A Day in the Life of the Justice League International: Booster Red
One of Four– Brothers Reunited
'Gabriel is it?'
'Gabriel Matthieu Carter, Madame. And what may I ask is your sweet name?' Gabriel asked the 170 kilo lady, with enough double chins to sink the Titanic.
She giggled. 'Oh, your sweet. And where are you heading?'
'Earth,' said Gabriel. 'And I have not a moment to spare.'
'Here is your ticket,' said the steward again, and giggled once more.
Gabriel, inside his room in the luxury spaceliner from Mars to Earth, looked at himself in his new uniform. The 'Booster Red' uniform. He had a flight ring, now. Granted from a recent time adventure to the 30th century, were the Legion of Superheroes, having needed his help, had travelled back to the 25th century, and fought Brainiac Bizarro Android, who had run amok in downtown Metropolis. Booster had been granted a flight ring, and with his special suit, made like his twin brother Michael's, Gabriel had fought Brainiac Bizarro Android, and won.
He had been celebrated around the solar system, and now he was heading home.
He looked at himself in the mirror in his cabin, gazing at his raw beauty in his own mind, when a vortex suddenly appeared in front of him, and a figure dressed in blue and then, his own twin, stepped through.
'Gabriel!' said Booster Gold stunned. 'What the hell kind of uniform is that?'
'Uh, I'm Booster Red. In your honour. It's a long story.'
'No time to waste,' said Booster Gold. 'This is Blue Beetle. We have a problem in the timestream. Follow us.'
Booster Red shrugged, stepped through the vortex after them, and a whole new adventure in the 21st century with the Justice League International got under way.
The End
Two of Four – Javelin Reborn
'His name is Javelin. He's a super villain,' said Blue Beetle.
'He's dead,' responded Booster Red.
'So was I. Funny that,' said Ted Kord. 'Anyway, he has just been killed by Deadshot in a big showdown were he has knocked off a gang of super baddies. Problem is, we need him. We need the best Javelin thrower in the universe. A rite of honour with a warring galaxy requires a show of strength in 5 disciplines, and we have the other 4 covered. So, Freejack style, just before the moment of death, we steal the body and leave a fake replacement.'
'Gotcha,' said Booster Red. Where do I fit in, though?'
'For permanent body-swapping in the timestream, we have to fool the system into believing everything is ok. Time will investigate the anomaly naturally, which is why we need you. We need you to duplicate Michael. If we leave Michael near the dead body, but have you with me as we return to the future in Booster Gold uniform, time will check itself and think things are normal.'
'But haven't you already stolen me from the future and so won't it look for me also?'
'Time isn't that smart. It probably views you as simply dead in the future.'
'Fascinating,' said Booster Red.
'Right,' said Booster Gold, coming into the control deck room. 'Put this on,' he said, tossing his brother a copy of his costume.
A few moments later, Booster was suddenly jumping out of the ship, grabbed the about to die Javelin, and phased back to his invisible cloak with the villain, and thrust him onto the ship.
'Now get out of here,' said Booster Gold to Blue Beetle and his brother. 'And Gabriel. Enjoy being me.'
And Blue hit the controls, and the ship was gone, back to the future, and Booster Gold headed home.
The End
Three of Four – Contest
'Your a butthead,' swore Javelin. 'Should have let me taste my fate,' and sat at the control deck sulking.
'It's a tough break,' said Blue Beetle. 'Now, are you sure you can throw a Javelin longer than Zeus himself.'
'Zeus – is a pussy,' said Javelin.
'Sure Wonder Woman would be impressed with that,' commented Blue Beetle. 'We're here.'
The ship manifested outside an arena, where chants were going up.
'We have already been here, and you are scheduled to show up about now,' said Blue Beetle. 'Now, do this for us, and we return you to Floyd Lawton's apartment, without a Javelin, but we'll give you a can of spray paint.'
'And do what with it? Deadshot doesn't mess around. He killed me once already – apparently.'
'Go crazy with it,' said Blue Beetle. He turned to Booster Red. 'When we step off the ship you will probably notice a weird feeling. It's the timestream. It's assessing who you are. When it susses out your genetic code, it will probably assume you are Michael if you are dressed like him and it will be business as usual.'
'And if it doesn't?' asked Booster Red.
'Then things could get a little crazy,' responded Blue Beetle.
They exited the ship and Booster Red noticed the sensation immediately. It was as if he was being analyzed, searched out and checked and verified. And then he was just Gabriel Carter again – or Michael Carter, that is.
They came into the stadium, and a lady looked at Blue Beetle. 'They are watching. In the stand. The Zuu Dynasty. If Javelin sets the world record, they will acknowledge our prowess as a human people, and forego their grudge against the President's words.'
'Throw for your life,' said Booster Red. Javelin did. The world record fell. They were saved.
The End
Four of Four – Chilling Out
'Now you have your Booster Red uniform on. Remember. Say something your brother doesn't. The timestream will assess you both quickly, and assume you are a twin.'
'Gotcha,' nodded Booster Red.
They materialized outside of Booster Gold's apartment, and when Gabriel got off the ship and felt that familiar feeling again he turned to Blue Beetle and said, 'You know. In the 25th century, we have these classic porn magazines of Fire and Ice.'
Blue Beetle almost toppled over, looked at Booster Red, and grinned. 'Very funny Booster. I need a drink.'
Upstairs, out on the balcony of Booster Gold's plush Metropolis Penthouse, having a barbecue, Ted was looking at Michelle, Michael and Gabriel Carter, for Goldstar was in town.
'How exactly, though, are you twins? If Michelle is your twin, Booster.'
'Well, we're sort of triplets,' said Booster Gold.
'Me and Michael are identical twins, but Michelle is both of ours fraternal twin. So we are both twins and triplets in a full set.'
'The wonders of biology,' said Blue Beetle. 'Now pass me another Budweiser.'
'I drank the last one,' said Javelin. 'Sorry about that.'
'What are we going to do with him, then?' asked Booster Red.
'Hand deliver him to Deadshot I guess. Let him finish the job,' said Blue Beetle.
Javelin gulped.
'Just kidding buddy,' said Blue Beetle. 'We'll drop you into Belle Reeve instead.'
'Wonderful,' commented Javelin. 'Save the universe, and they put me back in prison.'
'Them's the breaks, kid' said Booster Gold.
'Them's the breaks,' finished Booster Red.
The End of A Day In the Life of the Justice League International: Booster Red
