Previously in our last issue, in case you're just joining us...

A transmission come through on an FM radio frequency, hailing the Red Vision as 'Earth-born android' (interesting oxymoron). He broadcasts a reply, discovering it is coming from Nova Primus' headgear.

As the Ranndarian catches up with Red Vision, he asks if he has any suggestions for breaking up the battle. The Red Vision points out that a second skirmish has broken out; this one involving the Anti-Magus and Cloud, who has become a glowing mass of swirling gasses and cosmic particles. With that in mind, his attentions must be focused on his young charge.

Nova Primus regards the android as he would any sentient life form, with respect. "I understand your concerns. Perhaps our goals are not exclusive though. The Omega Guard would be eager to repel the pirate Deathbird and her Suicide Squad, if only we could alert them to the danger. Hold up," he suddenly calls out, detecting some distant glimmer just out of his range of perception, "Is that another Earth rocket?"

**********

Hour-Father runs a quick diagnostic of his internal chronometers. "This should not be possible. Not only is the appearance of the Legion of Galactic Guardians anomalous for this timeline, another divergent legion has arrived."

"At the risk of sounding ignorant of trans-temporeal physics," Wonder Cat says sarcastically, "how is this a bad thing? We're saved, hoo-yah!"

"When one Hyper-Cross-Time interacts with another, there are usually minor inconsistencies that work themselves out before any permanent damage is done. If a time-loop occurs though, such as.." The android suddenly freezes, unable to act, speak, or even think.

"Does this mean another evil entity is gonna pop out of him?" Spider-Boy knows his humor is inappropriate, but it does break the tension, and helps the others feel more in control.

Jubilation looks into the robot's glazed stare. "This looks more like a computer shutdown. Like his processor overloaded, or something. Maybe he couldn't handle the chrono-multi-tasking."

Snapper Jones steers his hover-chair away from the view-station to make his own assessment. "I think it has more to do with that time-loop he was talking about. If that other Legion is causing a paradox it might prevent him from cycling through whatever time-phase variances he was trying to compute."

"Like a logic-bomb on an old PC," Arrowcaster is thankful that she can finally put the conversation in a reference she understands. "Can't we just reboot him?"

"Don't see a reset button anywhere," Sparrow comments while examining the immobilized android, "and I doubt that Control-Alt-Delete will work."

Inside his own mind, Hour-Father is indeed caught in a logic trap of sorts. His investigation into the direction of the timeline indicates that history flows up to the year 2099 and then folds back on itself, each time creating more divergences that overlap each other within the same stream. Already multiple temporal layers exist within his current cross-time context. Should this continue uninterrupted, all time will be corrupted to the point that nothing past 2099 will ever have existed, including the Judgment Legion of the 25^th Century that built him.

"No, that will never do." The android suddenly jolts back to life in a whirl of activity. "We can still stop the temporal vortex from reaching its epicenter," he tells them, oblivious to the fact that no one has the slightest clue what he's talking about.

"Well, we found the time-square," Insect Queen tells him, trying to be helpful. "What do you want us to do?"

"We must leave this sector of space at once. The distress call I put out when Gladiauron attacked us seems to be acting against the flow of time. Instead of reaching the Judgment Legion: A it has stopped in the year 2099, sending side-band harmonics across the frequency spectrum." This simplified explanation is still lost on the YJLA-Next, with the exception of Sparrow, who has studied the workings of radio transmitters enough to get the idea. "Bouncing Boy, you must pilot this craft out of Shi'Karren territory."

"I never drove before, all my flight time was on the simulator. Besides, our charts don't reflect 1999 borders, there could have been significant celestial changes between now and then. We can't do this safely."

Snapper Jones doesn't want to interrupt, especially since he can't contribute much to Hour-Father's plan. But he feels his own idea should at least be addressed. "You guys work on getting the ship under control, unless we can recall the Legion of Galactic Guardians to do it. I'm gonna try something with the two time squares. I'll let you know how it turns out if I make it back."

Jones opens a Zoom Tube before anyone else can react and guides his hover-chair inside. Sparrow and Spider-Boy look at each other nervously. "He's like, never let us down before," Jubilation Lee observes, trying to sound hopeful. "Think he knows what he's doing?"

"Either that or he's a rat deserting a sinking starship," Spider-Boy pops off. "So, who knows where the bathroom is?"

**********

The battles rage on, with the Legion of Galactic Guardians fighting the Shi'Karren Omega Guard, the Legion of Galactic Guardians fighting the Imperial Suicide Squadron, and the sentient starchild Cloud trying to use her newly found cosmic powers to combat a fissure in the fabric of reality that appears to be pulling one hundred years of future history into the present.

Now another spacecraft enters the arena, this one closely resembles the two rockets that belong to the alternate Legions. Heroes from the year 2099 try to make sense of the chaos. "So what do you think, Fabulous Boy?"

The muscular teen wearing a green bodysuit with yellow trim and cape merely scratches his chin. "I don't know, Static-Lad. History was never my strongest subject. You sure the distress signal originated from here?"

Maniac 5 answers for Static Lad. "Of course I'm sure. The cross-modular telemetry intersected with out space-time coordinates at precisely--"

"It was a rhetorical question, you Maniac!" Rocket Gal scolds her teammate. "Fabu was just voicing his concerns!"

Fat Boy rolls across the cockpit to engage the tracking signal. "The call came from that ship, the one just floating there. I'll bet the crew was scared by all the super people fighting."

Static Lad smiles, he loves situations like this. "Then it's a lucky thing for them that the League of SuperTeens showed up! Let's do some rescuing!"

**********

Nova Primus and the Red Vision propel themselves through the cosmic ether to greet the new arrival. An airlock opens and they are both allowed inside. A familiar-looking hero greets them. "Welcome, heroes of the 20^th Century! I am Captain Marvel of the year 2099. Together with Archer, Iron Lantern, Dark Claw, Mariner, Amazon, and Victory we make up the latest incarnation of the Judgment League Avengers!"

"I see," is all the commentary Red Vision has to offer. He is certain this new team is not from the same future the Legion of Galactic Guardians hails from, anymore than either of them could come from a timeline in which the Earth no longer exists in 2099. Or in 2000, he reminds himself.

Victory, who clearly represents a future counterpart to Super-Soldier, reports to the quarterdeck to relieve Marvel. "I'd take you on a tour of the shuttle, but I can tell from all the fighting that there's an emergency."

"That's right," confirms Nova Primus. "We need to stop all the fighting so we can concentrate on the real emergency. A quantum-powered villain is driving an immature celestial object to expand in the middle of the Vega System."

Victor turns to Amazon. "Give them all the help they need," he tells her. "I'll tend to our quantum-powered villain!"

**********

Bouncing Ball races about the rocket's bridge, trying to remember the engine initialization sequence. Sparrow takes the helm after figuring out the relatively simple control panel. Spider-Boy manages to turn on the communications station, but can't seem to send a 'hail' to anyone outside the viewport.

Alright, Hour-Father," Arrowcaster speaks up, "Tell us what we're up against, and why we have to leave. In small words this time."

"There's a major crisis going on, but we can't dislodge the local skirmishes to get help. A dimensional rift was opened, and is being perpetuated by the arrival of multiple teams from the future." The android pauses, trying to find a simplified way to explain the rest. He opts for the blunt approach. "Thanagar is about to launch the invasion of Earth."

"Okay, that's bad. But I'm not abandoning Cloud!" Wonder Cat is still insistent on rescuing her teammate. "We'll have to split up some how!"

Suddenly the viewport screen switches to communications mode, displaying the bridge crew of the Nomad. Sister Voodoo, Hougan Supreme, addresses them. "Greetings from the future. We received your signal one hundred years in the future. How can we help?"

After brief introductions from each team the YJLA-Next learn that the Guardians of Authority come from a world in which the White Skrulls and Dalienites allied themselves with Dr. Doomsday (instead of with Mephisteron, as Spider-Boy recalls [and you should too, if you read the 1997 DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND crossover from Amalgam and Dark Image-- Ivan the Continuity Cop]). The World War that broke out took the lives of the JLAvengers, WildC.A.T.A.L.Y.S.T., Challengers of the Fantastic, and nearly every other superhero on Earth. The planet was decimated, leaving the surface barren and uninhabitable. The surviving population migrated to the rest of the solar system, where genetic engineering was used to adapt them to new ways of life.

The heroes agree to help them rescue Cloud. Before they can turn about, however, they are contacted by another spaceship. Cloud appears on the screen next to the crew. "I'm okay, guys! The H.A.R.D.C.A.T.S. siphoned off my excess energy and helped me revert back to human form." Behind her, Solar and Supreme nod in agreement.

"That's great, Cloud!" Wonder Cat tells her, "but how did they make it past all the aliens after you?"

"The X-Scouts and the Fantastic Legion ran interference for them." Still elated to be out of danger and in control of herself once again, the girl known only as Cloud doesn't question her seemingly impossible good fortune.

Spider-Boy can't help being perplexed by the plethora of future heroes converging on them, but he knows that with Snapper Jones MIA the others will be looking to him for leadership. "I think we need to make this a conference call. Let's get as many of these analogous teams on-line and coordinate our next move."

Sparrow, who has never felt the need to look to Spider-Boy for leadership, is impressed by the plan he proposes. She knows where he's going with this, but decides to let him run it himself so as not to steal his thunder (beware the wounded male ego!). "So like, what move would that be?" she asks.

"No matter which one of these teams is from our real future, the only way any of them can exist is if we head off the Thanagar invasion fleet!"

"He's right," points out Supergirl from the Legion of Titanic Heroes' vessel, "I'm not going to walk peacefully into the night, being remembered only in legends of a dead Earth!"

**********

Thanagar rests in its orbit around the star Polaris, completely at peace with its surroundings. Floating above the planet, however, are numerous space-docks where the Thanagarian Military prepares to launch its invasion of the Sol system. Key among the officials overseeing these efforts is Rokara Soh, who will be spearheading the attack personally. It looks over set of coordinates again, ensuring the astronavigation charts have been updated before the fleet enters hyperspace. Earth has produced many a blemish in Rokara's otherwise sterling military career, and it relishes the opportunity to use the mudball as a testing ground for the Aggregator Beam, a weapon that harnesses the energy of the naturally-occurring celestial object known as the Silver Twist. This energy is released as pure destructive force. Early prototypes were capable of eliminating entire moons.

Rokara, satisfied that all preparations are in order, returns to the bridge of the Paran Katar, flagship of the fleet. "I think that about takes care of everything," it tells its crew. "Initiate the launch codes!"

**********

The Imperial Suicide Squadron float among the cosmic debris that remains from their battle. One team of heroes they could have handled. Two would have posed a decent challenge. Even three could have made for a battle they could be proud of. But when eight separate ships converged on them, each transporting a battalion of advanced warriors, A'manda Deathbird could do nothing but admit defeat. It was only thanks to a greater threat that the Omega Guard did not take the time to bring them into custody. Eric the Red Cyborg did intercept a transmission from Nova Primus requesting the StarRebels come clean up for them. There is little time remaining before the renagade heroes might show up, but it is enough for A'manda to take advantage of.

"Tempest Lord!" she transmits. "Summon the Wall and get aboard. We need to transport the crew inside and find out who has Black Atom."

Tempest Lord, an energy projector who can convert his body into electricity for short durations, zips through space and enters the floating fortress via a radar antenna. "I'm on it, Deathbird. Everyone seems accounted for except for the White Spider. Didn't see him during the fight, either."

After Killer Flame is cleared for duty by Skeetorski she resumes her duties as Reconnesance Officer. "Black Atom located," she announces to A'manda and the other already on the bridge.

"Good. Teleport Astronomy, Big Shot, Foxfire, and myself to his coordinates." Even as battle-weary as they are, the four of them should be able to overcome any obstacles long enough to put a tracer on the Anti-Magus, ensuring that the Wall will be able to transport him.

Cloaked by Astronomy's phase-shifting ability, they appear in a medical bay where Black Atom is lying secured to a bed. A sudden flash of light stuns them all, revealing a gathering of twenty powerful figures who can clearly see and attack them. "Welcome to the League of Infinity Kickers," a feral-looking armored figure greets them. "I'm Shadowblack, and you four are in some very serious trouble."

*********

"A-A-A-A-A-r-r-r-r-r-e-e-e-e-e y-y-y-y-o-o-o-o-u-u-u- s-s-s-u-u-u-r-r-r-e-e-e t-t-h-h-i-i-s-s i-i-s s-a-f-e?" Wonder Cat asks as the g-forces of lightspeed travel take their toll on her.

Sheath, unaffected by the pull, turns to her. "It's not so bad when you get used to it. Don't be such a baby."

"E-e-e-a-a-a-s-s-s-y-y f-f-o-o-r y-o-u t-o s-ay," Spider-Boy retorts, as his equilibrium begins to acclimate. "You were genegineered for this."

Midnight Watchman ponders. "It's true the Honor Watch wasn't configured for beings of a... lesser constitution. I just never expected to be playing space cabby to a bunch of ancient heroes. Maybe Kabuki Angel can whip you up something to settle you."

Kabuki Angel says nothing, concentrating solely on the menagerie of starships she presently flies in formation with. When a new blip enters her scope, she motions for the Mighty Samaritan to check it out.

The Mighty Samaritan approaches, and exclaims, "Great Zeno's Paradox!" He shows Winged Mage and Force what he has discovered.

"Oh sure, they get to have all the fun," Arrowcaster pouts. Hitching a ride with the Honor Watch seemed to be a pretty good idea at the time; with a crew of only six, the YJLA-Next wouldn't be as smooshed as they would be teamed up with a larger group. Now she wishes they were with one of the teen groups. These adults from the future are treating them like children.

Hour-Father, along with the crew of the ForeRunner II, pops up on vid-phone. "Did everyone else see that?"

Spider-Boy rushes over to the screen to find out what the fuss is about. "The spec appearing on the space chart has been identified as a fleet of starfighters," Primix, leader of the UltraFour, relays to them. "Its origin appears to be Thanagar!"

**********

"So this is it, the invasion has begun." Ahmedabad paces anxiously through the asteroid-based Watchtower Observatory. "I can't believe you plan to sit this out!"

Captain Albion sits slumped in its chair, relishing the shadows that have overtaken it. "What would you have me do? Fight? Kill myself?-- Again?"

"Yes!!" Eldritch growls. "Anything is prefer'ble to this!" Eldritch was once the metamutant Crimson Wolf, and had served on the Teen Mutants and Judgment League Excelsior. Now she and a handful of survivors do nothing but sit on their arses discussing the damage Rokara caused by bringing them all here.

The Cybernetic Man, currently housing them all as a bio-synthetic replica of the original Watchtower, detects something approaching. "Hey, Cap! We have a visitor. Big ship.. no wait, make that ships. I can't seem to get a lock on how many there are. They seem to be overlapping each other. Is that possible?"

Tinya Wisdom, daughter of former JLE'ers ShadowWing and Pete Constantine, brings up a visual display. "Either Thanagar p.o.'ed the wrong empire, or your buddies from the 27^th Century have finally come to shut us down."

"Either way, I'll not go without a fight!" A gleam of light sparks from Ahmedabad's bionic eye. "I'm feeling lucky, let's do this!"

The Galactic Stranger, a mysterious figure who allied himself with the JLExcelsior for a time, appears in the ready room just as Blackstar is lighting off the engines of their ship. "Don't bother; if there's any fighting to be done, let it come to us. Time waits for no man."

Blackstar throws his head back laughing. "Oh come on! That didn't make sense even to you! You contradicted yourself!"

The Galactic Stranger eyes the headstrong hero and fades away, whispering as he goes, "Did I?"

**********

Hour-Father reaches out, feeling an aberration in the continuum. "Our target is close at hand, Universe Boy."

Universe Boy looks at the android. "What target? I thought we were out to save the Earth?"

"I refer to Rokara Soh of Judgment Legion: E. It is near by. Perhaps it means to repeat its mistake and destroy yet another chronology."

Whipsmart and Case of UltraFour inform them that they are about to engage the Thanagarians.

An epic battle takes place. Wave after wave of starfighters pours forth from the bellies of the mighty Thanagarian Carrier Fleet. The Legion of Infinite Legions meets them on the field of space. Rokara Soh smiles. The fighters will only serve to stall their attackers for a few seconds, but that's all it needs to complete the jump to hyperspace. In moments the remaining fleet will be within firing range of Earth.

"Not-- This--- Time!" A scarred and weary Captain Albion shreds the hull of the Paran Katar. "Not EVER again!" Captain Albion IV, who in a former life was called Rokara Soh, leads the Judgment Legion: E on a stealth attack against the Thanagarian flagship. With the rest of his team disabling the hyperdrive, Soh itself must destroy the Aggregator, to make up for crimes it is about to commit.

**********

On board the Legion of Super-Avengers' Quinrocket, a zoom tube opens, startling the heroes from the future as well as the Red Vision. Even more startling is that Snapper Jones comes charging out of it, riding some kind of Kirby-esque motorcycle. The four passengers he brings with him generate quite a stir, but all eyes are on Jones as he shouts. "Get out of here! We have to get everyone ou--"

To be concluded!

**********

AMALGAMNATION

Here, alphabetically, is the actual roster of the Imperial Suicide Squad(ron) complete with amalgamations:
A'manda Deathbird [Amanda Waller / Deathbird]
Astronomy [Dr. Alchemy / Astra] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Big Shot [Deadshot / Gladiator] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Buster [Blockbuster / Smasher] --- Created by Crazy Ivan
Commander Boomerang [Captain Boomerang / Commando] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Eric the Red Cyborg [Cyborg Superman / Eric the Red] -- Created by Niles Cable
Foxfire [Vixen / Fire Lord] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Killer Flame [Killer Frost / Flashfire] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Lashybil [Lashina (Duchess) / Sibyl] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Mentoplex [Multiplex / Mentor] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Mob [Riot / Phalanx] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Night Orchid [Black Orchid / Nightside] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Nuclear Force [Major Force / Neutron] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Pigeon [Penguin / Midget] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Privatron [Privateer / Electron] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Skeetorski [Skeets / Sikorsky] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
Tempest Lord [Volt Lord / Tempest] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
White Goblin [White Martian / Hobgoblin, Dire Wraith] -- Created by Crazy Ivan
White Spider [Lobo / Venom] -- Created by Niles Cable

The winner of the contest is Loborine, who successfully deciphered 12 members. And I'm sure he'd have gotten one more right answer if I hadn't left the match between Mass and the White Spider out of the fight scene. As per the Lobe-meister's request, I will be awarding him the prize he picked out; a Villains Redux 2000 fan fic written by yours truly featuring A'manda Deathbird and her Imperial Suicide Squadron! After the baddest collection of intergalactic pirates this side of Access got defeated this issue (off-panel even!), they'll be looking to re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with!

So enjoy the rest of 1999, and remember to Always Ask About Amalgam!

**********

Amalgamations:

(Just the team names-- for further breakdowns consult the 2099 Sourcebook, available soon!)

All character owned by Amalgam Comics (property of Marvel & DC Comics) except as noted above. Sheath created by Shaun Martens. Force created by Andrew Daily. Winged Mage, Midnight Watchman, and Mighty Samaritan created by Gary A. Smith. Kabuki Angel created by Angela Sassor. This fan fiction is created for non-profit, entertainment purposes, and is an original intellectual property of Crazy Ivan. 1999 - 2099: THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR created by Crazy Ivan. Next time I'm doing something smaller!!

---

Ron Schablotski <[email protected]>

The Amalgam Crisis Center

There Came A Time When The Old Gods... Changed!

-- THORION AND THE NEW ASGODS #1

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