B E Y O N D . C R I S I S

Warhawk takes to the air, crossing the arena and divebombing down on Jack with an elbow drop that results in crunching and shouting.

Quickly, Warhawk is back on his feet and unfolding his hammer flail. He clotheslines Gold, who comes charging at him, with it and slams it down on him again as he hits the ground. Giganto comes for him next, but Warhawk grabs Gold by the leg and throws the fiery Metal Maniac into Giganto’s face. Giganto staggers away yelling and igniting into flames.

Warhawk collapses his hammer, holstering it, and plucks a razor sharp playing card out of his arm. He then looks around and spots King Cold still up and about. This makes him smile, and King Cold doesn’t like that.

King Cold propels dozens of ice spikes through the air, and Warhawk charges through them using his wings for cover. King Cold switches tactics, firing his cryogenic blasts ahead of him to freeze Warhawk in a mound of ice. Warhawk jumps over the rapidly forming ice black and lands close enough to swat King Cold’s freeze gauntlets to either side.

Warhawk grabs both of King Cold’s arms, holding them apart so Cold can’t aim those gloves at him. He headbutts Cold once and then twice before slamming his knee into the man’s stomach. Letting go of Cold’s arms, Warhawk frees up his hands to start slugging it out with the man. Just as Cold is about to fall backward, Warhawk catches him by the sides, lifts him up, turns and powerbombs him through the block of ice.

“Now remember that.”

Warhawk looks around to see that he is the only one still standing. Giganto has dropped from burns and smoke inhalation. Both Gold and Copper are down and dented. It’s like that across the board.

“Guess this makes me champ.”

Artemis spreads the word about the reactor crisis and everything the scientist was able to clue her in on. Blight is behind what's happening, and if it continues, the reactor will turn Manhattan into a radioactive wasteland. The core room itself and the utility room controls are the best options of keeping that from happening, if anyone can get to these places with the Metal Maniacs running chaotic interference for Blight.

( So the Justice League get to work on that. )

With the S.T.A.R. Labs facility in chaos, the entire city goes on alert. Materials are stored and developed there that could wipe out the city or possibly more, and emergency response crews have failed to control the situation. The Metal Maniacs continue to run rampant, keeping the facility in such chaos that no one can retake the place. And with all indications that something disastrous is happening with a major reactor inside the lab, the crisis is only getting worse every second it continues.

Starman is the first to arrive on the scene, finding out what he can from the authorities who have been forced to stay out of the facility and maintain the best perimeter they can. But soon, a Slideways portal opens and he's joined by the Justice League -- the entire Justice League.

As Power Man goes over the situation with Starman and the ranking police officer present, Jade secures the entrance to the lab. Moss suddenly grows at an amazing rate into the facility, smothering the flames and clearing the air. Nearby trees warp, and their branches snake to support the structurally weakened entrance, creating a safe entry and exit point for everyone.

Fireballs launch from the facility's roof, exploding in the air near Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Nightstar as they survey the situation from above. Gold manages to nail Green Lantern directly with one, knocking her for a loop even though her force field protects her. Wonder Woman drops from her flying horse to engage him, but he flees and dives back into the facility through a hole he melted through. Wonder Woman proceeds to dive in right after him, compelling Green Lantern to follow to back her up. Nightstar joins in.

Seeing as how the fight had been started, Power Man leads the rest of the League in through the entrance.

"Do we have a deal? I -- I need to have a deal. They've been locked up too long! My family -- they need me back."

The lone fugitive of the Metal Maniacs, Silver, paces frantically in a secret facility located under Gotham City's streets. He wrings his hands, folding and unfolding them from their bladed forms. Since showing up, he hasn't remained still even for an instant. His head twitches occasionally, following by him swatting a hand at the empty hand.

"She's being touched. I know it. Th-- they're touching Copper. I'll kill them. Cut them to strips! I need to get her out. I need them out."

Silver turns on his heel, pointing a razor sharp finger at the man he's been addressing. The one he heard would be willing to help as part of some transaction.

"You do me, and we'll do for you! Is that acceptable?"

Derek Powers stands still with his arms clasped behind his back and sighs as Silver finally finishes the hysterics. He exhales a breath that glows faintly green, as do his eyes as he stares down on Silver.

"I've been in the market for aides who won't die so quickly of radiation poisoning, and I happen to have just the things in mind for your services. So yes, this is acceptable. Let's settle this business with your family, so we can get on with mine."