Author's notes: A little background - The "Justice League of America" in my story is based solely on the live-action TV pilot and in it, J'onn J'onnz (aka The Martian Manhunter) was played by David Ogden Stiers. JLA fans, if I've gotten people, places, etc. totally out of whack, my apologies, I'm going by just the TV show. Thanks!
The spring weather had been really calm and beautiful in Honolulu, making the plane ride to Los Angeles quite enjoyable for Margaret Houlihan. She spent the time reviewing her notes for the speech she would be giving at the New Metro City Hospital's Conference Chamber. If that was all she had to do in this never-before-heard-of city. Her audience was to be made up of medical nurses, male and female alike, from the hospital and the various surrounding clinics. The subject being the importance of nursing in emergency care. This was old hat to Margaret, and she would be handling it with ease, she knew this not from conceit, but from experience and results and just a little bit of pride. Another thing she knew from experience would be her time there. It was only temporary. She planned to be staying in New Metro just a little over a month. After initial speechmaking, Margaret was to settle in as actual emergency care administrator in the hospital until someone under her training could sufficiently take over.
In her intense, but quick briefing back in Hawaii, with her good family friend, Dr. Robert Harwell --"Uncle Bob," it was explained to her that the previous emergency care director had up and left, quite suddenly. The nurses there thought they could handle it on their own, but soon realized someone else, someone with the precise experience of Margaret was desperately needed.
Three-fourths into the journey, gray clouds began to gather. Neither the pilots, nor the flight attendants broadcasted any immediate concern in the weather. Although, the ominous clouds continued to grow more dense as the aircraft was nearing the coast. Other passengers were growing a bit puzzled, LA wasn't known for it's rainfall. But they began breathing sighs of relief when the Captain finally came over the intercom to announce all was clear in the city, no rain or hail or anything else from the sudden overcast. Margaret took it in stride, not paying too much attention to the weather outside, but more to the documents in front of her, although she knew them by heart. It was due to her strive for total professionalism.
The landing at the Los Angeles International airport was rather smooth, despite the continued darkening of the sky. Margaret gathered up her gear and after disembarking, went in search of the Dr. Horton who, along with Robert Harwell, had set this all up for her.
"All right," Margaret sighed, looking around. "Uncle Bob said Horton'd be right here. Now, where is.. "
"Margaret Houlihan? Hello, so sorry about the delay. Did you have a good flight?" Dr. Horton began after their quick greetings. He seemed to be in some sort of a hurry, so he and Margaret rushed along the terminal. "Here you go," he handed her yet another document packet. "You'll need to meet with a Mrs. Scofield first thing. She's the hospital administrator and also the nurse in charge of one of the New Metro's clinics, and the one who got this whole conference thing off the ground."
"Yeah, my Uncle.. I mean, Dr. Harwell has already mentioned her to me," Margaret managed to say as she kept up pace with Horton.
"She'll be at the hospital, and be able to get you started and brief you on all the immediate concerns." He pulled up short, breathing a bit heavy from the long trek through the airport, and out into the inclement-looking weather. Margaret was becoming a little winded herself. "Okay, this is Corporal Tate, and he's your driver for the trip to New Metro."
"A Corporal? Is this a military installation?" Margaret gasped as the young man took the bags from Dr. Horton and put them in back of the vehicle. A jeep, a closed jeep, but one nonetheless.
"Mrs. Scofield has your housing arrangements. My apologies Ms. Houlihan for my haste, but I must be returning to Fort Irwin." Horton began to jaunt across the parking lot. "And no, New Metro City has no military facilities. But they do have that Justice League... uh, good luck."
"The what?" Margaret turned to the Corporal. "The Just.. Leege? What did he say?"
"Oh, ma'am. It's the Justice League." Tate hopped into the driver's seat beside Margaret. "I don't know much about it, but they're based in New Metro, so I guess you'll be seeing for yourself."
"I guess so," she replied, shirking off the idea. Watching the Corporal maneuver the jeep out of the busy airport parking lot and finally get onto the highway, a thought suddenly dawned on Margaret. "Uh, Tate, is it? Well, why wasn't I able to get a flight from the airport to New Metro? Surely they have an airport, with planes and the like?"
"Yep, they do, but according to Dr. Horton, it's shut down for some industrial reason. Some guy is stirring up trouble. That's all I really know."
"Oh, okay, thanks," Margaret set back against the seat, and thought what in the world had she gotten herself into? She didn't take to much time to ponder those thoughts, because as soon as they reached the Los Angeles city limits, the nearly solid black clouds above suddenly crackled with thunder, and lightning began zapping from them. Still, no rain, though. Margaret shuddered, put the weather at the back of her mind, and got out the folder Horton had given her in the airport. It was detailed personnel files on the nurses of the hospital and the clinics, and their routines and how emergency care was being handled at the present time. Margaret guessed this Mrs. Scofield had given Horton this information for her, so she could bone up before her arrival at the hospital. "She probably had to hand it to him on the run," she murmured.
"Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Nothing, just thinking out loud. All right, now where exactly is this New Metro City? I've noticed we've been heading north, but as I know of the California cities like Sacramento, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, never have I heard of New Metro."
"I believe it's relatively new," Tate chuckled. "I really don't know how old, or how long it's been around."
"That's fine, I suppose I will be finding out all I need to know soon enough."
"I'm sure you will, ma'am."
The jeep continued to speed along its way, and they turned on a narrow, two-lane highway, that the Corporal announced to be the last leg of the journey to New Metro. Margaret was very grateful. All she wanted to do was stop all this movement, this traveling, and get somewhere and settle in. At least for a little while. She hoped Mrs. Scofield wasn't expecting a meeting with her first thing. If that was the case, she'd just have to wait. 'But,' Margaret groaned silently, 'I'll have to see her for my housing arrangements. Oh well, still I'm not going to get together for any discussions until after a much needed bath and some rest.'
The thunderclaps built to deafening pitches, and the lightning grew more and more frequent. Now, Margaret was beginning to become a little concerned.
"Corporal Tate, I am not liking the sound of this, should we turn... ah, no I guess we're closer to the city than anyplace else. I'm just afraid that we're headed for trouble in this storm."
"I wouldn't worry too much." His voice had a hesitance Margaret didn't like. "I am originally from Washington state, and we have storms such as these quite a bit. But this one seems a bit different."
"Different? How different?"
"Well, the lack of rain for one thing, and it doesn't seem like the right feel for tornadoes to form, and it's not a hurricane, for the slowness of the wind."
"Goodness, what could it be?"
Just then, a burst of the brightest light Margaret had ever seen, came right at the jeep and seemed to swallow it whole. "What was that?' She started to relay her concern to the Corporal, but Tate was no longer in the driver's seat. In fact the whole jeep was gone. What was happening?
Margaret came to, ever so slowly began to move her arms, legs, and finally her head, thankfully finding no pain or numbness in any of it. So just as gently, she struggled to stand up from the grassy ridge where she had lain.
Stretching this way and that, she was grateful nothing seemed to be broken. No bad scrapes or cuts, with the exception of her hip being slightly sore from where she had landed on the ground. Though, she was especially appreciative of the apparent absence of any head trauma, just dusty from being on the ground. As far as she could deduce, a huge bolt of lightning had struck the jeep. The jeep. Corporal Tate. Scanning the area around her, Margaret finally spotted the vehicle about fifty yards away. It was overturned onto its side.
She hurried, as stiffly as she could to it. But to her surprise and initial panic, the Corporal was gone, and he didn't seem to be anywhere in the vicinity. Could he be underneath? Oh, no. But a quick look on both sides told her that Tate was not beneath the jeep. Another thing to be thankful for. But where was he?
"Corporal?!" She shouted, again scanning the horizon around her. No answer, no movement of any kind. "Corporal Tate!!" Still nothing. Could he be somewhere else as she was, and perhaps even injured? Margaret walked outwards from the jeep into the fields straddling the road around it, in a few directions, calling, frantically scanning. Not a sign of anything.
She returned to the vehicle to contemplate her next move. Her luggage was still intact. She reached in to retrieve one of the bags with one hand and the other habitually pushed back her loosened hair so she could see what she was doing. A strange light source suddenly lit the interior of the vehicle. Startled, Margaret pulled back without getting the case, and as quick as it came the light was gone.
"Not more lightning, that's all I need," Margaret muttered aloud. But the heavy, dark clouds had dissipated somewhat. No thunder, and no lightning could be accounted for. She stepped back for a moment to get her priorites in order. She chose the one bag she'd need the most and slowly fetched it from the back seat, this time with no odd light.
'All right,' she sighed, looking up and down the roadway, and finding no traffic. 'Strange. But there was hardly any traffic earlier, either. Well, I guess more walking.' Margaret thought her best bet would be to continue on north, toward New Metro City.
She didn't know how far she had trekked when she saw in the distance up ahead a vehicle was coming. This has to be help. Surely it was for it had its sirens blaring. Margaret slowed her pace, coming to a complete halt as the ambulance drew along side of her.
"Ms. Houlihan?" The medic on the passenger side was jumping out and hurrying up to her.
"Yes, I.. How do you know who I am?"
"Are you all right?" He took the bag from her. "Your driver was picked up earlier by a passing motorist, but they didn't see you at the time, so took they him on to the hospital," he continued to explain, "and he told us there about you saving him."
"I... I.. saved him?" Margaret stepped up in the back of the ambulance, and took a seat on the gurney.
"Well, yes, I guess, that's what he was saying as he was brought in." The medic began examining Margaret as he recollected the story Corporal Tate had obviously told them at the hospital. It seemed to the Corporal that Margaret had pushed him clear from the jeep before it lurched violently from the lightning's impact. His last vision before blacking out was to see her being thrown out herself, a ways away.
"That must have been where I landed."
"Speaking of that, it looks like you're going to be just fine, perhaps a bit sore from all you've experienced. Not a very positive way to come into a new city, is it?"
"You know about why I'm coming to New Metro?"
"Well, yeah, most of us at the hospital do. Mrs. Scofield at the hospital is all abuzz about the new emergency care system. Kev and I are gonna attend in your conference," he pointed up towards the cab. "When ever you feel up to getting it rescheduled. Anyhow, Mrs. Scofield at the hospital now, and I'm sure she'll want to see you."
"Just wonderful," Margaret managed a smile. "Wait, rescheduled?"
"Scofield thought you might not be up to it, since it is tomorrow, and perhaps you'd like to give it later in the week."
"No, tomorrow'll be fine, you said all is well with me."
"It seems to be, no concussion or broken bones." The medic shrugged. "Your driver, now, he has one good concussion, and will have a whopper of a headache tomorrow, but other than that, will be fine, too."
"I wonder why I also blacked out?"
"Probably just from the trauma of it all. It happens."
"Yeah."
Before heading to the New Metro hospital, they stopped to retrieved her other bag from the jeep. Margaret laid down on the gurney for the ride into the city. The medic was right, what a way to come to a new city.
But there was something she felt she could do about everyone in the whole town knowing about her arrival. She edged up to the back window of the cab and gently rapped on it.
"Please, can you cut the sirens?"
"Well, ma'am.. "
"I really don't want to cause too much of a stir."
Margaret settled back on the gurney, happy at least it wouldn't sound like some sort of parade coming in. For she knew the hospital was alerted to her impending arrival, now special attention was sure to be taken since this accident, and what she has heard of this Mrs. Scofield, the whole hospital, the clinics and the surrounding areas were on to her presence. Lovely.
Soon enough, the ambulance rambled to an abrupt halt. "Here we are!" The medic in the front seat announced happily. Margaret opened the door herself and extended her hand to the medic to be assisted down, and suddenly a light flashed between them.
"Whoa!" He stepped back after Margaret stepped from the ambulance. "What was that?"
"I don't know, maybe some delayed lightning from that dark overcast," she replied, remembering how it had happened in the jeep when she was trying to get her bags. But she chose not to say anything of it. The medic shrugged and didn't say anything else either.
Margaret encountered Mrs. Scofield first hand. As commanding and no nonsense as the woman was, she couldn't help but feel a little comraderie with her, and gave in at Scofield's insistance for X-rays. But all things, head, back, and other vital matters checked out positively.
Checking on Corporal Tate was Margaret's next priority. She was pleased to find him doing as well as the medics had alluded to. Only not liking the few days layover here at New Metro Hospital for observation. On the other hand, he was quite astonished at Margaret's apparent lack of injury.
"You're not even singed? I mean, I'm glad of it, but I thought you got the worst of that bolt."
"No, not really anything. Just bruised after it hit us, where I believe I landed," she gingerly rubbed her hip. "About this lightning, the last thing I remember is it ripping inside the jeep, then I came to in that culvert."
"It sure did!" Tate sat up in his bed. "You pushed me from the jeep, right as that bolt popped, and the whole impact of it sent you flying out the opposite side. The said I was found by the car, but I didn't know you were missing until I came to here."
"I know, I appreciate you for telling them about me."
"Your welcome, ma'am" the Corporal shyly ducked his head. "It's amazing that you're not hurt as much as I feared you would be. Such good news."
"Yes, isn't it?" Margaret replied, nervously brushing her hair back, and feeling a sudden tingle surge across her hands.
"Hey? Are you sure you're everything's fine?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm okay. Why?"
"It's that I looked up and your face's flushed, almost glowing."
"Probably all the excitement of the day." She covered her alarm, remembering the medic's similiar remarks to her. She wasn't feeling ill. At least not until now. Her face, especially her cheeks seemed to be rather warm. What could it be?
"We sure have had that."
Margaret thanked Corporal Tate for all he's done for her, with him very grateful in kind, and then bid him a hasty adieu, she promised to visit again before he left New Metro for Fort Irwin.
Once out of Tate's room, she made a beeline for the ladies' room, and stared hard at herself in the mirror. What was happening with her? Hot flashes of some sort? A hidden illness? Could this be the accredited to the lightning striking the jeep? Did it hit her in any way? Surely not, Margaret dismissed it, for if lightning had indeed come in contact with herself, she was sure she'd be a little crispy right now.
It seemed to be concentrated on her hands and face. She tried to remember if she had felt the heat source in her face the first time that weird light had appeared. That would have been in the jeep back on the road. She couldn't recall it precisely, too much was going on at the time.
Margaret got herself together and went to find Mrs. Scofield for her housing arrangements. That was what she needed. To get settled in, and get relaxed a bit and mainly be able to prepare for tomorrow's conference.
"And of course, there's a car provided for your use while you are with us," the older woman handed Margaret a set of keys. "You can follow me, I need to be getting over to the clinic anyhow or if you prefer, I can have someone from my staff that's here drive you. But I don't know if you'd be up for that, kind of a repeat of this morning."
"More than you know. I had forgotten about immediate transportation around the city. In all the confusion of the day, I haven't had the time.. but well.. thank you."
"Tomorrow, perhaps in the early afternoon," Mrs. Scofield continued as she and Margaret made their way out of the hospital. "You can be shown around town, we have quite a beautiful city here."
"Yeah, I'd like that." They stopped before a rather new looking vehicle.
"Here it is."
"This is very nice," Margaret glanced at the car before her. It was nice, and it wasn't a jeep.
"If you follow me, we'll go where I bet you've been wanting to get for a long time."
"Does it show that much?" She chuckled, and found getting behind the wheel did come a bit strange. In Hawaii, she was always walking every where, then her plane ride and of course, the now infamous jeep trek from LA.
The scenery they were passing by was quite lovely. Actually, from the little Margaret's seen of it, the town seem to be very nice, too. It was almost like being on an island, (according to the medic that had picked her up earlier) with a great part of it surrounded by waterfront, and yet there was a lovely mountain range on another side. She was looking forward to a city tour tomorrow, along with the one at the hospital. But the only thing that was foremost on her mind was rest and a bath and a leisurely time to get ready for tomorrow night.
Mrs. Scofield came into the house with her to make sure everything was there and satisfactory. Margaret felt it was more to Scofield's liking than her own. But she didn't mind, though. The house was quite nice, very quaint. Basically furnished, and even some groceries in the kitchen for her. She was very grateful that Scofield had gotten someone to take her luggage on ahead and it was all here now.
"Oh, just out of curiousity, what's happened with the airport?"
"There was a bomb threat there a couple of days ago." Mrs. Scofield hastened her reply when she saw Margaret's frightened expression. "Nothing was found. They were just making sure about everything is why it's still closed. Routine stuff. It should be open in a day or so. Not very beneficial to you today, though." She made her way to the door. "If there's anything you're in need of don't hesitate to call."
"Okay, thanks for all you've done." Margaret went to the door after her. She shivered at the thought of a bomb, not only the resulting devastation, but the sound of it, too.
"Sure thing." Mrs. Scofield smiled her no-nonsense smile. "All right then, I'll be seeing you tomorrow about one to take you around the hospital. Let you get a feel for it and see it from a nurse's point of view, rather than that of a patient's."
"Yes!" She had to laugh. "And I'm looking forward to it."
"Fine, I'll leave you to your own devices, then."
Margaret closed the door and a sighed a deep sigh of relief. 'First, I'll get unpacked,' she thought, moving toward her bags on the living room floor. She absently brushed her hair from the side of her face with her hand and was instantly startled at the burst of light that flickered quickly, then vanished. 'Not again,' she sat weakly on the sofa. 'Is something extraordinary happening? Is it my vision?' She thankfully noted that there had been no burning sensation, no sting or pain of any kind that has been associated with all the times this had happened today. 'Maybe I should've stayed in the hospital for observation.' She shrugged off the thought and went about putting her belongings away.
The wee hours of the morning found Margaret still up and perusing her nursing care presentation. The papers were already beginning to show signs of wear from all the going-over she had done. She didn't care, she was just so enthuisiastic about this program.
When she managed to tear herself her away, she did some exploring of her house. It was really nice. Nicely proportioned, nicely furnished, and even the neighborhood seemed nice, with what looked to be the resident nosy neighbor right next door. Margaret had noticed the woman peering hard through the curtains when she and Mrs. Scofield came up the walk earlier. Even with that, she didn't want to think of fact that this time here was only temporary.
Mid-morning saw Margaret up and again preparing for tonight's session. She was also eager to get back to the hospital. But not as a patient, as Mrs. Scofield had so eloquently put it. Sure enough, precisely at one o'clock, the woman was at Margaret's door, ready to begin.
"How was your first night in a new town?"
"Pretty nice, I'm sort of used to it."
"That's good. I know that the emergency care staff at the hospital is eager to hear your ideas. After the other..."
"What happened to the other director?"
"Well, I'll just say he didn't find it fulfilling. As I sense you very much do."
"Oh, yes ma'am!" The words couldn't come out of Margaret's mouth fast enough. She was in disbelief that anyone, especially one who had moved up in the medical field could not find it totally rewarding.
She met formally with her staff once they reached the hospital. And found them to be a dedicated and caring group. They had been handling emergency cases but were so glad for Margaret to come on board.
"I've felt right away," Judy, one of the nurses spoke to her after the introductions and basic run-through of how things were done there. "That you're going to be quite different than that Main character. Some caregiver."
"Oh, thanks," Margaret shot a puzzling look toward Mrs. Scofield, who nodded in agreement.
"Well, are you all making Ms. Houlihan feel welcome?"
"Margaret," Mrs. Scofield directed her attention toward the fellow who had come up to them. "This is Dr. Simon Boyd."
"Yes, yes, chairman of the board." Margaret shook hands with him. "Good to meet you."
"Same with you. I see you're getting acquainted with everything about the place. That's wonderful."
"Everyone's been very accommodating."
"Since all is in good order," Dr. Boyd gushed. "I suppose then I'll be seeing you, well all of you tonight."
"You're coming to the my session?" This pleased Margaret.
"Wouldn't miss it. But got to run right now."
"What do you know of this Justice League?" Margaret couldn't contain the question any longer. They had stopped for tea at Scofield's favorite bistro.
"Really just what their title says, Justice League. They are an interesting group."
"So when there's ever a wrong to make right or something?"
"Yes. Whenever that does happen, they'll be there."
"Nice." Nodding with a slight smile, Margaret tried to envision this League.
Margaret had a couple of hours to make last minute preparations for her emergency care conference when Mrs. Scofield dropped her off. Although she knew it more by heart than the ABCs and days of the week. She thought she would begin with a tour through the emergency room, like the one she had with Scofield earlier. Of course, the nurses would be very familiar with their own facilities, she just found it easier when things were fresh on the mind, and a more hands on experience to boot. Plus the added convenience and understanding of what precisely was being discussed. From there to the hospital's conference chamber for a briefing of her ideas that may not get covered in the walkthrough, and ending with a comprehensive question and answer section.
When it was time to get back to the hospital, Margaret was surprised to be feeling a little nervous. She had done things like this many times before. Even in Hawaii, Uncle Bob had her to go over a part of the emergency nursing care with the staff of the hospital he had come on call to.
Margaret had more nurses in her group than she met earlier this afternoon. And still there were those on duty. She was proud. More so when she was informed that some of the nurses there weren't actually on the emergency care staff, they were off work and wanted to learn the ropes of the emergency care. She was quite pleased with the facilities, as she had been earlier, and told them so. Even the patients were good-natured as the group popped in on a few of them.
Another thing Margaret was nicely happy with was that Mrs. Scofield, although she was present every step of the way, let her do it all her way, only inputing when asked. But she did help Margaret herd all 'pupils' into the conference room for the last half of the session. When Margaret took the podium, she was astounded to look out and see that their small group had grown even more.
"Are people wandering in off the street?" She whispered to Mrs. Scofield.
"Could be," the older woman replied. "You're fresh new blood from our last emergency care director."
"Really," Margaret couldn't get over how everyone remarked about the difference between her, and the previous director. She stood up straight, and spoke out. "This is the best way I've ever seen to give proper priority to severe cases, and the same priority to the ones who are not so severe." And she joyously delved into her intensive program of how to provide the best in emergency nursing care.
The question and answer section of her presentation was about to get underway when suddenly one of the doctors accompanied by a security guard burst through the doors. After the immediate startle and a few light yells of shock, the chamber became still. The doctor rushed up to the hospital administrator. Mrs. Scofield joined them.
"Pardon me, for coming in like this," he addressed Margaret before turning to the group. "But the mayor and the police force has just gotten word that the New Metro Downtown Apartments is about to be destroyed by someone calling himself, 'The Industrialist'." Whispers and comments erupted from the crowd. "Now, I'm telling you all this primarily for you emergency care personnel be alerted for incoming injured. If there is any. So, if it's all right with you Dr. Boyd, Mrs. Scofield and Ms. Houlihan here, I think all nursing personnel on duty now, especially those in emergency care should get where there supposed to be." The commotion was heavy, but with a frightened solemnity, as the nursing staff moved out of the Conference Chamber. A few not on duty stayed behind to find out what was going on.
"If there is any?" Dr. Boyd repeated. "To explode the entire building? That's horrible. This hospital is going to be teeming with injured! From that building and the surrounding ones. Something must be done to stop it!"
"The message states that this Industrialist has rigged the structure to implode, causing little or no damage to others. And it seems he has given the occupants of the apartments an hour to vacate."
"Tonight? Right now? What does the police plan to do?" Mrs. Scofield exclaimed, grabbing the paper Dr. Henderson was holding. "What about the Justice League? Have they been notified? We all here can be ready." She glanced back at Margaret who had come down from the podium. She nodded in agreement. "Does anyone know the reason why of this madman? Is this the same one who threatened to bomb the airport?"
"Oh, yes ma'am," The security guard who had come in with Henderson. "We got a hold of the JLA first thing."
"I believe they are already on the scene, Mrs. Scofield. But no, we don't know at this time, what the Industrialist's motive is. And we are uncertain about the airport. It could very well be the same person."
"Has this time already begun? This hour that's given?" Margaret joined the group. "If so, I think we should go ahead and get over there just in case emergency care is needed and the medics can't handle it all." She couldn't imagine not having injuries with a bomb-threatening maniac on the loose. "So, where are these downtown apartments located?"
"C'mon, Margaret, I'll show you." Mrs. Scofield caught up with her.
"Ladies," they paused at Dr. Boyd's call to them. "I don't think that's wise, they'll be more than enough folks there and with the police and especially, of course, the Justice League."
"Thanks for your concern, doctor, but.."
"Yeah," Margaret echoed Scofield's reply. She couldn't believe the board chairman was acting indifferent. "Listen, this may be dangerous, but those people just might need us. For your information, I hate explosions, the horrific sounds and everything, but I have to do this!"
"I think that about sums it up!"
She and Mrs. Scofield were leaving out of the emergency entrance of the hospital at the same time the two medics who had picked up Margaret just the day before were also on their way out. They followed them in Margaret's car downtown to the complex.
