by Libbylawrence and Starsky Hutch 76
Captain Comet had hastily arranged a meeting with Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern at the JLA Satellite. “So, I was called before three military generals named Logan, Castle, and Cable — all considered to be hawks at the Pentagon — who said they had problems with my team and the way I’ve been leading it. They applauded our successes, but still insisted that we be willing to compromise our ethics. They didn’t like the name I’ve been using, the Rehab Squad, and wanted to go back to using Flag’s old team name — the Suicide Squad.”
Superman frowned. “What did you tell them?”
“I said rehabilitation was my goal for these former felons, along with public service,” explained Comet. “They asked if I was willing to have casualties or sacrifice a team member during a mission if logic dictated it or even governmental policy.”
“Really?” said Green Lantern, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “That’s cold and heartless — almost inhuman!”
“As distasteful as it was, I understand the point they wanted to make,” said Batman. “They wanted to know that you’ll bend your ethics for more extreme and covert missions.”
“I refused,” said Captain Comet. “Then they asked about why I had so many female members. I said I could work with who I chose, surely, if it worked. Finally, they questioned the publicity the team — especially Valor — received, and I said it was good for the public to see people make positive changes in their lives. After the invasion, Valor has become a world-renowned hero.” (*)
[(*) Editor’s note: See Captain Comet’s Rehab Squad: Strange Visitors.]
“I’ve forgiven Lesla-Lar for her past, so why can’t others?” declared Superman.
“Exactly,” said Comet. “So I immediately offered my resignation, as did Dolphin. Valor, as well as Golden Glider and Cheetah, have each earned pardons. Actually, Valor had no record, anyway. I don’t know what Blossom will do. She’s no longer herself. Rick Flag has decided to remain in his position as director, along with Karin Grace, or Goldstar, as she’s calling herself now.”
“The JLA would love to have you or Valor join the team,” said Superman.
“Thanks, but I still want to help the others reform. That’s why I asked you three here. In your opinion, could I form a new, independent team? And would it work?”
“I’m sure it would,” said Green Lantern. “You could even take the name from my absent mentors and call yourselves the New Guardians.”
“I like it,” said Comet. “Where could we meet? And who would fund us?”
“I can arrange funding through the Wayne Foundation,” said Batman. “You won’t have to answer to any government overseers that way.”
“Great!” said Captain Comet. “Thank you both.”
Superman spoke up as well. “And I can give you a headquarters! Before I constructed my current Fortress of Solitude, I had a smaller one which I based first in space and then beneath the Earth. (*) Well, I gave that one up for the one in the Arctic, but it still exists, and with teleportation devices installed like we have in the JLA Satellite, no location will be too distant as a base of operations. My pal Jimmy owns a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean called Vumania. (*) It is totally deserted, and he would be thrilled to see your headquarters there with my old fortress as its base.”
[(*) Editor’s note: See “Superman’s Fortresses of Solitude,” Action Comics #261 (February, 1960) and “Sir Jimmy Olsen, Knight of Metropolis,” Action Comics #231 (August, 1957).]
“Thank you,” said a happy Captain Comet. “The New Guardians live.”
***
Captain Comet woke up with a start. His dream had been very realistic, making him wonder if he was starting to develop precognitive powers on top of his other mental gifts.
“What a dream!” he muttered, shaking his head. It had been a nice fantasy after being grilled by the government officials who oversaw the Meta-Human Rehabilitation Agency. “I wish things really could resolve themselves that easily, but things are usually end up being a bit more complicated.” He chuckled. “You don’t need an advanced brain like mine to know that.”
Indeed, the members of the Rehab Squad still had a hard road to travel, especially Valor. It was still too soon to expect even their impressive efforts so far in reform to be embraced without skepticism from the public or even the super-hero community.
Rising from his couch, he went back to his desk and began to review Colonel Flag’s choices for the Squad’s next mission. As he saw a few of the names, Adam Blake started to wonder what he’d gotten himself into.