Post by C_Miller on Sept 9, 2011 0:05:49 GMT -5
Ultimate Justice Society #0
Past Prologue
Rochester, New York. August 1967.
Come on, Rex. Keep going. Twenty more minutes.
It was a chilly late summer night in Rochester, New York. One where it seemed as if the weather couldn’t decide whether it wanted to grasp at the last straws of summer or submit to the throws of autumn. The moon hung low in the sky, illuminating the numerous but sparse clouds surrounding it as Rex Tyler, The Hourman bolted across the Ford Street Bridge toward the Monroe County Court House.
Gunshots rang out across the Genesee River. God damn it. Effortlessly, he grabbed the guard rail of the bridge and flipped himself to the underside where he found a group of men with guns in their hands, shooting at each other.
They all stopped and stared at the man in black and red leather with a bright yellow cloak and hourglass around his neck. “Who the fuck are you?” the lead one yelled, pointing his Glock at Hourman.
“You must be new here.” He charged towards the lead gangster. First he grabbed his gun and closed the barrel between his fingers. He finished the gangster off by connecting his fist with their face. He could feel the bones in his nose break against his punch.
Once the rest of the gang realized what was going on they began to shoot at him, which he was able to dodge due to his increased agility from the Miraclo. One grazed his thigh as he tried to dodge another one, but his increased stamina allowed him to work through the pain. Dammit, that one’s gonna hurt like a bitch in a few.
Okay. That’s six down. Three to go. Almost there. He looked down at the timer on his wrist and saw that there was only ten minutes left of his hour of power. Miraclo was substance that he created and it granted him superhuman abilities for one hour. It was still a relatively experimental substance so he didn’t dare to try more than one at a time.
Suddenly he heard a gunshot from behind him causing him to quickly spin around where he saw a bullet hurdling towards him in slow motion. Before it could hit him, it stopped and fell to the ground, lodging itself in the pavement. “I recommend not playing with guns. Someone’s libel to get hurt.”
Rex looked up and saw a man in a gaudy red costume with a green cape and yellow stars all over it flying towards him with what looked like the aid of some type of wand that was emitting yellow colored energy. “Who in the hell?”
“Watch out!” Two more of the thugs rushed towards Hourman, but before they could reach them their guns were ripped out of their hands towards the ground and like the bullet, lodged themselves in the pavement.
The thugs that were still standing looked at each other and ran in the opposite direction. The man with the wand waved it in their direction and it appeared as if they tried to keep running but their feet wouldn’t let them. They stopped dead in their tracks and fell face first on the ground. “Greetings. You must be Hourman.” The man landed in front of Rex and extended his hand out.
Rex hesitantly took it. “And you are…?”
“I’m Starman. I’m from Opal City.”
Rex looked at him with an unconvinced, yet amused look that was hidden by his hood. “You don’t say. I didn’t think I was the only one, but I never expected to meet another one.”
“We’re far from the only ones…”
***
Washington D.C. February 1968.
“I assume you’re wondering why you’re all here.”
Rex heard a snort from across the table. He looked up to see that it came from a man wearing what looked to be your classic dime-store novel detective get-up and a World War II era gasmask that was shabbily painted black.
“You have something to say, Sandman?” The name clicked with Rex. He operated out of Chicago and was thought to be an urban legend. It wasn’t like any of them really operated in the public, but Sandman took that to a different level.
Sandman turned towards the front of the front where President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Earle Wheeler, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms all were positioned.
“You don’t trust what you can’t control. That means us… we’re here so you can spread some bullshit about unity and mutual interest… I worked in a city with Richard Daly. I know political slime like you.” The whole room stared with eyes wide at the man sitting close to the back with his arms crossed and hat cocked.
“You are talking to the President of the United States. You will show some respect. I could have you shipped off to the front lines in about thirty seconds. Try me.” General Wheeler spoke in a hushed, yet aggressive tone that led The Flash to quickly stood up with his arms held out towards both of them.
“Gentlemen. Let’s all calm down. Sir, why don’t you tell us your side of the story.” The Flash spoke in an oddly calming Midwest accent with a hint of southern drawl that revealed his Oklahoman roots.
Robert McNamara stood up and cleared his throat. “What I’m about to say to you is confidential… Needless to say the war in Vietnam is not going well. After seeing a rise in mystery men in our country, we are being led to believe that the Communists may also have support of similarly powered beings.”
There was a pregnant hush amongst the room. “What?” asked a red headed woman wearing a revealing leopard print costume.
“There’s a man that the North Vietnamese have been rallying around. We don’t have any information on him at all.” He clicked the remote on the slide projector and it changed slides to a Caucasian man with hard features and a distinct beard in close conversation Hồ Chí Minh.
The room nodded. The man dressed in a giant cat costume complete with ears and whiskers spoke up. “I don’t see what’s so strange about him. Probably a goddamn ruskie.”
“Yeah. That was our original thought. But here’s the trick.” He clicked to the next slide where the same man was standing with Adolf Hitler and then again where he was standing with Otto von Bismarck and then again where he was on a battlefield with William Sherman.
The Flash and Tigress let out a gasp while the rest of the room sat in a stunned silence. “What… what do you want us to do?” Starman asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.
It was the President’s turn to speak up. “If people like you are in play, we need people like you to be in play on our side. We need your help.”
“No deal. I don’t work for any State of Oppression. I work for the people, the guy you spend your political careers forgetting. I’m out of here.” Sandman stood up and started to walk towards the door.
Dean Rusk stood up and spoke with an extremely forceful whisper. “Sandman! We can make life very difficult for you…”
Starman got up and walked towards his darker colleague. “Look, brother. I don’t like this anymore than you do, but its guys like this that tend to go after the people you’re trying to protect. There’s something to be said for being on the front line.”
***
New York City, New York. April 1968
“Justice Society? Are they serious?” Wildcat laughed the second he walked into the room and saw the table with their name and logo at the center.
“Of America no less…” Sandman lamented. They group explored their new surroundings and saw that each of the chairs had their corresponding logo on them.
Tigress jumped up behind them and threw her arms around their shoulders. “Come on guys, it’ll be fine.”
The both grunted and took their seats. Once they had all settled down they were greeted by the entrance of General Wheeler followed by the two people who were responsible for their training over the past few months, Sergeant Jack Gordon and Corporal Jake Jordan. “Gentlemen and lady. Welcome to the Headquarter of the Justice Society of America.”
“What’s with the name?” Wildcat asked candidly.
“We’re going to try and keep your extracurricular activities under the radar, but the name was rated highest in focus groups.” Sandman snickered, eliciting a glare from General Wheeler. “Now, I need you to fill out these forms.”
He began to pass them around to the six-member team who immediately began to read them carefully. “Power-set?” The Flash asked curiously.
General Wheeler nodded. “Yeah, just in case something should happen, we need to know what your powers are.”
“Emergency contact? What’s that for?”
“If something should happen in the field, like you die, we need to know who to contact and tell them.”
Sandman picked up the piece of paper and ripped it violently in half. “Secret Identity?!? No dice, man.”
“Well, then the military police are just a phone call away.” General Wheeler walked over to the phone that was sitting on a table in the corner of the room.
Both Hourman and Wildcat stood up. “I’m not filling this out either. I have a girlfriend” Hourman said as he began unscrewing the cap to the pill bottle of Miraclo.
“Take another step and I’ll shoot.” He pulled the gun from the holster on his side.
Starman cleared his throat. “I’m not comfortable writing some of this stuff down either. I’m actually married and I have several close business associates who would be in danger if my secret got out.”
“We need to know who you are… We can’t leave you unregulated.” At this point it sounded as if General Wheeler as if he were pleading.
“They’re not signing it.” The group turned around and saw Gordon standing forcefully in the center of the room. “This is too invasive…”
Wheeler visibly relented and the whole team took a sigh of approval. Sandman looked at Gordon and gave him a slight tip of the hat. Hourman and Wildcat who were still standing patted him on the back.
***
Khe Sahn, Vietnam. June 1968.
“Starman, can I have a word with you?” Hourman asked as he walked up to him while he was cleaning his Gravity Rod.
“Of course, Hourman. What’s on your mind?”
Hourman took a seat and moved in close to Starman. “I’m worried about Tigress… she seems very quick to kill.”
Starman sighed. “Yes, I’ve noticed that as well. She’s such a sweet kid, but on the other hand…”
“What should we do about it?”
“I can’t think of anything we really can do. I’ll talk to Gordon about it in the morning. I don’t care what Sandman says about him. I like him.”
Jay nodded in approval. “Me too.” Jay was about to walk out of the tent when he heard gunfire and screaming in the background. At that sound, Jay threw his helmet on and Ted put the Gravity Rod in the on setting and rushed towards the crisis.
The arrived to see the Viet Cong forces being run out of the camp and saw Tigress shooting one last arrow at a combatant, which stuck firmly in his back, knocking him down. “TIGRESS!” Starman yelled at the top of his lungs.
He was ready to tear her a new one, but he turned and saw Hourman carrying the bloody and mangled body of Corporal Jake Jordan.
***
Saigon, Vietnam. October 1968.
“We’d like to introduce you to your new leader.” Sergeant Gordon was standing at the front of the room with the rest of the JSA seated in desks in what used to be a classroom.
The entire team started talking at once, berating Gordon and Wheeler, even though he was absent. “What the hell is wrong with Starman?!” yelled Sandman. “I’d rather follow one of us than one of your government pigs.”
“Starman has been a fantastic leader. Never lost anyone.” The Flash chimed in.
Gordon nodded. “Look, I’m just an over glorified babysitter. I don’t make the rules; your parents do, which in this case is the United States Government. They want someone with more military experience.”
“Well, who’re you gonna get to keep up with us.” Wildcat said with a sly smile on his face as he gulped down the final swig of beer in his bottle.
Gordon smiled for the first time that day. “My friends, I’d like to introduce you to your new team mate: The Guardian. You might know him better as Jake Jordan.” The former Corporal Jake Jordan walked into the room wearing a standard combat uniform, but was decked out with a golden shield and a matching gold helm.
Upon seeing him, his friends rushed him and pulled him into a tight embrace, except for Sandman who stood back and nodded with approval. “We thought you were dead.” Tigress wiped the tears out of her eyes.
“It was touch and go there for a while, but I’m back to 110%. They had to give me something to get me back here, I don’t know what it was, but I feel great.” Jordan said with a wide smile on his face.
“It’s good to have you back, brother.” Hourman patted him on the back.
***
Saigon, Vietnam. Early April 1973
The Guardian, Starman, Hourman, The Flash, Sandman, Tigress and Wildcat along with Staff Sergeant Jack Gordon all sat around a fire outside a substantial tent in a military bunker. No one was speaking, but they didn’t need to. They could all feel the horrors of the battle they were fighting and losing. The trail for the man in the picture had all but dried up and there was talk of troop withdrawal, indicating that the war was all but lost.
“Goddamn Commies.” Gordon swore under his breath, which elicited a nod of approval from all but Sandman.
The Flash tipped his helmet. “I’m just worried about all the people we couldn’t help. That’s why I signed up.”
Another silence fell onto the group. Starman who stood up to speak broke the silence. “You know, we’ve fought together for over five years now and now that it’s almost over, it makes me realize that I don’t know any of you… I want to change that tonight.” He carefully removed his goggles and then his headpiece. “My name is Ted Knight. I’m an inventor and businessman out of Opal City.”
The whole group looked around at each other. Tigress was the next one to stand up. “I’m Paula Crock. I’m not really employed. I was a student before becoming a… vigilante for lack of a better word. I was hoping to go to the Olympics for archery though.”
“You breathe a word of any of this to anyone, Gordon and you’ll make a life long enemy.” Gordon threw his hands up and looked down to acknowledge the threat as Sandman stood up and removed his gasmask. “I’m… I’m Wesley Dodds. I’m a detective from Chicago.”
“I’m Jay Garrick, err, Dr. Jay Garrick. although I hate people that call me Dr. Garrick. I teach Theoretical Physics at the University of Michigan. Had to get an apartment in Michigan, just so I didn’t raise suspicion with my Kansas mailing address.” He winked at the group and gave a half smile.
The group laughed and Hourman stood up next. “Rex Tyler. I’m a chemist hailing from Rochester, New York. This is a relief to finally let this all out. I just got married on our last leave… my wife would love to have all of you over for dinner some time.”
“I’m Ted Grant. You can call me Teddy. As in Teddy Roosevelt. I run gyms in a couple different cities… I’m kind of a nomad.”
The group sat in silence for the next few minutes until The Guardian broke the silence. “Well, it’s been more than a pleasure serving with you, Ted, Rex, Paula, Wesley, Jay, Grant…”
“I’ll drink to that.” Wildcat said as he broke off the cap to his beer and began to chug it.
***
April 1975
First Sergeant Jack Gordon, Hourman, Sandman, Wildcat and The Flash sat in silence in the back of a cargo plane headed for Los Angeles. The absence of Tigress, Starman and The Guardian stung them to the core. Jay was clearly the most effected with tears visibly streaming down his cheeks while the rest mostly remained sullen. “I can’t believe it… Jake dead… Paula defected and Ted… we could have stayed and search for him.”
“No we couldn’t. We had orders to get you out of there. I did the best I could.” Gordon was clearly shaken from his normally gruff, yet stoic exterior that he worked hard to maintain.
Sandman stood up and walked towards Gordon. “Opal City is now without their defender and for what? Going after a man who we’re not even sure if he’s real or not?”
“Wes…”
“No. He’s right. This was wrong.”
The entire group nodded in approval. The air was stiff in the back cabin. “So where do we go from here?” Rex croaked.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m out of the Government. I can’t do this any longer.” Sandman offered from the seat that he had taken next Gordon. “I think I may put my hat in the ring in Opal City. God knows they need someone.”
Again, the rest of the group sleepily nodded. “I’m going back.”
“What?” Wildcat looked up intently at Gordon.
“I need to make sure that this never happens again to people like you. And I won’t rest until I can assure that. The best way I can do it is from within.” Gordon coughed and cleared his throat. “And I will succeed or die trying.”
The Flash put his had on Gordon’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, Gordon. We’re lucky to be able to call you an ally.”
The group remained silent for the rest of the trip and when they arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, they all went their separate ways without fanfare or pomp and circumstance. They all went to restart the rest of their lives.
***
May 1979
“Come on, Rex. You can’t let these pills control you.” Jay slapped the pill bottle out of Rex’s hand as he began to open it.
Out of reflex, Rex backhanded Jay, taking him by surprise. “You don’t understand, Garrick. You have the Speed Force flowing through your veins every second of every minute of every hour of every day. I can only get that feel with these goddamned pills.”
“Rex. I’m your friend.”
“You may be, but you don’t know me.”
***
Keystone City. March 1980.
“Are you serious?” Jay took a step back to sit down, but he missed the edge of the chair and fell to the floor. “He’s really there?”
Jay didn’t wait for the answer before he took off in an Eastern Direction. Before he could contemplate where he was, he hit the welcome to Central City sign and then the Welcome to Illinois and Kentucky and West Virginia and Virginia and Maryland. Then he saw the familiar sign: Welcome to Opal City. From here he was on autopilot. He took his familiar path to Rex Tyler’s home.
When he arrived, he didn’t bother knocking on the door; he just let himself in. He made his way to the kitchen where he saw a very familiar face sitting at the table with Rex and Wendi. “Ted…? Starman…?”
He didn’t need to ask the question. He knew full well who it was, but he waited for him to nod, before he let himself believe it. Once he got the confirmation, he ran Ted down and got him in a tight embrace. “Ted… we never lost hope. Oh my god…”
“It’s good to see you buddy.”
Jay pulled back and looked at him in the eye. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone a day… what have I missed?”
***
Washington D.C. January 1984.
“We can’t have these masked vigilantes calling the shots any more. We as citizens have to take our country back.” President Ronald Reagan shouted from the steps of the steps of the capital building. “This vigilante justice may fly in the Soviet Union, but this is America, we should have to live in fear of these creatures. And what do they have to hide? Why can’t they just say who they really are?”
Off-site, the Justice Society of America was watching intently at the TV screen in their secret headquarters in Opal City. They all had glum looks on their faces as if they were being personally attacked, which they were.
“What do we do about this?” Asked the Crimson Bolt, one of their younger members who had electricity based powers.
Starman, who had retaken his original role as leader, shook his head. “What can we do, but keep fighting?”
“We need to know who they are and most of all, what they can do!” yelled Reagan affirmatively which garnered the loudest cheer yet.
The Flash looked up from his game of solitaire that he was playing in the corner at high speeds. Without words, he got up and took off towards the door. Before the team could register that he was gone, they saw him take the stage on the television. He stepped up to the microphone and tipped his helmet at the crowd.
“Good afternoon. Most of you probably know me as The Flash. I’m from Keystone City and since I was granted my powers in 1965 I have defended Keystone with my blood, sweat and tears. I fought for my country in Vietnam. But most of my friends refer to me as Jay Garrick. Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan.” He took his helmet off and set it on the podium so the world could see his face.
The crowd let out an audible gasp. Not that any of them knew who Jay Garrick was, but they were not prepared for an unmasking of this magnitude. “We keep secret identities to protect our loved ones to make sure the inevitable enemies we make do not go after those we care most about. But I can defend my wife. Some of my friends cannot. I ask that you stop your persecution of us. We just want to help.”
***
July 1989
The Flash sped into the old JSA headquarters and saw Rex Tyler, Ted Knight, Wesley Dodds, Ted Grant, and Jack Gordon all sitting at their original assigned spots at the table. Once Flash saw that he was over dressed, he got into his civilian clothes and joined his friends as Jay Garrick.
“Evening, Jay.” Gordon spoke with a sad tone in his voice. Rather than formally greet the team, he sat down without words.
“I don’t want to mince words, but I’m retiring. I want to run KnightCorp full time. I think I can do more good that way.” Ted Knight was the first to speak up.
Wes let out a curt chuckle. “Why do we even bother? We all know why we’re here. The JSA is finished. I’ve retired, Rex can’t use Miraclo anymore, and Teddy hasn’t been an active member in years. And Jay was nearly forced into retirement by the US Government. What do we have left?”
“What about the kids?” Jay asked.
Ted Grant shook his head violently. “I know you’re really into the younger generation, but I don’t think there is a younger generation. The Crimson Bolt… she was the best one, but she was killed nearly instantly in that fight with that green monster thing. Maybe the age of mystery men is over.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Rex said as if he wasn’t entirely convinced of it. Rex was generally one of the guys that Jay could trust to be an optimist like him. However today was different.
Even Jay bowed his head in defeat. “It’s been an interesting ride…”
“That it has, my friend.” Ted Grant smiled and patted him on his back. “Here’s to the future.”
“To the future.” They all chanted in unison. After a few hours of reminiscing of the old days that brought laughter and tears, they all walked their separate ways for the last time.
*The End?*
Past Prologue
Rochester, New York. August 1967.
Come on, Rex. Keep going. Twenty more minutes.
It was a chilly late summer night in Rochester, New York. One where it seemed as if the weather couldn’t decide whether it wanted to grasp at the last straws of summer or submit to the throws of autumn. The moon hung low in the sky, illuminating the numerous but sparse clouds surrounding it as Rex Tyler, The Hourman bolted across the Ford Street Bridge toward the Monroe County Court House.
Gunshots rang out across the Genesee River. God damn it. Effortlessly, he grabbed the guard rail of the bridge and flipped himself to the underside where he found a group of men with guns in their hands, shooting at each other.
They all stopped and stared at the man in black and red leather with a bright yellow cloak and hourglass around his neck. “Who the fuck are you?” the lead one yelled, pointing his Glock at Hourman.
“You must be new here.” He charged towards the lead gangster. First he grabbed his gun and closed the barrel between his fingers. He finished the gangster off by connecting his fist with their face. He could feel the bones in his nose break against his punch.
Once the rest of the gang realized what was going on they began to shoot at him, which he was able to dodge due to his increased agility from the Miraclo. One grazed his thigh as he tried to dodge another one, but his increased stamina allowed him to work through the pain. Dammit, that one’s gonna hurt like a bitch in a few.
Okay. That’s six down. Three to go. Almost there. He looked down at the timer on his wrist and saw that there was only ten minutes left of his hour of power. Miraclo was substance that he created and it granted him superhuman abilities for one hour. It was still a relatively experimental substance so he didn’t dare to try more than one at a time.
Suddenly he heard a gunshot from behind him causing him to quickly spin around where he saw a bullet hurdling towards him in slow motion. Before it could hit him, it stopped and fell to the ground, lodging itself in the pavement. “I recommend not playing with guns. Someone’s libel to get hurt.”
Rex looked up and saw a man in a gaudy red costume with a green cape and yellow stars all over it flying towards him with what looked like the aid of some type of wand that was emitting yellow colored energy. “Who in the hell?”
“Watch out!” Two more of the thugs rushed towards Hourman, but before they could reach them their guns were ripped out of their hands towards the ground and like the bullet, lodged themselves in the pavement.
The thugs that were still standing looked at each other and ran in the opposite direction. The man with the wand waved it in their direction and it appeared as if they tried to keep running but their feet wouldn’t let them. They stopped dead in their tracks and fell face first on the ground. “Greetings. You must be Hourman.” The man landed in front of Rex and extended his hand out.
Rex hesitantly took it. “And you are…?”
“I’m Starman. I’m from Opal City.”
Rex looked at him with an unconvinced, yet amused look that was hidden by his hood. “You don’t say. I didn’t think I was the only one, but I never expected to meet another one.”
“We’re far from the only ones…”
***
Washington D.C. February 1968.
“I assume you’re wondering why you’re all here.”
Rex heard a snort from across the table. He looked up to see that it came from a man wearing what looked to be your classic dime-store novel detective get-up and a World War II era gasmask that was shabbily painted black.
“You have something to say, Sandman?” The name clicked with Rex. He operated out of Chicago and was thought to be an urban legend. It wasn’t like any of them really operated in the public, but Sandman took that to a different level.
Sandman turned towards the front of the front where President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Earle Wheeler, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms all were positioned.
“You don’t trust what you can’t control. That means us… we’re here so you can spread some bullshit about unity and mutual interest… I worked in a city with Richard Daly. I know political slime like you.” The whole room stared with eyes wide at the man sitting close to the back with his arms crossed and hat cocked.
“You are talking to the President of the United States. You will show some respect. I could have you shipped off to the front lines in about thirty seconds. Try me.” General Wheeler spoke in a hushed, yet aggressive tone that led The Flash to quickly stood up with his arms held out towards both of them.
“Gentlemen. Let’s all calm down. Sir, why don’t you tell us your side of the story.” The Flash spoke in an oddly calming Midwest accent with a hint of southern drawl that revealed his Oklahoman roots.
Robert McNamara stood up and cleared his throat. “What I’m about to say to you is confidential… Needless to say the war in Vietnam is not going well. After seeing a rise in mystery men in our country, we are being led to believe that the Communists may also have support of similarly powered beings.”
There was a pregnant hush amongst the room. “What?” asked a red headed woman wearing a revealing leopard print costume.
“There’s a man that the North Vietnamese have been rallying around. We don’t have any information on him at all.” He clicked the remote on the slide projector and it changed slides to a Caucasian man with hard features and a distinct beard in close conversation Hồ Chí Minh.
The room nodded. The man dressed in a giant cat costume complete with ears and whiskers spoke up. “I don’t see what’s so strange about him. Probably a goddamn ruskie.”
“Yeah. That was our original thought. But here’s the trick.” He clicked to the next slide where the same man was standing with Adolf Hitler and then again where he was standing with Otto von Bismarck and then again where he was on a battlefield with William Sherman.
The Flash and Tigress let out a gasp while the rest of the room sat in a stunned silence. “What… what do you want us to do?” Starman asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.
It was the President’s turn to speak up. “If people like you are in play, we need people like you to be in play on our side. We need your help.”
“No deal. I don’t work for any State of Oppression. I work for the people, the guy you spend your political careers forgetting. I’m out of here.” Sandman stood up and started to walk towards the door.
Dean Rusk stood up and spoke with an extremely forceful whisper. “Sandman! We can make life very difficult for you…”
Starman got up and walked towards his darker colleague. “Look, brother. I don’t like this anymore than you do, but its guys like this that tend to go after the people you’re trying to protect. There’s something to be said for being on the front line.”
***
New York City, New York. April 1968
“Justice Society? Are they serious?” Wildcat laughed the second he walked into the room and saw the table with their name and logo at the center.
“Of America no less…” Sandman lamented. They group explored their new surroundings and saw that each of the chairs had their corresponding logo on them.
Tigress jumped up behind them and threw her arms around their shoulders. “Come on guys, it’ll be fine.”
The both grunted and took their seats. Once they had all settled down they were greeted by the entrance of General Wheeler followed by the two people who were responsible for their training over the past few months, Sergeant Jack Gordon and Corporal Jake Jordan. “Gentlemen and lady. Welcome to the Headquarter of the Justice Society of America.”
“What’s with the name?” Wildcat asked candidly.
“We’re going to try and keep your extracurricular activities under the radar, but the name was rated highest in focus groups.” Sandman snickered, eliciting a glare from General Wheeler. “Now, I need you to fill out these forms.”
He began to pass them around to the six-member team who immediately began to read them carefully. “Power-set?” The Flash asked curiously.
General Wheeler nodded. “Yeah, just in case something should happen, we need to know what your powers are.”
“Emergency contact? What’s that for?”
“If something should happen in the field, like you die, we need to know who to contact and tell them.”
Sandman picked up the piece of paper and ripped it violently in half. “Secret Identity?!? No dice, man.”
“Well, then the military police are just a phone call away.” General Wheeler walked over to the phone that was sitting on a table in the corner of the room.
Both Hourman and Wildcat stood up. “I’m not filling this out either. I have a girlfriend” Hourman said as he began unscrewing the cap to the pill bottle of Miraclo.
“Take another step and I’ll shoot.” He pulled the gun from the holster on his side.
Starman cleared his throat. “I’m not comfortable writing some of this stuff down either. I’m actually married and I have several close business associates who would be in danger if my secret got out.”
“We need to know who you are… We can’t leave you unregulated.” At this point it sounded as if General Wheeler as if he were pleading.
“They’re not signing it.” The group turned around and saw Gordon standing forcefully in the center of the room. “This is too invasive…”
Wheeler visibly relented and the whole team took a sigh of approval. Sandman looked at Gordon and gave him a slight tip of the hat. Hourman and Wildcat who were still standing patted him on the back.
***
Khe Sahn, Vietnam. June 1968.
“Starman, can I have a word with you?” Hourman asked as he walked up to him while he was cleaning his Gravity Rod.
“Of course, Hourman. What’s on your mind?”
Hourman took a seat and moved in close to Starman. “I’m worried about Tigress… she seems very quick to kill.”
Starman sighed. “Yes, I’ve noticed that as well. She’s such a sweet kid, but on the other hand…”
“What should we do about it?”
“I can’t think of anything we really can do. I’ll talk to Gordon about it in the morning. I don’t care what Sandman says about him. I like him.”
Jay nodded in approval. “Me too.” Jay was about to walk out of the tent when he heard gunfire and screaming in the background. At that sound, Jay threw his helmet on and Ted put the Gravity Rod in the on setting and rushed towards the crisis.
The arrived to see the Viet Cong forces being run out of the camp and saw Tigress shooting one last arrow at a combatant, which stuck firmly in his back, knocking him down. “TIGRESS!” Starman yelled at the top of his lungs.
He was ready to tear her a new one, but he turned and saw Hourman carrying the bloody and mangled body of Corporal Jake Jordan.
***
Saigon, Vietnam. October 1968.
“We’d like to introduce you to your new leader.” Sergeant Gordon was standing at the front of the room with the rest of the JSA seated in desks in what used to be a classroom.
The entire team started talking at once, berating Gordon and Wheeler, even though he was absent. “What the hell is wrong with Starman?!” yelled Sandman. “I’d rather follow one of us than one of your government pigs.”
“Starman has been a fantastic leader. Never lost anyone.” The Flash chimed in.
Gordon nodded. “Look, I’m just an over glorified babysitter. I don’t make the rules; your parents do, which in this case is the United States Government. They want someone with more military experience.”
“Well, who’re you gonna get to keep up with us.” Wildcat said with a sly smile on his face as he gulped down the final swig of beer in his bottle.
Gordon smiled for the first time that day. “My friends, I’d like to introduce you to your new team mate: The Guardian. You might know him better as Jake Jordan.” The former Corporal Jake Jordan walked into the room wearing a standard combat uniform, but was decked out with a golden shield and a matching gold helm.
Upon seeing him, his friends rushed him and pulled him into a tight embrace, except for Sandman who stood back and nodded with approval. “We thought you were dead.” Tigress wiped the tears out of her eyes.
“It was touch and go there for a while, but I’m back to 110%. They had to give me something to get me back here, I don’t know what it was, but I feel great.” Jordan said with a wide smile on his face.
“It’s good to have you back, brother.” Hourman patted him on the back.
***
Saigon, Vietnam. Early April 1973
The Guardian, Starman, Hourman, The Flash, Sandman, Tigress and Wildcat along with Staff Sergeant Jack Gordon all sat around a fire outside a substantial tent in a military bunker. No one was speaking, but they didn’t need to. They could all feel the horrors of the battle they were fighting and losing. The trail for the man in the picture had all but dried up and there was talk of troop withdrawal, indicating that the war was all but lost.
“Goddamn Commies.” Gordon swore under his breath, which elicited a nod of approval from all but Sandman.
The Flash tipped his helmet. “I’m just worried about all the people we couldn’t help. That’s why I signed up.”
Another silence fell onto the group. Starman who stood up to speak broke the silence. “You know, we’ve fought together for over five years now and now that it’s almost over, it makes me realize that I don’t know any of you… I want to change that tonight.” He carefully removed his goggles and then his headpiece. “My name is Ted Knight. I’m an inventor and businessman out of Opal City.”
The whole group looked around at each other. Tigress was the next one to stand up. “I’m Paula Crock. I’m not really employed. I was a student before becoming a… vigilante for lack of a better word. I was hoping to go to the Olympics for archery though.”
“You breathe a word of any of this to anyone, Gordon and you’ll make a life long enemy.” Gordon threw his hands up and looked down to acknowledge the threat as Sandman stood up and removed his gasmask. “I’m… I’m Wesley Dodds. I’m a detective from Chicago.”
“I’m Jay Garrick, err, Dr. Jay Garrick. although I hate people that call me Dr. Garrick. I teach Theoretical Physics at the University of Michigan. Had to get an apartment in Michigan, just so I didn’t raise suspicion with my Kansas mailing address.” He winked at the group and gave a half smile.
The group laughed and Hourman stood up next. “Rex Tyler. I’m a chemist hailing from Rochester, New York. This is a relief to finally let this all out. I just got married on our last leave… my wife would love to have all of you over for dinner some time.”
“I’m Ted Grant. You can call me Teddy. As in Teddy Roosevelt. I run gyms in a couple different cities… I’m kind of a nomad.”
The group sat in silence for the next few minutes until The Guardian broke the silence. “Well, it’s been more than a pleasure serving with you, Ted, Rex, Paula, Wesley, Jay, Grant…”
“I’ll drink to that.” Wildcat said as he broke off the cap to his beer and began to chug it.
***
April 1975
First Sergeant Jack Gordon, Hourman, Sandman, Wildcat and The Flash sat in silence in the back of a cargo plane headed for Los Angeles. The absence of Tigress, Starman and The Guardian stung them to the core. Jay was clearly the most effected with tears visibly streaming down his cheeks while the rest mostly remained sullen. “I can’t believe it… Jake dead… Paula defected and Ted… we could have stayed and search for him.”
“No we couldn’t. We had orders to get you out of there. I did the best I could.” Gordon was clearly shaken from his normally gruff, yet stoic exterior that he worked hard to maintain.
Sandman stood up and walked towards Gordon. “Opal City is now without their defender and for what? Going after a man who we’re not even sure if he’s real or not?”
“Wes…”
“No. He’s right. This was wrong.”
The entire group nodded in approval. The air was stiff in the back cabin. “So where do we go from here?” Rex croaked.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m out of the Government. I can’t do this any longer.” Sandman offered from the seat that he had taken next Gordon. “I think I may put my hat in the ring in Opal City. God knows they need someone.”
Again, the rest of the group sleepily nodded. “I’m going back.”
“What?” Wildcat looked up intently at Gordon.
“I need to make sure that this never happens again to people like you. And I won’t rest until I can assure that. The best way I can do it is from within.” Gordon coughed and cleared his throat. “And I will succeed or die trying.”
The Flash put his had on Gordon’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, Gordon. We’re lucky to be able to call you an ally.”
The group remained silent for the rest of the trip and when they arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, they all went their separate ways without fanfare or pomp and circumstance. They all went to restart the rest of their lives.
***
May 1979
“Come on, Rex. You can’t let these pills control you.” Jay slapped the pill bottle out of Rex’s hand as he began to open it.
Out of reflex, Rex backhanded Jay, taking him by surprise. “You don’t understand, Garrick. You have the Speed Force flowing through your veins every second of every minute of every hour of every day. I can only get that feel with these goddamned pills.”
“Rex. I’m your friend.”
“You may be, but you don’t know me.”
***
Keystone City. March 1980.
“Are you serious?” Jay took a step back to sit down, but he missed the edge of the chair and fell to the floor. “He’s really there?”
Jay didn’t wait for the answer before he took off in an Eastern Direction. Before he could contemplate where he was, he hit the welcome to Central City sign and then the Welcome to Illinois and Kentucky and West Virginia and Virginia and Maryland. Then he saw the familiar sign: Welcome to Opal City. From here he was on autopilot. He took his familiar path to Rex Tyler’s home.
When he arrived, he didn’t bother knocking on the door; he just let himself in. He made his way to the kitchen where he saw a very familiar face sitting at the table with Rex and Wendi. “Ted…? Starman…?”
He didn’t need to ask the question. He knew full well who it was, but he waited for him to nod, before he let himself believe it. Once he got the confirmation, he ran Ted down and got him in a tight embrace. “Ted… we never lost hope. Oh my god…”
“It’s good to see you buddy.”
Jay pulled back and looked at him in the eye. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone a day… what have I missed?”
***
Washington D.C. January 1984.
“We can’t have these masked vigilantes calling the shots any more. We as citizens have to take our country back.” President Ronald Reagan shouted from the steps of the steps of the capital building. “This vigilante justice may fly in the Soviet Union, but this is America, we should have to live in fear of these creatures. And what do they have to hide? Why can’t they just say who they really are?”
Off-site, the Justice Society of America was watching intently at the TV screen in their secret headquarters in Opal City. They all had glum looks on their faces as if they were being personally attacked, which they were.
“What do we do about this?” Asked the Crimson Bolt, one of their younger members who had electricity based powers.
Starman, who had retaken his original role as leader, shook his head. “What can we do, but keep fighting?”
“We need to know who they are and most of all, what they can do!” yelled Reagan affirmatively which garnered the loudest cheer yet.
The Flash looked up from his game of solitaire that he was playing in the corner at high speeds. Without words, he got up and took off towards the door. Before the team could register that he was gone, they saw him take the stage on the television. He stepped up to the microphone and tipped his helmet at the crowd.
“Good afternoon. Most of you probably know me as The Flash. I’m from Keystone City and since I was granted my powers in 1965 I have defended Keystone with my blood, sweat and tears. I fought for my country in Vietnam. But most of my friends refer to me as Jay Garrick. Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan.” He took his helmet off and set it on the podium so the world could see his face.
The crowd let out an audible gasp. Not that any of them knew who Jay Garrick was, but they were not prepared for an unmasking of this magnitude. “We keep secret identities to protect our loved ones to make sure the inevitable enemies we make do not go after those we care most about. But I can defend my wife. Some of my friends cannot. I ask that you stop your persecution of us. We just want to help.”
***
July 1989
The Flash sped into the old JSA headquarters and saw Rex Tyler, Ted Knight, Wesley Dodds, Ted Grant, and Jack Gordon all sitting at their original assigned spots at the table. Once Flash saw that he was over dressed, he got into his civilian clothes and joined his friends as Jay Garrick.
“Evening, Jay.” Gordon spoke with a sad tone in his voice. Rather than formally greet the team, he sat down without words.
“I don’t want to mince words, but I’m retiring. I want to run KnightCorp full time. I think I can do more good that way.” Ted Knight was the first to speak up.
Wes let out a curt chuckle. “Why do we even bother? We all know why we’re here. The JSA is finished. I’ve retired, Rex can’t use Miraclo anymore, and Teddy hasn’t been an active member in years. And Jay was nearly forced into retirement by the US Government. What do we have left?”
“What about the kids?” Jay asked.
Ted Grant shook his head violently. “I know you’re really into the younger generation, but I don’t think there is a younger generation. The Crimson Bolt… she was the best one, but she was killed nearly instantly in that fight with that green monster thing. Maybe the age of mystery men is over.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Rex said as if he wasn’t entirely convinced of it. Rex was generally one of the guys that Jay could trust to be an optimist like him. However today was different.
Even Jay bowed his head in defeat. “It’s been an interesting ride…”
“That it has, my friend.” Ted Grant smiled and patted him on his back. “Here’s to the future.”
“To the future.” They all chanted in unison. After a few hours of reminiscing of the old days that brought laughter and tears, they all walked their separate ways for the last time.
*The End?*
