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All-Star Squadron
Times Past, 1942
Gender Gasp
Prologue 1
Libby Lawrence laughed and tossed back her long blonde hair. "Johnny, your mouth is faster than your brain!"
Johnny Quick smirked. "Yeah, I'm fast in a lot of ways." He reached for Liberty Belle and took her hand.
The All-Star Squadron Headquarters at the New York World's Fair grounds was empty except for the romantic couple and a distantly occupied Air Wave, Guardian, and Wildcat.
As Libby started to move closer to her love, he vanished. Boy, rejected at super speed! I could get a complex. He must have spotted some crisis, thought Belle.
She heard a crash and ran to where a piece of equipment lay in a bent pile on the floor. She had absently noticed Wildcat showing the signal device to the other three heroes momentarily before. Now it had dropped and all three heroes had disappeared. Libby worried that something odd had occurred.
Prologue 2
Officer Lysette Andrews was in a tight spot. Literally. The pretty blonde Gateway City cop was trapped by a garishly dressed crook called the Puzzler. She strained but could not free herself from her bonds. Her hands and legs were locked within a complex mechanical device that ticked down the minutes until a lethal bomb would explode. Lysette hoped to be well away from the area before it exploded. Her hopes were pinned upon her hero, Mr. Terrific.
The Man of a Thousand Talents had tracked her down and was even now dealing with her kidnapper's henchmen in his usual ease. Terry Sloane ducked a punch and then casually caught his enemy by the arm and spun him around. The thug cried out in pain as Mr. Terrific increased the pressure and dropped him to the floor.
"Don't worry. You'll be sore but fine in an hour or so," said Terry.
"Ah! But will the lovely Lysette be in one piece when that bomb explodes?" laughed the Puzzler.
"I intend to see that it does not explode!" replied Mr. Terrific.
"I'll give you a sporting chance. Punch in the deactivation code in the next, oh, one-hundred and ten seconds and all is well. Solve my puzzle if you're up to it! I dare you," giggled the thin, grey suited Puzzler.
Terry scanned the display on the bomb. A keypunch was below the ticking display clock. " 'Take Caunotaucarius's original birthdate, subtract the diameter of Helios, subtract the homer record for the Babe in his record year'," he read. He saw ninety seconds on the clock.
"Caunotaucarius was the Indian name for Washington. He was born 2-22-1732, but the original Julian calendar was altered to the Gregorian in 1752, which shifted it 11 days and moved the start of the year from March 25 to January 1. That makes it 2-11-1731. The Sun was Helios in Greek myth. It's diameter is 865,000 miles. And Babe Ruth... in 1927 he had 60 home runs," calculated the Man with a Photographic Memory.
"1,246,671," Mr. Terrific punched in. The clock stopped at 8 seconds to go.
The Puzzler gasped and tried to run, but Mr. Terrific grabbed the frail crook and held him fast while a happy Lysette slipped loose from her now slack bonds.
"You did it! My hero!" she cooed amorously.
"I have a good head for figures," replied Terry modestly as the Puzzler was carted off by Lysette's fellow police officers.
Suddenly, Mr. Terrific vanished, leaving a startled Lysette and the police to gasp in dismay.
Prologue 3
Shiera "Hawkgirl" Sanders kicked helplessly, but it was no use. The heroine was trapped. She was hanging upside down, caught in the gravity ray of her old foe Alexander the Great. Her auburn locks fell over her head and her wings remained still and useless in the gravity ray's field.
"Hawk! A little help here, please," she said.
Hawkman nodded as he sailed into the creator of the ray. Alexander the Great -- a bald, tuxedo-wearing genius -- knew more about gravity than anyone. Even Hawk's gravity-defying belt of Nth-metal was useless under the direct impact of his stasis ray. He slugged the evil genius and saw him fall with satisfaction. His lover remained suspended to her great annoyance.
"You know, I really should search the place first. Just hang on!" he teased his irate girlfriend.
"This is not funny! Cut off that ray!" yelled the pretty heiress.
"Okay, if you can't take a joke," sighed Hawkman, alias Carter Hall, as he switched off Alexander's potent device.
Shiera immediately flew around and landed on her feet. "Thanks. I was getting dizzy. Didn't mean to snap at you." She glanced up at the silence which greeted her remark. "Hawk? Where are you?" she asked as she collared the stunned Alexander. Shiera stood alone with the downed science whiz. Hawkman had vanished!
Prologue 4
In the luxurious penthouse suite of Ted Knight, an anxious Doris Lee waited impatiently. Ted Knight was rather late even for his standards. She wore a costly, revealing, evening gown that accented her dark beauty, happy to see her fiancee after his return from basic training in the Army Air Corps. Sadly, Ted Knight, alias Starman, would not enjoy his girl's appearance this night.
***
Mary James fumed. "That Al Pratt promised to meet me tonight at Macy's and help me carry home my packages. I'm done, and that unreliable jerk is nowhere to be seen!" Al Pratt, alias the Atom, was indeed nowhere to be seen.
***
At the Squadron base, Liberty Belle made a few quick calls. She soon saw a definite pattern. Every male member of the JSA and the All-Star Squadron had disappeared suddenly except for those boys under eighteen like Robin, Speedy, Star-Spangled Kid, et cetera. The female members like Wonder Woman, Firebrand, Phantom Lady, Hawkgirl, and unknowns like Doll Girl were still active at their homes. She needed to find them before the war effort and the homefront dissolved into chaos!
Chapter 1
A colorful figure materialized in the White House. Security guards scrambled only to stiffen into immobile states around the gleaming woman.
"I am the Star Sapphire, Hereditary Matriarch of the Seventh Dimension. Bring forth the male designated President Roosevelt immediately."
A woman raced to summon FDR, since every male in the White House was frozen or entranced. FDR rolled out in his wheelchair along with his wife Eleanor and a few women who could still react.
"Ah, by your freedom to speak and move in that chair you show yourself to be President. I wonder why you lead when that strong willed woman is available!" Sapphire pointed at Eleanor, who bravely stood by her husband's side.
"You have me at a disadvantage. What is this invasion? Have you harmed Harry and the others?" said FDR, glancing at his old pal Harry Hopkins, who was stiff and silent.
The Star Sapphire -- a title, not a personal name -- laughed. "I have all men at a disadvantage, for such is the nature of my star gem and of the correct order of the universe. Women rule, men serve." Her revealing black outfit left her arms and legs bare except for a dark fishnet material over boots and gloves.
"I have taken the dominant males... ah, such an oxymoron! Your Superman, Green Lantern and others are now mine. To receive mercy for your defenseless world at war, surrender America to my velvet glove."
The Roosevelts exchanged shocked looks as the dynamic intruder faded away with a lingering laugh and the words, "You have two Earth days to decide."
"Call the All-Star Squadron women!" ordered FDR.
Chapter 2
The Sandman and Sandy raced through the dark streets in his souped up yellow roadster. "There! To the right!" yelled the blond teenager called Sandy the Golden Boy. He pointed to a shadowy figure slipping away amidst the shadows. The gas-masked driver nodded and swerved the costly car to cut off the fleeing figure.
"Reynolds!" whispered Sandy.
The man they were pursuing was named Roy Reynolds, a self-proclaimed "genius of the getaway gimmicks"; and while he was indeed a pro at making escapes, it had been smarter of him to merely sell such plans to professional thieves and robbers. The redheaded "genius" had nevertheless decided to eliminate the middle man and commit his own crimes. It had proven to be a bad idea with dozens of heroes around. He had easily made his way into a jewelry store and had escaped equally undetected, but now pure bad luck had brought him face to mask with one of the first of the mystery men: Sandman!
"No! Not you! Not to me!" he whined.
"'Fraid so, you loser!" said Sandy as he vaulted out of the car.
"Careful!" warned the Sandman through a voice-muffling gas-mask.
Sandy pushed Reynolds against a wall and turned back to say, "This guy is no sweat!" Reynolds shook the boy's bravado, however, by pulling a gun that fired a thick gooey substance. "Hey, I'm pinned by this stuff!" said a dismayed Sandy.
"You'll mock a lesser man, but not Roy Reynolds, the genius of the getaway gimmicks!" promised the villain.
The Sandman jumped out of the car nimbly and kicked the gun away from the thug, who fought back by leaping on the green-suited avenger. They rolled to the ground, and Reynolds seemed to be winning. "I'm beating the Sandman!" he crowed in shock.
Then the tide turned as Sandman deliberately hit a button on Reynolds' harnessed suit. "AAAHH!" he screamed as powerful rotors whipped out from his back and spun him not to freedom but to unguided impact with a brick wall.
The Sandman ran forward and slugged the stunned "genius" with as much force as possible. It worked. The criminal fell down, and Sandy glued him to the pavement with his own discarded adhesive gun. "Luckily this stuff dissolves the goo, too!" quipped Sandy as he used the gun to free himself.
The Sandman nodded and called the police. As Reynolds was carted off, the hero did a very odd thing. The Sandman drove off with Sandy by his side, and as they were safely out of sight on deserted roads the hero took off the mask and hat and shook out long, flowing, black hair.
The lovely Dian Belmont smiled as she drove the yellow car. "Nice job. I hope I fooled the cops as well as Reynolds. I also hope this disguise is temporary, Sandy. Wes has to turn up soon."
The boy looked at his aunt who was wearing his mentor's costume. "I hope so. 'Til then we owe it to him to keep the city safe."
"Guess I can't fool anyone in the new, tight, gold suit, huh?" asked the curvy, black haired beauty.
Sandy laughed and they raced off, hiding the fear and worry in their loyal hearts.
Chapter 3
At the All-Star Squadron Headquarters Wonder Woman gazed across the table. She saw faces she knew, like that of Liberty Belle and the slightly resentful one of Hawkgirl, as well as that of less well-known ones like Phantom Lady, Firebrand, and Midge the Doll Girl.
"The President asked me to call all of you here like an Amazon war council of old to form a plan to deal with the Star Sapphire from the Seventh Dimension and her demands that he surrender America to her rule in exchange for the safety of our male members."
"It's always something, isn't it?" said Firebrand. "We just finished with that Ultra case a few days ago, and the JSA just defeated Kulak yesterday! Can we at least find a few more members to help out?"
Liberty Belle smoothed a long blonde lock out of her eyes and said, "Well, I can't locate Miss America; she's been unseen for some time now. The Red Tornado is still out there, though, and she and our younger members like Robin and Speedy are keeping order out in the streets as best they can."
"The priority is saving Hawkman and the others, in case you forgot," snapped Hawkgirl. "I don't see why the JSA's glorified secretary is laying down the law, anyway. I was wearing this halter and mask before she ever even saw a man!"
Firebrand whispered to Belle, "She is really a stuck-up witch. She gives all society babes a bad name."
Belle shushed the red-head and said, "She's sick with worry about Carter Hall. They're true soul-mates from out of ancient history. Plus, she is jealous that the JSA made Diana a member instead of her."
Wonder Woman leaned in and said, "Shiera, I am only here at the table's head because the President contacted me first, due to my DC base and military contacts. Please rest assured I miss my JSA teammates as fully as do we all."
Shiera took off her hawk mask to reveal truly lovely features and long auburn hair. "I'm sorry."
"I understand the Seven Soldiers of Victory have also vanished, along with most Squadron members," said Phantom Lady.
"Sir Justin the Shining Knight, the Vigilante, the Crimson Avenger and Wing, Green Arrow, and Stripesy vanished, leaving their teen members alone and shocked," reported a concerned Firebrand.
"I think we can save them, Dann," comforted Belle as she thought of Johnny Quick.
Midge the Doll Girl, alias Martha Roberts, was the fiancee of Darrell Dane, the Doll Man. She had used her fiancee's shrinking serum to become a female counterpart and replacement of the Doll Man when he had disappeared several months ago. His disappearance did not seem to have anything to do with the current rash of abductions, though. She sat at five and a half inches on the table and missed her Darrel too, but work kept her mind clear of worry and despair.
"Why have only adult males vanished?" asked Phantom Lady.
"I assume the Star Sapphire's magic has less power over women, since she's from what she calls a matriarchal society. Must be a safeguard from her female buddies there in La-La Land," said Belle.
"Maybe she just knows boys are more fun!" teased the sultry Phantom Lady.
"Some costume on -- or perhaps I should say not on -- that one, huh?" whispered Doll Girl to Belle as she glanced at Sandra Knight, the Phantom Lady.
Wonder Woman added, "I agree with Belle. The Amazons had certain defenses against males but not women as well."
"So what's the plan?" asked Hawkgirl.
"We fight her, and we try to persuade her to bring them back with help from my lasso, possibly," said Diana.
"How can a babe who took down Superman and maybe even the Spectre be tamed by a bathing beauty with a rope?" said Hawkgirl, who paused for a moment after her outburst. "Seriously, Diana, excuse my mouth, but how did she capture Spectre?" asked Shiera.
"I doubt she did. He is not at work... but he could well be away from this realm on his own," said Belle.
"Work? What is he, a Karloff double or an undertaker?" quipped Firebrand.
"He is a force beyond your kin," said a newcomer.
"Who? We've yet to have our first major Squadron meeting, so we don't know all the mystery women," explained Belle.
"I am Rose Psychic, and I have a plan to save our country if you'll but trust me," said a severe looking, black haired woman who had walked in unseen by the others.
Chapter 4
Rose Psychic entered suddenly and the gathered heroines parted to let her pass. "The Spectre is indeed free and away on his own," said Rose. "However, my beloved Dr. Occult has also been taken by the Star Sapphire, and only you all can free him and the other male heroes. This is the symbol of the Seven. It can send you to four realms lost in time, space and reality from your world. In those four realms lie four pieces of a gemstone, an Opal, designed aeons ago by the males who mated with the Seventh Dimension's women rulers. The assembled gem can best the Sapphire's power, but her ancestress shattered it across four realms as defense. I can send you in teams of two to retrieve the Opal shards."
Wonder Woman spoke for all: "We accept gladly, but will there be enough of us? Our ally Dian Belmont is posing as Sandman, along with Red Tornado and the boy heroes. They keep peace in the streets."
Libby said, "I think we just found some help!" She pointed at the entering women who floated down.
Doris Lee carried a gravity rod and wore a modified Starman uniform. Her comrade was a lovely red-head named Inza Cramer. She was Dr. Fate's lover and wore his uniform with cape and amulet but only his more Earthly half-helmet.
"We came to help. Please allow us to join you. Dr. Fate and Starman need help. We love them," explained Inza as she brushed back her long hair that flowed out of the golden helmet.
"So be it!" vowed Rose.
"Your clothes and language will conform to the lands in which you journey. Some are part of this world's history and others may be alternate realms that may or may not ever be. I'll return you when I sense you find your Opal shards," said Rose.
Libby and Wonder Woman paired up, as did Firebrand and Phantom Lady. Hawkgirl and Inza Cramer as a female Dr. Fate were a team, while Doris Lee as Starwoman waited with the tiny Midge the Doll Girl. They shimmered as Rose's disc glowed and sent them on their desperate quests.
Chapter 5
WONDER WOMAN & LIBERTY BELLE
Libby Lawrence and Princess Diana found themselves transported by Rose Psychic's symbol of the Seven from the All-Star Squadron Headquarters in 1942 New York to a strange land where primitive shacks and huts lined a green field near marble ruins.
"Looks like my home on Paradise Island, or at least ancient Greece," said Wonder Woman. Her patriotic outfit was now black leather.
Liberty Belle brushed back her long, blonde hair from one eye and scanned her own brown leather breastplate and brown skirt.
"I guess that explains my barbarian look. Rose said our language and outfits would match our new locale," she said.
"We need to find that magic opal shard to defeat Star Sapphire from the Seventh Dimension and save the males," said a concerned Diana.
"I'd say that probably isn't a welcome wagon approaching!" commented Belle.
A mob of angry, screaming women surged out of the village huts toward the female All-Stars. They positioned themselves back to back and faced their attackers. Libby lashed out at the nearest woman and knocked her to the ground. A second woman grabbed the sexy blonde and received her own blow to the nose. Wonder Woman ripped up a tree and pushed her way through the angry crowd of women. They fell and ran to escape her awesome power unleashed. "Sisters, why do you attack us like battle crazed men?" she asked.
Libby leaped up over the head of a fiery brunette and drop-kicked another attacker. "They aren't warriors. They seem to be ancient Greek house-wives," said Libby.
Diana nodded. "I'll get to the bottom of this." She spun her golden lasso from her side, where it hung on her newly leather outfit. It ensnared a woman as Diana spoke calmly. "Why do you attack us? Calm yourself and explain."
"We attacked from fear of strangers. Our men were taken by the mad god, and we are so afraid of more peril and sorrow," she explained.
"We mean you no harm, and perhaps we can even help free your men from this mad god. Where is he located?" asked Libby.
"His temple is alone, out from the village where the hill called the Ridge of Madness lies. No man has ever returned from that evil place," said a redhead.
"In case you missed what little part of our curves are covered by these costumes, we aren't men!" quipped Belle.
"And we will be back!" vowed Wonder Woman.
The heroines made their way out of the village and saw the broken line of raised earth called the Ridge of Madness. A temple in disrepair sat atop the slope. Sounds of caterwauling echoed out of its broken facade. "Sounds like some of the USO shows I've seen," smiled Wonder Woman.
Belle pushed herself up the slope with a staff she had been given by a villager. She missed Johnny Quick and hoped that in solving one problem they would also resolve their first dilemma. "Do you recognize that writing?" she asked.
Diana glanced at the script on the temple wall. "It reads like ancient Greek and says something like, 'Beware the power of Oggar'."
"That doesn't sound too encouraging. I know my Greek history and mythology, but I've never heard of Oggar," said a puzzled Libby.
"We may not truly be on our Earth or in our Greece. Remember, Rose spoke of realms outside our space and time. I have also not heard of Oggar... unless he exists only in some lost legend of the Amazons. He seems to be a being of power, magic, and madness," said Wonder Woman.
"Aren't they all?" said Belle.
In the temple they found dozens of men keening in sheer insanity. They sat and stood in postures of total submission, while others wept openly. "Whoever caused this plight is worse than Hitler!" declared Diana.
"We'll stop this Oggar and someday old Adolf as well!" replied Belle.
The pair made their way through the crowd of madmen without receiving any trouble. The deranged men howled and laughed and wept but apparently saw little that passed around them. "They are literally deranged!" said Libby.
"I can only assume this Oggar lives up to his own press!" said Diana.
Near an altar stood a huge inscribed tablet, which read:
Solomon"I've heard of all those others, although a Hebrew king seems an odd companion for Greek gods, Roman names, and a hero or two," mused Libby.
Hercules
Atlas
Zeus
Achilles
Mercury
Oggar"They spell out Shazamo! What name or object that implies is new to me as well," said Wonder Woman.
A thunderous clap and a flash of light brought an incredibly handsome figure into sudden view. His blond hair fell delicately over chistled features and a cleft chin. His tunic hung from rippling muscles and a bronzed physique.
"I am the ruler of this place. I am Oggar. Step closer and experience my power, if you dare!" he boomed from his mighty chest.
Libby spoke up after they each shook off a feeling of awe. "Free these men, you fiend! They have families back in that village that need them. What kind of god are you?" she shouted.
"I am the god of madness! Is that not evident?" he asked, stepping forward.
Belle punched him, only to pull back her hand in pain. "He's as tough as Robotman or Superman!" she gasped.
"I'd better take over!" said Diana. The Amazon shoved at the mad god, and he did move slightly. His tunic parted to reveal cloven hoofed goat legs.
He turned scarlet in the face and screamed in fury. "You humble me in this way! My 'infirmity' is revealed, and thus you must die!" he said. Oggar hit Wonder Woman full in the face, and she tumbled off the altar area.
Libby had seldom seen anyone with that kind of raw power. She vaulted forward over her staff and kicked the mad being in his perfect face. She almost broke both heels on his steel-like features. She flipped backward to her feet and stood ready as Wonder Woman slowly got up.
Wonder Woman charged Oggar, and they crashed through the temple wall into a second chamber. She struck with her full strength, since he was easily the strongest foe she had faced thus far! He guarded his face protectively and struggled in her grip. He bent her arms back, and she winced in pain.
Belle saw it all and thought desperately. The madmen watched in their same state. He is as strong as Superman and can obviously drive men mad, but he hasn't used his magic on us or the village women! pondered Belle.
Wonder Woman surged upward and broke Oggar's grip. Her boots met in his mid-section and she threw her weight into his side. "Arrrgh!" he screamed as the Amazon Fury pounded down on him.
They rolled through the chamber. Wonder Woman had never fought so wildly before. The only superhuman foes she had fought thus far had been Nuclear and the various foes set upon the All-Star Squadron by the Ultra-Humanite. Oggar topped them all, it seemed! She saw Belle and yelled, "Get back! He is too deadly for you." The blonde agreed but still hoped to help. Wonder Woman felt another powerful punch that sent her rolling across the floor. Instantly Oggar was flying across the temple, and with a final terrible blow to the soft spot at the bse of her skull he knocked her cold.
"Hey, goat boy! Leave her alone and go join your herd. Trot over and graze while we go in peace, you monster!" taunted Libby. I hope I know what I'm doing, she prayed as Oggar turned in fury toward her.
Libby raced into the crowd of madmen and tried desperately to awaken any of them. She had a plan, but Oggar's amazing speed was too much for the All-American Girl. He grabbed her, and with a casual slap he sent the beauty to dreamland.
***
Liberty Belle woke up chained to a wall next to an equally bound Wonder Woman. This looks really bad! she thought. Belle found her arms chained above her head by a link of metal that hung from a hook. Wonder Woman was not chained to the wall, but her wrists were bound together.
"Can you snap those chains? Are you okay?" asked Libby.
Diana nodded. "I'm a little bruised, but there's something you've forgotten about me. If a man chains my bracelets together I lose my strength."
Belle said, "I guess I had forgotten. I've tried my best Veronica Lake look on those madmen over there, but they seem too dazed to even care, much less help. I guess only magic can free their minds."
Wonder Woman said, "That's it! Use my lasso to try and restore them; then they can help us. Can you slip off that hook if I give you a boost?"
Belle nimbly jumped on Diana's shoulders. Since the Princess could move freely it was easy to do, even in the heroine's weakened, "human" condition. She slipped her links free and grabbed the lasso from Diana's side. She looped it over the neck of a weeping madman.
"Be restored by the truth in your heart!" she intoned with a shrug. His eyes widened and he came to himself once more. After a few "Who are you?" and "Where am I?" questions, Belle had restored half the group. They worked on parting Diana's chains until Oggar rushed in the room.
"I sense a loss of power. You have freed my servants from the grip of madness. How dare you?" he yelled as his goat legs trotted inside the chamber.
"Get him!" yelled Belle. The freed men charged their captor. If I'm wrong about this, I'll really be putting the "dumb" in dumb blonde! she mused.
Wonder Woman strained against the bonds as a man sawed at them, but she could not quite budge them. "Hera help her!" she breathed.
Belle waited until Oggar raised his arms and said, "I can restore their insanity effortlessly!" She saw a bolt streak magically toward a man, and she leaped in its path. It struck the blonde and had no effect on her; however, an agonized Oggar shreaked and withered on the floor. His howls echoed for minutes; then he vanished.
Wonder Woman ran over as her bonds fell off and her power surged back. "You did it! Nicely thought out! How did you know using his magic on a woman would hurt him that way?" she asked.
Belle smiled. "When we saw he fed off of their madness I assumed he would have taken the whole village including women, but he didn't. Nor did he try to make the two of us insane. He just used raw strength against us. I guessed that meant his magic only worked on men and could possibly harm him if used on the female sex. Guess I was right."
The men cheered and rushed the All-Stars back to their village, where, after a few questions, the elders gave the pair an opal shard. "This must be what we came here for! Thank you for your help," said Diana.
"Princess, this shard is apparently useless by itself, or they would have used it against Oggar," said a thoughtful Belle. They vanished according to Rose's spell, and all memories of how they met Oggar and got the shard slowly left their minds too.
"All hail the Warrior Princess and her friend!" cheered the villagers as they disappeared.
Chapter 6
DOLL GIRL & STARWOMAN
Doris Lee was a wealthy debutante with a social conscience. That was a potentially deadly combination and she knew it. Her father's oil money didn't equal that of the famous Tex Thompson load, but she had plenty of money and free time. She saw the same small New York social scene of bored playboys like Bruce Wayne, Rod Reilly, Wes Dodds, and Ted Knight, and she was ashamed of most of them for living such vacant lives.
Ted Knight of Opal City, New York City, and Washington, DC had brains, and she had scorned the way he lived from party to party until he admitted that he wished to become a mystery man. She had laughed. Oh, how she had laughed. Still, he had done it! Although he wore no mask but only covered up his maskless features with the radiant glow of his gravity rod, she still had not figured out her Ted's secret on her own. After all, how could she believe that Ted Knight, the "sick boy of society" as people called him behind his back for his queasiness, could possibly be the JSA's Starman? It was true that he had enlisted after Pearl Harbor, but he had been sent home again after a few weeks of basic training and appeared to be his old sickly self once again.
This had all changed just a few short hours ago while she had been waiting in a pretty new nightgown for him to appear for their date. However, instead of Ted Knight, a female version of Dr. Fate -- actually Inza Cramer -- appeared and told her what had happened to Ted -- and that he was Starman! Her heart had soared in admiration even as she realized his danger, but she went with Inza Cramer and picked up a gravity rod and a spare Starman suit from her fiancee's home after a quick search with Inza's newfound mystical powers. Inza altered the suit appropriately, and Doris wore the suit as she flew next to Inza with the gravity rod to All-Star Squadron Headquarters, where they had learned of the vanishing males and were then sent by Rose Psychic to retrieve some time-lost jewel of mystical power.
Now I feel even worse for teasing Ted so much. But he must have been feigning sickness all those times when he went off to his night job. I must say I don't envy him; this rod is hard to use. I marvel at how well he does all he does. At least Doll Girl is a "real" mystery woman and can help me!
The two arrived in a new environment with futuristic spheres and odd Flash Gordon-like aircars. The nighttime skies were lit with lights from cloud-piercing skyscrapers and flying craft hovering overhead. In her fiancee's outfit she looked right at home!
"We're not in Kansas anymore!" quipped Doll Girl, alias Martha Roberts. She seemed unfazed and unflappable, since she had had a few adventures with her fiancee, Darrell Dane, the Doll Man, and had also had a few adventures on her own as a mystery woman since his disappearance. At six inches the ultra-petite beauty wore a red and blue suit with bare arms and legs, and tiny slippers. Her reddish-brown hair was cut short, but stylish. "I think we've been propelled into some weird future society. Let's look around," she said as she hopped on Doris Lee's shoulders and crossed her legs demurely as if she was at a tea social, not a space age nightmare.
They met an offical looking man who seemed totally prepared to meet flying women any time of night. "I am the Justiciar! You wear the colors of the legendary Starman. I see the gravity rod as well. What brings you to the 25th Century, Mrs. Knight?"
Mrs. Knight? thought a Doris, whose head began to reel.
"We're here to seek a jewel fragement for a crisis in our time," explained the demure Doll Girl.
"Ah, yes. There were dozens of those, as I recall," pondered the Justiciar.
"Can you aid us?" replied Doris.
"I do know of a jewel that fits your situation. It is my sad duty to say that it has been... what is the word? Stolen! Yes, stolen. We have rarely had crime here, and I am the only peace keeper in the world, along with Myrg, of course." Doris and Martha traded glances. This could be the start of real trouble. The Justiciar indicated a red-headed woman nearby. "This is Myrg. She is an unofficial help to me in my previously non-existent duties."
Myrg smiled. "I know you. You travelled with the greatest heroes of all time -- the JSA! You mated with their Starman!"
Doris blushed as Martha giggled. "I seek the stolen jewel. Can you help?" asked a red-cheeked Doris.
Myrg said, "Well, we have only one known criminal here. He is 'The Last Criminal' and is called Knodor! His lair is known to me, but I have made little effort to track him down, since it is yet all too new to me."
Doll Girl piped up, "Just tell us where to find him, honey, and we'll do the rest. You can go back to drying your nails."
Myrg frowned. "I did track him once before, but your Green Lantern caught him. Could you do the 'apprehension' for us? You may have the jewel for whatever noble purpose your mate Starman requires," she said to Doris.
The women flew off to the silvery tower where Knodor lived before his criminal tendencies separated him from society.
"So, you're to be Mrs. Knight! Congratulations!" teased Martha.
"I could put you in some preserved puppet theatre you know," said Doris.
"Okay, okay. Just having some fun," replied an amused Doll Girl.
As they entered the building they saw two odd sights. Knodor, for it was he, stood waiting impatiently in front of two bound figures. The blonde woman wore a pair of faded pink pajamas and was bound tightly by twisted metal while her companion wore a colorful costume of blue and red with stars across his shirt. He was almost emtombed by a wrought metal cocoon.
"Doris!" the star-spangled man yelled as they entered.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
Knodor waved his grey clothed arms and stared in shock from beneath a black, tattooed 'mask.' "Who in the cosmos are you skirts?" he asked in a weird combination of futuristic and 1930s gangster movie slang.
The women started to speak when Knodor's rod waved at them and the trouble began. Doris saw her gravity rod tear itself out of her hand as her legs were ensnared by grabbing coils of metal. Martha slipped under Doris' green cape and bided her time.
"This must be some Star Family reunion, babe. I got the drop on your boy Pemberton here, as well as his pretty dolly Jonni Thunder," sneered Knodor.
Doris knew the gravity rod she carried could do virtual miracles; however, the heiress-turned-heroine was naturally unprepared for an attack by metal coils that moved like snakes all on their own. She saw the rod rip from her hand and struggled futilely against the metal coils that bound her legs. Oh, Ted! How can I save you when I can't even help myself? she pondered.
Knodor laughed at her plight. "I know that rod from my holo-discs of your era's crimes. I'll just add it to the pile of rubble that once was the Star-Spangled Kid's converter belt." Doris saw a twisted red metal belt on a table where he tossed the rod by waving the odd rod of his own. He left them in a high good humor.
The black haired youth who had been entombed by the metal spoke in a hushed tone. "Doris, I see from your youth and the early state of the future cosmic rod that you've come from the past. I will meet you and Ted in your future. He is a mentor to me. You may even know my name from your time -- the Star-Spangled Kid..."
Doris nodded. "How did you get here?"
The blonde in pink pajamas said, "We defeated that creep hours ago, our time. We headed homeward separately. He must have returned to this era, and at some point later he returned to the night of the day we fought him. He caught us off-guard, as you can see by my outfit," said the woman.
The Kid said, "He planned well. My belt had already been damaged, and he struck well before I could fix it."
Doris said, "I have an ally. Doll Girl?" she said. There was no sign of the diminutive daredevil.
The Kid said, "I've got a plan. I've had experience with a more updated rod. Let me try a trick Ted once showed me." He concentrated until sweat broke out on his handsome features. To Doris's amazement, the gravity rod rose from the table and flew slowly to his grasp as if summoned by sheer will. He sighed and used the rod to part the metal casing that trapped him. He pulled his hand into the narrow opening and melted the rest of his friends free of their bonds.
Where can Martha be? wondered Doris.
***
Martha, meanwhile, had "hitched" a ride with Knodor as he walked off by riding delicately atop his '30s-style gangster hat. She spotted his "loot" by the sign he had actually painted above a pile of odd items he had stolen, including a jewel shard. This guy's living a Cagney picture! she mused as she dropped off the hat. He was too absorbed in his gangster posturing to even notice. Doll Girl saw Knodor with an odd assortment of thugs. Her mind flashed back to old photos of some like Capone, Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, and Dillinger.
"You mugs need to listen up; we got more super powered do-gooders on ice," said Knodor. The others came forward with different attitudes. None seemed overly impressed with their boss.
"So we rub them out," offered Dillinger.
Martha took instant action. She leaped across the room, growing every second. Then she kicked the metal controlling wand out of Knodor's hand. "Get her!" he screamed.
Bullets sprayed the spot where the heroine had been seconds before. She shrank beneath the bullets and grabbed the wand. Her tiny hands eased around the wand as she grew once more and waved it in a bullet deflecting arc. To her relief, it worked as she had hoped.
From out of the next room charged the others. Starwoman, Jonni Thunder, and a flying, rod-holding Star-Spangled Kid raced inside to confront the time-tossed gang.
Jonni raced forward and tackled a shocked, blonde Bonnie who fell beneath the detective's pummeling fists. "I hated your movie!" she quipped as she wrestled the confused gang moll to the floor.
The Kid used the gravity rod with practiced ease. "I'll just make you all feel at home by caging you lifers!" he said. A glowing sphere solidified around several unknown thugs who struggled helplessly against Ted Knight's brilliant creation.
Dillinger swung at Starwoman and narrowly missed her dodging form. Doris punched out at the gangster and felt a rewarding gasp as her fist hit his chin. Meanwhile, Doll Girl made all the guns fly to her feet with the wand. Knodor yelled in helpless fury and charged her. He fell flat as the diminutive daredevil shrunk once more then grew into his stomach with a strength greater than that she had at full size. The Kid dropped Capone with a quick left and sent Clyde to his knees with an energy blast. Starwoman kicked Dillinger beneath the belt and saw him fall as well. Knodor was angry and fierce, but he had no formal training, while Doll Girl could fight and had the metal wand that pinned him to the wall by his belt.
As Jonni got up from the stunned Bonnie to join the heroes, she spotted the jewel shard. "Nice trinket," she said, smiling.
"And it's what we came here for. The Justiciar even said we could have it for stopping the so-called 'Last Criminal'!" cooed Doris. "Thanks for your help," she said as the Kid tossed her the gravity rod.
"I am not sure I know what's happened to Ted, but I can promise you with thirty-plus years hindsight that he's going to be okay," said Sylvester, who smiled sadly. Doris had already died by his time, but he could not let that fact slip out.
Doll Girl and Starwoman faded away to their own time, as did the Kid and Jonni; however, the magic of Rose Pyschic caused them to forget how they found the shard.
Chapter 7
PHANTOM LADY & FIREBRAND
Danette Reilly, alias the second Firebrand, was concerned. Her recovering brother Rod and her close friend Sir Justin the Shining Knight had both vanished, along with every other known adult male hero. She and her ally Sandra Knight, also known as Phantom Lady, had been transported through "time and space" by the magical symbol of the Seven, as used by the mysterious Rose Psychic.
Dann noticed that her clothes had altered dramatically as Rose had mentioned they would, to somehow match the time. She had her fiery red hair elaboratedly coiffed in a feathered headdress, while her brief red boostier and fishnet hoses and heels were revealed beneath a long feathered train in the rear. I'm some kind of saloon girl, she mused as she gazed around an ornate, smoke-filled dance hall that looked as if it had stepped out of a John Wayne or Gene Autry film.
Her companion, Sandra Knight, wore a severely-styled bun and a long, hoop-skirted green gown. "I think we're in the proverbial Wild West!" said an excited Phantom Lady.
"The jewel shard must be in this place... Mesa City, Arizona!" read Dann from a garish sign.
"C'mon, honey," called a drunken cowboy as he slapped her bottom and pulled her on his lap. She blazed up from one hand suddenly, and he recoiled in horror. The fiery display brought the room to a sudden hush.
As cowboys closed in on the now free Dann, Sandra aimed her wrist mounted darkness ray at the redhead. Dann was instantly shrouded in midnight darkness and hurried out to join a signaling Sandy. "I may have been groped by 'Wild Bill' Hickock!" said Dann.
They fled into a dusty street, where a voice hailed them from nearby. "I'm Johnny Thunder. Do you need help?"
Instead of the bow-tied, green-suited T-Bolt master of JSA fame, the Johnny Thunder they met was a red and blue suited, masked cowboy. "Ladies, you look a bit out of sorts. Can I help you?" he asked in a surprisingly polished voice.
"I... we need information about a jewel. An opal, in fact, or part of one," started Phantom Lady as she tugged on the heavy flowing gown she wore.
"I know that such an opal is in town. It's owner is passing through. He's a noted author -- Samuel Clemens."
"Mark Twain!" shouted Dann.
"Yes, ma'am. You must be a fan of Mr. Clemens. I also enjoy his travel books, especially 'Roughin' It.' He's to do a lecture at the Mesa City Lyceum, and he'll be wearing the opal as a tie clasp," explained Thunder.
This lawman is no ordinary gunslinger! thought Sandra.
"I hope the tour's stop here in Mesa City will add a bit of culture to the place. My poor, late mother would have dearly loved that," he replied.
"We are visitors from rather far away, and we came just to see that jewel," explained Dann.
"I see. Are you here to perform at the dance hall?" he asked.
"Yes. That's it exactly!" said an amused Sandy.
"And Sandy here's -- husband hunting!" muttered an irritated Firebrand as she adjusted her feathers.
"I myself am happily married, but I'm sure the men in town would love to meet pretty ladies like you two," he said.
"The Twain train -- a bit of a tongue twister -- arrives next Friday. I'll get you hotel rooms and let you get some rest. I have a good feeling about you two."
***
The women soon rested in the hotel. "Am I expected to actually dance in that place... in this outfit?" fumed Dann.
"I assume so since you appeared in it. Wouldn't want to mess up the whole space-time do-hickey," joked Sandra.
A reluctant Dann endured a week of dancing in the saloon under very odd circumstances while Sandra fended off suitors.
***
On the day of the Twain arrival, they hurried to the station. "This had better be the opal we need," said Dann.
As the train pulled up to the Mesa City station, a cheering crowd awaited the famed humorist himself. Among the group was an eager Dann and Sandy. A schoolteacher named John Tane stood by with a pretty redhead who was his wife, Jeanne.
A roar went up as Sam Clemens -- Mark Twain himself -- stepped down. His off-grey suit displayed a shining opal on the pale tie.
"That's it!" whispered Sandy.
"Now what? Just say, 'Excuse me, Mr. Twain, but we're time travellers, and we need your jewel to save our future world'?" said Dann.
"It worked for his Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Maybe we inspired it," laughed Sandy.
Twain was in rare form as he amused the crowd with his leisurely southern drawl and sharp quips. Tane led the honored guest to the Mesa City Lyceum Hall, where he was to speak. Dann and Sandy followed.
Midway through the humorist's hour set, masked figures burst in and waved the crowd to silence with lethal looking guns.
"We're a'takin' Twain. If you want 'im ta joke agin, then git his wife back in Connecticut ta pay up," sneered the hooded leader. John Tane raced forward, only to fall back as bullets whizzed by his head.
Sandy used her newfound invisibility powers to turn herself invisible and ripped off the hoop skirt. She charged to Twain's side and tackled his nearest kidnapper. The startled thug fell down hard, totally unaware of what was hitting him. Three rapid blows and he did not stir.
Dann fired up her hands, sheared off her feathered train and, in what now looked like a swimsuit with fishnets and heels, flew over the crowd. She tossed fireballs at the gunmen and forced them away from Twain, who wasted no time ducking away when he found his arms freed.
John Tane's wife Jeanne, the former outlaw known as Madame .44, leaped up and led the humorist to safety while her husband, secretly Johnny Thunder, shoved the podium into a thug. Firebrand flew lower and slammed her high-heeled feet into a thug, who pitched over the stage to a stunned pile on the floor. John Tane, out of his disguise but still valiant, fired an accurate shot that wounded a gunman, who dropped his gun with a scream.
Sandy, still unseen, leaped over one thug to crash into two others. Her fists struck both, for they had no idea to even try to dodge an unseen attack. Her left foot kicked one hard, and her skilled judo spun the other into a hard landing against a wall.
Firebrand caught a glimpse of a fleeing and hooded leader. She blocked his aisle with a flaming barrier that never moved past her intended spot. He turned, and John Tane hit him hard enough to chip a tooth or two. "There's nothing worse than opportunist thugs like these," he said.
Twain returned arm in arm with the lovely Jeanne Tane and drawled, "Must have been Brett Harte readers!"
They all laughed, and to Dann's pleasure Twain offered the jewel to his rescuers, not that he had seen Sandy's actual efforts. Tane thanked them too.
As they grasped the opal they faded away too and would lose all memory of what had occurred. To the much mortified "dance hall queen" Dann this was a blessing.
Chapter 8
HAWKGIRL & FATE
Inza Cramer wore the amulet, cape, and half-mask of her beloved Dr. Fate with some discomfort. True, the items gifted her with super-human strength and flight as they did Kent Nelson; however, she was not comfortable in this role. Kent has beaten every foe and bested every odd against him. Surely he can return from this Seventh Dimension too, she thought.
Her partner, Shiera Sanders, also known as Hawkgirl, had equally troubled thoughts racing through her mind. Carter vanished in costume, and that's better than what we know of poor Kent and Ted. Maybe he can yet beat this witch, the Star Sapphire. That gem of hers which somehow controls men won't work on us, and the opal shard we seek may beat her entirely when assembled with the other parts.
In a burning desert, the women saw pyramids and the grandeur of the Sphinx. "We're in ancient Egypt," said Inza.
"To be exact, we're in the Hyksos era," said the auburn-haired beauty Shiera. Shiera wore her regular hawk-helmet and wings, along with a filmy skirt. She knew the very feel of the skirt's fabric from her vivid dreams of a past life lived during the exact Hyksos era.
Inza wore the half-helmet, amulet, and gold cape over a brief blue tunic. "I forgot that you and Carter are experts on Egypt. I know what I picked up from my dad, but you could write a book on the era!" she gushed.
Shiera nodded. "I know this place all too well. I... died here at the hands of Hath-Set, or Anton Hastor as he's called in our modern world. He served Set secretly while posing as a priest of Anubis. He opposed Horus, the hawk-god of justice, and he killed Prince Khufu, as Carter was called then."
"I see some tyrant rules even now." She gestured at slaves laboring across the shifting sands. "Could it be Hath-Set himself, or did he die fighting Carter?" asked Inza as she brushed back her long curls.
"He did not die in the Hyksos era until some point after he killed us... as strange as this reincarnation terminology sounds!" offered the lovely heiress.
"This may be your second chance to stop him!" said Inza.
They flew off over the dunes until they spotted exactly what Shiera expected yet dreaded. "Workers being sacrified to some dark ruler," she explained.
They dropped down to clear frightened figures from around a place of murder. Future victims looked on in fear. Inza's newfound super power enabled her to lift and toss the altar at the scattering killers who disappeared in the night with confused looks on their faces.
Shiera turned to one slave. "Are you well? Who sought your death?"
The tired and scared man quivered as she drew near. "It was the One-Who-Rules: The Tyrant!" he said before running off.
"Tyrant -- must be that rat, Hath-Set," commented Shiera as the wind blew her skirt.
"Let's settle his hash!" commented an oddly fierce Inza.
They flew into the temple of Anubis, where, sure enough, the red-headed, sharp-bearded Hath-Set labored over some arcane book. He gasped at the sight of the flying women and grasped a nearby crystal knife in his hand.
"By the sands, that's the very crystal glass knife!" she shuddered as she recalled this man's murdering her long ago with a knife like the one he drew. She whipped out her mace and tossed it with skill at the robed figure below. "Never again!" she yelled. The mace smashed against his arm and he dropped the knife. It rattled against the tiled floor.
He said, "I--" but Shiera's fist silenced him. She lashed out until he collapsed to the ornate mosaic on the floor. "We stopped his reign of terror!" she said proudly.
Inza smiled and noticed Hath-Set's green and gold robe. It was emblazoned with the symbol of Anubis on the outside but inward was a hawk.
"Thank you for your service to Set!" barked a regal voice. They looked up to see exact doubles of Hawkman and Hawkgirl leering down from above.
"I think we made a big mistake!" whispered Inza.
The scream from a shocked Shiera echoed eerily in the Egyptian night. Above her in a brief, transparent gown and the familiar hawk wings posed her twin... seductively wrapped around Carter, or Khufu's evil double. "This can't be!" she muttered.
"Ah, but who can determine the winding paths of master Set? Yes, we may wear the wings of cursed Horus, but, as that fool could have told you, we long ago made vows to betray his cause for the power only belonging to Set!" said Khufu, or the "Dark Hawkman." His mate laughed a silvery laugh that sent chills down Shiera's spine.
"This isn't the exact Egypt we knew! It's some other realm... some other Earth's Hyksos era in which we served Set!" she said.
"And served him oh so well!" cooed the evil Shiera.
Inza concentrated and flew up to meet them, only to be struck by a gas that exploded from the Hawkman's clenched fist. An arcane pellet dropped from it as green fumes spread. Inza, like Kent when he wore the half-helmet, was vulnerable to lack of air. She toppled to the floor and pinned an equally gasping Shiera beneath her. As awareness left the women, they heard that same silvery laugh echoed above.
***
Inza Cramer woke up to find herself chained across the high side of a pyramid. Her arms were bound with heavy chains while her bare feet swung freely. The heat of the desert sun showed her that a night had passed since her defeat at the hands of the evil Hawks. "Where is Shiera?" she wondered as she blinked against the white light.
***
Shiera was in entirely different circumstances. She no longer wore her wings or helmet. Now she was reclining on a sofa dressed as some Egyptian harem girl. She awoke with a headache and a sick feeling of being watched. A man bent over her and caressed her cheek.
"Carter!" she sighed in his embrace. They kissed passionately before she realized where she was and that it had not been some weird dream. She pulled away from the evil twin of the man she loved. "Keep your hands off me!" she yelled.
The "dark" Prince Khufu smiled. "Ah, so fierce, so fiery! You truly are my Shiera's double. I am happy she allowed me to keep you as a pet, of sorts, for when she is not feeling passionate," he said with a haughty laugh.
Shiera noticed that he also had shed his wings. She spotted his belt of Nth metal and an idea formed. "I am sorry. You startled me. I find you so much like my own Khufu," she purred through seductively lowered long lashes.
He moved closer, and she reclined even more alluringly to draw him nearer. In his passion and ego, he suspected no ruse and was thus surprised when the lovely woman kicked him in the groin and slugged him with all her might. He recovered almost instantly as a true warrior prince would; however, he was not used to anyone diving for the power that lay not in the wings but in the gravity defying belt!
Shiera ripped at his eyes, then tore the Nth metal belt free from his tunic. She charged into him, and as he tumbled she whipped the belt around her slim hips. She lifted off the ground and kicked up and away from the now grasping Khufu. "See how you enjoy the cell!" she called as she flew out the open window high above the cell. She casually dropped his keys which hung on the belt away from the building. Now, to find Inza! she thought.
***
Inza heard a laugh and saw the evil Shiera in all her gauzy, see-through splendor. She laughed at the struggling Inza from below. She spotted a second figure being hustled out for... execution? It was Hath-Set, and he was bound tightly.
"You did our work well in beating this cur of Horus!" shrieked the dark Hawkgirl. She wore the wings, as well as the ornate hawk-helmet, but little else.
Inza shook her head and strained. Mighty, magic muscles pulled the chains free. She relished the power Kent enjoyed as Fate and soared down. The Dark Shiera rose in anger to meet her, and a sudden aerial war began as Hath-set looked on in dismay.
Inza was clearly outmatched by her more skilled aerial foe. This near-naked Shiera as as good as our Hawkgirl, she mused.
She then saw the real Shiera soar down in full winged glory after she had retrieved her costume from the stunned guards. Together they tried to pin Dark Shiera between them. Their ploy resulted in a bumped head for each heroine as the nimble woman dodged.
This "me" is better than the evil Khufu! He must rule in name alone, since she has by far the better skills and a meaner temper! thought Shiera.
The power of Fate made a huge difference when Inza Cramer scooped a huge mound of desert sand out of the earth and dropped it in the flight path of the dark Hawkgirl. She screamed and dodged, only to run right into Shiera's fists.
A cat-fight in the air ensued until our Hawkgirl casually unhooked her enemy's wings with the ease of one who had worn them a long time! She flailed with the belt and stayed aloft, but a kick sent her spinning. The edge of a pyramid caught her head, and she blacked out.
Inza charged the guards and, with a display of raw power, sent them fleeing from her tossed missles of wood and metal from the temple.
An eager Hath-Set was plucked up as well. "I thank you for your mercies and for the return of the sacred Nth metal!" he said. Hawkgirl had plucked all the wings and belts from the palace and bodies of the evil Hawks. "Without the flight power which was stolen from my home and my knowledge, my rebels can defeat the harsh dynasty of the traitors to Horus!" explained the good Hath-set.
Even though I know he's supposed to be a good guy, he still gives me the chills! thought Shiera.
Inza displayed the opal shard which Hath-Set had given her in appreciation. "Looks like the good Hath-Set owned the magic shard!" she said as they vanished into time and their memories faded.
Chapter 9
Franklin Delano Roosevelt watched as the colorfully costumed women of the All-Star Squadron prepared in their own ways for the coming of the Star Sapphire from the Seventh Dimension. His wife Eleanor busied herself with her column while nervously glancing up from time to time.
Liberty Belle scanned her hurriedly assembled roster of possible Squad allies. "The Gay Ghost, the Spectre, Little Boy Blue and his Blue Boys, Robin, Speedy, the Red Tornado, Dian Belmont as the Sandman, Sandy, the Star-Spangled Kid, the Ghost Patrol, and Cosmo are unaccounted for or are keeping peace in the streets. If needed we can summon them, except for the two or three who travel 'other worlds freely,' as Rose would say," she mused.
Wonder Woman sat quietly and checked her equipment. The mental radio had failed to make contact with any other mystery men or women, and she knew much would depend upon her own mighty efforts. Doris Knight sat silently next to Sandra Knight and Danette Reilly. Inza Cramer and Shiera Sanders waited nervously as well. The mysterious Rose Psychic smoothed the gleaming opal she had assembled from the shards her friends had located throughout time and space. Martha Roberts remained at doll-size in the alcove behind FDR's desk. She glanced protectively at the parcel Inza had entrusted her with guarding. She was to be a secret weapon.
Chapter 10
A glimmer of energy attracted their attention as a powerfully built and attractive woman appeared in their midst. "I am the Star Sapphire, Matriarchal Ruler of the Seventh Dimension! I am returned to the one called President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his answer. I see the addition of your nation's superior gender champions. Wise but futile," laughed the pretty but deadly alien.
The President spoke up, "Young woman, this nation is engaged in a perilous life-struggle for the safeguarding of the four freedoms all humanity earned as a birthright. We shall not surrender to any tyrant of any gender or nationality!"
She stomped her black, high-heeled boots in scornful annoyance. She wore a black body-stocking with fishnetted arms and legs. A gem hung from her tiara. "I see. Then you will never see your males again," she vowed.
Wonder Woman's lasso dropped on the startled alien. "Surrender them to us now!" she ordered.
"I think... not!" struggled the alien queen.
"She's resisting Di's magic! That's almost impossible!" said Belle.
Hawkgirl charged the alien with her mace raised above her auburn locks. "Curse you! We'll see you pay for the pain you've caused!" she said. She merely bounced off of a purple-hued force field.
"I may not have the same level of offensive might against females, but I am more than able to protect myself, as you see!" laughed Sapphire. She sent energy racing down the golden lasso, and Diana released it gingerly. Star Sapphire tossed it aside with bored contempt. "Your girlish toy has no power over my alien form!" She watched in amusement as Wonder Woman's burning hands glowed mildly.
Belle's belt vibrated, and she charged forward while signalling Phantom Lady. Sandy used her invisibility ray to cloud the Roosevelts in an obscuring shadow and rushed them down the hall to safety. Belle launched herself at Star Sapphire, only to remain caught in midair by her foe's energy power. She kicked out helplessly, only to be dropped hard against the nearby Shiera. Firebrand tossed a veritable wall of controlled flames between the bruised women and their foe. Doll Girl waited silently and prayed. Inza's raw force slammed into the force field and felt it vibrate slightly. It still held strong. Phantom Lady raced back and invisibly punched at the energy field with no effect.
Rose Psychic held up the opal of power. "This will counter your power!" she declared. To their mutual dismay, Star Sapphire merely laughed.
Chapter 11
The Star Sapphire laughed with amusement. "That opal did pose a threat to me... once; however, I dispelled its potent magic before I shattered it into fragments! All you've done is collect the empty pieces! How utterly inane!"
Rose cursed silently and aimed the symbol of the Seven at the alien. "It does have power. But I can resist it too!" promised Sapphire as the energy bathed her own field.
Wonder Woman charged forward and in a concerted effort with Inza, pounded against the force field. It weakened under their three-way attack, and the Star Sapphire looked irritated. "Begone!" she ordered. Energy lanced outward and pushed the women warriors away from their enemy. Inza moaned as the power knocked her backward.
Belle scambled across the room on her hands and knees and whispered to Doll Girl. "We may need it. But hold off for a minute," she said. Martha nodded.
Phantom Lady tried a new tactic. She made the area near the Sapphire dark. This effect angered her visibly, and she burst asunder the artifical night with power and light. "How dare you try to diminish my sacred light!" she shouted. The women exchanged glances at this outburst.
Starwoman stepped forward and covered the field with the glowing power of her gravity rod. Yellow stellar power vied with purple alien energy. The field's color altered variably. Doris perspired in concentration. "This is for you, Ted, honey! Please come back to me!" The power of the gravity rod held its own with the Sapphire's energy, but nothing else changed.
"Rose, can you feel your connection with Dr. Occult?" whispered Diana.
"No; for all I know it has been broken by her power!" she said in dismay.
Inza kicked out at the Star Sapphire's field and received the brief satisfaction of seeing the field fade for a moment. "I almost broke through! Fighting Doris' rod is taking her concentration!" she said.
Hawkgirl held an odd crystal knife. "This knife first awoke Carter's memories of our past lives together, and he used it to astrally battle Hastor once. I hope it may still stir him, somehow!" she said.
Rose Psychic shone the symbol of the Seven on the knife as well. A strange sensation ran through them both. "I feel... something! We may have briefly touched Carter or Richard Occult!" breathed Rose.
"Ah, you seek your mates!" said the Star Sapphire. "Allow me to bring them to you... on my terms!" she laughed. Energy blazed out, and some of the missing All-Stars appeared!
Chapter 12
To the amazement of the gathering mystery women, an energy opening appeared behind the Star Sapphire and widened to reveal the entranced All-Star men! Through this hole popped Hawkman, Mr. Terrific, Sargon, the Whip, the Green Lantern, Robotman, the Atom, and the Ray. They wore emotionless expressions on their entranced faces and seemed somehow distant and removed from the reality around them.
The energy hole started to shrink, and a suddenly energized Doll Girl abandoned their previously planned tactic involving the package. On impulse she leaped through the rapidly closing hole and vanished as it popped shut! The Star Sapphire did not notice the tiny woman and her larger bag pass through, since she was busy gloating over the startled All-Star women.
She laughed again, "I have brought your males to you, but as you can see they only have eyes for me!" The entranced All-Star males bowed to the Star Sapphire like gladiators going into combat honoring their emperor. She smiled and spoke: "Kill the women and serve me well!"
Robotman leaped in front of the others and charged toward the girls. No trace of Robotman's normal humor and mercy was in sight. Only madness remained on his determined metallic features. Wonder Woman pushed in front of the other women. She knew only her strength could easily face his mechanical power. "Bob, control yourself! Don't let her enslave your still human mind!" she urged to no avail. It was precisely due to his all too human mind that the artificial man was under Star Sapphire's sway. He and Wonder Woman linked hands and began an earnest struggle for mastery. His metal dynamos against her Amazon fury!
Nearby, the agile Belle nimbly ducked under a fierce swing from the short but skilled Atom, alias Al Pratt. Belle thought, Al's able to knock me cold if he connects, but his mind and skills are not under his own control. Hope that'll slow him enough! No emotion could be seen, since his blue hood covered his boyish features entirely. However, if Belle could have peered beneath the Calvin College Champion's mask she would have seen little human feeling.
The Green Lantern blazed out with a nimbus of fiery green flame surrounding his dramatic features. His ring jetted fiery energy toward the admittedly fearful Doris Lee and her gravity rod. "I don't know how I can face Green Lantern! Ted says no one can equal him in terms of raw power!" She created a shield of stellar force and looked for some way to survive the Emerald Gladiator's grim assault.
Chapter 13
Sandra Knight screamed as the able Mr. Terrific landed a right hook. She fell and rolled out of his way... only to find herself struck by the cracking whip of the aptly-named El Castigo -- the Whip!
Shiera faced her soulmate, Carter Hall, the Hawkman. He ignored her loving entreaties and charged toward his once and hopefully future lover. "Carter, fight it! I love you!" she pleaded. He narrowly missed her in a powerful bearhug that would have snapped her ribs. She thrust out the magical crystal knife and hoped the artifact that brought them together years before would alter his rage. He grabbed at it blindly as if it was any normal weapon or object.
As his hand closed around it a shock surged through his muscled body, and his future bride closed her own well-manicured hand across his. She gasped as she found herself looking somehow down on their still forms from some distant mental or astral realm. We are on some non-material plane! She faced her lover, and out of sight of the other combatants they waged a fierce mental struggle of will and soul. Each tried to dominate the other. A Hawk emblem enshrouded her lovely astral form while a purple, poisonous looking glow enveloped Carter Hall's spirit.
Below, and unaware of the battle beyond, stood the dashing, handsome form of Sargon the Sorcerer. His ruby of life flared up, while his brown eyes remained woefully glazed. He closed in on Rose Psychic, who held out her Symbol of the Seven uncertainly. He touched a wall, and hands sprang forth to grab at the nervous Rose as she summoned a mystic defense. He has more experience than I do, and he's so strong willed. I read his aura, and it speaks only of greatness, she thought.
Inza Cramer dodged a charged Ray whose glowing form shone with power drawn from the morning light and the room's bright illumination. She was hit hard and fell to the ground. She rose again and clipped his fleet form with a strong punch. Belle tripped the charging human dynamo known as the Atom and his short form fell. She kicked him in the chin and he shrugged off her blow all too soon! Wonder Woman heaved and the metallic might of Robotman inched backward beneath her awesome strength!
Firebrand tossed flame at the circling Mr. Terrific, who pulled away nimbly. He left Phantom Lady crying beneath the Whip's skilled lashes. She reeled as the whip struck her bare legs, and she blinded Rodrigo Gaynor with her black light. While the Whip was blinded, the talented Miss Knight rolled free of his whip and hit him squarely in the chin. She followed up with a one-two combination that dropped the western hero to the floor. Panting from the exertion, Sandy sank down to catch her breath.
Mr. Terrific moved like a skilled acrobat. He agilely leaped up and spun through the air to catch the startled Firebrand unaware. His swift left stunned the redhead, and she fell to the ground. He landed precisely on top of her and sent her to dreamland.
Belle flipped the mighty Atom over her shoulder and kicked at Mr. Terrific. He turned and caught her boot heel as if by some extra sense. She swung around and caught him with a Japanese ishiguri kick. He dropped her and fell into Atom's right hook. Belle brought an Oval Office chair down on their close heads and neither mystery man moved. "That was all too close!" she sighed.
Green Lantern's huge energy fist then smashed through Doris's shield and she shrieked.
Chapter 14
Green Lantern left the now helpless Doris trapped in a tight, crushing grip. Wonder Woman saw her plight and dropped to the floor; her heels slammed into Robotman and she lifted him up and over her head to crash into the wall. "Up and over! Just like Mala and I used to do back on Paradise Isle!" she laughed. She jumped up and tossed the chair Belle had used, and it splintered against her close friend Alan Scott, the Green Lantern. The wooden mess hit his head, and he fainted instantly. Doris fell free as well as his energy construct disappeared. Doris panted and waved the gravity rod at the metal man. Robotman was enclosed in a sphere of stellar power and on a hunch, Starwoman flew off, towing him behind her streaking figure.
As they raced out of DC, he stopped struggling and, to her delight, asked, "What is this? Starman? No, obviously not!" He seemed to have a warmth about his cold voice and electronic eyes that had been missing under Star Sapphire's control.
"Thank goodness! Her power has a range. Away from her you are free again. I guess if she pops up here she could enslave you again by ambush as she must have done to all you boys!" she exclaimed. They rested on a hill, and she explained all to the brilliant Bob Crane.
***
Meanwhile, Sargon had entombed Rose in a glass cage formed from the hanging chandelier. He also fell when Inza landed on him like a blue/gold pile of bricks. He seemed only dazed, but it was enough to give Rose time to shatter her prison with the gleaming Symbol of the Seven.
The Star Sapphire herself had watched the fights with unhidden glee. She snarled as her pawns fell to the teamwork of the heroines. The Ray dropped like a rock as Sandra Knight enveloped him in darkness. He almost blasted out when the fleet speed of Wonder Woman enabled her to stun him with a right cross. "So I must bring forth others to duel with you!" vowed an amused Sapphire.
Here we go again! thought Belle.
Chapter 15
Meanwhile, Shiera and Carter struggled onward until, in what looked far less dramatic than the other fights, Carter Hall -- Prince Khufu -- Hawkman -- found himself! He was free once more, and he embraced his girlfriend eagerly. The couple remained entwined when the other fights ended.
***
Meanwhile, Doll Girl had emerged in the Seventh Dimension, where she gasped at the sight of the All-Star males entranced in a line. Some were in costume (Wildcat, the Flash, Stripesy, the Crimson Avenger, and more), while others, including the wealthy Bruce Wayne, were not.
She wondered just which All-Star Wayne could be. She also recognized Ted Knight. He was Starman, as Doris had revealed. Near the lanky millionaire was a blond she thought she knew from Inza's photo as Kent Nelson, alias Dr. Fate. A mild-mannered, bookish sort also stood dazed by other healthy looking "civilian clothed" males. He's certainly no Superman! she thought.
She had only entered the dimension with the bag from Inza on a whim. The original plan had involved Inza's using the contents herself if all seemed lost. Martha made sure she had identified Kent correctly, then from out of the bag she pulled a golden helmet! She slipped it over his glazed eyes, and then he came alive!
"Once again the forces of outer darkness attempt to traduce the ways of Fate. As futile as it once was, so shall it e'er be!" He sure didn't speak like the easygoing Kent whom Inza had described! He gestured at the other JSAers, Seven Soldiers and the rest, and in a mass exodus they charged out of the sudden aperture that opened when Sapphire vowed to summon more champions. Martha hurried along in their colorful wake.
Chapter 16
The Star Sapphire's smile turned to a look of regal dismay when she saw the entire male group of formerly entranced All-Stars explode through her dimensional opening.
While Inza felt her heart leap into her throat at the sight of Dr. Fate (for it was Fate, not Kent Nelson) leading the charge. She had no doubt not that the battle was won; however, she feared that the man she loved would lose a more personal battle afterward. The golden full helmet of Fate submerged much that was Kent Nelson. It was for this very reason he had abandoned it. She had brought it from the Salem tower in case the women had no other option. She had planned to slip it on herself, for whatever good or ill that might produce. Now that Doll Girl had returned it by a shrewd hunch to Kent, his other half -- Nabu the wizard of Order -- was in control. "You tamper with forces beyond your right!" he thundered.
Star Sapphire said, "I can still entrance you again!" She instantly did so to Stripesy, the Crimson Avenger and Wing.
Dr. Fate, now fully attired -- for his magic had brought his full costume to him -- gestured, and magical ankhs formed as a sign of his power. He remained free, for the Sapphire could not sap his arcane will.
Wonder Woman saw Doris reunite with Ted Knight, who armed himself with his gravity rod even as his friends rose up in different conditions.
"I need only control a few!" vowed the Sapphire.
Libby knew what she meant. Superman, now in costume, had a glazed look and by himself could well challenge half or most of the team! Fate's magic had costumed his allies. That seemed a sign that the more concerned Kent was partly in control, or so Inza prayed. Superman crossed the room only to face a prepared Wonder Woman. "Fight her! Remember your responsibility!" she urged. He shuddered at her words and a mighty will warred with magical impulses. Starman and Green Lantern dueled as well as the Sapphire drove on the Emerald Champion when he awoke.
Belle slammed her fist into the jaw of the Crimson Avenger, while Wing circled warily around a freed Mr. Terrific. "She can hold all of you! Move out of range!" yelled Belle.
The Hawks were free and soared up to intercept flying heroes like Black Condor and Ray. They sped away and slowly led their friends out of her range. "Carter, may we do this for all of them? Or do we place you in danger each time?" asked Shiera.
"All we can do is try," said Hawkman.
Firebrand aimed a wave of fire at the Sapphire, who blocked it with a force field, as Wildcat pummeled the Air Wave.
Chapter 17
The Crimson Avenger dropped his trademark pellet of red clouding gas only to have a wind from the Thunderbolt blow it away. Johnny Thunder watched and listened as his Thunderbolt tried to control a wild crisis.
Dr. Occult waved the Symbol of the Seven over the opal Rose had in her hand. "You may as well have forgotten about that shattered opal. You did nought with it!" crowed the Sapphire.
Sargon touched the Green Arrow's bow and it turned to ashes in his hands. He spotted Occult and had a hunch. "Let the Ruby of Life impower the opal anew!" The gem on his turban glowed, and as the Symbol of Seven channeled the mystic power the opal did gain an odd luster.
Dr. Fate duelled with Star Sapphire. "I shall cast out your tainted light with a purer luminescence!" said the man known as Fate. Light bathed the alien princess, and she flinched in true pain for the first time.
Wonder Woman grunted as she held back the Man of Steel, who may have been fighting for freedom internally as well.
Johnny Thunder spoke up, "Say, you know, it would serve her right if her Sapphire was broken up and scattered through time like that Opal!"
The Thunderbolt smiled in answer and said, "Shattered and scattered!" The Sapphire screamed as he did just that to her gem. "Can't destroy it, but I sure can displace it!" said the Thunderbolt. When the sapphire vanished from her tiara the alien Princess lost her hold on all the males.
Superman shook his head and sighed, "That was rough. Thanks, Diana!"
"Glad you're back!" she answered.
The Batman helped up the now shaken Phantom Lady, and they reassured a dazed Stripesy.
Starman enveloped Star Sapphire with a stellar cage, but she still possessed enough might to break loose. The flying heroes returned in time to see the Green Lantern slap Star Sapphire with a green glowing fist. "I know, I know, that's no way to treat a lady," he joked.
Sargon and Occult rushed forward, and with a now powered opal they cowed the Star Sapphire. She backed away from them in fear. "No! Have mercy on a yielded foe!" she cried.
Fate stepped up. "I show you the same mercy you would have offered a benighted world neath your sway. Forget your will and live a mindnumbed pawn." The ankh magic swallowed up the Star Sapphire and enclosed her form in the Opal. When they met, a glow filled the chamber and the evil woman was gone.
"You didn't kill her, did you?" asked the Star-Spangled Kid as he shook hands with Doris Lee for what was the first time chronologically.
"She lives within the opal, which contains her raw, innate power and separates her from the now scattered genstone. It is just," explained Fate.
"I guess it does seem like fair play," mused Terry Sloane.
Inza stepped up meekly and said, "Now that she is defeated, Kent, please come back to me," she implored. Fate gazed coldly at her and while seconds ticked by and hearts pounded, he slowly removed the helmet and donned the half helmet she held.
"I'm back. It's okay. The helmet didn't hold me like before, but I'm not pushing my luck," said an embracing Kent Nelson.
"I do love a happy ending!" said the Thunderbolt.
Johnny Thunder smiled and agreed eagerly.