>>I got this idea from reading an article in my step vrothers 'scientific america'. There was an article on 'parrelle demensions and how they exsist, but are way way WAY to far away to reach and how a new demension is created when we choose one direction instead of another and that there are an infinite number of universes where things are totaly different because of the choices we make up(I place this one next to blackhole and worm hole theorems in my book of scifi cool theorys that if I ever said could be true would place me in the looney bin') ANYwho....this resulted....

This story is open to everyone. It's a 'what if' taking place ten years in the future. Consider it a 'what if'. 'What if Harm had stayed evil' 'what if Falcon decided to stay in Japan with vic and become the next world greatest fighter, never came back to rescue the others' 'What if slobo decided to join a boyband' 'what if Kid flash had decided to give up crime fighting to be in the circus' ect. These are just things that came up on the top of my head, suggestions, not to be taken seriously'. Be creative aaaaaand have fun! I'll be posting here too, but I have to go to bed in a sec.....Night guys! If the story goes well, maybe we can open a section devoted JUST to what ifs.....gives us a chance to come up with more possiblities. And note, consider what else would have happened as a result of these...they probably wouldn't have effected JUST your character...<<[shadow=red,220]TEXT[/shadow]

VALHALLA. TODAY.

The Sky was dark, even though we were still in the middle of the afternoon. But the dark sky is suitable. Something terrible happened. Something that the world will remember years to come. Something that no one expected. It starts to rain.

The drops of the rain help disguise Conner’s tears on his face. Superman was dead. Conner like many other heroes were here in Valhalla to pay his last respects to the greatest hero in the world.

Conner, along with Lois, are probably the only person not wearing costume. It’s been almost an year since he gave up the “super hero” business. Now he was here, standing in front of the grave of the most honorable man he knew.

Conner took a look around, he saw Mr Miracle, Guy Gardner, the Metal Men, Fire, Beast Boy, Arsenal, amongst others. Dozens of heroes were present. Conner looked for his former friends, he haven’t spoken with them since he quit the Titans.

Conner knew what was on everyone’s mind. “Would he be able to replace Superman?”. “Is he good enough?” The truth is not even Conner knows. What Conner knows is the world needs a Superman. Specially know, that the whole Justice League and the Justice Society are gone. Now that the world’s greatest heroes are all dead.

THREE YEARS BEFORE!

A building blazed infront of Rachael and she scanned ove rhte scene. All civilaians had been evacuated. She had seen to that. She had arrived home from her training abroad a week ago. Tim was obviously happier without her. And he deserved better after the way she treated him. She wasn't needed here anymore. After training with Shiva, it became apparent how badly she needed to get out from under everyones shadow. Be left alone.

And she knew there was only one was to do that.

She looked up in the sky to see Robin swinging into action and cursed under her breath. Dang. He wasn't supposed to get involved...hopefully though it would help her out here some.

A cry came from the bottom floor of the building and that was her cue. In civilian clothes, Rachael ran into the building, just as a gas line was hit and the building she ran into exploded.

As far a Gotham and ALL of its inhabitants knew, Rachael Simmons and Falcon died that day a hero.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

PRESENT DAY!

Scavenger was slammed against the concrete wall, a woman in a black leather suit with a slightly....revealing front zipper and no mask twisted her arm behind her. "This is your last chance Rose. I don't give a care WHY you decided to come to MY town to escape the Titans. The important thing is your a murderer. And I don't treat murderers all to well around here." The brown haired woman snarled, her hair cut off just a bit below her shoulders, green eyes gleaming like wildfire.

"I don't lose that easily." Scavenger spat and managed to free herself from the womans grasp and whipped around, sending a deathblow punch in her direction." The woman caught it with ease.

"Maybe, but certainly more easily than your father did." She crushed Scavengers fist in her hand and through the night air, an agonizing scream was heard.
-----

The brown haired girl, now known simply as the Tampa Bay DevilRay to the locales entered her large, studio apartment and sighed as she removed her gloves and turned on the tv.
"Three years from today, a young Rachael Simmons was killed in Gotham city. Her mother in the brandon area filed a lawsuit against the gotham school for girls and--" She changed the station.

"Breaking news. The Justice League has--" She sighed and turned off the tv. This was the reason she quit watching television. To many ghost from her past. The Justice League was always in some kind of delima or another. They'd see their way out of this 'dire peril'.

She sat the tv remote down and grabbed a frozen dinner from the fridge, shoved it in the microwave. She looked over to where a pile of painted canvases lay. Never to be seen by anyones eyes but her own. "One of the disadvantages of being 'dead' I guess." She grunted and sat down at the kitchen island. Still, a world of ideas and soul would lay in her apartment until she one day dies.....one of the many things she regretted.

It was hard to believe that it had been three years since she faked her death. Rachael had, afterwards, returned to asia, trained extremely hard under Shiva to become possibly the third best Martial artist. Right after Shiva and Cassandra. But no one was better than Cass or Shiva. She had long ago accepted that. Her and Vic had continued their romance for a long while....but it had finnaly been time for her to return. She reminded herself it was for a reason. Her dream was to protect people. Even if that meant she had to be overly brutal sometimes.

She sensed someone behind her and spoke out. "Finnaly figured out I'm not dead eh? Kinda been wondering when the 'all seeing Oracle' would catch on."

Babs sighed and rolled her wheel chair out of the dark. "You were a little to hard back there."

"What? With Scavenger? Nah. At least now she'll never be able to hold a gun or sword again."

Barbara Gordon shook her head. Geeze, Rach seemed almost pleased with herself. "You've changed Rach."

"Rachaels dead. I'm a no namer now." 'Rach' said, getting up from her seat and heading for the fridge. "So.....who all knows I faked 'dying'?"

"Just me.....Dinah did know but....Everyone took your death pretty hard...especialy Tim."

"Hey how is Dinah anyway? was kinda surprised you didn't send your agents if you wanted to 'talk'." She said, keeping her calm. She poured herself a drink,not of the alchoholic kind. She was a free person, but she was still underage.

"Dinahs dead, Rach." Babs said, doing her best not to choke on the words.

The glass Rachael was holding fell and shattered on the ground. "...What?"

"shes dead. Black Canarys dead. Batmans dead. Supes is dead...everyone in the JLA and JSA is gone Rach."

Rachaels face changed. "I....What is it you want with me then Barb. I would have found out sooner or later."

Barb wiped her eyes and looked up at Rachael.

"Awwwwww no! NO. I'm sorry, Barb, I really am and....oh god, they're dead......but I-I can't go back. I'm sorry. I don't DO the 'superteam' thing anymore. I don't do mask. I don't!"

"Rachael..."

"I'm sorry. But....look, I....I just can't. I'm sorry."

"You have to. It's your duty."

"My duty? My duty?!? Where the heck was that written when I became a vigilante? The people of THIS city need me enough. It's a vestige pool for assassins and crime lords....What am I supposed to do? Just leave?!"

"Rachael...." Barb looked over at the paintinf in the corner of the room. "You like everyone to believe your dead....that you've....changed." She rolled over to a nearby painting and picked it up. "But your soul is still the same. What was it you told me one time? Each painting is a small portion of who the artist realy is?"

"Whats the point Barb?" She sighed.leaning down and now picking up the glass on the ground.

"You still feel the need to help Rach. If you DON'T joing the Teen Titans at their meeting at the JLA watchtower. If you DON'T workout side of this small area you've boxed yourself into.....If the people of not only 'your' city die, but possibly a great deal of others, you'll blame yourself. Your help is needed Rach. You going to ignore a cry for help?"

Rachael was silent for a long second. She thought it over for a long second before finnaly answering...."When do we leave? I need time to pack."

Robin watched from the shadows as the world's super-hero community said farewell to the JLA & JSA. No one knew that he was there, and that was just fine with him. The private services for Batman had been held earlier that day at Wayne Manor. Despite Bruce's membership in the JLA, the Batman was still an urban legend and the secrecy of the Clan was still a priority.

Too many people had died over the years. Jericho, Raven... Rachel.

And now, Bruce, Clark, Dinah, Ollie, Wally... All dead. It was still hard to believe that they were dead. It had always seemed like they could never die. Not truely die.

But he knew it was true. He had seen the video recording made before their deaths. He had examined the bodies himself. He had led the recovery mission to get their bodies.

Tim gave a soft sigh, as the services began to end. The League was dead, but there was still much that they needed to do. But frankly, he wasn't sure if he wanted to be involved in it.

Rachael had barely managed to make it to the funeral in time. She spent all of the night before packing and then dropped it off at O's place before the flight to Vahalla. But she had made it.

She still had a fettish/fear of being recognized and did her best to hide it. Hair was dyed redish/blond, forms in nose, cotton balls in cheeks, sunglasses. She looked at where all the graves were and shook her head. If there was one thing bruce had taught her, it was to be paranoid.

She looked up at the graves. It was hard to believe. She always lived by the constant that the good guys always won, right and truth triumph's over evil, and at the end of the day the heroes will still be around to protect it when the need rises again.

Things like this always brought her back down to earth and made her realize she wasn't just in a stupid comicbook.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and shot a glance over to the shadows, knowing full well that her old 'family' was probably there. She thought about confronting them after the funeral but...no. No, they thought she was dead. She would just keep it that way a little longer. She came her to pay her respects, not to have a reunion.

Robin turned to leave and paused as he caught sight of someone new. A red-haired woman, who looked somewhat familar to him. Something about her...

'Damnit Drake,' Robin growled to himself. 'Get a grip on yourself. You're seeing things again.'

Robin left the the services and set up a com-link with Oracle. Despite his duties to the Titans, he still had a responsiblity to his family. Nightwing had been with the JLA & JSA during their battle, and had nearly perished himself.

He had suffered internal damages and was now in a coma. Leslie wasn't certain if he would ever wake up.

"Robin to Cave," he said into his com. "Report on Nightwing's condition."

"No change I'm afriad, Master Robin," came Alfred Pennyworth's reply. Robin bowed his head slighly. He wanted nothing more than to return to Gotham and be their for his brother, but he was needed at the Watchtower.

"Understood," Robin replied his voice without emotion, but Alfred knew Tim better than that. He knew this whole thing was weighing down heavily on the young man. Tim experienced pain and loss, and had survived strong. But even Robin had a breaking point.

"Timothy, are you certain you want to..." Alfred began.

"I'm fine," Robin growled. "Report to me if there is any change." Before Alfred could respond the com-link was cut. The Wayne Butler sighed. His 'son' was dead, and one 'grandson' was dying while the other was in danger of loosing himself.

Death was thick in the air, smothering as the whole world mourned.

Many of Earth's finest heroes were now buried six feet down, clasped in their caskets as they consecrated the earth with their essence.

Death was her life; it had been the main function throughout all of them. When she was but a girl and her own life had been the one to be vanquish, to be reborn to Hell and labelled the Angel of death, Shinigami...the third life had been the hardest to leave behind...When her name had been Duo Merquise...

She stumbled through the rain, a thin jacket pulled tightly about her shivering frame, her eyes cast downwards as she ignored those she past. She was use to walking now...she never used her wings...they were representative of too many things...of lives she wanted to forget.

But she had no such luxury...her thoughts were constantly plagued by her past actions, of a night in an alleyway where she had stained her hands once more with blood and her life as a titan had ended.

She had killed two that night...one had been saved. Supersonic had been revived and would live to see the light of the new day...Vittorio...

His essence filled her completely, and though it's presence had quenched the hunger that had consumed her for more then 50 years it was a constant scar, internally ripping her apart...a new pain...

She had heard of many of the JLA and JSA heroes demises through watching the moving pictures on black and white screens of ancient TVs situated in shop windows...and as each one died the world took at turn for the worst...

It had taken the death of the worlds greatest for her to confront the past, which she had been fleeing from the last few years. She returned to her tiny apartment, discarding her sodden clothes, she stared at her bedraggled form in the small mirror, and whispered her name to the reflection...

"D...D...Duo!" She smashed her fist into the mirror, feeling the blood, wretched rouge glistening down her palm...she wanted to feel...she had once...something other then pain and hate...

She grabbed a brush off the sink, flicking off the cockroach that had settle itself happily amidst the brittle and she raked it through her hair and parted it into three strands and proceeded to braid her hair. The blood mixing into her bangs, meshing with the red tendrils that filter through it, the physical remains of Vittorio in the vivid red.

Her hair was braided once more in the traditional braid of both Duo Merquise and Shinigami. She quickly dressed and packed a small bag...and for the first time in years she released her pearled wings, feeling them flex from her spine...

She exited through the window...leaving the cockroach infested lair behind, happy that she was avoiding paying that month's rent...

Harm was probably the only person at the funeral who didn't have a solemn expression on his face. He actually had his trademark smirk as he looked at all the heroes mourning. Why should he care if a couple heroes died, it's they're fault for being weak. Suprisingly still a member of the Titans after all he'd done since his ressurection especially after Cassie broke up with him, they kept him around only because as bad as he was now, without them he'd be worse. His smirk turned into a smile as he saw the red haired woman. Staring more at her it seemed like she was familiar, not her appearance, but more her body movement. He never forgets his prey, even if they were former prey. As he recognized the body movements he laughed, which caught the other heroes by suprise, they'd have attacked him for his insensitivity if it wasn't for their respect for where they were.

Harm slowly walked past the red haired woman, saying nothing just gave her a look as he past. He didn't fight his darkness anymore, what was the point? He only stayed with the Titans out of convenience and they knew it. Just as they all knew he only came to the funeral because he gained a twisted sense of pleasure from everyone's suffering. "You fools are so weak." Harm muttered.

Rachael glared at Harm as he passed her, fighting the urge to break every bone in his body. She had to keep reminding herself that now wasn't the time.

She found it hard to believe the guy actualy had feelings once....he seemed like a good guy there for awhile after his 'redemption' shot.

"Just let it go Rach. Can't let the scumbags annoy ya." She muttered lowly and removed her sunglasses, rubed the bridge of her nose, and place them back into place before anyone noticed. Of course, people already to noticee to her. Just about everyone her was in costume except for a few, including superboy. No one 'knew' her anymore either. That was sure to draw some attention. She had heard a few mutter about 'dam reporters' and, any other time, would have found it a bit amusing.

As the rest of the others began to leave, she made her way to Dinahs grave, silently laying some flowers on it. When she was younger, Rachael had really looked up to BC. She was definitely a friend through and through. Any time she had the least bit of school trouble, guy trouble.....it seemed Dinah and Babs were there with movies and icecream galore.

She gave a weak smile at the memories and felt as more tears fell. She better leave. Before she got even more emotional. Last thing she wanted to do was break out in tears in front of everyone.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"I'm back!" Rachael called out as she entered Babs clocktower.
She took of the glasses and procedded to remove the other forms of physical makeup. The dye she bought wasn't permenent, it would come out in a wash or two, but right now she didn't feel like it.

She walked into the room Babs was, the room where she had demanded Dick be placed until they could get them to awake. Rachael knew without a doubt the others would be around here soon, and so she would be staying in a small loft Babs had built in awhile back. But rightnow, she wanted to see how the 'big bro' of the clan was doing.

She placed a hand on Babs shoulder and looked over at him. "hey Dick..." She managed to whisper to the unconscious form.

A figure sat silently in the now empty and partially demolished Titan Tower, the front wall and roof were totally gone, and the lights hadn't been on in ages, rats infested every room and the spiders had webs decorating the stairs. The Tower was a lifeless shell of what it used to be, ever since the Titans disbanded there was no-one to keep it as it was, the Titans didn't reform this time, they couldn't after what happened to the JLA and JSA.

The Grey figure had been a permanent feature ever since the most recent Titans team had broken up, his friends had broken up before but he wasn't there to see it, he couldn't see anything for that matter. But he was willing to wait for one of them to come back, anyone of them, as long as he wasn't left to die alone.

"Jesus, what the hell happened h--" The Grey figure jumped up as soon as he heard a voice, picked up a picture that he had been holding and threw it as hard as he could at the direction of the voice almost hitting the one who spoke.

"Get outta here, now!!" The Figure shouted as he picked up the spiked mace lying next to him.

"Slo-bo? Slo-bo, calm down, it's m--!" Beast Boy shouted franticly as he transformed into a Bird and dodged Slo-bo's mace shot.

"What d'ya want?!" Slo-bo shouted not bothering to turn to the Gar.

"I was just looking for the around to old pla--" Slo-bo turned around to face Gar, "Omigod, what happened to your eyes, man?" Gar said in a sincere tone as he walked towards Slo-bo, who backed off.

"Why ain't you at Valhalla?" Slo-bo said, avoiding Gar's question.

"Why would I be--Oh, jeez, the funeral, that's today?" Gar questioned not realising what day it was.

"The Super Cycle's outside." Slo-bo said sitting back down, "It'll take you there."

"Dude, tha--aren't you going?"

Slo-bo shook his head and avoided Gar's gaze, if he left he'd miss the others coming back, though he knew inside that they weren't coming back. Gar left without saying a word, the Super Cycle though badly damaged flew him to Valhalla, but didn't bother coming back. Slo-bo didn't even care, as soon as Gar left he picked up the picture he'd thrown earlier and looked at it. It was a picture of him and the rest of Young Justice a few monthes before he died the first time, he remembered that at the time his vision had been getting worse and worse, until eventually he was blind. It'd happened again, and were as last time he didn't want anyone to know he was blind, didn't wanna anyone to share in his pain, this time he had no-one to keep his secret away from and that hurt him even more than anyone ever had before. Ever.

(Set before the Funeral, duh)

She watched it from afar...the place was a congested mass of mourners, each with their heads bowed in a mark of respect...or perhaps it was to simply hide their eyes...the eyes of people who had been forced to grow up too fast...

She kept her hood up, and her head low, although her onyx eyes scanned her surroundings whilst she reached out very tentatively with the intent to read the auras of those present, but recoiled from doing so...she was here...that was a huge step in itself, she wasn't sure she truly wanted to know who else was present just yet. Didn't want to have to come face to face with the past.

There had only been three other people present of the Titans aside from herself the night her life as a Titan had ended, Harm, Wonder girl and Supersonic...the scenes of the night played across her vision and she no longer saw the hordes of grievers...

She had asked them to leave that night...and as soon as they had she had killed Vittorio...mercilessly and eagerly, and it wasn't till she had drunk him dry that she felt the true nature of his soul...the hidden love he had held for her...feelings that she had never given him the opportunity to express...

An in his final seconds alive...all he had felt was hate for her...and even though his soul had freed her from her hunger he had placed a new curse on her...he now haunted her every thought, as did all the others...He had released the specks of their souls that had laid dormant within her and she felt a constant emotional pain...guilt...hate...fear...never ending sorrow and regret...

And she had fled that night...leaving the Titans...her friends behind...she hadn't seen any of them since then...

Even now Vittorio's essence burned within and his words echoed in her ears... "they don't want you...they want to hurt you"

She shook her head...attempting to silence the voice, which she knew was but a dying echo of the pass, which refused to fade with the rest of history.

"They cause you to hurt...it is they who cage you..."

She couldn't face the just yet...they had been little more but ghosts to her for the last few years...nothing but illusions that plagued her endless stream of nightmares. And as much as she longed to throw herself into the masses of weeping eyes and stern expressions, she was bound by her own demons, so she kept to the shadows...remaining an observer...a ghost herself...

Valhalla. 1000 years from today.

"Lyle?"

Invisible Kid did not turn from regarding the thousand year old monuments and graves of the JLA and JSA, the two greatest teams of heroes ever to live, at the sound of his name. Planetary climate control had scheduled rain for today, and it was fitting to why he was here. 1000 years ago today, the funeral had taken place for so many greats... Superman... Batman... Flash... Captain Marvel... Green Lantern, and others. Some were still known and revered. Others had been forgotten over the intervening millenium. No one except the most esoteric of historians remembered Black Canary, or some of the others, but Lyle... he remembered. He had met many of them, fought alongside them, when he had been thrown into their era ten years before. And with there help, he had made it back. And now, a thousand years later, he mourned their deaths. However much time had actually past, it still felt immediate to him.

"Lyle?"

Finally, Lyle did turn to acknowledge the voice speaking to him. "It was a thousand years ago to this day that these heroes were burried here, Querl," he said to the Legionnaire who had joined him there. "It's been so long since we've known heroes like these..."

Brainiac 5 sighed. "It still bothers you, doesn't it?"

"I was back there for a long time, Brainy. They were my friends. They helped me, and I them; we fought alongside each other."

"I thought you said you worked more with the Teen Titans and Young Justice than with..."

"You're missing the point, Brainy. I knew what was going to happen to them, if not in perfect detail, and I... i abandonned them."

Brainiac 5 sighed. "So that's what's been eating at you all these years. Lyle, you were right to come home. The 31st century is where you belong. The Legion is where you belong. Lyle, this is your home. We need you more then they ever did. You were right to come home to us... to your friends... to your family."

"How useful was I when Cosmic Boy died, eh? Or when Imra was put into that coma five years ago that she never woke up from? Or when Mordru destroyed Winath, with Garth and Ayla on it? Or when the Persuader cut Ferro in half? How useful was I then?"

"Damn it, Lyle, you're the Legion's leader!! You're the only thing holding us together."

"No, Brainy. You're holding each other together. In a very real way, I've felt like an outsider ever since I returned from the 21st century. You don't need me. They do," he said, pointing across the graveyard to a monument that had been erected for the Teen Titans. "Tell Triad that she's in charge untill I get back."

"What are you going to do?"

"What I have to, Querl. What I have to. Now, please, leave me alone."

With a soft sigh, Brainiac 5 obeyed the Legion Leader, wondering if it was for the last time, flying off to return to Legion World.

Invisible Kid was silent for a few more long minutes before he finally reached into one of his belt pouches, removing a small devise that he had always kept on his person, but never used. He had sworn that he would never use it, but had never quite been able to make himself throw it away. He took it out and activated it.

"Hello, Lyle," a voice said behind him. Try as he might, Lyle had never been able to put a gender to it. Slowly he turned to face the newcommer.

"Hello, Trapper. You know why I've called you."

"You want to go back."

"Don't be coy with me, Trapper. You know I wouldn't have called you at all if..."

"If my Curtain of Time weren't preventing the Legion from time travelling?"

"There's no need to be smug about it," grumbled the Legion's Leader to their greatest foe.

"Lyle, if you want to go back to rejoin your friends in the 21st century, all you have to do is ask."

"That's it? No conditions, no terms, no nothing?"

"That's it. Just ask."

"I don't trust you."

"You'd be a fool if you did."

"Will I be able to get back this time?"

"Life is just full of uncertainties, isn't it?"

"Damn it, Trapper, give me a straight answer!!"

"Temper, temper. If I gave you a straight answer, would you trust it?

"...no."

"So there we are- right back where we started. All you have to do is ask."

There are a few long moment's of silence as the two old adversaries regard each other, invisible Kid with open suspicion and mistrust, Time Trapper as ever unreadable within the folds of his voluminous purple robe.

Finally, an answer. "Do it, Trapper."

"As you wish, Legionnaire." The Trapper waves his bandaged wrapped hand, a breeze stirs the arm of his robe, and Invisible Kid is blinded by flashing colors, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Good luck," whispers the voice of the Time Trapper, and Lyle is amazed to hear what almost sounds like... sincerity.

---

As the Trapper's voice fades and Lyle opens his eyes, he is still in Valhalla. The rain still falls lightly. Indeed, the only sign that anything has changed is the absence of some of the monuments, and the presence of a few lingering mourners, several of which seem startled at the burst of light and color that brought the Legionnaire to this place. Lyle sighs, shaking his head; Trapper had been as good as his word, and this was no time for second thoughts. He turned away from the monument to Superman he had been facing, and brings up his right hand, addressing the Legion Flight Ring. As far as he was aware, there were only three other flight rings asside from his own in the 21st century. The first belonged to Honorary Legionnaire Superboy, but Lyle knew he had retired from his career in superheroics, and decided not to bother him. The second had been given to Oracle, back when Lyle was in the 21st century last time, for her to use its communications equipment to reach him at need while he was here; she was not actually an honorary member. The third was in the hands of an honorary Legionnaire that Lyle himself had appointed, having had it confirmed by the rest of the Legion when he later returned to his own time. With an expressionless face, he spoke to the ring.

"Invisible Kid to Robin, please come in..."

After the funeral was over Harm spoke up once more. "Oh well, that was fun. Guess we'll be going to the Watchtower pretty soon. I know just the person to join us..." Harm lets out before he melts into the shadows and reappears in the DEO holding cells. "Hey there little fella goochie-goochie-goo." Harm said mockingly as he looked through the glass.

Slowly the captive's head lifted up and scattered to the wall when he saw Harm. "Bad man...bad bad man...." He muttered looking up at Harm, his eyes glowing brightly. Supersonic hadn't been the same since he was brought back to life by Harm and Shinigami that night she left the Titans. The shock from being dead for so long left him insane, though one of Harm's few joys was sneaking in and tormenting him. "So little puppy, I think it's time for you to come out of your kennel, all the officers here are too busy to notice you missing anyway." Harm said darkly.

Supersonic said nothing, only stared blankly at Harm. With one blast of energy the transparent barrier between Harm and Supersonic was destroyed. Harm grabbed Supersonic by the neck and started to shadowport them out before Supersonic started struggling. Harm then stopped and glared at Supersonic, both of them with red eyes glowing brightly. "Bad. Dog." Harm's eyes started to glow preparing for an eye blast but Supersonic calmed down. Once more Harm's smirk returned as he let go of Super. "Good boy. Let's go." With that they were both shadowported to the Watchtower, waiting for the others.

Slo-bo went back to sitting silently, the interruption that was Gar was gone and he was back to what he wanted, a quiet area for when they all came back to him and they could all be the goofy bunch of kids again. Robin'd lead, Superboy'd oppose, Wondy'd lead too and Impulse, Impulse'd be annoying, but it'd be a good kind of annoying. Like a little brother who wouldn't shut up. That's what Slo-bo hoped at least, though his mind was beginning to change.

His interraction with Gar showed him something he missed, not randomly swinging his mace at things he didn't like, but humans. He missed humans, especially those endowed with Super human powers, he had spent his entire life around them and now some of the best ones had gone. They were having their funeral right now. Yet he wasn't their because he was holding on to false hope instead of going out and getting what he wanted, like Slo-bo always did.

"Figures," Slo-bo said as he buried his head into his hands, "the day I have a revelation an' I decide t'give away the fraggin' cycle." he said as he got up and smelt the air, looking for the sent of his Sunglasses, the air in the tower was overlayed by the stench of a fire and an explosion but Slowly smelt through it getting to the scent of the Goggles he wore during the final days of the Titans to hide his Pitch black eyes.

He put them on continuing to sniff the air walking towards the smell of the sea and then the smell of The City with his Mace in hand and the picture of his friends folded up in his pocket, he walked towards the hangar of the Tower and used the mace to thrash his way through it, finding a T-Jet, that was just barely capable of flight and smiled.

CM3 landed near Shinigami. Most people were already gone. For some reason he didn’t joined the memorial earlier, maybe the death of Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel were still too fresh in his memory, maybe he had other reasons. Reasons he wouldn’t share with anyone.

CM3 placed his hand on Duo’s shoulder, he had some news. Bad news. “Duo-- Cody is dead.” CM3 new that Duo and Cody weren’t no longer a couple. Even before the night she left the team. “Whoever is doing this... They got Cody too.”

CM3 obviously moved. These days weren’t being easy on anyone. “I found his body just outside Tombstone... He was pretty beaten up. I’m so sorry.” CM3 then opens a sad smile. "But Risk, he-- he put one hell of a fight. He didn't went down easy."

Conner is alone in the Watchtower, he doesn’t recall ever being alone in the Watchtower. He enters the conference room and he sees the Superman’s ‘S’ on his chair. Conner’s sorrows starts to turn into anger. He’s angry at Superman for dying, He’s angry at himself for not being able to do anything. He’s angry because he’s afraid. He has no idea what’s going to happen next.

All the tension, confusion and anger inside of Conner is boiling up. His grip on the metal chair tights. A tear runs down his cheek. Conner tries to fight it, but he can’t. He’s not strong enough. So he does the only thing he can think of.

“SON OF A B!+(h!” He shouts as he punches the Arthurian table with all the strength shattering it. Debris fly every, Connor’s pupils are filled with his heat vision. Just like Superman used to do. Each day he looks more and more like Superman. Conner hears a heartbeat nearby. Someone else is in the Tower.

"Shouldn't you be heading to your meeting?" Barbara said, wiping the tears from her eyes and turning to the girl--no, woman, that was once her little sister.

Rachael gave a weak smile. "I guess so....you going to be ok?"

Barbara nodded, her gaze turning back to Dick. The chances of him ever waking up were one in a million, but she'd be damed if she gave up so easily. "I'll be fine. You go. Before I have to drag you there kicking and screaming."

Rachael nodded, gave her...sister? a comforting pat on the shoulder and headed for the door before stopping. "Babs? I'm....I'm sorry.....for faking my death like that."

"It's alright Rachael....I--I think I understand why you did it." Babs turned around. "Now g--" She was already gone......

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Rachael arrived at the tower, leather costume, red hair, sunglasses and all-- save the forms and cottonballs. She was now, at least, half recognizable.

She ran a nervous hand through her hair-- why was she nervous? She was the third, fourth best female martial artist out there. Her former mentor, Shiva, would be cringing at the thought of her being nervous.

She would just prepare for screaming and yelling and be done with it. It was the only thing to suspect. It was the only thing she could deal with. God she hoped that was his--their response. It would be better than an awkward silence or crying.....and if everyone started crying she was afraid she would cry openly too. Something she hadn't done in quite a while. It made her feel small. Like a child.

She paused her thoughts as she heard an outburst in the confrence room and ran into the room, knocking the doors out of her way as she rushed in. "Whats going o--" She saw Kon. "Oh...uh....hi there." She managed.

The JLA Teleporter hummed to life, and a lone figure stepped out of the transporter tube. Like a living shadow, he exited the tranporter room and walked soundlessly down the deadly quiet hallways of the JLA moonbase: the Watchtower.

During his years as Robin, Tim had been to the JLA Watchtower on many occasion. It had always alive and bigger than life. But now... Now it seemed like a tomb. A dark, dead place.

Alfred and Leslie had both tried to contact Tim, since the funeral, but he refused to answer the com. He knew they were concerned about him, but frankly he didnt' care. He had a job to do, and as Bruce had often reminded Tim growing up, the Mission comes first.

So much had happened to Tim Drake over the years. It began shortly after Rachel had died. Tim's father Jack Drake had discovered about Robin, and had flat out disowned him from the Drake Family. Tim's step-mother Dana had done what she could to reconcile the father and son, but her efforts never came to anything. Jack was hurt and scared that his son, whom he thought he knew had kept something so outragous from him, and his ego refused to let himself to appoligize

Tim had moved into an apartment in Gotham's Crime Alley, in order to stay closer to the problems that plagued the city. He went to college and was studying to be an District Attorney for Gotham.

As for his relationships with the Bat-Clan that had remained more or less the same. He was still very close with Bruce, Jean-Paul, Alfred, Dinah, Cass, Dick & Barb (who were married after a long estrangment). He and Rachel had never really come to terms with their own problems, and were never given the chance when she died.

Tim's personal life was less than spectacular. Certainly he had relationships, but nothing serious. Usually it ended up Tim dumping the woman because they were become to close, and he couldn't afford that in his life as a Vigilante.

He had continued as co-leader of the Teen Titans, which disbanded on several occassions until finally becoming simply THE TITANS. Now with the JLA & JSA dead, the Titans were the world's primary super-hero team left. That left the question: What would they do now?

Robin entered the JLA Meeting Room, to find Conner Kent, standing over a shattered round table. Conner's temper obviously got the better of him again. It was still suprising that the former Superboy was involving himself in this. Considering he had turned his back on the life of a super-hero long ago.

"Kent," he grunted in greeting. He didnt' even bother to ask about the table, since he had a feeling what had happened.

Robin paused as he felt another presence in the room. His white lenses behind his black domino mask turned the second occupant of the Meeting Room and he felt his stomach shoot into his throat before dropping into his feet. His face remained unearthly calm, but deep down he was screaming and shaking.

It couldn't be. She was dead.

Rachael turned to see Tim and her face paled behing her glasses. She hoped they would help disclose her identity somewhat.....but she highly doubted it.

This was what she couldn't handle: Silence. She cleared her throat. "Um....hi.....hi there Tim. Long time...no...see..." She cursed under her breath. It wasn't supposed to belike this....What was she? Sixteen and incompetent again?

As Harm and Supersonic wandered the Watchtower out of boredom before hearing what sounded like a small explosion. "Hmph! Sounds like company's here." Following the sound into the main conference room, Harm saw the broken table with Superboy standing over it, along with Racheal and Robin. Harm crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. "Well well well, what do we have here? Seems like I'm not the only one whose supposed to be dead here, and we have the new Superman and our fearless leader. I feel like I should bow in the presence of such greatness." Harm said smirking, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Meanwhile behind him as Supersonic saw the others his head cocked to the side as he took in the 3 people before him. These people seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't put the peices together. "Birds...birds everywhere...with bright redness..." The speedster mumbled. Harm began to chuckle darkly at Super's response. "I think he likes the new hair." He said as he sat down in what's left of one of the chairs.

Rachael narrowed her eyes at Harm. "You better have lost your mind too, Harm, otherwise I have no reason to keep me from--"

Harm began to laugh once more. "From what? Killing me? Bring it Birdgirl. Sounds like fun. You've got to be as twisted as I am to kill after coming from the JLA and JSA's funeral." Harm slowly stood up. "I definitely like the new you." His eyes then glowed red once more in anticipation.

Invisible Kid frowned at his silent flight ring. Robin wasn't answering, which left three possibilities.

One, that he was outside the galaxy. Not likely.

Two, that he was not answering his coms. Possible, but unlike him.

Three, that he had discarded or stopped wearing his Legion Flight Ring sometime in the intervening ten years since Invisible Kid had given it to him. That, unfortunately, was the most reasonable explanation.

Before trying to contact Oracle, Lyle set his ring to another task. "Locate all other active Legion Flight Rings in this system."

Let's see... there was Oracle's in the Clocktower in Gotham City... And there were Superboy's and Robin's, at the JLA Watchtower on the moon.

It was possible that they were having a private meeting of some kind, but Invisible Kid thought it was much more likely that that was simply where they were gathering the remaining heroes to organize, plan the next move... or at least to feel that they were doing something.

Making a quick decision, Invisible Kid slipped into his transsuit and flew to the moon.

---

Invisible Kid passed through the security perimeter... Watchtower's systems having long ago been programmed to recognize Legion Flight Rings... and stepped into the nearest airlock. Once the pressure was equalized, he stripped off his transuit, putting it away, and checked his ring for an updated location on the two honorary Legionnaires he knew were here... conference room.

Silently, Lyle walked through the corridors of the JLA base... or perhaps he should say the former JLA base... internally thankful that the contained atmosphere of the transuit had done its job and dried him off. Watchtower had never been a lively place, but now... it seemed more like a tomb. Shaking his head, Invisible Kid stepped into the conference room.

"She's dyed her hair," was the first thought to cross Lyle's mind as he stepped across the threshold, looking at the five heroes... well, four heroes and Harm... that were there ahead of him. It was funny, but although he knew her, history had almost completely forgotten that Falcon had existed; by the 31st century, there were no major records of her existance as a heroine at all. In the back of his mind, Lyle wondered what she had been doing for the past ten years. His eyes crossed the conference table... looks like Superboy was his same old self, as usual.

...

Now that he was here, Lyle had no idea what to say to these people, especially to Tim and Kon. Well, there was nothing for it but to start with the obvious.

"Hello, everybody," said Invisible Kid as he stepped out of the doorway, standing by the wall at the periphery of the conference room. "I... came back to help, if you'll have me." The question was addressed to Robin and Falcon, but his eyes still regarded everyone.

ELSEWHERE.

This is a place where time doesn’t pass. Minutes, hours, decades there is no difference. This is hell. A perception of hell, actually. A figure in a Black Cloak was standing next to a lake of fire, we can hear countless screams of pain of souls trapped in a eternal damnation.

He was watching into our dimension through a fist-sized orb. Still unable to cross to this side, his face was covered by the cloak and by the shadows. If we could see his face we would see a mix of anger and despair as always. The figure was at first staring at the Watchtower, to the young conflicted heroes.

“Pathetic” He mutters, his voice wasn’t just a voice. It was the voice of all the people trapped in this reality combined.

The Orb then showed another person, somewhere else in our dimension. We can’t see who this person is, because he is wearing a black costume that covers most of his face. We can’t only see his lips and his eyes.

“Carry on, Dark one.” He figure says with the fearful voice. “Carry on as planned.”

The “Dark One” doesn’t say a word. He merely nods and the walks away. The Orb is turned off. The eyes of the Figure starts to glow red. If we could see his face, we would see a sadistic smile.

in a dark and cold room "kyle" sat in his chair he looked on at what was transpiring at the funeral thru a big glass screen......

he hasn't been the same since his time in the outsiders after the war that happened between the team and all that came after, once he was able to meet darkseid. Darkseid introduced him to his past and showed him what he was capable of with his powers with his mind....and with his new found kingdom....

he now has no remorse for what the humans have to go thru....in a way he felt better not having to worry about them, after all they did nothing for him the most they did was keep him in a foster home and hold him down from what he truly is....then he suddly thought of his only friend who was the only real human that he ever really knew, jean-paul, also known as azrael. he helped "kyle" in more way's then one....

as far as he knows him and jean-paul lost all contact after what had happened to the outsiders when they had there confrontation with darkseid and dooms day..

as of now all he could do was look on ...he stopped to think about his up and coming confrontation with this new group of broken heros that was soon to form he knew.....he stopped and laughed at the fact that when he came back he would be able to not only shock but amaze the humen race as they knew it ...

Robin didn't say anything. He stood in stone silence, his body tensed as his eyes fixed on Falcon's. How could it be? Bruce himself had told Tim that Rachel had died in the explosion. Could this be some sort of trick? Some sick manipulative plan, like what Hush had done to Batman years ago with Jason Todd?

No... it was her. He could see it in her eyes. Not red hair or glasses could hide that look. The one that he had once fallen in love with.

But how could Bruce have made the mistake... Of course he didn't make a mistake, Tim realized. Bruce must had known all along. And rather than tell anyone the truth, he hid it.

Even in death, Bruce could still be a manipulative S.O.B.

"What are you doing here?" Robin demanded in a low and Batman-like growl. There was no emotion in his voice at all. It was like steel scraping against stone.

Yet before Rachel could have responded to Robin's demand, Harm entered the room followed close behind by Supersonic. A former Young Justice member who had been institutionalized a year or two back. And Robin was certain that Supersonic had not been released by the leave of the DEO.

"Well well well, what do we have here? Seems like I'm not the only one whose supposed to be dead here, and we have the new Superman and our fearless leader. I feel like I should bow in the presence of such greatness." Harm said smirking, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Rachael narrowed her eyes at Harm. "You better have lost your mind too, Harm, otherwise I have no reason to keep me from--"

"From what? Killing me? Bring it Birdgirl. Sounds like fun. You've got to be as twisted as I am to kill after coming from the JLA and JSA's funeral." Harm slowly stood up. "I definitely like the new you."

"EVERYONE SHUT UP," Robin growled in a voice, that sent shivers up the spines of many assembled. It was the kind of command that everyone remembered Batman doing when ever he was less than happy.

"I assume that you have an actual reason for bringing Supersonic here?" Robin growled at Harm. "Because if not, you'd better put him back."

Anyone who paid close enough attention would have noticed that Robin's shadow seemed to grow several feet in size and alter into that of a Bat's.

Harm's presence here was obviously not welcomed by Robin. It had been a very long time since he could have been considered a worthy ally. The fact was, Harm was only tolerated by the Titans. In Robin's eyes, Harm was a 'mad dog' who needed to be put down. And while he certainly had the means and ability to do away with Harm, he didn't.

It wasn't just because he still refused to kill for any reason. And it certainly wasn't because he had hope for Harm soul. No the only reason Harm was still there was because Wonder Girl and Secret still had hope for him. Even as Harm had begun to fall back into evil, they refused to give up on him.

It was stupid to go along with their wishes, he knew that. And yet Robin did. He could only hope that wouldn't lead to their destruction one day.

"Hello, everybody," said Invisible Kid as he stepped out of the doorway. "I... came back to help, if you'll have me."

Robin's gaze fell on Invisible Kid who had taken that moment to enter the room. It had been many years since the Legion member had left their time and returned to his own, and Robin was a bit suprised to see him here. Though of course, you'd never guess that by looking at him. As always, Robin's face showed no emotion, except for a frightening scowl.

Invisible Kid had proven long ago to be a worthy ally and friend. Although Tim hadn't been expecting him, he wasn't about to turn him away.

Robin bowed his head ever so slightly in greeting to Lyle. That was the closest thing to a warm greeting that Lyle ws going to get from Robin, now a days.

Turning his eyes back to Harm and Falcon, he wasn't sure who to handle first. The sociopath who broke a mentally handicapped meta-human from jail or the former-love of his life who had apparently faked her own death.

Crossing his arms, Robin waited expactantly for one of them to start talking.

(So... are we doing posting rules in this story or not? Just curious.)

Slo-bo slowly walked towards the T-Jet feeling the side looking for a door, he'd learnt to rely on his other senses a lot more from when he went blind the last time, this time he was a lot better equipped, no more bumping into tables for him luckily. He found the door and climbed into the Jet smelling his way towards the smell of the leather seats and then used his mace to smash through the front window of the Jet.

Slo-bo fell back into the seat and pulled off a part of the console using to broken wires to hot wire the Jet, he smiled as the engine hummed to life and put the console back together. The Jet creaked as it began to slowly move out of the hangar into the open air of Titans Island and finally took off into the open air for the first time in years, Slo-bo smelt the air rushing in through the broken wind screen and located the direction of New York, homing in on the smell of Metahumans and pollution.

Mere moments later and Slo-bo was floating above a building with a view of Valhalla in the T-Jet listening to the people crying and the tears that they'd shed, but he couldn't find the rest of his friends. He slammed his fist against the side of the T-Jet as he realised that he'd only just missed them, all of them, including Rachel and Harm.

"He came." Beast Boy said to himself as he looked up at the T-Jet above him, transforming into a Bird and fluttering up next to Slo-bo who once again didn't turn to him.

"Where are the Titans?" Slo-bo said clearing his throat

"They're at the Watchtower, they're gonna be figuring out what to do now that..." Beast Boy didn't finish his sentence, he looked down and transformed back into his human form and sitting down next to Slo-bo.

"This thing can't fly in space, and the Super Cycle's gone." Slo-bo said as he leant against the T-Jet, defeated.

"The Cycle's down there." Beast Boy said as he pointed to the Cycle, Slo-bo ran to the edge of the building and listened the the Metallice noises emanating the from the Cycle.

"Well, I'll be." Slo-bo said to himself happy as he whistled to the Cycle, it flew directly to him, "Cycle, I know I've been ignorin' you fer a bit, and I can un'erstand if y'hate me b--" Slo-bo didn't finish, the Cycle knew what Slo-bo wanted and gladly granted it, opening a Boomtube in front of him. "Thanx." Slo-bo said as he took a deep breath and stepped into it.

BACK AT ORACLES CLOCKTOWER...

Barbara squeezed her comatose husbands hand and wheeled out of his room to her computer room.

After Rachael had left for valhalla, shhe had some of her agents stop by her apartment and 'borrow' her collection of paintings.

Barb hadn't had the chance to look at them until now. She sifted through them, there were quitye a few sybolic/expressionistic ones...but others were extremely realistic. The girl always did have a talent....shame it was going to waste. One of the most realistic ones was of a boy of about seventeen or eighteen with green eyes and bleached blond hair...then there were others depicting brave warriors, love, lonliness, and a whole slew of felings and conflict and joyts. But as the paintings went on, they seemed to more and more depict lonlines, regret.....She must have had nothing else to do during the daylight hours.

And then she came to the last few of the paintings painted over the three years, clearly marked with a dab of paint at the bottom with a number. It was a series...

Babs stared at them in awe...There were five. The first showed a teenage girl watching from afar as a boy exited a theater, another girl wrapped in his arms. The watching's shoulders were sloped and a rose fell from her hand.
The second showed as the girl that had been watching removed her face as if it was a mask, showing a ghost like figure underneath, she was removing herself. Removing anything that reminded her of her past.....The third showed the now ghost reaching out to the boy in the first painting for a final goodbye, kissing him on the forehead as a ghost tear fellfrom her cheek.The forth showed a hand wiping away a picture from a canvas. A picture of a family she'd left behind.....Rachaels family. Only difference was a little black haired girl with saphire eyes standing behind rachaels skirt in the picture, her face half wiped away by the hand. It symbolized ridding herself of any memories, dreams,...future.
The last one was the most beautiful....It showed as the now ghostly figure walked away from the viewers eye into a vast world of saphire figures lumming over her. Doing her best to be brave.....

Barbara quickly turned the last one over. It was dated not to long after Rachaels 'death'.....On it was a lable 'Unselfish true love is learning to let go and move on.' The painting series itself was labled 'hardship'...

Barb sighed and stack the paintings back up putting them in the hiding place..."So thats why...God, Rach...." She muttered, rubbing the bridge of her nose. It probably wasn't the only reason....but a good deal part of it.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_


JLA WATCHTOWER.....

"I...." Rachael removed her glasses and stuffed them in her pocket, her eyes flashing at Robin with a look that said 'I'm sorry.', but only long enough for Tim to see it. She was used to showing emotions infront of groups of people.....Her eyes looked quickly over to the door and it took every inch of control to keep from bolting for it....but outside she remained cool and calm. "I just came cause I thought you might need my help.." she started walking for the doors, hoping to make her way out before she screamed. "But it looks like you have enough as it is so I'll just be--" Someone grabbed her arm to stop her.

Conner approaches Harm and is now standing face to face with the old friend. His eyes again filled with heat vision in a expression that would scared the devil himself. Conner was as serious as Harm could ever remember.

“Just gimme a reason, Harm.” Conner says harshly. “I just need a reason.”

Conner had a hard tine the past few days, much like Tim. And he would have this kind of disrespect, not in the conference room of the Justice League. He doesn’t care who’s from.

“This is the Justice League conference room, Harm. Don’t you forget that!”

Lyle nodded back at Robin, unintimidated by his looks and knowing the intent behind them, staying to the side to let him deal with this nonsense from Harm and Supersonic. Legion Leader though he may be, anything Lyle did in that situation would likely just be getting in the way.

she started walking for the doors, hoping to make her way out before she screamed. "But it looks like you have enough as it is so I'll just be--" Someone grabbed her arm to stop her.

Lyle grabbed her arm, firmly but gently, before she could leave. "Ra... Falcon," Lyle began in a voice low to reach only her ears, clearly uncertain about the status of her secret identity... Legionnaires never bothered with the things, but they were always mindful of those who did while they were in the M2 era. "Falcon, I don't pretend to know what's going on between you and Robin, but I'll tell you right now that we need all the help we can get. Especially experienced help like you. You're a hero, Falcon; you can't just leave."

If Falcon pulls her arm away, Lyle has no intention of trying to make her stay against her will, but untill she does pull away or decide to stay, he keeps that hold on her forearm, a look of respect in his eyes, and ever so slightly of confusion- he doesn't know what she's been doing these past ten years, doesn't know about her "death." All he knew was that, the last he saw, she had been the leader of Young Justice, who he had worked with even more than the Teen Titans, and a friend.

Duo didn't stir as Freddie landed next to her; she was to consumed in her own thoughts, thoughts that were a jumbled mass, conjugated by her sleep-deprived mind.

“Duo-- Cody is dead.” She felt a hand on her shoulder and she couldn't help but cringe. She was in a dreadful state, her mind a constant torment, and in such a frame of mind she had little control over her aura reading abilities...especially when touched, which was why she avoided contact of all kind most of the time.

"... He was pretty beaten up..."

The words were unnecessary...Freddie's proximity caused an image to flash across her mind and she saw the visual aids to his words. Cody's broken and battered body. It joined the other flashes, images, pictures that were the basis of her psyche...another corpse to path her mind.

She ignored Freddie's mild attempt at condolence "I’m so sorry.” as she recoiled from him.

"Don't touch me!" She hissed, her mind was reeling. She shook with the effort to maintain a cool exterior, she felt her stomach attempt to heave but she beat it down, not wanting the vile experience of vomiting stomach acid since she hadn't eaten, she didn't often. She looked decimated, unhealthy thin and gaunt...food was but ash when she put it in her mouth and it made her sick.

But the worse thing was the exhaustion...Her shaking hands reached tentatively into the ragged backpack that she sported containing the few item that she possessed, she wavered slightly on her feet but kept searching. She ferreted about until she found them, her mind racing...<another death...another pain...one more...always one more...> her jagged thoughts were erratic and spiralled as she withdrew the white plastic bottle, it rattle sharply as she twisted off the lid and piled several of the tablets into her open palm. Caffeine tablets...

It had been approximately 4 days, 16 hours and 37 mins since she had last slept...her record had been 6 days, 22 hours and 53 mins. She gulped down the tablets, not caring that CM3 was looking on. She swallowed them dry; almost gagging when they caught on her parched throat...she only prayed that they took affect before she keeled over from exhaustion.

It was a cycle she had repeated over and over again since she left...ironic that caffeine tablets can work on an angel...an angel who was too afraid to fall asleep because of her dreams. Now there would be a new face amongst the kaleidoscope of faces that already haunted her...Cody's face along with the rest of the dead heroes...

<I can't sleep...not yet...I can't...> She needed to be somewhere private when she did collapse...because when she did sleep her torment was so acute that she screamed her throat raw...she had received many complaints from past neighbours for that...

She shook her head slightly, blinking away the black dots that were dancing in front of her eyes. She tried desperately to appear unconcern at Freddie’s words...at the whole funeral of heroes in general.

"I heard a rumour..." she said...her voice hollow and hoarse. "That others are gathering...at the Watch tower...is that true?" She asked Freddie, not staring him in the eye...<if so, then I suppose that's where I'm heading...>

"I assume that you have an actual reason for bringing Supersonic here?" Robin growled at Harm. "Because if not, you'd better put him back."

Harm shrugged. "I never do anything without a reason. The problem's always been that no one agrees with my reasoning." Harm said laughing a little. "I figured as desperate as we are we could use all the help we could get. And for all of you emotional saps all metas seem to be targets now, so you'd think that you'd want to have him with us instead of hunted down in a cell." He rolled his eyes showing that he wasn't one of the 'emotional saps'. "Really though, look at that innocent face.." Once more the sarcasm returned to his tone as Supersonic looked at those who were staring at him. "Many eyes...many many eyes....so many staring eyes...." Supersonic muttered returning the stares.

"Just gimme a reason, Harm." Conner says harshly. "I just need a reason."

Harm couldn't help but smile at the threat, because of his brashness and lack of respect he got them fairly often. "I give everyone a reason flyboy."

"This is the Justice League conference room, Harm. Don't you forget that!"

"Oh but Superboy how can I forget that, there's a huge JLA insignia on the conference table...oh...right...the conference table isn't there anymore. Seems like I'm not the only one showing disrespect." It was an extreme rarity for Harm to physically attack a Titan, but mind games on the other hand... Harm turned his back to Conner but glanced back at him. "Tell me the truth though. You're gonna wear a cape now right? I know you've got to be thinking about it. Imagine it, you'll be wearing the red cape, people will look at you saying 'Look, up in the sky, It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superma-" "WOOSSSSSSSSSSH!" Supersonic interrupted from various places in the room as he was running around them at super speed.

>>Btw Nutikiel, I thikn we decided it would be three years later, not ten. Sorry for the mix up :D <<

Rachael started to leave but stoped, seeing the trusting, respectful gaze of Invisible Boy. "Fine. And it's no longer Falcon anymore, just so you know. Either Rachael or Devil Ray. Whichever suits you." She said, adressing everyone now about her name change. falcon was dead. It was either when she had supposedly 'died' too or two years ago when she beat a man an inch within his life.... She was only ninteen.....she, no they all, had to grow up so dang fast. she thought to herself for a second, and then quickly pushed the thought to the back of her mind. "I'll stay...just don't let me wear out my welcome." she said her eyes avoiding looking over at Tim whenever possible.

Rachael then noticed as Supersonic ran around the room in a mental deleria. What the heck am I getting myself into....

((I see. My mistake then, thanks. I thought it had was ten years in the future, but that Rachel had faked her own death 3 years before. And call me Jim. And it's Invisible Kid, not Invisible Boy. :P ))

Lyle nodded slowly as she spoke. "Very well... Devil Ray," he replied in a normal tone of voice. "I don't see how you can outstay your welcome, though; you're a hero, one of us." With a last respectful nod to Falcon... that's how he would think of Rachel, even if she now called herself Devil Ray... he turned his head to regard the others again.

Harm was causing problems. Lyle had seen Superboy in a cape... all the Legion had when he wore the costume patterned on that of Superman. But looking into Kon's eyes now and knowing what he did of what had transpired the past three years, he could not see the Metropolis Kid being happy with that sort of turn of events.

Lyle did not want to interfere with what was going on, but this nonsense from Supersonic and Harm could lead to trouble, and fast. Clearing his throat, he spoke to be heard around the room. He did not use his command voice, which had sent Legionnaires and high UP officials alike to do as he ordered for years now, whether as Legion Leader or leader of the Legion Subterfuge Squad. Instead, he used his respectful subordinate voice and addressed himself to Robin, hoping the "Teen Wonder" would take the lead and settle down the rest of those gathered.

"Is this everybody, or are we waiting for anyone else to begin?"

(LOL Doesn't look like it. Which I guess is fair since this is in fact a side story and not a main one.)

New Haven City, Dark Wolf's Lair in the Sewer's beneath the NHCPD building

Five year since he had made himself a vigilante, five years since he became a hero for the people of New Haven City. Dorian sits with is helmet off, but still in full armor. He never expected for the super teams to be destroyed like they were. Although he never reaveled himslef to the like of Superman and Batman, Dorian admired them, they had spent years sacrifricing them their time and skills for hte pursuit of not vengence but justice, now they had made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Open link cable," a cable appears from his right arm he plugs himself into the computer. "Uplink to the Oracle."

Dark Wolf had revealed himself to the mysterious Oracle about three years ago when he battled the sytiate techo virus know as Wired. The Oracle helped cure his infected nano cells and saved his life.

"Oracle, the world is in danger, what can I do to help, I think I'm ready to help save the world."

The Oracle Watchtower err Apartment

"Dark Wolf, you are right on both accounts you are ready to save the world adn have been, and some the rest of the heroes are meeting trying to figure things out"

"Where?"

"The JLA Watchertower."

"How do I get there, Oracle?"

"I'll contact someone stay link to the Base, I'll be in touch."

Dark Wolf continues to sit, it had been quiet all day, it seemed even the whackos from Gotham, to Metrolpolis, to New Haven City, were paying they're respects to the fallen heroes. "Sure I'll stay on just let me know"

<<<this is just to good to past up>>>>

"I heard a rumour..." she said...her voice hollow and hoarse. "That others are gathering...at the Watch tower...is that true?"

CM3 could easily notice that Duo was affected by the news. Even though she and
Cody weren’t together anymore the obviously meant a lot to each other.

“Yes...” CM3 says to Duo watching Mary Marvel’s tombstone far away. “...they might be there already.” CM3 turns to Duo. “I think we should make an appearance.”

"Oh but Superboy how can I forget that, there's a huge JLA insignia on the conference table...oh...right...the conference table isn't there anymore. Seems like I'm not the only one showing disrespect."
Conner fought the urge to punch Harm right where he stood.

“Don’t call me Superboy, Billy.”

"Tell me the truth though. You're gonna wear a cape now right? I know you've got to be thinking about it. Imagine it, you'll be wearing the red cape, people will look at you saying 'Look, up in the sky, It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superma-"

Conner merely glared at Harm. To take a swing at him and knock this pseudo hero out would be great. And easy. But if there’s one thing he learned with Clark is that the easy way isn’t always the right one.

“You don’t belong here, Harm.” Conner says staring into Harm’s eyes. “You’re a murderer. I don’t forgot what you did to Greta, to everyone else.”

>>Ack! Sorry Nutikiel. Been kinda in a hurry today....haven't been able to check my facts :P <<

as he sat in his chair he heard a knock come from the door "enter"
he said with a dark and even tone. as the door open in entered his friend, of so thats what he has been told taras was said to be one of his childhood friends, before the forster homes and before he was even capable of joining the outsiders in the many missons that they incountered......

"speak..."he said with an even drier tone the before, he was not in the best of moods since what had heard happened to the heroes of earth, this would make his up and coming job easy but now he would have to face his friends or the people he once consider friends

"the word has come from the higher council....u are to move and be swift"said taras

"hahaha u think I care what the council say's......if it wasn't for me there would be no council. this world our world was overtaken by the surface dwellers if it was not for me......"he said in a calm yet angry tone as dry as the great darksied himself would speak "tell them that i move when i feel that i am ready to move and that i would like canon to join my strike force"

"can.....canon.... but sir canon is not one of ur best friends.....he does not support u in anyway shape or form....he pukes at the sight of u..." said taras withfear and confusion in his voice.

"i know of this u fool. but what i have in plan will even make canon see the brighter side of my, whats it called "madness"" kyle say's in a dry tone with a hint of pleasure

"oo...k sir" taras say's with fright in his voice he then leaves the room

as taras left the room "kyle" stoped and thought to himself about his only real friend jean-paul the azrael, was he willing and able to face him if he was to come across him.....he then stoped and remembered the last time he saw azrael it was in the last and final battle that the outsiders had as a team aginst darkseid and dooms day, thats day azrael dyed in the hands of dooms day and no one not even bloodless himself was able to help him...