986,000,000 miles away from the Earth ...

The streaming mass of the rings of Saturn swirled around the autumnally colored gas giant. Just outside the perimeter of the rings, six figures floated with the perfect stillness of expectation.

Superman and Wonder Woman, the central figures around which the others naturally gathered, listened to a closed channel radio broadcast from a small spacerunner."zxzx We’re ready," the voice of the Batman sounded on the channel.

"We’re in position as well," Superman responded. "We should be getting started any minute now."

"zxzx In that case, zxzx going to radio silence now," Batman acknowledged, followed by the click of the transmitter toggling off.

Superman made eye contact with Wonder Woman. "Still think this is a good idea?" his radioed voice asked.

Wonder Woman smiled playfully. "Reminds me of my childhood on Themiscrya." She looked around at their comrades: Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter, Firehawk and Supergirl. "It will be good for all of us to practice honing our skills as a team. And if it does Kyle half as much good as he claims it will ..."

Superman nodded. "Maybe it will be good for Supergirl to let off some steam as well. She’s seemed so withdrawn lately."

"Have you talked to her, Kal?" Wonder Woman asked pointedly.

Superman shook his head. "It’s hard to find the time."

"When it’s important, you need to make the time. You would do well to remember that for the next few years, after Lois gives birth."

Superman’s mouth dropped open under his breathing mask. "How ... how did you...?"

Wonder Woman put a hand on Superman’s arm. "You’ve got 'expectant father’ written all over you. A woman can pick up on these things. Am I wrong?"

"Guilty as charged," Superman smiled.

A bright green sign spelling out 'YO!’ in ten-foot letters flared out of Green Lantern’s ring. Martian Manhunter established a telepathic net among the Justice Leaguers, and Kyle Rayner thought, They’re here.

The others strained their vision against the limitless depths of space. Superman’s telescopic sight quickly picked up what Rayner’s ring had detected. A few seconds later, all of the other Leaguers were able to see an emerald glow, its approach at first only hinted at by the imperceptible growth of the light, then more apparent as it closed on the planet Saturn. The blaze of green contained several figures, some humanoid, others far from human, their details becoming clearer and clearer as they sped toward the League. Finally, the emerald-haloed force arrived within arm’s reach of the JLA, and two figures moved to the forefront: a brown-haired human male, and a hulking, 8-foot alien. The human smiled and gave a half-salute.

"Think we’re ready for this?" Hal Jordan asked, using his power ring to communicate with his large companion.

"You betcha," Kilowog answered. He pointed a thick finger at the JLA. "I just wonder if those poozers are ready for us."

"HIDE AND SEEK AND DESTROY"

Issue #277

Guest-starring the

(This story, obviously, takes place before the events depicted in Green Lantern #216 - DWG)

Superman raised a hand to acknowledge Jordan and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps*, then brought it down in a swift, sweeping arc. His fellow Leaguers began to fan out before the newly arrived Green Lanterns, and the game was begun.

(*If you haven’t been reading FDC’s Green Lantern – and if so, why not?!? – the Green Lantern Corps currently consists of approximately twenty Green Lanterns, operating from Coast City – DWG)

The rules of the game had been established beforehand. Somewhere, amidst the debris making up Saturn’s rings, was a Justice League spacerunner with a yellow flag mounted atop its hull. The Green Lantern Corps could win the game by capturing the flag in sixty minutes or less; the JLA could win by holding on to the flag for more than an hour.

The Green Lantern Corps surged forward to engage the Justice League. Superman soon found himself trapped within a cube of emerald energy fueled by six power rings, as the quartz-skinned Tuebeen, the squat, three-legged Galius Zed, the deep purple and muscular Umburu of Z’Nang, the giant bacterium Larvox, the serpentine Zghithii, and the gourd-shaped, tentacled Apros each generated a side. Superman threw punches that would have shattered steel at each wall of his solid-light prison, and while the energy form wavered slightly, it held.

"Do not give him room enough for such blows!" Umburu urged his fellow Green Lanterns. The cube began to narrow around Superman, restricting his movements until his arms were nearly pinned to his sides.

The stone woman called Brik and the spherical crystal Chaselon were quick to double-team Wonder Woman. Chaselon raised the slender coil of metal to which his power ring was attached and projected a set of pincers on a long beam of green light. The construct held fast to Wonder Woman’s waist and kept her far enough away that she could not reach the Green Lanterns with her golden lasso. Brik sent a volley of disembodied green fists at the Amazonian princess, who deflected the projectiles with her silver bracelets as she struggled against the bonds around her midsection.

Firehawk and Hollika Rahn, a red-skinned woman with black Mohawk dressed in a toga uniform, closed on one another with massive outputs of raw power. Blazing flames collided with verdant energy in a near-blinding contest of wills, which the veteran Green Lantern slowly began to dominate. Nearby, Supergirl contended with the cyclopic humanoid plantform called Medphyll, the four-armed Salakk and the orange-skinned warrior woman Shilandra Thane. Having seen how quickly Superman was trapped, Supergirl made certain to stay in constant motion, flying in a twisting, ever-changing pattern at high speed to evade the power ring projections of the three Green Lanterns, and darting in and out of their midst to deliver jabs of her own.

Far and away, Kyle Rayner enacted the most frenzied opposition to his fellow Green Lanterns. Faced with the combination of the pale purple man called Adam, the enormous manta-shaped M’Dahna, Kilowog, and Hal Jordan, Rayner summoned forth a batallion of energy constructs to thwart the progress of the Corps members. A school of green barracuda, gaping mouths overstuffed with pointed teeth, swarmed around M'Dahna. A gigantic emerald skeleton draped in Goth leather and chains trapped Adam within its hollow ribcage. Cartoonish longshoremen with Popeye-sized muscles and naked aggression in their eyes ganged up on Kilowog. Hal Jordan was beset by a mammoth solid light amalgamation of supervillains - the head of the bull-angel Asmodel atop the robotic body of an En'Taran, with armored human arms wielding Prometheus' power baton*. Rayner's body language and the set of his mouth, teeth bared and clenched, showed the exertion of so much willpower channeled through the ring, yet his eyes seemed to dance brightly with exhilaration.

(* All villains faced by the JLA in real DC continuity, BEFORE Jordan returned from limbo - Method-in-the-Madness DWG)

While the rest of the Green Lantern Corps wrestled for advantage over the JLA, two Green Lanterns who had remained in the background began a parabolic ascent, hoping to vault over the front lines and begin to search the rocky expanses of Saturn’s rings for the sought-after flag. Voz, the giant, furry primate and Xax, the tiny grasshopper-like insect, made their way up to an apex above the pitched battles, and began to descend toward the rings.

The Martian Manhunter had also remained to the rear, in anticipation of just such a strategy. Utilizing his race’s natural shapeshifting abilities, the Martian became a colossal beast in the path of Voz and Xax, with a chitinous shell from which pterandon-like wings extended, with sinewy pseudopods protruding from the underside. The Green Lanterns found themselves caught in the beast’s grip an instant after it appeared in their way.

Hollika Rahn blasted past Firehawk and toward the Martian Manhunter. Pointed behind her, Rahn's ring emitted a split beam of green light, each side of the fork wrapping around the dazed Firehawk, and the energy construct flung the young Justice Leaguer toward J’Onn J’Onzz. As Firehawk came to, she saw a looming green shape before her eyes, and unleashed a torrent of fire. J’Onzz released the two Green Lanterns from his grip as the pain of flames bit into his flesh. Voz and Xax sped into the rocky depths of the rings.

Somewhere on Earth ...

Brad Ferguson descended the concrete steps leading down from the sidewalk, his portfolio under one arm. At the bottom of the stairs he flipped open the portfolio, and looked again at the piece of notepaper sitting atop his acting resume and headshots. His own handwriting read "1444-B 101^st Avenue," which matched the weathered address numbers on the door before him. A basement apartment seemed an odd location for even an open casting call advertised in the Arts section. Especially for a project of the scale described in the ad. Still, Ferguson had called the phone number and confirmed the address along with his audition time – this was the place. He knocked briskly on the door.

The man who answered pushed Ferguson’s sense of confusion further still. He wore faded jeans and a dirty gray t-shirt. His utilitarian haircut certainly didn’t look any more 'Hollywood’ than his clothes. The only attention-grabbing feature of the man inside the basement apartment was the color of his eyes – fierce green. Ferguson shrugged off his uncertainties and extended a hand to the man. "Brad Ferguson. I’m here for my audition."

"Of course," the man smiled, with a touch of irony in his expression. He gripped Ferguson’s hand and shook it. "Come right in, we’ll get started right away."

Ferguson entered the basement apartment and the man shut the door behind him. Immediately, Ferguson was overwhelmed by the electronica within the cramped quarters. The walls and ceiling were covered with wiring, circuit boards, and unrecognizable devices. The only familiar objects were a sink and toilet in one corner, and a futuristic Steadicam in the opposite corner. "Whoaaa," Ferguson exhaled in awe.

"Ah, yes," his host nodded. "You begin to see what we meant in the advertisement when we promised a movie-making experience unlike any other. Of course, given the nature of the ... subject matter ... we require a bit of technological wizardry to achieve our vision."

"Yeah, man, a Justice League of America movie!" Ferguson said, brightening with the return of familiar territory. "I thought an independent production company making a movie about the JLA was too good to be true, but it sure looks like you got the goods!"

The man smiled with pride. "I believe we do, at that."

"Soooo," Ferguson pressed on, hoping he was making the right impression, "I brought my resume and some photos, right here." He handed the portfolio to his host.

"Ah, yes," the man answered distractedly. "That actually falls under the purview of one of my associates. I’m sure you’re qualifications will be adequate. The greatest qualification, as far as we are concerned, is enthusiasm for the project’s success."

"Oh ... okay," Ferguson replied, off-balance yet again.

"My responsibility will be the special effects, obviously," the man continued. "And, to be honest, the second greatest qualification for the actors we seek will be an aptitude for making use of the special effects technology I’ve designed. Your screen test here will give us a sense of your ability in that domain. Understood?"

"Sure," Ferguson nodded slowly.

"Excellent," the man said, walking over to a gadget-strewn counter. He lifted a dark blue brace-like apparatus in one hand and crossed the floor to stand directly in front of Ferguson. With as reassuring a smile as he could manage, the man lowered a crown-like section of the device onto Ferguson’s head.

"Um, what does this stuff ... do?" Ferguson inquired, in a tone he tried to make sound relaxed.

As the man draped wire leads along Ferguson’s shoulders and arms, he explained, "Primarily, they monitor and record your physical movements. That data is used in a CGI-modeling program for some of the more monstrous special effects in the film. The Justice League will battle everything from aliens to the demons of Hell ... in the movie," the man added hurriedly. He continued, "The actors will be filmed performing fight choreography, and when the monsters are digitally added, the software ensures that all the movements are perfectly synchronized. In addition, the devices can project certain filmable energy signatures of their own, which should provide the distinct look and feel of the film. Other than that, they are invisible to cameras." So saying, the man finished attaching the harness and positioned Ferguson’s body directly in front of the modified Steadicam.

"Unreal," Ferguson shook his head. "If half of what you’re saying is true, this movie is going to rock! You’re really going to get noticed, your production company and you. What do you call yourselves again?"

The man flashed a deadly smile rather than answer Ferguson, and pressed a button on the lens casing of the Steadicam. Immediately, Ferguson was bathed in heavy radiation emitted from the camera lens, and under the harsh light the apparatus encircling his head and limbs began to graft itself to Ferguson’s body. Ferguson remained rigidly frozen during the metamorphosis, and the room was silent except for the hum of the Steadicam’s energy output and the metallic clicking of the mechanism bonding to Ferguson’s paralyzed form.

Despite not having answered Ferguson’s question, the man beside the camera pondered it. What would he call himself when the time came to face the Justice League? A worthy nom du guerre was the only part of his plan not yet in place. He had considered the subject occasionally, but none seemed truly fitting. Death Threat? No, he would do far more than threaten the Justice League – he would destroy them before they had a chance to respond. Conquest? Dismissed for making him sound too much the lothario. The Think Tank? Justice Slayer? Victorius?

The "Steadicam" shut down automatically, and the mechano-organic grafting was complete. The man intent on destroying the Justice League admired his handiwork. Where Brad Ferguson had once stood was a cyborg half-engulfed in dark blue metal. A solid skullcap covered the top of its head, with triangular antennae standing up on either side. Strips of circuitry ran up and down the arms and legs of the transformed being, and formed a vaguely bat-shaped pattern across its chest. Sharp spikes thrust out along the forearms.

Satisfied, the man returned to his workbench and keyed a ten-digit sequence on a remote control unit. A panel in the floor of the apartment slid open, revealing seven hyperbaric chambers buried beneath it. Two were already occupied by cyborgs, and a third opened with a hiss to admit the newest creation. The man regarded his growing strike force of infernal inventions with pleasure. Whatever soundbite he would eventually be known by was irrelevant, he decided, so long as he was remembered for besting the Justice League of America.

The far side of Saturn ...

"I'm picking up anomalous energy and fast-approaching objects. I believe that some of the Green Lanterns have gotten within range," Batman observed on his instrument panels, as he piloted the spacerunner through the rock-choked streams of the planet's rings.

"Guess that means I'm up," the Flash acknowledged, slipping a life-support mask over his head. He approached the airlock and opened the inner door. "Don't go too far and leave me hanging out there, now."

"Wherever I go to keep the flag away from the Lanterns, I'm sure you'll be able to catch up quickly," Batman replied dryly.

Flash nodded appreciatively and stepped into the airlock. The inner door cycled closed, and he opened the outer hull hatch. One leap carried him to a nearby chunk of yellow stone approximately fifteen feet in diameter, as the spacerunner rocketed away. The scarlet speedster could see two globes of green light approaching quickly, and he began to vibrate at superspeed. As Voz and Xax flew near, the Flash became a blur of bright red spewing streamers of yellow lightning, and descended into the mass of rock beneath his feet. The superspeed vibrations caused the yellow stone to explode, showering the passing Green Lanterns with jagged, hyper-accelerated shrapnel which their rings could not defend against.

The battered Green Lanterns continued in their pursuit of the spacerunner and the flag, but the Flash continued dogging them every step of the way. Jumping and vibrating, jumping and vibrating, the Flash continued to pelt the gorilla and grasshopper Green Lanterns with exploding fragments, and stayed well ahead of their attempted counter-attacks. Coaxed by Batman through the stony current, the spacerunner pulled away.

In the middle of his next jump, the Flash was enveloped in emerald light. Voz and Xax were still recovering from the most recent deluge of exploding ring fragments, and neither one had created the energy construct. It originated from the power ring of Shilandra Thane, who was one of several Green Lanterns now approaching the area in which the flag-carrying spacerunner was hidden.

The Green Lanterns had been unable to break through the line of defense created by the Justice League. But through careful maneuvers coupled with an unrelenting assault, the Green Lanterns had repositioned themselves between the JLA and Saturn's rings while still locked in combat. Using their numbers to their advantage, the Corps had begun to peel off from the battle one by one, with many Lanterns covering for each strategic withdrawal. Several of the ring wielders had navigated through the rings in pursuit of Voz and Xax.

The Green Lanterns closing on the spacerunner, now led by Apros, moved to make the final grab for the flag. Umburu, Hollika Rahn, Medphyll and Brik used their power rings to gather together tons of the surrounding debris, and fused the mass into a concave wall in the path of the spacerunner, blocking its forward progress. Batman corrected the spacerunner's course, pulling up hard against the curving vertical surface. Galius Zed, Adam, and Stel combined their rings' energies to create a tremendous shield, behind which they flew toward the penned-in craft.

A light like a titanic solar-flare burst through the darkness behind the Green Lanterns. Shocked, they turned to see Firehawk throwing off a veritable inferno.From the heart of the blinding light, the rest of the Justice League rushed forth in flight. Superman and Supergirl led the way, careening toward the spacerunner, followed by Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Kyle Rayner. In a heartbeat the Leaguers were surrounding the spacerunner in a tight defensive formation, ready for the Corps to make their push.

Ten minutes left, Superman thought through the telepathic link.

I think we've got that much left in us, and then some, Supergirl thought back.

Wait, J'Onn J'Onzz mentally warned, Kyle, what are you –

Dramatic, last-minute change-of-allegiance! Rayner whooped in his mind, swinging a green-tinged ball and chain denser than depleted uranium into the Martian Manhunter's stomach. J'Onzz tumbled aside in the airless void, and Rayner's ring generated an obscenely large shoulder-mounted plasma cannon, firing bursts that stunned Wonder Woman and Supergirl at point blank range. As the rest of the Green Lantern Corps arrived, having chased the JLA through the planet's rings, Rayner winked at Hal Jordan and projected a giant emerald boxing glove on a collision course with Superman.

Superman threw a haymaker counterpunch, knocking the boxing glove construct off its path. Rayner reeled slightly at the psychic feedback the Man of Steel's blow had sent through the energy field of his power ring. Meanwhile, the entire Green Lantern Corps converged on the only remaining players on the JLA's team: Superman outside the spacerunner, and Batman within.

Suddenly, a dazzling white light, hundreds of times more brilliant than Firehawk's earlier flare, washed out the entire scene...

"System entry successful, Adjudication Master," a black-skinned alien covered in bristly hairs announced from his navigational post. "Location within .00293 clicks of sixth gravity spike of Sol. Current orientation .95 giga-clicks from target."

"Confirmed," answered another alien of similar appearance, seated in the center of the ship's bridge. "Adjudication Second, parameters of this strike are acceptable?"

"Confirmed, Adjudication Master," a third alien responded. "Weapons at this range will affect target at 71% of maximum velocity, sufficient for global destruction.Weapons currently charging for fire in twenty spans.Defense forces of target 'Earth' will lack time for response."

The alien at the center of the bridge nodded its spade-like chin."Most acceptable.We will collect the bounty for the destruction of Earth established by the Psions for their casualties there.Prepare to fire all weapons at my mark."

"Adjudication Master!" an alien at the ship's scan station cried out."Unidentified forces converging on our ship!"

"Identify," the Adjudication Master growled ferociously.

"Incoming hailing frequency," the communications station reported worriedly.

"...order you again to stand down your weapons systems," Batman spoke into the spacerunner's radio transmitter. "Your presence in this solar system is currently regarded as hostile and will be met with force if you do not comply immediately."

The Justice League of America and the Green Lantern Corps stood as a unified force before the prow of the looming battle cruiser. As soon as the starship had warped into the area, the game had stopped, as several Green Lanterns scanned the intruder and discovered its battery of long-range cannons powering up. Now all of the heroes awaited its next move.

In answer, the battle cruiser deployed all of its short-range blasters, protruding like quills around the nose of the ship. The JLA and the Corps needed no further provocation and instantly mobilized. Martian Manhunter's heat vision beams and Firehawk's streams of flame slagged several portside emplacements of guns. Tuebeen, M'Dahna and Salakk's green energy similarly disabled a starboard bank of weapons. Kilowog and Galius Zed pulverized the long-range cannons on the underbelly of the ship, while Shilandra Thane deposited the Flash atop the battle cruiser's hull and together they dismantled the heavy weaponry there.

Superman, Supergirl and Wonder Woman streaked toward the command center of the ship, and within moments concussions from their flying fists echoed throughout the entire vessel. The skin of the battle cruiser around the command center began to dent and buckle under the relentless assault, matching the rest of the ship, scorched and scarred from imploded weapons bays.

Under telepathic guidance from Martian Manhunter and Apros, the League and the Corps pulled back from the shuddering, injured vessel. Stel aimed his ring at the battle cruiser and cast a ray of emerald light that encompassed the entire ship, a ray comprised of machine language for navigational programming. The battle cruiser received the information from Stel's power ring and retreated through a gravity warp in the direction from which it had come.

Superman looked around at his comrades and thought, I suppose we'll have to call this one a draw. His thoughts were heard by all as J'Onzz and Apros united the two telepathic nets.

Aw, it don't matter who won, we got a good workout either way, Kilowog thought. There might be hope for the rusty ol' Corps, yet.

Let's hope so, Jordan thought, reaching out to shake hands with Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman.One of these days, we'll have to start seeing each other when it's not an end-of-the-world situation.

As the Corps departed, an exhausted Firehawk carried the Flash to the spacerunner and entered with him, content to hitch a ride back to Earth. Wonder Woman turned to Kyle Rayner and looked searchingly into his eyes. You certainly threw yourself into this exercise, Kyle. Do you feel any better?

Yeah, you know, Kyle responded mentally. I cleared my mind and just about knocked myself out, and it did feel pretty good. He smiled sardonically. Of course, now that you mention it, I'm picking up right where I left off with the bad vibes. I think I'm gonna head home and feel sorry for myself for a while.

The Justice League began the flight back through the black expanse toward Earth. Superman moved alongside Supergirl. We've got some time to pass, he thought at her. How have you been lately?

Supergirl shrugged, then looked at Superman and saw he wasn't simply making small talk. As they flew, she started to think, Well, I've been thinking about relocating. Midway City seems like a good place for a new start...

JOYFUL LETTERS of ACCOLADES

Or

JUICY LISTS of ACCUSATIONS

Can be sent to badblood51@hotmail.com

I haven't gotten any e-mail yet, (well, unless I count an aside from Dreslinski in a completely off-topic message) but I maintain hope that someone out there's got something to say. Be the first on your block to get your letter printed, kiddees! Send an e-mail today!!!

NEXT ISSUE: The JLA doesn't know it yet, but they're about to have a really bad day! In their own Watchtower, they will find themselves under attack from a force of warriors who seem to have come from the twisted side of the mirror. But these are not the equals of the Justice League ... these are improved models who may just be superior! Don't miss the explosive results!