Jimmy woke up floating a foot over his bed.

He was confused for a while, then decided he was dreaming and may as well get some dream sleep. When he didn’t, he pinched himself. He still didn’t wake up. He got out of bed and walked around for a bit. In the air.

He walked to the bathroom to splash some water in his face. Looking in the mirror, he found out he was handsome. His dimples and freckles were gone, and his hair was where it was supposed to be. Well, as supposed to be as it could be in the morning. His previously non-existent muscles were showing through his red pajamas. His skin was even a healthy tan!

He shut his eyes to block out his reflection. That was when he found out he could see through his own eyelids.

He decided to take a sick day.

Barbara flew down to the house. This was the address. She knocked on the door. Wally’s aunt opened it. She looked like she was scared out of her mind.

“You must be Barbara Gordon.” She said smiling.

“Yes, yes that’s me.” Barbara said nervously. “Are Dick & Wally home?”

She winced. “Not… really.”

Barbara’s eyes widened. “Ms. West is something wrong?”

She hesitated, and then shrugged. “You may as well see it. Come on in.”

Jimmy flew through the skies, ecstatic at his newfound ability.

Looking down, he could see each person individually as is he were just inches above their heads! He was zooming across metropolis so fast that he should have been feeling at least a rash, but he was impossibly fine!

Everything was so much more beautiful by sky.

Suddenly, the air exploded around him! He cowered into a ball, until he realized that whatever had hit him, he didn’t even feel it.

He looked around, and saw that an airplane had collided into him and he’d taken out one of its wings! It was going to crash into Metropolis! He had to fix this!

He rocketed past the airplane faster than a speeding bullet. He held out his hands to stop the plane and they dented the front, before continuing its descent.

Jimmy tried, by whatever strength he could muster to slow the plane down, and it was slowing down. He looked into the cockpit and met the captain’s frightened eyes. He realized slowing it down wouldn’t be good enough. He had to land it.

He looked around for a stretch of land for a runway. The new highway running above Metropolis ground-level would do. It would be a tight fit but…

He pulled at the airplane’s nose, steering it towards the makeshift runway. Then, when it was aligned, he flew around to the underside of the plane, and pushed it forward, so that it would keep flying while he was gone.

He quickly flew over to where the plane parts would land. And picked them up out of the air before they could fall on the people below. He tossed them in a junkyard before returning to the plane.

The Highway wasn’t deserted! The construction workers ran screaming out of its path, but fore manager was trying to start his car and drive away! Jimmy raced down ahead of the plane and picked up the green car, pushing it ahead of him as he flew frantically away from the jet, screeching towards them on the newly constructed highway. He flew down to street level, gently putting the on the ground, and then he raced back up to the plane, bracing himself against the nose and digging both feet into the pavement. The massive runaway plane slowly ground to a halt.

Jimmy took a deep breath of relief before realizing what he’d done. He’d just survived a collision with a jet! He’d flown faster than a jet! He’d almost lifted a jet!

He stood proudly with his chin up. Then he realized that some of his pajamas had torn away.

He quickly flew off home.

Later that day, Jimmy handed in a report on the incident along with pictures of the man responsible. He’d discovered that he had photographic memory and something he liked to call ‘photovision’. He could summon any picture from his memory and burn it onto a surface in Hi-Def color quality. He’d managed to use his telescopic vision to catch a reflection of himself standing heroically in one of the many skyscrapers’ windows.

He didn’t want the publicity yet; he worked with news people and he knew if his identity got out he’d have a full-time paparazzi chasing him night and day, never giving him a moment’s rest. So, he wore a wool vest over his shirt to cover his muscles, painted his freckles back on, and wore a set of thick plastic glasses.

He was instantly promoted. Lois Lane didn’t like being one-upped, especially by a nerd photogrepher, but hey. She’d tasted success. It was his turn now.

“ATTACK!!!!”

Jargo gave the cry with all of his might. His loyal Jargonauts leapt forward, led by his new friends Wally and Dick.

The one known as Dick seemed to fly, leaping off the Fungiji troops as he kicked at them, never staying on the ground for long.

Wally charged into the fray wearing his Jargonaut battle-suit. It allowed him to make flexible leaps, while still deflecting the Fungiji projectiles. He had earned it on his last visit. He’d single-handedly decimated a troop of Fungiji berserkers. Jargo had adopted him into his kingdom for his chivalry, and dubbed him, Tom-tum. He plowed into his foes, bowling them over with the strength of a giant.

The borderlands were almost spotless thanks to these two, and Jargo himself swung his blade mightily against the Fungiji leader’s poleax. They mighty prince of the Jargonauts beat him down, until one of the Fungiji’s projectiles caught him in the head. He fell, and almost lost hope as the Fungiji leader raised his axe for a killing stroke.

But it never came.

All battle ceased as a dozen or so green bars shot through the field and ensnared the Fungiji troops. They all looked up in the sky as a human female (or so Jargo assumed due to her close yet not perfect anatomical resemblance between her and his new human friends) dressed in green flew down.

She made a giant green megaphone with her ring and called out. “Everybody cease and desist killing!” Immediately the Fungiji let go of their weapons and started chanting and moaning.

Barbara was shocked and flew down the rest of the way. “What are you all doing?” She asked Wally and Dick.

“We’re helping my friend Jargo to save his pepperoni land.” Wally answered. “How did you get here? Do you have a shrinking belt too?”

Barbara shook here head. “The ring let me make a wormhole down her that shrunk me while it took me here.”

“Amazing!” Dick said, wide eyed. “You two really weren’t kidding!”

“I thought we’d agreed on that a while ago when Argo gave you that collapsible Horizonite staff.”

“Well yeah, but now I know that she isn’t lying either.”

Barbara crossed her arms. “You know what else this ring can do? It can translate languages. I can understand every species and they can understand me. That makes sense of course, if aloens are in the same corps as me. So imagine my surprise when these… er… Fungiji? Yeah, these Fungiji are worshipping me as their god of war Grot and asking me to smite you for your trespasses. What trespasses?”

“We did not trespass.” Argo said, standing up and walking over to Barbara. “The Fungiji’s sole purpose is to eradicate all other organisms. They are a walking pestilence, and I am vowed that they will not take my pepperoni.”

The three humans stared at each other and laughed. “What’s so funny?” Argo asked.

“Oh… nothing.” Wally answered, still chuckling. “It’s a human thing. You wouldn’t understand how ridiculous you sounded to us.”

They quickly sorted out matters. Barbara would take the Fungiji to a block of cheese where they would be beneficial. They all unshrank, and Wally fell into his aunt’s arms.

“Oh Wally, are you alright? Are you hurt? ”

“I’m fine aunty Iris.”

They all gathered into the garden after Barbara had deposited her loyal worshippers onto some cheese.

Donna was really getting to like Terry. He was a college student studying Philosophy and Ancient Greek Literature. “I just like Greece I guess.”

Donna was making him pitas. “Well then, you’ll like it here, if you don’t get killed.” She had already filled him in on the parts of Amazonian culture that focused on boys.

He shuddered. “Thank you for not getting me killed.”

“It’s not a problem.” She smiled. "I’m very glad to meet you. Maybe boys aren’t as bad as they seem.”

Suddenly, a rapid knocking came from the door leading down to the room.

“Oh, no it’s my sister!” Donna hissed. She pushed Terry under the bed.

“The sister who wants me dead?” He whispered.

“No, the sister that wants me to be happy.” She answered as the door opened. She really needed a lock for this room.

Her sister Elysium glided down the stairs. Since her mother had been turned into a crow, she’d met some interesting male birds. Elysium was hatched soon after her other sister had taken the throne, and looked a lot like a small Diana or Donna except for the pair of oversized black wings.

“Hey Donna, what are you doing? Why haven’t you come out of this room all day, OH MY GODS! What’s under the bed? Is it a pet? Did you get a new pet? Is it a fairy –?” Donna clamped her hands over her sister’s mouth. She had truly exceptional eyesight among the other advantages of being part-bird.

“Listen Ell, yes I have a new pet. But you can’t tell Diana, okay?”

She nodded enthusiastically. Donna slowly removed her hands. “What’s her name?”

Donna thought a bit. “I haven’t decided yet. Do you want to name her?”

Elysium clapped her hands in joy. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Can I see her?”

Donna frowned. “No Ell.”

Elysium pouted. “Just a teensy peek?”

“No, just name her.”

“How can I name her if I don’t know what she looks like?”

“That’s half the fun!”

She thought a moment. “Let’s name her… Luna!”

Donna smiled. “All right, her name’s Luna. Now, leave us alone Ell, and don’t tell anybody.”

Her younger sister nodded enthusiastically, and bounded off up the stairs, flapping some of the way.

Once she’d left Terry came out from under the bed. “Luna? I’m your pet now?”

Donna smiled. “Hush little kitty, or you won’t get any food tonight.”

Terry bowed his head in mock repentance, and Donna let out a high, musical laugh.

They spent the rest of the day discussing how the Disney film Hercules got the whole myth wrong.

Wally jumped, and crushed the rock into pebbles when he landed.

“Impressive.” Dick said.

“Yeah.” Said Wally. “With a smaller surface area, I hit harder when I’m small. But I can also make myself lighter when I need to climb up stuff.”

“I wonder if you can grow bigger.” Barbara said.

Wally shook his head. “We tried that already yesterday.”

Dick nodded.

Barbara thought for a moment. “What about that suit?”

“Well,” Said Wally. “As far as Jargo has explained to me, this suit should help me survive in any element. It creates its own air for me to breath through my skin, and when I’m in space or underwater, or somewhere without much gravity, it can propel me like I’m flying. Also, it protects me from all except most hot heat, the coldest cold, and every form of radiation except on the microwave frequency. He didn’t know what electricity was, so I couldn’t ask him if it would protect me from that.”

Dick held up his hand to stop him. “Wait, wait. We’re talking about a guy whose civilization lives on a slice of pepperoni. How, does he know about microwaves?”

Wally shrugged. “You saw how smart Jargo was. I’m guessing that his race is super-smart. The only reason they don’t invent cars is because if we don’t eat them, then they’re too busy fighting the Fungiji. But we didn’t eat them and we helped stop the Fungiji, so He’s smarter than average. I bet he'll be making cars within the month.”

Dick stared at him. “That makes a… kind of sense. How are you so smart?”

He shrugged. “I wanted to know more about the belt. So I read some of Dr. Palmer’s stuff. He has a lot to say about microscopic organisms.”

After a small pause Dick turned to Barbara. “So, your ring. What are its limits?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think it has any limits. I’ve figure out that it’s activated using willpower. Whenever I wear it, it makes this shield around me, a lot like Wally’s shield. But I don’t think it has any weaknesses. Just that if my will or concentration is broken, it would stand to reason that my ring wouldn’t work.

[-THAT IS CORRECT GREEN LANTERN BARBARA GORDON-]

Everybody jumped. The ring had spoken. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot my ring could talk."

"Seems like a rather odd thing to forget."

Barbara ignored Wally and spoke into the ring. “So, you are powered by willpower then?”

[-THAT IS CORRECT-]

“Ah, so, how do you talk?”

[-I AM LINKED TO THE MAIN GREEN LANTERN DATABASE ON OA. I CAN ACCESS EVERYTHING IN THE COMPUTORS AND RELAY IT TO YOU-]

“So, what can this ring do?”

[-THE USAGE IS ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR WILLPOWER AND YOUR IMAGINATION-]

“Okay, so, basically I have the one ring to rule them all. Does it have any weaknesses?”

[-THE COLOR YELLOW-]

“Err… clarify?”

[-THE POWERS OF THE GREEN LANTERN RING CANNOT EFFECT ANYTHING IN THE YELLOW END OF THE COLOR SPECTRUM-]

Everybody stared at the ring. “You… have the galaxy’s most dangerous weapon.” Dick said. “And if somebody takes the time to paint their bullets yellow, you are a dead person.”

“Um… wow. Okay.” Barbara said. “That’s… interesting. At least I know it now instead of figuring this out in the field. Anything else I should know about ring?”

[-THE GREEN LANTERN POWER RING MUST BE RECHARGED EVERY TWENTY-FOUR EARTH HOURS BY RECITING YOUR OATH. A BACK-UP CHARGE WILL BE RETAINED BEYOND THIS POINT SO THAT YOU MAY SUMMON YOUR LANTERN TO RECITE THE OATH OR FOR DIRE EMRGENCIES-]

“Huh. Okay. How much time do I have left?”

[-YOUR RING IS CHARGED TO 3%. YOU HAVE 43 EARTH MINUTES UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF CHARGE-]

“Well then.” Dick said. “You’d better recharge. How do you do that?”

“Like this.” Barbara said summoning her lantern.

In brightest day, in darkest night,

No evil shall escape what’s right

Those criminals who rule by might,

Have justice done, by Green Lantern’s Light!

Alfred Pennyworth was outside bird-watching, when he saw a flash of green light. He went to investigate.

“All right,” Barbara said, “now that that’s done, let’s go hunt a crime lord.”

“What have you found out?” Dick asked.

“I’ve found out two things; one, that the guns those guys were using were very high-tech. Specialized armor piercing rounds too. Two; Red Hood was just some bar comedian who couldn't even make the C-list. He had the suitable deep voice and manageable acting skills, so his family was threatened by some mob, until he was forced to put on the hood. I think we should ask his wife what she thinks. Myabe she'll say more to us than the police.”

Dick nodded. “Well, you have the most experience in detective-work.” He said. “Let’s go.”

“Wait.” She said. “I’ve been thinking. There are other people like us. Well, not exactly like us. There are criminals who make false identities for themselves. That way, they keep their identities secret when the police come knocking. Also, it gives them an air of mystique. Criminals aren’t going to be scared by Dick, Wally and Barbara. They were plenty scared of the Red Hood though.” She hesitated. “I think we should make names for ourselves. You know, to make ourselves symbols.”

Wally stared at her. “Are you kidding? I’m the amazing shrinking kid! Why shouldn’t the world know who I am? I should have my own reality show!

Dick put a hand on Wally’s shoulder. “Wally, we’re going after a major crime boss. Do you really want them to know where you or your aunt lives?”

Wally was quit for a moment. Then he said; “Call me Tom Thumb.”

Barbara nodded. “I’ll be Green Lantern.” They looked at Dick.

He was silent for a long time.“My parents used to call me a robin.” He muttered. You could cut the tension with a knife. Finally he looked at them and said, “My name will by blackbird.”

Wally cheered. “Hee-haw! Get on your stage costume and a mask Blackbird! We’re going crime-fighting!”

While Dick was getting changed, Barbara flew over to Wally’s aunt Iris. “Ms. West?” She asked. “Where are Wally’s parents?”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “They went on an African expedition with the Hals and the Olsens. None of them have come back.”

Barbara’s eyes widened. “Wally wants to be an adventurer doesn’t he?”

Iris nodded.

Barbara sighed. “You’re scared because you’re afraid if Wally leaves, he won’t come back.”

She nodded.

Barbara put her hands on Iris’ shoulders. “Ms. West, my dad is a lieutenant in the G.C.P.D. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be an officer of the law like him. It was just in my blood. Whenever we talked about it, he’d forbid me to and we’d get angry at each other. I’ve been angry at my father for a long, long time now. When he found out that I was an officer of the law, and an officer superior to him… He was proud.

He was so afraid of what would happen when I got what I wanted, that when I finally did, he realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Every day we take risks. You take a risk every second you spend in a car. You could get struck by lightning anytime you go outside. Unlikely,” She added seeing Iris’ expression. “But still a risk. You can’t live your life without risk, and neither can Wally. But at least this way, he can live like he wants to, and maybe even make a difference in the world. If anything, you should be proud of your nephew. And don’t worry,” She added. “We’ll take care of him.

The two of them hugged and Iris started to cry. “Shhhh. Shhhh. Don’t cry. Not with your nephew in the same yard. It’s alright. Don’t cry.” The left each other’s embrace. Iris smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Alright.” Dick said coming out of the house. “I’m ready.”

They all gathered together. “Wally.” Barbara said. “You’re going to have to take off your boots if you want me to carry you. My ring doesn’t work on yellow.”

“No worries.” Wally said. “I can just shrink and stand on Dick’s shoulder.” He jumped, shrinking in mid-air, and landed perfectly without shattering Dick's shoulder.

“Nice one.” Said Dick.

“Please be careful Wally.” Iris whispered.

“Don’t worry Aunt Iris, I will be.” He said back.

Barbara enveloped them in a green bubble, and they flew away.

They were teens on a mission.

Alfred Pennyworth couldn’t believe his eyes. He watched the three of them fly away through his binoculars.

Ace barked roughly at his side.

“Yes,” Alfred muttered. “If I report this, they’ll think I’m senile and retire me. Best keep this to ourselves until it plays out.” He heard his cell phone ring. It was from Arkham.

Lex Luthor strutted down the sleek hallway of his Metropolis division.

“A flying man.” He muttered. “Think of it! Strong enough to steer a jet from a crash.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Mercy, his secretary/bodyguard/assassin came up behind him. “Our man in Arkham got to Wayne.” She said. “He won’t be making any miraculous recovery any time soon. Do you want me to terminate the link?”

Luthor grinned and shook his head. “No, I’m in a good mood today. Give Professor Crane the grant as promised, with an extra ten grand for his silence and a retainer.”

“Sir?” Mercy asked.

“I’ve decided that I want to play with P.R.” Luthor said. “What a frenzy the media will have. Lex Luthor, multi-trillionaire, the most successful entrepreneur in the history of America, head of his company, and he still has time to adopt an orphan.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Mercy said.

“Yes. Better make it from Star City. That’s where I plan to release my cure for cancer first. One of the most run-down cities in America’s history, and no wonder with that playboy oaf Queen in charge. Yes, Star City. Oh and Mercy? Try to get one that’s reasonably skilled and intelligent. Oh, also, fire Mr. Shugel. His experiments with those albino gorillas are attracting attention from animal right’s groups.”

“Yes Mr. Luthor.” She hurried back down the hall.

Luthor reached his spacious office and grinned. This was turning into a very good week indeed.

Snapper Carr had just finished putting Lime on the lawn. His coat was soaked in the stuff, but he just had to drive his convertable anyway. It was a hot day. He was already halfway to the nearest cuty when he looked into the sky. Thunder rolled across the gloomy clouds.

There’s a storm coming. He thought. There goes my wax job.

He did a U-turn and drove his car back down along the lonely stretch of road.