Thomas Blake sits back at a desk , his hands entwined momentarily before taking a deep breath.   His "recruiting call" hasn't gone as well as planned.

"Okay...seriously now.  I can...take a joke.  I like a laugh as good as the next man, but REALLY?  Did someone send you here as a gag or something?"

He uncurls his fingers, drumming them on the front wood.  "First off, I'm hoping your not wearing a wire.  Second, SERIOUSLY?"

Tags: catman, infinity inc, ravager

"It's Guy Love, that's all it is! Guy love! He's mine, I'm his! There's nothing gay about it, in our eyes..." Beast Boy sings, thinking he is alone in the sinister TITANS LEADERSHIP MEETING ROOM, by which we mean Cyborg's secret no kids allowed clubhouse. It's a big room with a plain metal table-all of the cool stuff is hidden in the walls or the table, because Cyborg's crazy like that. Groaning a little, Beast Boy takes off one of his boots, wincing at his clawed, mildly ape-like feet. Not full on gorilla toes, mind, but if he wasn't so bashful about it, Beast Boy could probably leap from rooftop to rooftop using those honkers. Letting a little sigh out, Garfield rubs his foot, which is throbbing a little from being in 'proper' boots all night. "...while I'm proud to call you chocolate bear, the crowd will always stop and stare~"

Needless to say, Garfield Logan's major mistake this evening is forgetting that his fellow senior Titans are, in fact, supposed to have an important post-mission meeting here in a minute or two.

Tags: beast boy, cyborg, flamebird, raven, starfire

Mogo, the planet Green Lantern. Besides being a useful member and training facility for the revived Corps, Mogo has served as something of a mascot. "Look!" the Green Lanterns say, "We have a planet! Aren't we boss?"

Little do they know, there is a prophecy...

The sun Mogo is currently orbiting grows dim, as a shimmering darkness slowly eclipses it. Only after a moment is the shape visible, the twisted spires and blinking lights of the most wicked city in the universe. Ranx...the Sentient City!

Inside of Ranx, the mummy-like form of Enkafos crosses his arms, deep in thought. Finally, he gives a nod, and within the twisted, screaming bowls of the living city, child like forms begin to multiply. The Children of the White Lobe...turned into living bombs by the machinations of Seer Ruggle, Bomb Mistress of Rorc!

"It is time." Enkafos speaks, his dry, dusty voice sending a shiver of fear down the spine of the most hardened Sinestro Corps warrior. "The stars are right. Today...the planet Mogo dies."

And Ranx, the being the Guardians thought fated to destroy Mogo so many thousands of years ago, bellows a war cry as hundreds of yellow armored fearmongers fly out of its armored recesses, screaming the war cry...of the Sinestro Corps!

Tags: alex nero, amon sur, arkillo, green lantern boodikka, green lantern corps, green lantern hal jordan, green lantern john stewart, green lantern kyle rayner, green lantern sodam yat, mongul, sinestro, sinestro corps

Several global news networks have sent representatives. His message will go out on channels all around the world. Putting a smile on his face, Vandal Savage steps out onto the stage that has been prepared. A large podium stands in front of his manor house on New Albion - and some of his new lieutenants already are waiting on the stage.

He steps up to the microphone and clears his throat - the assembled press corps falling silent and starting to feed his image to their home organizations.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I am Vandal Savage. The world knows me as a villain - a regular opponent of the Justice Society of America. I do not deny this. The world knows me to be an ambitious man, who believes himself deserving of the rulership of the world. I do not deny that, either."

Savage pauses for effect, then continues.

"Some of you, then, may ask yourselves why would you accept the invitation I am extending. To join me on New Albion, where I intend to establish a nation of few laws and minimal taxes, where men and women are meant to live as free as they please. Some of you may be suspicious of my motives in doing so. However, all of you will remember the invasion of the alien alliance scant few years ago. The Dominators. The Khund. The Psions."

"I believe I am the only person who can lead the world through the alien attacks that will surely come in the future. I am, in a sense, the world's ultimate survivor. And I have a keen interest in seeing this world, and my own species, survive with me. For time beyond reckoning, I have sought to establish my leadership through conquest. Perhaps I could do so again - but I believe humanity's willing cooperation will be necessary to fight off future alien invasions, so I have decided to forgo my usual approach."

"New Albion will be a shining example of what humanity can do together. Its citizens will enjoy free health care and basic essentials; low tax rates; and the complete noninterference of government in matters such as freedom of speech, press, and religion. It will be a libertarian paradise, without sacrificing the quality of mercy for those less fortunate, thanks to the technology and techniques at my disposal. I have created this island, but I wish to share it with any of you willing to come."

He smiles.

"I will now take questions."

Tags: azrael, batman, black adam, green lantern alan scott, jimmy olsen, jonah hex, kitty kowalski, pete powell, scandal savage, superman, tex thompson, the army that time forgot, the contessa, vandal savage

Another rooftop, another night. Once again, Lady Shvia is looking for Robin, knowing where it is more likelt she will find him. Too much more of this and it seems likely someone might accuse her of stalking him.

Though she would consider it something much more like keeping tabs on him to help protect his best interests. Or something like that.

This time she's brought a guest with her, which makes this unusual, even for Shiva.

If she needs to wait here all night, she seems entirely comfortable doing it.

Tags: john constantine, lady shiva, robin

Great smokestacks belch thick smoke into the air as fiery furnaces blaze with white-hot flame. The downtrodden masses toil under the relentless eye of their overseers, their dumb grunts occasionally punctuated by a yelp of pain as an overseer's whip finds an unlucky slave's back. The heat is enough to make Baghdad seem like a vacation spot and there's not an oasis in sight.

Hell? No, just another day on Apokolips.

But lo, who is this, ascending to the highest point, podium carried beside him. Could it be...?

Yes, it's him! Darkseid! All eyes turn to that mighty figure, as Darkseid, erect and proud, stands before the podium.

"Loyal citizens of Apokolips!" Darkseid bellows. "Our cause is not over!"

Tags: apokolips, darkseid, glorious godfrey, granny goodness

Kon is bored. Boredboredboredboredbored. He's starting to wonder if this is how Bart feels when--when he--actually, how he feels all the time, really.

Some of the kids at school had claimed to see Kon blasting up the gym, but that had gotten explained off as some bad guy tomfoolery and most of them had been running and panicking and hadn't seen him fighting the Titans--his friends. Still, there are plenty of nasty rumors going around school. Craaaazy Conner Kent. Bringing the Titans into town and getting their gym wrecked by cannibal horses. Good going, Conner.

It shouldn't bother him as much as it does, but since school's been to an extent the place he's dealt with people the most recently--other than Ma and Pa--it's grating. But this is part of growing up, right? Doing things you don't want to do? School's one of the only things he can't avoid like he's been avoiding everything since...what happened.

Another school day, another day gritting his teeth and not slamming Jake Harlow through a wall when he tripped him in class, another afternoon walking home. Krypto meets him halfway there, and a smile quirks at the corner of Kon's mouth.

"C'mon, mutt. Race you home. But no breaking the sound barrier."

( They perhaps both go a liiiittle too fast... )

Tags: cyborg, flamebird, flashback, kid flash, superboy, superman, troia, wonder girl

After four days and a trek that's spanned half of America, David Reid has come full circle.

The old farmhouse sits still and silent, with the empty air of a home that hasn't been lived in in months or years. It's what he expected. He's been gone for a long time.

That still doesn't make it sting any less.

Magog looks up at his old home, taking in this building he spent the past six hours straight running to get to. He didn't stop running after leaving that abandoned barn in Smallville, not even for a moment. He just kept moving, running as fast as he could, as if by running fast enough he could somehow leave the hideous deed behind him. Now, three-hundred and sixty miles later, he's finally here, only to learn that isn't far enough. Not nearly far enough.

He came all this way, and now, he can't even bring himself to go through the door.

Tags: ice, magog, ragnarök

Another day dawns on Kahndaq, and as always, her eternal protector is there to see it.

Black Adam has always found watching the sunrise to bring him some measure of calm. Amidst a world where so little is constant, the sun will always rise every morning. Each rise bring a new day to Kahndaq, and under the watchful eye of Black Adam, each day sees the country grow a little greater than it was the day before.

Of course, everything Kahndaq is building will come to ashes if there is no one to protect her. And while Black Adam is regarded by her people as the only protector they need, he has learned through trial and tribulation that he is, for all his power, just one man. Kahndaq needs more than a man, more even than a god. Kahndaq needs a pantheon.

And today, Kahndaq may gain her Apollo.

This boy was not chosen at random. Adam has the Wisdom of Solomon to guide him. And frankly, one doesn't even need it to know the strategic value of one with deep connections with both the Teen Titans and Deathstroke the Terminator. Both the group and the man are forces Adam knows have the potential to cause significant damage in his country. Having an insurance policy against them can only come in handy.

The plane passes over Black Adam, close enough for the avatar to reach up and touch. Knowing they will be upon him soon, he descends through the open skylight, settling upon his throne and dismissing the morning supplicants with an imperious wave of his hand.

Tags: atom smasher, black adam, brainwave, jericho
Current Location: Kahndaq, Egypt

It had only taken Diana making a quick phone call one afternoon, and not long after she had set up a reservation for six at one of the more exclusive restaurants in Detroit.

She'd sent invites to Selina and Lois, two women that she admired greatly for long time. And if nothing else, it ought to make for fascinating dinner conversation.

"I have heard that this is an excellent restaurant, so I hope that none of you will be disappointed." She smiles at her dinner companions.

Tags: batman, catwoman, clark kent, green lantern john stewart, lois lane, wonder woman
Current Location: Detroit, MI
Current Music: something classical on the overhead speakers

Zach sat on the couch in the living room of the Brownstone, half a dozen grimoires,two books on chemical compounds, and one booklet about knots floating around him as he jotted down notes. Tourist season was going to be hitting Florida soon, and he needed to crank up the act a little bit. Most of the crowds never gave a second thought to how the sets worked, which was the whole point. Stage magic wasn't as much arcane as it was sleight of hand and misdirection. Keep them looking at your left hand while the right one is still pulling rabbits.

He had to admit, supposedly being a member of the JSA had it's perks. It was a comfy enough place with relatively few interruptions during the slower parts of his work week, and he could be there when the ones his age were still in school.

And the sandwiches were awesome. One of them was circling too.

Tags: flash jay garrick, green lantern alan scott, green lantern jade, hourman, ma hunkel, mr. terrific, ravager, stargirl, wildcat, zachary zatara
Current Music: billy mays gangsta remix

He emerges from the Gotham train tunnels, bruised and bloody, but at least he's alone. He's not sure why. That spell might have helped, sure, but if those two want him they'll be after him.

So he's not the target. Good to know.

He should find Selina, warn her. Or maybe he should get to Zee, talk to her. Divine if Selina is the target or not. Find out who is. Do something.

All he really wants to do is find somewhere to collapse and hide, but no. That has to wait.

Right now, he just needs to keep moving. He's at one of the parks now, making fairly good magically-enhanced time. Moving among the hidden paths of Gotham, taking shortcuts through the sprawl where he can.

Finally at Gotham Park, he forces himself to stop. He's wheezing something awful, and isn't in nearly the shape to do this. A quick rest and then he'll be back on his feet, ready to go.

Tags: john constantine, lady shiva

Milton Fine has never been here before. But he knows it. He knows this place from when his true form was here, and the memories, implanted vestiges inside his part-human, part-Coluan android mind, recognise this facility for what it is. Its ultimate use. Fine smiles to himself and pockets the pass he removed from the now deceased guard on the front gate. Clearly only hired for show, as he looked far too old, overweight and incompetent to ever defend the factory or even be aware of what was inside.

To everyone else, the old Lynch's Gasworks factory in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is just a dilapidated relic that children occasionally play and go missing in. Funnily enough, parents also go missing in there when they search for their kids. As this trend has been going on for several decades now, the inhabitants of the local area tend to stay away from the Gasworks out of habit, and just urge their kids to play in the road instead.

Apparently, it's safer.

Fine steps in puddles of long-congealed oil, water and other muck, and over collapsed pieces of machinery and random bits of iron. All part of the elaborate disguise. The Gasworks has been active in its true purpose for years fulfilling a number of different functions, but at present, being the last resting home of the servants of Brainiac.

The last of the replicants.

Fine clears his throat. "Activate B091LLK8BrainiacBeta". Nothing happens. A small look of concern crinkles his forehead, and then he tries again. "Activate B091LLK8BrainiacBeta". Nothing.

"Now how do we wake you up then, I wonder..." Fine pulls some corrugated iron away from a hatch in the wall, only 2ft by 2ft, and climbs through into a darker, smaller room. His eyes light up red, and the room is lit eerily by the crimson glow. "There you are." He smiles again, and he walks over to touch the replicant partially encased in what appears to be a glass shell.

Tags: brainiac
Current Location: Woonsocket, Rhode Island

After following Ollie's directions, the pair found themselves pulling up outside a detached non de-script house with a pristine white flagpole just on the edge of the wooden porch, the typical Star Spangled Banner lightly catching the breeze.

What alarmed Roy and probably Green Arrow too, was the pair of marked police cars and the Humvee he had to park behind. Hopefully they were not too late and Major Langstrom was still alive and unlike Lucy Aston able to talk.

"This doesn't look too good." He commented to the blond-haired archer sitting beside him in Roy's customary rental car, a red convertible, before the pair alighted from it.

Tags: arsenal, green arrow ollie queen
Current Location: Miami, Florida
Current Mood: pessimistic

Arthur has been spending as much time as he can on the Watchtower, which, is not really all that much. Re-arranging things in his kingdom and moving forward in his life, are things that seem to take up time and certainly take up time before being a hero. He does miss it, though, the adventure, the camraderie.

The food up here has something to say for it as well. In Atlantis, almost nothing crunches unless it involves bones.

Sitting in the mess, he's looking out over all of that blue, finishing off what must be his third glass of water.

Tags: aquaman, superman, wonder woman

A security guard that leaves a back door open while he steps out for a smoke? Well that's just terrible. Convenient for Croc though. He surprises the guard and smashes his head against the wall, knocking him out instantly. Peeking inside the open door, he can see a floor plan on the wall. Shrek had provided an honest to god dossier, a folder full of info, in extra large writing no less. Croc had no idea what to think of that, he figured he ought to be insulted but its hard to stay mad at a man practically handing you half a million dollars.

The guard looked dead, or his breathing was very shallow. Croc didn't particularly care, he took the man's security pass and headed on inside. The big ass sledgehammer he took on this trip, to make a point, at his side. ( Cut for violence )

Tags: green arrow ollie queen, killer croc

Even on the quietest of nights, the Iceberg Lounge never falls short of ostentatious. The Penguin lives for his bling, and in stark contrast to the other throbbing, rhythmic nightclubs of Gotham City, his Iceberg Lounge has a rather more subtle, subdued atmosphere. Pandering to the upper class as always, the Iceberg Lounge is a glittering monument to excess. Tuxedoed men romance their dates, serenaded by a dapper chamber orchestra. A few infamous faces sit among the airbrained elite.

High in his private balcony, Oswald Cobblepot sighs contentedly, swirling a martini gently in one hand and listening to the orchestra play. He's kept his beak more or less clean, and it's served him well. He's well aware of the nasty business going on with the Black Mask, but even Cobblepot won't shed a tear for that man's demise. Roman has done nothing but make business difficult for everyone.

He has a special quest in the Lounge tonight. Captain Cold has come all the way from Albania to share a drink with him. Snart isn't his usual choice of drinking companions but Cobblepot has been expanding his network. There's no sense in having friends in just Gotham. After all, no one can say what tomorrow holds, can they?

Tags: captain cold, hush, penguin, prometheus, robin, the vampires cometh

( OOC Note: Some may find this scene potentially disturbing. Consider it R-rated for violence )

Tags: blockbuster, lady shiva, neron, robin, spoiler alert

Roulette takes the stage one more time. She enjoys this part almost as much as the money it earns her. She's somewhat surprised it has gone on as well as it has thus far.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! We have another powerhouse spectacular for you this evening. Tonight, we give you something different. Tonight we give you two warriors who have fought together but the bond they share is greater than that. Tonight we give you two warriors who are not just comrades in arms but sisters!"

The lights in the arena come up, "PLACE YOUR BETS!"

Tags: belles of the brawl, prometheus, roulette, troia, wonder woman

Somehow, the club just isn't as fun when one of your friends is flying there under eerie posthypnotic suggestion.

God, Gar, you're such a fuck up, he thinks to himself, looking down at his boots for a moment. There's a quick, fleshy sound, and a green mouse weaves between the stomping boots and snapping heels of the dancing wasted youth. Thump thump thump thump thump...verminous ears pick up a change in the beat that human ears would not, as Beast Boy scratches against one of the back walls of the fun house like building, pressing his claw to the mouse-size Titan transmitter to let his teammates know that he's found where the drop off point for whoever's making money off of these unwilling criminals is...

Tags: batman, beast boy, copperhead ii, cyborg, flamebird, gemini, inertia, joker, kid flash, ravager, raven, risk, robin, sungirl, trickster