The Buddy System - Chapter 1: It Came From the Bog

[Maverick]

Prologue


San Diego : The Baker Residence.

Buddy Baker and his wife Ellen sit at their kitchen table, enjoying a cup of coffee, and each others company. Buddy has been thinking a lot recently. His new situation with his powers has driven him to spend the majority of his days researching and perfecting his connection to the Universal Morphogenic Field.

He has also been thinking about his friends. He's heard of a few big shake-ups in the superhero community over the last week. The Outsiders, led by Batman, have been disbanded. The Justice League of America has recently become fully endorsed by the United States Government, and is currently running top secret and high risk operations both planet side and in space. They have had to reduce their roster by two to ensure they operated as a close to perfection as possible. The Justice Society of America has also changed it's mode of operations. Once a place for the up and coming heroes to learn from the veterans, a recent encounter with Gog has forced them to scale back their operations and take a more hard-line approach to dealing with threats. They too have had to release some of their members from their roster.

"You know Buddy, with all these heroes now without a home...maybe its time you got more serious about this stuff?" says Ellen, "More coffee?"

"Sure, just a half cup this time." replies Buddy as he gives his wife a kiss on the cheek, "I've been thinking the same sort of thing Ellen. A lot of these people are my friends, and to some degree we're all in the same boat. Power issues, uncertainty, general turmoil. Maybe what they need, what we all need, is a place where we can all work together. Almost like a Superhero Rehab, an environment where we can sort our issues out with the aid of people who understand."

"You could lead them Buddy. You have the experience, and you're an easy guy to like." Ellen winks at Buddy, "I'm sure they'd appreciated it immensely."

"Hmmm...we just need a name..."

-------------------------------------------------------------


Washington D.C. : The Hall of Justice


"I don't know what happened Bruce..." a visibly distressed Vixen, head held in her hands, confesses to the man known as Batman, "I'm sorry..."

"You've already said that Mari. I appreciate how you feel, but you have to understand where I am coming from as well." the cold voice from under the cowl replies, "You are too risky to have on the team right now. It's as simple as that."

How did this odd turn of events come to be? Let us take a look back to two days ago:

----

It was a relatively mundane job. All they had to do was reign in a few low level criminals, take them back to the satellite, and the job was finished. After all, The Royal Flush Gang was hardly a threat these days. Batman figured the job would be a good oprotunity to get a couple of their members back on the field in a more hands on roll.

Vixen, for one, still learning the ins and outs of her new abilities, could use the practice drawing power from someone other than Superman for a change.

Red Tornado, just put back into a physical body, needed a chance to adjust to the higher level abilities that his new shell provides.

Black Canary and Black Lightning rounded off the team, making the four-some a pretty formidable unit.

But the day wouldn't end as anticipated. After successfully utilizing Black Lightnings power to take out Ace, Vixen tried her hand at Reddys whirlwinds. This was a mistake. After completely underestimating the force of the whirlwinds, Vixen nearly ended up sending Ten and Jack to an early grave via a massive meat grinder. As it was, she ended up causing half the Royal Flush Gang to enter a hospital, rather than the prison cells they were supposed to go. She also ended up giving Black Canary a concussion, and nearly sent Black Lightning through a solid steal wall. If it wasn't for Reddys quick intervention, the day may have seen multiple deaths.

Which brings us back to the present.

----

"I've already talked to Clark and Diana, we all agreed it would be best for you to take some time off. Get yourself straightened out, your personal life, and your powers. The JLA is headed for some dark times ahead, we need everyone operating at full capacity. We cannot have any more mistakes." Batman informs Vixen.

"I...I understand." a tear emerges from Mari's eye, and slowly runs down her cheek.

----

After packing her bags and getting ready to leave, Mari stands in front of the Hall of Justice. A hand reaches out and rests on her shoulder.

"I heard what happened Mari." Animal Man reassures his friend.

"Buddy!" Mari turns and gives him a hug. "It's nice to see you."

Suddenly both feel a gust of wind come from the sky, as Red Tornado lowers himself down.

"Animal Man, I'm glad you came." Reddy says as he shakes Buddys' hand.

"Have you given any thought to what we talked about John?" asks Buddy.

"I have. I agree. It is a good idea, one that will benefit many." replies Reddy.

"Very well then, shall we?" says Buddy as the three of them take off into space.
----

San Diego : The Baker Residence

Upon arriving back at his house, and entering, Buddy sees a familiar face sitting at the kitchen table with his wife. It is none other than his former JLE teammate, Jay Abrams, AKA Blue Jay. After the usual catching up and general conversation, they got down to business.

He told them about how he felt they could work together to get a solid grasp on their situation. Each of them has gone through a great deal of change over the past few years. Blue Jay, having massive power fluxes. Red Tornado, being killed for the ninth time before being placed into a new body, one far in advance of anything he has had before. Vixen, with her connection to the M-field altered dramatically. And of course Animal Man, and his recent connection to the Universal M-field.

They discussed the pros and cons of setting up a hero rehab-type center, and after many hours of debate, they agreed it would be a positive step forward for each of them.

"Well then my friends, lets make it official." the four put their hands forth, one on top of the other. "Welcome, to The Buddy System."

[minominop]

Meanwhile in the Louisiana swamp

A figure can be seen in the clearing. She is sculpting a large violet flower that is made up thousands of tiny violet flowers. As she works she hums, and dozens of butterflies dance above her head.
She works swiftly and surely, growing the tiny flowers into a formless mass at first. Then she works from the inside out to create stamen, the pistil, and then the petals of the flower.

She got this idea on a rare trip to the seashore with Abby. As she watched the waves from the shore she noticed that each wave was made up of other smaller waves. Many, that formed one.

Over time she had put that trip out of her mind until one day when she saw the thing that called itself her father, and realized that he was made the same way. Many tiny twigs and sprouts combining to form a larger one. It didn't matter how closely you looked at his husk, it was the same pattern over and over again. This fascinated her enough that she would try to duplicate it.

A moment of silence erupted in the swamp. All of the tiny critters that were constantly, incessantly making a noise suddenly stopped for a breath of time and then resumed, heralding the arrival of her father the [glow=darkgreen,5,300]Swamp Thing[/glow]

"You can come out. You don't have to hide." The young woman calls out to the swamp.

"I'm not hiding. I'm observing" Came the reply behind her back.

Without turning around she answers,"Why not observe me from the front, so I could see you."

"You're concentration is so intense, that I did not want to disturb you Sprout."

"You're not disturbing me, and you haven't called me that in a long time. Not since you found out that you were an elemental."

He doesn't respond with words. Instead, he grows a new body from the vegetation on the ground, and erupts from the soil with the sound of snapping vines and twigs, as they form the bulk of his torso and appendages, twisting into an imitation of a man, more than a man.

Her memories of him when she was a child conflict with the memories she holds as a young adult. The funny, loving, caring thing, as opposed to the distant, absent elemental. She doesn't really know who he is anymore.

"What do you think?" she asks.

"A lot of time and thought must have went into it."

"It seems that I have a lot of free time lately", she quickly replies.

Swamp thing doesn't respond. He knows she is baiting him.

The previous week Tefe was caught using her powers to punish a man for dumping illegal waste in the bayou, and she went too far. He wasn't killed, but he will find it difficult sitting down for a while. Plus he'll be peeing green for longer than that.

In response Tefe was grounded for her actions. Quite literally grounded, as the Swamp thing has temporarily taken over her powers, and has rooted her to one spot.

"How long are you going to hold me captive? This isn't fair you know. I wouldn't have had to do what I did if you did your job."

"I did do my job. My job is to protect the life on this planet. All life, not just the green, or those closest to me. What you did was wrong, and dangerous. Not only for your victim....."

"Victim?"

"Yes, victim. Not only dangerous for him but for you as well. That is a path you do not want to go down. Once you take a life, there is no going back. It will change you forever."

She is silent for a moment, and thinks. "It's not easy being your daughter. You've changed, you're never around anymore, and Abby will never understand the abilities we command. She'll never understand what it's like to push the green into new forms and help the dormant or the dead vegetation rise up again into life. With you gone most of the time I have no direction. It's not easy walking in my shoes."

She looks down at her feet, that are rooted to the soil. From her knees down she is a Cyprus tree.

Swamp Thing nods his leafy head, and Tefe's legs start to turn their natural color. She can sense the different feeling of human flesh returning. When she has gained control of herself again, she steps over to her father, and looks up into his red glowing eyes. She says nothing, waiting for him to make the first move. When he doesn't, she reaches over and plucks a small Boletus frostii, a mushroom from his left shoulder.

"I love you sprout, but if you think you have it hard, you should try walking in my shoes."

And with that, Tefe turns away, sculpture forgotten and sprints to the brackish waters edge, dives in and disappears. Leaving Swamp Thing to ponder his daughters future.

FADE OUT

[1573]

San Diego : The Baker Residence.

as our heroes sit and discuss their decision to band together, ellen and the kids fix refreshments. ellen passes by a window and thinks she sees someone or something outside looking in. ellen screams and moves to protect her children.

"ELLEN!!! " buddy yells as he and the other rush in. "what's wrong?"

ellen replies "there someone outside."

buddy looks at red tornado and blue jay "stay here w/ ellen and the kids." he then looks towards vixen, "come on mari let's check it out."

a few seconds after heading outside, vixen comes flying back in the door, obviously against her will. buddy soon follws in the same manner. red tornado and blue jay move in to attack.

"NO!!!" shouts buddy. "it's a mistake."

buddy and vixen get up and buddy says "it's ok, we're not going to hurt you."

in walks a severley bruised and battered SOLOMON GRUNDY. grundy collapses to the floor and says "swamp need help. swamp under attack. swamp need thing."

as the others look on carefully, buddy explains "if grundy was here to hurt us, he would have just smashed threw the door. he wouldn't have hung around outside and waited for us." buddy then starts to process what grundy was saying, "swamp needs help? swamp needs thing?" buddy then puts it together and exclaims "SWAMP THING! WE NEED TO FIND SWAMP THING!"

buddy quickly looks towards red tornado............

[Maverick]

San Diego: The Baker Residence.


For the first time since his most recent inception, Red Tornado, John Smith, feels utter shock and fear. His gut wrenches. The emotions hit him like a ton of bricks. For a split second it felt as if his heart stopped.

The sight of the pale, lumbering monster before him brings back a sudden rush of memories. Memories of his human body. Of his face being smashed to bits by this creatures massive fist. Of his forearm being torn off, only to be devoured. He remembered using every ounce of his being to form a tornado so powerful, it ripped Grundy right in half.

And now he's back.

"NO!!!" shouts buddy. "it's a mistake."

Buddy and Vixen get up and buddy says "it's ok, we're not going to hurt you."

Buddys voice snaps Reddy back to reality.

The situation becomes clearer to Reddy. He was the one who killed Solomon Grundy this last time, as Grundy was the one to kill him. Both have returned, one a superior incarnation of himself, the other a slow, clearly less intelligent version.

Solomon was going on about the swamp, and some kind of trouble, before Buddy blurted the name "Swamp Thing" out. Reddy looked down at Buddy, instantly realizing what the other was thinking. By the time Buddy looked up at Red Tornado, he was already ascending into the sky.

----

The flight across the country took no time at all. He is easily capable of moving at speeds equivalent to that of a Green Lantern, and even Wonder Woman.

Yet many thoughts cross through his mind in this brief time. His recent encounter with Solomon Grundy being one of them, but also his last encounter with Swamp Thing. He wonders if Swamp Thing may have already succumb to whatever horrors Solomon spoke of. He wondered what Swamp Thing would even be like, after not seeing him for so long. Would he, as if by some cruel twist of fate, be the same monster Solomon was last time around?

So many emotions, all swirling around at once within Reddys head cease instantaneously. His robotic nature replacing his human nature. There is a job to be done.

----

Louisiana: The Swampland

Red Tornado searches a vast area, looking for any sign of his target. Within moments his scanners pick up a unique presence among the swamp land.

Reddy lowers himself down to the figure sitting below him.

------------------------ICC------------------------

"Swamp Thing." Begins Reddy, as Swamp Thing looks up into the sky at the descending figure.

"Hello John Smith." replies the enigmatic Swamp Thing.

"I have a message, from Solomon Grundy." Reddy doesn't waste any time, "he came to Buddy Bakers house in San Diego, he said the swamp is in danger, and that it needs you."

"I see..."

"I can explain it on the way, will you accompany me back to San Diego?"

[minominop]

The Louisiana Swamp


The Swamp Thing looks a momemt at the Red Tornado, and then looks down at something in his hand.

"As you can see, there is no danger here. At this time the bayou is at peace. In fact, I can sense the green within all of the swamps around the globe, and except for the usual small time poachers within the great Congo Basin, there is no concern of mine at this time. I suspect that the danger lies with Solomon Grundy. You have acted impetuously without gathering all the information you should have gotten. This doesn't seem like the actions of the Red Tornado."

[Maverick]

Louisiana

"I will confide in you, Swamp Thing. The last time I encountered Solomon Grundy, I was human. We battled. He tore limbs from my body, smashed my bones, and in the end led to my death. Had I remained at the Baker Residence, I assure you we would be engaged in combat at this very moment. So you see, it was in the best interest of everyone that I simply come to find you, as I was hoping you would have some information for me in regards to what this monster was saying." Reddy replies as he lifts into the sky, "But you do not. I must return now, in case Solomon has lost his temper. If you are correct, and the danger does lie with Solomon, I must be there to stop him once again. Good day Swamp Thing, perhaps we shall cross paths again."

[minominop]

The Louisiana swamp

Swamp Thing watches the Red Tornado rise into the air and disappear over the trees. He doesn't stop him or call out, but he does search the green for the one known as Solomon Grundy. Although he can not control the green, parts of him are made up of it, and locating him is not difficult.

Solomon Grundy is much more then the sum of his parts. His mind and body are at constant war with each other, and the parts of him that are vegetation are being consumed by the parts of him that are not; the rot.

He can sense the pale smudge of gray in the green that represents Solomon Grundy, and something is different. Something has changed in this one. "This deserves further investigation."

Before he leaves this husk of a body, and merges again with the green, Swamp Thing looks again into the palm of his hand, and at what rests there; a tiny violet flower.

[Maverick]

High in the air over the US


Already the Red Tornado is heading back in the direction he came from. His attempt at convincing Swamp Thing a failed one, he is again left to his thoughts.

Thoughts. Memories. Doubts. Fears. Such things had occupied his entire life while he remained in stasis in the JLA central computer prior to entering his new body. Now, he has found that they may have left more of an impact on him than previously thought.

Seeing Solomon Grundy again was a shock to his system. Hearing Swamp Thing tell him he didn't seem to be acting like the Red Tornado was another.

"Whats wrong with me? Why do I feel as if I'm being pulled in 2 directions at once?" he thinks to himself. While he is in the most advanced and human-like body he has ever had outside of a real, flesh and blood body, he does not feel quite like himself yet. He feels as if part of him is scattered about, needing to be picked up and put back into place.

"No matter. This is why we have gotten together, after all. So we can get our heads on straight, and a grasp on our situation. My friends will understand, even if I don't."

[The Agent]

Markovia

It's a rainy day on the reign of Markovia. His king, Brion Markov, has just awaken. On the bed, his spouse is still lying, half-unconscious. Brion is near the window, watching the confused lines of water vibrating in the air, then falling down the earth. For a moment, Brion can feel the earth beaten inside himself... like an echo.

"Brion, where did you go?"
"I need some time to think... I'm just too tired to sleep well."
"What about your powers?"
"Denise, my powers are messed-up. Let it go, please. I don't wanna talk about them now."

Later, they are having breakfast.
"Denise, I must go."
"What? Where? What's on your mind?"
"I need help in order to understand my powers. Something's wrong."
"Yeah, I got it. You need other super-beings in order to understand them..."
"Maybe Batman can figure it out. I'll go in America as soon as I can. It's about time..."
"Be careful, Brion."
"I'll do my best, Denise. I'll do my best".

In a secret chamber of the Markov palace, Brion wears his Geo-Force attire and start to test his powers. The room is full of human silhouttes and "obstacles" which work as ideal sparring-partners. The pavement is enterely covered with earth.
Geo-Force emanates a lava blast from the left hand, and one silhouette burns in flames. This is the easiest task to accomplish. He focuse on the burning silouhette and try to nullify its gravity. It doesn't work.
In a rushed movement, the pavement shakes and the earth below the silhouette arises like an earthquake and push away the flaming piece of plastic and metal.
Geo-Force appears confused.

-------------------------------------------------------

Airport of San Diego

Brion Markov has finally arrived to the West Coast.
He needs to talk with the black woman with the animal powers: Vixen. She can influence his powers, somehow. He needs her. Absolutely. More than ever.
His first destination has been Gotham City.
Batman was kind enough to advice him of her new "location". It seems that Vixen now lives at the Bakers house, home of the superhero known as 'Animal Man'.
"I must talk with her, figure it out. I must regain full confidence in my powers... I must become Geo-Force again, the hero I used to be once, when everything was alright." - he thought.

[biggamepoacher]

San Diego: The Baker Residence.


Jay lays flat on his bed. He thinks about how he got to this point. He then goes into a bag he brought along with him, and pulls out a photo. It is one of Silver Sorceress, Wandjina, and himself. The last three of members of the Champions of Angor, and three of the last people of the entire planet of Angor. He falls back on his bed again. He goes back into his bag, puts the photo back, and pulls out his costume. He lays it out, and looks at it.

"Maybe I don't deserve to be a hero..."

"I'd disagree with that." Jay looks over at the wall, startled. Just then, a cloud of gas pours out of the air conditioning vent in his room. The gas then forms into the shape of a person. The man is revealed to be Rex Mason, a.k.a. Metamorpho. He forms up, and walks over to Jay.

"Hey, Jay. Long time no see." Rex says. Jay walks towards Rex.

"Too long, Rex." Jay hugs Rex. They let go and sit down on the bed. They then begin to talk.

"So, Rex, what are you doing here?" Jay asks.

"Well..." Rex begins, "I came with the zombie." Rex says, smiling.

"Nah, I was on patrol, and I got word that Grundy had returned. I followed him, waiting to make my move, when he arrived here. I was about to take him out before he hrut anyone, but he passed out in the house. I went down to take him out of here, but Buddy said to leave him for a while. So, here I am." Rex says.

"Now, Jay..." Rex says, "what are YOU doing here?" Rex asks.

"I mean, you here for good?" Rex asks.

"For a while, yes." Jay responds, looking at the ground.

"Why?" Jay is silent for a moment.

"Rex... you ever feel the world is coming down around you?"

"A time or two, yeah." Rex says.

"Yeah, well, picture that feeling every day of your life." Jay says, "I mean, I'm the last of my planet, the last member of the Champions of Angor." Jay says, "And, now? My powers are out of whack. I mean, I feel like the universe is trying to break me. Like I'm it's punching bag." Jay says.

"I'm wondering if I'm cut out to be a hero." Jay says.

"Hey, man. We all have moments of doubt. I mean, being a hero... it's a lot to take on. But, you did that WHILE coping with the destruction of your homeworld. The only other guy I know who's done that is Superman." Rex says.

"Yeah, but... he never KNEW his homeworld. I did. I had friends. Family. And now it's all gone." Jay says.

"Listen, Jay, that just makes you all the more heroic. You had to give up, move on. And, instead of slumming in depression and self-pity, you stood up. Became a hero. Not many people can say that. And, the ones who can..." Rex picks up the TV remote and turns it on. He turns to a national news network. They are running a story on Superman.

:And so, the day is saved again! Thanks to the one and only, Superman!:

The news anchor yells. They then cut to a film strip of Superman, flying off to save the day yet again.

"...become super." Rex finishes. At this time Rex turns the TV off, and stands up.

"Well, I have to go see what Buddy wants to do with the zombie down there. So, I'll talk to you again soon." Rex says. He then walks out of the room and down the stairs. Jay is left alone to think to himself.

"...super..." Jay says to himself.

[Maverick]

San Diego: The Baker Residence.


After a quick call to his wife and kids, John touched down at his new home, that of Animal Man Buddy Baker. The call helped him calm down a bit - nothing soothes his soul like hearing the voices of those he loves more than life itself.

Upon arriving, he finds the rag-tag crew of heroes outside in Buddys backyard. A new face has been added to the mix since he left: The Element Man, Rex Mason, Metamorpho.

"Hey Reddy!" exclaims Rex as the Tornado touches down.

"Rex Mason, good to see you." the two shake hands. "Swamp Thing declined to return with me, which is not overly surprising. Wheres Grundy?"

"Hes still here. Rex gave him a dose of some sort of knock-out gas, he's sleeping like a baby right now." Buddy replies, "But its time to get the old sod up. I think we may have our first official mission my friends."

[minominop]

The Baker residence, San Diego

That evening, dinner gets off to a late start because Ellen has to cook for six new mouths. Fortunately Solomon Grundy doesn't eat. She hoped everyone liked vegetables because the only meat they allowed in the house was people. It wasn't an easy transition to make, especially for the kids, but she thought it was her duty to support her husband in this decision. And now with all of these new people around, she didn't know how the kids will handle it. It was stressful on everyone. Hopefully, it won't last long. If it does, then she would have to talk to Buddy about the living arrangements.

Mari takes the tossed salad outside and places it in front of Buddy, who is sitting at the picnic table, watching Rex and John toss the football around with Cliff. She wondered if it was pigskin. Jay was with Maxine, who was showing him her book about birds. Maxine obviously had a crush on him since she wouldn't let him out of her sight. Mari smiled and then went and sat next to Buddy.

Buddy gets up and checks tofu burgers on the barbecue."Alright everyone, wash up. I think dinner is ready." Originally he is met with objection by those playing football, but eventually they retire and go inside to clean up.

Off to his right Buddy sees some movement out of the corner of his eye. On the picnic table the salad bowl is vibrating slightly and slowly moving towards the edge. He cautiously approaches. Nothing seems out of the ordinary until the lettuce, green peppers, tomatoes and other ingredients start to move around to form a face. A face he recognizes as [glow=darkgreen,4,300]The Swamp Thing[/glow]

--------------------------------ICC------------------------------------------

"I have come to warn you about the grey one. To warn you that he is very dangerous, and you should not trust him"

"What? No Hello?" Buddy replies.

"The green is disturbed by this one. He is of both the grey, and the green, but the grey seems to be overpowering the green within him."

"Kind of cryptic. You're talking about Solomon Grundy aren't you?"

"He is not to be trusted." Swamp Thing repeats.

"Yeah. You said that already. It's OK. He's sleeping at the moment. Look, would you care to stay for dinner?" Buddy asks, and instantly regrets it as he looks around at what was available.

"More than you could ever know, but I do not eat. I will be watching, stay vigilant. Tell no one of my presence.", was the reply.

The others were coming back, and the salad was again just a salad.

"The burgers smell great." Jay says as he passes by with Maxine on his shoulders.

"Get 'em while their hot." Buddy shouts. He's grateful for Ellen when she emerges from the house with a potato salad, and Mari had a big plate of string beans, because suddenly he didn't have an apatite for the other salad. He wondered where the Swamp Thing was now, and hoped he would stay out of the rest of the food. His words troubled Buddy. He would have to discuss their other guest with the them, and soon too. Right now was dinner time, and if things got any weirder, it may be the last relaxing dinner he'll have for a while.

End of Prologue

[Maverick]

Chapter 1: It Came From the Bog

After dinner, with Buddys' wife and kids tucked into bed, the collection of heroes assembled.

"So, I guess this is our first official meeting huh?" says Buddy, as he stands at the head of the dinning room table. "We should select a "leader" I guess."

"You brought us together. I see no one more eligible than yourself." replies the Red Tornado.

"I agree with Reddy." winks Mari.

"You got my vote." adds Rex.

"Far be it for me to disagree." says Jay, as he gives a slight shrug.

"I'm flattered, truly. Never been a real leader before though..." Buddy says, scratching the back of his neck.

"You lead your family, Buddy. I have full faith in you." says Mari reassuringly.

"Perhaps this doesn't have to be a group led by one man. I mean, who knows who may join us down the road." replies Buddy, still unsure of the groups decision. "The potential for growth with a situation like this is limitless. Look at the JSA, and how they have expanded. There are many people out there, like us, that need a place where they can fit in. A place unlike the JLA or the Titans, or even the JSA for that matter. I may need help down the road..."

"We'll make it work Buddy, don't worry. Everyone here has your back." replies Mari.

"You got that right. We're all in this together." adds Rex.

"If anything arises you want someone else to handle, I'll step in." says Reddy.

"Alright then, why don't we get to business? Actually, before we do that, theres something else. She hasn't said anything yet, but she doesn't have to. We can't use my house as a home base, its just not practical. With the kids and all...well, we're going to have to find something else. Lets not worry about it right now, but if anything pops into your heads, let us know. Hell, even an old warehouse would work for now." says Buddy. The group nods in agreement. "Now... Grundy..."

"We should take him far away from here. As far as we can. I don't trust him. For all we know, this is all an act. He could be leading us all on, hes done it before." replies Reddy.

"We can't keep him here, thats for sure." adds Jay.

"Not unless you want me to sit in his room all day, keeping him asleep..." says Rex under his breath.

"He mentioned the swamp was in trouble. Yet according to Swamp Thing, there is no trouble." Reddy recalls from his trip to Louisiana.

"Yeah...we need to get him out of here..."

*SLAM!*

"What the..."

*Crash!*

"Hes out back! Everybody GO!" yells Buddy.

The group arrives in the backyard, where they see a large hole in the side of Buddys house.

Grundy is standing in the middle of the yard, fists clenched and a twisted look on his face.

"Be ready for anything." says the Red Tornado as his hands are encircled in small whirlwinds.

[biggamepoacher]

San Diego: The Barker Residence

Red Tornado steps forward, at the front of the group.

"You will not harm anyone here, Grundy." Red Tornado says. Grundy seems to be angered by this.

"ARGH!" Grundy charges at Red Tornado. He brings back his fist. he finally reaches Red Tornado, and throws his fist at his face. But, this time, Red Tornado stops the punch.

"Not this time, beast." Reddy then clocks Grundy in the face. The punch, with the help of some wind, knocks Grundy back to his starting point. Grundy then kneels down and holds his face. Buddy, then comes to the front of the group, and calms Reddy down. Buddy then makes his attempt to solve the problem.

"Grundy... calm down." Buddy says, trying to calm the beast.

"We're your friends here. All of us." Buddy says, trying to creep closer to Grundy.

"eerrgghh..." Grundy grunts, staring down Buddy.

"Now, just calm dow--"

"AAGGHH!" Grundy yells. He slams the ground with his fists, sending out a shockwave. Buddy is sent flying backwards towards the group. He lands on top of Mari and Rex. Jay and Reddy have already taken to the sky. They fly up higher. Jay dives down and lands on Grundy's back. He puts his hands over Grundy's eyes and blinds him. Grundy struggles to try and reach Jay, but he finally does. He grabs him by the shoulders, and hurls him away. But, Jay catches himself in the air, turns around, and flies back at Grundy, punching him in the face. Jay then flies away.

"NOW, REDDY!" Jay calls. Reddy then forms up whirlwinds at his hands, and sends them crashing downwards at Grundy. Grundy is hit by the winds. But, Reddy doesn't stop. Reddy creates a perfectly vertical vortex, trapping Grundy in a chamber of air and wind. Then, Buddy re-groups his team.

"OK, we have to get him out of here NOW! Jay and Rex, help Reddy carry Grundy away. Mari, you and I will follow for back-up. Let's MOVE!" Buddy orders. The group then spreads out. Jay flies up at Reddy, while Rex's lower half of his body forms into gas and he floats up. Buddy and Mari take up positions along the cyclone. Mari absorbs Buddy's power, what used to be hers. She feels at home with these powers. They wait for Reddy's move. Reddy then begins to manipulate the winds, raising Grundy up into the air. Grundy rises higher and higher, until, finally, he's making eye contact with Red Tornado. Then, they make their move. Reddy stops the wind, and, at that instant, Jay and Rex swoop in, grab Grundy, and drag him out away from the suburbs. Buddy and Mari then burst into the air, and, along, along with Reddy, trail after Rex and Jay. It takes a few minutes for Grundy to catch on to what they're doing. But, once he does figure it out, he starts to squirm. But, Jay and Rex hold on as tight as they can.

"WHERE ARE WE TAKING HIM!?" Rex asks, trying to talk over the sound of the rushing wind.

"MEXICO!" Jay answers in a similar tone. Then, they pick up speed, and fly ahead to Mexico.

--------------------------

Chicago, IL.- The Weston Residence

It's a quiet Saturday in Chicago. Like many others. Jaycee is in her room, doing homework. Then, the doorbell rings. She gets up, goes downstairs, and answers the door. In front of her are two men, both in black suits and sunglasses. They turn when they see her answer the door.

"Who are you guys?" She asks.

"I'm Agent Harris. This is Agent Lane. We're federal agents for the C.I.A." Both men flip out I.D. badges with the seal of the U.S. Government.

"The C.I.A.?" Jaycee asks in disbelief.

"Yes, ma'am." The agent replies.

"What did I do to get the C.I.A.'s attention?" She asks, confused.

"Nothing, Ms. Weston." The agent replies. Now, Jaycee just looks flat-out confused.

"Well then, why are you guys here?" She finally asks.

"Well, Ms. Weston..." The agent pauses. He looks over at the other agent, then looks back at Jaycee, "your mother is dying."

[1573]

air space leaving san diego california

realizeing that they are taking him away from the swamp, grundy unleashes w/ a fury that no one has ever seen from him before. "swamp needs help" grundy yells. grundy pries free from the grip of blue jay and rex and falls to the earth.

as grundy hits the ground, he creates a cloud of dust. unable to see grundy, animal man and crew swoop in to take a look.

"stay back, don't get to close. we don't know what he's up to." commands red tornado.

animal man replies "i'm thinking we are all misjudging grundy."

after red tornado clears the dust w/ a few gusts of wind, they notice grundy is nowhere close. suddenly, blue jay shouts "there he is!" blue jay points at grundy, who is moving faster than expected.

after our heroes catch up to him and try to stop him, grundy exclaims "grundy trust you! you betray grundy." grundy then breaks threw their defenses and continues his trek back to the swamp.

animal man then orders blue jay and rex to stay close to him but don't try to stop him. red tornado quickly disagrees. "i am faster, i should be going w/ them." he says. buddy instantly denies the request. "sorry reddy, i think you are amking this too personal." "this isn't the same grundy you fought w/ the justice league." "get us back to my house to check on ellen and the kids and then we will meet up w/ jay and rex."

------------

San Diego : The Baker Residence.

as reddy touches down w/ buddy and mari, ellen and the kids come running out.

"buddy, are you ok?" asks ellen.

"yes, grundy got away and headed back this way. we wanted to make sure you guys were fine." explains buddy

ellen explains that "everything is fine here, except for the big whole in the side of the house."

buddy replies "yeah, i'll get that fixed as soon as possible."

red tornado interrupts "we should really be heading after grundy."

after doing a quick check of the property, vixen agrees. buddy says goodbye to his family again and the 3 heroes head off after blue jay and rex.