The Crime Crusaders Club

Case #10: "Crisis on Earth-411"

By Mikel Midnight
(with thanks to Julie Schwartz and apologies to Grant Morrison)

Minuteman is reading an issue of Eighth Wonder Comics while Wonder Girl stares out the window at the rain. "What's that saying you Americans have," she asks, "something about April showers?"

He looks up and smiles, but before he can answer the Lady in Evening Clothes returns from her house tour. A trio of brightly costumed mysterymen accompany her.

"Quite a nice place," observes Captain Triumph.

Quicksilver nods. "The Freedom Fighters don't operate from a home base the way you other teams do, outside of the core group we're typically called in on cases when we're needed, usually by Uncle Sam."

"I'm glad we agreed to this exchange, we can learn how other groups organise tactics," notes the Captain. He glances up at the CCC group portrait and grins, "Not to mention check out their deckchairs and artwork."

Wildfire remains silent, Carol Martin typically unused to contact with the mysteryman community. Wonder Girl approaches her and says softly, "I'd been looking forward to meeting you ... you received your powers from the god of fire? My powers also come from the gods."

Wildfire looks thoughtful for a moment, "Actually, I don't ... um ... what's that?"

Wonder Girl turns to see a small sphere, about the size of a billiard ball, the surface of which seems to swim with a queer black energy, hovering in the middle of the living room. "Eve?"

The Lady In Evening Clothes shakes her head, "I've never seen anything like it."

Captain Triumph approaches the sphere. "I don't think I have either," he says as he reaches out to touch it. As his fingers brush against it, the energy field shifts around as if he'd broken surface tension. Instantly a blue and white blur bursts forth, bouncing off of Captain Triumph's chest and careening around the room.

Quicksilver responds in an instant, quickly matching its speed, and the paired blue and white figures trace a path like lightning. With an acrobatic leap, he maneuvers himself to intercept the other, finally wrestling him to the ground. The figure goes limp in his arms, collapsing into unconsciousness.

Minuteman walks over to the combatants. "Who is he? Why is he dressed like you, Quicksilver?" The unconscious man's face looks haggard and worn. He is wearing white tights, with navy boots and belt, and a blue aviator's mask. His blue tunic is emblazoned with a white circle in which is the letter "J".

Quicksilver examines the man closely. "I think I know who he is ... but why don't we wait until he wakes up, and he can tell his own story?" He thinks to himself: Jay Garrick, what happened to you?

Slowly, the man shakes himself awake. His eyes scan the room, looking startled at some of the inhabitents of the room, and then he relaxes. "Oh, I made it."

The Lady In Evening Clothes sits on the edge of the recliner where the man had been placed. "You made it? From where?"

The man inhales deeply. "My name is Jet Jordan. I am mysteryman from Clef de Pierre, New Quebec, on what you would call a parallel Earth."

Wildfire scoffs, "A parallel Earth? That sounds like something out of science fiction."

Wonder Girl nods, "Like Ubermensch, and Tara Terruna ... please tell us more, Mr. Jordan."

Jet Jordan tells his story: "Several weeks ago we started to hear reports that two of our biggest cities, Metropolis and Sensationville, had been barricaded off from the rest of the country by their respective champions. At first we thought it must have been a joke or a hoax, like Orson Welles' news report of invading aliens from the planet Krypton. But time passed, and we started to hear rumors about ... death camps. Horrible rumors. My friends and I ... we called ourselves the Justice Brigade ... went in to investigate. We were attacked ... it was a rout. Hourman, Plastic Man, Sandman, Swamp Thing ... all dead. Finally, in a last resort we decided our only hope was to find reinforcements. I was sent here. I feel like such a coward ... You have to help us, go back with me and liberate us from ... and liberate us."

Minuteman and the Lady in Evening Clothes hiss through their teeth and look at each other uncomfortably at some of the familiar names.

Quicksilver says, "We should contact the other Freedom Fighters, wait until some of our more powerful members can arrive ... "

Jet Jordan indicates the small sphere. "There isn't time. I was given this to guide my way back to my home Earth ... but the source that powers it only works over 24-hour-long intervals, and so much time was spent finding you ... we have to go back now, while we can. This is our only chance."

Captain Triumph stands. "We organised to fight for freedom, and if that involves striking while we can, so be it. I assume you're all with me?"

The Lady In Evening Clothes nods, "Of course."

Jet Jordan activates the device, and what started as a small sphere the size of a billiard ball, expands outwards into a gate of swirling black energy. He passes through the gateway with a black sun-burst of energy, and the assembled mysterymen of two team follow him.

They are in a swirling black non-space; they see about them what seems to be numerous possible alternates of the place they just left ... some familiar, some disturbingly different, some incomprehensible.

They reappear on the top of a small mountain in a broad field. To the far distance to the northeast and the southeast are visible great cities; each city seems surrounded by stone walls topped by barbed wire, although that may be an illusion caused by distance.

From behind them, the squadron hears a whoosh, and look up to see a brilliant, sparkling white airship, startlingly streamlined and with red stripes on the side, soaring over them and to the city to the south. Near the nose of the futuristic aerodyne is a four-pointed star symbol in shiny silver.

Jet Jordan says, "I know that ship! It's Ema Flna ... one of the founding members of the Justice Brigade. She has not been seen for months, we thought she was dead too ... come on!"

They follow the ship to Sensationville, arriving at the wall bordering a city. On the side streets they see shacks of hastily put-together impromptu dwellings, filled with people who look on the edge of starvation. The only way into the city from where they stand appears to be at a checkpoint, at which are several hostile-looking thugs in grey uniforms. They wear red armbands on which is a white circle, containing the sigil of the broken cross, its ends bent clockwise.

Jet Jordan is prevented from passing through the checkpoint as the guards close ranks and glare angrily.

The squadron of Crime Crusaders and Freedom Fighters quickly overcome the border guards. Captain Triumph looks down at them disdainfully. "Nazis? In America?"

Jet Jordan glances at him bemusedly. "Nazis?"

The Lady In Evening Clothes says, "National Socialists? On our world the swastikas they wear are the symbol of a fascistic party in Germany."

Jet Jordan looks startled, "Germany? We beat them in the War to End All Wars, and they have been pretty pacifistic since then, when we forgave them their war reparations ... how could they be behind this?".

WIldfire says, "uhm."

The squadron passes through the checkpoint unimpeded, and follow Jet Jordan through the city's Main Street. As they pass through the city streets, they see many boarded-up windows and storefronts. Groups of children appear to be running around like wild dogs. People look at them fearfully, and hide their faces and turn away if they attempt to speak to them. There is an aura of helplessness around them.

From the city center they hear what appears to be the sounds of battle and see flashes of light. They hear a great crash, and follow it. As they approach the city center they observe a large open square identified by signs as Marston Center. In the far corner is the aerodyne, apparently crashed into the side of a building. At their feet lies a man in an orange wrestler's outfit, an orange cape and boots, and an insignia on his tummy that is a sort of bullseye design incorporating the letter G.

On the hatchway on the side of the aerodyne is a small woman of barely 5 ft. tall, with long, dark brown hair. She is wearing what appears to be a military uniform, with deep blue jacket and trousers, and black belt and boots. At first it appears she is wearing some sort of furry cat mask and gloves, and it is only after a second glance that they notice the yellow, catlike eyes and the four-fingered hands.

Standing atop the tallest building in the center stands amazing amazon, tall and statuesque with long dark hair. She is wearing a red top and a short blue skirt, and knee-length yellow boots. Around her waist is a broad yellow belt in two bands which form a double "MM" design in her middle. She is carrying an antique-looking bronze shield, on which is emblazoned an eagle.

Wonder Girl gasps as she sees her, the costume and features so closely resembling the woman whom she had taken as a mentor, that they could be her daughter's; noting too that she does not carry the traditional signs of a champion of Themyscaria: a magic lasso or metal bracelets.

Suspended in the air is a man who wears a costume consisting of a yellow cape, a red form-fitting skullcap (not unlike Starman's, but without the ridge), red epulets on his shoulders, and red gauntlets. His tights are white, he has green trunks. He has a red belt, and red suspenders. His tunic is also green, and he has a round shield of yellow on his chest.

Jet Jordan says, "Zut alors, it's Mental Man, the world's eighth wonder, and ... the Geezer!" He runs up and cradles the dead man in his hands.

The Mental Man looks over to the newcomers. "We missed you, Jet." He disintegrates the roof on which the amazon is standing.

As Ema Flna struggles to get out of the cockpit of her airship, the Freedom Fighters glance at each other. "I think it's clear who's wearing the black hat in this operation," notes Captain Triumph, and the three move as a unit into the attack..

The amazon leaps off a nearby roof onto the airship, evading Quicksilver's acrobatic attack.

Ema Flna fires a gun at her, desperately. The amazon deflects the bullets with her shield, easily.

Mental Man telekinetically attacks the amazon, and transforms the outer layer of a nearby building into magnesium, using Wildfire's flame bast to ignite it, blinding her.

Captain Triumph engages the amazon in battle, distracting her enough that as Ema Flna fires again, she grazes the amazon's shoulder.

The amazon snarls, her superior strength telling against Captain Triumph, and she breaks off the enagement, leaps to where Mental Man is, and snaps his neck.

The Lady In Evening Clothes silently approaches the amazon from behind as her fall takes her to the ground. Her rifle emits a pale greenish gas. The amazon coughs, and turns around swiftly though unsteadily, lashing out at her. The blow is intercepted by Minuteman, who lands a cross to her jaw, enough to finish the job. As the amazon crumples to the ground, Ema Flna recovers from her shock, and picks up her gun. She points it at the amazon's head. She says, "It's time to finish this."

Jet Jordan flashes forward and remove the gun from Ema's hand. She looks at him, "Jet, what in Kai's name do you think we're doing?"

Jet Jordan says, "Madam Miracle has been a friend of ours' for too many years, Ema. We're not killers."

Wonder Girl swallows hard, "She ... if she's anything like the Wonder Woman I know, she'd never behave like this normally. We can't just execute her like that."

Ema Flna shakes her head. "If you don't want to kill her, we might as well bring her along with us, so that we can keep an eye on her now that she is helpless. Maybe after she regains consciousness and you have tried to speak to her, you will realise we have little choice. But right now, we have to get out of here. We are attracting too much attention. She didn't damage my aerodyne too badly, you had best join us."

The Geezer raises his head. He manages to croak out, "Y'all tell the Harlequin ... if yuh see her ... Ah always loved 'er, dagnabbit." Jet Jordan leans over his old ally, closing his eyes gently.

Wildfire looks down quizzically, "The Harlequin?"

Ema Flna sighs, "An old foe of his, whom he managed to reform. They were partners for a while, quite touching really. She perished months ago in the first battle against these invaders."

The Lady In Evening Clothes winces, "That strikes a little too close to home. Let's leave this place and just get on with it."

The squadron boards the aerodyne, Jet Jordan and Wonder Girl carrying Madam Miracle with them.

At the front of the aerodyne, the control panels brim with blinking lights and odd sounds, some electronic and some apparently-human voices, yet incomprehensible and oddly accented. The furnishing is immaculate and, while comfortable, slightly cramped, leaving them feeling as if they are trying to fit in a child's schooldesk.

The craft (after a bit of jerky maneuvering as it detangles itself from the hole it made when it crashed) soundlessly raises itself in the air and with hardly noticeable thrust, soars off into the countryside.

The squadron looks out the bay windows and see how devastated the rest of Sensationville and the surrounding countryside are, they see armed camps surrounding the cities, and people in ragged groups of refugees encamped along the freeways outside.

Jet Jordan says, "It's hard to believe so few people did this to so much of the country."

The Lady In Evening Clothes says, "I've seen what the Nazis have done when they've been in control, Jet. It can be horrible."

Ema Flna says, "I've seen it before. The most powerful talents are always the first to be taken over."

Wonder Girl sits forward, eyes on Madam Miracle, whose features so much resemble those of her queen. "What do you mean, 'taken over?'"

Ema Flna says, "There is a sort of artifact ... we call them Possessor Artifacts although we do not know who built them ... on every planet which has evolved intelligent life. They have different shapes and different names; on your planet it has been called the Spear of Destiny."

Minuteman gasps, "Yes ... my own world's Hourman told me about our version of the Spear of Destiny, though it doesn't sound the same as what you're describing."

Ema Flna says, "Their activation is dangerous once talents appear on those worlds, affecting those who are in some way particularly vulnerable to magic. Invariably those are the most powerful. Soon however, once it has them under its grip, other talents fall under its spell. they raze their planets to the ground, interbreed if they can to produce a race of talents, then use their planet's resources to develop space technology ... they then invade neighboring worlds. By that time the talents and their offspring no longer need to be in planetary proximity to the Possessor Artifact; it owns them completely. The Interplanetary Defense Federation has been warring against starbound talents for generations. When we discovered your planet and saw that superhumans had started to appear, I was sent as a spy; it was pure bad luck that when I had return home to be debriefed by my commanding officers regarding my search for the local Possessor Artifact and the status of the local talent, a human discovered the Spear of Destiny and learned how to activate it, in the landmass with the greatest concentration of superhumans."

Captain Triumph furrows his brow, "My powers are magic in nature ... based on our own world I should be next taken over here."

Jet Jordan says to Ema, "But ... you told us you crash-landed on our planet by accident ... you were a founder member of the Justice Brigade ... we thought you returned here on occasion because you were our friend."

Quicksilver ponders what he knows of the Justice Society's earliest meetings. Does the team he knows have any counterpart to this feline alien woman?

Ema Flna says, "Jet, I am sorry, but surely you see why I felt I had to deceive you. I picked out several superhumans whom I thought might not be susceptible to the Possessor Artifact and encouraged you to band together, in the hope I might have been able to use you as a local guerrilla army, but the timing defeated me."

The aerodyne slows down and starts to descend. It lands, and the squadron, Jet Jordan and Ema Flna get out, and find themselves in a darkened cave, what remains of an underground subway station. It is musty and damp. They also see a collection of cots, and army lockers, with a few figures in the far corner and a boy laying on one of the cots. Jet makes introductions.

"Night Wizard," a dark knight avenger who conceals his identity behind a black cowl and long black cloak. He is wearing grey tights with black shorts and a yellow belt, and purple wrist-length gloves and purple ankle-length boots. Across his chest in small, jagged letters are the initials "NW". "When my parents were killed, I swore revenge on the criminal world. Knowing them to be a superstitious, cowardly lot, I took it on myself to master the night."

"Dickie Bones," what appears to be an elderly gentleman with a craggy face. He is wearing a fedora hat and trench coat, and carrying a pair of .45's. Concealing his face are a pair of round, blackly opaque eyeglasses, the lenses of which seem to have inlayed on them a white crossbones. "I believed that criminality is caused by people's environment, so I became an architect to attempt to improve the environment. When that proved too slow, I donned this identity to fight crime until my blueprints could become reality, disguising myself as an old person to fool criminals."

"Timmy the Magic Boy," a pale, thin boy wearing glasses and with limp brown hair. His eyes are hollow and he looks sick. He is wearing tights which are light grey on the outside with a broad, light blue vertical stripe down the center. His boots are light grey. He normally wears a cloak which is light grey with a light blue lining, which he is currently huddling under as a blanket. Timmy raises himself from the mattress he is laying on as he sees Jet approach; he stops, and starts coughing blood into a handkerchief. "Sorry about all that coughing, Jet, it's really nice to see you again."

Jet Jordan sits down at the edge of Timmy's bed, "Shush, don't talk lad, it's all right. It's nice to see you too." Timmy lays back down. "Jet, Swamp Thing was the only one who took care of me after my folks died ... we were a team, Swamp Thing and Timmy the Magic Boy ... they killed him ... what am I going to do?" Dickie Bones says "When Timmy sensed you'd returned we sent Jack Simon, the Herald reporter, out to look for you, but he hasn't been heard from since."

"I'm confused," Wonder Girl interjects. "From what I know of the Spear of Destiny, Captain Triumph, Wildfire, and I ought to have been taken over by now, but we haven't been affected."

Timmy says, "It is because you are not native to this Earth ... although I'm not sure whether the effect is permanent."

Minuteman looks at the lad, "I don't understand ... if you have magic powers ... why weren't you effected?"

Timmy grits his teeth, and pulls up his shirt, revealing a series of arcane signs charred into his flesh with a brand. ""It had. I scourged my flesh, I exorcised its influence."

Wonder Girl turns her face to the side, unable to speak for pity. Any words are silenced when suddenly an air-raid siren sounds. Dickie Bones says, "There's somebody coming after us!"

A beam of black light shines into the cave. Dickie Bones says, "It's Black Box! Holy radium, it's Black Box!"

Jet Jordan says, "But ... Black Box is a Justice Brigadier ... he wouldn't ..."

There is a black explosion over where Dickie Bones is standing, and he is buried under a ton of rocks.

A tall, lean man with wavy blond hair appears, his face a broad smile. He is wearing a black mask, tunic, and boots, with grey leggings and a broad grey belt. On his chest is a grey oval, in which is a triangle crossed with a horizontal line. He wears a billowing purple cape and carries a rod with him which seems to glow with a mysterious black light. "Sorry about all that exploding, Jet, it's really nice to see you again."

The pile of rocks bursts aside, revealing Dickie Bones, who laughs. He puts his hands to his face, manipulating his features, and tears open his trench coat to reveal a tall and muscular man, with curly black hair and a heavy browline. He is wearing blue tights with a red cape, and yellow shorts and boots. On his chest is a yellow oval, in which is set a red "U" over a red "M".

Jet Jordan rushes Timmy to safety.

Night Wizard says, "Ultra-Man, resist this, we've been friends for years, you can't ... " his words are silenced by the responsive attack, and Captain Triumph engages the battle to attempt to rescue him.

Minuteman recognises the man of steel. "This is not good," he mutters, swallowing a Miraclo pill and glancing sourly at Wonder Girl. "Haven't we done this Ubermensch routine before? Okay, sixty seconds, go!"

Quicksilver leaps over Black Box, attempting to surprise him with an attack from behind. He knocks him forward, and the ebon gladiator finds himself under an attack barrage from Ema Flna's weaponry joined by a burst of flame from Wildfire and gas from the Lady In Evening Clothes. He quickly erects a black light sphere to protect himself, simultaneously blasting at the rocks surrounding the cave to tumble atop the squadron, a second blast striking at the ground underneath the speedster.

Ultra-Man is caught by surprise by the speed and strength of the squadron, and tosses Night Wizard to the side with contempt. Captain Triumph's intangibility protects him from the blows, but his and his allies' strength prove not quite sufficient to fell him.

Black Box's emits blasts of energy from his staff, striking out Ema Flna's and the Lady In Evening Clothes' weaponry. A sphere surrounds Wildfire, cutting off her air and strangling her flame.

From the darkness, Night Wizard approaches Quicksilver as the latter tries to free himself from the rubble. "You notice he's not striking at any of you directly?" he whispers.

Quicksilver nods, and the caped crusader informs him, "His power can't effect anything organic. I notice you're almost as fast as Jet Jordan. Can you move faster than Black Box can react?"

The speedster grins, "I'm just glad I'm wearing natural fibers." Quicksilver tumbles back into the fray, leaping about the cave with gymnastic skill, narrowly evading blast after blast from Black Box.

Minuteman shouts, "Drusilla, I'm ... " he feels his strength failing him and a blow from Ultra-Man sends him flying. "Jimmy!" she cries out, Ultra-Man taking advantage of the distraction to strike her down. He grins at Captain Triumph, "Try fighting me like a man for once."

Quicksilver finally connects, passing through Black Box's force field and striking him a blow on the jaw, repeating the sequence a hundred times in quick succession, pummeling the man into unconsciousness. He is caught by surprise by the speed of Ultra-Man's successive attack as he finds himself flung across the cave towards Minuteman.

Night Wizard shouts at Wildfire, "Flame! Martians are vulnerable to flame!"

The woman blinks at him momentarily, head still clearing, but eventually nods, and directs a flame blast at Ultra-Man. "Martians?" she says to herself.

"Sorry K'al L'l," mutters Night Wizard, as he directs a karate chop at the neck of the weakened superhuman.

Jet Jordan and Timmy return. "I'm sorry," he says. "I had to keep Timmy safe."

The Lady In Evening Clothes nods, "I understand, Jet. Anyway, someone had to be left in case we failed."

Minuteman beckons at the unconscious pair, "I wonder what to do with the prisoners?"

Ema Flna says, "If you don't kill them now, when they are helpless, we may not have a second chance."

Wonder Girl blurts out, "Merciful Minerva, that's not very heroic." Jet Jordan says, "That's not the way we do things here, Ema."

Quicksilver agrees, "That's not the way we do things on my world, either."

Ema says, "You had best make up your mind soon, then. In my judgment, they are still a threat. A few hours ago my ship sent a message to IDF Central after learning of the situation here. A Command Carrier has been dispatched. If you do not resolve the matter soon, they will take control of it for you ... and I can not vouch for the safety of any superhumans, yourselves included, once this planet becomes an IDF client."

Captain Triumph shakes his head, "We just came here to help this Earth fight off one oppressor ... we'll stay to help them fight off another if need be."

Timmy says, "I can help. I can destroy the Spear."

Night Wizard kneels down to his level, "Timmy, you barely look strong enough to stay awake," he says softly.

Ema Flna says, "That's impossible. Nobody has ever destroyed a Possessor Artifact."

Captain Triumph listens carefully. If there's anything he can learn on how to destroy his own world's Spear, it may prove decisive.

Timmy says, "I can, with the help of the All-Stars. They are immune to the Spear's influence because their world has a different vibrational frequency from our own ... I can use that difference to set up an interference pattern which will destroy the Spear."

Wildfire makes a face, "Science fiction again." Ema Flna says, "There is till time for me to send a cancellation notice to the Command Carrier ... I don't believe you can do this thing, but I will give you this chance."

Minuteman interjects, "We at least owe him this chance." Timmy says, "Ema, I know you were not happy when Swamp Thing adopted me as his sidekick and made me a member of the Brigade, and now I understand your reasons. Thank you for giving me this chance. But I need the Spear itself. Ema, do you know where it is?"

Captain Triumph mutters to himself, "What sort of name is 'Swamp Thing' for a mysteryman, anyway?"

Ema says, "Yes, my ship's sensors detected it while we were transporting the All-Stars. It is at the top of the structure you call the Washington Monument, which it is using as an antenna. But the area is far away and heavily guarded, and I don't know whether you are transportable in your current state."

Jet Jordan says, "Far away" is not a problem when I'm around ... the guards won't know what hit them."

Quicksilver puts a hand on his shoulder, "I'll be right behind you, friend."

The pair zoom out of the cave's mouth in a blur.

Quicksilver follows Jet Jordan closely, noting the slight differences in cultural geography as they race through the East Coast. The nation's capitol still seems relatively the same, however. As they spy the barrage of guards surrounding the monument, they pass through them invisibly, racing upwards to the structure's top floor.

They see, standing before a table covered in maps, a man of average height and weight, wearing a skull mask and a dark blue hooded cape over a pale blue suit. At his side he carries an ancient spear with Roman engravings.

The man looks up, "Who dares intrude on Dr. Destiny?" He raises the weapon defensively.

Jet Jordan says, "Who dares wins," knocking the man to the ground with a quick blow and grabbing the Spear of Destiny. He shouts suddenly in surprise, and tosses it to Quicksilver.

He looks over at the Freedom Fighter. "I could feel it in my head." He shudders. "Based on what Timmy told me, I guessed you'd be immune."

Quicksilver nods, "Can't feel a thing." He looks over as Jet Jordan kneels to remove the unconscious man's hood and mask, and his mouth falls open in surprise. "Adolph Hitler!"

Jet Jordan peers up at him, "Adolph Hitler?" He pauses in thought. "I know that name ... a German architect, no? I think I remember reading about a showing on his drawings in town. Why would an architect be behind all this?"

Quicksilver sighs, "I'll tell you later, friend."

Jet Jordan and Quicksilver return to join the squadron in a flash, Spear in hand.

Quicksilver hands the artifact to the Magic Boy, "Do your best, kid."

Timmy releases himself from his body, and the squadron sees a shining, golden figure emerge. It starts to project a beam of light through them and into the Spear, which starts to shake and then crumbles to bits.

Wildfire adds her flame to his light, causing the remaining pieces to evaporate under the intense heat.

Ema Flna shakes her head in dismay, but boards the aerodyne to send the message that the planet is to be spared an invasion.

Minuteman shouts out, "It's working!"

After that, Timmy's self-aura starts to become brighter and brighter.

Night Wizard shields his eyes, "What is going on?"

Timmy replies, "That body is too weak to hold me now. I must pass on to the next plane. Do not be unhappy for me, my dear friends. I will walk among you once again. Although, I sense that it shall be only after a great Crisis, and you shall have changed in such a way that you shall not know me."

Jet Jordan shouts, "No, you can't ... "

Timmy gets brighter and brighter and transcends.

As the glare fades, the squadron hears a voice from the aerodyne. "T-Timmy?" They turn around to see a dark-haired twelve-year-old girl standing in the hatchway. She looks from one to the other, "Ema? Jet? What happened? Who are these other people? Where did Timmy go?"

Night Wizard walks over to the girl, taking her hand and asking softly, "Diana, what's the last thing you remember?"

Wonder Girl whispers to Jet Jordan, "Who's that?"

Jet Jordan speaks softly, "Diana Prince, who came into possession of the historical girdle of the Amazon Hippolyta, which allowed her to transform herself into Madam Miracle, with all the powers of the legendary Amazons. It looks like with the Spear destroyed, she has reverted back to her normal self."

After a time Ultra-Man and Black Box awaken, and have Night Wizard and Jet Jordan explain to them what has happened.

Ultra-Man shakes his head bitterly. "I was sent to Earth as an infant after a plague claimed my homeworld, Mars. I swore to protect my new world as I couldn't my old one. Now I've been nothing but a curse. Bruce, what am I going to do?"

Night Wizard sighs, "John, remember that Doctor Destiny was controlling your actions, not you. You still stand for something, you're still a hero to all of us."

Black Box tilts his head, as if listening to a far-off echo. "The black box is calling to me. It was crippled by the effects of the Spear. I must go and purge the awful guilt scourging my souls."

Diana Prince looks up, her face wet with tears. "You want guilt? I only ever became Madam Miracle as a game, to have fun, to help people, and now I've done nothing but hurt them. I don't know if I can ever become her again."

"Alan, wait!" Jet Jordan intercedes. "We need you to send our allies home to their own world, it's the least we can do to pay them back."

Captain Triumph nods emphatically, "It would be appreciated, yes."

The Lady In Evening Clothes says, "I'm sorry for what's happened to you, and I hope you can rebuild. Redemption is a task as heroic as putting bad guys in jail, remember that."

Black Box prepares a gateway to send the squadron home.

Ema Flna leaves them with parting warning: "It is still possible for these events to replicate themselves on your own Earth ... and there may not be a cavalry to save you."