit to the mantle he bore.

As usual, Green Lantern had no problem carrying his weight, but Obsidian really spooked the Talokians. What was it about his shadow power that frightened them so? Of course they had every reason to be frightened. Hawkman had known grown men to break down and weep like infants when Obsidian used his powers on them. The darkness of one's own soul could be too much for some to bear. But it was different with the Talokians. According to Mikaal, they were warrior-born, afraid of nothing. Yet they cowered before Obsidian before he even turned to them. Green Lantern possessed the most powerful weapon in the universe and it was Obsidian they feared. Or was feared the right word? Perhaps respected was a better word.

Meanwhile Mikaal demonstrated that the combination of his Talokian heritage and the power of the stars were a formidable pairing. Hawkman was glad Mikaal was one Talokian on their side.

Green Lantern teamed with his son, sweeping Talokians into Obsidian's shadows with a giant broom.

Hawkman screamed as a rush of heat shot down his spine. One of the Talokians tagged him on the shoulder with a plasma blaster. He deserved it for allowing his mind to wander in battle. Freshly returned from the Hawkgod's netherworld or not, he knew better. But that didn't matter. It was time to teach the young soldier who fired the blast a lesson.

Shrugging off the immense pain, Hawkman took to the skies by the power of the Nth metal. His maneuver attracted the blasts of several Talokians who broke ranks and rallied around their young comrade who struck the blow for their side. But Hawkman wasn't running. When he gained sufficient altitude, he swooped down on the impromptu flank. Despite their fire, he dove into their ranks. The force of his attack scattered most of them but Hawkman was still able to pick out the soldier with the itchy trigger finger. He grabbed his adversary by the collar of his shirt and took the skies once more.

"Let's go for a ride." said Hawkman.

The Talokian scrambled for a more secure hold and grabbed Hawkman's forearm. It was obvious from his grip that he was terrified.

Hawkman climbed higher and higher with the Talokian dangling from his hand and looked down. Rio was such a beautiful city, even with the shanty towns the locals called favelas dotting the landscape. Several groups gathered below and pointed heavenward at the show unfolding over their city. Despite the terror threatening their home they were unafraid. Hawkman marveled at their courage. They were the source of the city's resilience. Its pristine beaches and four-star hotels were merely plastic surgery applied to draw precious tourist dollars into the local economy. Carter Hall vowed that the Talokians would not conquer Rio de Janeiro.

The Talokian clung ever tighter to only thing between him and the ground hundreds of feet below. Hawkman flew like a madman and poured on the speed. Any maneuver he could think of to rattle the young warrior was fair game. Finally he folded his wings and plummeted Earthward.

The Talokian made a series of noises that sounded like someone pleading. Unfortunately for him, even if he was eager to surrender, his friends on the ground below had other ideas. They opened fire.

"Nit! Nit!" cried the Talokian recoiling from the blaster fire.

Hawkman avoided the fire easily. However the young Talokian soldier was hit squarely in the chest. A column of plasma fire ripped through his body and left a gaping hole in his torso. It was unfortunate the young man died, but Hawkman had a new weapon. He swooped low over the Talokians and released his grip on the dead man's hand. He plummeted earthward and took out his comrades. Those not struck by his fall scattered, giving Hawkman an opportunity to use his mace during the confusion.

Soon, the battlefield was littered with fallen Talokians. Somehow the JSA won. How many times had he uttered those same words through the years? Per Degaton? The Injustice Society? Brainwave? Starro? No, wait. That was the JLA, but it didn't matter. The fact was they always found a way. Maybe it was time a hawk flew with the big guns once more.

Gotham City

"Wow! What a picture! Who would have thought those old cheesy black-and-white movies could be so good?" asked Dick Grayson.

"Well I did suggest it," said Thomas Wayne.

"Excellent choice," Bruce Wayne added. "I'm glad we took time to do this together. I don't get much family time being at the hospital so much."

"We're proud of you, Bruce," said Thomas. "Very proud."

Martha Wayne sandwiched herself between her husband and her son and locked her arms in theirs. "And I'm proud of both the Doctors Wayne."

"And one day Dick will make us proud too," said Bruce. He mussed his young ward's hair.

"I'm sure he will," said Mrs. Wayne.

Bruce Wayne tugged at his mother's arm, redirecting everyone. "I know a shortcut to the gallery. Follow me."

Mrs. Wayne stopped. "I don't know Bruce. That alley doesn't look safe."

"Of course it is," Bruce argued. "And it will save us seven blocks of walking. It's not very far."

Thomas Wayne urged his wife to follow. "Think of it as another adventure, Martha."

"Yeah. Anyone tries anything and I'll go Zorro on them," said Dick.

Mrs. Wayne laughed. "Oh ok. What could possibly happen with so many protectors around me?"

"That's the spirit," said Thomas.

It wasn't until the Wayne family moved into the alley that it struck Bruce just how creepy it really was. The shadows seemed far more menacing when walking through them than they did from the safety of the sidewalk. Bruce's senses seemed heightened. It was as if the very pores in the mortar of the brick buildings were alive and whispering to him. Danger was suddenly a living entity Bruce felt he could touch as easily as he touched his mother's arm. Nothing escaped his scrutiny. The sound of their own footfalls. The spring in Dick's step. The clicking of his mother's heels. The shuffle of his father's soles against the pavement. His mother's perfume. The stench of garbage that wasn't picked up on Tuesday. For once he didn't notice the blaring car horns in the distance or the sounds of a city under the spell of the Gotham night. Instead the alley repeated one word over and over - danger. A rat foraging through a heap of garbage froze. Bruce sensed its fear or did he smell it? Even the taste of the warm night air changed. Bruce shuddered. What was wrong with him?

"Keep moving," Bruce whispered.

The others noticed his obvious discomfort and stuck close to him.

"Who is that?" whispered Mrs. Wayne.

Someone lay with his back against a building and a bottle in his hand. He was concealed by the shadows earlier, but light had a funny way of shifting in Gotham City at night. The impenetrable darkness harbored from sight every nightmare imaginable until they were upon you like a predator on its prey. Then the shadows fled, leaving you face to face with whatever horrors they hid from view.

"A drunk," said Thomas. "Don't look at him."

Despite his father's warning, Bruce couldn't help but stare. Surely this broken man wasn't the danger his senses cried out for him to be aware of. Bruce expected the bum to be more unkempt, a little more broken but that wasn't the case. In fact he looked familiar. Very familiar. What was going on?

"Bruce Wayne," said the bum. "The time has come to make things right."

The bum raised to his feet. When the pallid moonlight danced over his face, Bruce recognized him. The Ringmaster from Dick's circus!

"Ringmaster Rayner!" said Dick. "What are you doing here?"

"Who is this man?" demanded Thomas Wayne.

"He was the Ringmaster at Dick's circus," Bruce answered. "You startled my family sir. What is the meaning of this?"

A strong wind whipped through the alley and carried garbage and newspaper ads in its wake. Mixed in with the assortment of debris were bubble gum wrappers and a plastic bag that rode the strong breeze like a seagull playing over the docks of Gotham Harbor. But just when it seemed the plastic bag could be mistaken for something majestic it fell from the sky. Gotham would have no beauty or even something akin to it flowering in its darkness. It seemed to Bruce's heightened senses that the wind was fierce and unnatural. He was right. At its head was a man clad in a strange scarlet uniform.

The Ringmaster's right fist glowed with a an eerie green flame originating from his ring finger. He turned its glow upon himself and burned away the tatters of a beggar, revealing a brilliant, verdant costume underneath. Such strange attire hadn't been seen since the days of the second World War.

A scantily-clad woman donning a star-spangled bikini leaped from a rooftop accompanied by a blonde man whose orange and green costume was covered in scales. Then the strangest of them all appeared, a green-skinned apparition that arose from street itself. At first all that could be seen was the top of his bald, green head. Then two eyes set in a deep brow peered from the street level like an alligator scanning for prey in a swamp. Broad, muscular shoulders appeared next as the man walked steadily toward them while coming into view. It was like he found a secret stairway that rose from the subway tunnels beneath the city. When he finally stood fully on the street his long, blue cape rustled in the night air.

"Stay back! All of you!" warned Bruce Wayne. "I don't know what you're up to, but I will protect my family with my life."

"We know you will, Bruce," said the Woman. "Please you must listen to us. This isn't real. Any of it!"

"I think they may be drug addicts," said Mrs. Wayne.

Bruce removed his wallet from his pocket and held it out. "If this is about money..."

"We don't want your money," said the green-skinned alien. "We want you to remember who you are."

"I'm warning you," said Bruce.

"Come on, Batman. Don't make us do this," the Ringmaster pleaded.

"Batman?" Bruce asked.

"Don't listen to them Bruce," said Dick. "They speak in riddles and lies. You must protect us."

"Yes, Batman!" said the one clad in scarlet. "You're Batman - the Dark Knight! The World's Greatest Detective! A member of the Justice League of America! You have to remember."

"It's a trick son," said Thomas Wayne. "A trick I tell you."

"Liars!" Dick Grayson charged the man with the scaly uniform. "Get away damn you! Leave us alone!"

The man caught the boy in his arms and trapped his flailing arms and legs.

"Let him go!" cried Martha Wayne. "Bruce, do something before they hurt him!"

Bruce Wayne responded to his mother's request quickly. He leaped toward the man who wrestled with his ward. Whoever he was, Bruce wasn't going to allow him to hurt the boy. His fist connected with the man's jaw knocking him to the ground. Dick scuttled out of his grip.

"That's it, Bruce! Give him the old what-for!" said Dick.

"Get behind me, Dick!" Bruce ordered. He stared down the wildly-garbed group of attackers. Though every iota of common sense within him told him he was insane, he wasn't afraid. He wasn't sure how he moved so swiftly or with so much grace. He'd never been in a fight in his life, but here he was standing in a dark alley with his family behind him and he was fending off five strangers who obviously possessed powers beyond those of ordinary men and women.

The blonde man stood to his feet. "I'll let you have that one because you don't know who we are. You hit me like that again and you'll find out why I'm the King of the Seven Seas, Dark Knight."

King of the Seas? Dark Knight? Were his attackers delusional as well?

"Justice League! Now!" said the green-skinned one.

The 'Justice League' moved as one. The Ringmaster enclosed Bruce in an airtight, green bubble. Now matter how hard he fought, the energy construct refused to yield.

Bruce watched in horror as the scarlet one appeared behind his parents in less time than it took him to blink. The stranger grabbed his mother's shoulders.

Despite his father's amazing strength for his age, the blonde man wrestled him to the ground with ease.

The woman approached Dick slowly. He backed himself into a brick wall and cowered from her outstretched hand. "We're not going to hurt you. You must understand. None of this is right. You're still young. If anyone can believe my story it's you. We come from a different world - as does Bruce. He's one of us, but he can't remember. A bad man has trapped him here in his own dreams. None of this is real. This Gotham City, this street, his parents - even you. You understand. Don't you?"

Dick Grayson bowed his head. "I don't want to believe it."

The woman stroked his thick, black hair and lifted his chin to meet her gaze. "I know you don't, but you're there in our world too - a devastatingly handsome man and Bruce is very proud of you. You're one of us as well, fighting for truth and justice. You must help us set things right."

"No, Dick! Don't listen to her!" Bruce yelled.

"Look around, Bruce! See where we are!" said the Ringmaster. "This is where it all began - here in this alley. This is where your parents were murdered before your eyes when you were just eight years old! This alley is why you dedicated your life to fighting evil! I know if I broke Mxztlplk's spell you can."

"Mxyztlpk?" Bruce asked. He rolled the name around his tongue several times. Each time it was as if he were pushing aside a foggy haze of confusion.

"Release me," Bruce ordered.

"No can do until you remember," said the Ringmaster.

"I said release me, Green Lantern," Bruce ordered. "Now."

"Green Lantern?" Wonder Woman asked. "So you remember?"

Batman nodded. "I do and that imp will pay dearly."

"Yes!" exclaimed the Flash. "One more for our side."

"But why isn't the dreamscape fading?" Green Lantern asked.

"You've got to let it go, Bruce," said J'onn. "You're holding on."

Batman turned to his parents. Despite the presence of his teammates, he couldn't help but show a moment of vulnerability. He hoped they would understand. "I... I... wish... There's a part of me that...."

Thomas Wayne placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "I know son. But we're proud of you. Know that."

Martha Wayne began to fade but she rushed to her son and hugged him. "We love you, Bruce. Find peace."

An emptiness filled Batman's heart once more as his arms passed through his mother's fading form. He promised himself to hold the image of her smile in his mind the rest of his life. And what about ... "Dick? You're still here."

Dick Grayson shuffled his feet nervously. "Well... yeah. It looks it."

Wonder Woman cast a suspicious gaze upon the boy and loosed her golden lasso from her side. "I think it's time Dick Grayson came clean."

Dick looked up with an evil grin on his face. His eyes burned with hateful glee. "You can put away that lasso toots! You should have seen the look on your face, Bats, when you found out they weren't real! Ha! Ha! Too rich! Even a Batman has feelings!"

Dick unzipped his face and Mxyztplk stepped out of his skin. "You did well, Green Lantern! I can't believe you got this far!"

"What do you want, Mxyztlplk?" Batman asked.

"Want? Moi? The same thing I always want, Batman. I am going to remake Superman's world in my image! And when Big Blue surrenders to his dream, every change on this pathetic orb will stand for all time as a trophy to honor my victory! For too long I've stuck to Metropolis, but it's a great big world out there! I'm here to pluck the pearl from that big oyster and rub Superman's nose in it!"

"You mad demon!" Batman shouted. "Do you not care for those whose lives you'll shatter?"

Mxyztlpk floated just off the ground. He regarded Batman's question for a moment and shook his head. "In a word... no."

"You disgust me," said Batman.

A river of fake tears poured from Mxyptlk's eyes and flooded the fading dreamscape. "Aww... is the big scary Bat still mad at little ol' me for having some fun with a few old skeletons in his closet? Oh no, wait! They're not in his closet! They're rotting under tombstones in a Gotham City cemetery! Worm food! Pushing up daisies! Fertilizer!"

Batman launched a Bat-a-rang at Mxyztplk but he changed it into a live bat and it flew away.

Mxyztplk shook his index finger at Batman. "Bat-A-Rangs and stones may break my bones but blobs of carbon cannot hurt me. It's been fun but I have more important things to tend to. I'm gonna hop over into Supe's dreamscape and check on the Boy Scout's den. It should make for a great laugh, no? If I know you annoying heroes, I'll see you soon enough though! But remember a Kryptonian can be very dangerous when you mess with those he loves. TTFN!" Mxyztlpk vanished in a puff of smoke that resembled Tigger from Milne's Winnie the Pooh books and left the Justice League standing knee deep in his tears.

Wonder Woman waded through the flood to Batman and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bruce, I know this was tough. If there's anything..."

Batman brushed her hand aside. "Let's find that imp and end this now!"

Tokyo, Japan

Dr. Will Magnus ordered his team into place - his real team. It was like waking up from a dream. Somehow, someone defeated the Metal Men and replaced them with imposters who were apparently human at some point. There was even a Metal Man named Veridium that looked like him and led the team. That was ridiculous. If spending years with his team of highly-advanced robots taught him anything it was to value his humanity.

It was that humanity that was responsible for the Metal Men's Responsometers. The Responsometers allowed his highly-advanced robotic creations the luxury of free thought, personality, and emotion. Sometimes a little too much personality for his liking. He was always careful to tweak their Responsometers when the robots showed too many "feelings". He was still unsure who or what reactivated them but it was good to be back. Even if "being back" meant doing their part in containing the craziness effecting Earth.

Not that the impostors tarnished the Metal Men's name, but with the passing of all but two of their number it was time for the original Metal Men to race back into action.

They found Gold disassembled. Apparently he'd stumbled onto their enemy's plans but was overcome before he could warn the others. Sadly his memory banks were altered so that he couldn't remember which of their foes was behind the dastardly attack. Luckily for Gold and the other Metal Men, Dr. Magnus frequently backed up their memories so the team wouldn't lose cohesiveness in case of such occurrences. But even backups were only as good as the last date in the memory banks and Gold's memory hadn't been backed up in over two weeks before their nightmare began. Dr. Magnus chided himself for putting off Gold's backup, but he thought he'd finally found a breakthrough that would allow him to repair Tina's faulty Responsometer.

But what mattered most was that the Metal Men... the real Metal Men, were back and doing what they did best - fighting to save the world or at least a small corner of it. A giant robot threatened downtown Tokyo's financial district. It had already toppled buildings and damaged roads in its rage. The job was right up their alley.

"Be careful in there guys," Magnus ordered. "Listen to Tina until we get Gold back up to full capacity."

"Need I remind you Dr. Magnus that Mercury is the only metal that remains liquid at room temperature! Surely my unique properties render me the best choice to lead the team in Gold's absence," said Mercury.

"Go crawl into a thermometer," Tina replied. "Gold's right here with us. We've got to work together on this. This robot is big!"

"The bigger they are the bigger they.... no, that's not right," said Lead. "They fall harder if the bigger they are... The harder big falls..."

"W-w-what L-lead is tr-tr-trying to s-s-say is maybe we shh-should reconsid-recons- think twice ab-b-bout this," Tin stammered.

"Come on, Tin," said Tina. "Think of Nameless. You want to keep the world safe for her. Don't you?"

A goofy grin spread across the diminutive robot's face. "Ah, my Beautiful! Of course, Tina! Let's take this goon... He - he's not s-s-so b-b-big!"

"Metal Men, maneuver eighty-six," Tina ordered.

All the Metal Men but Iron rolled themselves into a giant cannonball with Lead at the point. Iron took the shape of a cannon and shot them toward the robot's head. They were a bit rusty but Iron got them close enough to between the creature's "eyes" that they had a real shot. At the point of impact, Lead took an extra swing at the rampaging colossus.

Unfortunately for the Metal Men, livestock show more interest in the flies that buzz them than the robot showed in their attack.

"That was our best shot, Dr. Magnus," Tina reported. "Anymore ideas?"

Even from the relative safety of the Metal Men's hovercraft where he watched the events unfold courtesy of the video units that fed signals back to him of everything his team saw, Dr. Magnus heard the reverberations from the blow. It would obviously take more than brute force to stop the robot.

Think, Magnus. Think. Doc Magnus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We need a distraction."

"Like the time Tin tap-danced after escaping the Gas Gang's trap to draw their attention while Mercury set the rest of us free?" Iron asked.

"My hero!" Nameless cried over the comm-link. She was in the hovercraft with Magnus.

"Shucks! Weren't nothing Beautiful," said Tin.

"Enough, Metal Men! We need to focus on the situation at hand," Magnus warned. "I'm open to ideas."

The comm-link fell uncomfortably silent.

The buzz of an engine filled the air, making it nearly impossible for Magnus to think straight. What was that infernal racket? From the Metal Men's hovercraft, Magnus looked skyward and saw an old World War I triplane racing toward the robot. The iron cross markings on the wings clearly identified it as German. "We may have even more trouble, Metal Men. That's a German plane. With all the craziness that's been going on, I bet it's not a friendly omen."

"Shoot me up there," Gold ordered. "Maneuver three sixty-six!"

"Gold?" Tina asked. "Are you sure?"

"It's time the Metal Men fired on all cylinders," Gold replied.

"Yahoo! We've got our leader back!" Tin shouted.

Mercury crossed his arms stubbornly. "Harumph! I was going to suggest the same thing!"

The Metal Men formed a giant bow and shot a golden arrow toward the biplane.

Gold flew through the air at incredible speed toward the buzzing craft. He landed behind its propeller. For several long minutes there was no communication between him and the others. Magnus wondered whether or not the pilot had somehow captured the Metal Men's leader. But that was impossible. Right?

"Gold to the Metal Men. Do you copy?"

"Go ahead, Gold," Magnus answered.

"This one's on our side," Gold answered. "His name is von Hammer. He's going to distract the robot while we do our thing."

Magnus couldn't believe his ears, despite seeing evidence to the contrary. If Gold was right, the Metal Men were fighting alongside the famed Enemy Ace, or the Hammer of Hell, as some called him. Magnus saw a biographical film about Hans von Hammer years ago. He was a good man who fought for the honor of his country during the Great War. He recorded over seventy kills with his Fokker DR-1. Some swore its twin spandau machine guns possessed a life of their own because they were always true to the mark.

Hans von Hammer was a legend. For years he was known as an enemy to the free world, a recluse hidden away from the world deep within the Black Forest. Some say he walked the forest late at night conversing with a wolf about the men whose lives he took. Years later this enemy of the state was revealed to be a complex man with a strict moral code that prevented him from downing many more planes. It was said he passed up any kill that involved a wounded plane. Entire books were dedicated to his two battles with Steve Savage, Jr., the legendary Balloon Buster. And now he was teamed with Magnus' Metal Men.

Enemy Ace circled the head of the giant robot. At times his plane nearly scraped its wings across the robot's face while raking it with a hailstorm of bullets. Other passes were wide, graceful arcs that caused the behemoth to thrash wildly like an outfielder shooing away gnats.

The robot wasn't without defenses of its own. Trap doors sprung open on its shoulders revealing two batteries of heat-seeking missiles.

Magnus held his breath. Even the most sleek, modern warplane wasn't equipped to deal with six warheads trained on their engines. "Metal Men, get up there and help von Hammer!"

The Metal Men sprung into action - literally, by the powerful spring coils hidden in their feet. Lead and Iron took on a missile each, letting them explode against their chests. Platinum knew she couldn't take such a blow, but she was very heavy and moved her mass to the front of the missile. It careened off-course into the harbor below. At the last second, self-propelled water skis shot out of her feet and sent her to the shore. Gold used a similar tactic but stretched himself into a thin sheet and wrapped up the warhead. He increased his mass slowly which allowed him to turn the warhead. Tin and Mercury had plans of their own.

Tin spread himself out before the rampaging robot in a thin sheet of his metallic namesake. Mercury liquified himself and oozed all over Tin. "I hope this hare-brained scheme works," said Mercury.

"Have faith," said Tin.

"A fine thing for a robot to say," Mercury huffed.

Meanwhile, von Hammer maneuvered his plane like a skilled surgeon. If a mere mortal was no match for his uncanny reflexes and skill then the missiles offered him a real challenge. Magnus could almost feel the determination as the plane wove with the missiles on its tail. Apparently von Hammer realized what Tin and Mercury were up to. He exchanged a signal with Gold and the two coordinated their attack on the fly. They both raced toward the robot at full speed - von Hammer with two warheads on his tail and Gold wrapped around another. They flew dangerously close to the robot but ventured even closer.

Finally the robot hit Tin and Mercury's "slick spot" and stumbled. At the last instant, both Gold and von Hammer pulled up and the missiles slammed into the robot's chest. The explosion was deafening but the tactic worked. The mighty robot crashed to the ground.

Afterwards, von Hammer didn't stick around. An avid history buff, Magnus hoped to exchange pleasantries with the World War I legend. He proved every bit as elusive as the man of lore history painted him to be.

The victory was satisfying. The Metal Men were back and experienced their first triumph since being replaced by their clones. But still Magnus couldn't help but wonder if theirs wasn't but just a minor skirmish in a much larger war.

Metropolis City Park

"Be careful," Batman warned. "I know the state of mind Superman is in. Deep down he knows none of what he sees is real, but he wants to believe so badly..."

"Understood," Aquaman replied. "I was there too. And I'm going back."

The heroes crept through Metropolis Park. Banners hung around the park announcing the day as "Superman Family Day". Photo bugs were everywhere hoping to snap a shot of Superman with his long-lost parents. According to the morning edition of the Daily Planet, Superman would introduce them to the world. That made the Justice League's task triply dangerous. Illusion or not, his parents would also have Kryptonian powers. They may not yet be as capable with them as Superman but the situation was rife with danger. Add in the throng of adoring fans and well-wishers and the task was even more daunting.

The Flash checked every square inch of the park and reported the position of each man, woman, and child in the area. Every policeman. Each vehicle. Every reporter. It would have taken an ordinary man days to devise the elaborate map Batman required but the Flash was far from an ordinary man. It took two point eight seconds and Batman hoped that wasn't too long. When Flash was finished, Batman knew the location of every item in the park down to the discarded popsicle sticks and foil hot dog wrappers by the garbage can at the foot of the stage.

"Ok people. We move now," Batman ordered. "Everyone into place."

Wonder Woman slid in behind the stage area using a press pass Flash lifted during his reconnaissance. The Flash, Aquaman, and Green Lantern joined the throng in case crowd control became an issue. Batman remained hidden to direct the assault. The Martian Manhunter became invisible and hovered near the stage.

The mayor of Metropolis finally took the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to stand before you today and introduce our guest of honor. So often his days are all about us, but today we take the opportunity to turn the tables on him. Superman - this is your day!"

The crowd broke into applause as the Man of Steel approached the microphone and adjusted it. "Thank you, Metropolis. It means so much to me that you've come to celebrate this joyous occasion with me. Unless you too were adopted you can't begin to know how it feels to stand before you today and announce to the world that I'm no longer alone in this universe. You've set aside this day for me, and I am truly honored. With your permission, I pass the honor to my recently discovered birth parents - Jor-El and Lara-El of the planet Krypton."

The crowd broke into a polite round of applause as Superman's biological parents stood among the dignitaries gathered on the stage and approached their son.

Jor-El acknowledged the praise and shushed the crowd. He too adjusted the microphone. "Many years ago, my wife and I made a painful decision to save our son's life. Faced with the destruction of our world, we sent him Earthward and hoped for the best. Our son's secret identity makes it impossible for us to publicly acknowledge the real heroes of this drama - his adopted parents. Without their love, support, and moral guidance our son would not be the man he is today. To them I say, thank you. I know we can never take your place in our son's heart anymore than you can take ours. It is however a true honor to share that place with you. To the rest of the world, thank you for caring for our son. We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of respect, admiration, and even genuine love you have bestowed upon him. Lara and I owe you so much."

The crowd applauded once more.

"And we owe you!" a stranger cried from the crowd.

The crowd joined in their praise of the Super family.

The mayor returned to the podium. "As per Superman's wishes, I present to his parents the key to the city of Metropolis!"

Again the crowd erupted, their applause more raucous than before.

"Now!" Batman cried over J'onn's telepathic link. He hated himself for giving the order. Despite their many differences, he and Clark shared one haunting similarity - they were orphans. Thanks to Mxyztlplk's magic they both were given the opportunity to know their parents - or what they believed to be their parents. Bruce was the luckiest of the two. He spent an entire lifetime with his folks. In Clark's fantasy he'd known them for only two short weeks according to a discarded newspaper Flash returned to him. And now the Justice League was poised to take his happiness away. But Clark would want to know the truth.

Right?

Wonder Woman discarded her disguise and leaped toward Lara, knocking her to the ground. She pinned the unsuspecting woman's arms behind her.

Superman rushed to his mother's aid but was taken out of the picture altogether by a scarlet hurricane from the crowd.

Batman figured they were somewhere over the Indian Ocean before J'onn materialized and slugged Jor-El to the stage floor.

Batman tossed an explosive Bat-A-Rang into a fire hydrant fifteen yards from the park's stage. The main burst and sent a tower of water spewing into the air and raining down on the assembly. It also increased Aquaman's strength as well. He and Green Lantern leaped onto the stage to help J'onn and Wonder Woman subdue the Kryptonians.

Event Security drew their guns and aimed toward the stage.

"Green Lantern! Leave the Kryptonian to Diana and give us some cover," said Batman over J'onn's telepathic link."We have civilians on the stage."

An emerald dome surrounded the stage and prevented the ensuing lead storm from harming anyone.

Just as Batman suspected, it didn't take Superman long to return to the scene of the Justice League's crime. "I don't know who you people are, but you'll find attacking my parents the worst career move you've ever made."

A burst of heat vision exploded against the emerald dome. Superman then struck it with a series of blows that rocked the ground.

"It's taking everything I have to keep the dome sealed," Green Lantern yelled over the telepathic link.

"Keep it in place," Batman ordered. "That's your highest priority."

Superman slammed his fists into the dome again and again.

Sweat rolled down Green Lantern's face as he struggled to maintain the only thing shielding them from Superman's rage.

He wasn't the only one having a hard time with a Kyrptonian rage. Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter learned it was easier to capture a surprised Kryptonian than it was to hold an angry one.

Jor-El wasn't nearly as skilled a fighter as J'onn but he had two advantages. He wasn't holding back or trying to maintain telepathic contact with five other people. A hard right sent J'onn flying into the dome. He bounced back quickly and returned the favor. Again the two aliens exchanged blows before locking up in combat. Though it was difficult, J'onn's amazing array of powers allowed him to shift his form fluidly, confounding Jor-El's best efforts.

"Aquaman, I need your help," said J'onn over the telepathic link. "I don't know how long I can fight Jor-El and keep up the link."

Aquaman dove at Jor-El's knees from behind and tackled him. As he did so, J'onn used a burst of Martian vision on the Kryptonian and caught him square in the chest.

Batman fought off the on-stage security and anyone else who tried to stop the Justice League's attck.

Superman continued to slam into the dome. Cracks appeared in the west face.

"This can't be good news guys,"said Green Lantern. "Superman is getting angrier by the second and we still don't know where Flash is."

"I'm right here," Flash said. "You don't think I was foolish enough to go toe-to-toe with him do you? Batman had me to make a stop. Get me inside, Kyle."

"No can do, Wally. I can't drop the shield," Green Lantern answered. "Superman will take me out if I do."

"Then I'll have to make my own door," Flash answered. He raced toward the dome and vibrated his molecules at the proper frequency that allowed him to pass through the construct. He raced to Batman's side.

"You take crowd control and leave the rest to me," said Batman.

The Flash nodded and handed something to Batman before they exchanged duties.

Batman approached Wonder Woman who struggled with Lara despite her Amazon training and super strength. Batman unveiled a small chunk of Kryptonite and exposed Lara to it. She struggled at first but quickly succumbed to the deadly poisonous radiation.

Jor-El was weakened by another burst of Martian vision but still had fight left in him. But the sight of Lara succumbing to the Kryptonite was enough distraction for the Manhunter to KO him with a haymaker.

Wonder Woman joined J'onn in dragging Jor-El's fallen body to the center of the stage near his wife's.

"Please," Lara begged. "What have we ever done to you?"

Seeing his parents sprawled before Batman, Superman's face twisted into rage. "No!"

He raced high into the sky, a blue and red blur, until he disappeared from sight.

"What the heck?" Green Lantern asked.

"I don't know," Aquaman replied. "It's not like him to run from a fight."

"He's not running," Batman answered. "He's coming back and will hit the dome with everything he has."

"You're right, Batman. I sense his thoughts. He's .... by the Red Plains! He just broke orbit around Jupiter and is headed back this way!"

"Brace yourself, GL," Batman warned. "This will be rough."

No sooner had the words left Batman's mouth than the blue-and-red blur broke the atmosphere high above the clouds. He slammed his fists into Green Lantern's dome. Even with Kyle's great willpower, his construct never had a chance.

Emerald shards flew in every direction. Seconds later, a sonic boom blew apart whatever was left standing of the shattered dome. The feedback was too much. Green Lantern fell to the stage.

With a look of horror frozen on his face, Superman approached Batman and the dreaded Kryptonite. He slowed with each approaching step. Ten feet from the Dark Knight he stumbled and fell, but kept coming. He crawled on his hands and knees but still he closed the distance between them.

"Kill you if you harm my folks," Superman warned in a throaty whisper. "Code against killing be damned!" It was as if it took all the strength in his body to form the words.

If he was frightened at all by the Kyrptonian's threat, Batman showed no fear. He stood motionless, holding the Kryptonite aloft and bathing Superman in its deadly radiation.

"You're killing him, Batman," said Wonder Woman.

Steady, measured breaths were Batman's only reply.

Superman closed the distance to within five feet. He drug himself along, barely able to move forward but he fought on determination alone.

Four feet.

"Stop," said Superman.

Three.

"Please don't kill them."

Two.

"You're killing all of us."

One.

"Pay."

And then he grabbed Batman's ankle. Even in his weakened state, Superman was far stronger than any mortal man. The grisly sound of the Dark Knight's crushed ankle bone filled the air. The unexpected jolt sent the Kryptonite flying.

Batman screamed in sheer agony. His bones weren't just broken. They were crushed in the vice of Superman's grip. With the Kryptonite thrown clear, he regained his strength quickly. He arose from the floor of the stage and clutched Batman by the throat.

"Kal! Please don't do this!" Wonder Woman begged.

"And why shouldn't I kill him? Kill all of you?" Superman asked.

"Because we're your friends," J'onn replied.

"Your family even," Wonder Woman added.

Batman thrashed wildly in Superman's iron hand.

"You have a funny way of demonstrating your friendship," Superman replied.

"It's Mxytlpltlk," said Wonder Woman. "It's not real, Kal."

"Stop calling me that," said Superman.

"You won't kill him," Wonder Woman added. "Deep down you know it's not real. Let me show you."

"I'm supposed to believe the woman who tried to kill my mother?" Superman asked.

Wonder Woman shook her head and took out her lasso. "No, believe the gods!"

She quickly hurled the weapon of truth around Superman's chest. "This isn't real, Kal. Look around you. Batman is your friend."

"I'm warning you," said Aquaman. "We won't stand idly by and watch you kill."

"Drop him, Superman," Flash added.

Confusion replaced anger on Superman's face. He slammed Batman to the stage hard and fell to one knee. Finally, he arose. "Bruce, I'm sorry."

"I carry a splint in my utility belt," said Batman.

Superman knelt before his partner and watched his parents fade as he splinted Batman's broken leg. "I really am sorry."

"I know," Batman replied. "Me too."

"What now?" Flash asked.

Superman lifted Batman into his arms. "Someone get Green Lantern. We're going to war!"