The Crime Syndicate of America: Syndicate's Rule#2

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Crime Syndicate of Amerika: Syndicate’s Rule #2
Million Meta March

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

Metropolis is a bright and shining hope for the world of tomorrow in Amerika. At least, that’s how it appears on the outside. The truth of the matter is that Metropolis is overtaken with white collar criminals. From the average beat cop on the street, to the Commissioner of Police, to the Mayor. Every person in Metropolis is on the take... excluding one.

Alexander Luthor. Hidden behind a facade of greed and corruption, Lex Luthor has risen the corporate ladder. Secretly, however, this man works to see that justice will one day be brought to this corrupt world in which he lives.

“Ah, finished,” Lex announces to his empty laboratory.

An electronic voice then pipes up, “Brainiac A.I. active and waiting for command sequence.”

Lex grins. “Success!” he exclaims. “Brainiac, I need you to search any ‘law’ enforcement agency on Earth. Interpol. FBI. Scotland Yard. The works.”

“What is the search criteria ?” is Brainiac’s electric question.

“The world’s most ‘dangerous’ fugitives,” Lex answers.

“Processing... Processing.”

“Good,” Lex says, grabbing his coat, “while you do that, I have an errand to run in Gotham.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

In the dead center of Metropolis, a few years back, Ultraman had erected a huge fortress, but it is certainly not one of solitude. Troopers, march through the halls daily, Ultraman’s personal army. They act as Metropolis police force, but answer to Ultraman.

In Ultraman’s war room there is a gathering unlike any since the 40's. It is the first meeting of the Crime Syndicate of Amerika.

Ultraman takes charge of the meeting, his wife, the sultry Superwoman standing behind his chair, with Power Ring and Johnny Quick on his sides. Owlman leans on a wall, allowing Ultraman to believe he is in charge.

“Simply put, the five of us take on Washington,” Ultraman states, “and assassinate the President.”

Owlman lets out a chuckle.

Ultraman turns to look at the dark figure. “Something in your throat?”

“You call that a plan?” questions Owlman. “The five of us against the government?”

“You have a...”

“Here’s what we’ll do,” Owlman says, not letting Ultraman finish. “We will kill the President, but we’ll need reinforcements.”

A grin spreads across Owlman’s face as Superwoman blows him a kiss behind her husband’s back.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

High above the streets of New York City, a man in a blood red and black uniform with a golden atomic symbol on his chest hovers. He’s sporting hair of fire. Hanging on him is a shapely woman, in a somewhat similar uniform with flaming red wings and hair.

The young woman, who is called Flamebird, sees an elder man on the streets below, fleeing for his life.

“Mmmm,” she moans, “there he is, Ronald.”

Ronald, better known to the world as Napalm, grins as his eyes follow the man who’s fleeing for his life.

“May I?” begs the flaming beauty.

Napalm simply nods and Flamebird dives for the fleeing man.

“Hff... hff,” the man huffs and wheezes. “They’ve... hff... found me!”

The man then comes to a halt as a wall of blue flame erupts in his path. He turns and is confronted by Flamebird.

>>Hello, Professor Stein,<< the man hears in his head.

“Mr. Raymond,” the man pleads, “it’s not what...”

>>Not what it appears?<< questions Napalm through the telepathic link he shares with the Professor. >>You thought to betray me? To steal the powers that I wield.<<

Napalm then glides down before the Professor.

“Shall I fry him, Ronald?” asks Flamebird.

“Not yet,” he answers and grins down at the elderly man. >>You know what I plan, don’t you?<<

“Please, no!” screams Martin Stein.

>>I need you alive,<< starts Napalm, >>but only until I do this.<< Suddenly, Napalm’s eyes flicker and flutter. Once they stop, he turns to the flaming beauty. “Download’s complete. I know what he knows,” and he nods to Flamebird.

The fiery damsel then turns to Stein, her flame getting more intense, creating a circle of fire around the Professor. With each second the circle getting smaller and smaller.

As Napalm turns and flies higher and higher, the sounds of Martin Stein’s screams become deafening.

The nuclear villain is then halted as a large, green image of Power Ring’s head appears in his path.

“Raymond, you’re needed,” states the image. “Grab your red hot vixen and meet us in Metropolis.”

“Demand much?”

“Damn straight,” Power Ring replied. “Not a request. Ultraman’s fortress. We’ll be waiting.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

In Star City, a blonde man in a black and red costume, a blood red hood over his head pulls an arrow from his quiver. Blood Arrow extends his collapsible bow and loads the arrow.

“Alright, Slut,” he states. “Teach you to step out on me.” An evil laughter escapes from the lunatic’s throat.

The target, on a street below, is a curvy blonde, in almost golden leather with fishnet stockings and all the right proportions.

“Stop this now,” a man in green with a matching cape and red spirals all over his clothes says.

“HA!” is Blood Arrows response. “Good one, Woozy-Doozy.”

“The name is...”

Arrow then turns to his mysterious assailant, pulls back his arrow and lets fly, his arrow grazing the vigilante’s cheek.

“ACK!” Stepping back, and wiping the blood from his cheek, the vigilante finishes his sentence, “Vertigo!”

Suddenly, Oliver King becomes unbalanced, his knees becoming week.

“Feeling the Vertigo Effect, assassin?”

“It’ll pass,” Blood Arrow says simply, cocking his arrow and letting it fly randomly, ending up nailing Vertigo’s foot to the roof.

“AHHH!” screams the wouldbe hero.

Arrow lets another fly, this one taking off Vertigo’s ear.

“ARGH!!!!” screams Vertigo, falling to his knees. “I... I GIVE!” and he turns off the Vertigo Effect. “You win!!!”

“I know,” Blood Arrow says, then sending another arrow into Vertigo’s other foot. “Feel Blood Arrow’s sharp, pointy arrows?” he asks, laughing.

“Nice,” comes a voice from the shadows.

Blood Arrow then notices the figure of Owlman. “Be right with ya.”

“Take your time,” Owlman says. “When you’re done playing with him, meet me at Ultraman’s fortress in Metropolis.” Owlman turns and then adds, “Have fun.” The Owl has gone nearly as suddenly as he arrived.

“I will,” Oliver says, “but first.”

The assassin loads his bow once again and looks down to the street below, the blonde now gone.

“Gone?!” He turns back to Vertigo, sneering. “You let her get away. It’s the last thing you’ll ever do.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Now perched upon a ledge over looking Blood Arrow, sits the blonde, watching him.

:Yellowhawk,: comes the voice of Superwoman on the blonde’s long, silver bracelet-communicator.

“Yellowhawk here,” the blonde replies.

:There’s an assignment, Dinah,: Superwoman tells her, :at the fortress.:

“Swanky,” Yellowhawk says as she covers her eyes in a golden, feathery mask.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Gotham City, at the very top of Wayne Tower, stands a man in a tattered suit. Despite his chalk white face making him look clown-like, you could tell right away that this man didn’t have too much to be cheerful about.

“Contemplating suicide?” questions a bald man from behind.

The clown turns. “Mr. Luthor?”

“Yes, Jack, it’s me.”

“I’m sorry,” Jack Napier says, “but I can’t live like this. I tried to fight him and look what he did to me?!”

“Maybe you went about it the wrong way,” offers Lex.

“And you think you have the right way?”

“As a matter of fact, I believe I do. Come with me, Jack. I patched you up after the accident, give me a chance to help you further.”

Napier looks to Lex, then over the edge. “Alright, Lex, let’s see what you can do.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Over the city of Fawcett is a clear blue sky. Not a cloud in the sky. Then, suddenly, the sound of thunder rocks the very foundation the city is built upon. Windows shatter, power goes out, and cars overturn.

The cause of the unnatural “thunder” is a sibling rivalry like few in existence.

“What’s wrong, ‘Billy’?” questions a young lady with long, brown hair, wearing a black skirt and top (which her chest almost overflows out of), a huge lightning bolt down her chest. The woman also had a short, red cape, with black trim. “You afraid of being upstaged by your ‘little’ sister.”

“NEVER!” Billy, or William (as he preferred) booms as he lets loose a punch that sent his sister soaring backwards through the sky, crashing into an office building. William has slicked back cole black hair and wore a similar black costume, with a red sash around his waist and a longer cape. “You should no by now, Mary, that big brother can take whatever you dish out.”

Mary, climbing from the whole in the building, rockets straight for her brother. “Right, Billy, well, let’s see...”

“STOP!” a voice booms before Mary can finish. Ultraman then descends from the clouds, hovering down between the two siblings. “Captain Power, Mighty Mary, there’s work to do.”

As Ultraman flies off, gesturing for the siblings to follow, each gives the other a look that says, “this isn’t over.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Within hours the coalition is gathered within Ultraman’s fortress. Flamebird’s hanging off Napalm like a love sick puppy. Blood Arrow notices Yellowhawk across the room, flirting with Captain Power. Mighty Mary is chatting it up with a man covered in tattoos with a buzz cut, called Barbarian. Barbarian’s eyes doesn’t leave the young woman cleavage.

Above the crowd, hovering on feathery wings are Golden Eagle and Winged Warrior, holding each other tight. They watch a woman in red who appears to be made of rubber inflate her chest to approach a black man, lightning all over his black costume. Rubber Maid and Lightning Strike.

On a stage at the very end of the room, a man in steel armor approaches the podium. He has a metallic U-shield on his chest, matching Ultraman. Behind him are 5 chairs, Ultraman, Superwoman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick all sitted, with the last empty.

“Attention,” the armored man states, “many of you know me. I’m Ultimatum and in charge of Ultraman’s security staff for this fortress. I suppose many of you are wondering why you have been gathered here.”

“Yeah,” comes Oliver King’s voice from the crowd, “we aren’t Ultraman’s lackeys!”

“You’re not,” Mighty Mary comments. “You’re Owlman’s lackeys.”

Before Blood Arrow could retaliate, Ultimatum speaks up, “Enough! I know you have your differences. I know that you each work for different bosses. I also know, each of your bosses have joined together.”

A murmur begins in the crowd, many in disbelief.

“SHUT UP!” yells Ultimatum. “We now have a unique opportunity to elevate all of our positions by helping the newly formed Crime Syndicate of Amerika take over Washington.”

As the crowd erupts in chairs, Ultraman grins, which soon dies as Superwoman speaks up.

“Thomas should’ve been here by now,” she whispers.

Ultraman sneers. “‘Thomas’ can take care of himself,” he snaps. “Forget him.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

On a rooftop in Gotham City, the moon shining overhead, Owlman has his own meeting.

“Everything’s ready, then?” he asks.

“Yes,” is the simply reply.

Owlman says nothing, just disappears in the darkness.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Welcome,” Brainiac greets as Lex enters his lab, followed by Jack Napier.

“Hello, Brainiac,” Lex says. “This his Jack Napier.”

“Greetings,” Brainiac says.

Jack, looking around and wondering where the voice is coming from, says, “Hi.”

“Brainiac is an artificial intelligence integrated within my lab’s computer systems,” Lex explains.

“Wow,” is Jack’s reply.

“Brainiac, have you finished compiling the list I asked you for?”

“Compiled in alphabetic order, Lex.”

“List?” questions Napier. “For what?”

Lex, taking a print out of the list turns toward his new friend. “Before your accident, Jack, you chose to fight alone. I chose a similar path, trying to find a way of stopping Ultraman by myself, too. This, I’ve come to realize, is impossible. Even more so now.”

“More so...?”

“Owlman and Ultraman have joined together, as well as Superwoman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick,” Lex answers.

“Oh, my God,” Jack gasps. “What can us two possibly do to...?”

“Two?” repeats Luthor. “I’m not stopping at just us two. Hence, the list. And I think you are perfectly capable of running things while I try to personally gather followeds. What do you say, partner?” asks Luthor as he extends his hand.

Jack shakes Luthor’s hand. “It’s worth a shot.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The next day, Ultraman hovers alone in front of the white house. He has been there for hours, enough time for the President to call in any armed forces he could get. Ultraman grins, wanting as much of a challenge as he can get.

“Ultraman,” an electrical voice says in his ear, “hold your position just a little longer.”

“Alright, Operator,” he replies, “but I ain’t waiting much longer.”

“Remember the plan,” the Operator says. “King’s setting up to take the shot as the Secret Service try to evacuate the President. Once the President’s dead, everyone will attack.”

“Except Owlman,” Ultraman sneers. “The coward hasn’t been seen yet.”

“He’s playing his part,” the Operator replies.

“And what part is that?”

“Classified. I may be working with you, Ultraman, but my loyalties lie elsewhere. Hold your position until further notice. Operator out.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

On a rooftop, somewhere behind the White House, Blood Arrow sets up his bow. The seductive Yellowhawk leans on the ledge, arching her back.

“You aren’t still upset, are you?” she asks.

Blood Arrow simply loads his arrow.

“It was just that one time with some random guy...”

Oliver mumbles some profanities.

“Okay, okay, it was just that one time... with a dozen random guys...”

“Shut. Up. Slut!”

Hawk giggles and walks across the roof.

“Blood Arrow. Yellowhawk. Be prepared,” comes the Operator’s voice over their ear pieces.

As if on cue, the presidential limo pulls out the back gate. Oliver pulls back his bo string and lets fly his arrow. The arrow homes in onto the limo, and since a point couldn’t dent the limo, Blood Arrow had used an explosive tip. The explosion flips the car over, causing it to go crashing into a nearby building.

“Now, whore!” Blood Arrow demands.

Hawk giggles as she leaps from the building in a perfect dive. She touches down on a lower fire escape, then back flips to the street below. But when the woman opens the limo, she only finds the driver dead, the President no where to be seen.

“It’s a diversion!” she yells into her ear piece. “The President isn’t here!”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“The President isn’t here!” Ultraman hears in his ear.

“Fine,” he says. “Attack!”

That’s when Ultraman dives, plowing down into the virtual army assembled on the White House lawn. Others, too, come from hiding.

Harpie, a being straight from mythology dives down, swooping up soldier after soldier, dropping them incredible heights.

Crimson Hurricane, an artificial intelligent like non-other creates gale forces to over turn tank after tank.

Green Flame and Frostbite share a sultry kiss as one of the women sets the enemy up, allowing the other to knock them down.

Totem uses her beast powers to ferociously slaughter any who get within rage. Those who flee the battle aren’t even safe.

Elemento turns to noxious vapors, killing any who come in contact.

The President may have eluded the Syndicate, but the rest of the plan is going perfectly. That’s when, suddenly, several white, scaly inhuman looking things appeared in the air, hovering.

“Right on cue,” Operator mumbles.

“What was that?” questions Ultraman.

“Nothing for you to worry about, just attack on cue, okay, bright boy?”

“Are you the one called Ultraman?” asks the creature in the lead.

“Yes,” is Ultra’s reply.

“I’m J’onn J’onzz from Mars, and you are finished,” J‘onn gets out, throwing a punch that catches Ultra by surprising, sending him flying back.

Ultimatum rockets to the Martian but gets knocked out of the air as beams shoot from another’s eyes.

“Brothers, attack!” booms J’onn. “Leave none alive!”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

While these invading Martians attack the Syndicate, operator hacks into the Secret Service’s secure lines.

“Ultraman and his allies are distracted,” says one agent. “Time to get the President away for real.”

“Perfect,” Operator comments and then opens a secure line to Owlman. “Thomas, things are going perfectly. Be ready, he’s being moved.”

“Once the President is en route,” Owlman starts, “tell the Syndicate what they need to know to turn the tide. Not a second sooner, though.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Johnny Quick puts his speed to the test as he tries out running a Martian.

Power Ring creates cage after emerald cage around Martians, yet they bust free from everyone.

“No good,” Power Ring comments. “These guys are as strong as Ultraman.”

“With even more powers, to boot,” the speedster says right before he morphs into one of the Martians. The shock is just enough to slug Power Ring, sending him crashing to the ground.

Goldstar and Scarab try tag teaming the alien invaders, to no avail.

Golden Eagle and Winged Warrior nearly get their wings clipped by a gang of Martians.

The only ones to that seem to have any affect at all seem to be Napalm and Flamebird.

—