NOTE: This story takes place in 2012. I plan to do stories that take place in all the decades of the Justice Society’s existence, but I thought it was best to start off in the present day.
Maxine Hunkel’s young heart skipped a beat as she approached the famed Justice Society brownstone. This, to her, was proof that dreams do come true. All she had wanted her whole life was to join the Justice Society. It was literally in her blood, as her late great-grandmother Abigail “Ma” Hunkel had been the original Red Tornado. True, Ma had approached super-heroics with no small amount of irony, and she had not exactly encouraged Maxine’s earnest embrace of the notion, but the last time the two met, on Ma’s deathbed, Ma had let down her guard enough to communicate her approval and her pride in Maxine.
Now Maxine rang the bell at the brownstone’s imposing door, which momentarily opened to reveal Courtney Dugan, also known as Stargirl. Only a couple years older than Maxine, Stargirl was a true role model for the blossoming Maxine.
“Hi…” said Maxine timidly.
Stargirl grinned and let out a good-natured laugh. “Well, come on,” she said, “don’t just stand there!”
As quickly as her ruby-red high heels would allow it, Maxine followed Stargirl inside.
The brownstone’s stylish decor, rich with impeccably preserved history, was overwhelming at first to Maxine, but not nearly as overwhelming as the sight she encountered when Stargirl opened the door to the conference room.
Almost every surviving Justice Society member, active and retired, past and present, had assembled at the brownstone for Maxine’s official induction. Cheers rang out and confetti flew, while the gigantic banner bearing the message, “Welcome, Cyclone” (Maxine’s code name) towered over the festivities.
The time had come for mingling and meeting. The first to approach Cyclone and Stargirl was socialite Helena Wayne, who, with her timelessly elegant black gown, carefully maintained raven locks, and tastefully made-up face, was the very personification of the phrase “aging gracefully.”
“Good evening, Maxine darling!” said Helena, embracing Maxine while being careful not to spill her drink.
“I can’t believe it’s really you…” enthused Maxine, “…the Huntress!”
Helena laughed mellifluously. “Yes, I may have hung up the costume a long time ago, but I suppose I’ll always be the Huntress.”
“Is your friend Power Girl here, too?” asked Maxine.
Suddenly Helena’s beautiful face carried the unmistakable mark of melancholy. “Kara keeps a low profile these days, I’m afraid. We invited her, of course, but…”
“I’m so sorry.” said Maxine, blushing.
“Don’t worry about it, I know you meant no harm.” replied Helena. “Enjoy yourself, tonight is your night! Excuse me now, ladies.”
As Helena walked away, Maxine felt like her stomach was in knots. Stargirl sensed this and was quick to try to lift her new friend’s spirits. “Come this way, my grandpa and Sylvester want to meet you!”
More living legends now faced Maxine: Sylvester Pemberton and Pat Dugan, the original Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy. Both had been born in the 1920s, but thanks to a time displacement, were twenty years younger than they should have been. The near-androgynous good looks of Sylvester’s youth had ripened into a distinguished handsomeness, while Pat wore his years equally well, in his own rugged way.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” said Sylvester.
“Ma told me so many stories about you guys!” blurted Maxine.
“And I’ll bet we came off just great in her telling.” quipped Pat.
“Grandpa,” said Stargirl, “is dad here?”
“Sorry, kid, but Mike’s a no-show.” muttered Pat dejectedly.
“MAXINE!” exclaimed a shrill female voice. The newest Justice Society member turned to see Stargirl’s mother approaching. Jacqui Knight, the first Stargirl and later Starwoman, was wearing an unflattering baby-doll dress which showed off her tattoos. Her long, unstyled hair was dyed a most unnatural shade of black, which combined with her pale complexion and piercing blue eyes to make her look like a wraith.
“Welcome to the spandex brigade!” said Jacqui, who had clearly had quite a few drinks already. “Keep my kid out of trouble, willya?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Maxine could tell that Stargirl was cringing. Now it was her turn to rescue Stargirl from an awkward and embrassing situation. “Courtney,” she said, “let’s see what there is to eat!”
As the two young women headed for the buffet table, Jacqui furrowed her brow and gave her former father-in-law the evil eye. Pat simply shrugged and rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile, at the city docks, another member of the Justice Society was doing the team’s night patrol. Kendra Saunders, heir to the mantle of Hawkgirl and currently the only Hawk person on Earth, was actually glad she had drawn the short stick for duty on this big night. She was about as far from a party girl as anyone could possibly get. Socially clumsy at the best of times, Kendra felt happiest when she was able to let out the warrior within her.
And at this moment, she sensed that a good fight was just around the corner. The ocean rippled furiously as what appeared to be bizarrely-armored frog-men approached the docks. Hawkgirl swooped down as the intruders made landfall, standing tall and intimidating, her mighty mace poised for action.
“Identify yourselves!” commanded Hawkgirl.
The frog-men’s apparent commander replied, in bizarrely accented English, “Out of our way!”
Hawkgirl firmly stood her ground, locking eyes with the commander.
The frog-men quickly drew strange-looking guns and pointed them at Hawkgirl, but her reflexes were second-to-none, and with a few forceful sweeps of her mace and some well-placed martial arts kicks, the frog-men were quickly disarmed and down for the count.
As the endorphins flowed through her and her heart pounded, Hawkgirl wished this had been more of a challenge. Once she got started with a fight, it was hard for her to stop.
Suddenly, almost as if in response to Hawkgirl’s wish, the ocean began to churn violently, until a giant sea creature emerged with what appeared to be a handsome man with shoulder-length blond hair riding it.
“Surrender, surface-worlder,” said the man as he hoisted a large trident, “in the name of the kingdom of Atlantis!”
Hawkgirl knew immediately that she would need the whole team for a situation like this one. But as she pushed the alarm button on her ring, her words to the invader were pure defiance. “Listen up, you pompous jerk! I don’t even know the meaning of ‘surrender!’”
And with those words as her cue, she took flight and rushed the invader. Hawkgirl mace and the invader’s trident collided in a shower of sparks, each combatant thrusting and parrying like a warrior born.
Meanwhile, at the Justice Society brownstone, the festivities were interrupted as the active members mobilized rapidly and efficiently to head down to the pier as Hawkgirl’s reinforcements, with the retired members cheering them on, none louder than Ted Grant, the former Wildcat and last surviving founder. “GO GET ‘EM, KIDS!” bellowed Ted.
Back at the pier, time seemed to stand still for Hawkgirl and the invader as they continued to fight for on top of the giant sea creature. Finally mustering all her remaining strength, Hawkgirl roared as she delivered the coup de grace which sent the invader and his trident flying. Gravity took care of the rest as the man and his weapon plunged into the ocean. The sea creature faltered now that the wounded man was no longer controlling it, and Hawkgirl took flight again.
Gasping for breath, Hawkgirl turned to see her teammates assembled at the pier. There they stood – Fury, Jade, Obsidian, Stargirl, Cyclone, Mister Terrific, Doctor Mid-Nite, Hourman, and Doctor Fate – fully costumed and proud, yet cautious.
“You got here just time.” Hawkgirl wheezed as she hovered over the site of the battle. “I have a feeling this isn’t over yet.”
Suddenly, a massive spout of hard water erupted from the ocean, instantly rendering Hawkgirl unconscious and causing her to fall into the water.
The sea creature re-emerged, now carrying both the trident-wielding man and a red-haired woman with a tiara.
“I warned you not to hold back before, my love,” said the woman, “but I trust you’ve learned your lesson.”
“Indeed,” replied the man, twirling his trident over his head, “and the land-dwellers shall now see that no one may defy the future king and queen of the world!”
The man pointed his trident at the Justice Society and unleashed a mighty stream of mystical energy from it.
The pier blew up, and the explosion would have sent the Justice Society flying in nine different directions, were it not for the combination of Doctor Fate’s magical counter-attack and the force-field of green energy which Jade had willed.
“Hear me, invaders!” said Fury, “I am the leader of the Justice Society, an Amazon princess, and a warrior born. I swear by all the Gods, WE SHALL NOT LET YOU PASS, even if it means fighting TO THE DEATH!”
TO BE CONTINUED
Justice Be Done! 