Cry for Justice - The Conclusion

[dr-black-light.livejournal.com]

As the Canary rounds a corner into a larger hallway, leading to the main monitor room, she feels a sharp, hard knee right into her abdomen, followed by a textbook ipponzei throw that sends her onto her back.

As the heroes whip around, they can see a shape materializing roughly 20 feet down the hallway.

The man that started all this mess.

However, he looks different.   He's clean - shaven.  He's wearing a different version of his long-standing costume.  No fin helmet.  The material of the costume is tougher looking, more combat ready.  

But it's the eyes.  The eyes that show no surprise over their arrival.  In fact, there's a sense of familiarity in them.

This was what he wanted.  This is what they wanted.

Be careful what you wish for.

"Long day?" Light says, smiling.

Comments

[mrs-dibny.livejournal.com]

Sue looks to her friend...back to his ex...back to him...back to the ex.

"Vi tsu derleb ikh im shoyn tsu bagrobn," she murmurs. Thank God Ray doesn't know Yiddish, because it would cut him as much as her.

I should outlive you long enough to bury you.

She looks to Ray, her voice still artic cold. "Where are they and what do we have to do to get him?"

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

Ray's eyes are locked on Jean, his muscles tense. Asbently, he clenches and unclenches his fist.

"Everyone's in slugfest mode upstairs. It's not going well. Light's been ... upgraded.

[jean-loring.livejournal.com]

Jean's eyes grow wide, and she slams her torso and head agaisnt the wall, then again, repeating the violent spasm until she has Ray's complete attention.

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

Ray pulls the gag from her mouth, and comes down to face her.

"I pictured this meeting would be different," he says, and the dagger appears from sub-space into his hand. "I'm sorry."

[jean-loring.livejournal.com]

Jean smiles a crazy, wicked smile.

"Oooh, even like this I can tell that's nasty mojo. Come on Ray. Go ahead and cut me."

When his hand hesitates, her smile grows colder.

"You ain't that guy, Ray. Never were."

And then she says her name ...

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

The knife disappears again, as Ray staggers backward from the transformation.

"Jean, we can take you back. We can get you help."

[jean-loring.livejournal.com]

"Ray, baby," she says. "I'm not the one who needs help."

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

"Fine," says Ray. "You want to make this a fight? You're on. One way or the other, I'm taking my wife back from you, witch."

[jean-loring.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Ray," she says mockingly. "I'm sure you will. But frankly, there's a dirty old man upstairs that I'm a tad P.O.'d at, and really, wrecking you two's lives just doesn't have the zing it used to."

She's enveloped in a dark glow, as she looks from Ray to Sue to the ceiling and then back again.

"Yes. Now I see how it goes."

Her atention falls square on Sue, who is suddenly enveloped in a dark, sickly green light as all trace of fear drains out of her and her will -- already strong -- seems to harden.

"Little gift, Suzie-Q. Ray? You and me? We'll do this later. Now's not the time."

She begins to fade into the shadows, but before she disappears entirely, she says, "And guys? Just to be clear? I don't regret one damn thing."

Until finally, the Enchantress' last visible feature is a solitary finger, flipping them off before she's gone.