For new readers thinking "What's this JSA thingy?", JSA is an older DC Mayhem title. You can find the entire DC Mayhem library, including the rest of JSA and it's satellite stories, here.
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“Alright. Let me get all this straight,” Lobo growled, pulling a plasma torch from his boot and lighting another cigar, popping the thick dark stick between his lips and chomping down. “The goth babe's cosmic demon daddy has put a curse on some random people. They get Final Destination-style'a bad luck, and after they die they rise as his servants. People marked that ya already know of are me, the skulky yellow dude, and the hottie with the bone-wings. Got everything right so far?”
“The Question--”
“Who?”
Power Girl inhaled. “A detective from Gotham, called the Question. He's also been marked.”
“N'where's he?”
“In hiding. The three of you can most likely withstand a little bit of lethal bad luck, but he can't. Raven's managed to get a lock on Trigon and things are moving faster than we thought – some of his scions have already died, and are channeling him towards earth.” Power Girl folded her arms and found herself droning a little – she'd been forced to tell this story too many times already. It was seriously starting to stress her out.
Lobo grunted, inhaling deeply from his cigar and releasing a noxious plume of smoke into the kryptonian's face. “And let me guess. He wants to destroy the earth.”
“Now you're ready to sing along, czarnian,” Etrigan smiled, though his eyes weren't on Lobo himself – they were away, watching Starfire zig-zag through the air with Creeper hanging from her ankles. He hadn't been the least bit pleased when he learned that there were not, in fact, any snacks to be had.
“Y'know, speakin' as someone who's destroyed a planet before, it ain't as fulfilling as it seems. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a blast while you're doin' it, but when everyone's gone ya end up wishin' you'd thought things through a little better.” Lobo stretched out, his eyes growing distant. “Used to love czarnian cigars. Now there ain't a single one left.”
“Unfortunately, I... don't think Trigon will be concerned about cigars.” Raven sighed. They were wasting time. With each pointless word exchanged, Trigon got closer to earth. If they weren't prepared when he arrived, there would be nothing left to save. “We have to go, now. He's... he's coming. I can sense him. Even through Bleez's...” she trailed off, glancing to the Red Lantern before looking back down at the ground, shrugging her shoulders.
Lobo glanced from Raven to Bleez, arching a long black brow. “Those two gonna kiss or somethin'? 'Cause if they do, the Main Man'd better have a front row seat.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “They aren't going to kiss – I don't think – but Raven's right, we need to start moving. We've theorized that these marked ones, or scions, or whatever, that he may have some kind of weakness towards them. We need you on our side, Lobo.”
“Can I hear that one more time?” Lobo grunted, leaning in and pressing his ear towards the kryptonian.
Power Girl let out a sigh. “We need you, Lobo.”
“One more time? I think I got somethin' in my ear.”
“We need you.”
“Who needs me?”
“We do.”
“Who was that?”
“Dammit Lobo, I need you!” Kara bellowed, a blast of super breath sending the czarnian staggering back slightly, the shutters on the hotel's cheap windows rattling and falling off.
“...Yeesh, say it, don't spray it,” the bounty hunter grumbled, taking another drag off of his cigar before promptly swallowing it. “Alright babe, ya got the 'Bo. But there's somethin' you should know.”
“Oh, great.” Raven droned.
“The Main Man's got a posse now, has for a little while. I call 'em in for big gigs, kinda nice to have a couple'a extra bodies. I'll have a group ready when you guys find the big demon fella. Just gimme a ring.”
“On what?” Power Girl asked.
Lobo furrowed his brow. “...Telephone, whaddya think?”
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Crimson malice swirled in the sky. The vortex had begun to open over the Indian Ocean, marking perhaps the only time in history the Indian Ocean had ever been particularly important. The clouds darkened and began to coalesce, forming a sinister storm of caustic vapor. Trigon was coming. He was coming soon. He was, in fact, on his way.
“He's here,” Raven whispered, cloak blowing behind her as she perched on the edge of a rock. Etrigan had been nice enough to teleport the Justice Society to Madagascar, the closest point to the portal Trigon seemed to be opening, and it was already making serious progress. It seemed like it had all moved so fast from the point when they learned about the scions, to the point where Trigon was actually beginning to enter the world. Raven's mental anguish from not having seen it sooner distracted her, diminished her self-control. Emotions started coursing through her, making her twitch and spasm. So much at once. Too many crazy teammates. Starfire's bubbling excitement, Etrigan's malice, Creeper's insanity, Bleez's rage, Power Girl's stress. It was creating a roiling, frothing soup inside of her.
“I can't fly,” Creeper commented casually. “It's going to be quite challenging to attack if he comes down over the ocean like that. I need a jetpack or something.”
“More and more I'm thinking we're all screwed,” Kara retorted. “I didn't expect him to be this big.”
“He's as powerful as he is large.” Raven added.
“That's not particularly helpful, Raven,” Power Girl said, her eyes still focused on the sky. “Has anyone called Lobo yet?”
Bleez nodded. “I did.”
The hunched, yellow-skinned man glanced at her, arching a brow. “Wait... what? How?”
“I used the ring, idiot. Red Lanterns aren't as inflexible as people think, our rings do all the cool stuff too.”
“Huh. Learn something new every day.”
“Do you think they'll come?” Starfire said, only to suddenly turn her head, spinning in a slow circle. Something was coming, but not from the vortex. It was coming from the sky, massive and black. Almost like a cross between and airship carrier and a... motorcycle....
The massive machine landed (surprisingly lightly) on the mossy ground before the JSA, a shuttle opening and the czarnian hopping out. “That was quick. I know ya said 'he's comin'' an' all that but I didn't think it'd be the same day.”
“We're just surprised you came at all, Lobo,” Power Girl snapped, eying the ship. “Where's your crew?”
“Inside! Y'prob'ly already met most of 'em,” he offered a fanged smirk and gestured at the members of his 'team' as they walked down the gangway. “Meet Mr. Freeze, Livewire, Firefly, Poison Ivy, an' my own special little lady...” the bounty hunter shared a quick, invasive kiss with the last member to walk out. “...Cheetah.”
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“I think I've almost got it...” Victor whispered, a crazed smile coming over his face. “This magic thing, it really isn't as challenging as people make it out to be.”
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