AGONY'S GAMBIT: Issue 1, Prologue

December 31st, 1999.
ASTRO Labs, Freedom City.
11:59 pm.

Light in the shattered laboratory came only from arcing electricity, burning super-computers and the radiant glow of unconscious superheroes. Bent and twisted bodies lay unmoving across the rubble: a blood-smeared elderly man wearing a lab coat, an impossibly long leg sticking out from beneath a chunk of ceiling, a haggard-faced hero with armor of flickering light. In the center of the high-tech wreckage lay the corpse of one of the most infamous men in the world. Curled up beside him and screaming uncontrollably was a faceless woman, clawing at herself as silver energy ran unchecked through her slim frame.

The only man standing was a handsome youngster in a black costume. Unable to help the screaming girl, he stood and stared upwards through the hole in the ceiling. He winced as a shattered bone in his forearm snapped back into place, but he didn't take his eyes off the sky.

Behind him, a pile of shattered rubble moved, shifted, and stood. A living wall of concrete shaped like a man staggered over to stare at the dead villain and the screaming girl. He crouched to try and help the girl, but as far as he could tell she was oblivious to his presence. He turned to the young man instead.

"Whut happened?" rumbled the man-mountain.

"The only reason we're all still alive is because Jane Doe drained him dry, just before he activated the graviton trembler. Now Black Apollo's a husk, and Jane won't stop screaming."

"Huh." The living stone stopped to consider for a moment. "Whut about his kid? Bloodmoon? Whut about these others?"

The young man took a deep breath as a broken rib realigned itself to no longer press on his lung. "I've called an ambulance. All hurt, all unconscious. They'll probably be okay, except maybe for Dr. Arkham. And Jane. She keeps screaming, Boulder. I don't know how to stop her from screaming." He traced a finger along his stylized "9" insignia on his chest, and realized idly that he was probably still in shock.

Boulder took his massive hands and shook the young man ever so slightly. The man's head bobbed back and forth like a punching bag. "9-L, listen to me. Whut. About. His kid?"

Nine Lives blinked and tried to focus. "Bloodmoon's anti-grav device was smashed by Neutrino. He got flung into high orbit, and he wasn't wearing his helmet. I think he's dead. As soon as the Sentinel is conscious again, he can fly up and look."

"Yeah? Good for him." The girl's screams didn't quite drown out the mournful wail of an approaching ambulance as Boulder turned to lift rubble off of his friends. The sky above them suddenly exploded with fireworks, a shimmering cascade of color that filled up the night.

"Happy New Year," whispered Nine Lives.