Suicide Squad: The Genesis Sanction

Issue 1

The laughing group were a family. Not biologically, but in the circumstantial, 'found' sense. It was unlikely they'd ever be mistaken for the former - they varied wildly in physical feature and dress. But, as they sat, chatting happily in moonglow, just over a half dozen of them, it was impossible to miss the camaraderie - love, even - that they all shared.

The mission that lay ahead for some of them was not on their minds.

Nor was the failure of their predecessors.

All except one.

Lost in thought, a smile across his face, his eyes cold and busy, he contemplated the battle to come. What it would be worth. What it might cost. As each possibility formed in his head, nascent and dreamy, the sense of worry that had been slowly picking at him for weeks began to congeal into something. Something real.

Movement caught his eye. His sister was spinning a drunken dance with his brother. The others were clapping a rhythm around them, laughing as they kicked up sand. His smile turned real without quite moving and he pushed the foreboding thought from his mind.

He pushed himself up from the sand and joined in the clapping, calling out incoherently; gaily. His siblings welcomed him fervently and he found the spout of a glass bottle in the dunes. Raising it he cheered and the others did too, awash in milky light and warmed by each others' company. And they danced - oh, how they danced! - kicking at the dunes and sending the still-warm sand spraying through the air. Warm, full, joyous, and as one. Like they had died and gone to heaven.

Tomorrow belonged to Amanda Waller.

But today was theirs.

===

"Good evening, gentlemen.

My name is Amanda Waller.

Welcome to Belle Reve Penitentiary.

I'm sure you recognize the body next to you. Hogan Eagin. Formerly alias Doctor Chaos. The man who did this to him is the same man who gave you both such a hard time. His success against you - my very presence here - should demonstrate his value to me.

Taking things personally is not a luxury I can afford.

But nobody has ever come that close to killing me.

I'm aware that neither of you have anything against me specifically. You're the help. But this is what happens to the help when they don't do their job right. You know that. Occupational hazard. You also know what I want to know.

I look at this as a precaution. A warning. I'm sure neither of you will take it that way. Which doesn't matter. You won't be able to think in a few minutes. Well. One of you might.

None of the people I trust wanted to do this. I wasn't surprised. That's why I trust them. I'm not going to force them to do it.

I'm not a monster.

The one man who might've done it is fighting for his life. On his back. Which means that I'm going to have to get my hands dirty.

I suppose we must roll up our sleeves every now and then. Don't you agree, gentlemen?

The last person who I spoke to as freely as I speak to you now - he died nearly a decade ago. Needless to say,

it would be in your best interest to be useful."

Her eyes never moved.

===

TWO DAYS EARLIER

Waller sat on a gurney, face lost in thought, painted in reds and blues of sirens like - although she didn't know it - Rick Flag had been one time, during his accidental infiltration of Skartaris with the Suicide Squad. When he'd been stabbed through the chest by a colossal dinosaur. When he'd somewhat miraculously recovered and returned to duty.