Suddenly the forms of Hybrid and Wednesday burst through the wall.
Hybrid uses the agility and strength of an ape to grab hold of a tree branch while Wednesday hits the street gravel with a large thud. Wednesday, his concentration lost, reverts from steel to flesh and blood.
Without warning, a huge tendril shoots out from the new hole in the wall, its punch slicing through the trunk of Hybrid's tree. The hero has barely enough time to backflip onto the top of a car parked nearby.
Hybrid: Obviously, we're no match for--
Wednesday [coughing]: I know!
It's only two hours after midnight, but Hybrid's cat-like eyes and bat-like ears make up for the lack of light. He watches as Vegi-La's form expands to fill the ambassador's private chambers. Slowly, Vegi-La walks towards the two, destroying the rest of the wall without missing a step.
Hybrid: We should run and get the rest of the team.
Wednesday: Silly newbie. Rule number one: We're the Justice League Reality... We're too stupid to run.
Hybrid growls at Wednesday's calm. His nails dig deeper into the car’s roof.
Hybrid: That's a dumb rule. On a scale of one to ten, you're an idiot!
Wednesday smiles with confidence.
Wednesday: Now you're catching on.
Hybrid: Okay, so we don’t run. What do we do now?
Wednesday: You jump off that car.
Hybrid: What?
Wednesday grabs the bottom of the automobile and begins to lift. Amazed, Hybrid jumps off the tilting, one and a half ton car, leaving behind four claw holes.
With a yell, Wednesday sends the car airborne toward the monstrous figure. The car flies, flips, and crashes into the huge vegi-beast. A fiery explosion lights up the scene.
Wednesday: See? Told you. No sweat.
And without a sound, Vegi-La walks through the metal and flame without a scratch.
Hybrid: Well, glad that worked.
Wednesday: I don’t see you doing anything, “we should run and get the rest of the team”-boy.
Hybrid: Watch and learn, chrome dome.
Hybrid presses his claws against Wednesday’s metallic skin and starts to claw up and down. At first, he does little more than confuse his fellow hero. In seconds, however, his power kicks in, automatically adjusting the sharpness of his nails.
Wednesday: Ow!
Hybrid: That should do it.
With his own assured smile, Hybrid blends his body to his surroundings, rendering himself invisible.
Vegi-La stomps forwards, shaking the ground with every step. The only thing on his mind is absolute destruction.
SCRATCH!
It seemed to come from nowhere.
SCRATCH!
It’s not enough to hurt him badly, but Vegi-La is annoyed. He swings a tendril at the unseen figure, but only succeeds in slicing into his own trunk. For the first time, Vegi-La let’s out a yell.
SCRATCH!
This time it’s atop his head, or what there is of it. Vegi-La slaps the spot with four tendrils, but only lashes himself.
Tink, tink.
The imperceptible Hybrid sees the grenade, but it’s too late to run.
Another explosion lights up the view. Hybrid, his body reflexively encased in a hard, tough exoskeleton, is once again thrown into the air, but a full-metal Wednesday catches him just before he lands on the street.
Wednesday: Gotcha, kid.
Hybrid: My friends call me Adam, but you can call me Hybrid. Where’d that grenade come from?
Shadowy Figure: That would be us.
Even Hybrid’s cat eyes can hardly adjust enough to make out anything through the smoke.
Wednesday: Who are you?
Another Shadowy Figure: Why we’re the reason you’re here, of course. We’re the ones who turned your friend against you.
A Third Figure: We are the Crime Syndicate of Fiction and we have come to claim this city. We will crush anyone foolish enough to resist. Please try to resist.
Meanwhile…
Chessmaster 9000.53 [shaking 552’s hand]: I officially accept your invitation to join the Justice League Reality, though I must admit I’m not surprised.
Registered Member 552: Ummm… of course. Listen, you shouldn’t really—
Ace’s cell phone rings, interrupting RM’s one-sided heart-to-heart.
Ace: Hello?
Voice: Hello, Ace?! This is, La Machine! Listen, I know I told you guys I didn’t any phone calls interrupting my vacation, and I’m sure it’s late back home, but this couldn’t wait. I’m here in Japan, and I’m about to sign over exclusive rights to a brand new clothing line. Can you believe it? I’ve got the pen in my hand, yo! Nike’s got big plans for me, man! Shirts, jerseys, tennis shoes! They’re even gonna make briefs with my signature in the waist band. I’m gonna be rich!
Ace:
To be continued…
