Trying to deal with the TX

So the TX unit has taken the teenage version of Tony Stark over to her side of the board. Not only that but all the authorities are trying to get us to bring in Iron Boy. I'm going to try something before that happens. but first I have to find the kid. I tell the kids to wait for me until I get back. Then it's time for me to do something I haven't done in a while. You see when I meditate I can pull off a tick that Vincent and Vella think they can only do, I can sense chi. I ignore what West City is trying to tell me and try to find the two Tony Starks Yin and Yang. Good, and Evil. The one know as " Iron Man " is off giving a speech for his campaign. Iron Boy is in going to a SHIELD safe house outside the city. I break from my trance, and drive to the scene. When I finally find him he's beating on Nick Fury. A naked Nick Fury. Well there's something I never wanted to see. " Hey kid! Why don't you fight someone with pants?" I yell and get a look at his new armor oddly it looks like the armor of Iron Lad from the future. Of course I know there is no such thing as a coincidence. There is a symbolism here. Iron Lad didn't want to become his future self Kang the Conqueror. Just like Anthony doesn't want to become Tony Stark. Funny the games the Universe plays with us. I'm pretty sure Iron Boy has no idea who Iron Lad was. But still he tries to be like him too bad he is already going down the road to ruin the original Iron Man has went down. " Question! " The boy shouts. " Are you going to try to catch me?" I throw one of those devices that knocked out his armor last time., it has the same result looks lie Anthony put this one together hastily without taking out that flaw. Vincent , and Vella owe me lunch. Man I need friends my own age. I guess I can see what Nightwing's up to later. As Ironboy is frozen in place. He cusses at me . " You got it all wrong." I reassure." I just want to talk to your girl friend is all. " He clams down when I say this and I take the device off off of him. And we fly out the window before Fury pulls a gun on us. I then ask Anthony to leave us to talk alone. She scans me. Subject the Question. Real name: unknown Alisas: Charles Victor Szajz Victor "Vic " Sage. Occupation: Reporter, Mentor, Conspiracy theorist. Former activist Superhero, Former defender of Hub City. Abilities Martial artist, shaman abilities which include "talking" to cities . reading Ki or Chi levels, Walking between worlds able to see the deeper meaning of coincidence. I clap. " most scanning devices don't see that I have powers. " " I am not most scanning devices is there a reason you want to hide your abilities? " I smile " Good question." She gives me the Batman "I am not amused" look. " State your purpose." " A simple trade. Magneto isn't dead. I know where he is. Now stop stringing along Anthony and I'll give him back to you." " And you do not fear that me and my Magneto will rule the Earth?" I bust out with laughter. " Please ! You two can't even take over a min i mall much less the planet. " She glares . I guess the truth hurts. " But someone who has a real chance at ruling the world is Tony Stark. Iron Man. He's brilliant, amoral , and he has an edge the Extremis virus. He can control any computer on the planet including you. " " Ridiculous!" She protests. " I am from the future. " " So are the Borg that freed you." I counter. " And he controlled one killed it with his power, and as we speak he is integrating future tech into his armor. " She smiles. " Then he will be assimilated. " " Wrong he has already assimilated the Borg." I state to her. " You have a choice release Anthony back to us, with him we can anticipate Stark's next moves , and finally stop him. Or stand against us. Then you will know defeat again. I've calculated a battle between you and those kids you lose each and every time. In some scenarios your killed in some Anthony the boy to die. You I don't give a damn about. You'll never be nothing more than a robotic bad guy sidekick. " That glare again. " Iron man can make you , and every mechanical being his puppet. But you don't have to do that you don't have to know defeat at the hands of of the children. You can Go Back To Erik Lensherr, and bump heads with the X-men from now until your eventual destruction at their hands. The Question is what will you choose?"

What my investigations have brought up.

I was busy investigating , so When I come back I find The kids fighting SHIELD. Then Shang Chi Comes after me, and I know there is no way I can beat him with just my skills. So I ended up trading with Gohan who was fighting the Sentry. He humored me knocked out Shang, and tried to return to battle the Sentry. But he was already beaten. You see he's afraid to go out of the house. Iron man , and others have to coax the man out with stale platitudes. I think I messed up all of their work with telling him all the dangers of being outside that I could think of off the top of my head, that's about a few hundred.So After I leave Sentry a quivering heap, I have to listen to Batgirl talk about registering. Yes that's a good idea. SHIELD is only the third most corrupt organization on the planet. I really want to see these kids used for weapons of whatever special interest is paying the government this week. I know it's hard to translate in print but that was sarcasm. Luckily we all talked her out of it. Then came all the teenage drama of the breakup between Vincent and Batgirl. I'm not sad to say I made a little money off that. You see Green Arrow bet me that his kid would would win her by the end of the week. I bet that She'd be back with the Prince in under 24 hours. I won. Taking money from Oliver is one of the highlights of my life. Any way my search for truth found two interesting things. First I've found Spoiler's mother, but I don't want to tell her because Stephanie's return from the dead had caused her mother to have a nervous break down. I have personally talked to her, and tried to assure her that her daughter does indeed live, and is not an impostor. For the time being, I think Steph shouldn't see her until she's more mentally healthy. The second thing I found out is a certain pink haired "hero" is a fraud. No not Gaia. She's about as sincere as a construct made by aloof uncaring gods can be. No. Who I'm talking about is the Erin the insurance whore. We all thought her shilling for an insurance company was a little eccentric ( Heh. I'm one to talk.) But it turns out she endangers people by faking monster attacks, alien invasions, and villain fights. She "defeats" these menaces, then babbles on about car insurance with her mentally disturbed partner. Her endangering of people can not go on. Soon she will answer to the Question.

Siege on Black Plauge

Vincent Valentine, vanished Looks like he was going for whatever he needs to stop the virus. Me I went for the Black Plague myself. The sounds of battle go off in the distance as the kids fight the meta humans and others. I find him with some of his closest gangsters. The guy called Ash. A man with a gun for a nose and some other weirdos on the roof of his mansion running towards a helicopter. I throw some smoke bombs and knock the out the mobsters underneath the cover of smoke . " What's going on! Ash? Bulletbrain?" " None of the above. " " Then who?" He asks. " That is the Question." I respond. As I leap out of the smoke. He throws a punch that catches me in the jaw so much for surprise. " Ah. So it is you. " He laughs. " The crackpot superhero. So you are the one who lead those children out there to their deaths." " Last I saw those "children" were kicking the butts of your men. " I shoot back. "And you! Your a parasite that feeds off this city, But I've gathered enough evidence to put you away forever!" Again he mocks me. " Please you know I have half the officials in this city paid off. " I actually thought of that. " I have run each and everyone of your cronies out of town, when you go to trial, it will be a fair one!" I kick him in the solar plexus. he returns a shot to my chin. He's tough and doesn't has a high pain threshold. I turn because I sense something behind me. " That's Baroque the embodiment of fear!" Plague announces. I shrug. " I know we've met before. " I take his moment of surprise to land several quick jabs and an uppercut. I have to buy Wildcat a beer for teaching me how to box one day, him and Richard Dragon for the martial arts training. I have him on he ropes so to speak when he blocks a spin kick and tosses me. I land at the edge of the roof. He grabs my neck and starts trying to push me off. I monkey flip over the edge, and grab him before he falls. " Your not getting away that easily. " I state. That was close we're on a cliff face falling directly into the sea. I start to pull him up, when he screams . " I'm not going to Prison! If i die I'll take you with me Question!" He grabs me and tries to pull us both over the edge. Somehow in the struggle the container for the gas use to adhere the mask to my face. Is broken, and sprays Plague in the eyes, he falls into the icy ocean below. Damn. I didn't want it to end like this . I wanted to take him to trial. I Guess though him falling alone is better than the two of us pulling a Sherlock Holmes Moriarty Good Guy/ Bad Guy double death. Then again if I remember right it later turned out both were alive in later books. Wait a second. That gave me a bad thought . What if plague is still alive, And even if it was for a second the gas did hit my mask, it slipped, what if he's seen my real face? Can't worry about that now the police are here, and rounding up the Black Plague's men. So I need to make myself scarce , so I can come back , and cover this as Vic Sage. After all the drama , and interviewing with the kids is over. They ask me where Plague is. "There was an accident on the roof. " I notice Batgirl trying to read me. " Is... He dead?" " I don't know." " I could tell that her next question would BB if I meant to kill him, but luckily Inertia stopped her mid sentence. " Who cares if the punk is dead? We kicked ass here! I mean so what he's a crime lord so what they are like roaches take one down, another one takes place. Am I right? " " If that's your attitude Thad, then maybe being a superhero is not the line of work you should be in." Spoiler scolds. "Hero? " he snorts. " I'm just doing this for the excitement. I ain't got any delusions of heroism okay?" the two argue for the rest of the night even at the pizza place I take them to celebrate, the fact that all of them are still alive, even the weird Tony Stark doppelganger, who I guess is going to stay around. Enough of this I need to start investigating the fact that pop music uses mind control.

Black Plauge is playing a dangerous game.

After reading the information I found in that shipment, I alerted all the kids, I Sent all of them to get more information . Then immediately thought better of it, but it was already too late they were all gone. I slapped my self on my fore head, when I imagined how they would do detective work. I imagine Cass and Vincent bad touching each other on some darkened roof top. Spoiler Cussing out Robin one minute then crying about how she misses him the next. Vella analysing the local ice cream shop. Inertia vibrating into the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders locker room. So I looked up a cop I know who's been taking kickbacks from Plague. I found him " interviewing" a beautiful female suspect. I drop my card on him. The gas coming from it scares the girl away. He turns and I punch him in the face. He wakes And finds I've hung upside down on top a a high rise. " Good morning Jimmy. I'm on a tight schedule here, so Why don't you tell me where Plague is holing up these days? " You!" Jimmy yells. " The guy that's making fun of Plague by being faceless." " Heh." I couldn't help laughing at that. " I was faceless before it became all popular.So what don't you tell me where to find him I've been waiting to meet him no face to freak face. " " No way! The Plague will kill me man!" He protests. " Yes but that will be later, I could kill you now." He spits at me, it misses looks like it's going to be a bad day for someone down on the street. " I know about you superhero guys! Your just bluffing!" I shrug. "You know I was kicked out of the JLA. Too much of a crack pot. I know what others won't believe there is a conspiracy that's been going on since the days of ancient Egypt. the Common Man doesn't believe in them that aids in their goals. So you see I was written off as crazy. If anyone finds about me killing you they'll just say 'It's that Crackpot going nuts again.' So You could die right here right now, or you can have a chance to get out of town. What will you do? That is the Question." He sings like a canary then. He tells me That Black Plague is at his Sea side mansion with a bunch of scientist demons and Meta humans then he told me more stuff I didn't want to know. Like he Played doctor with his cousin as a kid, or that he likes to wear dresses. I release him before I learn more of his sorted past. " What am I gonna do I'm dead if I stay In West City!" He whines. " I hear Hub City is a good place for cops on the take." I reply vanishing in a cloud of binary gas. He doesn't see me slip off my mask , or sneak out of into the entrance of the building all he knows I pulled a magic trick. I hated to do it, but I had to work in my day job as Vic Sage at the News Station. I did a scathing report on Black Plague and police corruption, and I hoped if the virus popped up the kids could do something about it. I was happy to see the world didn't end in the thirty minutes of my show. A Secretary gave me my messages. " These are form that Helena girl Vic, and this one came from this weird guy who was dressed all in red. Vincent Valentine. I read his message. It was a detailed description of the forces that Wisenheim is playing with. Also those who may want to benefiting a way that will destroy the planet. He also gave me a way to contact him because he wanted to come along in the coming battle . Time to go from my day job to my night job. I I'm Pleasantly surprised to find that that the kids had dug more enough incriminating evidence on Plague to put him a way a looooong time. Nice to know that they listen to me. We meet with Valentine, at The Beach House. Someone trips an alarm. ( I choose to blame Inertia) And the place is soon crawling with the Black Plague mob coming towards us. This is where the fun part starts. " Smirks Vincent. We all back up a few steps from the saiyans well except Inertia who looks around confused, And is blown away from the ki as the twins transform. He vibrates through the wall he was about to smash into. He comes out cursing " Grife! Why couldn't you two have sprocking warned me?!" I must say I don't understand 31st century cuss words. " Take out your anger on... them." Batgirl points at the onslaught coming for us . Well this is where we see if all the training I gave these kids pays off or not.

Looks like someone else is interested in Black Plauge.

I 'd like to thank Elektra for all the information. It's been very useful. I now have a good idea of Black Plague's organization. While the kids were doing something else I went to Crime Alley Bar. You see the info Elektra gave me had a shipment coming in of.. something. I want to see what's in that shipment. So that takes us to why I'm at Crime Alley one of Plague's thugs always comes here to drink and hit on the bar floozies. He gets somewhat drunk, And thinks it's a good idea to urinate outside. That's when my card drops on his head. He opens it And gas sprays in his face all the inside the card is a "?" After he freaks out a bit a come out of I release more gas from my containers in my belt to stick my mask to my face , and change the color of my clothes. He turns around. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" I knock him out and drag him throw him in my car, and drive him to The Team's base. Cassandra Cain spots me on the way to my room. She seems happy now. Good for her especially since the disturbing sounds from the cave kept me up the other night.Yes those two should be a little more quiet. I tied the thug up and forced him to Watch Mission Impossible 3. After a few minutes of that horrible movie He told me everything So I knock him out again, and leave him in front of some store in the middle of West City. So when get back I find the Batman ,is visiting Batgirl. I asked him about why The JLA decided to try to get the Great Saiyamoron to take my place as team mentor. Batman comes up with the time I thought I was an urban shaman. I was on a case for weeks before that, and hadn't gotten much sleep. (Kind of like now. Because of Vincent and Cassandra.) Well I had some strange ideas after sleep deprivation. ( I can here the jokes now. Question thinking odd things how is that different. ) The point I'm trying to get to is I know for a fact that Batman has had many mental lapses over the year. Later at 10:00pm I had all the kiddies around except for that Great Saiya freak. Cass makes them all spread out. They take out some of the all the guards. I Look inside the boxes. Next thing I know an impossible gun is put into my face Um Faceless . " Who are you?" he asks. " That's the Question." I answer. Spoiler Comes out of her hiding place.And is about to toss some gadget after him. " He's the Question. He does that to everyone. Now do you work for Black Plague Vampire Boy?" " No he doesn't." I tell her. " Unless I miss my guess He's Called Vincent Valentine an Experiment gave him some powers. Am i right?" " How do you know that um Question?" " The company you used to work for has a thread connected to conspiracies I've following for some time now. So Your after something here too? I think maybe we should pool our resources?" Before he can answer me Inertia Pops up In front of me. " Hey Faceless ya gotta See this. " I follow him even though I really don't trust this kid. He's only here because he's horny. But when I see the Batgirl, and Vella up ahead I feel a little better. " You'll never believe what we found in one of those boxes Vincent's disconnecting him from from a cryogenic chamber." Vella chirps excitedly. this kid Runs out of a capsule I see Vincent Briefs doing something to. My god This kid looks exactly like a seventeen year old Tony Stark!

Visit from Nightwing

Ugh! I look around at my rat hole apartment ,and look for the information I have Acquire about the 32nd Baskin Robbins flavor. Instead I find the incriminating evidence on Stark, the Illumanitti, And the New Coke, Crystal Pepsi Conspiracy. " Hello Vic. You know Montoya is going to kill you." A voice behind me says. " Heh. Well well if it isn't the Boy Wonder and Yes I know, She's already found me, I had to listen to a full morning of cursing in Spanish." " So Um why.." " Good question." " Ok Vic. Keep your secrets. I need to talk to you anyway." " What can I do for Nightwing? Besides give you a beer? " " So How long are you going to stay in Sunny California anyway, seems odd for you." He asks. " Until I feel like moving on. It's obvious something's on your mind. Dick. " Yeah. You've heard of Spoiler?" " Cute kid? Dressed like a purple Moon Knight? Tortured to death by Black Mask. As has a new one emerged? Because yes I've seen her. The other day in fact arguing with Vegeta's son. " " Nope same one, She's Cassandra used something that Vegeta knows about to bring her back, and worse she didn't talk to Tim about it, so his ex is alive and well he doesn't know about it. " " Dragonballs." I Interject. "Huh?" Dick asks. " Dragonballs. A form of extra terrestrial magic that Vegeta happened to stumble on, his wife invented a way to find them, when she was a flirty teenager. They can pretty much do anything. I believe that is how Cassandra brought back Spoiler." Dick shakes his head. " How do you know this stuff?" " All part of being a 'crack pot'. One problem with using these things is for every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction for anything positive they do I have long thought they also do something negative. And those saiyans use them when ever something bad happens so they don't have to deal with consequences of living. " " What are you getting at?" Dick Asks. " It's my theory the universe doesn't like being messed with, so it'll do something to counter what the Dragonballs do. A good person comes back an evil one comes back as a balance. How many times have say Friezia or Cell come back ?The only reason the saiyans haven't really cared is because they have grown so stupidly powerful, they can just kill their resurrected enemies in seconds. " He rubs his head like he has a headache. " Always fun to talk to you Vic. I'm not sure who Frieza or Cell are, but your saying some bad guy comes back each time they wish back a good guy?" " Succinctly put." " Can I ask you a favor?" Grayson looks out the window. " While your here, could you look out for the kids?" " I'll think about it." Though I have caught the teaching bug lately with Montoya. But part of the fun of that was to find her in her room with another lady. But with these kids I hope I never walk into to something weird. I have to see these kids in action before I make a decision though. Cassandra I know, The Saiyan kids, Well I'm not too sure of, and I've only heard of Spoiler. Like I said I'll have to see if I 'd be wasting my time, with them or not.

So many problems.

After the battle with Hero Slayer and Deathstroke, I found some clues to his identity a mask. It had some saliva inside it. I had sent it to do a DNA test. Damn Heroslayer is sloppy. In time, I'll know who you are mister. The other problems? Well even though Heroslayer is my top priority. I have been cleaning up some of Black plague's minions I found a couple of so called "metas " where guarding a drug ring. The problem is I'm not sure what powers these people were supposed to have. They were called the tickler, and the paddler. one of them tried to tickle me while another tried to use a paddle on me . I beat them both severely. You know I think these to loser just got into this by wearing a costume , and trying out a gimmick. I doubt they have any powers. Ok Neither do i But my gimmick is at least somewhat legitimate. I left my calling card A big question mark painted on the wall., and left. While in my van compiling information another conspiracy ( Ecto cooler was made from real ghost slime.) When Someone Sneaks up on me. " Victor, Victor, Victor." Those thugs were not even in your league . Why are you wasting time with them? " " You know Shiva I thought you were at the Boudaki." "I thought you were dead." She chimes back. "But yes I was at the Boudokai, And it seems Cassandra made quite the little discovery." Uh -oh . " And that would be?" " Tell me do you know the Name Vegeta?" Answers a question with a question. I would marry her it it wasn't for the whole evil assassin thing, and the act she'd probably tear me apart for thinking it. " Yes I've heard it." I answer. " What do you know of this teenage boy of his that just appeared from nowhere?" " Answer my question first. Why do you want to know?" She sighs. " Because I have seen potential in him, with his powers , and natural skill he would make the perfect protege' . that and the boy seems almost to be a blank slate easily molded.Now tell me what do you know, and don't tell me you don't know anything, you have files on everyone with Meta abilities." I tip my hat to her. " Rumor has it he and his twin are really months old. Some enemy of Vegeta's kidnapped them, and either aged the artificially, or they were already in the process of it, some mutation? They were exposed to something? the rumors are a little sketchy what is known, is a bunch of data was downloaded into their brains, and they were supposed to weapons against their father. It didn't turn out that way. They killed their captors, and have been living here ever since." " So he's already taken life?" She grins. "Good. Now I'll give you some free info The boy is being tested by David He wants to have him battle one of his best trainees, and a son of Ra's AL Ghul to the death. If the boy kills AL Ghul which he no doubt will David will consider him worthy of Cassandra, if not So much potential will be wasted. " "Where is this ?" I query. Oh? well Here's the longitude and latitude It's actually where the girl was born. Oddly sentimental that one is. " " I have to stop this." I declare. " but you knew I would didn't you? , that's why you came here. You want a chance to try and turn him into what you are. " She smiles then mocks "Good question." I had no time for a come back I used the control I had from my JLA days as their resident crackpot and used the teleporter to go to the coordinates. I saw the half saiyan kid tear into another boy with glowing fist, and vaporise him. Next he punches Cain in the mouth knocking him out. Good , I really didn't know what was going to do against him. I guess I could just shoot him. But he was alive and done for for now. The kid is just staring at the blood on his hand. " What are you supposed to be ? " He asks. " That's the question isn't it?" I retort. He looks up at me. " I think you could annoy me, If I got to know you." He says. I smile underneath my mask. " I have that affect on people. So what now?" " Cass Says she felt all this stuff when she killed, I feel nothing. That worries me. Am I a bad person? Is it because who my father is? Am I Some kind of monster?" " Those are questions only you can answer, " I reply. "When you find them you'll know yourself. Te,, me did you enjoy it?" " No, He wanted to kill me, threatened Cass, I did what was necessary I think. He was a human waste. but still, do I have the right?" " The fact that your asking says a lot about you." I say. " You need to go home or back to the Boudakai whatever." " Yeah I guess. " He says in a monotone before flying off. I go Back to West City. And wait the results on the Heroslayer DNA test.

Who is Heroslayer? good Question.

" Hello Buzz. What's Up?" " Uh. " He stares at me. " So Heroslayer is one of us. I think something Jarred him, in hero work it can be stressful. I hear Young Robin has taken up drinking. What do you know about Heroslayer?" Buzz starts acting more friendly. " Your a hero huh? we don't have many of your kind in Darktown. Well you seem to know more about that kook than I do. " " He hurt a friend of mine. " I answer. "I decided to come out of hiding and do what I can to put a stop to it." " Hiding? What do you mean?" "That's one of many questions. Some have no answers. But the answer to this one is simple. I Was burned out. I trained my replacement , and faked my death with the help of Tot , and Richard Dragon. Then I hear of this Heroslayer, and now I'm out of retirement. " " Why ?Sounded like you needed the vacation. " " I have few real friends , Batman and his children are a few. Lady Shiva is another. Well maybe friend isn't the right word for her. Our relationship is complicated. " "So what are you going to do after The Slayer is stopped ?Ya know Since Mirai Trunks left for SHIELD This part of town has went to hell in a hand basket." " Yes I've noticed the saiyans only deal with the world crushers." I observe." meanwhile the gangs are squeezing this city like a ripe tomato. It's not like everyone doesn't know I'm alive, after I exposed Kon-El's affair with Draculina. Renee is going to kill me though." I leave I'm about to leave the bar when. I tell The Bartender. " You Know I should start back up on my campaign to expose Tony Stark's evil and have him put up on charges. See you." " Wait." He shouts. " Who are you?" I turn around. " That's the Question isn't it?"