J.L.Avengers #3

[Wonderphoenix]

Justice League Avengers #3

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The Skrulls Invasion of Earth
Part III: Counter Measures

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Written by: Kyle Jones (Wonderphoenix) & Luke Nester (Pyrceval)
Edited by: Kyle Jones (Wonderphoenix)




Washington DC
The office of Martha Kent

Martha Kent, her auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a khaki pantsuit, gazed out the window and wondered how this had happened. After all of the years trying to protect her adopted son from exposure, she could not help but wonder if it was all done for nothing. Sirens blared in the distance as ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks raced to give aid where it was needed most.

The intercom buzzed and Martha reached down and pressed a button on her phone. “Senator Kent,” the receptionist said, “you’re niece is here to see you.”

‘Thank you, Jessica. Please send her in.” Martha Kent stood to see the door to her office open and a young woman with long blonde hair enter. She wore a blue jacket, blue jean shorts, and a red t-shirt. “Kara, what are you doing here?”

“Clark sent me to see if you were okay,” she replied.

“I am fine but where is Clark? I’ve tried to call him on his cell several times but I keep getting the message that it’s out of the coverage area.”

“He went to escort The President to some island as part of a resolution or something.”

Martha shook her head in acknowledgment. “Yes, the Justice Resolution. I know of it.”

“But he wants me to get you to safety so I need you to come with me.”

“Kara,” Martha replied. “I can’t just abandon my post. My place is here to help make sure that our government stays strong during all of this.” Kara’s expression clearly showed that she didn’t understand the decision and reminded Martha that Kara didn’t have the luxury of growing up in Smallville like her cousin. She approached Kara and looked her in the eyes. “You didn’t get the opportunity to know Jonathan before he died and I really wish you had. He would have loved you just as he did Clark.” Kara smiled. “One of the things that we tried very hard to teach Clark was responsibility and standing up for what is right. Being here….that is what is right for me.”

“What do I tell Clark?” Kara asked.

“Tell him that I am okay.” Martha replied. “Tell him to make his parents proud.”

[Wonderphoenix]

Paradise Island

President Ross and Superman stood in awe as the blonde woman standing before them confirmed their suspicions. They were here to find Wonder Woman.

“My regret,” Superman responded. “We should have known. So, if you’re daughter is Wonder Woman then that makes you . . .”

“Queen Hippolyta,” President Ross added. As a courtesy, he bowed. “I am Pete Ross and I’m the President of the nation where your daughter went in the 1940s.”

Hippolyta nodded and turned to Superman. “And you’re the new American Captain?”

“No,” Superman replied. “I am called Superman.”

Hippolyta chuckled. “Patriarch’s world gives such peculiar names to people. Super…man. Wonder….woman. Peculiar.” She turned to the other Amazons. “Go, find the Princess.” She then returned her attention to the two men. “Only because of the Captain are you, as men, allowed on this island. Now, come. I fear that, by your presence here, my daughter will once again be asked to venture into your society.”

[Wonderphoenix]

The United Nations


“We can’t wait any longer,” Tony Blair demanded as he addressed the others. “Ross and Superman haven’t arrived and we are running out of time. We’ve got to do something or else we won’t have anything left to save.”

“What would you have us do?” Ki-Moon questioned in reply.

“We need to bring in UNIT and Torchwood. As you already know, they have been alerted.”

T’Challa spoke up. ‘The United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, or UNIT as you call it, has always been sanctioned by the UN but Torchwood has always been of British control. Why, then, should we bring in both?”

“Torchwood has been around for hundreds of years and has always investigated extraterrestrial threats. If this isn’t perfect for Torchwood, what is?”

T’Challa reconsidered. “You’re right. Contact them and I too will contact my own people. We need to move and move now.”

“What about the resolution?” Ki-Moon asked. “What about waiting on Superman?”

Blair stood. “If we wait around much longer - as I just said - there won’t be anything left to save.” Blair left the room, retrieved his phone from his jacket, and dialed a number. “Yes, this is Blair. Put me through to Torchwood. I want to speak to Captain Jack Harkness and I want to speak to him NOW!”

[Wonderphoenix]

Hell’s Kitchen, New York City


Little green men. Honest to goodness, little green men. Okay, so they aren’t so little, but they damn sure are green. Most of the time anyway. Don’t these alien bastards get that I got enough home grown scum to worry about without having to off their green shape-shifting asses?

It was another war zone. The man standing amidst the rubble and broken bodies had certainly seen more than his fair share of them. He was older, but still retained himself in top physical shape. His dark hair was cut short his face showed a few days growth of beard. His fading dark jeans showed heavy use and his black t-shirt was ripped and showed bloody smears, not all of which were his. However, the skull emblem was still plainly visible.

In his large, strong hands he held a M1014 auto shotgun and was rapidly reloading it as he took cover in an alley. All around him throughout the city, humans were being overrun. These aliens came with little warning and with advanced technology far outstripping what man had to offer. Though he had no powers like those he knew must be fighting the real fight with them, Frank Castle wasn’t one to lie still and wait - especially not when he still had ammo to spend.

Readying his automatic shotgun, the man known better as The Punisher swung from behind the alley. He lobbed a grenade first, then spun and let loose shot after devastating shot from his weapon. Advanced technology or not, a point blank shot from his modified automatic shotgun was enough to drop a few more green corpses to the ground.

He darted across the street and ducked into another alleyway, rolling the last several feet as his last shot took out the knee caps of an approaching Skrull. Frank, always calculating his next step, had been heading towards this particular alleyway intentionally. It held one of his many weapons caches.

He quickly reloaded and went to the hidden spot behind the dumpster where he had a number of other weapons waiting. He failed to notice the odd little dog that scampered purposefully into the alley behind him. As he opened his hidden case, the dog began to grow and change till there stood one of the Skrull warriors. He continued to morph, his hand now changing into a long blade. He drew his arm back, preparing to skewer the unwary Punisher.

Suddenly, a flurry of red cape descended on the Skrull warrior. Frank turned about in time to see the dark red and blue blur behind him. The Skrull was thrown into the nearby brick wall with enough force to knock several bricks loose. The red and blue clad assailant moved fast, far quicker than any normal human could. He grasped the Skrull around the throat and squeezed hard while at the same time gripping him by his chest. In mere moments, the green head was torn free from the Skrull's limp body. He tossed both aside.

“I like your style.” Frank’s deep voice rumbled to his new found ally’s backside.

The man turned about, revealing a dark mask with white around his eyes. His red cape seemed to flow about him of its own accord, as did the number of chains dangling from him. “These beings are far less sturdy than the minions of Malbolgia…..but far more numerous.” He took in the man before him and continued, “Frank Castle. The Punisher. I know of you, the underworld speaks highly of you. The killer of killers. Tell me, Punisher, are you prepared to die today?”

Frank snorted. “I gotta go sometime. Long as I do more damage to them than they do to us, I did my part. How ‘bout you? You ready to die today?”

“I’ve longed for death for quite some time.” The two veterans recognized at once how the day would eventually end for them if they chose to continue this fight.

In moments, the pair loaded up with more weaponry than many standing armies possesses. With the Punisher firing a shotgun with one hand, a Desert Eagle with the other, and Spawn toting a massive browning automatic rifle the pair plowed into the invaders of their little part of the city.

[Wonderphoenix]

Just outside Gotham City
MediLex Pharmaceuticals (a division of LuthorCorp)


Explosions racked the small research facility. Only the best of the best, the brightest minds in the world were hired to work here. Now, they were all being evacuated as heavy bombardment fell randomly around the city from the mysterious attackers.

“Where’s Betty??!! Has anyone seen Betty??!!” called Doctor Bruce Banner again and again as he frantically ran back against the escaping tide of scientists and facility personnel.

He received no answer and soon he was deeper into the facility than he wanted. The lights were already on the backup generator, but even still flickered as nearby explosions rocked the place. One blast blew out a nearby wall, the debris tripping up the scientist and dropping him to the floor. The ground beneath him groaned and before he could move it collapsed in on itself, depositing Banner inside one of his subbasement labs. What sort of weaponry could they be using that the mere shockwaves of which can shatter concrete that thick?

Doctor Banner groaned and struggled to sit up. He looked around and saw the lab he was in and his heart jumped. Oh, my God. I must get out of here! And the quicker the better!

He scrambled to his feet, using the nearby platform to help himself. The football shaped metallic object he worked on for Mr. Luthor mere weeks ago sat before him on the table. Another devastating blast shook the building and Banner was thrown back into the glass containment cabinet. He watched in horror as the object rolled from the table and struck the ground. Banner felt searing pain as the device detonated in a blinding flash of light.

Then all Banner saw was green.

[Wonderphoenix]

Gotham City



In the city proper, a sleek black jet parted the evening sky. Its shape was reminiscent of a bat in flight. Its pilot a tall, well built man adorned in dark cape and cowl. Behind him sat a younger man, barely more than a boy actually, dressed in bright red and green.

Batman piloted the plane with expert motion. He stayed highly effective, even against the pitched odds of the powerful alien force. More accustomed to psychopathic killers and their goons, however, his young partner was noticeably anxious about dealing with an invading army.

“Hold it together, Robin, I need you to keep tracking them.” Batman barked out.

“I’m on it, I’m on it. You got two more falling in behind you!”

Batman grimaced, and then pushed the jet to the limit of its thrust. He headed out over the river, swaying the craft back and forth to avoid his attacker’s fire. Then, without warning, he cut the engines completely and dropped the plane down like a stone. To his surprise, his attacker’s craft’s were more maneuverable than he gave them credit for. They were also larger.

Moments before splashdown, Batman punched the engine straight up to max throttle and his plane, far more advanced than most any other made on earth, responded with a roar. With a silent note to himself to have Wayne Corporation donate enough to the city for this, Batman skimmed his plane a scant few feet from the surface of the water and shot beneath a bridge. The two more massive craft behind him slammed head on into the bridge and erupted into a massive fireball.

Batman shot back up into the sky, targeting another attacking ship and sending a missile into its backside before they even knew he was there. The radio in the plane crackled to life. “If I may, sir?”

“Go ahead, Alfred.”

“Sir, there’s a report of a, um, monster just outside of town.”

Batman blinked and narrowed his eyes. “As opposed to the several thousand monsters within the city? Nevermind. Send me the coordinates, we’ll check it out.”

The plane streaked over the city toward its destination. “Where is this thing?” Robin asked.

“I’m picking up massive spikes of…gamma radiation?” Batman responded.

“Look, there!” Robin exclaimed pointing out the window.

Even from their height, the large green skinned behemoth was visible tossing anything aside that got into its path. “So, what, their space ships, death rays, and shape shifting aren’t enough, they have to send a giant alien monster on us too?” Robin asked sarcastically.

Batman studied the readouts from the plane’s sensor array. “Robin, I don’t think he’s an alien. Look.” Sure enough, the alien invaders were firing upon the big man. Their blasts seemed to have no effect on him. His massive fists, however, had a great deal of effect on them.

Batman was in thought. He’s human! The gamma radiation must be responsible for his transformation. If we can…herd him correctly, we could have a great weapon on our side.

"Alfred, find me Commissioner Gordon!”

“He’s human, huh?” Said Robin quietly, “People better stop making comments about my uniform. What’s up with the purple pants?”

[Wonderphoenix]

Miami, Florida



“Is there a bad guy generator I need take out or something?” quipped the man called Spider-Man as he dropped the latest victim of his swing, snatch and grab attack to the ground far below. “I mean, if there is, just tell me…I promise I’ll avoid shooting the food…”

Whoosh!

He swung low again, successfully avoiding the assailant’s attacks and snatching the next victim away with him.

“Okay, clearly they don’t have that game where you come from.” He said quietly as he dropped the latest victim down to the ground and unconsciousness. He noted then a handful of the attack craft coming down between the buildings. “Fanfrickingtastic! Where is Superman when you need him?” He leapt to a nearby building and perched there, waiting for the moment.

The attack craft came barreling down on him and opened fire. He released his hold and plummeted. First, though, he shot webbing out to the falling debris and yanked it closer, then, still falling through the air, he spun around and swung the broken concrete with him the released it…sending it flying right into the oncoming ships. One was smashed dead center and went spiraling into a nearby wall; another was clipped on its wing. That one attempted to compensate, but ended up screeching to the ground sideways and erupting in a massive fireball on the ground.

Spider-Man shot a line up to the third craft, and yanked himself up to its underside. He promptly crawled over to the top of it and knocked on the pilot’s window. “Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Poupon?” Then he punched with all his might and managed to barely crack the window.

“Bet that never happens to the big guy…” he muttered in disdain as he looked at his fist. “On to plan B…as in better work this time.” He caught site of the maneuvering ailerons and crawled back to the underside of the craft. The pilot was turning this way and that in an attempt to shake him, but to no avail.

Once at the bottom of the craft, Spider-Man shot a web line out to each aileron and planted his feet firmly against the craft and pulled both as hard as he could. He groaned as he felt his muscles pulling, but it was working. The craft took a steep turn up, up, up…till it was facing straight into the air. He continued pulling, until they had done a complete loop and were now facing straight down. Then he alternated tugs first one side, then the other, forcing the craft to spin one way then the other. Moments before they crash landed, Spider-Man coiled low then leapt free as the massive fireball erupted behind him.

The force of the explosion did catch him, and he was thrown hard to the ground, small rips appearing in his costume. He slowly started to regain his footing. His head was throbbing so much, he didn’t notice his spider sense at first. There was an alien behind him, with a really big gun. He knew he wouldn’t have time to react; he needed to buy some time. He put his hands on the back of his head and said, “Hey, look man, I swear I didn’t see that stop sign…and this, this web fluid, man, come on…it ain’t hurtin nobody…shoot it’s not even mine, it’s my cousins, yeah that’s right…hey, is this gonna be on Space Cops or somethi…”

He heard an odd thwip sound behind him and turned to see the gun clatter to the ground, the quivering shaft of an arrow jutting from it. Another arrow flew and dug deep into the alien’s shoulder driving him back to the wall. Spider-Man turned and gazed at a man dressed all in green with a blonde goatee holding a bow.

There was silence for a moment as the newcomer approached Spider-Man. The two stared at each other for a moment then Spider-Man said, “Where’s Little John? Will Scarlet?”

“I had heard you were a wise ass."

“I am indeed wise….wise ol’ friendly neighborhood Spidey, that’s me.”

“I’m the Green Arrow…I was just passing through on business when this unpleasantness started. Thought you could use a hand.”

“THE Green Arrow?? You must be all important to have THE in your name. Come on, couldn’t you come up with something cooler sounding than that? Like Emerald Archer or something?”

“So says the man named after a bug.” Replied Green Arrow coolly. “Who’s your wife? Lady Bug?”

“Touché, Robin of Locksley, Touché.”

Green Arrow turned and knocked another arrow. “Shall we do this thing, then?”

“Geez, don’t be so grouchy. It’s not like we are facing insurmountable odds and likely certain death with just a few arrows and rapidly dwindling web fluid against an entire army of advanced alien beings or something. I mean really, I thought you were supposed to be one of the ‘merry men’.” Spider-Man replied as he too turned to face the oncoming alien force marching towards them through the city.

Spider-Man gulped hard. “In all honesty, you realize we don’t really stand a chance here.”

Yep.”

The two shared a glance. Green Arrow continued, “I only have one regret.”

“And that is?”

“That your ugly face is the last one I have to see.” He grinned briefly and Spider-Man then dashed to the side knocking and firing a steady stream of arrows into the approaching force as Spider-Man leapt high and swung into battle.

[Wonderphoenix]

Paradise Island


President Ross and Superman stood on the stairs outside the Hall of Athena. If I didn’t know better, Superman thought, I would think this was Ancient Rome. He looked about at the beauty of the island and was amazed. Gardens lined each side of the Hall with flowers he was sure were only native to the island. All around, just like the place where he stood, there were at least a dozen more halls – not to mention all the other structures that far surpassed even this one in their grandeur.

Superman glanced over to his friend and saw that he too was equally taken back by the beauty.

Finally, the read haired Amazon returned and stood atop the stairs. “Our Queen and the Princess are ready to see you now.”

The two men walked up the stairs and into the hall. Sitting at the far back was Queen Hippolyta on her throne. A raven haired woman stood to her left and was dressed, like her mother, in flowing white. They bowed in respect as they approached her.

She smiled. “Please, that is not necessary. My Mother is the Queen – not me.”

Superman approached. “Princess, we really need your help. Our world is at war.”

She looked at The President. “And you are?”

“I am the current President of the United States. My name is Peter Ross.”

“And Roosevelt, is the dear man still amongst you or has he passed on to the Great Fields?”

“He passed many years ago, Your Highness,”

Superman interrupted. “Princess, time is of the essence.”

She looked at her mother as if to ask approval.

Hippolyta nodded her head and looked at the two men. “She will leave and she will join you to save us all.” Her look turned stern. “Then, she will return home.” She then stood walked to stand beside her daughter. “If you are to go once again, the white robes will no longer do.”

“Mother, the uniform was destroyed many years ago after I returned and you forbade me to return to Patriarch’s World.”

Hippolyta smiled. “Stand tall,” she instructed. The Princess did so. “Now, reach and rest your left arm – hand and fingers straight – parallel to your right shoulder.” Again, the Princess complied. “Now, raise your right arm and hold it out straight as well.” She did so and Hippolyta moved away from her child. “Finally, concentrate on the uniform you once wore.” The Princess nodded that she had done so. “Now…………………..SPIN!”

A brilliant radiance exploded around the Princess as she began to spin. After a few spins the light disappeared and the Princess stood before them no longer dressed in her white robes. She now wore a garment that – for all practical purposes – looked like a one-piece bathing suit. Yet, this was no ordinary suit. The upper section was crimson with a chest-plate shaped like a golden eagle. Around her waist was a golden belt that met in the center and formed two golden Ws. The lower part of the suit was bright blue with at least two dozen small white stars. She wore silver bracelets and tall red boots with a white stripe down each. Finally, on her head, rested a golden tiara with a star made of rubies in its center.

Hippolyta returned to the throne, retrieved a golden lasso from a stone box and gave it to her daughter. “Now,” she said, “no longer stands before you Princess Diana. No! I present to you…..WONDER WOMAN!”

The Princess, after hugging her mother goodbye, joined Superman and President Ross.

“We have a plane ready for you and the President,” Superman said.

Diana smiled. “I have my own transportation but thank you.”

“We do have something else we think you might want to use in battle,” President Ross added.

“And that is?”

“Captain America’s shield.”

To Be Continued . . .