Tak's Theme League Chapter 1 A tale of two universes

Present Day

"Give us your report, Zatanna." said Superman. "And hopefully you'll explain why we've had to wait a month for it."

"Mr. Chairman," Zatanna began, "and fellow League members. I was tasked to find out, through magical means and my other contacts, what exactly happened at the fundraiser three months ago. While we easily determined the super-team that attacked us was from another dimension, mindcontrolled (twice!), and heroes, what was harder was the second agent that overcame them."

The Phanthom Stranger stepped in. "The Spear of Destiny's evil influence was all over the otherworldly heroes-and while Zatanna was able to break that local enchantment, Dr. Fate later shared an incident with some Asgardians wanting to assassinate the President. Thhey stopped them, but they were clearly under it's influence as well. So I gathered up a magical strike force, if you will, and went to confront the current possessor of the Spear-Loki, Norse God of mischief."

"But I thought that was a big no-no." said Black Canary. "My mom, and all my "uncles" said it was what kept the likes of the Spectre and Dr. Fate from simply going over to Europe and winning the war lickity split."

"It was...and it wasn't." said the Stranger. "While it has the power to compel those of a magical nature, or a weakness to magic, it could never compel someone like the Spectre. President Roosevelt himself asked him not to intervene directly like that, because if he did, it might make Americans dependent on him, and make Americans think they need heroes to solve all their problems. The Spectre agreed, even though both men knew they would be condemning young men to die."

"So, you took the Spear out of play?" said Green Lantern.

"Yes," said Zatanna. "We had protection against the Spear's power, and only had to face a Norse trickster God. He escaped, but not before we got the Spear."

"And did you discover anything else about the second mindcontrolling source?" said the Atom.

"Not much." said Zatanna. "It's from a different dimension than the heroes, yet they share common elements."

"The magic used is mix, like Dr. Fate's." said the Stranger. "But while his is a mix of Order, Life, and Ancient Egyptiam motifs, this was Life, Chaos, and Ancient Cthonic motifs. It unlike anything I've ever seen in all my travels. Life energy so perverted that way."

"There is one other thing." said Zatanna.

Batman leaned forward. "Yes?"

"While we couldn't find conclusive proof that Luthor had anything to do with Scott opening a Boom Tube into the middle of the Sun, we did find out that J'onn wasn't with them."

"And we know where he is." aid the Stranger.

"Can you get a team of Leaguers there?" said Batman, sitting back, fingers steepled.

"Yes, but..." said the Stranger.

Batman stood up. "I'll decide who goes within the hour. Prepare what you need." With that, he walked out.
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Hawkman banged his gavel. "Settle down. Kent, you have the floor"

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman." Dr. Fate removed his helmet. "That's better. I have dire news. As you know, I lend a hand to Shadowpact from time to time. I and Jim went to another dimesion on League business, while Shadowpact went to look for anymore info we could get about "the Avengers" or what entity took control of them."

"And what did you find? asked Wesley Dodds, the Sandman.

"We found out there was a survivor to the JLI Boom Tube accident. J'onn J'onzz is being held captive, Grood trying pry every little thing from his mind he can."

"What is the League doing about it?" said Wildcat, always itching for a fight.

"It's not summer yet, Wildcat." Kent said with a smile, making light of the fact that whenever they get together in the summer, some Crisis or other pops up. "The League takes care of its own."

"We are more concerned with the entity." intoned the Spectre."Will repeated trip like this weaken the dimensional fabric, causing a rip and thus allowing it more easy access? We just don't know."

"We will just have to be on guard for anything." said Hawkman.
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"So, if we are going to stay together, we aren't to be Batman's magical hit squad, are we?" said the Blue Devil.

"We are staying together." said Jason Blood. "Madame Xanadu says we can make a difference together. As to what we will do, we will go where we are needed"

"Yes, we actually gained valuable information while fighing those kids." said Nightmaster. "We just need to..." suddenly, Zatanna and the Stranger appeared in a flash of light!

"I told you it would happen if mentioned it." said Zatanna.

"But he didn't even give me a chance to explain the risks." said the Stranger.

"Like they would have mattered to Bruce?" said Zatanna, forgetting that some present didn't know Batman's dual identity. "!TEGROF" a quickly cast spell toare of that.

"We can't just leave there...with Grood!" a shiver went up Zattanna's spine. God, how she hated that telepathic Ape!. Bad enough men leered at her, but super evolved Gorillas who shouldn't be attracted to you, but seem to be anyway? EEEWWWW.

"Perish the thought! But it would be easier for a Stranger to get him, than a horde." he patted her shoulder. "I am a reservist, after all. I may never seem to interfere, but the League looks after its own." He looked over to the rest of Shadowpact. " Be ready to go over, again. Batman is going to get back-up, even if he doesn't want it."
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"Well?" said Gamora as Adam Warlock and MoonDragon came back from scanning.

"Still no detection of the energy that punched it's way into this dimension" said Warlock.

"Maybe it was a one time deal?" said Drax. Moondragon looked at him and arched her eyebrows at him. "I don't think so, either."

"While you guys have been doing your hocus pocus thing," said Rocket Racoon, "I managed to get the security feed from the musuem. He brought it up on the big screen. "Look familiar?"

"The Avengers?" said Phylla. "What are they doing here?"

"They didn't stay." said the Racoon. "After this, they left, to go back home."

"If only..." ticed Bug.

"Way ahead of you." said the Bug, pulling up a shot of the JLA Satellite. "This, is the Justice League of America Satellite. Back in the day, appeartly, this dimension has multiple Earths and this JLA used a "matter transporter" to go between them. I ca easily rewire it to send us home."

"Then let's do it." said Adam Warlock. "We need intel."
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"So, you lost the Spear?" asked Norman Osborn. "How does one of you stature lose to a bunch of human magicians, which the Spear should have controlled?"

"The Spectre and Phantom Stranger are outside the Spear's influence...and they attacked me outside of Asgard, where I could not call on aid. I was unprepared for such an assault, and fled instead of revealing this cabal."

"And has anyone determined what exactly happened with the Avengers?" said Norman.

"The entity is magical in nature." said Doom. "And while he was looking into our universe, I was able to look into his..somewhat."

"And..." said Immortalus.

"There are similiarities to our world. But the Kree, Captain Marvel, did not die of cancer there. This event changed the universe there somehow."

"Tell us more!" said Osborn.

"He found me with his cosmic awareness, and booted me out." said Doom. "That's all I know."

"Then we will have to find out more." said Osborn.
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"God, I hate those pompus fools!" said Immortalus to his self, Rama-Tut. "How is it going when I'm gone?"

"All is calm...for now." said Tut.

"In fear we maybe conscripted into a new war." said Immortalus. "Start drilling the troops. Place emphasis on taking down Avengers, but be ready for anything."

"As you wish, Immortalus." Rsama took off to complete the order.

Immortalus went over to his great Time Globe. Try as he might, he could not see into the immediate future-in either the universe where his new cabal called home, or the Avengers. Troubling indeed, when the Lord of Time wasn't even the Lord of the Present.

One week ago...

"We cannot do this, Scott!" exclaimed Magneto.

"I concur with Eric." Namor, the Sub-Mariner said. "This island is not a prison camp. Eric and I saw enough of that back in WWII..."

"Gentlemen, I like how you think you have a choice." said Luthor, with a smile. But his face grew dark. "Because you don't."

"There is always a choice, Luthor!" said Magneto. "And Scott..."

"Can make the same choice he has all along. Survival of the species." Luthor's face regain the smile. "Look at the real-time camera in the corner there."

"That's a bomb!" said Scott. "Somewhere underwater..."

"And the whole mutant race is depending on you. Astoonding." Luthor shook his head. "It's not just underwater, it's under your feet. Hundreds of them placed by my underwater ops specialist, Black Manta (yes, I made Manta sound BA with a sweet job description. Try it on your resume, kids!), rigged to blow by remote detenation anytime I press a button. And they have motion detecters as well, Namor, in case you were thinking of having your Atlanteans who let Manta slip through their ranks save face by have them retreive the bombs. Anything humaniod comes within a 100 yards-BOOM! And they are linked, so it would set off the others as well."

"Oh, and one other thing, Eric." Luthor said. "Not only are they made of non-ferroud parts, they are shielded against an EMP pulse. HMM, I guess fighting Batman has taught to literally think of everything. Anyway, standard procedure here, If you don't house my prisoner, I'll throw up Force Field around the island from the Hall of Doom and watch you all slide into the Bay. If the prisoner escapes, well, don't let him escape."

"We'll...we will do it." said Scott. "But this is the last time!"

"Whatever gets you to sleep at night." said Luthor. "Your cells are designed to house mutans will basicilly one power, right?"

"We have higher ones, baldy." said Wolverine, who no one had noticed walking in-save Magneto, who could always sense him. "Who's the prisoner?"

"He has strength exceeding Namor's out of water, comparable to your Collusus, but it much more likely around the Thing's class. Upper limits could reach Hulk or Thor levels, I've never seen him use it to the fullest." began Luthor. He can fly and move at terrific speeds, outmatch Quicksliver on the ground, and maybe Northstar in the air. Again, I simply don't know as I've never seen him go full out. He is also Impervious to injury, although he has one weakness-fire."

'Like a bonfire?" said Wolverine, striking a match to light a cigar, "Or would this do? Because that's pretty laughable"

"We don't pick who we are, James." said Luthor, relishing the surprised look on Wolverine face. "For example, your weakness for red-heads is well documented. And Giganta here is one, you have to yourself: am I am bomb set to go off at anytime, at the push of a button? Sure, you might regenerate from it, but imagine was it will feel like, opening your eyes to see the island looked like it had been nuked, knowing it was all your fault-because of your weaknesss for red-heads. Now, fire not looking so bad, is it?"

"Fine." said Logan. "keep on with it."

"Besides the usual flying/strength/invunerability/ he has other abilities. He can make himself invisible. I do not know if this extends to electronic equipment, but visually, he can disappear." Luthor continued. "he can manipulate his own density like the Vision, allowing him to go as untouchable as your Shadowcat. He has enhanced senses, like Wolverine's but much better. He can hear conversations from miles away, or see things going on from that distance. He can also see in other wavelenghts, and hear in a broader range."

"We can..." began Scott.

"I wasn't finished yet, Mr. Summers." said Luthor. "He can also shape-change, think Morph or the Impossible Man in terms of his range. He can literally turn into anything or anyone. He can use the same force that propels his flight powers into tightly focused beams that come out of his eyes, like twin telekinetic hammer blows. Finally, we come to his most dangerous power: While he is here, he is the third most powerful psychic on the planet, and I'm not convinced Emma is higher."

"He sounds like a Super-Man!" said Emma.

"Close, my dear." Luthor pooped up file photos and video of the prisoner in action from the Hall of Doom's records. "He's J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars. Founding member of the Justice League of America, and last of his race-a green skinned Martian."

"So he's a hero from your old world?" said Wolverine. "What's he doing here?"

"He was the person Emma and company first encountered when the JLI arrived." Luthor said "He used his camoflage and ming powers to mask himself from you all to stay behind when they left, I bet under the Bat's orders. To gather information...to manhunt us down. But he couldn't know Brainiac had remotely set the next destination into the Boom tube, and that he was stranded here! Or that Cheetah also has pretty good senses, good enough to "smell the dust of Mars on him" when he tried to infiltrate a Luthor shell company."

"With all those powers, I bet you cowered in the Hall of whatever." Logan chuckled.

"Actually, my arch-enemy on my worls is called Superman, Logan." Luthor shook his head. "Someone who can traverse galazies unaided, move planets, fly into suns, and I was counted as his greatest enemy. Who your arch enemy again? Just some hairier version of yourself?"

"It would have been a terrific battle, but his weakness is well known. He stayed after, and I flooded his floor with compounds that ignited upon contacting his skin, Entaged (and shielded by Grood's telepathy) we sent Bizarro in-the clone of the man of whom I am arch enemy to. Let that sink in, mutants. He is faster and stronger than Thor and can survive in any enviroment. And he listens to me!"

"Yes, all hail the king." said Logan. "Why house him here? You should be able to build a prison easily enough, or have better personnel to guard and recapture him."

"Because Logan, said Scott with a sigh, "his friends will come for him. And they'd rather us fight them than them."

"There's hope for the mutant race after all!" said Luthor, as the screen went blank.
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Present Day

"Cap, it's the second time this has happened." said Hank Pym, examing the Star Spangled Avenger in his lab.

"I don't remember it at all."said Cap, mask pushed back.

"You muttered something that Wanda referred to as Ancient Cthonic and threw your shield at Scorpio's head, like you were going to decapitate him." said Hank. "Wanda also says for a second she saw you shield had a razor edge-like it could take a head."

"I...I haven't killed since the war, and never with the shield." said Steve. "Please..."

"Wanda cast a hex that caused Scorpio to trip-and your shield did no damage."

"Has she found any residual magic?" asked Steve.

"No, and neither has Thor with his hammer." said Hank.

"Then we will have to wait, and watch each other, like we always do." said Cap reassuringly.
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"This is Amanda Waller, from Checkmate. Come in, Luthor." said the Wall.

"Amanda, what do I owe this pleasure?" said Luthor.

"No pleasure, I assure you." said Amanda. "The energy signature you told us to be on the lookout for, we found outside Pluto's orbit."

"Are you sure?" said Luthor.

"Of course!" said Amanda. "It matches the energy signature given off by the Avengers. Bt the way, it has spread to the entire team, not just the team that intially encountered the entity."

'Very good. What is Checkmate planning to do about it?" said Luthor.

"I just did it." Amanda's arms flew up. "Did you not hear me say "outside Pluto's orbit?" Agent Fire not only cannot ignige out there, she can't reach it! You are the one who has...other resources in this area."

'i was just making sure you where going to forget it after this conversation." smiled Luthor. "I'll look into it." the screen went blank. Why did she think it would easier over here? Running a secret government agency is the same stressful work no matter what the universe. Alarm bells began to ring. It never ends, thought Amanda as she stood up.

"Is that the otherdimesional alarm?" said Amanda. "Turn the damned thing off and put it onscreen!" A map of the U.S popped up, with four red flashing dots."

"Big incursion at Mutant Island, they can deal with whoever's calling." said Amanda. "There." she pointed at the map. "Assemble a team and lets see who coming over to visit from the old country."
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The Legion of Doom fired up the rockets that blasted them out of the Swamp (you expect me to tell you which swamp? Did you read that description of Bizarro back there? I don't him knocking on my door, even if I knew which swamp. Everglades? Louisanana bayuo? Georgia backcountry? Central Africal mangrove? off a tributary of the Amazon? Pick one or none, it just the Swamp) and into space.

"These are the coordinates Waller gave us." said Toyman. "But visual scanners are picking up anything."

"Try other wavelengths" said Luthor. "if Checkmate can pick it up..."

"The Hall of Doom computer cannot find any anomoly here, Luthor." said Toyman, using eveery scanner on board." Luthor looked over to Sinestro and nodded. He blasted the computer.

"Connection with Qwardian power Ring complete." intoned the computer. "Onscreen."

"There it is." said Sinstro. It's magical, it's why our scientific scanners didn't pick it up."

"Why can't we see it, Sinestro?" asked Scarecrow.

"It only as big as an atom and..." but Sinestro was interrupped.

@(pretend that's a pentagram) I'm Lord Captain Mar-vell!@ a projection suddenly appeared in the middle of the Legion's table, floating slightly above it, but so everyone could see him.

"SOLOMON GRUNDY REMEMBER YOU!" the zombie stood up."YOU WERE A FLOATING HEAD IN THE SWAMP THAT SOLOMON GRUNDY HELPED CAPTURE!"

"Wrong guy, Solomon." said Captain Cold. "Although very similiar, I'd wager..."

"I've come to offer you, the presumed masters of this universe, an alliance." said the projection. "you widen the portal, and I will do what I did in my universe-slay Death!"

"Wha...What?" Luthor almost did a double take. "Did you say...you would kill Death?"

"That's right." said Lord Marv-ell. "Eternal life for everyone."

"But...how does one kill an abstact concept?" said Luthor, his scientific mind blown away. "Especially when one IS that concept. It would be like saying, I'm going to starve Hunger!"

"In your universe, maybe the abstract don't incorporate." Mar-vell explained. But here, Death is a real person to those who know how to access her. And she can be slain. I did it in my home universe. And I could do it here."

"I don't think so." said Grood. "Although she might not sit here, Death is a part of this Legion. Without it's constant threat, our Legion loses much of it's clout."

"Grood's right. You've picked the wrong group." said Luthor. "Sinestro, plug that hole!"

"No!" said Mar-vell and looked like he was ready to fight, when Ancient wors rang through the Hall, banishing Mar-vell back to his dimesion.

"Good work, Toyman." said Luthor, looking over as Toyman has called up Dr. fate casting a banishment spell-which still worked even if it wasn't directed at Mar-vell."

"Luthor," said Sinestro, straining. "I don't have the Willpower required to close this portal!"

"Then use mine as well." said Luthor, placing his hand on Sinestro shoulder. "That portal WILL be closed!"

"Still...not...enough." said Sinestro.

"Then take all of ours." said Black Manta as they all moved to be in contact with Sinestro, sending their willpower through him.

"It's done. said Sinestro, arm dropping down. "The portal's closed."

"See what we can we we work together?" said Luthor. "In the old days, Sinestro pride wouldhave never let him admit he needed help. But he reached out...and we were there, to help him. For us, that's what this Legion is about. For the world..."

"Let's celebrate by knocking over a liquior store!" said Captain Cold, old habits dying hard.

"A liquior store? You've got to be kidding me..." said Luthor."The world's greatest criminal mind doesn't do common larceny!"

"SOLOMON GRUNDY WANT LIQUIOR TOO! AND CHIPS!" the zombie hit the table.

"Great. You've riled him up. Fine. We'll stop in Central City for your...stop, Cold." Luthor sighed. He forgot being a family meant putting up with the family.
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"I assume it's your turn to guard him?" said Mirage as scott walked up.

"Me and my team." nodded Scott. "Any change, today?"

"None." said Mirage. "At least the Legion is here asking him questions. Grodd and Brainiac scare the crap out of me. And the screams..."

"I know, Dani." said Scott. " Go take your team and patrol somewhere queit. My treat."

"Thanks, Scott." she turned toward him. "And thanks for giving us a clean slate."

"No problem." he turned back to look at the prisoner just as Emma walked up. "I'm going to confer with Magneto and other about what we should be doing next."

"Fine." he said. "Have you found out anything that would be useful?"

"So that Luthor will get him off the island?" Emma laughed. "Not at all. Even when he is weaken by fire, its only his strength, speed and invunerability that are affected. His psychic powers actually increase with the fear response, reinforcing mental blocks and blasting out any intruders. He was right." Emma sighed. "Only the Professer has more potential."

"So the best idea is iso?" asked Scott.

"Until his friends come for him." Emma walked away.

"That day can't come soon enough." Scott said, staring at the prisoner.

I am going to be in Ann Arbor all day today (don't worry Rokk, Alex is meeting friends over there), so I sent all the teams to Tanis so he can start putting up games. I'll put up a beginning later, unless you guys "fill in the blanks" for me!"

I had a birthday party to go to and a memorial dinner for the passing of a cousin-in-law's father. Got back an hour or so ago and a bit tired. Don't know if I'll get the games up today. Kinda was sent to me last minute.

It was and I apologize. It's not your job to play second, and certainly not do it unexpectedly.

Sorry I wasn't able to put them up yesterday. The wifey had a class and I was watching all 4 kids by myself, so didn't have much time other than to check the threads quickly every so often and put up a turn quickly on my HCFL game.

I have no problem helping out, but if you can give me a bit more heads up, that'd help a lot more. Usually I do have the time, but this weekend was just pretty busy.

It's all me. My son reminded me Thursday about Ann Arbor, and Sunday I was busy as well. I'm starting from the top of the list I gave you and working down until I go to play at the venue, then I'll finish up.

You might want to update the matchups in the resource thread since it still shows the old matchups.

What did we decide about Theme PC?

Hey LOD, let's get this show on the road.

Are the games up?

Yay for us if they are.

All figures have whatever non-generic keywords they have in any point of their progression. So, in your case V IC Black Panther would still have the Avengers keyword, if you wanted to played him for Theme PC purposes

He was all over the Glee thread. Give him a PM shout!

Thanks for the answer.

No problem.