Prologue
“It’s right this way, Mr. President.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt nodded as his aide pushed his wheelchair down one of the many hallways that wound through the White House. He was anxious. Not nervous, or worried, just anxious. He was about to meet with some of what might be the most powerful people on Earth. It was a momentous occasion, to say the least.
It had been one month since he had put out the call, and charged his best men with the task of getting everything in order. One month since Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. The thought of that day still filled him with outrage, just as it did every other American. The American people expected him to step up, put things right, and so he would. He would use every resource at his disposal to see this through, and ensure that justice prevailed.
The aide stopped next to a nondescript oak door; one of many that littered the halls of the mansion. “Are you ready, sir?” The aide asked, a tinge of fear could be heard in his voice. He couldn’t fault the poor man for that. He had every right to be scared. There were any number of ways that this could end badly.
****************
Lee Walter Travis stood on the rooftop, looking down at the alleyway below. Ensuring his grapple line was secure on the roof, he shifted his gaze to his young partner. Unlike his bright red coat, hat and mask, his partner wore a somber black and gray uniform as well as a bat-shaped cowl and cape. He was still a just a boy, but he had talent. The young man had lost his parents both of his parents in an alley like the one below them. He shook his head; he needed to focus on the task at hand.
As if on cue, a car turned down the narrow alley and slowed to a stop. The rain hadn’t let up for hours, but Lee didn’t mind. If anything, it made their work easier since it masked sound and obscured vision. He checked his grapple line one last time, and ensured his gas gun was loaded. Below him, another car pulled into the alley, stopping just behind the other vehicle. The doors on both cars opened, and men in trench coats and fedoras stepped out. Lee didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were; they were the members of the Maroni and Falcone crime families. And tonight, Falcone’s men were exchanging a briefcase full of cash for a trunk full of Maroni’s firearms. At least, that’s what they were planning to do. The Crimson Avenger and Batman had other ideas.
They dove from the rooftop, three stories above the men. Lee’s grapple line worked perfectly to slow his descent. Bruce, on the other hand, dropped like a stone. Just before hitting the pavement, he spread the cape that hung from his cowl and was jerked upright as the special hardened weave of fibers caught his fall and slowed him to a pace that would allow him to survive impact.
It would also allow the thug he landed on to survive the impact of Batman’s boots hitting his face as well. That was expected. They weren’t here to murder anyone. These scum needed to live to face justice for their crimes. The first one went down without a sound. The next managed a muffled cry as Batman grabbed him in a sleeper hold, dropping him in moments.
The rest of the mobsters were alerted now, but they stood no chance against the pair. The Crimson Avenger leveled his gas gun at the group and fired. A cloud of knockout gas surrounded the men and they dropped to the ground, coughing. The fight was over within thirty seconds. The duo stood in the rain-soaked alleyway, taking in the sight. Lee knew that word would get out, and the criminal element would start getting smarter, so he took a moment to appreciate how easy this was.
“That’s pretty nice work, Lee. How would you like to go pro again?” A gruff voice echoed from the dark end of the alleyway.
They spun towards the voice. They weren’t an easy pair to sneak up on. Whoever this was, he was no simple mob goon. The man stepped into the headlights of cars. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a fine suit and tie. Deep scars lining his face told of a recent wound. A war wound. Lee knew him as his commanding officer during the Spanish Civil War. They had fought together in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. What the man was doing here, or how he had found Lee, was a mystery though.
“Captain Hendricks! What a surprise to see you here! What brings you to New York?” He exclaimed, genuinely surprised to see the man.
Batman looked from one man to the other, “You two know each other?”
“It’s Major now, actually, and I’m here on orders.” He paused to look at both men in turn. “The President is looking to recruit you ‘mystery men’ to help fight in the war. I told him I knew just the guy.” The man walked closer to the pair, extending the umbrella he held to shield them from the rainfall.
“Major Hendricks...Carl, look, I can’t put on the uniform again. What you and I went through...I never want to see that again.” He looked down. He couldn’t help but be ashamed at his own words, even as he spoke them. “Besides, I’m responsible for this young man, and I’m not just going to abandon him.” He said, pointing a thumb at Batman.
“Well, as much as I think Bruce Wayne here can take care of himself,” Batman was taken aback, just how much did the government know about them? “I’m not looking to put a rifle in your hand, Lee. This is something else. Something bigger than the Army. Hitler’s got himself mystery men of his own, and we need guys like you to take em down. Bombs and tanks aren’t going to win this one, and Batman here is welcome to come with you. After all, he’s as old as we were when we joined up. So whaddaya say, Crimson Avenger? You in?”
****************
He looked at the barn, squinting through the spring sun that hung over the Kansas farmland. He was going to make it this time, he knew it. He tousled his wavy black head of hair and smiled as he prepared himself, dropping into a runners starting position. This was the best summer ever as far as Clark Kent was concerned. He had graduated high school, gotten a job at a newspaper in the big city, and discovered that he had super powers.
He broke into a sprint, running directly at the large barn that loomed ever-closer. It had to be 40, maybe 50 feet high, but he would make it this time, he knew it. Just before hitting the barn, he leapt into the air as high as he could. He was going to make it. He soared upward, seemingly defying gravity itself. He cleared the roof, shouting for joy in midair. He had done it! He looked behind him to see the barn rise up again as he descended.
Descended. Uh-oh. He hadn’t thought about this. He hadn’t prepared for the landing. This was going to hurt. With the loud crash of twisting metal, Clark Kent landed. He shook his head, clearing out the dizziness of the impact. Oh no, he thought as he looked around him. He had landed right on top of a very nice car. Well, it probably was nice, before he had destroyed it. A man stood nearby in a fine suit and sunglasses. The man removed his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt as he spoke.
“Well, that was unexpected.” He offered his hand to Clark. “Here, let me help you up. You OK, son?” Clark nodded his head sheepishly.
“I’m awful sorry about the car, sir. I...umm, was playing on top of the barn, and must have slipped. “ He said sheepishly as he took the man’s hand and climbed to his feet.
The man raised an eyebrow, “You were playing on top of a fifty-foot tall barn, fell off, and destroyed my car without a scratch on you?” The man gave a deep, hearty laugh. “No, kid, I don’t think so. I saw the whole thing but don’t worry, that’s why I’m here.”
“Who are you?” Clark asked, dusting himself off. His new pants were torn, and his shirt was hanging off in rags. His Ma and Pa were going to kill him for this.
“Never mind that; who I am isn’t important. It’s you that’s important; to your President and to this country. President Roosevelt has asked for your help, son. We need you, and people like you, to help to defend this nation. Will you help us?”
Clark smiled with a wide boyish grin. Excitedly, he asked, “There’s people like me?”
****************
The ocean waves washed lazily on the white sand that marked shores of Themiscyra. A beautiful young woman stood and watched them slowly erode the sands of her island home. Her mind began to drift as she remembered a day very much like this one. The day her world had changed.
Diana had watched with a certain curiosity as a small ship sailed ever-closer to their shores. “Who is that, mother?” she asked with suspicion. The island of Themiscyra was supposed to be impossible for outsiders to find. In fact, Diana had never met someone who was not born on the island.
“I do not know my child. But worry not, for they pose no threat to us.” Her mother was a woman as equally beautiful as Diana herself. Though instead of the raven braids that Diana wore, her mothers were golden and flowing. Both mother and daughter wore the ceremonial breastplate and battle skirts of the Amazon.
Diana stole a glance at the Amazon honor guard that flanked them. Her mother was right, there was no threat that they could not overcome. She and her sisters were immortal, and blessed by the gods with a strength not possessed by mortal men. At long last, the boat had reached shallow water, and a smaller boat was being rowed to shore. There was only one figure in this smaller craft. Very curious, Diana thought. As the boat neared, Diana gasped involuntarily. It was a man that rowed towards them! Diana had never seen a man, but clearly this must be one.
“Penny for your thoughts?” She was snapped from her reverie by the unfamiliar voice of a man. Well, the man. The only man Diana had ever seen. He had been here for nearly a week, and Diana was certain she would never grow accustomed to seeing him. He was a tall, well-built man with fair skin and hair as golden as her mother’s but cropped very short. He dressed very oddly, wearing a close-fitting olive green suit with strange insignias, and his only weapon was a small metal device that he wore at his side.
“Actually, I was thinking about you, Mr. Trevor. “ She said, not turning from the sea. She had to admin, she was curious about the man, but it still didn’t override the lifetime of Amazon teachings that taught her to distrust men.
“I’m flattered, but please, call me Steve.” The man walked across the beach to her, but knew enough about Amazon custom to stop well short of her. “It’s almost time to go.”
Diana nodded, her mind drifting away again. The man had come ashore and introduced himself as Lieutenant Steve Trevor of the United States Army Intelligence Division. Queen Hippolyta appeared to know what at least some of those titles meant, and allowed him to continue. He went on to describe many strange things that Diana did not understand. From what she could tell, though, the world of men was at war, and this one wanted the aid of the Amazons. Diana expected her mother to laugh and order his execution for trespassing on the sacred island, but instead she appeared thoughtful. Surely she couldn’t be considering his request?
Queen Hippolyta provided the man guest chambers, and went to council with her advisers. After a long deliberation, she emerged from the council chambers and declared that one Amazon would be sent to aid the world of men. To decide who would go, she held a contest. A series of games designed to choose the most worthy Amazon from their ranks. Many of Diana’s Amazon sisters had balked at this, and forfeited out of principle. Their home was on the island, and not in the world of men. Only Diana and a handful of others participated in the games, which tested their skill in archery, running, discus and wrestling. Diana won them all easily.
when the contests were over, she was bidden to approach her mother’s throne in the great hall. “Daughter, you make me proud.” Hippolyta had brought forth a chest that she now opened. “Go with my blessing, and the blessings of the gods.” She removed a sword and lasso from the chest. “May these weapons protect your allies.” Diana bowed her head and took them. Her mother reached in and produced a tiara and bracers, “and may these protect you, my daughter.”
Diana was brought back to the present again by Mr. Trevor. Steve.
“Ship sails at dawn, princess.”
****************
As he stared at the green ring on his hand, Alan Scott could not help but chuckle. Who would have thought that such an insignificant-looking thing could have changed his life so dramatically? Only a short time ago, he had been a railroad engineer, taking whatever work he could get during the depression. He didn’t necessarily hate working for the railroad, but it was far from the glamorous career he had imagined for himself when he was younger. He had always dreamed of being something more; something great.
On a night like any other, he had been walking the line just before the 10 o’ clock came in from Keystone City. The ground shook beneath his feet just before he heard a thunderous crash sounded down the line. Even in the dim moonlight, he could see fire and smoke rising from the area he recognized as the bridge farther down the tracks. It must have collapsed! Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the wreckage of the passenger train, snatching a lantern from a nearby post to provide light as he ran.
When he finally reached the scene of the accident, he managed to save the driver and the few passengers that were riding that night. He was able to save them all, and it was the most fulfilling night of his life. As he sat on the side of the tracks, exhausted as he watched the sunrise, he heard a deep, echoing voice inside his mind.
“You have proven yourself a true hero, Alan Scott, and have been chosen.” He thought he was going crazy, but it continued. “Fashion from my metal a ring, and you shall be a Green Lantern; protector and guardian to all.” Was it the lantern he had grabbed as he ran? He glanced at it, and was shocked to find it glowing with a bright green light. It was too incredible to believe, but Alan was compelled to follow the instructions that the voice had given him. He did indeed fashion a ring from the metal of the lantern and found that, while wearing it, he was granted powers beyond his wildest dreams.
It felt like ages ago, but only a few months had passed since that fateful night. Since then, he had learned to control the powers that the ring granted him. He could use it to do almost anything he could imagine: fly, walk through solid objects, and even create objects of his own using only his thoughts. He had used these newfound gifts to fight crime in his neighborhood in New York City, and his exploits had caught the attention of some pretty important people. He really was a hero now, and the world desperately needed him. He never would have dreamed it, but if that man from Washington was telling the truth, he was going to meet the President!
****************
“You need to focus, Steve. Try to slow your breathing. You’re not going to do any good for anyone if you have a heart attack.” The man outside the metal capsule said, though Steve Rogers could barely hear it through the heavy steel and lead that lined the small chamber he found himself strapped inside.
He did his best to comply with the request, but his mind still swirled with stray thoughts. They called this ‘Project Rebirth’, a program designed to create the perfect soldier. He had volunteered without a second thought. He knew the risks, and it was worth it. This was his only chance, his only hope, to serve his country.
Growing up in the Bronx, he had learned early that sometimes you had to take risks if you wanted to do the right thing. When the war broke out he tried to join the army, but was turned away for failing the physical; six times, in fact. He had tried one last time to get in, and was surprised to find a scientist waiting in the physician’s office. The man introduced himself as Dr. Erskine, a German scientist devoted to creating the perfect soldier. For some reason, he thought Steve could be that soldier.
Now, here he was, sitting in a metal capsule and about to be injected with who-knows-what and bombarded with “Vita-rays”, whatever those were. He wasn’t worried for his safety, he just wanted so badly for this to work. He wanted to serve his country, and do his part in the fight against tyranny and oppression. The Axis powers were everything that Steve had been raised to fight against. They were bullies, dictators, murderers and worse. Steve had seen the newsreel footage, and he knew what was at stake. This was a fight for the future of liberty not just for America, but for the world.
The countdown began. This was it; now or never, he thought. He closed his eyes and waited. Oddly enough, the closer the countdown came to its inevitable conclusion, the calmer he became. By the time it hit one, he was completely at peace. Time seemed to stop as he took in a deep breath. Suddenly, his world was filled with light and pain. Fire coursed through his veins, and his body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. He screamed, but it was impossible to hear over the high-pitched cacophony of the machines that were bombarding his body with a variety of rays and chemicals.
After what felt like an eternity, the machined whined to a stop. Despite the unimaginable pain, he had managed to remain conscious throughout the entire procedure. As the searing pain dulled to a roar, he tried to move within the capsule. He had been strapped into the machine very tightly, but he felt the straps strain and nearly break from his movements. A loud hissing sounded as the capsule slowly opened. He tried to look around, but his vision was still blurred from the combination of pain and the after-effects of the procedure.
“Are you still with us, Steve?” said the familiar German-accented voice of Dr. Erskine.
“I...I think so.” Steve rasped. The pain was beginning to subside, but he was still having trouble making out his surroundings.
“Let’s have a look at you.” Dr. Erskine and his assistants began undoing the straps that held Steve upright inside the capsule. “Mein gott!” the doctor cried.
“What is it, doctor? Did it work?” Steve took a tentative step forward, his footing shaky.
“It did more than work, my boy. See for yourself!” He gestured to a mirror against a nearby wall of the laboratory.
Steve Roger’s steps grew steadier each moment as he moved forward. By the time he reached the mirror, he was finally feeling like his old self. No, not like his old self. He looked in the mirror, and saw a tall, muscular man staring back at him. Nearly physically perfect in every way, he was briefly in awe of himself. He was finally the person he needed to be to defend the ideals of the United States of America. It was time to get to work.
****************
President Roosevelt wheeled himself inside the conference room, and what awaited him was quite a sight. He had sent his best men out to find so-called ‘mystery men’ to join the war effort, and they had certainly done their job. There were about a dozen men and women in the room, and they all stood as he entered. Each of them was very different, some in garish costumes, others in uniforms of sorts, but they were all special.
“I would like to thank you all for coming” He said as he pulled his chair up behind the desk. He took a moment to settle in before continuing, “I know you are all aware of the reason I have called you here, but I wanted you to hear it directly from me. America is preparing for war, this much you know. What you may not know, is that the Axis powers, specifically Germany, have been gathering relics and artifacts of immense power. At this time, we also know that Hitler has been recruiting what he calls the “ubermensch”, or supermen. He has a technological advantage over us, this much is true, but I believe we have the better men and women.” He paused to look each of the individuals before him directly before continuing. “In fact, I know we do. Some amongst you have fantastic gifts, while others possess nothing more than an incredible strength of spirit. Each one of you has this much in common, you have volunteered to drive back the tide of evil that is rising from the east. You will be an inspiration for all who believe in freedom, and leaders in the fight against the darkness that threatens not only this great country, but the entire world. I thank you, and America thanks you. I leave you now in the capable hands of Colonel Hardy, who will be responsible for your training and act as your liaison to military command. God bless you all.”
The President gestured to a man who now stood in the doorway of the room. He looked like a military stereotype: a tall man with closely-cropped dark hair, a square jaw, and a uniform full of medals and ribbons. The man nodded, “Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to All-Star Squad. It’s time to begin your training. ”
