((OOC: WARNING: This story does contain spoilers from Infinite Crisis, 52, and Countdown.))

A long time ago in a town called Tula...


____________________________________________________________________

Smallville, Kansas.

It had been a great three years. Uno had never felt more at home. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels, the elderly couple that took him in those many months ago, had been so kind to him. Uno picked up his hoe again and plowed at the dirt. It was almost harvesting season and they had a lot to do.

"Uno!" Mrs. McDaniels called out to him as he worked. "You should come inside, dear! You've been working much to long."

Uno shrugged his shoulders and continued to plow. "I'm fine, Miss..." he said, as he continued to do his farming chores.

"Now," Mrs. McDaniels said as Uno turned back to his work. "Don't you 'I'm fine, Miss' me! You deserve a rest! Come on, let's go."

Uno and the Mrs. walked back into the house and Uno sat himself down. "You know," he said to his caretaker. "I may go upstairs and rest a bit." Uno slipped away and walked upstairs. He sat down on his bed and closed his eyes. Images flooded his brain.

Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and dozens of more heroes flew past him. An armada of super heroes against a dark entity known as Mageddon. It was World War III, or at least to the heroes. Only a few months ago, the world had truly suffered World War III against Black Adam. Uno and his family had watched the war footage on television. But the dreams of his... Uno felt connected to. He almost thought that they were real, but how? How was he a super hero? He wished something interesting would happen to him. He wished he could become that hero in his dreams.

"What a thought..." Uno said to himself.
____________________________________________________________________

Three Years Ago.

"Tell them I did my duty," Aztek said to an immobilized Superman. Aztek pressed the button in the center of his suit and released a massive amount of 4-Demensional energy, completely obliterating himself. Mageddon howled in anger as he got hit by the surge of energy, but Mageddon was not defeated by Aztek. The heroes of Earth bonded together to defeat the threat. Aztek had done nothing but sidetrack Mageddon and buy a few unnecessary seconds for his friends.

"This is wrong," Superboy Prime said to his friends. "This should be fixed."


____________________________________________________________________

Three Years Ago - Smallville, Kansas.

Uno opened his eyes. Where was he? He was alive? Where was Superman? Was he dead? So many questions... He looked around and saw no one in sight. Uno was stripped naked with nothing. No possesions, and hardly any mental memories besides that his name was Uno. Uno... that's "one" in spanish. Very appropriate since that was the one thing that he remembered.

Uno stood up. He looked left and right and noticed a road. He set his sights on the road and ambled over in a vain attempt to use his legs. A car appeared, speeding down the road. Seeing Uno, they through the brakes down hard and fast and skidded to a halt right in front of him.

"My god!" one of them said. "Bernard, let's get him inside!" An old man climbed out of the car, holding a blanket and wrapped it around Uno.

"You'll be okay, son," he said, smiling at Uno. "You'll be okay."

Smallville, Kansas. Present Day.

Uno sat around the farmhouse watching the television. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels had gone to the local town to fetch some supplies, and Uno had decided to stay behind and rest. The television didn't pick up much, just the local channels, the news, and a little bit of TV drama. This morning, the station was running a rerun of LOST, which Uno had never seen. The show featured a group of people stranded on an island. The island itself possessed many mystical features about it which interacted with it's prisoners so easily. Why was that? It was because the stranded people there were there by fate. Destiny.

Uno turned off the TV and thought to himself. "I've been here three years..." he looked down on the hardwooden floor. "I've been lost from the world. My destiny is not here, is it?"

'-No.-'

Uno flung up and looked around. Who said that? What said that? It was like nothing he had ever heard. "Who are you?" Aztek yelled. "Where are you!"

'-I am here. I am the symbol of your ancestors, Uno. I am Aztek.-'

Uno shot a glance behind him to see a gold helmet, floating in the air behind the couch. He glared at it and said, "My dreams... they were all real?"

'-Embrace your destiny, Uno. Like you did before.-'

Uno carefully studied the helmet. It confirmed everything that he had thought. He had been a superhero and he wasn't just crazily depressed at being on a farm.

"I will."
____________________________________________________________________

Smallville, Kansas. Three Years Ago.

The man noted as Bernard had driven Uno back to his house. His wife, whom Bernard called Rose, made Uno a pot of hot soup and sat him down on a bed.

"Where am I? Superman? Is he okay? Is Mageddon stopped?"

"I don't know anything about Mageddon," the elderly man said, while sitting next to him. "But you're fine, and I just saw Superman on TV, he was fighting someone called Dr. Destiny." He smiled at Uno and stood up. "Just give a hollar if you need anything, son."

"I... have to tell the Society... I'm done... I'm through..."

"Rest, son. You need to relax. You're going to be fine," Bernard told him as he left the room. "Just relax..."

Smallville, Kansas. Three Years Ago.

"Relax...?" Aztek gasped. "Relax!?!" He shot up and darted towards Bernard. "I'm not supposed to be here! I need to contact my friends!" Suddenly, a fierce force of energy errupted from Bernard's body and stunned Uno back in place.

"What?" the elderly man said. "You thought that you were the only person around here with specialities?" Bernard closed his eyes and his body transformed into that of his true self. A man stood there in the farm house, with a long green cloak. His eyes glowed a soft dark green and his blonde hair flowed behind him. "Please allow me to introduce myself," the man said. "I come to you with an irresistable offer. My name is Neron."


____________________________________________________________________

Present Day.

Uno held the helmet of his ancestors in his hands. He was amazed that this was happening. He had always had dreams about becoming a world wide known super hero, but they had only been dreams... right? The helmet's eye sockets began to glow and Uno cried out, "Wait! I'm not ready!" But it was too late. A bright light imploded and the room went blank.

Outside, Mr. McDaniels's truck came to a halt. He squinted his eyes towards his farmhouse and noticed the rays of white light coming from their guest's quarters. "What is Uno up to now..." Mr. McDaniel said outloud.

Uno looked around himself and saw that he was in a different place. "Did you... kill me?" he asked his guiding spirit, the helmet of Aztek.

'-No.-' the helmet replied. '-I have taken you to a place where you can regain yourself.-'

All around Aztek, various images of his ancestors flashed about him. Uno's mind swelled up with the knowledge of the Aztek legacy; The legacy of his father's.

The Helmet of Aztek. Present Day.

Uno continued to stare at all the images of the helmet's past bearers. He saw one that sparked a memory... "Emilio..." Uno said to himself.

'-Good.-' The helmet of Aztek said to Uno. '-You remember.-'

"No..." Uno said to the floating helmet. "No... I don't. Not really... he's more like a blurry memory."

'-He is your father.-' The helmet said, dully and vaguely. Then it all hit Uno.

He remembered it all. The Q-Society, Lex Luthor, Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Mageddon... he remembered everything. Uno finally, after three long years, had a clear image of who he was. "My name is Uno," Uno said. "Also known as Curt Falconer, also known as Aztek. I'm the latest in a line of true believers dating back centuries. Like my fathers before me, it is my job to keep the helmet safe and provide a fit and healthy vessel for the morning star when he returns."



'-Yes.-' The helmet reiterated. '-All of that is true. After your death at the hands of Mageddon, you were brought back to life by the hands of a child who knew not what he was doing.-'

"Well..." Uno retorted. "That's good, right? I'm back and ready to prepare the way for Quetzalcoatl's return against Tezcatlipoca!"

'-When you "died" we, the Q-Society, had already prepared a replacement for you. Azteka was trained and ready to fight the evils, but you disrupted the ancient flow of passage that tradition had set so long ago.-'

Uno looked taken aback. He had just remembered everything that had happened to him. How Lex Luthor had manipulated him through the control of the Q-Society... having his own hero to control in the JLA. Uno was finally prepared to return to the battle he was meant to fight. Not the farm he was meant to tend. "What do you mean?" he questioned the helmet.

'-You,-' the helmet repeated. '-You were meant to die. Azteka was murdered and killed for not being worthy to call the helmet. In reality, it was you, Uno, who kept the helmet away. It was still yours.-'

"I can't believe this..." Uno said to himself. "I was responsible for that woman's death...?"

'-Yes, and you must atone for it.-' the helmet said. '-In this new age, the world needs Quetzalcoatl's champion.-'

"I am ready," Uno said. Suddenly, the armor of Aztek, the Ultimate Man reappeared on Uno. Aztek shut his eyes and reopened them. The voice of the helmet was gone. Instead, the helmet rested on his shoulders and Aztek stood, full in uniform in the living room of the farm, as Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels's came back into the house.

"Oh my," Mrs. McDaniels said. She glanced at Mr. McDaniels. He nodded to her and they looked back at Uno. "You know now," Mrs. McDaniels said. "And if you remember our pact three years ago, then you know what must happen."

Mr. McDaniels's eyes glowed darkgreen and he said, "Everyone who makes a bargain with Neron pays up eventually."
____________________________________________________________________

Three Years Ago.

"Please allow me to introduce myself," the man said. "I come to you with an irresistable offer. My name is Neron."

"Neron!?!" Aztek spat out. "I've heard about you. The JLA fault you shortly before I joined their ranks. You're the devil... Satan... Lucifer... whatever."

Neron smiled at Uno and sat down on one of the couches. He motioned Uno to sit down as well. Uno, being exhausted from the force of the impact a moment ago, sat down from just pure tiredness. "Does that bother you?"

"It might if I believed in you," Uno retorted. "Quetzalcoatl is my god and I am his warrior. I know that you cannot be our lord of darkness, Tezcatlipoca. He is still gathering power for his final return and death."

"You have faith," Neron said. "I will give you that." Neron stood up, and started pacing. He was a tricky entity, for that's what he was. He was not a man, but the essence of evil. "Just not in me, and for you to fulfill my offer, you will need faith in me."

"I won't accept it... whatever it is," Uno attempted to say through his exhaustion. Only hours ago, he had been fighting against Mageddon, the ultimate war machine. He needed a break.

"A break?" Neron said, as though reading his mind. "I can give you that, Uno... but that can't be all you need. Let me tell you a little secret..."

"I'm not interested..." Uno spat out.

"Oh, I believe you are," Neron smiled. He waved his arms around and a window appeared in the center of the room. In the window, Uno watched himself fly down to Superman. Uno turned around to face Mageddon and looked back at Superman, said his final words and released his 4-demensional energy at Mageddon. "And," Neron said. "That's where you died."

"I... died?" Uno said.

"Quite heroically, too," Neron said. "But as you can tell, it wasn't permanant."

"Obviously..." Uno croaked.

"Now," Neron said. "This is the part where things get interesting. The universe as a whole, is very self correcting. If someone is supposed to die, the universe will make sure that it happens. If someone like... say... Superman dies and ressurects, the universe will find a way to either take him, and if it can't at the moment, it will take someone else close to him. This applies for all of our ressurecties."

"So..." Uno said. "I'm back, and the universe wants me to stay dead?"

"Spot on," Neron said. "However, the Monitors don't know yet."

"The Monitors?" Uno said.

"Long story," Neron repeated. "They aren't even back yet, but they will be very soon. After the second crisis and Kal-L dies, you should expect them."

"Superman dies again!?!" Uno said.

"In a manner of speaking," Neron replied. "Now... I can offer you protection from the Monitor's gaze if you swear to me your aid when the time comes."

"Now why would I want to do that?" Uno said.

"Did I ever say you had a choice?" Neron smiled and sent a ray of energy at Uno. Uno cried out in pain. It wouldn't stop. The pain was too much. "Now..." Neron said. "I have you under my control." A piece of paper appeared in thin air and floated over to Uno. "Just sign here..." Uno's hand was forced upon to sign upon the dotted line on the paper. "Thank you," Neron said.

He turned around as if to leave, and then thought for a moment. He turned back around to face Uno. He smiled a big, white toothy, grin at him. He walked back to Uno, sat down next to him, and grabbed him by the chin. He touched Uno's cheek and said, "You will forget this encounter... for now."

Uno's mind was wiped as if nothing happened. Neron, satisfied, made for the door and, right before leaving, split his body into two again. One, a female entity known as Rose McDaniels, and another, a male entity, called Bernard McDaniels. It was going to be a rough three years for their new friend, Uno.

The Monitor's Spaceship.



"Nightwing, Ion, Supergirl, Captain Atom, Donna Troy..." one monitor said to another. "They are all great heroes of Earth, but they are not supposed to be here."

"No," another one replied. "It is as we plan it. These five heroes should be dead."

"What of Superman?" another asked. "He died, but came back. As did the first Green Arrow of this Earth, Jason Todd, Hawkman, the Doom Patrol, and numerous others."

"They were caused due to Superboy Prime's tampering," the first monitor answered. "They will all be corrected in due time. We must see how this New Earth plays out."

"I sense..." one monitor started to say. "I sense... another presence that should not be here. He is hidden from my vision."

The monitors all looked at each other. What could it mean? The reviewed their computer consules again in review.

"That is why we watch... why we monitor."
____________________________________________________________________

Smallville, Kansas.

"Everyone who makes a bargain with Neron pays up eventually."

"No," Aztek simply said.

"No?" Neron asked back. "What do you mean by no?"

"I never bargained anything with you," Aztek said. "You have no strings attached to me. No one will ever be able to do that again."

"Ah, you're referring to Lex Luthor. I had him under my grasp at one point. He was a near vegetable when I was able to get him back to full health. His soul is mine now, as is yours," Neron smiled at Aztek. Neron held up the paper that Aztek had signed three years ago. "Just look along the dotted lines."

"I signed that you'd protect me from the Montitors in return to aid you when you needed me. I signed nothing about my soul," Aztek replied, trying to trick Neron.

"That's not how these things work," Neron replied. "You must have neglected to read the fine print at the bottom. Either way, once you're of no more use to me, I will have your soul."

"Have you come to collect your end of the deal now, or something?" Aztek said. "Either way, once I'm done with your task, I'll end up dying anyways. What's it to me if the Monitors find me moments sooner?"

Neron looked at Aztek and smiled at him. "Hah! Alas, someone that can overcome my trickery! You are years before your time, Aztek. Ha!" Neron put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "You will do this task for me, and I will let you live. Hell, I'll even extend your life for a bit. What do you say?"

"I don't like you, Neron, and I wouldn't work for you, but if your task is managable with my beliefs, then I will get this over with."

"Smart man," Neron beamed. "Your task rests in Gotham City. I will send you there as your alias, Curt Falconer, and the rest will become apparant to you in time."

Aztek nodded and closed his eyes. He could feel his feet getting swept up from under him and his costume evaporated off. He opened his eyes and found that he was in civilian clothes, on a sidewalk. He looked up and saw a giant sign that read, 'Welcome to Gotham City.'

It was time to fulfill his bargain. Curt Falconer, also known as Uno, also known as Aztek, just needed to find out what that fullfillment was.

Gotham City.

Uno walked through the streets of Gotham City. Everywhere he looked, life bustled vividly. He couldn't remember the last time that he had seen so many people. He was full of enjoyment. Vanity had been a similar city. It was bad off, but lively. Uno felt at home. He turned a corner and found a hot dog stand. He was hungry, so he bought a hot dog. After loading it down with ketchup and mustard, Uno continued on.

He passed by Gotham City Medical Center. Flashes of memory of his time as Curt Falconer entered his mind. He was a very skilled doctor, but it came naturally to Uno. All he had needed to do was touch his patient and he saved their lives. It was cheating, but it helped people.

Taking a stroll down memory lane began to tire Uno. He looked around for a place to stay. Finding a small, out of the way looking motel, Uno walked in and found that a line had begun to form. Uno entered the line and waited his turn to pay for a room. A moment later, another man entered the motel and waited behind Uno for a line. Uno smiled a greeting towards the new arrival and the man smiled back. "New to this town?" the man asked Uno.

"Not exactly..." Uno replied. "It's been awhile since I've been in a big city."

The man gives a joyful chuckle and answers, "I understand completely. It can be boring after awhile. Nothing ever seems to change." Uno shrugged and the man remained silent. He then jumped as if something had suddenly hit him. "Ah yes," he said. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Blood; Jason Blood." The man extended his hand, and Uno took it and shook it.

"A pleasure, I'm sure. My name is -" Uno began to say, but was cut off in mid sentence.

"Sir?" The woman at the desk asked. "Sir, may I help you?" Uno turned around and walked over to the desk. He looked back at Jason and gave a shrug of shyness as he ordered a room and payed for his night. After receiving his key, Uno turned around and shook Jason's hand again.

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Blood. Good night," Uno said, smiling as he passed.

"And you," Jason Blood replied.

Uno looked around, found a staircase and proceeded to find room 13B. It didn't take him long to find it and to settle himself in it. He didn't have any luggage, so there was no unpacking. Uno turned on the TV, and was lulled to sleep after moments.
____________________________________________________________________

Bang! BANG! BANG!

Uno jolts awake and looks around. The banging sounds continue and Uno realizes that someone is at his door. Slipping out of the bed, Uno walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. He sees Jason Blood on the other side, looking exhausted. Uno opens the door and lets his new friend inside.

"Jason, are you alright? What's going on?" Uno implored him.

"Not... much time," Blood answered, almost passing out. "The demons want you, Uno..."

Uno looked taken aback. He had not told Blood his name. How did he know? What kind of man was he? "How do you know my name?"

"Not much time... the demons are coming to collect!" Blood shouted. Then, the man's eyes turned red and he grabbed Uno's arm. Blood began to recite a rhyme.

"Gone, gone the form of man,
Rise the demon Etrigan!"



Jason Blood's skin began to boil and his ears began to grow wide. The tan pigment of his flesh turned to yellow and his clothes shredded. Blood grew a red suit and a blue cape, and massive fins for ears. The dremon Etrigan was unleashed.

"Servant of Neron, hear my plea,
Get thee hide away from me.
Your sins run deep, you’re evil, Aye.
I shall cleanse you, you must die!"

The demon charged towards Uno, giving Uno only a second to react. He pressed a remote control in his pants pocket and instantly, his armor appeared. Aztek dodged to one side and let Etrigan run past him. The demon roared and sent out a fume of flame. One whole side of the motel caught fire and Aztek was lucky to dodge. He rammed Etrigan in the side and the pair hit the floor. The demon, sensing his enemy's strength, decided that enough was enough. He charged towards Aztek again, but this time successfully grabbing hold of him.

Etrigan threw Aztek towards the adjacent wall, and without warning, the wall shattered and Aztek found himself flying through the night sky. Being hurled out of a motel, through a wall, wasn't fun, but the crash landing was much worse. Aztek looked around and saw no citizens anywhere. They were all safe. He also saw no sign of Etrigan. He was a lone, in an alleyway.

Aztek stood up and brushed himself off. He thought outloud, "What did that demon want? Was he trying to kill me for Neron?"

"That was not exactly the point he was trying to make..." a voice announced from nowhere.

Aztek spun around and searched for the owner of the voice. "Wha-? Who said that!? Who's there?"

As if by a calling, a film of green mist errupted in the alleyway and a man in a green cloak appears in it. The man stares at Aztek and Aztek looks back. The man's eye sockets are those of skulls. What devil play was this now.

"Who are you?" Aztek asked.

"I am who I am," the man said in reply. "I am many things. Tonight, I am the Spectre, and I am here to help you find yourself." Aztek didn't know what to think. The Spectre was expaning rapidly, now overlooking Aztek in the alleyway. The Spectre's luminous body was no towering the Alley. He was here to help Uno find himself. A scary ghost man in the alley; what did he have to lose?

Aztek stepped in the man's cloak and disappeared.

Everything was dark. Pitch blackness loomed around him. Aztek looked around and saw a white light. He walked cautiously towards it and allowed it to devour him. He stepped out and looked around him. He was on a gravely surface. Beside him, the Spectre appeared. "Where are we?" Aztek asked.

The Spectre motioned towards the sky and Aztek looked up. In front of him, the Earth floated. Aztek looked around, and all he could see was gray gravel. "We're on the moon!?!" Aztek yelled.

"You are observant," The Spectre said in a mocking tone.

"How?" Aztek said. "We have no breathable air!"

"I am the left hand of God, Uno," The Spectre replied. "And you forget that you were on the moon during your time with the Justice League of America."

"But we had a Watchtower..." Aztek grumbled. "... and you're not one of my god's representitives."

"It matters not," The Spectre said. "Are you finished with your questions?"

Aztek looked at the Spectre with an expression saying 'Are you crazy?' on his voice. "Of course I'm not finished!" Aztek yelled. "I died three years ago, and I popped back up in a farm where Neron was watching me and manipulating me! And then when I return, demons and ghosts are after me!"

"I am no ghost," The Spectre said. "I am the Spectre."

"I know, I know..." Aztek said. "I met Hal Jordan, I've heard about what you do. You are the Spirit of Vengeance. What do you have to do with me?"

"I have been sent here to guide you, Uno. And to deliver you from Etrigan's grasp. He has a nasty temper when he gets worked up," The Spectre said, uncarelessly cryptic. Aztek shook his head in confusion.

"Why did Etrigan attack me in the first place?" Aztek asked. Surely, the great and all powerful Spectre could answer this. It could possibly clear up a few questions that he had.

"Etrigan could sense Neron's scent on you," The Spectre answered. "It was like a finger-print. The Neron that you know is the master of all evil, but he wasn't always like that. Only a few years ago, shortly after you joined the JLA, Neron was responsible for giving masses of super-villians, and some heroes, powers in return for their souls. Because of this, the higher powers 'promoted' him to a rhyming demon."

Aztek pondered what the Spectre had just told him. "Promoted?" he said. "Wouldn't that be a good thing for Neron?"

"Not in the Underworld," Spectre answered. "Demotions are good, promotions are bad. It's simple logic."

"Right," Aztek said. "Please, continue."

"As you could tell..." Spectre continued. "... the demon, Etrigan, was a rhyming demon. He had to deal with Neron for a few years, and the two of their personalites clashed. Etrigan's human host was Jason Blood, who did a lot of good in his life. He even later served in the JLA for a short time. Neron was evil, so therefore, they did not get along. Etrigan filed a complaint to the higher powers, where Neron finally was demoted back to his higher rank."

"So..." Aztek said. "Etrigan attacked me because he could sense Neron and he held a grudge against him because of annoyance?"

"Men..." The Spectre said. "... are unnaturally blunt. Yes, I suppose that is why."

The Spectre waved a hand, and he and the Ultimate Man where lifted into the air. They rose a few feet above the moon and The Spectre waved a hand across the landscape. There was still debris and obvious damage left from Superboy Prime's attack on the JLA Watchtower. The Spectre spoke softly, "Shortly before your death, the JLA faught a man known as William MacIntyre. He was not always a villian, in fact, MacIntyre was one of the original members of the League, but was dislocated during a crisis in time. Neron found him and offered him unbelieveable powers, as I've told you before. William MacIntyre, or Triumph as he was known, accepted these gifts. The League took him down later and he was eternally frozen."



"I remember seeing these events on the news," Aztek said. "What does any of this have to do with me?"

"I wanted you to see him," The Spectre said as he brought the two of them closer to the moon. There, in a crater, layed a block of ice. Inside it, was the body of Triumph. The man showed signs of rot. It was to be expected. He had been left on the moon for over a year.

"This is inhumane," Aztek said. "We need to return him to Earth and bury him!"

"You forget, Aztek," The Spectre replied. "... that I am not human. And we cannot return him to Earth."

"Why not?" Aztek questioned.

"Because," The Spectre answered. "My will to draw vengeance will be immedietly drawn to him and I will be forced to take his soul. The stench of Neron runs deep on him..."

"And not me?" Aztek retorted.

The Spectre said nothing. The question had made him unwarily cautious. Aztek looked at the Spectre, demanding an answer. The Spectre did not acknowledge him with one to give. "Not even the most powerful of us know exactly what is to happen in the future," The Spectre replied. "Yours in particullarly is shady. I cannot say that I could take your soul. It is touched by Neron, but you have another mission. Something far more important and meaningful than to lose your life by my hand."

"And what's that?" Aztek said.

"I cannot say," Spectre said. "But I can return you to your Earth now. I have helped you enough... I have told you enough." The Spectre raised his hands and clapped. A portal, glowing blue and white errupted from nowhere and he motioned Aztek into it.

"I am sure that our paths will cross again, Uno. Farewell."

Aztek glided into the portal and disappeared off the surface of the moon.

What was going on? What went wrong? Did the Spectre take Aztek inside of himself and strip him of his soul? What went wrong? Aztek had just been on the moon and now, suddenly, he has found himself in a blur of red. All there was around him was a bleeding substance. It never changed, but was an empty space of red.

"This is not good..." Aztek said to himself. "I knew that I couldn't trust the Spectre. He's the spirit of Vengeance, and the right hand of God. I made a deal with the very enemy he fights against. He's sent me to an eternity of hell."

Then, Aztek caught a quick blip of blue. He propelled himself over to the blue blip and flew. As the blip got closer, Aztek could make out it's armor. He remembered seeing something similar to it in a picture in the JLA Trophy Room. It was the armor of Hank Hall, who had become Monarch and faught the JLA before he was a member. Aztek quickly got on his guard. He had thought that Hank Hall was dead, but he was a time traveller. Anything could happen.

"Stop right there!" Aztek cried out. Monarch turned around and glared at Aztek.

"Who are you!?!" He cried out. "How did you find me!?!"

Aztek pressed a button on his wrist and 4-demensional energy powered up. He released a charge at Monarch, but the man seemed to just absorb it. "You have committed a great number of sins, Hank Hall," Aztek said. Then he hit his forehead sating, "Dammit, I've spent too much time with the Spectre!"

"Hank Hall?" Monarch said. "I am Captain Atom, the wielder of the quantum field."

"Captain Atom?" Aztek said. "But you're one of the good guys! What are you doing in Monarch armor?"

Monarch took off his helmet and Aztek could clearly see that it was Captain Atom inside. "One year ago, I found myself in the artic with a bunch of other superheroes, fighting against a man in a golden suit. Apparently, once a man known as Breach died, I instantly appeared and retook his place. It's all very confusing to me."

"You're speaking of the Crisis last year," Aztek replied. "I've been going through my own confusing times of being a superhero. What happened then?"

"The Atomic Knights found me in Bludhaven, where I was unknowingly causing massive radiation damage. I have no idea how I got there and what happened. I remember the effects of radiation during my time in the war. I wouldn't ever do that on purpose to anyone..." Captain Atom said. "I was put in this armor to stop my leaking radiation. I've journeyed here, to the Bleed, to escape the Monitor's gaze."

Aztek's ears purked up. Captain Atom knew of the Monitors, too! "You mean... the Monitors can't see us here? Where is here, exactly?"

"From what I know," Captain Atom said. "... the Monitors are completely oblivious to what is going on here. The Bleed... it's a place in between places. People of various worlds and universes can cross over here. Kyle Rayner once found his way here..."



"Kyle!" Aztek said. "I was a member with him in the JLA for a short time! Would it be possible to help me back to the world that he arrived from?"

"Kyle Rayner..." Captain Atom began. "... came from Earth-8. I, myself, arrived from Earth-5."

Aztek raised an eyebrow and continued to question Captain Atom, "I'm not sure what you mean... but I am trying to get back to Earth... uhh... 1."

"I can help you," Captain Atom said. He floated over to a far end of the Bleed and moved his hand over a section. A hole ruptured in it and suddenly, a loud blast was heard. "QUICK!" Captain Atom yelled at Aztek. "GO THROUGH HERE!"

Aztek quickly propelled himself towards the hole. Before he could go through it, Captain Atom grabbed his arm and said, "Beware the Monitors... and if you ever see Plastique..."

Aztek smiled at Captain Atom and nodded. He knew what he meant. Aztek had been in love before, too. Aztek entered the hole in the Bleed and then opened his eyes. He was in the middle of New York City. It was night time. He looked upwards and saw a man, wearing a black and blue costume swing by. It was Nightwing. Aztek was glad to have found himself back on his own Earth. It was then time to get to work and stop the Monitors.

Aztek's helmet had caught Nightwing's appearance before even Nightwing had known Aztek was there. That was saying something since Nightwing had been trained by the best, by Batman. Aztek considered calling out to him, but didn't want to be taken as an enemy. He had never really known Nightwing, and it had been awhile since Aztek had been on the scene. Before he knew it, a batarang was thrown in his direction and a voice called out, "You. Stop."

Aztek put his hands up and allowed Nightwing to grapple down. Nightwing pulled out a knife and stuck it against Aztek's neck, "Who are you? What are you doing in my city?"

"I'm Aztek," Aztek said. "I was in the JLA a few years back with Batman..."

"Let's pretend I believe you..." Nightwing said as he pressed the knife against Aztek's neck harder. "I don't allow random metahumans to appear in my city."

Then, another batarang appears and lands next to Nightwing's head. Aztek and his captor look up and see a shadowy figure on a fire escape nearby. "Let him go, Jason."

Nightwing dropped the knife and gritted his teeth, "... who?" The figure on the fire escape drops down and lands a kick in Nightwing's face. The figure steps out of the shadows and Aztek sees him to be Nightwing, aswell. How were there two Nightwings? Uno was confused.

"Ah," the first Nightwing said. "If it isn't Dicky... who else could it be?"

"You've got this wrong..." Dick Grayson said, as he threw another batarang in Jason Todd's direction. "This is my city!"

"No, I've taken it under my wing to protect now, Dicky," Jason Todd grimaced. "Besides... you don't seem to be doing such a hot job of it yourself."

The two Nightwings flew through the air and threw various punches and kicks at each other. They were both evenly matched and almost identical in their fighting styles. Aztek knew this whole fight was futile and he just needed to stop the Monitors. He kicked his armor and weapons into action and flew into the air. He grabbed Jason's costume by the neck and held him up high in the air. He got eye contact with Jason and said, "Listen. Now. I risked my butt a few years back and died for it. I stopped the world from being destroyed. I stood up against a god killer. You don't get to tell me what I can't do. Stand. Down."

Aztek flew Jason back to the ground and let him go. Jason flew into the air, with his mask falling behind.

Nightwing, the original, turns back around and smiles at Aztek. He outstretches his hand and shakes it. He then proceeded to say, "Aztek. I remember you. I don't recall that we gave you much of a funeral, and we're sorry for that. I was out there fighting on the front lines against Mageddon. Your sacrifice was much appreciated." Aztek smiled and nodded back in recognition.

"Thank you... I just wish I had known then that my mission is not complete. I'm back, so that must mean there is a reason," Aztek replied. Nightwing gave a slight nod off of his head and the two sat down on with their backs against a wall. They sat there and just chilled out for a moment.

"Well, you're back..." Nightwing said. "Hopefully everything will be fine."

"I'm sure it will be," Aztek laughed to himself. "I mean... since my return, I've ran into Neron, Etrigan, the Spectre, Captain Atom, and a rogue Nightwing. What else could happen?" Aztek laughed outloud and Nightwing joined him.

"You'd be surprised," the ex-boy wonder replied. At that moment, a green light appeared in the distance. An emerald projectile zoomed through the sky up to the place where Aztek and Nightwing sat. Before need for a confrontation, the object revealed itself to be a Green Lantern. Aztek and Nightwing both stood up, ready to talk.

"Hey, guys. My ring picked up something over here... I thought I'd check it out," Kyle Rayner said to the pair. He then noticed that it was Aztek, his friend from a few years back in the JLA and became excited. "Curt? Is that you?!"

"Yes, Kyle," Aztek replied. "It's good to see you."

"You don't know how much I agree," Kyle said. "With Wally gone... Clark, Diana, and Bruce being completely different... J'onn distancing himself away from everything and everyone, and Aquaman disappearing off the map, I don't know how many friends I have left."

"I know how it is, friend," Aztek replied. "You used to live here in New York City before you were blessed with your powers, right?"

"Yeah, I came back here to think... my mother just died and me and Donna ran into this crazy looking guy in space armor and a funky beard." Aztek looked taken aback. He looked over to Nightwing who had a similar expression on his face.

"I think I know who you're-"
"I think I know who you're-"

Aztek and Nightwing looked at each other and grimaced. Aztek said, "I think we know who you're talking about. They're called the Monitors, Kyle."

"Yes, that's exactly who they are! They seem to think I'm an anamoly and want me dead."

"It's the same case with me, Kyle," Nightwing replied. "I had one visit me in my apartment building the other day. It was after Jason had hung up his Nightwing outfit. I'm sorry to say that I don't know what he was doing impersonating me tonight. He told me about an encounter he had with a Monitor just recently where Duela Dent, the Joker's daughter, was murdered."

"Sounds like a conspiracy," Aztek said. "Captain Atom told me that the only place safe from their gaze was in the Bleed."

"You've been to the Bleed?" Kyle asked back.

"Yes, and Captain Atom did not neglect to tell me you have, aswell," Aztek said.

"Donna never said anything about you, though..." Kyle said. "We all thought you to be dead. She never mentioned you..."

"It's complicated, Kyle," Aztek replied. "Do you know how I can get in touch with Donna? I need to speak with her."

"Go to the Titans Tower in San Francisco," Kyle replied. "Take one of the orbs and travel to New Cronus. There, you can find Donna and hopefully more answers to this mystery."

"Thank you," Aztek said. He activated his flying gear and turned to leave. Then he stopped and turned back around. "Kyle..." he said. "It's been really good to see you again, buddy."

"You too, pal," Kyle said as he watched Aztek fly off into the distance. Kyle turned to Nightwing to ask if he wanted a lift home, but Nightwing had disappeared. "Just like the Bat..." Ion muttered to himself and flew skyward.

Five days later.

Curt Falconer looks around the greyhound bus. He sees people of all ages, all ethnic groups, all shapes, and all sizes. After leaving Kyle Rayner on top of the building in New York City five days ago, Aztek had gone out and bought some civilian clothes. He couldn't imagine flying himself all the way to San Francisco. It would prove to be too tiring. He could have phoned up Oracle, she could've called anyone and Aztek would have gotten a quick ride.

To sum it up, Curt Falconer was done relying on other heroes. He was back and he was going to be his own man. He was going to solve the mystery of the Monitors. Curt stepped off of the bus and looked around. He found a quiet alleyway and put his costume back on. Aztek flew into the air and found the giant T-shaped building that stood on a nearby island. Aztek flew over to it and hovered down. He decided to just knock on the front door.

Knock, knock.

Aztek senses movement and looks to the side and sees a camera moving. He motions his head towards the door. About thirty seconds later, a young boy with red skin opens the door. "Can I help you?" the boy says.

"You -!" Aztek says, while putting his fists up. "I can smell Neron's stench on you."

The young boy looks around to see if anyone else is there. "Kid Devil, who is it?" a young girl calls from the other room. The second Wonder Girl, who also went by the name Cassandra Sandsmark. Aztek remembered her from the young team, Young Justice, that helped fight Mageddon.

"It's nobody, Cassie," Kid Devil replied. The boy motioned Aztek into another room and the two of them talked. "I don't want them to know," Kid Devil started. "... that I got my powers from making a deal with Neron."

"I understand," Aztek replied. "Neron is tricky and deceitful. You cannot lightly make a bargain with him. We will find a way to fix this."

"Thank you," Kid Devil replied. "Now, what is that you need? Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Aztek," Aztek began. "I am searching for one of the orbs that Donna Troy gave your team. One of the orbs that takes you to New Cronus. I need to speak with her."

"I trust you," Kid Devil said. "You have an aura around you that I like."

"Could it be the stench of your master? I am bound by him, aswell."

"If it is, I sincerely hope you fix it so that I don't trust you anymore," Kid Devil replied in a joking manner. He turned around and lept over to their trophy room. One minute later, Kid Devil comes rushing back in with an orb. "Here you go," Kid Devil said, handing over the orb to Aztek.

"Thank you," Aztek said. He activated the orb. Looking back at Kid Devil he said, "I will find a way to free us from his grasp."

"I know," Kid Devil replied. And then the orb took Aztek away. Away to New Cronus.
____________________________________________________________________

Elsewhere...

"This is your fault, Faust!" Neron stormed. It was only him and Felix Faust now. Both trapped forever in Dr. Fate's tower in Salem, Massachusetts. And it was all because of Ralph Dibny. The Elongated Man tricked Neron into killing him with his wedding ring, therefore binding the devil and Faust forever in the tower. Ralph Dibny stopped that almighty evil and was rewarded with being eternally with his wife, Sue Dibny.

"How could you mess this up?!" Neron cried. "It was so delicately planned! How could you be so stupid?!"

"Oh, shut up," Felix Faust spat back. "Are we going to go through this for all eternity?"

"Perhaps, considering that's how long will be in this %#@ing tower!"
____________________________________________________________________

San Francisco Bay.

Ralph and Sue Dibny stand in the waters of the San Francisco Bay and observe Aztek and Kid Devil. Ralph smiles to his wife and gently plants a kiss on her. "Should we tell them, hon?"

"We should, Ralph," Sue replied. She took Ralph's hand and held it tight. The two looked into the starry sky. The stood there, enjoying every moment of their love. "They should know the heroic act that you've done. They should be free of their bindings."

"I completely agree," Ralph answered. "Completely." The two ghosts kissed again.

The universe was so visible from New Cronus. It was like a city on the moon, but with breathable air. It was a wonder. It was Donna Troy's home. Now Aztek had entered it and stood looking among great pillars of stone and a wonderfully greek traditioned castle. Out of amazement, Aztek probably didn't see Donna Troy arrive to greet him.

((OOC: I'll finish this post up later.))