Justice League: The Other Side [IC]

[Lord Wraith]

Alfred inwardly smiled as he was embraced by the beautiful young woman. It was hard to believe she was now Dr. Fate, after all she was so young at one point and now had grown into a woman and a fully fledged superhero. Mind you, not everyone accidentally got to relieve half their life over again. Alfred was definitely thankfully for the chance to be able to be standing in a room actually invited to join the revered Justice League.
"It is good to see you as well my dear." Alfred whispered back, dropping the gruff tone he used as Owlman, though the naturally grizzly nature of his voice still came through, it was over projected by the caring and warmth Alfred had shown to both Zatanna and Bruce when they were younger. She was after all the young "Master's" first crush. Were Alfred the kind of man to play match maker, he would have encouraged the two to be together. Though he was not that kind of man and he had no idea of Zatanna's feeling towards the man now known as the Bat. Thus he had instead encouraged Bruce to wage a one man war against crime. He didn't exactly live up to the job Thomas Wayne had hired him for there. Looking back, he did regret that he had initially trained Bruce, but now, if not more than ever the world needed a Batman, and there was no way he was going to let Bruce go to war by himself any longer.

Clearing his throat, Owlman was the next to step forward. Dropping his voice the dark gruff Owlman he had designed Alfred addressed J'onn and the Bat as well as those around him.
"Well I'm not about to sit back and relax while the world is at risk. Someone has to show the young crowd how it's done. I'll pledge my cape and cowl to your cause."

[Knighthawk]

Lalo was glad to see that there was a significant female population to this team, too bad they could all be his kids or grandchildren. He watched the others gather and listened to the Martians speech with a solemn nod as he took a step forward with fist raised.
"I'm one of thousands and we keep the universe safe from every threat we can, but never are we alone. I've already sworn this oath before and I'll swear it again to you gathered here.

From star to star, all I have seen.
No power greater, than lanterns green.
One of a corps, with a guiding light.
No evil shall escape my ordained might.

Now... Being the outsider to your planet, just what sort of threats are we looking to be dealing with? Any particular members of a rogues galley?

[FutaNeko0200]

Despite her seeming comfort/ignorance of the heroes around her. She had been thinking rather. Despite not being talked to, she could talk with herself in her mind rather well, a skill she learned as a reporter. In her mind she was fighting on going back and staying to help. She knew she wanted to help, but she only had a years training and 2 weeks of real world experience. But was it even enough? Right now, even as she faced Batman AKA Bruce Wayne and Martian Manhunter AKA J'onn J'onn'z, though she had respect for heroes these days, she felt rather pressured. Finally her words did the talking for her.

"Lois Lane Ace Reporter for the Daily Planet. Not like that name means anything here." She looked firmly at the heroes around her. "However watching you heroes do your job has shown one thing to the world. That it needs heroes... now more than ever." She crossed her arms, standing firm, absolute, more sure now after her little speech "So if heroes are what is needed for this team than count me in. I'm ready to help in any way I can"

[Hillan]

Coast City

11:46 P.M

The five men, all dressed in black armors with black helmets, utilizing visors of the same color. Holding energy-blasters. They were moving weapons from a warehouse on the docks in Coast City, to their boats nearby. Using hoovercrafts to transport them with the least needed physical strain. They were the men of the Black Mantis. A half-breed Atlantian, half Atlantian, Half human. In some way, he was just the same as Oasuri - Victor, as he was now called. They were both shunned from their home, because of things that wasn't really their fault.

None the less, Victor had chosen to help people. The best he could, with whatever means were necesary to him. To many, he was unorthodox, more often likened to the Dark Knight, than Superman. Superman.. He mused, sure, he was worried about the demise of the big guy in blue, but he had more pressing matters to worry about. Like these pests polluting both the land, and the water. Victor was in the water, looking at them, using his Enhanced Contact-lences, with built in binoculars. He knew his targets, as he moved closer to the ledge, where one guard was positioned, the Atlantean grabbed him by the feet, and pulled him down into the water, using his Hydrokinesis to take away the splashing sound of him hitting the water. Once the guard was in the water, Aquaman knocked him out cold. Two more guards came at the position of their fallen comrade. Finding nothing. " Where did he go?" One of them asked, but just as he asked, the 6'7 tall man stood behind them, putting his arms around their throats, breaking their armors under the power of his arms. ten seconds later, he let them go, unconscious. They fell into the water, and was swept away by the currents.

Victor dropped back into the water, and grabbed his Shield, Aegis. Shaping it into a trident as he swum about 50 meters, the thugs was kept behind him thanks to his control over the currents. Six guards was positioned infront of the hoovercraft, with the artillery weapon. That wasn't exactly fair odds, now, was it?

Aquaman shot out from the dark water, keeping a "cloak" of water around him, as the water surged the three knocked out guards at three of the other guards. The water shone bright green, as Aquaman activated the electric properties of Aegis's Trident form. The Water hit in the middle of the hovercraft, destroying the weapon. The guards, those whom all still stood up, drew their weapons, and fired at him.

Almost instantly, the trident turned into it's natural Shield form, and he blocked the blasts with ease, as he came running at one of the guards, kicking him in the face, and deflecting another shot with his shield. With one heavy movement of his arm, a torpedo of water came up at the another guard, and Aquaman dispatched the last guard by throwing his shield into him.


Ten minutes later ,the police was there, the guard all beaten to a pulp, and had the worst cold of their life before them, most likely. The remainders of the destroyed weapon was gathered by the Authorities. The ring that had been given to him began acting strange, Victor presmed it was some form of calling-mechanism. Without a seconds desitation, Victor threw the ring aside, into the water below him. Aquaman dove into the water on the other side of the building that he had been standing on, watching how the cops handled his little act of heroism.

As he hit the waves, everything made sense again. This was his element, and where he belonged, why did he even keep on meddling with the business of mankind?

[benjaminrk]

There was a surprisingly sense of comfort within the walls of this strange space station. The cleanness, decorations and overall design were not unlike the images of Krypton Kara had seen.
Did they know that? Had they had that in mind when they build it? In honor of Clark? Possibly, or maybe she had just spend so much time on Earth, that anything outside looked like the home of her parents.
People started to flood in. Heroes, warriors and other beings that Kara couldn't help but admire. Everyone around seemed to have spend careers fighting crime and almost radiated with experience. But what appeal to her more was the fact that most of them had discipline and skill. They hadn't just gotten powers stuffed into them by the sun, but had acquired strength and control through training. They were everything Kara was not; they understood their bodies and were in complete harmony with it.
She suddenly doubted whether or not she was actually right to join this team. She barely understood what it was.

Were they suppose to be a police force? No probably a kind of military force. Were they exercising the law? Were they above the law? Who did they answer to exactly? What did the human government say about this?
Kara didn't have a perfect understanding of how this world worked, but knew enough about politics to know this could go very wrong under the wrong guidance. But something in her told her she was gonna get her answers, and that Clark truly vouched for this Bruce Wayne.

She had been rather surprised the old man dressed as an owl had called her Supergirl. Only Clark had called her that. But the world was apparently full of surprises, and maybe her existence had not been quite as secret as she had been made to believe.

“I'm in...”.

The words had been a bit louder than intended, and made almost everyone suddenly stare at Kara at the same time.

“I...” She looked around. “I will do my best to try to help fill in the hole... Superman... has left. If you are to do this, then I'm in. To the end, you got my word”.

Though there was a clear sense of nervousness in her voice, there was also truth and huge amounts of determination too.
More and more she felt that unintentionally this was what Clark had trained her for. This was her purpose.

[Sloth]

Abel had stayed silent when the Manhunter made his speech, keeping his vigil by the large window overseeing the Earth. One by one, the heroes assembled began pledging themselves to this new League's cause, Abel even raised an eyebrow when the famous Green Lantern recited his oath. Abel expected someone....younger. The list continued, before the Lantern there was Alfred, after the Lantern there was what was sure to become the new "Superman" of the world; Lois Lane. Although this assumption was challenged when another fine lass made her vows; her outfit bearing the legendary logo of Superman.

Abel's mind rushed with questions as he contemplated the Martian's speech, these were the most promising of the world's heroes? These vagabonds held ties to the 'former' association? Sure, there were quite the daunting figures, like the Flash and Green Lantern, but the majority of the people assembled looked to be novices at best. Self-doubt ran through the man known as Nightwing before he removed himself from the observational area he was standing at, walking to the front of the group before he spoke up.

"You say we are the most promising of the Earth's heroes, but I see novices and old men." Abel looked back at the group for a split second before looking to Alfred and Bruce, respectively. "We were selected for our past heroics....but some of us have darker pasts than most." Abel felt the coldness in the Batman's gaze. "I've even attempted to assassinate the Flash and your former sidekick." Abel inhaled. "Bullshitting aside....why me?"

[benjaminrk]

“Excuse me dude” Kara suddenly yelled out. The line from the guy a little older than her, had kinda set her off. “But as far as I heard the world isn't exactly filling up with people qualified to take on a task like this”.

She looked around and removed a lock of hair from her face.

“I totally doubt we are just novices or old or whatever”.

[natty]

Barrack stood in silence as J'onn gave his speech. It was inspiring, much better than anything he could have done. Heck, J'onn could have kept the attention of those kids! More importantly though, J'onn had a point. He was right in saying that evil has taken this opportunity to rise up. Back in the city, things had become a lot worse. More gang wars, more masked villains. It had to stop! Barrack knew he could help, although he also knew he wasn't as powerful and experienced than the others. That wouldn't be a problem would it? Batman didn't have powers, and neither did that Nightwing if he could remember correctly, and yet they were great! Better than great actually.

"I too would love to help" He said stepping towards J'onn. "Although I'm afraid I forgot to bring my suit!" He laughed nervously. Before he could continue and ask whether he should go collect it, Nightwing spoke.

Barrack once again instantly went back to listening silently. The hero did have a point. Some of the people here Barrack did not even recognise. He assumed he was one of the oldest here, and as well as one of the least experienced with crimefighting, after only being in the USA for a few months.

[Knighthawk]

It's better to have you at our side than across the field. Or lets keep it simple, if there are five of them then there needs to be six of us.
It was a simple answer but it seemed good enough. He figured that they were maybe a tenth of the people given a ring that the heroes said yes to a thousand reasons that the others said no. But every ally dedicated to the cause was not someone out for their own, that was what made a villain, power and opportunity would often lead to corruption without others to act as a voice of reason. But he wasn't here to babysit, let the kid figure it out.

[Lord Wraith]

Alfred's brow furrowed as he heard from both Kara and Nightwing. Both were in their prime, Nightwing being one of the most experience in the room and likely able to fight even Bruce himself to a stand still. Kara on the other hand, while untrained and for the most part inexperienced, she contained within her raw power that not many in the room could even consider matching. While she didn't carry herself with the confidence or the projection of might that Clark had while in the cape, Kara gave off this eerie feeling of a caged animal. Considering the death of Superman had brought her out of his solitude, there was no doubt in Alfred's mind that the girl could be both a danger and an asset to the team. While Bruce had spent years harnessing the power of vengeance, Kara had not, and should she become emotionally compromised, the team would definitely be in danger.

"Just because you possess great power does not make you qualified. With great power comes great responsibility, are you willing to bear that burden?" Owlman said from the back of the crowd. After he had said his original piece, he had wandered back here, examining the others and watching their body language. Ms. Lane obviously liked to have the attention on her when she spoke. If she didn't she would never had made reference to her title at the Daily Planet. Sure Alfred had read many of her stories, she had come to Gotham several times, much to the dismay of her rival Vicki Vale. But here, in the likes of Batman, Doctor Fate and the Martian Manhunter, Lois Lane, Ace Reporter, barely held a lit candle to the World's Greatest Detective.

As Superwoman, she too worried the cowled man. Like Kara, Lois was on a course of vengeance. Did she really want to help the world, or merely seek revenge towards her Lover's killer. Everyone in the world knew of the famous relationship between Lois Lane and Superman, it was practically the 21st century's version of Romeo and Juliet. How true that was now that Clark was gone and his lover possibly on a path of self destruction. Lois too, like Kara could be easily emotionally compromised and become a danger to those around him.

Then there was the Lantern, no ties to Earth, he wasn't even human. What possible interest could he had in joining a group designed to assist and save humanity and Earth? Perhaps he was here seeking allies for a fight of his own. In which case his interests would be divided, thus causing another rift among the team. The more Alfred examined the members of this team, he began to see Nightwing's own concern.

That of course brought him back to Nightwing. As Alfred had already noted, the young man was very skilled and very well trained. As should be the favourite heir to the League of Assassin's. The son of Ra's Al Ghul himself, Abel had attempted and succeeded already in his life time at taking many lives. He was definitely the black sheep in the room. However unlike many of the others, Nightwing had repented and changed his ways.

"If I might be so bold, I believe you, Nightwing are here because you have attempted penance for your past. The League would be unwise to ignore your skills merely to punish you for the sins of your father. Yes, your own actions in the past have been criminal, but you have atoned for those actions. You assisted myself in the rescue of your fathers' greatest foe from within his own strong hold. I would strongly agree you should be here." The gruffness of Owlman's voice was enough to stand the hairs on the back of a grown man's neck on end. A small smile crept across Alfred's lips as he remembered one such instance when he had put the fear in a man the size of Bane.

The Blue Beetle was the next to speak. Alfred knew very little of this man, and while Bruce had information on him, there was little to Alfred's interest as he had looked over each of the candidates on the Batcomputer. He seemed noble enough, though naive. Though he was not a child, it would appear to throw him into battle would be akin to bringing a child to war. The Blue Beetle would need training, they couldn't afford to have him choke on the battle field.

Alfred turned his attention to those who had yet to speak. The Flash and Doctor Light. Like the Blue Beetle, Alfred knew very little of Doctor Light except for she was the only member of the team, who was human and not from North America. The good Doctor operated primarily out of Tokyo, and as she was named, was known primarily for helping people with her medical background. Alfred was also aware of his powers over light. But in these dark times, could her light still manage to shine? Alfred was definitely worried about this team the more he looked around.

Lastly there was the Flash. Like his name, he was all about speed and showing off. In some ways, Alfred probably wouldn't have minded if Abel had actually assassinated the cocky hero. The Flash was possibly more dangerous to the team than Lois and Kara. While vengeance gave way to rage, cockiness and overconfidence were much more dangerous. The Flash could easily compromise the entire team, and he'd likely do it very quickly.

"I do believe you are all the most qualified Earth has to offer. I however much argue I will not go into the field until we have trained alongside each other and to a lesser merit that some of you have trained extensively, especially to control your abilities and to no longer allow your emotions to guide you and block your judgement. As each of you have been sitting here thinking about the risks to yourselves and those you love should you accept this offer. I have been watching your body language and comparing it with what I know of you. We're a very diverse team, vast in abilities, skills and backgrounds. But if we're not careful we'll be less of a team and more of a time bomb. One with a very small timer, and very dangerous to each other."

Alfred knew it wasn't likely his place to judge everyone like this. But he had his own safety to worry about as well as the success of the team. He knew better than to doubt Bruce's judgement, but even the Dark Knight was only human.