The emergency
A good number of members within the Justice League have children. Not all of those kids are biological or adopted but they are their kids nonetheless. Some of those kids are even old enough to be adult heroes of their own, but even then they are still their kids. And the other kids tend to take up heroism at a very young age to most people's chagrin. Although as shown by the original child hero, now going by Nightwing, it’s not as easy as telling the kids to stop.
It was learned through intense hardship that smothering the child heroes was just asking for trouble. Despite how much the older heroes wanted to stay close to their kids, it was seen as overbearing and a show of mistrust. They would act out with even less backup in retaliation, which would only bring even more stress.
So to satisfy the need for protection without stepping on any toes, two new emergency meeting signals were introduced.
One was for the kids to send off. Each one was gifted a small device that could be hidden in their person. The device had both a mic and a tracking chip that could be activated when they were in extreme danger. As soon as the device was active a signal would be sent to the league for an emergency distress signal with the details of who sent it. Due to an outcry from the kids, the device could not be activated by the guardian of the child. The mic and locator could only be activated from the device itself. It wasn’t nearly as protective as some of the more worried leaguers would like, but it was at least something.
The second signal was one that the leaguer with a kid in danger could activate. This signal could be activated with a single code into the communicators that every member owned. If the member who sent out the signal didn’t specify what kid was in danger, every member would receive a generalized notification of the emergency alert for one of the kids. This wasn’t ideal, but it was learned early on that the guardian of the child was often too distressed to make the code more complicated. It was best to leave it simple and answer questions at the emergency meeting.
Which was great in all, until someone who doesn’t have a child involved with heroics in their care sends off a general emergency.
In places all over the globe, an emergency meeting signal message was sent by Hal Jordan, one of the lanterns. He didn’t include what child was in danger in the signal, meaning that it could be any of the underaged heroes. And considering he didn’t have a child in his care, that made multiple members panic.
When was the last time they checked in with the kids in their care? Who was the one he was sending the code for? What happened to the child he had noticed was in danger? Why is he the one that noticed? Where were their kids? Who was in danger?
Because of the nebulous nature of the call, it didn’t take long for multiple heroes to find the nearest transport to the watchtower and tumble in. What they didn’t expect was the absolute haggard appearance of their friend. He was standing in the meeting room looking like the world had been destroyed before his very eyes. The way he sat without even cracking a sarcastic remark made multiple members pause.
“Hal?” Wonder Woman called, her face pinched in concern. “What has happened?”
The aforementioned member looked over who had already arrived before settling on her face. It was at that moment she knew that he was only looking so collected through willpower alone. This wasn’t just any child of the league, this was personal.
“My nephew Danny has been captured,” He began, sending a wave of different emotions circling the room. “I’ve been trying to find where they took him for a week now and I can’t get any leads. I need your help.”
The unsaid questions and emotions were nearly palpable. Multiple members turned to one another or stared with a million questions. Nobody had known that Hal even had a nephew named Danny. Sure he mentioned someone named Jason at times, but he never indicated anything else. The fact that he hadn’t mentioned him or the fact that he’d been apparently searching for a week was strange.
“And why are you only telling us now? Why did you wait so long?” Superman asked, speaking up the question that was on multiple minds.
A fire of anger curled in Hal's eyes. It was fierce and protective. It was a mixture of appalment for being questioned on his decision and fury for the reasons why he had to do it in the first place. He stepped forward towards the center table, slamming his palms down and leaning into it.
“Because any person that goes against the group will be declared an enemy of the United States. I’ve already had my account and housing connected to Green Lantern seized,” He explained with a deceptively calm tone. “I also needed to make sure that they didn’t have any connections with the Justice League. They have their agents everywhere.”
Unsurprisingly, Batman appeared from the gathered heroes from seemingly nowhere. Despite the feud between the two of them, the Bat was completely zeroed in on the situation. While he had a decent amount of distrust in the lantern, mainly because of the parallax incident, he could tell that the man was genuine. And the Bat always did have a blind spot for children.
“Explain,” Was all Batman said, staring Hal down.
The lantern in question looked at him with a grim face. This was it. Now or never.
“They’re called the Ghost Investigation Ward, or GIW for short. They hunt down and either exterminate or experiment on anyone they deem ectocontaminated or a ghost,” Hal started to explain, his hand curling on the table in frustration. “My brother Jack faked his death and ran off to be with another woman. Those fucks deemed my nephew as ectocontaminated and tried to take him from his home. He ran from his family so that they couldn’t be arrested for knowingly harboring an ecto entity. Told me that he remembered my face from a photo his dad tried to hide in the attic and sought me out.”
If the fire in his eyes were any stronger, they would probably become physical and burn down the room. It was undeniable that Hal Jordan was understandably completely pissed off. This situation was terrible from down to the very root.
“I tried to hide him but they somehow found him anyway. Now my civilian name is being heavily monitored and Green Lantern is being hunted down,” He finished his explanation. “If you join me in this, be prepared to lose everything.”
This was so much worse than anyone could’ve predicted.
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Ride 782: The winner's parade!!
Pag 1
1: So... shall we fly?
Pag 2
4: Huh....
Huh!?
5: What's that blackboard that they showed out of that car just now?
Yeah, it's the signboard. In road races, they write the results of the race progress on that board like that to inform the other cyclists
Pag 3
1: Like, who won the “sprint” or the “mountain” and the time difference....!!
The first place...
Who's that!? Number 181?
Where is he from? Gunma!?
2: And the group behind changes its shape based on that information, just like a living thing!
Is it their debut?
Ah?
Someone like that took the first result?
What about Hiroshima!?
No but who is he! That number 181!!
3: What about Kagoshima and Kumadai!?
4: Nagoya, too
5: I mean, wait, that's not the point
Sohoku and Hakoaku should have been ahead too
6: It can't be
That guy...
Competed against those two
Pag 4
1: He defeated Hakogaku and Sohoku and took the sprint line!!
Pag 5
2: It was so hard.... but
I did it
Waaa.... I'm so happy, yon
3: Amazing!
I've never seen that jersey before!
Gunmaaa
4: I'm from Gunma!
Amazing!
Nice!
Pag 6
1: I'm so happy to hear the cheers...!!
2: Well then
3: To answer the cheers
5: Ready... set
6: What's number 181 doing
He bent forward, what is he doing!?
Is he accelerating!?
7: Hayaaa
Pag 7
1: Thank you-chai
It's a wheelie!!
Pag 8
1: Amaziing, it's the first time I see a wheelie during a race!
What's that!? It's amazing, he's only running on the rear wheel!
It's a service wheelie!!
What an amazing sense of balance!
He's waving his hand this way!
2: Ohhh he's super cool, though
He's incredible
3: He's not only strong but also cool!! He's the best...
Yoriko, shoot a video
4: He's doing a wheelie!!
Wooo!! Taa-kun, that guy you know is too cool
5: I just became a fan!
Number 181!! From now on more and more people will cheer for him
People who come to watch road racing are always looking for it!!
Pag 9
1: For an overwhelming newcomer!!
4: Dammit!!
Dammit!!
Pag 10
2: Idiot
Idiot
Idiot
3: Are you kidding me
What am I doing
What am I doing!!
4: What!!
5: I did!! Everything I could think of to become stronger, to become faster!!
Pag 11
1: Aaaaaagh dammit!!
3: I practiced... I practiced until I collapsed...
I lost last year....
4: And this year too!? What do I need to fix? Ah?
7: There's nothing to improve anymore!!
Pag 12
2: Stop screwing around, what “newcomer”
3: It's several times harder for someone to keep winning....!!
4: Even though that day
5: I
6: Watch me, Izumida-san, I'll definitely take the colored bib!!
Pag 13
1: I'll look forward to it
2: I promised....!!
3: This year I got the number “4”
In Hakone Academy it represents the ace sprinter
How important and heavy
4: is the role of the number “4” bib
5: That victory would have been a moral pillar for the team!!
6: I even changed my orders for this, and this is the outcome...!!
7: I had to win even if it meant to use up all my trump cards!!
Pag 14
2: I should have cornered him perfectly and shut him off...
4: Was I too naive somewhere?
5: No, there was no problem with you
Even from my point of view you ran well and had the perfect timing, Orange
6: San-na...!!
Pag 15
1: It must be frustrating for you too
You're a third year.... so this was your last first sprint
2: I guess you were aiming for two consecutive victories, since it's even harder to continue winning
3: Orange....!!
4: But don't worry
I promise myself
5: I will definitely not let that guy do as he wishes from now on!!
6: I'll be the one who will take the sprint line on the second and third day!! Leave it to me!!
Pag 16
2: No, I'll take them!!
3: Stop screwing around, why does it seem like I'll only finish the first result!?
Am I wrong?
Don't underestimate Hakogaku!
Ah... well, then, shall we race then?
Don't take it lightly!!
4: Hahaha but I'm an all-rounder, so I should have a job on the mountain, too!!
6: Is he joking!? Or should I correct him!?
7: H...uh? Yeah....
Let's just let it go...!!
Pag 18
1: The running order has changed!!
Gunma, who took the sprint, went ahead and is pulling the pack!!
2: I've never seen something like this
It's their debut, isn't it? Is this okay!?
3: If you take the sprint then you have to go in the front and pull – what kind of rule does road racing have? Isn't it too difficult?
4: It seems like it isn't a rule, Sonomoto-san
It's like they concede control
5: Kiji-saaan!!
Wooah, you were amazing, fou!! Kiji-san!! Everyone, follow me!!
Ichifuji is the only one who's pulling with so much energy
Pag 19
2: Doubashi-san....!!
3: Doubashi-san being defeated at the sprint is a big deal,isn't it?
That Kiji guy
4: If there's a chance to race him, please give me the order, Joe-san
No wait, you're the ace....
5: I'll crush him
Pag 20
1: Ahhh, ahhhh
2: We lost, teh.....!! What should we do!?
Kaburagi-san and Danchiku-san have.....!!
3: It's not a big deal
Since in road racing you don't have to retire just because you lost one of the midway races
4: But still, this isn't good!!
Yeah!!
5: Kaburagi-kun and Danchiku-kun lost...!!
6: Kiji-kun....!!
Pag 21
2: Puku...
He controlled it....
3: Gunma's Kiji controlled the sprint... ohh
4: What should I do?
Crush him quickly?
6: Or maybe.... make friends with him?
Puku....
Make friends!!
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Forgive me if I'm a bit nervous about Gorgug this season. It's just that the last Zac Oyama pc was Colin Provolone, who was arguably one of his greatest D20 performances, if not the greatest.
Zac always does great with every pc he plays, but Colin was something else. He came out swinging with actions and words that were teeming with unspoken emotional baggage. The way Colin's presence affected the other pcs; there was this level of depth that I don't think I've seen in any of his other characters. It was understated and quiet in that signature "just a guy" way that he tends to be, while still captivating everyone instantly with just how raw it was.
Not to say we haven't seen emotional depth in Gorgug. It's just that, compared to the other Bad Kids, Gorgug's journey and progression as a character has been very... impersonal? Like, yes, he found his birth parents, and he found friends who appreciate him, and he faced his insecurities about his intelligence, and he navigated relationship troubles, and his trial through the claustrophobic bug-tunnels was a horrifically-uncanny parallel to how he's spent his entire life trying to make himself as small as possible.
But how much of that has actually changed him from the Gorgug we started with? I would agree that he's definitely happier with his life, given all the loving and supportive people that have been added to it when it used to be just him and his parents. And he's certainly grown into himself and become more self-assured in his abilities, even if he's still, and always will be, our anxious little guy. And there's nothing wrong with that. I've always liked how Gorgug was a representation of all the little things. The subtle acts and kindnesses that don't seem like much to most, but to some are everything.
We don't need another Bad Kid living in fear that their mouth could be shit-in at any moment. We've already got one-too-many.
All that being said, I just feel like Gorgug's personal story beats are much easier to sweep under the rug than everyone else's. He has the same soft and understated quality that Colin held, but they lack that extra oomph that pushed Colin over the edge from being just another guy in a series of dudes, to a character that the vast majority of us could not get out of our heads. He took someone who was anxious and softspoken, who ultimately never wanted to be violent— someone who is remarkably similar to Gorgug in many ways— and maintained that demeanor and core in Colin's character while still hitting us in the feels with character development at max velocity at every turn.
I think Zac gets better and better at this with every season that goes by. With each new character, there is always something that leaves me stunned in awe. And it's been, what, three? Four years since we last saw Gorgug?
I'm just,,, I'm cautiously optimistic but also going into a bit of a worry about what violence this man may inflict upon us
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