Hello CBMers!!!
To the uninitiated, Watchtower Tales is a fan fic serial about a group of Justice Leaguers I refer to as the Second Shift. The team consists of Zatanna, Hawkman, Atom, and Black Lightning. Each story often featuring another character joining the group for some general hijinks. Lately the group has put into motion a series of events creating a more detailed narrative now. I want to greatly thank CBM users @Doopie, @alamborn19, @spookybear3, @Cipher, and @NovaCorpsFan for helping me to keep writing these fun little things. Big thanks to Doop and Nova, whose own works here on CBM have inspired me greatly, all should definitely check put Doopies Doodles and Nova's Fun House.
Hawkman, Zatanna, and John Constantine are standing in a circle, under the night sky at an uncommonly quiet Tower Bridge in London.
HAWKMAN:
"John! It's good to see you again. Glad you'll be helping us out on this. But damn, I wish I remembered where the hell I left my trusted mace."
CONSTANTINE:
"Aren't we all mate, very introspective."
ZATANNA:
"Hawkman? Introspective? You do know this is the man that chose to nickname himself Cawkman? Anyway, what can you tell us about Bane? Reports say he wants to take out the Tower Bridge or something."
CONSTANTINE:
"About Bane? Not much love. But I can take you to someone who'll be able to give us the answers we need. Get in."
Points to a parked yellow cab close by.
ZATANNA:
"Can't believe you still travel this way John. My how we used to rib on you. You remember? Solve a murder? Call Batman. Collapsing building? Call Superman. Attacking monsters? Call Wonder Woman. Need a ride to the airport? Call John Constantine."
Laughs gently
CONSTANTINE:
"Very funny love. Could be worse, I could be boxing blokes while wearing fish net stockings."
Smiles at Zatanna with a wink as they enter the cab.
HAWKMAN:
"Oh man, if Shia's driving this cab...oh, damn and if he's wearing his paper bag. Probably means I'm actually in heaven."
Hawkman enters the cab and it drives into the thick London night fog
Back on the the Watchtower, Atom, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold sit at the Round Table of Justice monitoring the Justice League alarms.
BOOSTER GOLD:
"...so the doctor says, that's a pencil sharpner!"
All three break out into a loud laughter.
ATOM:
"The future seems like a terrific place. Why haven't you been trying to get back Boost?"
BOOSTER GOLD:
"Oh, we have bromate. Well, me and Skeets have desperately been looking for a way back. At least, before he went nuts. We truly were that movie 'Back To The Future' you know? But made real!
BLUE BEETLE:
"Yeah except Skeets was Doc Brown and you're his dog Einstein."
BOOSTER GOLD:
"Ha. Ha. You're a regular stand up comedian bromate. Yeah, that was almost as funny as those goggles you wear."
Suddenly a purple light begins to blink with a low alarm sounding whine
BLUE BEETLE:
"What is it Atom?"
ATOM:
"A temporal alarm. Someone's using time travel. Lets find out who..."
Walks over to the large main computer of the Watchtower "That's odd, it says it's taking place here."
Suddenly a blindingly bright flash glows near the center of the room and two shadowed figures appear to step into the room. It's Rip Hunter and Katana.
RIP HUNTER:
"Alright guys, we've got a big situation going on. Vandal Savage has organized some rogues, including Bane and Dr. Psycho, into a group and they've discovered a way to build a super weapon of immense power using certain artifacts from throughout history. I need you guys to accompany Katana here to second century Japan to prevent Black Manta from getting the armor of legendary Japanese figure the Blue Samurai."
ATOM:
"Guess Batman was right. More to this than we could've ever imagined. Always bet on Bat, I guess."
BLUE BEETLE:
"Not always! He gave me some market advice one time, so I ended up buying this company that creates oversized models and similar things. Turns out, we only ended up making two things! A giant penny and a Tyrannosaur Rex model! It was a terrible endeavor."
BOOSTER GOLD:
"Wait a sec, time traveling bromate. Did you say Blue Samurai? You serious?"
KATANA:
"Yes. The Blue Samurai is a figure akin to Hercules or Odysseus of the western world. Greatly beloved and admired Japanese hero."
BOOSTER GOLD:
"Oh, I only say that because Blue Samurai was my favorite band growing up! Lets see...how can I describe them for you guys...umm...oh I know. Imagine, the band Radiohead fronted by Justin Bieber! Huh? Tell me...minds blown! Right?"
BLUE BEETLE:
"Mind blown? No...no...hell no. In fact, I think I threw up a little in my mouth."
RIP HUNTER:
"They're three artifacts in total. Constantine will have Zatanna and Hawkman on their way to another of the locations. I need to hurry and get you guys on the way, I have to go get the third team at Black Lightning's place."
ATOM:
"Ok. I got the tower to watch, so Beetle and Boost, you guys get going with Katana. I'll also notify Batman."
Blue Beetle and Booster Gold walk beside Rip Hunter and Katana as they all walk into a bright oval shaped "doorway" and disappear from the Watchtower
The cab carrying the heroes in London arrives at an eerie looking police station. Slightly dilapidated and barely lit, the three heroes enter the station and proceed to an interrogation room, were villain Manchester Black is restrained to a chair before a table
MANCHESTER:
"Oi! Took you bloody cape heads long enough to get here. Ah, I see you brought Zatanna. Tasty and proper chuck, John. Thanks."
Zatanna uses a spell to make Manchester Black slam his face into the table, giving him a bloody nose.
ZATANNA:
"Not here to play games Black. Bane, where is he?"
MANCHESTER:
"Oi, don't get your knickers in a knot chuck! And you need not ask where Bane is, but rather when. You see, unfortunately Rip's only filled John here in on the mega and proper super villain plot of Vandal Savage."
HAWKMAN:
"I thought you were dead? Or you was a woman?"
MANCHESTER:
"I thought you made bird porn! Silly yank. No, actually I was paying an actor to pretend to be Manchester Black."
HAWKMAN:
"That's stupid!"
MANCHESTER:
"Piss off! Me mates Kevin and Shane thought it was brilliant!"
JOHN CONSTANTINE:
"Ok, we're getting off course here. Black, where and how far do we have to go back?"
MANCHESTER:
"Luckily for you, not to far back. Just far enough back in time to prevent M. Night Shyamalan from making the 'Last Airbender' and in doing so, save all of mankind."
Large grin
Zatanna again slams Manchester Black's face into the table
ZATANNA:
"What did I say about games?"
MANCHESTER:
"Ok,ok,ok. Oi! You won't be going far away. Nineteenth century London in fact. Bane is looking for something in possession of Jack the Ripper. And you remember Constantine the deal I had with Hunter. He better make sure he goes back and prevents me from betting me life savings on England in the World Cup."
ZATANNA:
"Ok, I'll work up a spell to get us back there. John will have to fill us in on this whole situation on the way."
Zatanna waves her arms and a bright oval "doorway" shape appears. The three heroes walk toward the bright shape.
HAWKMAN:
"Anyone else getting a Ninja Turtles three movie vibe? Oh yeah, Cawkman going back in time!"
Black Lightning finishes tucking his daughters into bed and turns the light switch off as he exits the girls' room
BLACK LIGHTNING:
"You girls were incredible tonight, I was blown away by how good you guys did. Now, time for bed. Sweet dreams girls."
Black Lightning walks down the stairs to his kitchen to see Shazam sitting at the table eating a sandwich. Rip Hunter is in the corner and Beatrice DeCosta standing beside him
SHAZAM:
Eating a sandwich "Dude, you get some good ham. Much better than what my mom usually gets. Oh, and sorry but I drank your last Capri Sun."
BLACK LIGHTNING:
"Damn! My last Capri Sun? C'mon man! Something big must be going down. Did Bane punch the president or something?"
RIP HUNTER:
"Not yet, hilarious story though Bane punching the president, but that's for another time. No, we got the Second Shift on a special mission. Bane is just a cog to a much larger plot involving Vandal Savage and time travel. I'm going to send you and Shazam to ancient Egypt, you must stop Cheetah from getting the pharaoh's special ankh spear. Sorry for being so abrupt but we got to move quickly here, we've already got the others into the past. Bea is here to watch your daughters."
BLACK LIGHTNING:
"Ok! Lets do this! Glad you didn't say eighteen sixties south, cause I just saw '12 Years a Slave', and I think I'd have to kill a lot of people then."
SHAZAM:
"I haven't seen that yet. But you know what I did just see that was pretty awesome. 'Planes: Fire and Rescue'"
BLACK LIGHTNING:
"You just reminded of something Shazam. I better bring Hawkman's mace."
Rip Hunter creates a similar portal shape as he did on the Watchtower, Black Lightning and Shazam walk through the "doorway"
Back on the Watchtower, a yellow light floods the room. Atom turns on the large computer, on its screen Aquaman appears Atlantis in the background
ATOM:
"Aquaman, what's wrong? We've actually got a major mission going on here. It's tying up alot of our resources."
AQUAMAN:
"An odd spherical object just appeared out of thin air...er...well thin water here at Atlantis' town square. Our best scientists haven't a clue as to what it is or how it got here. We sure could use some of your expertise Atom."
ATOM:
"Sorry, but I'm on monitor duty Aquaman..."
Seemingly out of nowhere, Batman appears directly behind Atom.
BATMAN:
"I'll take over here Atom. You head out to Atlantis and help Aquaman figure out this mysterious object."
ATOM:
"Yes sir. I just hope it's not another Lady Gaga stunt for an upcoming CD."
Atom walks to the teleportation dock.
Thank you so much for the read!!! I might be taking a break from these for a little while, so I thought I'd try something a little different. Thanks again!!