Faux DC Presents (only caused Gary paid us, no really, honest he did.): "Transitions" Issue 5 (of 5) Written by Gary Dreslinski Edited by Ralph Angelo

Ralph Digby lay in pieces on the floor. So did Sue Digby. And the yellow cat that had once belonged to Power Girl. All of them were in pieces, their metal innards spread across the room. "I still can't believe it," Booster Gold muttered to himself. Ralph Dibny, the one true Elongated Man, put his hand on his friend's shoulder to reassure him, "It could have happened to anyone." "No," Blue Beetle corrected, "It could only happen to us. HOW long were these imposters on the team? How long was ' Sue' helping to run 'operations'? They were even referring to themselves as 'DIGBY' for christ's sake! How could no one notice?" Sue Dibny shook her head in sympathy, "It could have happened to anybody. I'm just glad that we happened to call and check up with the League in time. We've been lending a hand in Opal City for awhile now, mainly to let Ralph hang out with Hamilton Drew..." "Oh god, did I tell you guys..." Sue smiled and patted him on the head, "Later dear. You boys can catch up later." she said, stopping her husband from starting one of his two hour stories before continuing, " When Superman asked how things were going with Extreme Justice, which neither one of us had ever been a part of, we got the address and got here as soon as possible." "I do wonder who sent them though," Beatrice DaCosta, Fire, asked, "Other than the name thing, which we should have noticed... other than that, they were nearly perfect matches. 'Ralph' even had the right power, which means that they must have cost a bundle." The real Ralph smiled, "But he didn't have my sparkling eyes I bet." Beatrice blushed, and kissed him on the cheek, turning him bright red, " Of course not you big stretching stud you." she laughed. She hugged him soundly, before gasping. She stared at Sue for a moment, trying to figure out what she should say. Finally, she decided to ask outright, "Does this mean that you're not pregnant?" Sue stared back, her jaw slack. "I take it that the fake me claimed to be pregnant?" Booster and Beetle nodded as one. Ralph gazed at his wife in wonder as she stood in silence. Finally though, she shook her head, "Sorry," she answered, "I'm not sure why they had her say that. Maybe it was to give them an excuses to do things I normally wouldn't do." Ralph sighed. Beatrice hugged her as well. "I'm just glad you guys are all right." "Me too guys," Ray Palmer, the Atom, added as he walked into the room, "With the comings and goings, and all the weird stuff lately, I'm glad to see two of the most stable people I know back on board, even if it is for the first time..." "Well..." Sue started. "Actually," Ralph began. "No!" Beetle exclaimed, "You're not going to join are you?" "We sort of have things that we need to attend to in Opal right now." Sue told them, "We just wanted to check in and make sure that you guys handled those fakes... to make sure that you guys were doing all right for yourselves..." "But," Ralph continued, "We never really planned on staying." Ray patted his friend's arm, "You know that you have a place here... We'd love to have you both." "We know," Sue replied, "And it really does mean more than you can guess. But right now isn't that good for us. Maybe once things settle down..." "Although it does occur to me that we DO know someone who might be interesting in signing up for a spell." Booster nodded, "Any friend of yours Ralph... but seriously, what can we do to change your minds?" Sue shook her head sadly, "I'm afraid nothing Michael," she replied, "But once we're free with our business there, there's no force on earth that can stop us from coming on board here. The League, well, they just aren't the League that we remember... and with everything that happened with the JLE..." Ray closed his eyes, and slowly nodded. "That's not going to happen here." "It could happen anywhere," Ralph answered, "It's part of the job. But I don't think that anyone is going to try opening that particular shop up anytime soon." "I think what Ralph is trying to say," Sue finished, "is that while you can't go home again - this is the next best thing to breaking that rule." Booster looked around at the rest of the people in the room. Beetle, Fire, Ralph & Sue, and even the Atom - although they hadn't been in the League at the same time. They really WERE the next best thing to being back in the old league. A regular one home week. Until, that was, you left the room. Booster knew what was in the rest of the Bunker. And that was about as far from the old league as was possible... "I don't understand," Gnort said for what seemed like the 10th time in a row. Solomon Grundy thumped himself on the forehead. He had been attempting to discuss the metaphysical mechanics of what had occured a few weeks back, and why they were gathered at the entrance of the bathroom, waiting... "What Grundy means is that something, or someone, started to appear here - and then just didn't." someone said from the doorway. Grundy flashed Buddy Baker, the Animal Man, a grateful smile, "That is more or less, mostly less, of what I was saying." "So, who was showing up?" G'Nort asked, cocking his head to the side. Buddy shrugged. "Who knows. All that we know is that there was a black hole, something started to come out of it. Something that felt like it was going to be big. Then it shuddered and collapsed under its own weight. It started to come back, starting getting a little bigger again, but then folded back into that little ball you see over there in the corner." "So, the black hole is still there?" The Scarlet Skier asked from over Buddy's shoulder. "It is not a black hole," Grundy started to explain once more, but stopped himself when he realized that no one was really listening. No one really interested in the technical explanation for the strange occurance. Nor were they overly interested in the fact that there had been similiar activities elsewhere in Detriot, including one in a warehouse. It was as though whatever force had set things in motion was attempting to erase evidence of what had almost occured. Or, he stared at what they were calling the "black hole" in the corner behind the toilet, what might yet occur at some point. She stared at the invitation, turning it over again in her hand. Certainly there had been some sort of mistake. Perhaps a typo. They couldn't be inviting HER to join. They'd probably never heard of her in the first place. Very few outside of those Infinity Inc folks had. But the name had been clearly typed, and was signed by someone claiming to be the chairperson of Extreme Justice, someone named Sue Digby. The name sounded like one that she knew, but not quite. It was probably one of those new heroes running around. She didn't even bother to keep up anymore. After all - what would have been the point? "Maybe I should have," she told herself, looking at the invitation in her hand. Then maybe she would know who these Extreme Justice people were. Then maybe she would know why she had jumped the first plane from California to be a part of it. Even if she didn't have her powers anymore... they surely knew that she didn't have her powers anymore... she could still be useful. She was sure of it. She stood in front of the place called "The Bunker", telling herself that they really DID want her. She told herself that, powers or not, there was a place in this group for Jonni Thunder. So close... he had been so close to being able to once and for all betray the team, and it had been snatched from his grasp. Signal Man sat in his room, counting the tiles on the ceiling and wondering when a better opportunity was going to present itself. First, there had been an impending invasion from another dimension - that one had been promising. The man behind it all had even tried to get him in on the action... but he had passed it up. "Good call," he muttered to himself. Had he began his strike against the team at that point - he would have been all alone once the invasion suddenly imploded onto itself. He had another chance spring up on him from nowhere when the robots who had pretended to be his teammates had decided the time was right to attack. He still wasn't sure why they had done so. They had started out as pretty good replicas according to all concerned, but had started to slip more and more as time went on, until they seemed to have completely snapped and attacked. He slammed his fist into the bed in frustration. The rogue robots had come close to beating the group - until the real ones arrived. If he had put aside his pride, he might have joined forces with them and their unseen master - and crushed Extreme Justice once and for all. But - NO - he had to do it himself. He wasn't going to hook up with some unknown force... no matter how clever he/she/it seemed. If the team was going to fall - it was going to be at his hand. On HIS schedule. And that was coming soon, he promised himself. Soon, they would all know the wrath of the Signal Man. He sat in front of the monitor, watching and waiting. But his first wave had failed, he felt their defeat in his heart. But he sat in front of the screen... hoping that he was wrong. He removed the pipe from his mouth, to better gesture with it, before turning to the rest of his troops. Rows upon rows of fresh troops, in cryogenic chambers, waiting to be released... waiting for their chance to strike out against the reject League. "Patience," he reminded them, as they slumbered, oblivious to it all. "Soon we will have our chance to once and for all show the world that these are not the heroes for the new age!" He paused for a moment, reflecting on how good the echo was in the room. "We will show them," he continued, "That the old age is over, and that OUR legacy is the one that is going to last!" Will Magnus waited until he heard the last of the echo die out before turning back to where his troops awaited... wondering which of them he should sent out next, his eyes crazed... and his mind far from his own. She sat in her chair, watching the comings and goings on the street, keeping her ear to the ground. It wasn't like the old days, back when the League would walk through the streets of Detriot, back when they were part of the community. These were different people, different times she guessed. The Martian and the Sea King were with the big League these days - and the others were scattered to the winds. These new people didn't seem to connect at all with their surroundings. They came and went at all hours of the day, never paying much attention to what went on around them. Still, Mari had asked her to keep an eye on this new group - to keep tabs on them the way she had done with the old League. Mother Windom sat in her chair and watched as the young woman struggled to get the courage to knock on the door - she watched as she was let in, and when the Dibnys left. She gave Sue a nod of the head. She had hoped that they were going to stay - a last piece of a time gone by. Sue nodded back with a warm smile, unlike the imposter who had ignored her on the street. Still, she didn't stop to talk. No one did these days. No one had the time to sit and talk to an old woman... it was a different league. It was a different time. A League and a time that she didn't like one bit. Much Later Ray Palmer sighed as he entered the room. He had fought side by side with some of the greatest heroes ever assembled. As the Atom, he had seen things beyond his wildest imagination. But looking at the group he had found himself with, he wondered if perhaps he had missed a few classes of imagination school. Where else could Booster Gold and Solomon Grundy sit down with the Signal Man and Scarlet Skier? Where else was Animal Man and some super cat called Streaky considered equal members? It was certainly a unique experience... maybe even a dangerous one. He had come to them for assistance in retrieving the vial containing a fifth dimensional being - a vial that had yet to resurface despite his attempts at trying to locate its whereabouts. He smiled at Jonni Thunder, the newest arrival. Ted, the Blue Beetle, had wanted to turn her away. After all, it had been the false Sue that had invited her to sign up. There was no telling, his argument had gone, what she might be up to. Booster had talked sense into him though, something that Ray had been grateful for. Even without her powers, Jonni knew a bit about fifth dimensional beings - more so than anyone else they had easy access to. If they were going to track down the whereabouts of the vial - if they had to deal with what was inside - they were going to need their own ace in the hole. Ray made a mental note to thank the remains of "Sue Digby" the next time he was down in the lab. Even if she hadn't been trying to help - she had done so. "You're probably wondering why I asked you all here," Ray began, sinking into his seat around the official meeting table. None of the new people - himself included, had symbols on it. He mentally shrugged. That sort of thing was a nice touch, but it was hardly a priority. What he was doing was. "One of us is a murderer..." Ted Kord interrupted with a sinister laugh. G'Nort looked around in confusion, "I hope its not me" "Trust me," Fire said, patting him on the head, "If you were, you'd be the first to know." "Well, that's a relief at least." Streaky jumped from his seat to go pee on something on the other side of the room. "Very funny Beetle," Atom sighed, "No, I wanted to get you all together to address something pretty important." "A lack of leadership," Booster Gold interrupted, "We were all following Sue's lead for so long, but considering that she wasn't who we thought she was, I think its time for someone to step up once and for all and take charge of things." "Yes," Atom started, "That was what I was about to say..." "Well," Fire interrupted, "I certainly have no problem taking on the role if you'll have me." She stood up from her seat, "I have some ideas about the direction of the team..." "Do they involved stopping at sales?" Beetle quipped. Fire shot him a look. "I'd like to stop at some sales..." Scarlet Skier muttered to himself, "That's the one thing I miss about heralding for Nebula, scouting for the sales..." Solomon Grundy rose from his seat, "I know that its unlikely that you will take me up on it, but I would like to offer my services to the team as leader. Certainly, the crimes of my past selves should not and must not be overlooked, but I do feel that I could offer a unique and well thought out perspective on the group dynamics of..." The Signal Man sat quietly next to Animal Man, wondering if Buddy was going to be the next one to stand up to offer himself up for consideration. He didn't. Signal Man made a mental note to keep an eye on Animal Man - anyone who didn't step up to claim leadership when offered was someone worth keeping an eye on. They were often the most worthy of it, and the ones most likely to cause him problems. "I know that I'm new here," Jonni Thunder interjected,"But I think that..." "I think we should vote on it." Blue Beetle said, rising from his seat to join the others,"Just about everyone here is qualified in their own special ways... but I think that the membership should decide who they want for the important job of guiding this organization that Booster and I founded." Booster shot him a guarded smile, "That's a good idea Ted," he replied, "It sounds like you're interested in the job yourself." "If called upon to do so," Ted responded with a guarded smile of his own, "I will of course serve." "I agree," Ray said, nodding,"The best way to handle this would be to have a democratic vote." He picked up the pad of paper in front of his spot at the table and tore it into 10 strips. Animal Man raised an eyebrow. "Problem, Buddy?" Ray asked. Buddy Baker nodded, "I counted ten strips of paper." "Yes?" "There are eleven of us." Buddy said, nodding toward where Streaky was pretending not to notice what was going on. "He can't exactly write down anyone's name." Beetle pointed out. "No," Buddy countered,"But he can make his mark, he can cast a vote. If we're going to allow a cat membership, I don't think that I can sit back and allow his voice not to be counted just because he speaks a different language than the rest of you..." "You mean the rest of us." Booster corrected. Buddy smiled a truly cheshire grin, "I mean the rest of YOU" he responded in fluent meows and hisses. Streaky poked his head up from where he was pretending not to care to see what was going on. Signal Man made a note to himself that his instincts were good. Ray Palmer tore off a smaller section of paper, making 11 ballots total, "Everyone write down the name of the person that you feel would best fulfill the duties of team leader." he instructed, "This is an important decision, so vote for whoever you think would do the best job." Gnort's hand shot up. Beetle and Booster rolled their eyes at each other, praying that Ray wouldn't call on him, and sighing when he did. "Yes Gnort?" Gnort stared down at his paper for a moment, then back up at Ray Palmer with a perfectly innocent smile, "Vote for who we think would be the best person to lead the team, right?" "Yes" Gnort nodded, and confidently looked back down to his paper, starting to write something, then looked back up, "Does anyone know how to spell Hasslehoff?" NEXT: A New Leader - Who is it? Booster? Fire? Atom? Beetle? Solomon Grundy? Streaky? David Hasslehoff? YOU decide! That's right! YOU decide who the next leader of Extreme Justice is going to be. Just send your ballots early and often to clauderains@rocketmail.com !!! The future of Extreme Justice is in your hands... god help us all!