Justice Squadron Annual

There are almost 167,000 people buried in Highgate Cemetery, one of a group of seven burial grounds built around London when the "old town cemeteries" could no longer cope with the numbers of English dead. Since its inception in 1839, a number of celebrities have called Highgate their final resting place, most notably philosopher Karl Marx.

The shambling corpses of the dead slowly rose from their graves, their bony fingers shoving the earth aside. There were nearly a dozen of them now, with several more on the way. Each of them emitting low, unearthly groans, they staggered towards the woman who had summoned them.

She stood before them, the fierce winds that dominated this chilly night whipping her cloak about her. Her golden armor gleamed and the metallic facemask she wore hid her aged and once-beautiful features.

Morgaine Le Fey held out her arms, beckoning her servants forwards. In an ancient tongue, long forgotten by all but the most devout of her followers, she whispered "Nios vere mackunum."

Find the Umber.

"I can't believe you turned Robbie Williams down like that. The guy's gorgeous!"

Dorcas, her long blonde hair wrapped seductively about her shoulders, shrugged her indifference. The superheroine more commonly known as Godiva was surrounded by a small horde of female admirers and hangers-on, each hoping to win the favor of her friendship. It was a strange thing the way other women responded to her -- some despised her on sight, seeing her as a potential rival. Others coveted her attentions, perhaps desiring to increase their own visibility by being near her.

She sipped her wine, feeling out of place in her own home, at her own party. She felt like a stranger in her own life these days, a sensation that had grown ever since the betrayal which had forced her out of the Justice Squadron. She had been played like a fool, then, her life splashed across all the tabloids of London. It had been a humiliating experience and she had not forgotten her shame.

"I'm sorry, ladies, but I can't continue this discussion. I see an old friend has arrived. Please excuse me." Dorcas pushed past them, ignoring their tittering comments about all the 'important' people in attendance. Everyone who was anyone in Britain's pop scene was there, many of them decked out in outlandish Halloween costumes. Dorcas herself wore her Godiva costume, which many of the partygoers had chosen to emulate. Kylie Minogue, in full diva form, had even suggested that her Godiva costume looked better than the original.

Pushing aside the petty jealousies in her head, Dorcas greeted Sigrid Nansen warmly, hugging her old friend tightly. "Sigrid! You made it... I'm so glad."

Sigrid, her ice blue skin accentuated by the Icemaiden costume she wore, smiled back and nodded. The two women had been teammates in the Global Guardians before Sigrid had turned over her costumed identity to Tora Olafsdotter, who had gone on to serve with distinction in the Justice League. "I was really surprised to be invited. It's been so long."

Dorcas turned away sheepishly. "I'm sorry, luv. I did give the rest of the Guardians short-thrift the past few years. But after all the problems we had with the Dome, Dr. Mist and the Queen Bee... Well, it's all in the past now."

Sigrid nodded, glancing around the crowded penthouse. She didn't recognize everyone there, but she saw enough superstars to make her heart skip a few beats. Turning her gaze away from the party, she said "Where are the others?"

"You're the only one who came. I heard from Tuatara and the Olympian, but both of them are busy working on a metahuman crime in Rome." Dorcas took her friend's hand and led her towards the punch bowl. "I was hoping to see more of the Guardians because... Well, I've had a rough spot of late and I thought...."

"That seeing your old friends would lift you out of the doldrums?" Sigrid laughed merrily. "I know what you mean. Since the League I was a part of broke apart, I've been on my own for the most part. I really miss Bea and Albert and all the rest."

Sigrid's face fell. "The mist impersonated me. It was terrible. I couldn't believe it when I heard that she'd used my identity to betray all those heroes. At least the Fox managed to survive, and both Amazing Man and Blue Devil were resurrected."

A sudden scream made both women jump. They responded quickly, however, as Icemaiden whirled about and prepared to encase whatever would-be foe had emerged in a block of ice. Godiva, for her part, untwisted her hair and set her prehensile locks into the form of a fist.

Icemaiden, cold air billowing out in a cloud from her mouth, mouthed a small expletive. Floating above the crowd of popstars was a young Asian man, dressed in red robes. He looked like death itself, his skin pasty-white and splotches of something (ectoplasm?) staining his robes.

Godiva stepped around her friend, extending a hand to the strangely-dressed man. "Revenant?"

The Asian visitor stared at her in seeming surprise. Then, remembering why he was there, he fell to the floor. His partially solidified form struck the carpet with a thud, sending more ectoplasm flying from his body.

Godiva managed to push her former Justice Squadron teammate over on his back, eliciting a gasp from the crowd. They seemed both frightened and titillated. "What happened to you?"

Revenant, a former killer condemned to wander the Earth until his sins had been atoned for, stared at her with a haunted expression. "Death walks the streets of London," he whispered. "The Umber... They're looking for the Umber."

With those words, he lapsed into something like a coma, his lips moving soundlessly as his eyes stared at everything and nothing.

Revenant sat up with a cry, his eyes wide. He was lying on the couch in Godiva's living room, the party having long since broken up amid a flurry of rumors and questions. He glanced around himself, seeing the concerned faces of both Godiva and Icemaiden -- and one more.

The newcomer was a man in his later thirties, his auburn hair parted with a long white stream that began near the front and carried back. His eyes were full of pain and knowledge. "The sleeper awakes," the man said.

Godiva smiled in relief, placing a man on the man's arm. "Thanks, Jason. I knew you were the person to call."

"I've been here for a few weeks on private business. Dorcas has consulted me on various cases of hers over the years, most recently when the Hyde Park Headsman was on the loose."

Godiva's hair snaked out and touched Revenant's forehead. "I'd rather know what you're doing here. I haven't seen you in months."

Revenant rose from the counch, pulling his hood back into place. "Since Ralph asked me to leave the Squadron, I've been continuing my mission... But recently, I've noticed a rash of supernatural crimes: items of mystic importance being stolen and strange rituals being conducted at places of power. Last night, I felt a tugging at my spirit, a compulsion... to locate someone called the Umber. I managed to resist the calling but it cost me much of my ectoplasmic energy. Your home was the first place I thought of when I sought safety."

"Yes, I'm afraid I do. It's the reason I'm here in London, actually. As Dorcas knows, I'm a mystic investigator. That's where I picked up the mystic wards that helped revive Revenant... The pulling he felt last night was in response to a command spell. Someone sent out a summons to the living dead." Blood paused for effect before continuing. "An ancient sorceress named Morgaine Le Fey -- yes, that Morgaine -- is here in London. I sensed her activities months ago but it took me some time to track her down. This year is the anniversary of a dark event that took place in the middle ages... Morgaine created an inhuman creature called the Umber, composed of necromantically-powered flesh. A demon called Etrigan nearly destroyed the beast and Morgaine hid him here in London, to await the day when the stars were correctly aligned... and his power was at its peak."

Icemaiden looked outside, at the overcast sky. "And that time is now, isn't it? During Halloween?"

Revenant nodded. "Halloween isn't just a time for costumes and candy. It was originally a pagan holiday called Samhain, which means "Summer's End." The celebration included gifts and food for the spirit world. They believed that honoring the dead would help ensure that next year's harvest would be a good one. It was a time when the barriers between the world of the living and the dead were at their weakest. Everyone who draws their power from the afterlife, myself included, feel the mystic potency of this season."

Icemaiden shivered slightly, not from the cold -- she was quite immune to that -- but from fear. She had considered herself a coward and a failure for years, standing on the sidelines while Tora proved her worth. Nowadays, she had self-confidence in herself, but she couldn't quite shake the old fears. "So we need to find this Umber before Morgaine does -- any ideas on how to do that?"

Blood rubbed his chin, showing obvious reluctance. "I have an idea... but it will not be a pleasant experience." He gazed at his three companions. "Are you willing to trust me, even those of you who barely know me?"

Icemaiden glanced once at Godiva, who was nodding. Then she, too, murmured an agreement. Revenant crossed his arms and glared. "Very well. But make no bones about this, Blood -- I know your secret and I consider your pet curse to be just as evil as anything Morgaine Le Fey does."

Blood ignored the curious looks from Godiva and Icemaiden, instead choosing to stare Revenant in the eyes. "Good. Because you'd be right."

"Am I the only one who's seriously creeped out by all this?' Sigrid stood amidst a series of headstones, hugging her arms tightly against her. A stiff wind was blowing, whistling through the graves. Icemaiden had, along with Revenant and Godiva, spent most of the day waiting for Blood to call them. When the phone had finally rung, he told them to come to Highgate, locate the grave for Samuel Holland, and wait.

"You're not the only one, luv, I promise you that. Godiva stood nearby, bundled up against the cold. On the way in, they'd passed increased security -- guards hired for the night after the caretakers had discovered an unusual number of disturbed graves. Thanks to her Justice Squadron credentials, Godiva was able to get her and her friends inside.

Revenant floated in silence, his ethereal form seemingly untouched by the harsh winds that blew this night. He had refused to answer Sigrid's questions about Jason Blood and the nature of his secret, choosing instead to question Icemaiden about her connection to Tora Olafsdotter, whom he'd met briefly during the Secret Society affair. "Blood's coming. I can sense him."

As if on cue, the mysterious Jason Blood stepped into view. He carried with him a small bundle under one arm, his features drawn tight with worry. "No more of your friends could come?"

Godiva shook her head in response to the question. "No. The rest of the old Global Guardians are still detained and the Justice Squadron is involved in some other case*. Lionheart is in Ireland for the week and nobody's seen or heard from Thunderbolt in ages."

"What about him? The man's a bloody idiot." Godiva pointed at the package in Blood's grip. "What did you bring us?"

Blood knelt on the ground and began unwrapping the item, revealing a tin plate of some kind, adorned with a series of sigils. "Morgaine was here, in this cemetery, last night. The disturbed graves are a result of the spell she used -- the same one that nearly possessed Revenant. The undead that she summoned were able to sense the Umber. His necromantic nature gives him a mystical 'scent' that the corpses were able to hone in on."

"Not likely. You're too tied to the mortal plane, my friend. We're going to need stronger assistance than you're able to provide." Jason pulled a small ceremonial dagger from his coat and looked at Sigrid. "Will you assist me?"

"Because you're the purest in spirit -- at least amongst our little group. Both Revenant and myself carry a multitude of sins and Godiva..." he cast a glance at the watching heroine. "... has issues that must be addressed at a later date. Only you have the basic purity of spirit that I need."

With a frightened nod, she held out her arm to him. Whenever she felt fear, which was far more often than she'd ever care to admit, she thought of Tora -- brave, beautiful Tora -- who had sacrificed her life against the Overmaster. If Tora had been capable of giving the ultimate sacrifice, surely she herself could offer this much? "Go ahead."

The bloodletting went quickly enough as Blood drew the knife along Sigrid's wrist and squeezed the ruby droplets onto the plate. Each drop sizzled as it struck, making the entire surface glow with a golden light. By the time the seventh and final drop landed, the disc was bright enough that the assembled heroes were forced to shield their eyes from the glare.

A horrible wail seemed to echo from all around them as a ghostly wraith rose up from the blood-stained disc. It was female in shape, dressed in ragged Victorian style clothing. Her neck, neatly slashed from ear to ear, gaped like a second mouth. "Who summons Mary from her grave?" she asked, full of despair.

Jason Blood forced himself to stare into the horrible apparition. "Mary... You were present last evening, when the dead walked anew?"

"The dead whisper amongst themselves, Mary... I have summoned you because your spirit is nearly free of the sins that bound you to this site. You have only one more good deed to commit in order to win your entrance to the afterlife -- I need to know, did the dead speak of the Umber? Was he found?"

Godiva reached and held Icemaiden's hand, believing for a second that she had gone mad. Was this really some long-dead woman, seeking entrance to heaven at last?

Jason Blood nodded grimly. "Aye, girl. Your soul will be cleansed. Now tell me -- Where is the Umber?"

"The Baron... He found it! He showed it to the golden lady and she rewarded him, yes she did!" Mary's voice was near cackling now, full of passion and excitement. "He told me where the Umber was, because he tells sweet Mary everything!"

Godiva let out a small gasp. Seeing the confusion on Sigrid's face, she sighed. "Barksdale... the former headquarters of Justice League Europe!"

Morgaine Le Fey sat with legs crossed, enjoying the sensation of being on a throne once more. Too often she was forced into hibernation or hiding, seeking to escape the clutches of Merlin and his pet, the demon Etrigan. But now... with the Umber once more in her grip... there would be no more hiding. Never again.

The Umber stood immobile before her, its massive bulk a slate-gray in color. It had no defineable head, instead having only a slightly raised area between its shoulders where a large glowing circle peered out at the world. Its slab-like fists hung low on its long arms, giving it a slightly ape-ish appearance.

Long, long years before Morgaine had created it to lead her armies... A creature merged of life and death, it was an almost unstoppable foe. "And so hauntingly beautiful. Flawless in design," she murmured. "Age never touches you. I envy you, that. My own beauty has long since fled...."

Morgaine's words trailed off as she found herself trapped in memory. The old castle, with its many trappings of the past, filled her with longing for simpler days.

So lost in thought was she that Morgaine failed to notice the familiar red and yellow figure who crept into view. Without her mental direction, the Umber, too, failed to respond. It wasn't until Etrigan belched forth a ball of flame towards the mystic that she came to her senses.

Fire licked along her protective armor, scorching her flesh. "Etrigan! Again you plague me!"

The demon cackled madly, his hellfire flowing about his hands. Behind him were three others, mortals cloaked in the trappings of gods. "Old witch, it will ever be so! The demon Etrigan will never let you go!"

Morgaine raised a mystic shield to block the next attack, her fury rising. "Stop your pitiful rhyming, demon! You and I both know of the lies you've told -- not the least of which is your so-called status as a rhyming demon*!"

As the sorceress launched her own assault, the demonic Umber shuffled to life. It registered its enemies clearly enough and it felt something akin to desire for the first time in centuries. Desire for flesh and for pain.

Icemaiden stepped in front of her friends, sending forth a barrage of ice-spikes which shattered harmlessly on the creature's chest. "This thing... it's horrible!"

Godiva couldn't disagree. The stench alone from the thing made her want to retch. Forcing herself to touch the thing wouldn't be easy, but it had to be done. Her living hair reached forth, binding the things arms and legs. "Etrigan! If we manage to defeat this creature, can you handle Le Fey?"

The demon, in many ways the true form of the man known as Jason Blood, howled. He had felt the stinging touch of Le Fey's magicks and they burned his flesh. "Yes! The witch will finally die at my hand -- I promise you, girl!"

Godiva winced as the creature wrapped its fingers in her hair, yanking her forward. A beam of force shot forth from its glowing eye, sending spasms of agony through her.

While Godiva occupied the creature, Revenant moved in from behind. Gripping the creature by its shoulders, he forced it to temporarily loosen its hold on Dorcas, allowing her to slip free. The ghostly hero then turned his powers loose upon the creature, trying to show it the depths of despair and sin.

The Umber, lacking the capacity to truly comprehend fear, shrugged off the attack easily. It swung out a mighty arm, sending the solidified Revenant flying. The hero barely transformed himself into an immaterial wraith before hitting the wall.

Le Fey, meanwhile, found herself in the clutches of Etrigan. The demon was growling and snapping like a hound of hell. "Damn you, Etrigan! I curse the day you and Merlin came into your alliance!" The witch exploded with mystic power, causing the demon to scream out in sudden pain. "My Umber and I have waited so long... too long!"

The Demon crouched low, forcing the pain from his thoughts. "How many times do we have to play this game, witch? You appear with one of your schemes and I foil it -- Why not admit your inability to win and save us all the trouble?"

"You have no idea what my plans are, demon! You think this is not part of some larger scheme?"

Icemaiden watched as Godiva and Revenant threw themselves against their foe again and again. Both of them were in obvious pain as even the ghostly Revenant seemed to feel this villain's blows. Sigrid forced herself to be strong as the Umber threw Godiva aside and advanced towards her. Is this what it was like, Tora? Facing a foe so much stronger than you, knowing your friends needed your help? God, I wish I were more like you. I need to be more like you.

And then, in the backest recesses of her mind, Sigrid heard a woman's voice. "You're a hero, Sigrid. Stop comparing yourself to me -- and be yourself."

"Tora...?" Sigrid gasped. But there was no answer. The voice, if there had ever been one, was gone now.

Clenching her fists at her sides, Icemaiden stood her ground. "You won't go any further, Umber. I won't let you." Despite the trembling of her lips, her voice remained firm. For a moment, even the Umber seemed moved by the determination. The creature hesitated, and then began his march once more. It raises its fists high, ready to strike down this enemy.

Icemaiden closed her eyes, letting her power take over. Waves of cold and ice flew from her body as the temperature began to drop considerably. The howling of the wind intensified as a field of white began to flow throughout the room, obscuring all sight and sound. The Umber staggered as thick snow and ice began to cling to his form, making each step a Herculean effort.

Sigrid felt herself floating on a field of white, flying higher and higher until all the fears of her life were like distant stars on the horizon.

For long moments, she felt no connection to the physical world, not until she heard the distant voice of Dorcas Leigh calling her back to reality. As her eyes opened, Sigrid felt her heart skip a beat.

The field of white was real. The interior of Barksland Castle was covered by a thick blanket of ice and snow, the beast known as the Umber frozen solid in the center of the room. Godiva, barely recognizable beneath her own coating of ice, stared at her with awe. "You did it... You stopped him!"

"Revenant desolidified himself, but both the Demon and Morgaine disappeared in the flurries. I guess they decided to end their fight elsewhere. What about you, Sigrid? Are you okay?"

Sigrid paused before answering, unsure of what her answer would be. With a slowly spreading smile, she said "I feel wonderful, Dorcas. Better than I have in ages." Her smile faltered as she stared at Umber. "But what about him? When he awakens?"

"Citsym nosirp dloh siht erutaerc thgit!" Zatanna waved her hands through the air, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was dressed in fightnets and tights, the same attire she'd worn onstage earlier in the evening. A sometime stage magician, she was a longtime ally and sometime member of the might Justice League. "There. That should do it."

Revenant, Godiva and Icemaiden stared at the shimmering purple field in which the creature was held. The three of them had come here at Revenant's urging, who felt confident that Zatanna could find a way to restrain the monster.

Zatanna took a bow. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week, folks." With a twinkle in her eye, she smiled at Revenant. "Now, didn't I tell you that joining the Sentinels of Magic would have its benefits?"

"Yes... And since I'm not affiliated with the Squadron anymore, I find it all the more useful."

Godiva sighed. "I miss them. Maybe it's time 'England's foremost champion' returned to their ranks?"

Revenant grunted. "The team's different now. Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Amazing Man... Who knows if they'd even want us? Besides, I prefer to be with who are less judgmental these days."

Godiva turned to Icemaiden, noting the young woman's silence. "Sigrid? Cat got your tongue?"

"No," she said with a laugh. "I was just thinking that the three of us worked well together. Would you mind if I stayed with you awhile longer, Dorcas?"

Sigrid surprised Revenant by taking both his hand and Godiva's in her own. "So it's settled then. We're a team, at least for awhile."

Revenant blinked. "It is?" Seeing the looks on both their faces, Revenant felt himself smile. "So it is."

Hope you enjoyed our little Halloween Special, which marks my return to the Justice Squadron characters. Derrick has done an incredible job so far, but I felt the need to dabble in the universe once more. In fact, his work inspired me to a great extent.

My hope with this story was to show what some former members were up to, as well as foreshadow some ideas I have for down the road. Hope you enjoyed it.

Please be sure and check out Derrick's run on the title, which began with issue 19.

Look for me to return to the series in a more active role with issue 26. See you then.

SPECIAL # 1