The world's greatest heroes maintain a vigilant guardianship of Earth from their base on the moon. When the planet is threatened they are immediately dispatched to deal with whoever their enemy might be. When villains see the approach of these men and women their blood freezes and their limbs go numb with fear, for these are no ordinary heroes they face! No, for this group consists of the best of the best! It is the one, the only, Justice League of America! And within its ranks are the greatest heroes the universe has ever seen!

"War at the bottom of the world"

Issue #287

By Ralph L. Angelo, Jr.

“My name is Nightwing, no before you ask that is NOT the name I was born with. But it’s the only name you need be concerned with. If you are hearing this message it means I’m dead. Me as well as several other great heroes who have saved the world many times over. Ugghh. Excuse the interruptions, I’m fighting for my life as I’m verbally transposing this. Fighting for my life against the very man who trained me.”

Nightwing leaps as a strangely all black clad Batman, now calling himself ‘Nightmare’ punches the spot where Nightwing had just been standing, the younger man barely escaping being hit.

Nightwing steals a glance at his teammates, Captain Atom, Guy Gardner, Zatanna, Firestorm, Blue Devil and Gold’n. All are similarly engaged with strangely familiar, yet bizarrely different antagonists. All are dressed in black from head to toe; all stare blank eyed as if they’ve never seen their foes before.

All save one, The green armored Catalyst hovers nearby laughing loudly from within his armor. “Kill them my friends, these fools stand in our way of ruling the Earth. With them out of the way nothing can stop us!”

Gold’n shoots a slit eyed glance towards Catalyst angrily as she rolls through the air, avoiding a heat ray vision blast from Tomorrow man, formerly known as Superman, as she does the black armored Mechano-Man, Steel previously, grabs her ankle, then slams her towards the ice a hundred feet below them! She smashes through it painfully and instantly both men dive beneath the ice after her.

Nearby Guy Gardner works feverishly to avoid getting killed by two Green Lanterns, now calling themselves ‘Green Gladiators’ though similarly dressed in black, save for the green glow of their rings. Both men swarm over Guy, hitting him with huge spiked fists, machine guns, tractor trailers, laser beam toting dancing girls and pure ring energy blasts as Guy shields himself and moves as quickly as possible to merely stay alive.

Fifty feet away, Captain Atom punches the ‘Saturnian Star-Stalker’ (J’onn J’onnzz) solidly across the jaw, slamming him backwards. “J’onn! Wake up fight this! Your Martian mind should be able to break free of this, try! You’re potentially the most powerful psychic on the planet!” Captain Atom implores, as he swoops above the powerful Manhunter.

J’onn shakes his head for a moment, then quickly changes shape into a huge serpent, that enwraps Captain Atom in jet black coils, seeking to crush the life out of him!

Captain Atom begins to glow like a star, exploding with quantum energy outwards, blasting J’onn away!

A hundred feet west, Firestorm fires blast after blast at the black clad ‘Speed Demon’ who darts around his blasts effortlessly.

“I’ll kill you Firestorm, and enjoy myself doing it!” Wally West shouts as he stops and begins pounding the icy outcropping before him faster then the eye can follow, driving jagged foot long ice daggers at Firestorm as fast as a machine gun could throw bullets!

“Cut it out, you idiot!” Firestorm shouts as he covers his face! Suddenly he flares up brightly, flame engulfing his form from his head down, “FIRE-storm, get it brain dead?”

“I’ll kill you, Firestorm.” The Speed Demon reiterates.

“A man of many words huh Flasheroo? I think I like you better when you’re not trying to take off my head.” Firestorm peppers the ground, trying to hit Speed Demon, who easily escapes every blast.

“Eerf ruo sdneirf morf siht dnim gnibmun lleps!” Zatanna invokes backwards, but nothing happens!

“It’s not a spell.” She shouts to all present. “Whatever happened to them there’s no magic involved. At least none I can affect.”

Suddenly a powerful hand wraps around her throat from behind, lofting her upwards! ‘Amazon’ cackles frighteningly as she begins to crush Zatanna’s throat, not allowing her to speak!

Zee fights to stay alive kicking and struggling, but Wonder Woman is too strong, ignoring the Sorceresses attempts to free herself. Zatanna’s vision begins to go black, her eyes cloud over and roll up into her head, when suddenly the ice beneath their feet explodes upwards, as Gold’n erupts upwards from beneath the ice! Rocketing right towards the black encased Wonder Woman!

“Hey Wonder Woman, try on someone your own size!” She shouts as she slams her shoulder into the mighty Amazon, knocking both Wonder Woman and Zatanna apart, scattering them!

“You are not ‘My own size’ little girl.” Amazon roars as she swings a mighty punch at Gold’n, knocking her flying!

“Unngghh!” Gold’n grunts as she rolls through the air, bouncing several times off the ice floe painfully, before skidding to a halt.

“Ouch.” She thinks to herself. “That REALLY hurt. I’m not in her league, she’s gonna kill me.”

Even as that last thought escapes her mind, the ice near her erupts again as both Superman and Steel emerge nearby her in a shower of ice!

“I-I thought I got away.” She mumbles.

“There is no escape, little girl there is only death!” Tomorrow Man states flatly as his eyes glow red, and unleash a blast of heat ray vision directly at Gold’n!

“Nooo!” Shouts Blue Devil as he hurls himself between Superman and Gold’n taking the full blast of heat ray vision himself! He falls smoking into the snow. With a rending sound in the air above him, the raven-haired sorceress Tala appears, her midnight-violet gown pulled taut against her supple form in the Antarctic wind. She points a single finger at Blue Devil and cries, “Desmeftikos!” Immediately, ectoplasmic chains wrap around Blue Devil from his shoulders to his knees, utterly immobilizing him. Tala laughs as she beckoned with the curl of a finger, and the chains draw Blue Devil up into the air beside her. Casting her gaze across the frozen battlefield, Tala exhorts, “Xechname synoliki!” A barely visible shimmering ripple blankets the entire area, touching everyone within it in an instant. With a nod of satisfaction, Tala grasps the spectral chains restraining the dazed Blue Devil, and causes him and herself to vanish.

Nearby Firestorm sees what is about to happen and reacts quickly, as Speed Demon continues to attack him long range.

“Hang on Gold’n, I’ve got your back.” Firestorm calls to her, as he fires energy blasts after the fleet footed former Flash, who disturbingly laughs at Firestorms efforts.

Suddenly Firestorm changes his aim, far ahead of Speed Demon, transmuting the icy surface to rubber, a very soft, and grippy rubber. Speed Demon can’t adjust his foot planting in time, and smashes face first into the now thick and pliable surface. He tumbles uncontrollably, right into the mind numbed Wonder Woman, both roll in a heap for several yards, before smashing into Superman and Steel, as Firestorm encases them all in a pliable goo that stretches as far as they try to take it, but does not rip or break.

“Gold’n get up, that’s not going to hold them for long.”

“What about Kryptonite?” Gold’n asks.

“I don’t want to kill Superman.” Firestorm replies hotly.

“And I don’t want you to, but we’re in trouble here. Real trouble!" Gold'n wants to prove the point by reminding Firestorm that Superman just took someone down, but who was it? Why can't she remember?

“Do it Firestorm,” Nightwing shouts from nearby as he throws explosive globes at Batman’s feet, they explode and Batman, Nightmare as he calls himself now, flips over them effortlessly, kicking Nightwing in the chest, who likewise rolls, away, sweeping his right leg outwards as he falls kicking Batman off his feet, who lands on his left hand, then twists and kicks outwards for Nightwing’s head, but Dick is not there, already having flipped out of the way.

Above, Captain Atom and the Martian Manhunter continue to spar. Quantum blasts sear the sky above as flash vision beams cross with them, providing a colorful light show, if anyone were not too busy to look.

Suddenly Captain Atom fires a powerful quantum blast and finally manages to connect squarely with J’onn’s chest, blasting him through the air, but Captain Atom notices something strange as he does! His eyes widen in recognition!

“The blackness covering them! It’s the same as what we saw on the moon! I just saw it move! It was like throwing a stone into a lake! I saw a ripple! It’s like a second skin on them” He bellows to everyone loudly! “And I know how to get under that skin!”

“Don’t talk, just do it! I’m gettin’ killed here!” Guy shouts as he blocks a huge green fist and a spiked green mace with a yellow shield.

Nightwing steals a glance as he leaps away from Batman’s attack. “He’s got no recollection of who I am.” Nightwing thinks, “He’s just attacking and attacking. I’m faster then him, and I’m a better acrobat but he’s always been stronger then me, and he’s going all out, I’m trying not to hurt him. The man’s my father!”

Captain Atom singes the sky with his power, as he streaks towards J’onn J’onnzz, tackling the mind controlled Martian Manhunter, then he jams his hands into the murky, moving darkness at J’onn’s collar, his hands disappearing, as J’onn struggles in his grasp.

“Everyone keep back I have no idea what this is going to do, it could be very explosive!” Captain Atom shouts aloud.

He feeds his quantum power into and beneath the blackness covering J’onn’s body, and suddenly both men scream as energy pulses through them both, exploding brightly and smashing them away from each other loudly and forcefully! They land limply, both insensate!

With a loud “Spwang!” Superman, Steel, Wonder Woman and the Flash break free of the rubbery elastic goo Firestorm has trapped them in!

“Okay, no more kid gloves.” Firestorm grumbles, as he takes quick aim and turns the air around Superman green, a ball of Kryptonite encases the man of steel and he drops to the ground instantly wracked with pain! Firestorm turns his head then, and lets out a surprised “Whoa!” as he reflexively goes intangible, as Steel’s hammer passes through him harmlessly.

“Enough big guy, take a time out!” Firestorm exclaims as he encases Steel in a much thicker, solid steel cube that instantly bonds to Steel’s suit, leaving only his head free. The cube shaped restraint drops to the ice as Steel continues to struggle within it.

Instantly a black blur is on Firestorm attacking him a hundred times in a second, raining blows on him before he can react. The Flash renders the Nuclear man unconscious almost instantly! Firestorm drops to the ice, unmoving! The mind fogged Flash races away, giggling aloud to himself!

“Noooo!” Shouts Gold’n as she blasts without hesitation, destroying the ice in the Flash’s path, he disappears beneath it as he falls into the hole Gold’n created, as he was moving far to fast to stop!

“Catalyst has disappeared. He must have moved back inside their headquarters.” Nightwing shouts, “I’m going in after him!” As he speaks he grabs Batman by the shoulders and flips over his head, planting his left foot in Batman’s back, and kicking as hard as he can, he sends Batman tumbling while he races towards the building.

“Great, now we’re more alone then ever, an’ half our people are down.” Gardner growls. As both Green Lanterns continue to attack him. He darts upwards, then streaks away at escape velocity. Instantly Hal and Kyle follow, then Guy loops around and doubles back, streaking ground-ward like a hurtling meteor, he suddenly creates a wedge-like ram in front of him of yellow Qwardian energy and splits the two stunned Lanterns like cows off a trains cow catcher!

“Wa-HOO!” Guy shouts as he creates two giant hands and slaps them together with both men between them!

Kyle Raynor drops to the ground, where Guy catches his unconscious body in a huge yellow catcher’s mitt.

But no sooner then he does, a giant green baseball bat smashes him from the air.

“It’s not that easy, Gardner.” The black encased Green Lantern Hal Jordan mutters as he dives down for the killing blow!

Gardner rights himself and accelerates upwards, towards the mind addled Hal Jordan.

“Come an’ get some, Jordan!”

“Come girl, try your might against a real woman!” Amazon boasts, as she snares Gold’n’s legs in her golden lasso and pulls hard, snapping Gold’n off her feet and into the air!

Acting on instinct alone, Gold’n rockets upwards. Then, jerking the Amazon Princess upwards with her, and accelerating at a blistering pace, she begins to dive between the icy protrusions across the frozen surface, smashing Wonder Woman against cliffs and icy outcroppings repeatedly, before Wonder Woman finally grabs her lasso and heaves hard, throwing off Gold’n’s haphazard flight, and driving her hard, face first, arms splaying everywhere, into the frozen wasteland!

“Now I have you!” A fiendishly smiling, black suited Wonder Woman smiles as she flies in to administer the killing blow!

Inside the edifice, Nightwing stealthily moves through deserted hallways, his night vision lenses guiding him through the darkened headquarters.

“They shut everything down here. It must have been when we began fighting outside. This place was cloaked.” He thinks to himself. “I can follow this heat trail down this corridor, and judging by how bright the signature is, I have to believe it’s that armored thug, Catalyst.

He rounds a corner and a humming greets his ears, slowing his approach, Nightwing pads silently, adjusting his lenses in his mask he sees four figures in the inky darkness. One very small, almost child sized, another with a bulbous head, and one decidedly female, which all the darkness in the building seemed to flow from.

And there was one other, the metallic, armored form of Catalyst, standing arrogantly. Arms crossed, an air of almost pompous royalty to his stance and demeanor, as if he looked down on everyone here, as if they were all beneath him. His back was to Nightwing as he spoke.

“Kill the girl now, have Amazon finish her off.”

They were all staring down at a round table with a clear bubble covering its surface. They stood around the ten-foot circular table, which Nightwing realized was actually a viewer. Amazed, he realized they were watching the battle outside.

“I know these others.” He thinks silently, “Psimon, Dr. Psycho, and Nightshade. But what’s she doing here? She’s a heroine. It doesn’t matter, I see what’s going on here. Between the darkness she’s creating, that’s covering the JLA, and the mental powers of the Psimon and Dr. Psycho, That’s how they’re mind controlling everyone. ”

Nightwing pulls a handful of micro sized gas and explosive pellets from his belt, and hurls them into the room, where they land on the table, exploding spectacularly!

Outside Wonder Woman punches Gold’n across the face powerfully, laughing as she does, knocking the girl across the ice like a rag doll! But Gold’n rights herself as anger and dripping blood color her face.

“It’s not gonna be that easy, Wonder Woman. Come an’ get me.”

“My name is Amazon, whelp. It will be the last name you hear before you die!”

She leaps at Gold’n, who stands her ground defiantly, “Prove it granny, let’s see what you’ve got!” The angry, young super heroine answers as she balls both her fists up together and slams Amazon across the face with all her might!

Ba-BOOM!

Wonder Woman is knocked from her feet, as nearby Guy Gardner falls to the ice limply, Hal Jordan follows from above as he creates a spiked green fist to deliver the killing blow!

Gold’n streaks upwards, and fires a blast of energy, driving Wonder Woman down, smashing her back beneath the icy surface. Then turning quickly towards Hal, she blasts him from where she floats, throwing off his aim and saving Guy’s life.

Hal Jordan grins wickedly and flies at Gold’n. “I’m going to enjoy this!” He roars at her as he races across the sky towards her!

Gold’n gulps fearfully, but girds herself as Green Lantern rockets towards her.

But suddenly Jordan pulls up short; he grasps his head and moans loudly, as do all that were attacking the substitute JLA! Batman groans as the blackness runs from his costume, congealing into a puddle on the ice before finally disappearing. He immediately runs to Firestorm and awakens him!

Inside the building, Nightwing kicks Catalyst as hard as he can with all his might, but the armored killer laughs and brushes off the attack. “You’re good Nightwing, but you haven’t got what it takes to stop me. You may have taken these fools out with your attack, but I’m a different matter all together. You’ll never defeat me! I’m a match for Superman” He strafes the floor with blaster energy as Nightwing cartwheels away, simultaneously throwing an explosive batarang at Catalyst’s head.

“Who says I was trying to stop you, you arrogant psychopath? I was just holding you in place for THEM!”

The walls explode in the circular room as the Justice League, the entire Justice League, both regular team and Substitute League alike powerfully tear into the room, all aimed directly at Catalyst!

“You claim to be a match for me Catalyst? Let’s find out once and for all!” Superman growls as he punches Catalyst away like a toy, cracking the armor with one punch!

Catalyst hurtles through the air like a missile! Smashing the dome above their heads as he continues to careen into the sky. “Don’t let him get away!” Batman orders, pointing at Catalyst as he hurtles away uncontrollably from the building.

“We’re on it!” Firestorm answers streaking after the green suited mastermind, with Martian Manhunter, Gold’n and three Lanterns, two Green one Yellow following him!

“The rest of us, find our remaining friends!” Superman orders as he scans the place with his X-ray vision.

Once outside Firestorm encases their armored enemy in a steel sphere that drops to the ice with a thud.

“You fools haven’t won. I’ve allowed for every contingency!” Catalyst taunts, and suddenly his suit explodes powerfully, reacting instantly all three Lanterns put up shields while Firestorm creates a metallic barrier around the explosion area!

Then a second explosion rocks the ground behind them as they all turn to see the once hidden headquarters burst into flame and debris!

“We must help them all!” Martian Manhunter shouts as he flies back immediately!

But amidst the swirling dust several figures are suddenly flying free of the explosive debris!

Superman holds onto Batman and Nightwing, Red Tornado holds Black Canary and Green Arrow aloft in his winds. Aquaman powerfully bursts free from below the ice as all touch down quietly and almost serenely, as if offering a collective sigh of relief.

“Is everyone accounted for?” Captain Atom asks Batman.

“Yes we’re all safe.” Batman replies.

“We should return to the Watchtower and debrief.” J’onn J’onnzz states.

“Uhhhh, about that...” Firestorm begins...

Some hours later, in the former JLA embassy in Gotham city...

“You all did well.” Superman begins, smiling, “Very well actually. You saved everyone here as well as on the planet itself. Catalyst was one step away from world domination.”

“Yes, Superman’s right.” Batman replies, “Even with the loss of the Watchtower, even I have to agree that this was a satisfactory conclusion.”

“You should all be proud of what you accomplished here.” Aquaman offers, “Without you, we’d be under a madman’s thrall and so would the entire world.”

“We want to make sure you understand how thankful we are for what you did. You truly saved the world.” Wonder Woman ends.

“What about Catalyst and the other punks who pulled this whole thing?” Gardner asks.

“The two psychics we captured are under lock and key and Nightshade claims she was being controlled by them as well.” The Martian Manhunter replies. “Catalyst himself we could find no trace of save for the shattered remains of his armor. We assume the man within teleported away.”

“Well as much fun as bein’ beaten up by Hal and Kyle was I gotta git’ I got things to do. Thanks fer the invite, poozers.” Guy states, smiling as his yellow ring powers up, enveloping him in a yellow glow, as he begins to fly towards the door.

“Take care Gardner, see you soon.” Hal waves smiling.

“Lets grab a beer next week, Guy. Your treat.” Kyle calls after the retreating form of Guy Gardner.

Wonder Woman places a hand on Gold’n’s shoulder. “You are a warrior born, young one. I do not remember everything about our battle, but I do remember I was hard pressed. Do not doubt yourself. Your true strength is from within, and it is mighty indeed.”

“Th-thank you.” Is all the awed Gold’n can mutter.

“All of you should remember if we have need of you in the future we won’t hesitate to call.” Batman Finishes.

Superman walks up to Gold’n and hugs her like a kid sister. She smiles warmly and returns the hug, her eyes tearing up.

Zatanna, Firestorm, Captain Atom, and Gold’n say their good-byes and fly away into the night, leaving only one behind.

“Even me?” Nightwing asks, grinning.

“Yes, even you, though you have to work more on your technique. Your elbow was bent a few times, when it shouldn’t have been.”

Nightwing stares at Batman’s serious face, trying to read it, until uncharacteristically, Batman smiles, just the slightest of smiles, for but the most fleeting of moments, but it was there.

And for Nightwing that’s the greatest victory of all...

EPILOGUE

The stairs creak as a figure shrouded in black descends carrying a lit sconce at arm's length. The must of mildew weighs the darkness like humidity on a Mississippi summer night.

“Speak.” Commands the figure into the darkness.

“It is done.” Comes the voice of a sultry woman. “He is secured. Do you have that which we have agreed upon?”

“Not so fast.” Croaks the shrouded figure. Did anybody see you take him? The spell has its limitations.”

A shadow moves closer into the light as a woman takes shape. Standing just outside the illumination the conflict between the light and the dark highlight an image of dark temptation.

She is the seductress of innocence... the mistress of dark desire... She is Tala the Queen of Evil!

“I have done as you have requested...” she replies to the man in black – her sultry charm giving way to mild irritation. “The spell was cast. No one was around when I did it. No one will remember he was ever there. Now, as we agreed.”

The man stands unmoving for a few moments before raising one thin hand into his robes and pulling forth a large skeleton key on a chain of beaded silver skulls and intermittent onyx gems, and casually tosses it in her direction.

“As we agreed.” He rasped. “Our business is concluded.”

A thin smile cuts across her lips as the Queen of Evil probes the chain between her fingers.

“It has indeed. If you should seek my services again, you know how to reach Me.” she says before disappearing into the shadows.

The man searches into the darkness for a moment before uttering, “I do indeed...”

Then, turning his attentions elsewhere, he raises his sconce for a better look. At the far wall three heavy doors of banded oak lie beside one another shut and bolted. From the furthest door the voice of a man can be heard calling out.

“Somebody there? Please... Somebody help me! Anybody!”

The man in black raises the sconce to the bars on the door and looks in. In the far corner Blue Devil strains against heavy shackles which bind him to the wall; beneath him a ward of containment rendering him powerless to call upon his daemonic abilities.

“Who are you?” asks the hero. “Why am I here?”

The man in black merely cackles before lowering the sconce and walking away.

As the reluctant hero calls for his captor to return a deep voice comes from behind the first door as the man in black passes. The voice is calm and without emotion in its delivery.

“They will find you. They will stop you. And then I will kill you.”

The man in black slowly turns towards the voice and gives a sinister chuckle.

“We will see my friend... we shall see.”

And with that he merely walks off leaving his two captives in total darkness with nothing more than the uncertainty of their futures to contemplate.

The further adventures of Blue Devil will be continued very soon ... in a story which begins in the House of Mystery Special 2011! Meanwhile, the JLA must rebuild the Watchtower and continue to defend the Earth, in our next issue! Be here!

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