DC Adventures of Validus/Rick Jones

!!SPECIAL EFFECTS!! "THOUGHTS"

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story takes place when Validus was in the DC universe right after the Leader sent him away from his space station near the moon. This happened in the second chapter of my other fanfic, Validus aka Rick Jones.

Chapter One

"I've been here for one month now. It's kind of weird working with Superman and the Justice League whom only I saw as comic book characters just a couple months ago."

Validus was in the Justice League satellite's cafeteria, chowing down on a large taco salad meal. Taco salad was a misnomer since it mostly consisted of spiced ground beef, four different kinds of melted cheeses, tortilla chips, guacamole, sour cream, taco sauce and some other ingredients. There were also some pieces of lettuce in there too. Some of the other heroes there had shocked looks on their face as Rick ate and ate and ate. The big difference between Validus and the Flash's eating habits was that Validus actually ate a little less and a lot slower. Some of the other super heroes on the satellite were further amused by the irony of the fact Rick was drinking a bottle of Diet Coke.

"What are you eating, Rick?" Supergirl asked as she sat down across from him, setting down a plate of pasta salad for herself to eat.

"It's a taco salad. It's pretty good," Rick answered in between bites. "I just can't get over how good the food up here is. This is the best eating I've done in a long time."

"Are you sure that's healthy?"

"Of course it's healthy. It's a salad, isn't it?"

Supergirl gave the winged warrior a quizzical look and started on her meal. "You better be careful, Validus! That Diet Coke is fattening!" the Blue Beetle called out from several tables away, making Booster Gold and a few other super heroes laugh.

"Is that so, Blue Beetle?! I doubt you got fat drinking diet soda! What were eating when you chunked up to 300 pounds, potato chips?!" Rick called back.

"I am not fat. I never have been fat!" the Blue Beetle answered, sounding like the senator who was caught in an airplane restroom.

"Um, I've been wondering, Rick. Doesn't it bother you being cooped up here only leaving the satellite when you're needed to play super hero or something like that?" Supergirl asked as she regarded the winged warrior.

"I'm OK with it. I am a green skinned powerhouse so Superman wanted to make sure he knew where I was at all times."

"Really? He had me stay in hiding for three years. Three years! I'm glad you're taking all of this so well. I like how you look, green skin and all. You have such a nice pair of... wings."

Validus stopped for a moment, a little embarrassed as Supergirl lovingly gazed upon him. "Aren't I a little too old for you?"

"No. I'm eighteen so I'm perfectly legal if that's what you're worrying about." Supergirl leaned over towards Validus in such a way as to show a lot of cleavage.

"Well, um."

"Oh, come on, Rick. Haven't you been turned on by pictures of me in the comics? If the women of Marvel comics are any indication, I'm sure I was a hot babe."

"You were and you are hot. I don't see why you need any approval from me. You're cute as a button."

"Cute?! Is that all you see? You see me as a little girl, don't you? You've seen all those pictures of me as a hot babe but now you only see me as cute?"

"The pictures of you were hot but older. It's just weird seeing you in person and much younger. However, you're very attractive."

That's so great to hear, Rick. You know all this time I've been on or near the Earth I haven't had a boyfriend. I was kind of hoping..."

"Harumph!"

"What's the matter? You don't like me?"

"What's not to like? You're Superman's cousin."

"Is that it? You're afraid of my cousin? I didn't think you were afraid of anything, Rick."

"I just have a great deal of respect for Superman. He reminds me of another man I've known for years. And there's one thing I may never get used to," Rick said, changing the subject.

"What's that, Rick?" Supergirl tried to say in a sultry manner.

"It's how super heroes are treated here."

"Why would that surprise you so much?"

"In the universe I came from people were suspicious of us. They loved us when we saved the day but more often than not they were hostile to us, mutants especially. We would often have problems with the government trying to control or hinder us."

"Did they hinder you to the point that you couldn't do your job?"

"There were times when the government would hinder the heroes of our world to the point that the world was put in jeopardy but we always came through. I'm been reading Marvel Comics online. A lot of it's accurate, telling me things I had already known. But there were some things I didn't know that surprised me."

"Really? Like what?"

"I've found out in a comic book called World War Hulk how some of the smarter super heroes like Mr. Fantastic, Professor X, Dr. Strange, Ironman and some others sent my friend, the Hulk, into outer space, banishing him to a planet several galaxies away."

"I've seen the Fantastic Four movies, the X-Men movies and that new Ironman movie. Are those movies accurate?"

"They're somewhat accurate but the comic books are more accurate. I didn't see myself in the first Hulk movie so it wasn't too accurate."

"Was there a movie about me?" Supergirl asked, leaning in closer.

"Yes."

"Who played me?"

"Helen Slater played you in the movie that came out the year before your death. After you 'came back to life' in another form Laura Vanderhoort played you on television."

"Helen Slater? I think Christina Aguilera could do a lot better job playing me. Wait a minute. Did you say I died?"

"That was the pre-crisis Supergirl. You're the post crisis Supergirl."

Supergirl gave Validus a frustrated look. "Did I die or not?"

"You didn't die; the other Supergirl died. She died about the same time Barry Allen the silver age Flash died."

"But the Flash is still alive!"

"Not the current one but the one before him. The current Flash used to be Kid Flash. It's a long story, Kara."

"True and you shouldn't be telling it, Validus." Wonder Woman sat down next to Supergirl and gave Rick a rather scrutinizing look. She was wearing her usual red and gold uniform. "It's not a good idea to tell us all about our futures when you're probably not too accurate in the first place."

"Well. I guess I don't know your future all that much since I didn't read your comic book that much even though I looked at the pictures," Validus replied.

"Whatever. But I don't think you should be filling Supergirl's pretty little head with facts you can't back up. Now I..."

"Pretty little head? Listen, Wonder Woman, if I couldn't handle knowing about my possible future I wouldn't have asked. Besides he's simply telling me about a pre-crisis Supergirl that's not even me."

"You weren't in the Crisis so you don't even remember it. I don't exactly recall being there but I have hazy and vague memories of it."

"Hmm. Do you have memories of the Anti-monitor turning you into sand and sending you back in time?" Validus inquired.

Wonder Woman stared at Validus for a moment. "It's best not to think about it."

"Then don't think about it! I was the one who was curious. No one asked you to listen."

"Now see here, young lady. I've been training as a warrior and fighting super villains since you were wearing diapers!"

"I never wore diapers! The food on Krypton was so sufficient as to make going to the crapper unnecessary. I hated having to do that when I first got here."

"Kara! I'll not have you speak to me in such a manner especially when we're talking about another wet behind the ears super hero and his inaccurate information."

"Now come on, Wonder Woman. It's bad enough I got disrespected by the super heroes in my own universe even though I've saved their lives and that universe as well more than once. But now so many of the super heroes here don't give me any respect. What do I have to do to get respect around here?"

"You'll have to earn your respect, Validus. Personally, I'd like to see how skilled you really are."

"Rodney Dangerfield eat your heart out," Validus whispered.

"What was that?" the amazon snapped back.

"Nothing."

"Are you sure about this, Wonder Woman? Rick's stronger than I am. He's almost as strong as Kal-El, even surpassing him in brute strength if he gets angry enough. He also has super human speed and fighting abilities that match even yours," Supergirl explained.

"I've sparred with Superman and fought him to a stand still so I'm not concerned. I know my magic lasso told me you were telling the truth, Validus, but it's still possible you're mistaken on a few things. But I doubt you're stronger than me anyway. I'd feel better if I could exactly gauge your abilities."

"Superman's a nice guy with a lot of class so he probably didn't want to seriously hurt you. But if you want to fight me so badly, fine. Let's do it. I'm about done with dinner. I'll have dessert later."

A few moments later, Validus and Woman were in the main training room. Several super heroes were watching the two square off from the sidelines including Supergirl. Even Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle were watching.

"Wonder Woman's going to kick this guy's green ass all over the place, eh Booster?" the Blue Beetle said to his friend.

"That's true. I doubt he can lift much more than a hundred tons. That's what I remember the Hulk being able to lift. He's strong but that's not going to be enough to defeat Wonder Woman."

"Yeah. He'll have to be more than Lou Ferrigno with wings in order to beat someone like Wonder Woman," the Beetle answered.

"Are you ready, Diana?" Validus asked.

"I'm ready. Hyaaa!!" the powerful amazon started the fight off with a fast paced snap kick which Validus easily avoided. She then attacked the jade giant with several quick fired punches and kicks which only connected with air. "What are you waiting for? Attack me already. Or are you some kind of coward?"

"All right." Validus quickly backed up, gliding on the ground at super speed. This surprised Wonder Woman who tried to move in to attack but before she could reach him, Validus used one of his prehensile wings to stretch over to the amazon and "leg sweep" her, knocking her off of her feet.

"How did you do that? Even Hawkgirl can't do that." Wonder Woman responded, doing an acrobatic flip that allowed her to land on her feet. She then came at Validus with impressive agility but she still seemed to be moving in slow motion as far as Validus was concerned. While his opponent kept up her attacks Validus moved in on her and grabbed her pinning her to the ground in a full nelson.

"Give up, yet?"

"Ungh! No!" Wonder Woman threw the winged warrior off of herself by executing an ancient Greco-Roman wrestling maneuver, causing Validus to do a flip in order to land on his feet.

"I've never seen that maneuver before."

"Gee, Rick. You put your hands all over Wonder Woman, rubbing up and down against her, and you won't so much as touch me? I know. Why don't you use your feathers to tickle her breathless? She's sure to surrender then. Maybe I should challenge you to a wrestling match and you can get your hands all over me and use your feathers to tickle me pink, hmm? Just be sure to stop tickling me when I beg for mercy, OK?" Super-girl said with a cute smile."

At that moment Validus got distracted, allowing Wonder Woman to get some well placed shots in, knocking him back a little. "You shouldn't let yourself be so easily distracted, Validus.

"Ouch!" Validus counter attacked with countless punch and kick combinations which surprised his opponent who stubbornly stood her ground even though she was getting hammered. Validus then used his wings to box Wonder Woman's ears in, causing her to be stunned and to shake her head.

At that moment the alarm went off. "There's a disturbance at the Long Island nuclear facility!" the Martian Manhunter called out through the satellite's loud speakers.

"Long Island?! We'll have to finish this fight another time," Wonder Woman said as she flew off towards the main area of the satellite with Supergirl, Validus and the other super heroes right behind her.

"Saved by the bell, eh Wonder Woman?" Supergirl said as she caught up to and eventually passed the amazon who shot her back a glare.

"What's going on, Jonn?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Some of Darkseid's warriors have arrived at Long Island where there's a nuclear powered facility. I have no idea why they're there but it's surely no good."

"All right." Wonder Woman looked over and saw Validus, Supergirl, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and Stargirl standing there. "I'm not sure about this."

"I know Rick's a loser but we need everyone we can get for this," Booster Gold said with a smile.

"I actually was more concerned about you, Booster. This is not the time for you to start playing to the camera for good publicity."

"Hey, I love the camera. But I'll do what I need to do to stop Darkseid's cronies."

"There's not a lot of time. I need to send you over there right away!" the Martian Manhunter said with a sense of urgency.

"All right. It's time for us to go," Wonder Woman said as the heroes were teleported to Long Island.

As soon as the heroes appeared they saw the female furies, Kalibak, the Germanic looking Dr. Wunderbar and some parademons, all being led by Steppenwolf. "We were wondering when you'd show up. Come over here and we'll show you a thing or two." The other Apokolipse warriors jeered and cursed as Wonder Woman lead her compatriots forward.

XXX

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Send me a review, telling me what you think of this. If you like this you'll surely like my fanfic, Validus aka Rick Jones.