Issue # 266

WHAT HAS COME BEFORE : The Justice League, exhausted after a series of harrowing battles, has elected to invite past and present members of the League to a picnic, celebrating the team's longevity. While the League members take the opportunity to catch up on old times, others are also grouping themselves...

"A Family Affair"

By Barry Reese

Welcome One and All, to the First Annual JLA Picnic -- Held in Keystone City Park

For the little girl named Traya, this was a wonderful day. Not only was she getting to spend it with her adopted father, but she was getting all sorts of wonderful autographs. She sat near John Smith -- the false identity assumed by the Red Tornado -- and watched with glee as Dinah Lance walked by, chatting with the wheelchair bound Barbara Gordon. John touched Traya's hair, making her start. "Are you okay, Traya?"

She beamed back at him. "Yes, papa -- thank you for bringing me."

"You're quite welcome. I wanted you to meet my...friends." The word still sounded foreign to him. His memories and emotional responses were still fresh -- their return had been slow in coming. His years spent as both an Air Elemental and later with Primal Force had been difficult ones, as he'd tried in vain to remember his true self.

Traya snuggled into his firm grasp and sighed. "I like them. They're really nice."

The Tornado smiled. His synthetic flesh responded like a human's and it felt warm and alive at this moment. "Yes, they are nice..."

Princess Diana stood beside Clark Kent and smiled. Lois Lane was a bit away, chatting with Jay Garrick. "I'm happy you found someone, Clark."

Clark cleared his throat. He held Diana in high esteem, but he also remembered the crush he'd nursed for her during her early days in Man's World. Sometimes when he was with her, he could still feel her lips on his -- the one kiss they had shared had been electric. "Lois is wonderful -- how she puts up with it all is beyond me."

Diana nodded. "She is remarkable. But so are you. I envy you sometimes, for being able to escape your responsibilities -- I wish sometimes that I had a secret identity."

Clark laughed. "Being Clark Kent isn't an escape -- it's who I really am. Superman is the costume, not the other way around. Keep in mind I was Clark most of my life...Superman didn't enter into the equation until much later. But you could always fashion a secret identity for yourself -- it has its benefits and drawbacks."

While two of the world's premier heroes shared secret identity tips, an altogether different type of conversation was occurring nearby...

Ralph Dibny had his arms folded. His wife Sue was holding her head in her hands. In front of them, Plastic Man was entertaining Traya, while his friend Woozy Winks prepared a large sandwich. "Ahem."

Plastic Man whirled, his elastic features stretched into a reproduction of a large purple dinosaur. "Well, hiya, friend. I looooove you, you loooooove me...."

Ralph poked Plastic Man in the nose. "We've got us a score to settle, pal."

Plastic Man frowned. "Oh yeah? What sort of score?" Behind his head, he stretched his arm into the shape of a scoreboard that read : Plastic Man 2 Elongated Man 0.

Elongated Man opened his coat to reveal his costume. He wore a holster, with twin bottles of Gingold mounted on his hips. "There's only room for one stretcher in the League, pardner. Let's settle this here and now..."

Plastic Man cooed with delight, stretching into the shape of a large red-and-black cowboy. "Let's draw..."

JLA WATCHTOWER

Kyle Rayner was pouting. There was no other way to accurately describe the sullen look on his face. "Geez...stuck with monitor duty. Everybody else is off playing frisbee and eating hot dogs and I've gotta man the station -- like some supervillain is gonna attack today of all days..."

"Actually, ya poozer, t'day would be the p'rfect time to attack." Kyle jumped a foot in the air, before turning to see Steel and Kilowog. The hulking alien smiled at him. "No need to fret, Kyle -- just us."

"What are you guys doing here? I figured you'd both be at the picnic."

John Henry Irons shook his head. "No -- I left my daughter to handle the social aspects for me. Kilowog wanted a chance to look over the Watchtower and I offered to show him around."

"Ayuh. I got a few ideas that might tweak the place up a bit..." Kilowog looked around with interest. "Nice place -- good design."

Steel placed a hand on Kilowog's shoulder. "Wait until you see the labs...Kyle, we're going to be tinkering for awhile. Let us know if you need us."

"Sure thing." Kyle turned back to the monitor, shaking his head. John and Kilowog...what a pair...

KEYSTONE CITY PARK

"Where's Helena? We haven't seen her since that business with the Psycho Pirate*..." Aquaman stood beside Dick Grayson, the hero known as Nightwing. Dick had been a part of the JLA Task Force, but had never served with the JLA on an ongoing basis. Still, he was here in place of the Batman -- who simply couldn't bear to be seen at such a public gathering...

(*See the Crisis of Destiny limited series.)

"She's been pretty evasive lately -- I think she's going through some tough times." Dick was wearing a rather unappealing disguise -- bushy red hair and a thick moustache. He scanned the crowd, watching as J'onn mingled with Gypsy, Triumph, and Fire. "The League's gone through a lot of changes over the years, haven't they?"

Aquaman's mind eye flashed over the past. "Yes...We've all changed. All of us."

Dick Grayson, the former Robin, could only nod.

Dinah Lance moved over beside J'onn, Hal Jordan at her side. "J'onn...how have you been?"

The Martian's face lit with quiet joy. "Very well. It is very good to have us all here together again -- sometimes, when we constantly get together to fight alien invasions and such, it's easy to forget that we're friends."

Hal smiled. "You guys remember what it was like in the old days -- like at the press conference where we unveiled ourselves?"

Dinah smiled. "I sure do...God, even the villains seemed tamer then. Kanjar Ro...Locus...Despero, back when he was just a hammy supervillain...and Starro."

Hal nodded. "Yes...those were the days."

J'onn interrupted him. "Are you still recruiting Green Lanterns?"

"Yes...the Corps is on its way back, thankfully*."

(*See current issues of Green Lantern for more.)

Hal glanced over at Carter and Shayera. "How's Carter -- or is it Katar these days?"

Dinah raised her eyebrows. "I'm not sure...but I hear that he's been talking to Superman about returning to the League."

J'onn couldn't help but be surprised at that. Superman was the nominal leader of the team -- but all major decisions had been discussed amongst the core group. If he was now making such moves without the others...He pushed the thought from his mind. Superman was the best of them. If he could not be trusted, then who could?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Doug Riggins was a 42 year old construction worker, with three ex-wives that he had to support and a major drinking habit. Even so, he'd stayed in shape (mostly) and was pretty damn close to becoming foreman. That is, if he had lived. Unfortunately, Doug Riggins is about to die.

"Hey, Doug -- take a look at this!" Sam's voice interrupted what had been a particularly engaging daydream involving Doug and Yasmine Bleeth...Doug frowned as he stomped over. He hated this particular job -- building housing for a bunch of retarded cultists. The Cult of the Third Eye or something...thankfully they weren't around much.

Doug looked down at the opened crate and frowned. "What the hell you guys doing? You going through the customer's stuff?"

Sam, a weasel of a man, shook his head. "Naw -- we were just moving it into the pyramid like we wuz told -- but this one was heavy as hell! We dropped it and it opened. But look...it's a BODY."

Doug couldn't argue with that. Inside was a reddish-purple skinned man. A large fin crested the top of his head and a third eye was closed and still. "Hmmm...Listen, this is kind of weird. Maybe we oughta just call it a day and call the boss..."

The man in the box moved too quickly for Doug to react. The powerful hand gripped his neck and snapped it easily. The booming voice rang out. "Despero is awakened! Despero is alive! And Despero feels HATE...HATE for the Justice League...!"

BACK IN KEYSTONE : A SNIPPET OF CONVERSATIONS

"I just wish you'd mention to them that we work best as a pair..."

Lorraine pushed her hair out of her face and rolled her eyes. "Listen, Ronnie, I'm sorry they picked me instead of you, okay? I never asked for this...I was happy being a senator's daughter until you and the Pied Piper waltzed into my life years ago..."

"I'd like to rejoin if possible -- but I don't want to force anyone out..."

Clark Kent smiled. "Don't worry...the League's membership has been pretty fluid in the last few years -- an opening will pop up."

Todd Hayden finally worked up the nerve. He walked straight over to the gorgeous blonde and cleared his throat. She smiled at him and he felt his resolve weakened. But he forced himself on. "Supergirl...My name is Todd...Obsidian. I was wondering if you might want to get a coke or something. You know...at a movie. On a date." He could have died...He sounded as inept as Albert...But, God, she was gorgeous...And that skirt!

"Okay." The words didn't even register at first...But then Todd smiled.

"Anyway, just two words : animated series."

"NO, Beetle!"

And on it went...Until the last of the laughter died away with the sun.

NEXT ISSUE : The Cult of the Third Eye begins its ascendence...Learn How Despero ended up in a box and why it could spell the end of the Justice League. Be here!

Barry Reese

11.02.98 Write Me!