Issue Number Nineteen

"Shoot for the Moon"

"Mon ami, you would be perfect for this...." Constance D'Aramis sat up in bed, pulling the sheets up to cover her nakedness. She thought for a moment about letting her modesty fall aside -- that might help her case with the man lying next to her -- but decided against it. She wanted him to say yes because he wanted to, not because of his desire for her.

Richard Plante quietly sighed and stared upwards at the ceiling of his bedroom. "We've talked over this before... I'm not sure that Lionheart joining your group is the right thing to do."

"But you worked with the old JLE more than once -- you saw how much good a team can do in Europe. We need you." Constance fought the urge to say 'I need you.' That would be too much, too soon.

"No denying that -- but I have a position with the British government. I'm not sure that they'd want me splitting my loyalties between them and--"

"Max has spoken to them," she admitted, smiling shyly.

Richard sat up quickly. "You've already taken steps to get me in?"

"Yes... but don't look so betrayed." She touched his chest. "It was Max's idea. He's approached the European Union about increasing our funding and the Brits are keen on having you onboard as their representative."

"Representative... we're not getting into Global Guardians waters, are we? Where we each have some bloody country patch on our shoulders to show how fair the lineup is?"

Constance laughed, imagining herself draped in the French flag. "No worries. We are going to try and recruit more European heroes but there's not going to be any rules about such." Her eyes twinkled as they held his. "So you're in?"

There was a bit of hesitance before he answered. He'd been a union dock worker before his recruitment by the government... his life since then had been one upheaval after another. He'd been told he was a direct descendant of Richard I and that he'd been chosen to wear a specialized power suit to defend Great Britain, all leading up to a battle with a group of alien parasites. He'd barely survived the affair and it'd made him leery of getting involved in Justice League-scale events, which the Squadron seemed to be getting more and more of lately. "I'm still a bit of a novice at this," he admitted. "I might not be up to the job."

Constance kissed him lightly. "I have faith in you." She pulled him atop her, laying back in the covers. "Now let's celebrate, shall we?"

Wordenshire Castle -- Home of the Justice Squadron

"I thought we'd agreed to take a break from this, Ralph?"

Ralph Dibny's neck stretched from side of the lab to the other, but Sue could still see the consternation on his face. He started to do that 'nose-twitch' thing that he believed always won her over, but a frown from her stopped that in mid-twitch. "I can't go now, honey. I'm still working on solving Cyril's murder."

"Cyril was in another universe, remember? Whoever this is, it couldn't have been Cyril." Sue stepped over to her husband and took his hand. He retracted his neck so that he once again resumed human proportions. "We're going to be parents... I've loved this life of yours for a very long time, but there comes a time when we have to think about the future. I'm pregnant. All of you were nearly killed by the Extremists. You're investigating a murder right now. I'm not sure we can raise a child here."

Ralph hesitated, his face taking on a serious cast. It was an expression he didn't share with many people because he fostered the image of a great goofball... but it was the face that Sue knew and loved most. "I know. I really do. It's just... I've done really well here. I'm the team leader. I can't abandon them when the team's so low."

Sue let her shoulders drop. "Okay. We'll stay for now... but only until Max has things fixed up here. Then we take a leave of absence. A long leave of absence. Deal?"

Ralph grinned. "You got it."

"I've found it!"

The triumphant note in Kimiyo Hoshi's voice made both Dibnys look up. She entered the room quickly, propelled by a bridge of solid light. 

"What have you got?"

Dr. Light held up a thin sheet of computer paper. "I've finished the analysis of that body. You were right, Ralph. It was lacking certain anatomical features because it's not a natural body at all. It's a clone."

"Anatomical features?" Sue asked.

Ralph nodded, scanning over the findings. "Yep. The dead body did match up with Cyril's DNA and dental records. But his bellybutton was all wrong. Cyril was an outie... and this body had the most perfectly sculpted innie you've ever seen."

"Now the only question is, who'd clone the Knight? And why?" Kimi said.

"Dabny Donovan," Ralph answered. He saw that the name meant nothing to his female companions and he smiled broader, enjoying the role of professor. "One of the most corrupt men in modern science. He created the DNAliens, was kicked out of Project Cadmus and has had dealings with Lex Luthor."

"But why do you think it's him?"

Ralph stretched his arm over to a computer station, tapping a few keys. The image of Donovan -- a bushy-moustached man with oversized glasses -- appeared on screen. "Because Interpol reported that he's been sighted in London. In the company of a woman who's also wanted for questioning: the Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza."

Sue did recognize that name, from the society pages. "Luthor's ex-wife."

"You're amazing, Ralph." Dr. Light's face took on a slighter less pleased expression. "But where will we find them?"

"Give me time, ladies." The Elongated Man squeezed his wife's hand. "They don't call me one of the world's greatest detectives for nothing."

Washington, D.C.

"No, Max. Absolutely not."

Maxwell Lord leaned back in his chair, smiling as warmly as possible when a silver-skinned metahuman was towering over you angrily. "Now, Captain, is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"Old friend?" Nathaniel Adam -- Captain Atom -- gaped in disbelief. "I came here because Senator Wilson asked me to. I didn't know I was coming to a recruitment drive."

"You should be flattered. I've ignored phone calls from all sorts of heroes wanting to sign up with us. Why? Because I want the best... and that means you." Max pointed a finger at his old friend. "You led the JLE, Cap. And did a fine job of it. Now we've got Ralph... and his wife's in the family way. You think he's going to be around long-term? I doubt it. So we need a replacement waiting in the wings. You can take over when he leaves."

"My wife and I are very happy here."

"You'll be happier in England. You can live in a castle, Cap. What woman wouldn't want to live in a castle? The little lady will love it. And while Ralph and Sue are around, you have another married couple to pal around with."

Captain Atom crossed his arms. His eyes were swirling with energy. "No."

"Did I mention that I've talked to your kids... and they both think you should go?"

"What? You had no right to--"

"Your daughter thinks you shouldn't be working for the U.S. government right now. You need to be with us, in Europe, showing the world that American heroes can work with European ones. It's going to boost the U.S. image overseas, Cap."

"Go to hell." Captain Atom turned to leave. "The last thing I need in my life right now is more of your usual shenanigans."

"You're wife's already at Wordenshire Castle, moving in."

That stopped Atom in his tracks. He turned slowly, his voice full of malice. "Say that again. Slowly."

"I stopped by your place yesterday but you were out on a mission. Ran into Bette and the kids. Great family. She loved the idea of going overseas so much that she's probably off the plane already."

"She wouldn't do that without talking to me first."

Max looked innocent. "Oh... Well, I might have forgotten to mention that I hadn't gotten your okay yet."

"You lied to her??"

"I want you, Cap. Hell, I'll say it -- I need you. You're legit. You give us muscle and a big name. Without you, we're good but we're not marketable. I need the European Union to look at us and say 'Damn, they're impressive.' You give us that. And I can give you one hell of a benefits package."

Atom sighed, shaking his head. "You haven't changed a bit. I'll give it a try, Max... but I'm out of there at the first sign of incompetence. And you swear -- swear! -- to never lie to my wife again."

"Honest injun," Max replied, shaking the other man's hand. "Welcome aboard."

Mount Thunder, Ultramarines HQ

"I'll be a liason between the groups." Liam McHugh heard himself say the words and he winced inside. It didn't sound right -- it still sounded like he was quitting the Ultramarines, which he was. "I'll be back whenever you need me."

Warmaker looked away from the younger man, out across the mountains. "Are you unhappy with our direction, Liam? Is that it?"

"No... I think we've done wonders, really. But the Squadron's doing good things and they're based in Europe. I think I can Ireland more good by being there than here. That's all."

"This has nothing to do with those visions you've been having?"

Liam couldn't hide his surprise at that. He was in costume, so his face was hidden beneath the fiery pumpkin head he wore, but his body language betrayed him.

Warmaker smiled. "You talk in your sleep. Very loudly. We've all heard you."

"Ever since I found out that my cousin Daniel had been the original Jack O'Lantern, I've been on a mission, I guess. With the Leymen and then with all of you... but the Woman of the Water says I have a greater purpose. She told me that my Pumpkin of Power would be needed to help save the Squadron from some great danger... and that it might pose a threat to my old home, too." Liam reached up and removed his mask, revealing a handsome, earnest face. "Lord says I can still assist you when needed."

"No. Let's make this a clean break, Liam. I don't begrudge you wanting to go closer to home. But there's no point in having you splitting your time between groups. Good luck."

Jack O'Lantern watched Warmaker walk away, knowing he'd disappointed the older man in some way. He was sorry for that, but he really did feel a responsibility that transcended this one. He reached down and plucked up the Pumpkin of Power, feeling its energy flood through his veins. He didn't need it to use his powers, but it certainly gave him an easy focus. 

In his head, the Woman of the Water whispered to him: All of the United Kingdom will need you, Liam McHugh, not just Ireland. You are the Walker of the Gray Path.

Liam sighed. "Whatever that means." He gently left the ground, flying away from the Ultramarines and that portion of his life forever. "Justice Squadron, here I come."

"They're going to trace it all back to us," Dabny Donovan whined, rubbed his gloved hands together. "We need to flee the country."

"Nonsense," the Contessa replied. She was seated in a large tub, filled with bubbles. A wine glass was daintily held in one hand. She was beautiful, more beautiful than any woman Donovan had ever known. Maybe that was why he was still here and not on a plane somewhere. "So what if the Squadron finds out about our little experiments? Even if they discover we're behind it, it's far too late for them to do anything about it."

"I've had bad luck with superheroes," Dabny explained.

A door opened, revealing a behemoth that sent Dabny's heart racing. The scientist, perched on a couch near the Contessa's bath, started to rise, but the stranger waved him back to his seat. "Haven't we all? But the Contessa's right," he said, reaching up to unbuckled the large harness he wore. It fell with a crash to the floor, revealing a body covered by sleek white fur. "If the Justice Squadron comes calling, they'll find my new army waiting for them... all the worse for them, I'd say. The Knight was nothing more than a test run, a clone that escaped and had to be put down quickly." He eyed Donovan. "It was in the dispatching of the corpse that problems arose."

"We had to move quickly," Donovan whispered.

"You left it in a trash can," the Contessa remarked. "Very sloppy." She eyed her partner as he slid his oversized body into the tub, splashing water over the rim and onto the floor. They faced each other for a long moment, seeing past the flesh and into something deeper. They shared a lust for power and for life, that transcended all else. She raised her glass, waiting for him to do the same. Their glasses clinked together. "To the partnership we've arranged." She smiled. "To the Ultra-Humanite."

He laughed hoarsely, his ape-face leering at her. "To the Contessa."

Together, they said "To world domination."

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue: The revamped Justice Squadron goes in pursuit of the Contessa but they're unprepared for the Ultra-Humanite and his deadly companions! Plus: the Squire makes a decision that could have long-lasting repercussions for the Squadron. Part One of "A Knight to Remember."

EUROPINIONS

Welcome to issue nineteen of Justice Squadron! Now some of you may remember another issue 19, written by Derrick Ferguson. Unfortunately, Derrick's run has been hyper-timed into another reality. His stories are still found at the DC Legends website. Here at DC Heroes, though, we're going along a different path. After this issue, we have a new lineup: the Elongated Man, Crimson Fox, Maya, Dr. Light, Lionheart, Jack O'Lantern and Captain Atom. That's a deep, powerful group, with lots of potential. 

Folks who've read my other superhero series set in the UK (the Pendragons) will notice that the issues are shorter here and the storylines a bit more 4-color. I think it fits the mood and the characters better that way. When the long-awaited (by me, anyway) Pendragons/Justice Squadron crossover occurs, you'll be in some fun times!

Next issue sees the new squad taking on the Ultra-Humanite and the Contessa. U-H is one of my favorite villains of all time and his previous clash with the Squadron (in issues 7-9) went pretty well, I'd say.

Keep in touch,

Barry Reese