[CENTER][H2][b][color=slategray]E P I S O D E  I:  R E B I R T H - C O N C L U S I O N[/color][/b][/H2][/CENTER]
[Color=DARKORANGE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]L O U I S I A N A :[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][sup][COLOR=SILVER]July 17[SUP]th[/SUP], 2017 - 20:11 | Stonechat Museum - St. Roch[/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT][/COLOR]
[INDENT][INDENT]Lion-Mane rushed towards the Warden, the predator deeming the Question the lesser threat as he the humanoid feline tossed crates of precious artifacts out of his way. Hitting the ground, the wood splintered and cracked as priceless relics were tossed everywhich direction. From one such box, a Roman gladius was sent spinning across the floor accompanied by a Gaul weighted net which had ensarned the sheathed weapon. The pair of armaments coming to a halt just beyond the reach of the Question. 
 
Slashing the air wildly with his claws, Lion-Man attempted to maul the plantoid before him as he roared ferociously, spraying salivia into the air.
 
[COLOR=SILVER][B]"I'll turn you to sawdust!"[/B][/COLOR] 
 
[color=007236]"I am not a tree, so I am doubtful of that working too well"[/color] The Warden observes as he vaults up a nearby pillar with two vines, and slashing at the lion man with the third one.
 
Catching the vine around with paw, Lion-Mane gave it a yank, attempting to drag the Warden towards him as he pulled back his other paw, claws extending as he wound up for a swing. 
 
The Warden pulls right back, testing the lion's strenght while setting up to use the momentum of the pull to his advantage if his test fails. 
 
Scrambling forward, Question grabbed the net and gladius, unsheathing the former and wielding it in his dominant left hand. With his right, he threw the net towards Lion-Mane, with the intent of entangling him in it. [color=0072bc][i]'Capture him in net. Should incapacitate him for a moment. Give time to think of way to take him down.'[/i][/color]
 
The net entangled the man-beast as he was caught offguard while the Warden pulled him off balance. Releasing the vines snared around his paw, Lion-Mane roared as he easily shredded the ancient net. The aged fibers coming apart and disintegrating into dust as the warehouse was filled with a hearty laugh. 
 
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"You think these tools will save you. Mortal, you face a god!"[/b][/color] He taunted, his full attention now on the Question who stood nearby, only he short blade providing any sort of protection. 
 
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"I would have thought you'd bring real weapons against me if you came to do battle, yet you carry a butter knife. I will enjoy using it to spread your blood."[/B][/COLOR] Dropping to all fours, the feline man ran forward, leaping into the air, claws and teeth outstretched as he pounced upon the Question. 
 
[color=0072bc]"Have at you, you fucking bastard!"[/color] Question shouts, attempting to drive the gladius through Lion-Mane's chest as he is pounced upon.
 
At that moment, before the beast would have most likely crushed Question with it's mass - despite the Gladius in his arms. The window to the warehouse house soon shattered and Lizard jumped in through it.
 
Then with a quick pounce jumped forward, just managing to use her momentum to impact Lion-Mane in his side and away from crushing the conspiracy detective.
 
[COLOR=GREENYELLOW]Oh yeah! Time to get ugly, flea-ball!"[/COLOR] roared Lizard, in a challenge, getting back up to her feet and readying her fists.
 
A low rumble came from Lion-Mane's chest as he reared himself up to his full height. Standing nearly three feet above the Lizard, he looked down on the young girl, his body shaking ever so slightly with mirth as a smile crossed his face.
 
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Aren't you a fiesty one?"[/B][/COLOR] He smiled wickedly. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Perhaps after I've proved my domination over you, you'd make a fine bride."[/B][/COLOR] With a sweep of his paw, Lion-Mane tossed a crate towards Lizard before rushing forward, maw open and claws extended as he intended to leave a mark on the small lizard girl. 
 
The Warden, now swinging from the rafters, decides that now is probably a pretty good time to jump back in, and throws himself down at the Lion Man's head while whipping around his brambly vine towards his legs. 
 
Question, after picking himself and his gladius off the floor, jumps back into the fight as well by running forward, coming to a stop with a crouch, and swinging his gladius at Lion-Mane's ankles. [color=0072bc][i]'Just like Achilles; a mighty warrior, seemingly undefeatable, but just one hit to the right place will [b]topple[/b] him.'[/i][/color]
 
[COLOR=GREENYELLOW]"First of all....ew. Secondly-"[/COLOR] spoke Lizard, curling into a ball and rolling under the create. Before she ducked underneath his jump and mouth and clocked him straight in the jaw.
 
[COLOR=GREENYELLOW]"-you think you're bad enough to be able to deal with me?"[/COLOR] she laughed, circling Lion-Mane in her own predatory stance. [COLOR=GREENYELLOW]"I got more sharp teeth than you, big cat."[/COLOR]
 
Backhanding the Question away from him, blood was spilled from the cat-man's hand as a swing of the gladius pierced fur and flesh. A yowl rang out through the warehouse as the Lion-Mane forewent taunting his foes and instead took Lizard by the ankles, swinging her into the air before using his free hand to take ahold of her flaying arms, swiming the girl down hard and splintering the pavement beneath her. 
 
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"I will feast on the marrow in your bones!"[/B][/COLOR] He roared turning his full attention to the Warden. [color=slategray][b]"Save for you, man of plant. For you, I will light a fire, burning you to ash before I spread you through the wind, the smell of my excrement clinging every last piece of dust."[/b][/color] 
 
Suddenly a blinding emerald flash filled the room as a robed woman appeared behind Lion-Mane. With a flick of her hand, chains composed purely of mystical energy appeared from the air around the three Leaguers as they bound them tightly.
 
[COLOR=SPRINGGREEN][B]"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"[/B][/COLOR] The woman asked tauntingly in a dry tone. [COLOR=SPRINGGREEN][B]"None the less, play time here is over. You can have your fun another day."[/B][/COLOR] She stated, raising her other hand as the same brilliant light from before enveloped the pair. As the room dimmed, the chains disappeared from around the Question, Warden and Lizard as the three were left alone with no sign of the woman or Lion-Mane. 
 
Having been knocked out by Lion-Mane's backhand, Question groggily awoke during the woman's appearance and saw her make off with Lion-Mane, jumping to his feet in a mixed burst of adrenaline and joy after the chains disappear. [color=0072bc]"I KNEW IT! THE ILLUMINATI HAS COLLECTED LION-MANE IN ORDER TO USE HIM AGAINST US AT A LATER DATE! THEY ALL THOUGHT I WAS INSANE, BUT I WAS RIGHT!"[/color] The faceless detective shot his fists in the air in excitement, doing a mini dance to celebrate his pseudo victory.
 
After a little jig, Question comes to a grinding halt, suddenly remembering his teammates nearby. He looks at them, blushing slightly underneath his mask but seeming calm and collected once more. With a clearing of his throat, he says, in a deadpan monotone contrasting sharply with his previous energetic yelling: [color=0072bc]"Knew it."[/color]
 
[COLOR=GREENYELLOW]"Whatever....can anybody explain what that had just been? I thought most hokus-pokus users were under the jurisdiction of the League,"[/COLOR] spoke Lizard, as she pulled herself up and helped Warden also up.
 
[COLOR=GREENYELLOW]"Also where did Rose disappear off to? I thought, she'd be here before me?"[/COLOR] she added.
 
[color=007236][i]She was a woman and she was wearing a robe... Fancy Man showing emotion... well... no face...but the same idea...[/i][/color] The Warden thinks, considering this brief newcomer. 
 
[color=007236]"Think hard, think of anything about her that was memorable, and I will do the same. Batman is a smart one, but he will want and need all information you can give. I will check on Rose."[/color] he finishes, moving back towards the lobby. 
 
As the Warden moved back towards the lobby, the figure of the Bat filled the doorway, Rose in tow behind him.
 
[COLOR=BLACK][B]"Gone."[/B][/COLOR] The Bat stated as he observed the scene, looking at the three new heroes and the mess of the warehouse.
 
Moving out from behind the Bat, Rose began to circle the room. 
 
[COLOR=DARKORANGE][B]"Did anyone find the [i]damn[/i] archaeologist?"[/B][/COLOR] She asked before pausing several feet away from the other members of the team. At her feet was the mauled corpse of a man, his head twisted completely around, smashed glasses laid beside his limp, contorted body. A twinge of guilt made its prescence known in Rose's stomach as she look at the body in front of her. Bite marks were taken out of his abdomen once again reinforcing the idea that Lion-Mane was more beast than man. 
 
[COLOR=DARKORANGE][B]"The archaeologist,"[/B][/COLOR] Rose paused, choosing her next words carefully before deciding on blunt. [COLOR=DARKORANGE][B]"Lion-Mane [i]fuckin'[/i] killed him."[/B][/COLOR] Rose stated looking back towards everyone else.
 
[COLOR=BLACK][B]"Report back to the jump ship."[/B][/COLOR] Batman ordered to the gathered group. "We'll debrief in Metropolis, you three-" Batman said as he looked towards the Lizard, Question and Warden. [COLOR=BLACK][B]"I'll need a full report with all the details. You-"[/B][/COLOR] He continued turning to Rose. [COLOR=BLACK][B]"You'll be required to report for a disciplinary hearing and full psychiatric evalution."[/B][/COLOR] With that, the Dark Knight turned and led the way to the vessel awaiting the team's departure.[/INDENT][/INDENT]