fireinthedust
Explorer
The Hall of Justice. Home of the Justice League of America. The words sound incredible to you, and even though you'd like to think of them as cheesey, deep down you don't. They mean something. They're real, and in your heart you know you want to be a better person because of them. You want to be a part of something bigger than yourself, that has meaning.
The last ten years have been incredible. You grew up seeing TV shorts and newspaper clippings in the Daily Planet about costumed superheroes like Superman or Wonder Woman saving the world from aliens and robots. Or rumors sprung to life that a shadowy "bat-man" stalked criminals in Gotham. The world has been racing to cope over the last five years as other heroes came along, and finally joined together to form the League. The media went wild, Superheroes becoming the new celebrity in the new millenium.
And you were one of them. Well, a sidekick, or a partner. Your mentor letting you join in while busting criminals or fighting the good fight. Sure, the media couldn't get your name right, but they would. Who would want to be known as a sidekick? You'd been told that someday you'd be part of the League... and today, they said, you were ready to see the inside of the Hall itself!
You arrived at the Hall with your mentor, one of the greatest superheroes in the world. There were others with them: teens just like you, in crazy costumes, with powers or gadgets, trained just like their mentors: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Metamorpho, Martian Manhunter, Hawk Girl, and others... standing with you! The media flashed photos of your group as you walked towards the Hall.
And then you were in the Library, with a giant TV screen on a giant computer. The ceiling was glass, with the sun shining through it, beaming down on your group clustered in the middle of the room or seated on surprisingly comfortable couches.
We should get started. Superman said. He was fairly soft-spoken, to the point, and had a magnetism to him. He pointed out the amenities, the computer...
and then the sky went dark.
What the... said Superman, apparently hearing something.
I felt it too Martian Manhunter said.
The computer screen lit up, as did numerous lights on the computer itself. One of them said "Justice League: Alert: All Reserves"
And then a giant face came on the screen. A huge, muscular alien in purple, with a technological plate around the back of his head, was speaking with a deep voice. As he did so, images of fights between Justice League members and various villains scrolled across the bottom of the screen.
I am Mongul, ruler of War World. I have chosen this world's champions for the honor of fighting and dying in the great arena. Those who survive will gain the honor of many battles before their deaths. If we are displeased by your performances... War World shall destroy this insignificant planet. All those of note shall join us... or die.
A flash of light surrounded Superman, then Martian manhunter, the Flash, Wonder Woman, all of the world's greatest heroes.
Screen shots from satelites appeared ont he screen, of League members trying to contact the Hall before they vanished as well; and of villains like Luthor and Grundy, Mr. Freeze and others in jail, vanishing from their cells.
Even the reporters in the gallery, taking pictures of the event with their cameras, disappeared in a flash.
...but... but not you guys.
The news channels on smaller screens began to blip pundits discussing the mass teleportation of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The all-call continued to sound on one screen to all JLA members, active and reserve, with the words "no replies" next to every single name on a fairly long list.
During all this, off to the side of the computer, a flashing red light started to flash its unassuming warning of another danger, there for the noticing.
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