Infinite Justice: Beyond (Marvel,DC,DBZ X/Over, IC, Open)

[Osnil]

"Freeze was a fool anyway," Penguin muttered, "too birdbrained for my taste."

"So what do we do now?" Jenny asked.

"We could give the GCPD a tip that Salis is going to attack there tonight?" suggested Jenny.

"They won't do a thing," Penguin replied.

"Riddle me this, what do you do when the GCPD is corrupt, and ruffians are running all over Gotham?" asked the Riddler.

"What is it, Dad?" asked Jenny.

"Call the Batman," suggested Penguin.

"How? Hack their system?" asked Jenny.

"Or we create a Batsignal to tip them off," suggested the Riddler, "Batman might be gone but his sidekicks are not."

Later, atop one of the Skyscrapers, Jenny flickered on a light. Deep into the night sky, the image of the Bat appeared. "I hope this works," she muttered.

Elena's eyes flicked up, seeing the Bat-Signal. It could be a trap, or someone genuinely wanted to find a Bat. Right now, she needed allies, so she really didn't have a choice. Launching herself into the air, as she approached the Bat-Signal, she turned herself invisible. Lurking in the shadows still, she said gruffly, "You called. What would cause the Penguin and the RIddler to call for a Bat. You've attracted whoever knows how many parties, so start talking. Quickly."

Jenny didn't even turn around. She may not have Superman's hearing, but close enough. "So you finally decided to show up?" She rolled her eyes, "I could hear you two blocks away, you know. Your buddy Salis killed Mr. Freeze for the information I'm offering you. That's pretty valued information then. In exchange for this information, you will give me protection from certain parties. Do we have a deal? And by the way how did you know that the Riddler and Penguin were involved? I was the only one here." She finally turned around, "Salis is a dangerous opponent. You're gonna have to beat him to who he's after."
Shield Base in Gotham
"Batsignal sighted!" one of the operatives on the computer said, "Fury ordered that we work with the Bats. He trusts them for some reason."

"That means that I have to go and meet them, right?" asked Darren, sipping a cup of coffee.

"Exactly," the operative replied.

Darren slipped on his Green Lantern Ring. "I'll be back." He went out the door.

"Wait, was that a threat?" asked the operative.

[The Starlight]

Elena's eyes flicked up, seeing the Bat-Signal. It could be a trap, or someone genuinely wanted to find a Bat. Right now, she needed allies, so she really didn't have a choice. Launching herself into the air, as she approached the Bat-Signal, she turned herself invisible. Lurking in the shadows still, she said gruffly, "You called. What would cause the Penguin and the RIddler to call for a Bat. You've attracted whoever knows how many parties, so start talking. Quickly."

Jenny didn't even turn around. She may not have Superman's hearing, but close enough. "So you finally decided to show up?" She rolled her eyes, "I could hear you two blocks away, you know. Your buddy Salis killed Mr. Freeze for the information I'm offering you. That's pretty valued information then. In exchange for this information, you will give me protection from certain parties. Do we have a deal? And by the way how did you know that the Riddler and Penguin were involved? I was the only one here." She finally turned around, "Salis is a dangerous opponent. You're gonna have to beat him to who he's after."

"And I suppose these certain parties include Salis?" she asked. "Fine. If the information is worthwhile, you'll receive protection from your certain parties. I will not, however, protect you from the law. If it's something I already know, which I hope not, no protection. That's the deal." she said.

Hearing Jenny's next question, she smirked, "Because I'm Batgirl." feeling it unnecessary to alert Jenny to the fact that she smelled of Penguin and the Riddler cane on her back was a clear sign of their relations. And moreover, she knew most things happening in Gotham. "I already know who Salis is after. But pray tell, what is this important information."

She heard the ding of the elevator. It was far too late for someone to be heading to their room. Which meant someone was heading up here. "We've got company," she said softly, "though with your super hearing I suppose you heard that," motioning the girl to stay there, drawing herself back into the shadows.

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

The GCD Runner, no longer whistling, slowly walked out of the elevator. "What the... That's odd. There's no one here. The Commissioner is gonna be pissed." He sighed.

[The Starlight]

The GCD Runner, no longer whistling, slowly walked out of the elevator. "What the... That's odd. There's no one here. The Commissioner is gonna be pissed." He sighed.

Batgirl stepped out of the shadows, her eyes glowing through the cowl, her uniform turned completely black. "And pray tell, who is this Commissioner?" she said, directly behind him. She pressed a Batarang into his neck. "Don't turn around. Answer the question."

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

The GCD Runner, no longer whistling, slowly walked out of the elevator. "What the... That's odd. There's no one here. The Commissioner is gonna be pissed." He sighed.

Batgirl stepped out of the shadows, her eyes glowing through the cowl, her uniform turned completely black. "And pray tell, who is this Commissioner?" she said, directly behind him. She pressed a Batarang into his neck. "Don't turn around. Answer the question."

"The-The-The-The Commissioner i-is my boss. O-Our boss at the GCD!" The runner, now as pale as cloth, stuttered. "A-Are you the n-new Bat?"

[The Starlight]

Batgirl stepped out of the shadows, her eyes glowing through the cowl, her uniform turned completely black. "And pray tell, who is this Commissioner?" she said, directly behind him. She pressed a Batarang into his neck. "Don't turn around. Answer the question."

"The-The-The-The Commissioner i-is my boss. O-Our boss at the GCD!" The runner, now as pale as cloth, stuttered. "A-Are you the n-new Bat?"

"And the GCD stands for what? What is its objective? How many are there of you? What is the hierarchy? Where's its base? Everything you know, you better tell me." Batgirl said, not answering the question.

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

"The-The-The-The Commissioner i-is my boss. O-Our boss at the GCD!" The runner, now as pale as cloth, stuttered. "A-Are you the n-new Bat?"

"And the GCD stands for what? What is its objective? How many are there of you? What is the hierarchy? Where's its base? Everything you know, you better tell me." Batgirl said, not answering the question.

"Gotham City D-Defenders. The c-cops and Masks abandoned us, so we're t-taking their place. I... I don't know how many of us there are. Around half of us are out on patrol so I'd say... F-Forty? Fifty? The Commissioner gathered a bunch of the old gangs to make the GCD. Hier-archy? You mean, like, ranks? There's just four- Commissioner, Reclaimer, Officer, Runner. I-I'm a Runner. A-and our Headquarters is a couple buildings down at the old Warehouse sector at the Docks. L-Listen, the Commissioner had standing orders for you to be invited down to HQ if we ever found you. Listen, man, I signed up to protect my family- To fight Two-Face and Vannis, not the Bat!"

[Tomia]

John Morgan
The Flame guard watched the interaction between the woman who seemed to be the new Batgirl speaking with another woman carrying a cane of some sort. Batgirl then disappeared as someone came up the elevator and soon she reappeared behind him, holding a weapon to his neck and began interrogating him. Flame Guard was impressed, she certainly seemed to know what she's doing. He continued to watch from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal his presence to her.

[The Starlight]

"And the GCD stands for what? What is its objective? How many are there of you? What is the hierarchy? Where's its base? Everything you know, you better tell me." Batgirl said, not answering the question.

"Gotham City D-Defenders. The c-cops and Masks abandoned us, so we're t-taking their place. I... I don't know how many of us there are. Around half of us are out on patrol so I'd say... T-Twenty? Thirty? The Commissioner gathered a bunch of the old gangs to make the GCD. Hier-archy? You mean, like, ranks? There's just four- Commissioner, Reclaimer, Officer, Runner. I-I'm a Runner. A-and our Headquarters is a couple buildings down at the old Warehouse sector at the Docks. L-Listen, the Commissioner had standing orders for you to be invited down to HQ if we ever found you. Listen, man, I signed up to protect my family- To fight Two-Face and Vannis, not the Bat!"

Elena removed the Batarang. "Gordon was severely injured by one of his own. As for the Masks, I am still here, am I not? I don't like the idea of a gang police, but if you speak truly, then you and I are on the same side... for now. Go tell your Commissioner to expect me, I'll be there in a few hours to speak with him. The deal will be this, "We work together to restore order to Gotham by taking down Two-Face and Vannis, and the GCD will disband, either joining the police when it's reformed, or laying down their arms and returning to domestic life. You're free to go. And for the record, yes, I am the new Bat." Elena said, letting him go.

She gazed at her surroundings, noticing another person hiding in the shadows. With normal eyes, she would've have seen him, but she perceived light differently than most. Tossing up the Batarang, she caught and then hurled it in the figure's direction, the projectile flashing before it buried itself just beside his head. "Friend or foe?" she called out, tossing up another Batarang to herself.

[Tomia]

John Morgan
The Flame Guard was still sitting on the rooftop silently when suddenly a bat shaped projectile came flying based his head and hit the wall behind him. Rather than get angry, he smiled when he saw Batgirl aim another one and ask if he was friend or foe. His suit manipulated the light that he absorbed so that he had nearly perfect vision in darkness. "Well, the answer to that question depends on who asks it." He called to her from the darkness before humping down to her. "In your case though, the answer is friend." He said once he was in full view.

"I am the Flame Guard." He said to her, holdong his hand out in greeting. "I've patrolled cities across the country, Starling, Central, Keystone, but this is my first time in Gotham. I've heard things are bad around here and I figured I'd come by to help. So you're the new bat huh? I'm afraid to say I never met the old one, but I must say I'm impressed."

[The Starlight]

John Morgan
The Flame Guard was still sitting on the rooftop silently when suddenly a bat shaped projectile came flying based his head and hit the wall behind him. Rather than get angry, he smiled when he saw Batgirl aim another one and ask if he was friend or foe. His suit manipulated the light that he absorbed so that he had nearly perfect vision in darkness. "Well, the answer to that question depends on who asks it." He called to her from the darkness before humping down to her. "In your case though, the answer is friend." He said once he was in full view.

"I am the Flame Guard." He said to her, holdong his hand out in greeting. "I've patrolled cities across the country, Starling, Central, Keystone, but this is my first time in Gotham. I've heard things are bad around here and I figured I'd come by to help. So you're the new bat huh? I'm afraid to say I never met the old one, but I must say I'm impressed."

Elena nodded to him. "Batgirl," shaking his hand in response. "You're correct in that things are bad here, and I'll admit that I do need some help. Welcome to Gotham. As for me being impressive, let's first see if I can restore order, then you can call me impressive or ineffective."

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

"Wait a second- You're the guy that melted all the guns down at the Docks!" The Runner suddenly realized. "Dammit man, we were going to use those guns." He sighed, then suddenly realized he was talking to a Mask who could kill him with a glance. "Er... I'm just gonna head back to HQ now." He turned and began walking (rather rapidly) to the elevator.

[Tomia]

John Morgan
The Flame Guard was still sitting on the rooftop silently when suddenly a bat shaped projectile came flying based his head and hit the wall behind him. Rather than get angry, he smiled when he saw Batgirl aim another one and ask if he was friend or foe. His suit manipulated the light that he absorbed so that he had nearly perfect vision in darkness. "Well, the answer to that question depends on who asks it." He called to her from the darkness before humping down to her. "In your case though, the answer is friend." He said once he was in full view.

"I am the Flame Guard." He said to her, holdong his hand out in greeting. "I've patrolled cities across the country, Starling, Central, Keystone, but this is my first time in Gotham. I've heard things are bad around here and I figured I'd come by to help. So you're the new bat huh? I'm afraid to say I never met the old one, but I must say I'm impressed."

Elena nodded to him. "Batgirl," shaking his hand in response. "You're correct in that things are bad here, and I'll admit that I do need some help. Welcome to Gotham. As for me being impressive, let's first see if I can restore order, then you can call me impressive or ineffective."

"I like the attitude, now what can I do to help?" He asked her. Despite being a superhero John also had the personality of a soldier. He knew when to take orders and when to give them. He'd serve as muscle in this fight, since Batgirl knew the city much better than he did. He then heard the GCD member complain about John destroying his gang's guns. "Ya, that's why I destroyed them." He called back plainly before he ran off.

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

Elena nodded to him. "Batgirl," shaking his hand in response. "You're correct in that things are bad here, and I'll admit that I do need some help. Welcome to Gotham. As for me being impressive, let's first see if I can restore order, then you can call me impressive or ineffective."

"I like the attitude, now what can I do to help?" He asked her. Despite being a superhero John also had the personality of a soldier. He knew when to take orders and when to give them. He'd serve as muscle in this fight, since Batgirl knew the city much better than he did. He then heard the GCD member complain about John destroying his gang's guns. "Ya, that's why I destroyed them." He called back plainly before he ran off.

The GCD member paused as he reached the elevator. "We're on your damn side!" He called back, astonished.

[Osnil]

Listening to the conversation at hand, Jenny smiled, "Now the information is that Salis is going to raid the Iceberg Lounge in an attempt to kill Two-face. I assume you didn't know."

At this moment, a figure flew up to the tower. It was Cyberlantern. His eyes darted back and forth from Jenny to Batgirl to Flame Guard. "I am Darren Wilde of Shield. Some call me the Cyberlantern. I have been ordered to cooperate with the Bats fully." He turned to Jenny, whose face was white, and who was edging toward the elevator. "Do I know you?" he asked, "You look familiar."

Jenny nervously stuttered, "N-no you don't. I just thought I'd warn the Bats about something big." She leaned toward Batgirl and whispered, "Protect me."

[The Starlight]

"I like the attitude, now what can I do to help?" He asked her. Despite being a superhero John also had the personality of a soldier. He knew when to take orders and when to give them. He'd serve as muscle in this fight, since Batgirl knew the city much better than he did. He then heard the GCD member complain about John destroying his gang's guns. "Ya, that's why I destroyed them." He called back plainly before he ran off.

"I have a plan. Parts of it are still in motion, but I need more personnel and fighters. That's where you'll come in. Depending on other parts of the plan, I will let you know your part."

Listening to the conversation at hand, Jenny smiled, "Now the information is that Salis is going to raid the Iceberg Lounge in an attempt to kill Two-face. I assume you didn't know."

At this moment, a figure flew up to the tower. It was Cyberlantern. His eyes darted back and forth from Jenny to Batgirl to Flame Guard. "I am Darren Wilde of Shield. Some call me the Cyberlantern. I have been ordered to cooperate with the Bats fully." He turned to Jenny, whose face was white, and who was edging toward the elevator. "Do I know you?" he asked, "You look familiar."

Jenny nervously stuttered, "N-no you don't. I just thought I'd warn the Bats about something big." She leaned toward Batgirl and whispered, "Protect me."

"I'm not particularly surprised, but I did not know that, so I suppose that yes, our deal is on,," Batgirl said, coating her in a nearly invisible coat of light. That would protect her from bullets at the least." she flicked her eyes up to see the Cyberlantern, mentally sighing. "Let me see your papers and credentials," she said, holding out a gloved palm."And what are your other orders, besides cooperating with me?" she asked.

---

Valancy filed in for breakfast. Today, was Eric's funeral. Her eyes flicked to Katie, not being able to imagine how she might feel. She wanted to give her friend a big, long hug and then have a good cry, but Katie had isolated herself, and she would respect that. "Good morning guys. Thanks for making breakfast, Cora." she said softly, as she took her portion and sat down to eat. She could'n't stop blaming herself. If she had just finished the antidote earlier, they could have left the base and started to look for Jasmine. It wouldn't have been very hard, she could have talked to a bloodhound, and tracked Jasmine using her blood. But she hadn't, and Eric was dead.

But she had no intentions of letting that murderer run free. After the funeral, Valancy was going to find her and bring her to justice. They weren't called the Justice Queens for nothing, Val thought to herself.

[Osnil]

"I like the attitude, now what can I do to help?" He asked her. Despite being a superhero John also had the personality of a soldier. He knew when to take orders and when to give them. He'd serve as muscle in this fight, since Batgirl knew the city much better than he did. He then heard the GCD member complain about John destroying his gang's guns. "Ya, that's why I destroyed them." He called back plainly before he ran off.

"I have a plan. Parts of it are still in motion, but I need more personnel and fighters. That's where you'll come in. Depending on other parts of the plan, I will let you know your part."

Listening to the conversation at hand, Jenny smiled, "Now the information is that Salis is going to raid the Iceberg Lounge in an attempt to kill Two-face. I assume you didn't know."

At this moment, a figure flew up to the tower. It was Cyberlantern. His eyes darted back and forth from Jenny to Batgirl to Flame Guard. "I am Darren Wilde of Shield. Some call me the Cyberlantern. I have been ordered to cooperate with the Bats fully." He turned to Jenny, whose face was white, and who was edging toward the elevator. "Do I know you?" he asked, "You look familiar."

Jenny nervously stuttered, "N-no you don't. I just thought I'd warn the Bats about something big." She leaned toward Batgirl and whispered, "Protect me."

"I'm not particularly surprised, but I did not know that, so I suppose that yes, our deal is on,," Batgirl said, coating her in a nearly invisible coat of light. That would protect her from bullets at the least." she flicked her eyes up to see the Cyberlantern, mentally sighing. "Let me see your papers and credentials," she said, holding out a gloved palm."And what are your other orders, besides cooperating with me?" she asked.

---

Jenny sighed in relief as she made a dash toward the elevator. She watched intently as Cyberlantern landed on the rooftop and handed Batgirl a folder. "Everything you need to know is in this file. My purpose, aside from keeping an eye on the Bats, is to find a girl located in Gotham." He handed Batgirl another folder. "Everything is in here. She escaped from our safehouse while it was raided by Hydra agents. We have reason to believe that she is in Gotham. She is a mutant with DNA from one of this city's villains-the Riddler. She's bound to go looking for him. Let me know if you see her."

[New Neros]

-Snip

The brutal punishment that Ashy unleashed into Val felt like a punishment for being so worn out so quickly in their bawl, the flurry of punches, kicks, jabs, and strikes hitting deep and forceful impact each time they landed. She doubled over from the gut punches, only to be smacked in the face and sent rearing to the side. She was tired, worn out, out of breath from that last throw, but a second wind brewed in her lungs. She eyed her opponent carefully, looking for the right moment to go back on the offensive, just one shot, Val reckoned, in order to win the fight by knockout. Val saw her opportunity and seized it, stepping forward into a single straight punch - pouring her all into that one final blow.

Just as Val's padded knuckles smashed into Ashy's face, she felt a similar, burning hot sensation spread across her left cheek. Val's head was thrown to the side, the hot feeling turning into a red, warm feeling that faded her vision into a soft pink color, following a quick jolt of white light, revealing only a black canopy with colorful shapes to her eyes. It was only for a moment, but Val sprang open her eyes once more, her view of the side of the mat, staring directly at the bottom of Ashy's feet. "...Wyah?" She asked, a large muscular hand grabbing her shoulder, lifting that arm and putting it across her torso.

She tried to move but just felt so tired, so Val watched the beefy back of Mir as he tended to Ashy, who seemed to fair just as well. Her head bobbed about, Ashy's eyes failing to affix themselves on a particular thing, until she too snapped back to life. Val weakly pushed up on one of her arms, the joint shaking at the elbow as her nervous system slowly came back to life. "Aufersan." She said, forming a word in her head that didn't transfer to her lips all too well. "Ah.." She sounded out, trying to regain her speech.

"Relax, Val. You both got quite the haymakers to the face."

"Aht washn't ah heihmayker..." Val said, throwing her body into a sitting position, her upper torso leaning lazily over her legs and hips. "Aht wash ah sta-straht pawnch..." She shook her head a bit, trying to clean off the fuzzy bits on her mind, surprisingly fixing her voice in the process. "Straight punch!" She said with clarity, nodding her head at the accomplishment. Val looked over to Ashy, the girl also fairly awake. "You fought good. Real good. I wouldn't mind...training with you, sometime." Val said, raising her knees up and resting her head on them, "Just...not right now." She joked, Mir gently laying an icepack on Val's head, walking over and kneeling down to Ashy, presenting her with one as well.

"I'll be honest, it was quite the fight." Mir whispered to Ashy, but loud enough for Val to hear as well. "You looked pretty awesome." He said with a sweet, genuine smile.

[Krytonus]

My first night in the city. New York was a huge place, much bigger than San Francisco. A teeming hive of people, all crammed together in huge towers of concrete and steel. Thousands of people. And I was going to find a crime boss. A very secretive crime boss, with some of the best security in the world. Just me. One guy versus an entire legion of hardened criminals, but I was not resting until I knew San Francisco was free of Kingpin’s dealings. I stand on the top of my new home, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. Below me, New York glitters and shines, hundreds of thousands of lights making an artificial day even in the middle of the night. I take a deep breath beneath my helmet. The visor fogs up slightly. I need a new helmet. Something better than a black motorcycle helmet. Later.
I spent the day learning as much as I could about Kingpin. Not much is known about him, other than he likes to get more involved than a normal crime boss. Apparently he’s seven feet tall and wide as an ox. He wears a white suit and uses a cane topped with diamonds when he needs to get dirty. He’s also bald as an egg. Other than that weak physical description, nothing substantial is really known. Where he’s from, how old he is, his family… Nothing. Trying to find Kingpin first was obviously ridiculous, so I decided to change focus towards his gang. There’s some speculation over which gang he runs. He could be in charge of all of them, for all I know. But, it’s most believed by both official sources and online sources that he runs some gang who apparently operate most heavily in Hell's Kitchen, so I guess that’s where I’m going.
Maybe I’ll see some activity, maybe I won’t, but at least it’s a start.

[Tomia]

John Morgan
The Flame Guard nodded to Batgirl, glad to see that she had a plan. Then a cyborg came flying toward them, telling the Batgirl that he has orders from SHIELD to cooperate with her. The Batgirl seemed suspicious, which was good, you should always be suspicious of strangers.

JQ Headquaters
Cora waved to Valancy as she cooked, "Hi Valancy" she said to her in greeting as she took two plates and filled them with pancakes, handing one to Katie and one to Valancy. Cora knew that Valancy blamed herself for what had happened. Cora had tried to comfort her and tell her it wasn't true but Valancy was determined to find Jasmine. Cora would help her as well, as she wanted Jasmine brought to justice too.

Meanwhile Roy ate a bowl of cereal in Valancy's apartment alone. Valancy had gone up to the JQ headquarters and she didn't allow him up there. He didn't blame her. He had tried to hack into their computer just a few nights ago. He actually really liked living with Valancy so far. Though he seemed to have picked a bad time to arrive. He hadn't told Valancy about his past yet, nor had she really asked. She had been very focused on finding the person who had killed Katie's boyfriend.

[The Starlight]

-snip-

Elena flicked through the file, reading all of it, closing it shut. She opened up the other file, to see a picture of Jenny staring back at her, along with her information. "Keep an eye on me? I don't think so. Your safehouse? Do you mean your prison? Blood does not determine someone's legacy, neither does locking a person up. I don't respond well to spying or prejudice. So do me a favor. Get out of my city, and tell Fury not to send his goons after me if he wants info. All he has to do is call. Don't make me go visit that base of yours that you think I don't know about." she growled, before continuing. "The Riddler is nowhere close to being my #1 priority. He hasn't made any trouble. I have no doubt that you could be a good ally, and you believe you're doing the right thing, but I don't want the government involved. If they had wanted to get involved, SHIELD should have sent someone while the war was going on. War's over, already lost. This is the resistance, the counterattack. And here, I am the law. We do things my way around here. Not SHIELD's way, not ARGUS' way, my way. So if you genuinely want to help, you're under my command, and mine solely. If not, then you can go. Your choice. "

JQ Headquaters
Cora waved to Valancy as she cooked, "Hi Valancy" she said to her in greeting as she took two plates and filled them with pancakes, handing one to Katie and one to Valancy. Cora knew that Valancy blamed herself for what had happened. Cora had tried to comfort her and tell her it wasn't true but Valancy was determined to find Jasmine. Cora would help her as well, as she wanted Jasmine brought to justice too.

Meanwhile Roy ate a bowl of cereal in Valancy's apartment alone. Valancy had gone up to the JQ headquarters and she didn't allow him up there. He didn't blame her. He had tried to hack into their computer just a few nights ago. He actually really liked living with Valancy so far. Though he seemed to have picked a bad time to arrive. He hadn't told Valancy about his past yet, nor had she really asked. She had been very focused on finding the person who had killed Katie's boyfriend.

"Hello Cora. Thanks for the pancakes." Valancy said, trying to cheer herself up for Cora and Katie. She took a bite of the pancakes after pouring on some honey. "These are good, Cora!" she said appreciatively. "They taste just like my pancakes..." Val trailed off, taking another bite. "Is this my recipe?" she asked, mock glaring towards Cora.

[Tomia]

The Flame Guard stood by silently as Batgirl spoke to the SHIELD operative. She certainly had the attitude of a proven battlefield commander. She seemed like a natural leader. John was glad this was the person in charge here. This was someone he could work with.

Cora smiled when Valancy thanked her, "You're welcome Valancy, I'm glad you like them." She gave a sheepish laugh and blushed a bit when Valancy asked if it was her recipe. Luckily she didn't seem actually mad about it. "Well ya kinda. I never actually cooked for anyone before I came here." She admitted. "Besides, yours taste so good, I couldn't resist." She added flatteringly with a joking smile. She hoped maybe her and Valancy joking around could help cheer up Katie, at least a little.

[Osnil]

-snip-

Elena flicked through the file, reading all of it, closing it shut. She opened up the other file, to see a picture of Jenny staring back at her, along with her information. "Keep an eye on me? I don't think so. Your safehouse? Do you mean your prison? Blood does not determine someone's legacy, neither does locking a person up. I don't respond well to spying or prejudice. So do me a favor. Get out of my city, and tell Fury not to send his goons after me if he wants info. All he has to do is call. Don't make me go visit that base of yours that you think I don't know about." she growled, before continuing. "The Riddler is nowhere close to being my #1 priority. He hasn't made any trouble. I have no doubt that you could be a good ally, and you believe you're doing the right thing, but I don't want the government involved. If they had wanted to get involved, SHIELD should have sent someone while the war was going on. War's over, already lost. This is the resistance, the counterattack. And here, I am the law. We do things my way around here. Not SHIELD's way, not ARGUS' way, my way. So if you genuinely want to help, you're under my command, and mine solely. If not, then you can go. Your choice. "

After Batgirl finished speaking, Darren said, "I am a government agent. Laying a hand on me isn't a good idea. Our safehouses are a necessary means to the safety of certain individuals who are in extreme danger. And we can just move our base if we need to. And we'll move it any time you find it. And you can be sure that I will find her and nothing you can do will stop me. However, let's get on with this. If you wish, I can have three agents at your disposal, as well as myself and my operative."

Jenny, in the meantime had cowered in fear and fled to the elevator. Hearing the ding, Darren said, "That girl that was just here. That was her, wasn't it?" He facepalmed with his good hand. "Did you think it would be this easy to get past Shield? Bat or no Bat, I'm bringing her to base. Nothing you can say will stop it." He then barked orders at his awaiting agents, "She's in the elevator. Don't let her get away."

[New Neros]

The Darkstar Crisis
Countdown to the Ragnarok War

Maxwell Morningstar stood next to the middle-aged man as they both overlooked a lush, vibrant world free of mankind's putrid touch, the land green and the rivers a calming, crystalline blue. The older gentleman looked upon it with longing eyes, while Maxwell looked from the planet to the man and back again, wondering what ancient wonders this man, Fatherstar, had seen in his days upon this this world. "Starhaven." Father said calmly, Max staring deep at the planet's surface. "She's our home. A home like Madworld." He said, almost teary eyed, Max understanding the meaning.

"You're not from Starhaven?" Max asked, feeling like he should comfort the man or something.

"No, no," Fatherstar began, "Our kind was once lost among the cosmos. We found each other, and banded together. Our home is when we're with one another." He gave a reluctant smile, though, the smirk diverting the tears from flowing naturally. "Of course, that's the history after the Secret Wars. The way we remember it is much, much different. We came into existence on Battleworld - we were the protectors and executors of justice in the Madlands. Our Baron was a crazed lunatic, who searched endlessly for one man in particular, one who God-Doom said died when the Multiverse ended."

Max nodded, listening intently to the story. "But that man - you - came back after eight years. In that time, Maxwell, we formulated a contingency plan to take him down - his obsession with you bordered on the insane, and practically ran the Madlands into the ground on his constant searches and mobilizations on a the smallest hint of your whereabouts. The Star Clan was made to serve the will of Doom, not Darkstar."

"Tell me then," Max began, interrupting Fatherstar, "Who is Darkstar? What does he want with me?"

Fatherstar turned to Mad Max, his face dauntless and stern, uncompromising in sincerity and honesty, "Maxwell, during the Last Incursion, you traveled to the Ultimate Universe and destroyed their Life Raft. It was bold, regrettable, but you did what thought was best given the circumstances to ensure your own universe survived. In that explosion, there was but one man who survived. There's no easy way to say this, Maxwell, but that lone survivor was that universes' version of you. You killed his family, his loved ones, and everyone he loves and protected, and Doom could not bring them back on Battleworld. He abandoned the name Morningstar entirely, and now goes by the name Darkstar." It was sobering for Max to take in, that he was the entire cause of this problem.

"...I'm sorry." Max said, looking down at his feet, narrowing his eyes at his shortsightedness during the final days of the Multiverse.

"I know. We know, but Darkstar doesn't, and really wouldn't care. He's busy searching the new multiverse for you in particular, and destroys whatever universe he searches. We don't know where he is, but we do know that he's coming, and that we want to save this universe in particular. To us, your own sins are irrelevant, compared to Darkstar's at least, stemming from Battleworld and this new crisis. Our multiverse is too young to survive this new threat, this...Darkstar Crisis, and the only man capable of stopping Darkstar is Morningstar."

[The Silhouette of Adventure]

Jenny, in the meantime had cowered in fear and fled to the elevator. Hearing the ding, Darren said, "That girl that was just here. That was her, wasn't it?" He facepalmed with his good hand. "Did you think it would be this easy to get past Shield? Bat or no Bat, I'm bringing her to base. Nothing you can say will stop it." He then barked orders at his awaiting agents, "She's in the elevator. Don't let her get away."

Meanwhile, the Runner stood in the Lobby, talking with the Commissioner.
"...Lastly, the new Mask from the warehouse is actually a SHIELD agent, going after one of the Bat's new allies."
"You're telling me that an agent of SHIELD thinks it's a good idea to get on the bad side of a Bat?" The Commissioner asked, incredulous. "He should know better than that."
"Not seein' me disagree. The Bat said she'd be at the Docks in an hour- I don't think SHIELD is going to stop that." The Runner replied. "Just so you know, she doesn't like our end game. She wants the GCPD reformed, and us a part of it. She doesn't trust the Defenders as a standalone organization."
"Too bad." The Commissioner growled. "On your way back to HQ, I need you to stop by-"
"Hold that thought boss, the elevator just dinged." The Runner interrupted. "I'm gonna let you go. I had at least 3 Masks up there, and one coming down the elevator doesn't seem good for the structural integrity of this building."
"Did... Did you just quip?" The Commissioner sighed. "Get back to HQ, I'll debrief you when you get here. Try not to die."
"I'll try." He put the radio back on his belt and pulled out his twin pistols, eyeing the elevator. "I better get a raise for this."