Post by DocQuantum on Jul 23, 2017 5:55:34 GMT
by JSAGL
April, 1943 -- a world at war. During this most trying time in our nation's history, the heroes of this era joined forces with the Justice Society of America to become the All-Star Squadron.
A month prior in Nazi Germany:
"He's been sitting there for hours, just staring out the window."
Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt whispered to Herman Göring as they both sat outside Adolf Hitler's office.
"Yes, he received word this morning that the American Justice Society was somehow able to come behind our lines and deliver food and medical supplies. He raged for an hour, and then he sent for you. I tried talking with him earlier, but he ignored me."
Dr. Schmidt was shocked. "Behind the lines? I thought the Spear of Destiny prevented such things? That the Amerikaners fell under control of der Führer in the territory of the Third Reich?"
"It is true, but somehow they did just that. We can only speculate that due to some recent setbacks and perhaps the magic of the accursed Doctor Fate and Spectre, that the JSA was able to successfully get in and out. This concerns der Führer greatly, so that is why he asked for you."
"Me?"
Göring smiled wryly at the man. "After the other recent debacle involving Thor, we had to... relieve your predecessor from his duties. Your knowledge of the arcane is well-known to us, and..."
"That is why you will create for me a champion that vill destroy the verdammt JSA once and for all!" Hitler said, walking from his office. "Come, for the glory of the Third Reich, and if you do not wish to end up like the last poor fellow who failed me."
Dr. Schmidt began to sweat profusely.
***
New York City, the Perisphere:
"And now, is there any new business?"
The sounds resounded throughout the room as Liberty Belle looked over the assembled heroes. Most of the Justice Battalion of America was there, as well as the Seven Soldiers of Victory. Wildcat and Mister Terrific were also in attendance, as well as the kids from the Young All-Stars.
"Madame Chairman, I would like to extend an invitation to my fellow sisters in the All-Star Squadron. After having spoken with my mother, Queen Hippolyta, she has agreed to let me bring a contingent of you to Paradise Island to see our society firsthand."
Liberty Belle looked at Hawkman. "Did you know anything about this?"
Hawkman just shrugged his shoulders. "No, but after our recent adventure with the Brain Wave, I'm not surprised."
"Very well. Those of you interested, please see Wonder Woman after the meeting."
"Hold the phone, there, sister," Wildcat said, speaking up. "Why can't us guys go, too? I'd like ta see these Amazons myself."
"I would love for you to attend, Wildcat, but no man can set foot on Paradise Island without all of us losing our powers forever," Wonder Woman answered.
Mister Terrific poked Wildcat in the ribs with his elbow and whispered to him, "Nice try, 'Cat, but we both know you just wanted to see an island full of gorgeous women running around in short silk dresses."
"So what's yer point?"
Their conversation was interrupted by a bang from the gavel as Liberty Belle adjourned the meeting. Several of the female All-Stars approached Diana, while the Atom and Johnny Thunder came over to Hawkman.
"You gonna put up with this, Hawk?" the Atom asked, seeming a little steamed behind his faceless mask.
"Put up with what, Al?"
The Atom seemed very agitated. "Wonder Woman's usurping your authority. Shouldn't she have to run something like this by you first? And excluding us guys seems unfair. We could still go. We'd just need G.L. to provide us with a green platform to stand on."
"First off, Al, you're making a lot of assumptions. Wonder Woman doesn't have to clear anything with me. This isn't Justice Battalion business. Secondly, who says Green Lantern even wants to go? You didn't see him here today, did you? As for being unfair, well, let me ask you this. What if a group of short men decided to get together and have a meeting to discuss what it was like being short and the discrimination that goes with it from the rest of society. Would you be that anxious to allow a bunch of tall men to come along? Would that be discrimination?"
"Ahh, never mind. Forget I said anything!" the Atom said as he stormed off.
"What's up with Al?" Doctor Mid-Nite asked as he approached Hawkman and Johnny Thunder.
"Just trying to open his eyes a little bit, Doc," Hawkman replied.
"But aren't you a little miffed that Shiera's going off with Wonder Woman?" Johnny asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Look!" Johnny said, pointing to the group that had formed around the Amazon princess. There were Hawkgirl, Firebrand, Liberty Belle, Fury, and Tsunami.
"We'll see about this!"
"Hawk, don't go off half-cocked," Doctor Mid-Nite said grabbing the winged wonder's arm. "That's just what Al did."
Hawkman waited patiently as the women continued to chat. Good old Doc McNider, always the voice of rationality, he thought. Why was it so easy to tell other people the right thing to do, yet it was hard to see when it came down to something personal. He didn't like the idea of Shiera going off by herself, but it would probably be a good thing. Look at what happened recently. The Brain Wave had captured all the male JSAers, leaving only Wonder Woman. Brain Wave had severely underestimated Diana because she was a woman. Assembling a group of the JSAers girlfriends, Hawkgirl among them, she led the women against the dastardly villain and defeated him, freeing the male JSAers.
That little adventure had opened the Hawk's eyes to a lot of things. In the past, Carter had treated Shiera like she was a fragile little thing, always hovering and trying to protect her. She was a heroine in her own right as Hawkgirl, but he had never seen her as more than a sidekick -- Robin to his Batman. Being rescued by the women had changed his whole perception. Some of the others had already had that attitude, but others, like Al, had their egos bruised by being rescued by, as Atom put it, a group of girls.
***
"They're still talking?"
Hawkman was startled by the sudden appearance of Johnny Quick. "I thought you'd left."
"I did, but Libby said come pick her up in an hour, so I ran home, and I'm back," said Johnny as he plopped in the seat next to the Hawk and put his feet up.
"Does it bother you at all, Libby going off without you?" Hawkman asked.
"Nah. I knew Libby was an independent woman when I married her. She's going off on news assignments all the time. We both do. It makes the time we have together much more satisfying. Besides, we'll have enough time together when we decide to have kids."
"Really?" Hawkman said in surprise. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, Libby will be staying at home to raise our kids. Even career women like her know that's the way of the world," Johhny said.
Hawkman laughed. "Johnny, I have the feeling that if anyone stays at home, it'll be you."
Johnny smiled. "Yeah, right -- a man stay at home and raise the kids. That'll be the day."
***
Wonder Woman looked at her companions. "So it's settled, then? We can leave now."
"Now?" Hawkgirl asked. "Don't we need time to get ready, to get packed?"
"Not at all, Shiera," Diana replied. "Everything you need will be provided. We Amazons are nothing if not gracious hosts, considering how few times we get visitors."
"Well, Shiera and I need to say goodbye to Johnny and Hawkman. What about the rest of you?" Liberty Belle said, looking over the group.
Firebrand shrugged her shoulders. "Justin said he had some work to do with the Seven Soldiers, so I'm on my own."
Tsunami looked impassively at Belle. "I answer to no one."
"So you don't even want to say goodbye to Neptune?" Diana asked.
"I do not need his permission to do anything," replied Miya Shimada, the tone of her voice belying her true feelings.
Fury smiled at the group. "You and Uncle Johnny are my only family, and you're going with me, so I guess I'm ready."
Firebrand leaned in to Helena Kosmatos. "You mean a cute girl like you doesn't have some good-looking young man waiting for you?"
Helena blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about." She'd only recently met Arn Munro, alias Agent Liberty, and she wasn't quite sure how he felt about him.
"Uh-huh," Danette Reilly replied. "That's what I thought."
"Leave the girl alone, Danette. We can't all have our very own knight in shining armor," Libby said, laughing.
Moments later, the six women -- Wonder Woman, Liberty Belle, Hawkgirl, Firebrand, Fury, and Tsunami -- were in Diana's invisible plane, heading to Paradise Island.
***
JSA Headquarters:
The doors to the meeting room swung open as the Atom stormed in. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw a white-haired man with a cape standing over an unconscious Doctor Fate.
"Who are you? And what have you done to Doctor Fate?"
The man dropped Fate to the ground and turned to face the Atom, towering over the mighty mite.
"Ah, the dwarf. What a pity. I had hoped for der Spectre to show up, but no matter. You will be simple to eliminate. My name is Parsifal, and I will be defeating you today."
The Atom saw red. "Dwarf? I'll show you dwarf, pal."
Doctor Fate stirred briefly, struggling to gain consciousness. "No... Atom... wait..." And then he fell into blackness again.
The Atom lunged for the man called Parsifal, striking him in the midsection. The villain was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered.
"Is that your best? You are a pathetic little man."
Magic blazed from Parsifal's fingertips. The Atom began having some sort of seizure, and then he fell to the ground, quivering but unconscious.
Approaching the mighty mite, Parsifal kicked him over on his back. He reached down and touched the Atom's signaler, calling for the rest of the JSA. He went back to Doctor Fate and removed his half-helm and the Amulet of Anubis. He then sat Fate and Atom in their chairs around the meeting table, using his newfound mystic abilities to bind them. Chuckling, Parsifal sat back in Hawkman's seat and waited for the other six JSAers to arrive.
"Doctor Mid-Nite, Hawkman, and Sandman will be easily dispatched, but I must make sure the idiot Thunder calls his magic genie before I subdue him. Starman and Wonder Woman may be a problem, but when der Spectre arrives, there will be no problems at all."
***
Back at the Perisphere, Hawkman and Johnny Quick were staring up at the sky as the sound of Wonder Woman's invisible plane faded into nothingness.
"Well, Johnny, care to join this bachelor--?"
The Hawkman's words were interrupted by the sound of his JSA signaler. "Well, looks like Atom got himself into a little trouble, after all. Funny, though, his signal is coming from JSA Headquarters."
"That could mean trouble, Hawk."
"I agree. I know you're not a JSAer, Johnny, but would you care to join me?"
Johnny just smiled. "Lead on, my friend."
***
Minutes earlier, however, Doctor Mid-Nite and Starman arrived at the headquarters.
"What in the world?"
Parsifal signaled the two JSAers into the room. "Welcome to your doom, gentlemen!"
April, 1943 -- a world at war. During this most trying time in our nation's history, the heroes of this era joined forces with the Justice Society of America to become the All-Star Squadron.
A month prior in Nazi Germany:
"He's been sitting there for hours, just staring out the window."
Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt whispered to Herman Göring as they both sat outside Adolf Hitler's office.
"Yes, he received word this morning that the American Justice Society was somehow able to come behind our lines and deliver food and medical supplies. He raged for an hour, and then he sent for you. I tried talking with him earlier, but he ignored me."
Dr. Schmidt was shocked. "Behind the lines? I thought the Spear of Destiny prevented such things? That the Amerikaners fell under control of der Führer in the territory of the Third Reich?"
"It is true, but somehow they did just that. We can only speculate that due to some recent setbacks and perhaps the magic of the accursed Doctor Fate and Spectre, that the JSA was able to successfully get in and out. This concerns der Führer greatly, so that is why he asked for you."
"Me?"
Göring smiled wryly at the man. "After the other recent debacle involving Thor, we had to... relieve your predecessor from his duties. Your knowledge of the arcane is well-known to us, and..."
"That is why you will create for me a champion that vill destroy the verdammt JSA once and for all!" Hitler said, walking from his office. "Come, for the glory of the Third Reich, and if you do not wish to end up like the last poor fellow who failed me."
Dr. Schmidt began to sweat profusely.
***
New York City, the Perisphere:
"And now, is there any new business?"
The sounds resounded throughout the room as Liberty Belle looked over the assembled heroes. Most of the Justice Battalion of America was there, as well as the Seven Soldiers of Victory. Wildcat and Mister Terrific were also in attendance, as well as the kids from the Young All-Stars.
"Madame Chairman, I would like to extend an invitation to my fellow sisters in the All-Star Squadron. After having spoken with my mother, Queen Hippolyta, she has agreed to let me bring a contingent of you to Paradise Island to see our society firsthand."
Liberty Belle looked at Hawkman. "Did you know anything about this?"
Hawkman just shrugged his shoulders. "No, but after our recent adventure with the Brain Wave, I'm not surprised."
"Very well. Those of you interested, please see Wonder Woman after the meeting."
"Hold the phone, there, sister," Wildcat said, speaking up. "Why can't us guys go, too? I'd like ta see these Amazons myself."
"I would love for you to attend, Wildcat, but no man can set foot on Paradise Island without all of us losing our powers forever," Wonder Woman answered.
Mister Terrific poked Wildcat in the ribs with his elbow and whispered to him, "Nice try, 'Cat, but we both know you just wanted to see an island full of gorgeous women running around in short silk dresses."
"So what's yer point?"
Their conversation was interrupted by a bang from the gavel as Liberty Belle adjourned the meeting. Several of the female All-Stars approached Diana, while the Atom and Johnny Thunder came over to Hawkman.
"You gonna put up with this, Hawk?" the Atom asked, seeming a little steamed behind his faceless mask.
"Put up with what, Al?"
The Atom seemed very agitated. "Wonder Woman's usurping your authority. Shouldn't she have to run something like this by you first? And excluding us guys seems unfair. We could still go. We'd just need G.L. to provide us with a green platform to stand on."
"First off, Al, you're making a lot of assumptions. Wonder Woman doesn't have to clear anything with me. This isn't Justice Battalion business. Secondly, who says Green Lantern even wants to go? You didn't see him here today, did you? As for being unfair, well, let me ask you this. What if a group of short men decided to get together and have a meeting to discuss what it was like being short and the discrimination that goes with it from the rest of society. Would you be that anxious to allow a bunch of tall men to come along? Would that be discrimination?"
"Ahh, never mind. Forget I said anything!" the Atom said as he stormed off.
"What's up with Al?" Doctor Mid-Nite asked as he approached Hawkman and Johnny Thunder.
"Just trying to open his eyes a little bit, Doc," Hawkman replied.
"But aren't you a little miffed that Shiera's going off with Wonder Woman?" Johnny asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Look!" Johnny said, pointing to the group that had formed around the Amazon princess. There were Hawkgirl, Firebrand, Liberty Belle, Fury, and Tsunami.
"We'll see about this!"
"Hawk, don't go off half-cocked," Doctor Mid-Nite said grabbing the winged wonder's arm. "That's just what Al did."
Hawkman waited patiently as the women continued to chat. Good old Doc McNider, always the voice of rationality, he thought. Why was it so easy to tell other people the right thing to do, yet it was hard to see when it came down to something personal. He didn't like the idea of Shiera going off by herself, but it would probably be a good thing. Look at what happened recently. The Brain Wave had captured all the male JSAers, leaving only Wonder Woman. Brain Wave had severely underestimated Diana because she was a woman. Assembling a group of the JSAers girlfriends, Hawkgirl among them, she led the women against the dastardly villain and defeated him, freeing the male JSAers.
That little adventure had opened the Hawk's eyes to a lot of things. In the past, Carter had treated Shiera like she was a fragile little thing, always hovering and trying to protect her. She was a heroine in her own right as Hawkgirl, but he had never seen her as more than a sidekick -- Robin to his Batman. Being rescued by the women had changed his whole perception. Some of the others had already had that attitude, but others, like Al, had their egos bruised by being rescued by, as Atom put it, a group of girls.
***
"They're still talking?"
Hawkman was startled by the sudden appearance of Johnny Quick. "I thought you'd left."
"I did, but Libby said come pick her up in an hour, so I ran home, and I'm back," said Johnny as he plopped in the seat next to the Hawk and put his feet up.
"Does it bother you at all, Libby going off without you?" Hawkman asked.
"Nah. I knew Libby was an independent woman when I married her. She's going off on news assignments all the time. We both do. It makes the time we have together much more satisfying. Besides, we'll have enough time together when we decide to have kids."
"Really?" Hawkman said in surprise. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, Libby will be staying at home to raise our kids. Even career women like her know that's the way of the world," Johhny said.
Hawkman laughed. "Johnny, I have the feeling that if anyone stays at home, it'll be you."
Johnny smiled. "Yeah, right -- a man stay at home and raise the kids. That'll be the day."
***
Wonder Woman looked at her companions. "So it's settled, then? We can leave now."
"Now?" Hawkgirl asked. "Don't we need time to get ready, to get packed?"
"Not at all, Shiera," Diana replied. "Everything you need will be provided. We Amazons are nothing if not gracious hosts, considering how few times we get visitors."
"Well, Shiera and I need to say goodbye to Johnny and Hawkman. What about the rest of you?" Liberty Belle said, looking over the group.
Firebrand shrugged her shoulders. "Justin said he had some work to do with the Seven Soldiers, so I'm on my own."
Tsunami looked impassively at Belle. "I answer to no one."
"So you don't even want to say goodbye to Neptune?" Diana asked.
"I do not need his permission to do anything," replied Miya Shimada, the tone of her voice belying her true feelings.
Fury smiled at the group. "You and Uncle Johnny are my only family, and you're going with me, so I guess I'm ready."
Firebrand leaned in to Helena Kosmatos. "You mean a cute girl like you doesn't have some good-looking young man waiting for you?"
Helena blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about." She'd only recently met Arn Munro, alias Agent Liberty, and she wasn't quite sure how he felt about him.
"Uh-huh," Danette Reilly replied. "That's what I thought."
"Leave the girl alone, Danette. We can't all have our very own knight in shining armor," Libby said, laughing.
Moments later, the six women -- Wonder Woman, Liberty Belle, Hawkgirl, Firebrand, Fury, and Tsunami -- were in Diana's invisible plane, heading to Paradise Island.
***
JSA Headquarters:
The doors to the meeting room swung open as the Atom stormed in. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw a white-haired man with a cape standing over an unconscious Doctor Fate.
"Who are you? And what have you done to Doctor Fate?"
The man dropped Fate to the ground and turned to face the Atom, towering over the mighty mite.
"Ah, the dwarf. What a pity. I had hoped for der Spectre to show up, but no matter. You will be simple to eliminate. My name is Parsifal, and I will be defeating you today."
The Atom saw red. "Dwarf? I'll show you dwarf, pal."
Doctor Fate stirred briefly, struggling to gain consciousness. "No... Atom... wait..." And then he fell into blackness again.
The Atom lunged for the man called Parsifal, striking him in the midsection. The villain was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered.
"Is that your best? You are a pathetic little man."
Magic blazed from Parsifal's fingertips. The Atom began having some sort of seizure, and then he fell to the ground, quivering but unconscious.
Approaching the mighty mite, Parsifal kicked him over on his back. He reached down and touched the Atom's signaler, calling for the rest of the JSA. He went back to Doctor Fate and removed his half-helm and the Amulet of Anubis. He then sat Fate and Atom in their chairs around the meeting table, using his newfound mystic abilities to bind them. Chuckling, Parsifal sat back in Hawkman's seat and waited for the other six JSAers to arrive.
"Doctor Mid-Nite, Hawkman, and Sandman will be easily dispatched, but I must make sure the idiot Thunder calls his magic genie before I subdue him. Starman and Wonder Woman may be a problem, but when der Spectre arrives, there will be no problems at all."
***
Back at the Perisphere, Hawkman and Johnny Quick were staring up at the sky as the sound of Wonder Woman's invisible plane faded into nothingness.
"Well, Johnny, care to join this bachelor--?"
The Hawkman's words were interrupted by the sound of his JSA signaler. "Well, looks like Atom got himself into a little trouble, after all. Funny, though, his signal is coming from JSA Headquarters."
"That could mean trouble, Hawk."
"I agree. I know you're not a JSAer, Johnny, but would you care to join me?"
Johnny just smiled. "Lead on, my friend."
***
Minutes earlier, however, Doctor Mid-Nite and Starman arrived at the headquarters.
"What in the world?"
Parsifal signaled the two JSAers into the room. "Welcome to your doom, gentlemen!"