by Libbylawrence
At Freedom Fighters Headquarters in Washington, D.C., a celebratory dinner was held in which the seemingly long-forgotten original Freedom Fighters and their ally Kriemhild the Valkyrie met or renewed their friendships with the other newly liberated heroes. The original Freedom Fighters had found themselves deeply moved by the fact that this gleaming new headquarters devoted to the use and training of current and potential Freedom Fighters also had a dramatic row of statues that depicted each of them, along with other heroes like the late Red Bee and Hourman of Earth-Two.
Magno had smiled with pleasure. This is a real honor! he thought. I guess folks do know about what we did back in December of 1941! The Nazi doubles didn’t make people forget that we had been around before the war and that we were good Americans!
Now inside the building, Old Glory sat between USA the Spirit of Freedom and Miss America, beaming with maternal pride. “You know, I was the one who gave you your powers back in the forties,” explained Old Glory. “That dream you had of the Statue of Liberty coming to life was my way of visiting you and making you into Miss America! You and your daughter are my champions!”
Miss America smiled at her daughter and said, “I can’t believe all that has happened to us. I worry about you, like any mother would, but I also have faith that you are going to be a wonderful heroine!”
USA kissed her mother’s cheek and said, “Thanks, Mom! Now let’s talk about my curfew!”
Phantom Lady was laughing as she exchanged pleasantries with Magno. The hero was impressed by her beauty and personality, but he still glanced over at Miss America with a wistful look in his eyes.
Noticing his gaze, Sandra Knight smiled playfully. “What’s wrong, Magno? Don’t you find me… attractive?” She laughed. “Sorry. Worst pun ever!”
Red Torpedo was accepting the new Firebrand’s apology. “I’m sorry about your jaw!” she said. “I couldn’t help myself! Feel free to take a swing at me if you want!”
The Torpedo shook his head and said, “No, thanks! Though I wouldn’t mind a boxing lesson or two!”
Firebrand nodded and said, “I was taught by my grandfather, ‘Slugger’ Dunn. He was partners with the original Firebrand. Slugger is actually my nickname, too! My real name is Emerald Dunn.”
Valkyrie was talking with the Human Bomb and the towering blonde who was called Atalanta. “You certainky have the strength of a Frost giant!” said Kriemhild.
“Thanks, I think!” said Atalanta. “I guess I come by it naturally. My grandfather was a strongman, too. He was called Joe Hercules. (*) May he rest in peace!”
[(*) Editor’s note: See Hercules, Hit Comics #1 (July, 1940).]
“He was one of the bravest men I ever met,” added the Human Bomb. “He died back in the ’60s while stopping an Axis super-weapon!”
Hourgirl tried to engage Neon the Unknown in small talk, but he was distant and rather distracted. “Uh, nice bandana!” she said hesitantly.
Neon nodded but stared past her. I sense something out there, he thought, something in the stars! I can’t determine its nature, but I feel as though it is a threat to me on a personal level!
***
In a medical wing of the complex, a serious-looking man with dark hair bent over the comatose John Grant.
“No change, Darrel?” asked a young doctor.
“No, Connie,” said Darrel Dane, alias the Doll Man. “He is stable but unresponsive. I suppose the only comfort we can find is that this poor man’s awesome powers can’t be used against us by the Axis. I shudder to think what would happen if he fell into their hands!”
As Darrel returned to other scientific studies, John Grant’s left eye trembled slightly and then remained still once more. While the former ruler of the world slept, the war raged on around him.
Even in a world at war, certain naturally occurring moments continued to occur with a comforting regularity. People died of old age. Happy couples married. Births occurred. Most of them were perfectly normal as a whole. However, it was a world at war, and strange things did happen from time to time.
The End