Story: "Crocodiles In The Waters" (22 Pages)

Credits: Kurt Busiek (plot, script); Tom Grummett (pencils); Prentis Rollins (inks); Comicraft (letters); Wildstorm FX (colors, color separations); Peter Tomasi (edits)

Feature Characters: Skyrocket, Bork, Manhunter IV, Witchfire, Striker Z, Sapphire; Firestorm II (last in JLA #77)

Supporting Character: Silver Shannon (in between issue #9 and #16)

Villains: Doctor Polaris (last in issue #9), the swamp demon (destroyed); The Trinus Lords (Lord Khai'Lrai'Na, Lord Chaitin, and She of the Gossamer Death; all three last in issue #10)

Guest Appearances: Christine St. Clair; Asano Nitobe (both last in issue #5), Helen Angelico (last in issue #9)

Other Characters: Dr. Glozer (S.T.A.R. employee, first appearance); other S.T.A.R. Labs employees

Synopsis:

Witchfire and Striker Z manage to defeat the swamp creature and secure the Sword of Khelu'Ar. But it comes with a price since Witchfire has lost her right arm in the battle, and the wound does not look natural. Skyrocket, Bork, and Sapphire arrive just in time to meet the Trinus Lords who have come to receive the Sword. Bork reluctantly gives it to them even though he has a feeling "this is gonna come back and bite us." Meanwhile, Sapphire has found Witchfire's arm in the mud and is disgusted to see that it is still alive. Witchfire tries to reattach the arm magically but it almost kills her. She is taken to hospital, where Helen Angelico is shocked to discover that she has no internal organs.
Later, Manhunter announces to the team that they have all been signed to work as bodyguards for actor Dextre Crabtree (Crocky the Crocodile on TV) to protect him from Shadowspire – a threat Manhunter made up the last issue. Skyrocket and Firestorm are ready to protest, but Manhunter tells them that he has got a voting proxy from the hospitalized Witchfire – meaning they have just to shut up and do what they are told. The situation grows even more tense when they are reached by the news that Dr. Polaris has attacked the San Fransisco S.T.A.R. Labs, just as Skyrocket predicted. The team is ready to leap into action... but Manhunter won't let them. S.T.A.R. is not a paying client – Crocky the Crocodile is. "We are going to L.A. and we are auditioning for Crocky!"