Issue #35 Faux DC proudly presents.... "Rebuilding - part one." by TJ Burns

The JLA Watchtower, on the moon.... "Yaaahhhh!!!!", cries Katar Hol as he barely dodges the thrown hammer of Steel. "That shot would have caught most men... but not one who dealt with spearhurlers for many lifetimes." "Yeah, but could they do this?", asks John Henry Irons, as his hammer veers back and toward Hawkman again! "Well... no. But in those days, I didn't have the option of doing this either!" says Hawkman as he points his gaultnet at the hammer. An energy beam rips out of his glove and the hammer falls to the ground! "So the Talon works as well as you thought it would. Now let's test that mace!", shouts Steel as he opens fire with his rivet blasts. "Sure thing!", laughs Hawkman, as he holds out his mace, which emits a purple light. All of the rivets are attracted to the mace harmlessly. "Well, the gravametric field worked too. It looks like you are ready to get back into action, Katar.",says Steel. "I couldn't have made these adjustments without your help Dr. Irons. The Thanagarian people would have been amazed that an Earthman could reproduce their technology as adeptly as you have. There's no other place in this solar system that I could have gotten the parts to create these devices." ,says Katar Hol, seriously. "So are you ready to join the League again full time?", asks Steel. "Not just yet. I've been in the Hawkgod's realm for months. I still have to find a job, and re-establish my life on Earth before I can even think about the JLA's kind of fight again. I also need to get in touch with my old friends in the Justice Society and explain things." ,says Hawkman, as the two walk into the monitor room, where Green Lantern is watching the monitors. "So explain to me again the thing about the Hawk Avatars?" ,asks Kyle Rayner. "Well, Kyle, the merging process gave me the knowledge and some of the personality traits of all of those who were the champions of the Hawkgod, including the original Hawkman, Carter Hall." ,says Katar. "Wow... I know I could use the info. that the old GLs used to have." ,says Kyle Rayner. "Keep at it, young Rayner... Remember that I knew Alan and Hal when they were just starting out when I was Carter Hall. You'll learn eventually, with practice." ,says Katar Hol. "Thanks Hawkman!", says Kyle. "Your appointment with Congress is in about five minutes... Wonder Woman and Superman are going to meet you there." "Thanks for the reminder, Kyle... by the way, I'm going to leave the invitation for Jade to my wedding here, so you can take it to her too." ,says Hawkman. "Thanks, Katar! We'll be there!" ,says Kyle. _______________________________________________________________________ In Washington DC, in the office of Senator Neptune Perkins.... "Well, you've convinced me Katar. You are as much my old friend Carter as he ever was." ,says Senator Perkins. "Superman, Wonder Woman, your testimony and that of the Martian Manhunter yesterday has been most helpful. I see no reason why I shouldn't use my influence with the governments to allow you the full legal benefits of being a doctor of history and archaeology." "I really appreciate it old friend. I'll see you at the wedding?" ,asks Hawkman. "Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world! Wonder Woman, Superman... give my regards to Aquaman when you next see him." ,says Neptune Perkins. "We will Senator! Thank you!" ,says Wonder Woman. As the heroes leave the building and take to the air, Hawkman turns to Wonder Woman. "Thanks again for agreeing to be a bridesmaid for Sheira, Diana... I really had no idea how an amazon princess would take that request!" ,says Katar Hol. "Anything for my dearest friends like you too have been Katar!" ,says Princess Diana with a laugh. "Clark, can we expect to see you and Lois there?" ,asks Katar. "Certainly... I don't think it'd be too suspicious for us to be seen in public... Especially in Feithera!" ,says Superman. "Are you sure you won't reconsider membership in the League?" "Not right now, with the wedding plans and my job search, Superman. I do appreciate the offer. Ask me again when things get settled." ,laughs Katar Hol. "I'll do that. Uh-oh... I have to fly. A dam just burst in Pennsylvania.",says Superman as he flies off at high speed. "Well, Diana, have a wonderful day... I have to fly out to the Artic Circle to check with Norda about the wedding celeration... apparently the city will need some expansion just to fit all of the overnight guests, what with all the heroes who are invited... Thank God that the Green Lantern and his friends volunteered to help out.",says Katar. "I will! Talk to you later. my friend. Give Shayera my regards!" ,says Princess Diana as she flies on the direction of Gateway City. _______________________________________________________________________ Half an hour later, Hawkman lands in the center of the hidden city of Feithera. He is greeted by a teeming crowd of bird people. "Thank you my friends!", says Hawkman as he makes his way to the temple. "It is good to be among you." "Welcome, Carter Hall, to Feithera!" ,says Norda Cantrell, known to the outside world as Northwind. "Thank you for your greeting, Norda, but I am not Carter Hall... at least not entirely." ,says Katar Hol humbly. "Which is more important? Who you are on the outside, or who you are in spirit? To we of Feithera, you shall always be Carter Hall.",says Norda. "Thank you. I spoke to your father earlier about my upcoming wedding?" ,says Hawkman "Yes! Your friends are astounding, Hawkman. The work they have done will not only be able to house the guests for your wedding, but will contain our expanding population for a generation! It was good that our society decided to reveal our existence to those you call friends." ,says Northwind. "Thank you my friend! I appreciate all that you have done for us. See you soon!" ,says Hawkman gratefully as he takes to the air. "May the wind forever be at your back, Hawkman, until you may reach your destination." ,states Norda as the two shake hands. "Now, back to Illinois... I still have to visit the Manhawks and the Lizardkons before this evening.", thinks Katar Hol as he takes flight. _______________________________________________________________________ An hour later, Katar Hol finds himself flying into a magnificent valley lined with caves. A flock of Manhawks rise to the air to confront him. "Hello windbrother Hol! How do you like our new home?" ,asks one of the Manhawk warriors. "It is indeed beautiful, windbrother. May I see your cheiftain?" ,asks Katar Hol. "Kreeyah! Yes windbrother!", cries the Manhawks as they enter into a steep swoop. Landing on a ledge on the mountain, Katar Hol is greeted by Falthis Farr, the Manhawk cheiftain. "Hello once again windbrother! You are more like us now than ever!" ,cries the Manhawk, as he gestures toward Katar's wings and hawklike eyes. "True enough, windbrother. I come bearing good tidings... I am to wed my choice of mate soon... I would wish the presence of the Manhawks to share in my happiness." ,says Katar Hol. "Kreeyah! This is indeed good news! The Manhawks and She-Hawks will attend, windbrother." ,says Falthis Farr. "That is good, windbrother. Can you tell me where to find the Lizardkons these days?", asks Katar Hol. "Yes! They share the undercaverns with our people. The hunting here is good enough for all. We owe you much for bringing us to this promised land windbrother.", says Falthis Farr. "All creatures deserve freedom, windbrother. I'll visit with you soon!", says katar Hol as he swoops to the valley floor to see the Lizardkons. "Hello, Sssshadowlord... it hassssss been long." ,says the Lizardkon sentry. "That it has, my friends. Please allow me to speak to your wise king.", says Katar Hol respectfully. "Of courssssse, my friend. One moment..." ,hisses the Lizardkon. A few moments later, Katar Hol is issues into the presence of the Lizardkon king. "If it issssn't our sssssssavior, the Thanagarian Ssssssshadowlord.", hisses the king merrily. "Yes, my friend. How are things for the Lizardkons here?", says Katar Hol. "It is well, my friend.... the fissh in the underground cavernssss are eassssy prey and plentiful for ussss. We and the Manhawkssss get along well. Our race issss at lassst content." ,hisses the Lizardkon king. "Good. I came here to check and see if you were well, and to notify you that I am to wed the woman I choose to make my nest with... I would enjoy the company of you and your dragons on my day of happiness." ,says Katar Hol. "Mossssst wonderful, friend. My dragonssss will be honored." ,says the Lizardkon king. "Excellent. I'll see you again soon!" states Katar Hol as he exits the cave and flies toward Chicago. _______________________________________________________________________ A few minutes later, Katar Hol arrives on the roof of his building and is greeted by the former Netherworlder known only as Lefty. "Hello there Lefty... How is everything here? Did Dr. Palmer call?", asks Katar. "He didn't, but everything else is pretty good. We got replies from most of your old friends in the JLA in the mail. Zatanna popped in for a few minutes to tell you that she would definately be there. Oh, and you got that package you were expecting from John Jones in Seattle. Other than that, you mother is out on that tour of the museum, Dennis is downtown at his garage working on Shayera's bike, and Shayera is working on a police standoff involving metahumans at the First National Bank.", says Lefty. "Thanks Lefty... I'd better get to the Bank. It can't hurt to have a superhuman involved in that sort of standoff." ,says Hawkman as he takes to the air. "Be careful boss!" ,shouts Lefty as Katar rises into the air. _______________________________________________________________________ Downtown Chicago... "Glad you got here Katar... these guys have some serious firepower. One of 'em's got magnetic powers!" , shouts Officer Andrea Lencioni to Hawkman. "Boy, did he pick the wrong day..." ,says Hawkman. "Any other entrances?" "One on the roof that the magnetic kid is holding shut. We tried to smash it down, but it's magnetized. Our ram is still stuck on the door." ,says Lencioni. "Where's Shayera?" ,asks Katar. "She was sent in to negotiate a few minutes ago..." ,says Lencioni. "That's bad... Shayera's not exactly the most even-tempered around criminals." ,said Katar. "I'd better try and go in there. You and your family should drop by for dinner sometime soon." "OK, Katar... be careful!" ,says Lencioni as Katar rises into the sky and flies toward the bank roof. "Hmm. The door's magnetically held shut... I could just pound it down, but this is more fun.... I'll use the gravemetric field generator in the mace in conjunction with my Hawk Talon's energy projectors to create a wave of electromagnetic force." ,thinks Katar as he wires his mighty mace into the Talon gaultnet and fires. "That should disrupt magnet-boy's control and get me in no problem... Only problem is he may know I did it, depending on how his power works. Oh well, it's easier to do this and possibly alert him, rather than smash the door down and DEFINATELY alert the other guys." Katar grabs the door, thrusts it open and leaps down the stairwell, counting on his Nth Metal bones and wings to float him down safely. "Hang on Shayera... I'm coming!", he thinks. Finally, he arrives at the entrance to the ground floor. Graviton pistol drawn, and mace in hand, he opens the door and shouts, "Drop your weapons!"... only to find all three men on the ground unconscious. "What took you so long, Peacock?", asks Shayera Thal, a huge grin on her face. "Well, I figured that you would have dealt with these guys a while ago... I didn't think there was any reason to hurry." ,says Katar. "Seriously, what happened?" "The magnetic guy there collapsed and started screaming about his head. When his friends with the big guns turned around, I clobered them. Piece of cake." ,says Shayera. "That's great sweetheart! I recognize the magnetic kid there... He tried this before with some Netherworlders right before the whole Hawkgod fiasco." ,says Katar. "This town's gotten nothing but worse since you got sucked into the Hawkgod's world. We have more metahumans in this town committing crimes than any place but Gotham. Next week Detective Bullock of the Gotham PD and the head of the SCU Dan Turpin are coming to town to advise Commisioner Emmet about creating our own metahuman crimes unit. What I wonder is how a two-bit punk like this got hooked up with the kind of guys who could afford this sort of hardware..." ,says Shayera. "A concern for another day sweetheart. let's go home. I have a present for you!" ,says Katar Hol. "Just give me a few hours to make my report, and I'm all yours, Peacock." ,says Shayera. _______________________________________________________________________ Meanwhile, somewhere many miles away... "Your men were defeated by Hawkman while attempting to rob the First National Bank in Chicago, sir." ,says a well-dressed man. "Hawkman... That alien should not be that much of a threat. My new Criminal Alliance of the World cannot afford the attention of the metahuman community of heroes just yet." ,comes a voice from the shadows. "We may have to eliminate this 'Hawkman' very soon. _______________________________________________________________________ Meanwhile, out in space.... "We have arrived at Planet Dhor, sir." ,says Fel Andar. "Excellent!" ,says Deron Ved. "The planetary governor here, Kanjar Ro has a vast millitary garrison of proud Thanagarian warriors at his disposal. With his resources at our side, we will be able to rebuild our empire... and destroy the man who led to its destruction... Katar Hol!" _______________________________________________________________________ Author's Notes - Hey, I finished another issue of Hawkman! Not as much action this time out, but I hope that you all enjoy it! The Hawk Talon that Katar developed in this issue was a weapon he used in his early animated adventures. Comments can be sent to - stark_us@yahoo.com TJB _______________________________________________________________________ Next issue - The Atom drops by for a visit... but as friend or foe? Katar's gift for Shayera is revealed... it isn't what you expect. And the Gentleman Ghost comes calling! All this and more next Hawkman!